Pink Stones, really?

Damen sat hunched on the cold metal bench with his elbows on his knees and hands folded in front of him. Around each wrist was a metal cuff linked together by a rod no more that six inches long. A white light flashed on the connection rod, holding his attention. Ever twenty-four seconds it flashed—not every twenty-five—every twenty-four. It was a maddening distinction that the people on this planet did not use the standard of fives and tens but instead used the twos and fours for everything. Even his capture had been ruled by the rule of four not three.

He hadn’t even know he was breaking a rule, for really, who would consider that walking on stones was a punishable offense? Stones, really? Pink stones no less. It apparently didn’t matter if he walked on the yellow, purple, or even blue stones… but pink… The pink were the ones that created all the problems.

As soon as the sole of his shoe touched the first few pebbles all hell broke loose. That was when everyone in the vicinity stopped to stare at him with horror painting their faces. Even the scuffle in the market ceased as he stepped off the paved path and onto the accursed stones.

At first, he didn’t even know what the problem was—until the brute squad showed up. He didn’t honestly know what they called their police force and didn’t really care. All he knew was that they were shouting at him and pointing to the pink stones.

Confused beyond measure, Damen had went with them in good faith that things could be cleared up once he got the chance to explain himself and have the issue explained to him in words he could understand. It didn’t help that his translator was on the fritz again and he had stopped on this planet for the purpose of getting supplies to fix it. It also didn’t help that the brawl in the market—totally unrelated to him and his business—was what caused him to step off the paved road in the first place.

He had been close—so close—to getting what he needed and then getting of this rock without a hitch. And while he had planned to explore the city a bit more he would’ve been able to do it with the aid of his translator.

But now that was not possible. Nothing was possible now except waiting until the higher-ups came back and told him what the blazes was going on so that he could fix it and get on with his day… and his cargo. That was the bigger concern. That was what he had thought might have been the issue at first, not the pink stones.

It wasn’t that what he was carting across the galaxy was illegal. Everything he did was perfectly legal—at least he tried to do everything within the law as best he could. This morning’s misstep was an honest accident for there was nothing that stated one had to stay off the pink stones. No, he had the legal papers to show that what he had in his cargo hold was approved—it was just that not everyone in the galaxy believed that transporting Braided Purple Cacti should be considered a legal trade.

And the argument wasn’t just about moving one plant from one habitat to another because the cacti didn’t do well on most planets. It was more the fact that the purple spines contained a toxin that had the nasty ability to create severe muscle seizures. That turned many off to their being traded; for why else would you want a plant that held such properties unless it was for foul purposes? Or at least that was the thought behind the objections.

But all of that mattered little to him for he never asked what they were for. He just moved the cargo around. If hostile plans were being made after he was paid and left then at least he wasn’t a part of it. It was better that way.

He sighed as the white light flashed again. 439…

440…

441…

It was now going on three hours that he had been sitting here and his backside was going numb—not to mention his legs and feet. His lower back and shoulders ached too.

At some point the other two in his crew would notice he’d been missing far longer than was needed to get a few simple parts and would come looking for him. But their return depended a lot on how much trouble they got in while on this blasted planet. Who knew what other offenses could be committed on a planet that gave a serious hoot about pink pebbles.

The door down the hall opened with a swoosh and Damen could feel the wash of warmer air fill the hall beyond the cell he sat in. His chin rose an inch as footsteps tapped along the metallic floor. There were three distinct footfalls—two were rhythmic and in time with each other, like the official goons that had picked him up for trespassing. The other tread sounded oddly familiar. His gut twisted as an annoyed grunt ushered from the third individual.

“Get off,” the oily voice said. There was the shuffle of cloth and feet before the frame of his copilot stepped into view. A smile cracked the grizzled face of the man Damen had only ever known as Stoop.

“Well, hello there, Captain. Fancy meeting you here.”

The men at his rear pushed Stoop pasted Damen’s cell and into the next. The clear barriers that looked and felt like plastic but were twenty times stronger parted to allow the man entrance before they resealed without a trace.

The two guards in black uniforms eyed Stoop before glancing at Damen.

“So when am I going to hear something?” Damen asked. He tired to get up but his lower limbs had gone all pins and needles on him. “Hey!”

The guards proceeded back down the hall with blank expressions as if they had not even heard him speak.

“Hey! It’s been over three hours now! Come on! It’s unlawful to hold someone this long without explanation.” At least he hoped that was still the case on this planet. They never should’ve made the detour.

He slumped against the wall with a sigh, his head tipping back until he could view the solid black ceiling. This was ridiculous… and a waste of time.

“So what’re ya in for?”

Damen closed his eyes. He could hear the slur on the end of the man’s words and could only imagine what had brought him here.

“Did you disrespect the goddess too?”

Damen rolled his head so that he could view Stoop through the clear barrier between them. Then man sat on the matching bench with a thud. He did not look the least bit remorseful or bothered by where he was. Amusement played on his lips and as he licked them… twice.

“Nope,” Damen said with a heavy exhale. He turned his gaze back to the ceiling. “But I’m guessing you did.”

Stoop snorted. “Yeah, well, to be fair, I didn’t try.” He shifted on the bench, the metal binding his wrists clinking with the movement. “I was just going to enjoy a drink on this beautiful planet—just one mind you—but…” He sighed.

Damen looked back at him with a face full of disinterest. Stoop didn’t notice as he licked his lips again.

“Did ya know that their preferred deity has a special drink?” He jingled the rod between his wrists. “Apparently it’s offensive to actually drink it but they sell it in all the shops.” He twisted so that his full body faced Damen as he continued.

“I thought I was make’in friends by getting one. You shoulda seen them cheer when it ordered it.” Stoop grinned before his featured fell. “Yeah, well, that didn’t last long. Then they all turned somber real quick when I toasted the heavens then downed the glass. Now tell me what else am I ta do with a drink? Why sell something ya can’t drink?”

Damen shrugged. Who knew? Maybe the drink was meant to be an offering. Maybe it was to be poured on those insufferable pink stones after spinning around three times. Maybe you had to chant a rhyme before you even held the cup in hand. There was no way to know and apparently no one was going to tell them anything until they were good and ready to do so. Which would probably be after they scoured his ships and uncrated all the cacti. Maybe one of them would stab themselves in the process. His amusement faded the moment it arose because something like that would only lead to more problems.

He padded the pocket on his thigh to ensure his papers still remained in his possession then leaned forward again. His eyes latched onto the white light that flashed on the rod. He had lost count of where he was.

One…

Two…

Three…

It was going to be a long, long day.