SG: Refractions #3 (1/2) - Zodiac Progression Part I

[Mechaman]

The sky was pink and yellow. Ray sighed as he turned over and tried
to get comfortable. Another reason he hated when he had to get closer
to civilization. The stars vanished. Lost in the haze of commercial
gains and the electronic reminders of most people's reality. He sighed
and turned his head to look at his pack. Pretty much the same
condition as its owner. Worn, battered, and cleaned up only as much as
was possible in these conditions.
Still, food was getting low. And what money he had would barely
cover getting cleaned up and some food while looking for some work. Or
a stroke of luck, good or bad.
Mel splashed some water at him from her spot at the end of the pond.
He blinked and muttered as he wiped the water off his face. "What?"
"You were broodin' again, boy, that's 'what.' You're a Keeper, not
a keep-it-in'er."
"Easy for you to say, Mel. You only have to deal with this one day
in twelve. And then the worst it is for you is finding a bit of
water."
"Ooooh. Retorts. Much better. Maybe I should just turn tail now."
Mel splashed again with her fluke to emphasize her point. "Kid, yer
learning and dealing. Whatever else you do with that is gravy. Now
get t' sleep. Tomorrow's a long day for y'."
"Got that right at least..." mumbled the youth. He started to
drowse, finally. And turned over a bit, his head on his makeshift
pillow. Mel, for her part just watched him, singing quietly in an
alluring yet alien voice and language that rolled and swelled like a
summer tide. Ray felt the melody wash over him, like a warm blanket
from the world at large; a comforting feeling as he difted off.
_Maybe he's not the one_, she mused. _Maybe he is, but damned if
I'll push him before it's time. You hear me, Alex? Not this time._
Of course, there was no answer. Alex wouldn't, even if she could have.
Mel sighed and sang another song to herself. The lyrics and hopes all
too human this time.

Ghost in the Mecha Productions
presents
The third in an anthology series

R e f r a c t i o n s
#3 - Zodiac Progression Part I
"Cycling through The Signs"
by
James Rinehart, Mechaman At Large

Waking up was an experience in itself. When what feels like thirty
pounds pounces on you, you wake up. Very, very quickly. Or else you
have that experience repeat itself. Ray had only let that happen once;
once was all it took. to be a painful and compelling reminder of
things never to do again. Ignoring Kai's wake up calls ranked in
stupidity somewhere between, say, stopping to breath or eating unknown
mushrooms carelessly.
"I'm up! I'm up! Ray shouted before Kai could stalk his prize
again. Kai's tail whipped about sinuously with a feline's grace. Ray
tried to look crossly at him, but the expressions were so puppy dog
earnest it was almost impossible to be upset.
#Wake..... time.... fun..... play?# Kai's message was very basic,
the eagerness behind the words almost hilarious, especially since the
expression looked rather alien on an animal like him. Ray smiled and
scratched Kai behind the ears and horns. Kai hissed and purred
appreciatively.
Ray shook his head. "Play only for a little bit, Kai. Much to do
today."
#Sad..... know.... play..... fast?# Kai cocked a head at Ray as he
sat on his haunches. Ray grinned. "Play fast." He looked about and
picked up three sticks and tossed them into the distance. No sooner
had the third stick in the air than Kai was chasing after them
gleefully.
Taking the momentary reprieve, Ray started to gather his various
items together for packing. By the time he had them in a pile, Kai was
back with the three sticks.
#Back... take... try.... grrr...# beamed Kai. Ray grinned again as
he reached for one of the twigs futilely. Every time he reached for a
twig, the head would twist away and the other two would butt away the
offending hand. Two heads may not be better than one, but Kai's three
heads knew how to work with one another. Ray kept trying to grab a
stick from feline, serpentine (though he did wonder how Kai managed
THAT feat...), and ovine heads. Finally he sighed. "Time to stop,
Kai. I need to finish and work."
#Work.... Bad....# whined Kai.
"No it isn't. But it means no play." Ray sighed.
#Bad.# chimed in Kai.
Ray grinned ruefully. "Maybe, then. But I've got no choice, and
either." He started putting materials away into his backpack.
Eventually everything fit neatly inside or was in a large plastic bag
to be dropped off in a dumpster. Pacing an old baseball cap on his
head, did a final check of the area, and put the pack on. As he walked
toward the state road, Kai prowled behind him; his strides matching
Ray's perfectly. After about ten minutes of this, Ray paused and
looked back at his companion. "What _are_ you doing?"
#Keeper... work... Kai.... work.# A simple reply, Ray thought, and
though about it for a second more then shrugged. If it kept Kai happy
and out of trouble, why argue about it? Besides. Priorities meant
finding a drug or convenience store. After making a stop at the
dumpster, he walked down the road, then spotted a supermarket. Good
enough.
As he walked in, he saw the customer service desk to his left. The
clerk manning the station had the half shaven, walking wreck sort of
look. The kind of person that would have been immediately hired by
George Romero to help save costs on makeup effects in his zombie films.
Ray unstrapped his backpack and walked over.
"Yees?" asked Hollow-eyes. The extra time on the vowel could have
been mental inertia, but the disdainful look made it seem unlikely.
Ray sighed inwardly and just hoped there was some form of camera or
other device so he could prove he didn't cause any trouble.
"Sir? I need to buy some items... do I leave my pack here or may I
bring it in the store with me?"
"Well. I suppose I can hold it for you here." The clerk all but
sniffed at Ray and his pack.
Ray counted to ten slowly, and handed the pack over. Quietly, he
muttered "stay" and went to get the toiletries he needed. As he left,
he heard the clerk mutter. "'Stay'? Like he has some variety of man
eating luggage?" Ray shook his head and grabbed a pack of disposable
razors. A cry of pain came a few moments later.
#Bad.... protect..... no... take....# Ray kept getting other
items, mentally reminding himself to make sure to play with Kai later
for being a good little figment of his imagination.

Waking up at the shelter, Ray yawned and looked about. Tor looked
back at him impassively. After ascertaining no one was directly
looking
at him, Ray grinned and mock-saluted his companion. Tor nodded an
acknowledgment, a slow bobbing motion. Ray stopped looking at the
titanic figure, grabbed some things, and went toward the the public
facilities near the back of the shelter.
As he looked in the mirror, he surveyed the features before him
critically and sighed. The razor had done a decent job in clearing
away his scraggly beard and the skin looked a bit too ruddy from the
heavy scrubbing. About the most he could do, now if his luck held up
long enough for a job. And a small place to live while working. He
sighed again. One to last for more than two weeks preferably. As he
turned about, he saw Tor watching from the hallway.
"Sorry, big guy. But they just don't make some things large
enough." Tor snorted, his nostrils flaring wide for a moment. "Yeah,
I know. But it was better than normal, even if it was crowded...."
Ray trailed off as a young boy wandered in.
"Who'ya talkin' to?" The boy asked as he rushed over to the use the
toilet, closing the the divider behind him.
Ray smiled ironically at that. "An imaginary friend."
"Mom says there ain't no such things." To snorted again and started
to shrug. As he did, the massive sledge slipped out of his hands and
dropped to the floor. The clatter and vibrations shook the immediate
area.
"What was _that_?" squeaked the kid.
Ray glared at Tor. "Nothing. I just have a very _clumsy_
imagination..." Tor merely took the glare stoically (with perhaps an
undercurrent of amusement). Ray sighed, relaxing his jaw and headed
for the shower stalls. After cleaning up, he got dressed and headed
back to his things, which had been left totally untouched. The clerk
the previous day hadn't been the only one who'd tried a five fingered
inspection of his bag. After Kai's ministrations, most thought he had
some sort of pet in a secret compartment; a ferret or the like. Even
after he had taken the bag apart to prove to the stewards that this
wasn't the case. Overall, though, it had made things easier, though.
He repacked his washing items and started walking toward the shore
line.
Wildwood, New Jersey. Unlike its bigger cousin Atlantic City, the
casinos here were the variety that dispense prize tokens. Amusement
piers and boardwalk shops complement the long beach and gentle surf,
enticing vacation funds from many families and couples. A nice spot
to find a seasonal job. At least that was Ray's hope. Of course most
of the main piers had the same forms, interviews, and rigmarole as
most other businesses. Ray didn't think he had much hope there, even
as he filled out the forms. Having no address or phone number didn't
precisely look like a good investment, after all. Still, it was better
than nothing. Most places were kind enough to tell him they'd give him
an answer if he stopped by within the (day, next few days, week). Some
were kinder and pointed him toward support agencies and other aid
stations.
So he found his chances pretty bleak when he stopped for lunch. He
sighed as he dug a little into his reserves and bought a drink and
small sandwich in a deserted corner coney island. The owner came back
with his food and sat down on the barstool adjacent.
"Problem, son?" Ray put down the drink and turned to face the
aged man. "You look like, how you say, the world, it is on your
shoulders?"
Ray shook his head and offered a small smile. "No, nothing like
that." He looked at the drink and sandwich for a moment before
continuing. "Just trying to figure out what to do next with my life,
I guess."
"Eating Gilda's food is an answer, yes? She would be very, very
upset if her work goes wasted." The owner stood up and started
polishing an adjacent booth's table. Ray smiled a bit and started to
eat the robust sandwich and sipped at the drink. The owner waited
until he was done with the drink and then refilled it. "The thinking,
it goes better with full stomach, eh?"
Ray nodded. "Yessir. Still hard, though."
"Hard.... eh. You do what you have to. Not less, more if you feel
so and know why. It build my business, my family..." The owner
thumped his chest. "It build me."
Ray smiled again, suppressing a laugh at the comical pose that put
the burly, and slightly more than slightly overweight man in.
"Yessir. Just a bit harder inbetween.... I guess. Finding work is
hard right now."
The man sat down and steepled his stubby fingers. "Finding....
mm." He turned his full focus on Ray, and fired of a fast stream of
questions.
"You work hard?" "Y-yes."
"You picky in what you do?" "N-no."
"You show promptlike?" "Y-yes."
"You expect more than what person can pay?" "N-no."
"You have any problems with the cops or with gang?
"Y-NO. Definitely not."
The man smiled amusedly as Ray glared at him a little. "Sure about
last
one, eh?"
"I'm not in any trouble with any gang or the police." Yet, amended
Ray. Vagrancy may be a concern soon, though, he mused.
"Well, that easy, no? You're hired."
Ray blinked, his mind still a concept or two back. Before he could
regret it, his mouth slipped out "But I don't have an address or
phone...."
"Hm. Makes difficult calling one in when one needs extra help
quicklike." He paused. "Hm. Solution. Maybe." He walked into the
kitchen area. Ray looked at Tor outside and shrugged. The big
companion mimicked the expression as much as he could with his frame.
From the back, the owner's voice could be heard talking, though with
who and what about was muffled by the swinging door. After a bit, he
came back out with a sheet of paper in his hands. He handed it to
Ray. "My brother, he give you room and board, charged from wages. Is
small room, but quiet."
"Better than I have, sir." Ray smiled broadly. "Thank you."
"No thank you wanted," the owner said gruffly, raising an eyebrow.
"Just show up tomorrow at ten o 'clock. Much work, and customer
season comes very soon. Brother expects you in hour or three. Rest.
Rest. Go."
"Yessir." Ray scrabbled his items together and hurried off. The
owner and just smiled as the youth hurried down the boardwalk.
Perhaps, yes, names would be known tomorrow? His wife came in from
the back, grabbing the plate and glass, and mock-glared at her
husband.
"Softie. Meddler. Kind, stupid fool. Stefan, this isn't a free
meal or suchlike."
Stefan shrugged. "If he be what he look like, Gilda, he work. We
have replacement for 'Tonio till Susana recovers, maybe longer. If
not? What of it? We place sign out as planned."
"And if he brings trouble? If he lied and he is in a gang or is a
thief?
"Pfft. Doesn't feel like. Got feeling about boy. Feeling never
wrong yet."
"Trusting. Too trusting." clucked Gilda. "The world is a harsher
place than our youth."
"And we stop it by being harsh too. Eh." Stefan dismissed this
notion with a wave of his hand. "If I must, I do what I must."
"Keep it in mind when he doesn't show tomorrow."

Eight o' clock came all too fast the next day. As the alarm went
off, Ray reached over and shut off the mechanical timepiece. Gem
grinned at him from where he was leaning. "G'day. So, I take it this
means no hunt for rabbit today, eh?"
Ray groaned a bit as he sat up. The bed was comfortable, a little
bit too much so. He didn't want to be late on this day especially.
Absently, he fingered his bead necklace as he lugged himself out of
bed and walked into the attached shower stall in the opposing wall. As
he took off his nightclothes and started the water, he replied "No,
the job hunt yesterday actually worked out. Thanks, though."
"Different kind of hunt anyway. Still, full stomach's a full
stomach." Gem grinned, wolfishly. "Besides, there's scents worth
hunting, if you take my meaning."
Ray reddened a bit at that. "I'd rather not. Besides, this is
temporary at best. Can't go past tourist season, so what's the
point?" He finished showering, toweled off, and changed into his last
fresh set of clothes. He sighed as he placed his other clothes in a
small hamper provided. Clothes shopping would be something in the near
future, if the final pay was enough. Realizing that Gem was saying
something, he turned his attention back to him.
"... hear of a summer romance? Hell, kid, it doesn't even have to
be that far if you enjoy it and her company. Hello?" Gem cocked his
head a little bit. Unlike Kai, this lupine expression came all to
easily to Gem.
"I'm listening... " Ray said halfheartedly. This was an old
argument, after all. Gem didn't like the loner's life.
"Sure you are..." Gem let his tone imply something else entirely,
as usual. Ray finished getting dressed and headed downstairs, locking
his door behind him. First breakfast, and then work.

Stefan glanced at the clock as Ray arrived. "Early. Maybe too
early. Long day ahead."
"Early or late, which side do you want?" commented Gem.
"I just wanted to make sure I wouldn't make any mistakes, sir."
Ray waited until Stefan turned around before glaring at Gem. Gem
just barked a short laugh.
After a few seconds, Stefan turned around with a smaller shirt the
same style as his own. "Mmm. Not bad idea. But first, you change
shirt then start wiping down booths ands tables, yes?"
"Yessir." Ray tried to take the shirt, but Stefan held on.
"Mmm. Mistake, I think. Do not want to call you 'boy' all day,
and don't like being called sir. Is grating and remind me too much of
how old am I." Stefan smiled a bit. "You have name, eh?"
Raymond flushed. "Raymond. Raymond Challenger."
"Good. Now have name for nasty work forms later. But you like
being called Raymond?"
"Nossir. Ray."
Stefan smiled. "And I am Stefan, my wife Gilda. Now, go, and
change." He released the shirt, and Ray hurried to the back. He
chuckled. "Bright boy. But slow."