Arthur walked over to Gary, who was leaning against the corner of a small brick building, the small baby was cradled in his arms, which in retrospect looked quite large in his arms. The small man gestured to the baby and Arthur leaned over, gently grabbing the bay from his arms. Gary let loose a sigh of relief and stretched his back,
"Y'know my spine is all messed up from the genetic mutations done on me, that baby is gonna kill me quick."
Arthur chuckled lightly and patted the baby lightly on the back, help it nest against his chest.
"I'd apologize but you could have taken the other option."
Gary looked at him annoyed.
"Like I'd lower myself to that, nice joke."
Arthur looked away, but Gary grabbed the bottom of his shirt and pulled him into the alley behind him. The alley was dark, and dingy, the sun wasn't high enough to reach into the man-made crevice, the brick walls were damp, wires hung loosely, attached rooftop to rooftop. Anomalous pipes crept up the wall, releasing steam or whirring lightly with life. After a few moments they turned left out of the alley, walking down a much less populated street.
"So where are you taking me Gary?"
Gary didn't look at him and buried his hands in his pockets, the metal arm attached to his torso was scratching his chin.
"Well you can't work for free forever, I know you like the lady but I know shoemaking is a goddamn bore."
Arthur smiled at the small man.
"Boring is a nice change of pace, man. I've had enough action for a while."
Gary looked at him and smiled.
"So you are not even gonna deny it?"
Arthur chuckled lightly.
"Why would I even pretend otherwise, you are my friend, you'd find out one way or another."
Gary's eyebrow rose, and he shook his head, almost as if he were annoyed with himself. He began digging in the angular pocket on his back, pulling out a somewhat large device. Large for him at least.
"Well then friend, here take this, I happened to have one on me. It isn't free though, you are gonna be helping me with this baby. Did you know it's already on solid foods? Damn brat is going to cost me a fortune."
The baby giggled at hearing the word 'brat', perhaps recognizing its new name, Arthur couldn't help but smile at the smile child.
"Don't tell me you tried to breastfeed the poor thing, he's been through enough as it is."
Arthur leaned over and swiped the device before he could pull it away. Gary laughed dryly to himself and put his hand back into his pocket
"Well fine then, enjoy that. I already inputted my contact information into the device, knowing you your lady friend is next."
It was Arthur's turn to let out a dry laugh, and that he did.
"Shut up Gary, now tell me where are we going?"
Gary pointed at a large building that stuck out from the rest, it was massive and oppressive, made of shining metal alloy. It was multiple stories taller than all the other buildings around, and glass windows reflected the the world around it. They walked up to the large glass doors and peered inside, the hall before them was immaculate. Clean, polished imported marble floors shone diligently, upon those floors were numerous desks, each of a dark brown wood. Digital signs hung off the desks, each displaying a various translations of the same word, commandeered by various species of aliens prepared to service any employee or consumer need. The walls were a deep, metallic black, and on those walls swung the flag of the Front, its golden emblem portraying a man on a mountain, deep red fluttered beath it's service giving way to splotches of white beneath.
"Why did you bring me here?"
Gary shrugged and turned to him.
"It's where I went to find a well-paying job, they ended up leasing me to service and replace the solar batteries on the rings further in the solar system. Most of the jobs here won't get you much so I figured this would be the best place to start."
Arthur nodded his head in agreement, and lightly handed the baby down to Gary.
"I'll just go in and see what they have, you can wait for if you want but it might be a while."
Gary shook his head, and gestured back towards the market.
"No, I ordered an entire Draumyr for slaughtering, this baby will be eating well."
Arthur watched Gary walk back down the street they had come down, lightly poking the baby's nose, smiling while the baby laughed. Arthur couldn't help but smile, it was a pleasant picture, the man was going to make a great father.
He pulled the large door open, it must have been at least ten to twelve feet tall, and about the same width. He stepped into the grandiose hall and began looking at the signs, after walking for a few moments he landed on one that read employment and looked at the small woman sitting behind the desk. The woman had simple black hair, pulled into a pony tail, she had four arms, the upper two were three fingered hands with an opposable thumb and the bottom two pressed tightly against her body. She had light purple skin and a fair body that was hidden underneath her uniform, which was the Front's basic service attire. He began signing to her, asking if she spoke English.
"Yes, I do."
He smiled lightly and leaned in against the desk.
"Fantastic, I suppose you can guess why I am here."
She looked at him curtly.
"I'm not supposed to but I can put two and two together, can I get your name."
He rested his head on his left arm, tapping his other hand on the desk, preparing himself.
"Arthur Donovan."
He watched her input his name into the system and momentarily freeze with shock. She then stood up and saluted him. He immediately began waving at her to sit back down.
"Sir, you've been missing for five years. What happened to you, respectfully, if you don't mind sharing, sir."
He looked around at the other people looking at them strangely.
"Sit down, please, and just call me Arthur."
He then slightly turned his head to the side.
"Wait did you say five years?"
She looked at him, flabbergasted.
"Yes, Arthur... sir, I'm just going to stick sir."
"Fine... holy shit though, five years?"
He leaned back on his feet and placed his head in his hands.
'I was floating in space for five god forsaken years.'
She interrupted his thought with a small, petite cough and turned the monitor towards him, he was on a newspaper reported missing after the cruiser class transport vehicle was struck by a missile belonging to Corpo-Capitalists. Everyone was found dead but he was unaccounted for, as he had been launched into the cosmos.
"Well then."
He looked at the badge on her chest that read Coleman.
"Coleman, I'd like you to not report that I've turned up for now, if you do I'll have a lot to answer for, and I am having the most fun I've had in a while."
She looked at him and leaned back in her chair and let out a loud sigh.
"Permission to speak freely, sir."
He crossed his arms, and began tapping his foot.
"Permission granted."
She leaned in close and whispered, her eyes were wide.
"You are kind of fucking me here."
He stifled a laugh and put on a serious face.
"That so?"
Her upper lip pulled back, and her nose furled.
"Yes, you are, if I reported you as seen in the vicinity. They'd give me a promotion and I'd get off desk duty. You are one of the Front's greatest weapons and the greatest explorer slash documenter of historical events on the face of the universe, and you want me to pretend like you, a living goddamn scientific anomaly, just didn't walk in here asking for a job."
He smiled a bit.
"Yes ma'am."
She smacked her hand on her desk a couple of times in frustration. He felt a bit bad for the predicament he'd placed her in.
"Listen Coleman, just say I stole an older ship and flew off planet. I'll take the oldest one you have and launch it into space myself. I should have more than enough credits stockpiled to cover it." You get the promotion and I get to live here in peace."
She looked at him exasperated.
"That's fucking insane sir!"
He rolled his eyes, uncrossed his arms, and leaned forward on the desk.
"Watch your goddamn voice, look on that goddamn computer and tell me how long I've served the Front."
She typed on the computer and her face paled. He continued:
"Don't you think I have earned a vacation?"
She nodded, her second arms, which turned out to be insect-like wings fluttered for a moment.
"Just find me the oldest ship, I fly the damn thing straight up and jump out before I leave orbit."
She looked up from her computer, her eyes wide.
"That's still insane."
It was his turn to be a little annoyed.
"You don't live as long as I have without going a little insane. I'll make sure I am seen on a camera taking off, boom, we both get what we want."
She nodded her head once again and spoke:
"So what do you need in the meantime?"
He looked at her, his eyebrows up questioningly.
"Why do you think I am at the employment desk?"
She massaged her temple, trying to quell the beginnings
"I need a name to write down for the job."
Arthur began rubbing his eyes in thought, he's used a lot of different names over the years.
"Just... just put down Larry... Larry Oldman."
She looked at him, mockingly.
"Larry Old man?"
He looked at her questioningly.
"Yes, what in the world could be wrong with that?"
She looked away from him, a light smile on her face.
"Oh it's nothing... I could just shit out a better name though."
He placed his head on the desk and fully extended his arms onto it.
"Please just put it in the system, I know it's terrible."
She chuckled.
"I guess it fits, given your record of service."
He looked up.
"What was that?"
She hastily began typing, filling out the necessary paperwork to get him employment. He turned away from her, leaning against the desk with his elbows.
'That really was a terrible name, huh?'