Rhodium Rodeo

Chapter 1: Rhodium Rodeo

Worlds apart from everyone else. I lived in a solar system far away from any other human. I was lucky though, that the purple and silver planet I lived on had high levels of Rhodium. That shiny metal was in high demand from everyone from the cosmic mechanics to jewelry makers. Everyday I woke up to the sound of birds squealing and got my pickaxe to dig. It looked like normal grey stone, but break a piece off and it’d sell for big bucks. I opened my rusty but cozy garage, fired up the noisy engine to my ship, then off I’d go, headed for the nearest busy city.

The travel was far, but the solar ray wave radio kept me from nodding off by keeping me nodding to the beats. Thankfully, unlike back on earth, the main source of traffic was from floating junk rather than other vehicles. The aliens were friendly if you got to know them, but they kept their distance from humans for the most part, unless you met a raw meat eater.I don’t know what’s worse… losing a foot or having lost a foot. 

Darkness was eminent from all edges of my travel except for the distant stars, until I laid my eyed on the flickering lights of a dark green planet. I entered the atmosphere as smoothly as I could. I could feel the heat. Seems like each time I do this my landing gets a little faster.

BANG

“Seems like you need to learn how to DRIVE” a distant voice heckled

“Huh? Oh sorry bout that…”

I nearly hit a Grey’s Orbiter ship. That would have sucked. I avoid eye contact and keep walking.

Well, here I am… back on land. Every time my feet hit the ground I almost want to kiss it. Sure, space flight was a dream come true, but I’ll admit I’m a land lover. I much rather look up at the stars and imagine floating though space than actually do it nowadays, although I do it nearly every day. 

The tunnels, my favorite part of the travel… that’s sarcasm. These tunnels were infested with mutant flies. They love shiny stuff… My heavy bag of Rhodium was twinkling like a star. As I stepped into the darkness I clicked on my flashlight and waved it at any big bug that dared to patter their creepy spiky legs too close to me. They looked like flies, but they were too heavy for their cracked wings to carry them. They were as big as my shoes, but my shoes could still squash them. The nearly blinding darkness of the tunnels were dimly lit by the kids smoking on the floor against the walls. Sometimes the flies would wander near them and the kids would burn them. Once they tried snatching my Rhodium but I taught them that it makes for a strong blade. They respected my preparedness and sometimes give me a hit of whatever they got. Last time I tried it I couldn't fly my ship home for hours. 

When I reached the end of the tunnel, the other side was just barely brighter than the inside. But when I looked up, it was beautiful. Thick green foliage hung above like a giant ceiling, but the lanky buildings penetrated through and their windows casted a glow upon the rocky roads. With my heavy bag of Rhodium slung around my shoulder, the sound of Trillie’s sweet voice carried my footsteps towards the heart of the market. 

“Don’t Delay 

Do it Today

Babe, what do you say?”

Trillie was a pop star… and her voice echoed through the orbiting planets of countless stars. I’m quite the musician myself… but if only I worked Trillie, then my art would finally truly be heard. 

When I weaved my way through the countless species of beings, I approached Tam’s janky pop-up shop. Tam was a cool guy, but we always had to negotiate prices.

I wave at Tam and say, nervously, “‘Hey Man.”

“Im not a man… man”

“Yeah, well you’re my man, Tam, I I think you’re gonna like today’s haul”, I said, as I slammed by bag of rhodium on his table.

“5 diamonds for that” Tam yells. 

“You didn’t even weigh it bro… but okay.”

It’s best not to argue with him much, and besides, he always had very shiny, and cleanly cut diamonds, including those that were glued to his gun. I’d have a gun, but i’d probably shoot myself with it, so I just keep my rhodium knife for protection.

With my gems in hand, I turned around to gaze at the bustling city behind me. Let’s see where this day takes us.

Chapter 2: Smoothies

I placed one diamond on each of my fingers, took out my cell phone and snapped a pic of my new diamonds. I posted a pic of the rainbow of colors that emanate from the crystals, a few moments later Clara messaged me.

“Those are prettttyyy” it reads.

I reply with: “thanks I love em, whats up?”

“Just hanging out at home, wanna get smoothies?”

“Sure” I type. 

She sent her location, and I began walking. Clara was cool but kinda weird. Well, I’m weird but she’s weirder. But hey, it beats having nobody to talk to.

As I followed the directions of the map location I look around and saw a few beautiful alien women. A couple of them looked at me and smiled, and I’d stop and chat but we might not speak the same language. Clara was alien but she spoke english, decently. 

After a dozen minutes or so of half-walking half-jogging, I got to the spot. I was in a dead part of the city, with not anyone around except a few people sleeping on the sidewalks.

 I look up and see a picture of dripping liquids, yeah this is the smoothie place, but it was closed.

 Suddenly, my head whipped forward, I just got slapped upside the head!

I turn around ready to fight, and then saw Clara’s red face.

“Hi” she says with a stupid, tounge out smile smile.

“Why the fuck did you do that, Clara? I’m not gonna ever link up with you if you do that agai..”

“I dunno it was fun”

“This place is fucking closed, Clare!”

“No its not.. Kick!”

Whap! She just blasted through the windows that were boarded shut with wooden planks. 

She looks at me with a smile and shouts, “I don’t got these thick legs for nothing, C’mon babbyyy!”

She grabbed my hand, and I slunk through the windows, barely avoiding splinters from the now 

Crunched wooden planks. 

“Let’s fuck and you can give me your leaky smoothiesss.”

“Uhh haha I don’t know, I guess so…” I whisper. 

She reached into my pants and pulled me in.

“I want your, your Smoothies shooting on me hehe ahmm” Clara moaned. 

 I was inside her by the time I realized we were laying in old warm sticky spilt fruit smoothies… Or did Clara just make that? Uuuuhhhhh

She said she wanted smoothies but i didn’t know I was gonna be the one to feed them to her. 

By the time I ended a fourth, maybe fifth time? I was nearly passed out... either from the exercising we just did or from the concussion she gave me.

We laid together on the floor of that old shop and I wrapped my arm around her as I watched her through heavy eyelids fall asleep.

Chapter 3: Purple Drank 

When I woke up to the smell of rotting fruit and cold wet clothes I jerked my hand into my pocket.

Two diamonds. 

Fucking Clara.

I was alone in that old shop, I look around, and grab a couple orange for the road. Out we go.

As I wobbled through these aliens streets, I saw a guy playing bongos to the sounds of Trillie on his boom box. Trillie wouldn’t take my diamonds, or slap the shit out me.

I followed his bongo playing and entered a bar next to his setup. It was a nearly empty street outside, but there were lots of creatures in here. I sat down at the bar.

A large monster behind the table glares at me. “Can I get a bottle of that purple stuff?” I ask. 

“Hahh? Mroaahm”

A short thing walked up beside him..

“What you say?”

Oh that purple stuff can I get it?

It handed me the bottle and screamed, “what for?”

I handed it one of my two diamonds.

I open the bottle, take a sip, and instantly regret my purchase. Whelp. It’ll probably get me more fucked up than Clara.

I can still hear Trillie’s voice singing to me as I swig away. One day…

I awake to half of my bottle empty and the sounds of a group of things laughing at me. This drink is definitely not made for humans.

In a daze, I carry myself out the door and sit next to the half man, still playing bongos. He uses his foot to slide his hat with a few emeralds in it away from me. I begin singing along to Trillie’s song.

“Will we ever find a way?

To make it away from this place?

I don’t know how much more I can take, 

But the path we’ll Pave!”

I stand up, and dance away from the bongo man, not before I fling the bottle cap from my purple drink into his hat. That’s outta be worth something. 

Now then, so I don’t spill I better finish it. I’m chugging when I hear a car pull up besides me and blast a siren. Public intoxication? NO thanks. 

I start running but I don’t know where to go. I see a wall, and hop over it. My feet slam down on dark pavement. That probably would have hurt if I was sober and not amped up right now with adrenaline. I keep on running through misty alleyways.

I’m not usually a criminal you see, and I plan on keeping this way, so I’d rather not get caught sipping purp drank. Who knows what these alien drunk tanks are like.

Chapter 4: The ship that hasn’t Sailed

Once I’m confident I lost the cops, I finally relax. I realize I must’ve dropped the bottle when I hopped the wall… At least it was almost empty. I reach in my pocket. One diamond left. I’m bringing this one home

By the time I make it back to my ship, the drink was empty. I just took two naps, and I’m wide awake and ready to go back home, until I notice my ship’s been taken apart.

On the bright side, it’s probably best I DON’T drink and fly. 

What is there to do, I’m stuck on this planet, for now at least. Maybe my one diamond will be enough for a repair.

My dusty shoes carry me back into the city, and I ask around for any mechanics. I was mostly greeted with disgust or confusion. 

I stopped at a blue and green tree, and cozied up next to its roots. I hope nothing’s peed here recently. I wish I could fall asleep now, and dream away this nightmare. In my dreams, I am in such peace. Even the nightmare’s are fun. 

Life is nice in dreams, because I don’t over think, and it is what it is. 

In life, things aren’t as they seem, even when things are as crazy as dreams. 

I take out my phone, and search up “mechanics near me”.

I found the nearest one, and by the time I got there they were nearly closed.

“Excuse me, I need some help fixing my ship, its been ransacked.”

“Why’d you let it get ransacked, man?” a cruel voice replied. 

“To bring you business?” I reply with a shy, but smug look.

I handed over my last diamond.

“Please help me out, thank you”

“Don’t thank me yet, I’m gonna need a few more of these before I even take a look at your shit ship.”

“I’ll pay you a lot more once my ship is running” I plead. 

“That’s not gonna cut it”

“I’ll be back.”

I exit the shop feeling defeated. 

I watched each passersby with a sort of hopelessness in my eyes. I feel like begging for help, but they’ll call me a bum. Maybe that won’t be so bad, that’s certainly not much worse than I feel.

But then I remembered Clara. She was terrible, but misery loves company. 

 I call her, no answer. 

I text her, nothing. 

I make my way to Tam, but he’s closed for the night. Shucks, fuck…. Bruh, I’m so done… nah I got this.

I wander through the mean, alien streets, pondering what to do.

Suddenly, a sense of dread fill my bones. I finally realize how sore my arms are from all my mining, how much pain my head is in from the headache of all this, not to mention being whacked by Clara earlier. My legs collapse. Tears fill my eye. “Help!” I cry. A cup of some foregin liquid is thrown at me from a slow passing vehicle. I could probably catch up to them if I wanted, but I don’t care. A rage fills me up, and this gives me the motivation to stop the tears from falling and carry on my way. I don’t know which way, but there’s a way. 

It’s times like these I wish I was back in space, far away from this or any other place. 

But I can’t, and I even gave my last diamond to that rude mechanic. I don’t even know if I’ll ever get it back.

Chapter 5: Rise 

I kept walking, and told myself I would only stop when I had no option. This moment came when I drifted away from the outskirts of town and through a forest which led to a cliff. Overwhelming foliage leaned towards a haunting crevice of darkness. I should be looking for money to pay the mechanic to fix my ship, but I need a high right now, and runner’s high will suffice. 

I carefully glance around at my surroundings. Nobody is around, as far as I can tell. The only sound was the brushing of leaves in the dense trees around me, as well as he echoes of my thoughts.

Maybe if I wasn’t so afraid of heights, I would jump. Although I got so used to flying my ship it became a mundane routine, it’s times like these I realize how much I love it. If I jumped, maybe I would feel the thrill of high speed travels one last time before I….

Chapter 6: Drop