Chapter 7: Two Lizards, Two Friends, One Mind

Chapter 7

Two hours had passed after the rain had fallen. Jack and Stevey had quickly stowed their gear and supplies, taking care to check for all the necessities and quantities. Now, the dust rose and fell as the two headed toward Jack’s stake. All the rain in the world never seemed to touch the desert, no matter how far spread the clouds looked. Jack noticed the lingering sprinkles of water on his lizard’s hide. He smirked at the efficiency of these beasts’ water conservation, swigged down a couple of gulps from his canteen, and then replaced the mask across his face.

“Stevey, you alright over there, mate?”

“Yeah, my trousers got hung up on the Thorny Kraut as I finished. Took a minute to unhook it.”

“You’ll learn not to eat so much before a big ride.” Jack laughed at his friend. Stevey smiled in agreement yet frowned at the laugh. Jack noticed.

“Sorry, Stevey.” Jack tossed him a saltbox. “Take one. It should ease the discomfort in your gut.” Stevey opened the box. Several small pink pills lay inside the little ornate trinket. He popped one in his mouth and swallowed it with some of his own water.

“Thanks, mate.”

“No problem, my friend. I meant to give you one earlier. Didn’t realize that lizard would have such a funny gait to it. Pretty sure that’s what messed you up so soon.” Stevey laughed a bit.

“Your right. Maybe I should start test ridin’ ‘em before I choose one for our outings.” Stevey grinned a little. Jack laughed again, picturing that scene in his head of Stevey trying to talk to the wrangler.

“I can see the old man’s face now. That quizzical look on his face. Test ride a lizard!? Wha’ for?” Jack mimicked the wrangler's voice and almost couldn’t contain himself, and Stevey laughed, thinking about it too.

“Ok, Jack, that was hilarious, man.” Stevey wiped the tears from his eyes as he finally got seated on his lizard. “Which way now?” He spoke, then pulled his mask over his face too, then grasped the reins of his beast.

“We’ve got to go North a little further, then East for the Aquos. About two or three kilometers, I believe. We can shade there for a while, then head out for the stake. Be on guard, though. That’s where I saw the dragon flying over. We may need to hide the mounts somehow.”

“Gotcha.”

Jack took the lead as Stevey followed behind. Stevey realized that Jack’s lizard had a smooth gait, appearing to glide across the sand rather than walk on it. His seemed to bounce. His stomach tried to churn some more, but the pill had already taken effect. And his stomach eased despite the hoppy gait of his creature. Maybe it was the species of lizard he had. He wasn’t sure. But he was certainly glad for that pill. Another stop like that last one would waste him for sure. And beyond here, the ash was more prominent, making exposing yourself a danger.  

Their lizards made good time in reaching the Aquos, only fifteen minutes. Both felt relieved. While Jack searched the horizon for any sign of the dragon, Stevey had already begun work on a dugout for the lizards right next to the rock. He was glad and surprised to find a base layer of granitite a good two feet down. This would keep the lizards cool as they lay under the hot sand. Jack finally jumped down off his mount to help.

“That’s good,” Stevey said after about ten minutes of digging out. He and Jack nodded at each other. Both were sweating from the heat and work. Jack guided the lizards into the opening, taking off their bags for the canteens and food. He reached into another sack and rustled out two large rodent-shaped offerings for the beasts. Both animals swallowed their feast with vigor and settled into the hole.

“You fellas be good out here,” Jack patted them as they sank into the pit and rested their bellies on the rock below. He and Stevey backfilled the hole, burying the lizards, leaving only their nostrils open to the air. When he and Stevey began to walk to the opening of the Aquos, the rhythm of the beasts’ breathing had indicated they had fallen asleep already.

“Did you drug them, Jack?” Stevey asked, concerned.

“Nah, that cool rock seems to knock them out pretty quickly, from my experience. They’ll wake up on their own in an hour or two. That’ll give us time to rest up for the ride ahead.” Jack replied as he pulled back a large leave covering half the opening to the cave. “The next run is much longer, probably eight to nine kilometers to my stake.” He continued talking as he went inside. Stevey slipped in behind him, listening as Jack started to settle down.

“Man, this one’s bigger than the ones I’ve normally been in,” Stevey remarked, looking at the back of the hollowed-out rock.

“Yeah, I thought that too. The first time I rested here.” Jack kept the conversation going. “The water from the drip is cooler than most as well.” He sat his bag down and started rummaging into the food. Stevey dropped his bag across the way from Jack’s. Jack pulled out the Snax strips he’d acquired for the trip. “This’ll do,” he muttered. Stevey grabbed his as well, also opting for a couple of Chattel chews. Both removed their gun belts before sitting to eat. 

“Oh man, it feels good just to rest,” Jack plopped down and leaned against the wall. “Lizards might be faster, but they aren’t exactly comfortable. Makes me wonder what our ancestors saw in them.”

“I think they realized they were the best option, bud. They’re really the only native species large enough to use as a ride, except the Darters. And no one’s been able to catch one of those things yet.”

“True. Maybe one of us could be the first to do so one day.”

“I don’t think I’d like the idea of zipping ‘round on the back of one of those, Jack. Not to mention that dragon loves to eat those babies, especially the ones out here.”

“You’re right. If we were to ride on ‘em, they’d be even slower. Prime pickings for that bastard, then. Well, guess that’s it; then—the dream of Darter riding smashed to bits. It was certainly a nice one, though.” Jack sighed and settled into munching more grub. Stevey smiled, almost half laughing, and joined in with his food. They were about halfway through their break when the hum of an electron engine passed overhead.

Jack got to the entrance first to look out and saw a military scouter hovering over the sand. Its thrusters pulsed from blue-white to orange-yellow as they descended to land.  

“Looks like we got company, Stevey.”

“Yeah, I see,” Stevey walked up beside him to look out as well.

“Farrow,” Jack uttered, spotting the hawk insignia on the hull before it cloaked. “What does that old fart want?” He half scowled.

“Isn’t he a General now, Jack? It's something I heard on a feed about a year ago if I recall right."

“Yep, they finally made him one after he claimed victory over the uprising on Terras 7 back in Quadrant 2. Hell, anyone could fire phasers from a Star Cruiser to obliterate a wall. It was the troopers on the ground that secured that citadel. You got your phaser?”

“Yeah, here’s yours” Stevey handed Jack his belt.

“Thanks. Make the stun level setting 2 with a wide array spread. That way, we can stun-lock the whole group if they try anything stupid. But we’ll play it cool. Farrow has a temper, but he’s usually alright if he thinks he’s getting his way.”

“Gotcha, mate.” Stevey adjusted his phaser while Jack buckled his on. Stevey noticed Jack’s setting, Level 5- a kill shot. What is he thinking? God, I hope he doesn’t get us killed.

 “Let’s go greet our uninvited guests.” Jack smiled as he looked over his shoulder toward Stevey, then pushed aside the large leaf to go outside. Stevey shuddered, relaxed, then followed his friend out. Man, I hope this goes well.