Chapter 38:
Getting the alibi
Constantine:
“I think that a romantic getaway will not be enough of an excuse, to trick the thief,” I say, as Daniel and me pack our things to leave for Ursula 589.
“What is, then?” Daniel asks. I can see that he is only half-listening. When he begins to stack the potions in the protective case, I take a hold of his shoulder, and turn him around.
“If you were a thief, who knows that your target is going to go on a romantic getaway with his human lover...” I begin. Daniel grins mischievously, and nuzzles our noses together.
“I like the sound of that,” he says. I take in a deep breath of air. He chuckles in such a disarming way, that my tantrum dies before it can pick up steam. “I think I’ll take the bait. I mean, a romantic getaway means a cornucopia of happiness potions.”
“If the potions are like books for the thief,” I say, as he brushes his lips against mine. “Then the thief will be after more than just happiness potions. A good book does more than make you happy.”
“Which is why we have all the other potions, and the trackers in them. As soon as the thief drinks any of our potions, the nanobots are going to pin his or hers location,” Daniel tells me. I know that already. The plan is crystal clear. And yet, I can’t help but worry.
“What if the nanobots can’t latch onto shadows, or travel to Dimension Beta?” I ask.
“If not from Dimension Beta, from where else is the thief, then?” Daniel asks.
We have argued about this the entire week. Personally, I think that the thief is a regular citizen of the Cosmos. If a bit more technologically advanced than your regular Joe. Daniel has been telling me that he sees dust moving around our house at all hours of the day, and night. Yet, my shields have not notified me of that.
“Many people have been complaining about dust storms,” I retort.
“What if there is more than one thief?” He asks me. Huh, I haven’t thought about that.
“Are you saying that there might be a mafia of dead ancestors, who collect emotion potions from all over the Cosmos? Why would they need to do that?” I try to convey with my eyes, that this is a silly idea, and he should abandon it.
“Maybe it makes them feel alive? Look, it is not like you can deny that there are things in Dimension Beta. Ghosts are real. One tried to grab me at the gala,” he says. I can’t argue with that. Considering that, I, too, was nearly grabbed.
“I still think we need a better bait,” I say.
“What do you suggest?” He is giving me his full attention now. I use the moment, to take a hold of his hand.
“We do a Gigantoboa fundraiser, while we are on the moon,” I stare into his eyes. His gaze is a faraway one.
“Do you remember when I told you we are trying to bring back our megafauna?” Daniel whispers. I nod. “I didn’t believe you are really a Naga, back then. I just thought that you are a very imaginative individual, who spends his time entertaining the people on the Dark Web.”
I let out a chuckle at that.
“I guess you thought that my photo was photoshopped, too?” He nods, and I tilt my head to the side. “What made you believe in me?”
“Beth’s photo,” he tells me. I try to remember just when I send him a photo of Beth. He is quick to fill in my blank spot. “You send me a photo out of the blue. I saw in the properties that it was sent only a couple of minutes after it was taken. You simply didn’t have time to doctor it. Then, the video call happened. I became a believer after that.”
“And a shaman soon after,” I tease.
“A wizard,” he insists. I shake my head.
“What is the difference?” I ask him. Personally, I think that shaman sounds more respectable. Everyone in the Cosmos uses the word to call mana sensitive people that.
“I connect the word shaman with D&D, and the word wizard with fond childhood memories. I never did get into D&D. Not that I can’t see the appeal, seeing as I write fantasy, and sci-fi,” he is about to continue on, when I close in the distance between us, and capture his lips in for a kiss.
“You are a wizard, I get it,” I say, almost breathless, once we break apart.
“Your wizard?” He asks, a lovely glint in his caramel orbs. I can stare into those warm eyes for the rest of my life.
If Dimension Beta is where we go after we die, then I will be able to stare in them even after I die.
“I do hope so. Seeing as Rhea will be going out with Nahndor this Sunday,” he groans at that. Yes, I am more than a little jealous, about all the attention he gives Rhea. I mean, anyone with eyes will say that, between the two of us, she is superior in the looks department.
“What do I need to do, to make you feel secure in this relationship?” Daniel murmurs. I grin at that.
“Help me make the best fundraiser for a giant snake that will be placed on a desolate planet, and maybe get to do space travel. One day, I mean,” my dreams about the Gigantoboa are big ones.
If the Theory of Evolution is to be believed, then, as long as you leave an animal on a planet, and give it free rein, it will adapt, and evolve to humanoid magnitudes.
“Let us do our best for the Gigantoboa, then,” he says, and then we go back to packing our things. When we are done, I slither to the desk, and power my laptop. As soon as we are done making the posters, we will 3D print them. The only thing I need to do, is use my AI-generated images, and some text editing.
Chapter 38:
Getting the alibi
Constantine:
“I think that a romantic getaway will not be enough of an excuse, to trick the thief,” I say, as Daniel and me pack our things to leave for Ursula 589.
“What is, then?” Daniel asks. I can see that he is only half-listening. When he begins to stack the potions in the protective case, I take a hold of his shoulder, and turn him around.
“If you were a thief, who knows that your target is going to go on a romantic getaway with his human lover...” I begin. Daniel grins mischievously, and nuzzles our noses together.
“I like the sound of that,” he says. I take in a deep breath of air. He chuckles in such a disarming way, that my tantrum dies before it can pick up steam. “I think I’ll take the bait. I mean, a romantic getaway means a cornucopia of happiness potions.”
“If the potions are like books for the thief,” I say, as he brushes his lips against mine. “Then the thief will be after more than just happiness potions. A good book does more than make you happy.”
“Which is why we have all the other potions, and the trackers in them. As soon as the thief drinks any of our potions, the nanobots are going to pin his or hers location,” Daniel tells me. I know that already. The plan is crystal clear. And yet, I can’t help but worry.
“What if the nanobots can’t latch onto shadows, or travel to Dimension Beta?” I ask.
“If not from Dimension Beta, from where else is the thief, then?” Daniel asks.
We have argued about this the entire week. Personally, I think that the thief is a regular citizen of the Cosmos. If a bit more technologically advanced than your regular Joe. Daniel has been telling me that he sees dust moving around our house at all hours of the day, and night. Yet, my shields have not notified me of that.
“Many people have been complaining about dust storms,” I retort.
“What if there is more than one thief?” He asks me. Huh, I haven’t thought about that.
“Are you saying that there might be a mafia of dead ancestors, who collect emotion potions from all over the Cosmos? Why would they need to do that?” I try to convey with my eyes, that this is a silly idea, and he should abandon it.
“Maybe it makes them feel alive? Look, it is not like you can deny that there are things in Dimension Beta. Ghosts are real. One tried to grab me at the gala,” he says. I can’t argue with that. Considering that, I, too, was nearly grabbed.
“I still think we need a better bait,” I say.
“What do you suggest?” He is giving me his full attention now. I use the moment, to take a hold of his hand.
“We do a Gigantoboa fundraiser, while we are on the moon,” I stare into his eyes. His gaze is a faraway one.
“Do you remember when I told you we are trying to bring back our megafauna?” Daniel whispers. I nod. “I didn’t believe you are really a Naga, back then. I just thought that you are a very imaginative individual, who spends his time entertaining the people on the Dark Web.”
I let out a chuckle at that.
“I guess you thought that my photo was photoshopped, too?” He nods, and I tilt my head to the side. “What made you believe in me?”
“Beth’s photo,” he tells me. I try to remember just when I send him a photo of Beth. He is quick to fill in my blank spot. “You send me a photo out of the blue. I saw in the properties that it was sent only a couple of minutes after it was taken. You simply didn’t have time to doctor it. Then, the video call happened. I became a believer after that.”
“And a shaman soon after,” I tease.
“A wizard,” he insists. I shake my head.
“What is the difference?” I ask him. Personally, I think that shaman sounds more respectable. Everyone in the Cosmos uses the word to call mana sensitive people that.
“I connect the word shaman with D&D, and the word wizard with fond childhood memories. I never did get into D&D. Not that I can’t see the appeal, seeing as I write fantasy, and sci-fi,” he is about to continue on, when I close in the distance between us, and capture his lips in for a kiss.
“You are a wizard, I get it,” I say, almost breathless, once we break apart.
“Your wizard?” He asks, a lovely glint in his caramel orbs. I can stare into those warm eyes for the rest of my life.
If Dimension Beta is where we go after we die, then I will be able to stare in them even after I die.
“I do hope so. Seeing as Rhea will be going out with Nahndor this Sunday,” he groans at that. Yes, I am more than a little jealous, about all the attention he gives Rhea. I mean, anyone with eyes will say that, between the two of us, she is superior in the looks department.
“What do I need to do, to make you feel secure in this relationship?” Daniel murmurs. I grin at that.
“Help me make the best fundraiser for a giant snake that will be placed on a desolate planet, and maybe get to do space travel. One day, I mean,” my dreams about the Gigantoboa are big ones.
If the Theory of Evolution is to be believed, then, as long as you leave an animal on a planet, and give it free rein, it will adapt, and evolve to humanoid magnitudes.
“Let us do our best for the Gigantoboa, then,” he says, and then we go back to packing our things. When we are done, I slither to the desk, and power my laptop. As soon as we are done making the posters, we will 3D print them. The only thing I need to do, is use my AI-generated images, and some text editing.
