Talking Ships and Secret Missions

This episode shares a letter from Hum about his visit to the gate of dragons with Bert, and their search for answers about Chester. But the dragons no longer wish to help the beacons. Will they still choose to listen to Hum and Bert? And why have the dragons suddenly stopped wanting to travel the universe? 

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Transcript

The Star Jelly Files

Episode Nine

Talking Ships and Secret Missions

Hello Everyone. Before I turn things over to Astra, we have some exciting news. The Star Jelly Files podcast store is now live! To check out our selection of shirts and accessories visit us at www.starjellyfiles.com and click on our link for the store at the top of the page. 

Now onward to this week’s episode.

Hello Everyone and welcome back to this week’s episode of the Star Jelly Files. Last week you heard from Clara about how she met her accomplice, and why she moved forward with them. After that meeting the rest of the bacons present fought for hours about how to move forward. Those who believed Clara were in favor of moving quickly to act against Chester, or Phineas as he was once called, and capture him with her help. Those who still thought Clara was lying, or at least still not as trustworthy as she could be, were in favor of taking a different approach. Capture Clara and use her to draw Chester out to save her so they could lock them both away. Vi, Linc, and Fall wanted to capture Clara that very night. Bert and Walter wanted to leave and find out how Chester was sneaking from planet-to-planet unseen. Hum liked neither plan, thinking they were both too rash and shortsighted, and wanted to seek out additional advice from the other council members and me. Vi, Linc, and Fall did not capture Clara that night. Hum snuck her away to my home before they had the chance. So, they left Bert’s house to confront me and attempt to move their plan forward. Knowing Clara was safe for a while longer Bert and Walter moved forward with their plan to seek out information about how the Chester was world hopping. They prepared to board a ship and l find their answers. 

This week’s letter is from Hum about his journey after he dropped Clara off at my house. About his journey to the dragon world. His letter arrived to me in a small sapphire encrusted jelly jar, and stored on a digital stone tablet.

Letter from Hum about his visit to the dragon home world. To Al’s home world. 

Hello Astra, 

Here is my account of our visit to the dragon home world. Although I believe you know most of this already. I also believe you are the reason I ended up there in the first place. I can’t imagine another way in which this journey would have happened without your permission. I do not know that you will find much surprising in this account. We both know how secretive the dragons have become with time, and how frustrated with us they became when we closed the routes of travel they had used for so long. Although they are not a cruel society or beings, they know what they want, and get frustrated when they see no way forward. 

My journey to the dragon world began the same day that I dropped Clara off at your home. Earlier in the evening I had one last argument with Bert and Walter about going with them on their journey. They intended to go to the Dragon home world to question Al and his world’s leaders about their means of travel, and it they had been helping Chester. I made the decision not to go. I did not think my particular skill set would be needed, and I wasn’t confident that was the best course of action anyway. The likely hood that Chester was traveling with the dragons was low. We would have heard talk about it if they were traveling with a beacon as they treasure hunted across the universe. So, I told Bert and Walter a final “no” and went to bed for the evening. With the plan to speak with you in the morning about what other options we might have. 

My account after that point picks up in the middle of the night after what I thought was a few hours of sleep. 

I had woken up in a soundless, pitch-black room. The light of the moon that usually shone through your windows was gone, and the sounds of the forest missing. All that was left was the sound of my heartbeat in my ears. I was still tucked beneath my wool blanket as far as I could tell, warm and comfortable, but my bed felt like it was rocking me back and forth as if it was riding on a crest of water. 

“Hello?” I spoke quietly. Holding my body still and straining my ears in an attempt to hear the slightest noise.  

Nothing happened. No mysterious voice responded to me from out of the darkness, but that didn’t mean I was alone. My heart began to race as the rocking sensation increased, and my eyes failed to adjust to the darkness. Your home world was never this dark, and my bed never rocked me to sleep. I tried to sit up and make my way to the window to see what had happened to the moon, and my racing heart catapulted into a panic that rapidly filled my chest.  My hands and feet were bound to each other. I could not move more than a few inches one way or the other. I stilled myself in an attempt to calm my panic and take stock of my situation. The first though I had was that Chester had found us, and that he was far more powerful than I gave him credit for.

I couldn’t see, but I could feel my surroundings. I decided to start there. I laid my cheek back down against my bed. No. Not my bed. I should have been able to tell that sooner if I had been paying any attention at all. I was laying on a soft and fluffy floor that vibrated slightly against my skin.  I wasn’t in your home. So, I had been brought somewhere else after I had gone to sleep. 

I sighed. I was getting way too old for this. Once someone reached the age of 2,312 they should be exempt from having to deal with things like kidnappings, and adventures I thought. Although I also had to admit that I should have been more prepared for this possibility. I had been a protector of the multiverse for most of my life. Working to bring healing to the worlds I came in contact with. Even fighting in a few battles here and there.  I should have been able to prevent myself from being captured in the middle of the night. Evidently, I had gotten lazy over the past few years.  

I pulled on my restraints again with little success. “Hello! I am awake if you are interested in talking to me,” I yelled out into the darkness. 

I was briefly relived when a soft voice began to swim through my mind. I’m sorry. Your call cannot be completed at this time. Please try again later. Also, you are WAY older than 2,312. 

I froze in a moment of shock. I hadn’t thought what had happened was possible. I hadn’t been abducted by a ship ever. Not once during my time as a beacon. But whether I could believe it or not I was flying somewhere across the universe aboard Fred, and apparently, he wasn’t in the mood to help me. I had to figure out who had taken me captive. If I was on board Fred, I was in more trouble then I wanted to be. I leaned forward and shook my shoulders in an effort to remove my blanket, so I could get better leverage to break my hands and legs free. It would be better if I was freed from my bindings before my captor decided to come say Hi. I continued to wiggle my shoulders back and forth. The blanket slowly slid down my chest, and a clear view of my hands surprisingly came into view. A thin cord was wrapped around my arms from elbow to wrist, and around a small hook that stuck out from the fibers of the carpet. 

My eyes were dazzled by the soft pink light the cord produced. It shimmered against my sage colored skin and produced small bursts of stardust as I shifted my arms back and forth.  The cord didn’t hurt. It emitted a sense of warmth like one would receive from laying underneath a warm sun. but it would be impossible to break. It was designed to capture a beacon. To stop us shifting from form to form. Only a few beings knew how to use that type of technology. The presence of the ropes narrowed my list of captors considerably. I shook my legs a few times to further shift my blanket away and realized I had the same problem there. I was wrapped from knee to ankle in celestial rope. Completely unbreakable, except by those who tied the knots. I wasn’t going to be escaping anytime soon. But to my benefit, the soft light from the rope enlightened me to the interior of the room I was in. 

I was laying on the floor of a pink shag carpeted room with bright yellow walls. Light blue metal slats were placed across the windows that ran along the side of the walls, and a tall wooden door sat at each end of the long rectangular room. 

 “Fred! Answer me! I know you are listening! Why am I tied up? Who brought me here?” I laid back down and scowled up at the ceiling. “Fred! Come on! I thought we were friends! You can’t just read my mind and then choose to ignore me!”

I’m sorry. I thought we stopped being friends when you died. I don’t speak to the dead, and I can read your mind if I want to thought Fred. 

To most beings, Fred looks like a five-car railway train from Earth. He is made of sapphire metal, and has giant golden sails attached to the bottom of his cars that catch the currents of space. Fred was created by a grouping of beacons many many years ago to travel during their missions. I was one of those beacons, and in turn Fred had become a close friend. The fact that I was aboard Fred and he wasn’t talking to me was obnoxious. The fact that he wasn’t telling me who kidnapped me even more so. Whomever had kidnapped me was someone I knew, at some point in my life was a friend, and was in turn also a friend of Fred. Fred only allowed those that built him to set his destination, and to speak mind to mind with him. Fred was choosing to keep me in the dark. Literally. 

“Fred I’m not dead. I’m sitting right here. In the dark. In this extremely ugly room!” I yelled up at him. I didn’t need to speak aloud to him. He had been reading my thoughts since I got on board, but it made me feel better to yell. 

You died approximately three hundred years ago according to all records and testimonials. At least you told everyone you were dead thought Fred in his annoyingly calm voice. And the room isn’t ugly. I decorated it myself. 

I ignored his attempt to distract me by arguing about his decorating skills. That argument wasn’t going to get me anywhere. “Will you stop being ridiculous? You know my death announcement was fake. I told you that before I left. Why—” I stopped speaking abruptly as a light came on in the hallway and snuck its way under the tall wooden door at the far end of the car. The smell of hot chocolate began to permeate the room. I leaned back down against the floor, closed my right eye, and peered underneath the crack between the floor and the door. I yelled at the figure that was working its way down the ugly pink-carpeted hallway. “You know; you didn’t need to abduct me and make Fred lock me up in a dark room. You could have just knocked on my bedroom door and invited me to wherever we are going. Let me guess you also used the ridiculous beam of light to pull me out my bedroom window?” 

The figure stopped on the other side of the door. Their bright red sneakers blocking most of the light. “I didn’t make Fred do anything. He came up with the idea for your bedroom himself. Furthermore, if I had shown up at your door at two in the morning you would have just said no again. That you were too tired, or too busy, or not in the mood to go out, or you wanted more advice, or some other nonsense” she said.

It was Bert, and she was right, but I wasn’t about to admit that. “No” I snarled. I didn’t like being accused of not being willing to hear someone out.  “I may have said yes, if you had said please. Even if I had said no already”

Bert opened the door, turned on the lights, and stepped over me. I saw the blurry shape of her moving to sit cross legged on the floor next to my head. As my eyes cleared, I could see her face calmly displaying the wry smile that most of her friends knew meant trouble. I was also surprised to see that she had let go of her human form and taken on her form from her home world. Something I had not seen her do since she was stationed on earth. She leaned over me, allowing her dark plum-colored hair to create curtains around her rounded face, and cover most of the light brown spots that were speckled across her boysenberry-colored skin. Her golden eyes bored into mine as she said, “do you want some hot chocolate?” 

I rolled up into as much of a sitting position as I could manage. So instead of staring at her knees, I could sit at eye level with her. “Does the council know you stole Fred?” 

I’m not stolen thought Fred. Interrupting my attempt to reprimand Bert.

Bert smiled. “The council gave me permission to borrow him, thank you very much.” She quickly stood back up and continued to smile down at me. 

Although most of the letters about the council so far have talked about us participating in the prevention of wars and battles, I think it is important to note here Astra, for your listeners, a quality about us that is more of who we are. The council is a group of beings from all over the multiverse that works to help prevent war, yes. But we spend most of our time helping to prevent and heal illness and other general problems when they arise on different worlds, and teaching those who want to learn about the universe. We are healers at heart. Fred was built for healing missions. I didn’t think the council would simply lend Fred out to Bert for a kidnapping mission, or some trip for whimsies sake. Especially since half of the council wanted to spend their time hunting for Clara. If they let her borrow Fred, I had been dragged into an official mission set by Astra. My first in three hundred years. I suppose I should also mention that even though I have spent time visiting worlds, and Bert over the past years, until I returned to earth to address the recent growing dangers, I had been somewhat retired. Spending my time traveling on my own. This trip would be the first in a long while that I had not planned.

“Hey Captain Negative, are you at least going to ask me how I got you from your bed to this room without you waking up. It’s a pretty cool story,” said Bert as she leaned against a wall and continued to look down at me. 

I hated when she used terms like captain negative. It was her fault the nickname had stuck in the first place. Even though Bert was older than me, she still acted like she was only 200. It drove me crazy.  I pulled against my restraints and tried to reach for her pant leg. “I AM NOT CAPTAIN NEGATIVE! I am the one who was KIDNAPPED in the dead of night by YOU!” 

We could call you Captain Pessimistic if you would prefer? Thought Fred.  I couldn’t tell if Fred was mocking me or if he was actually recommending the name change. 

Bert laughed. “Hum, you have two choices. You can stay tied up and go with me on a mission, or I can untie you and you can go on a mission. You cannot go home.” Bert took a sip of her hot chocolate. “Fred would be sad if you left now, and frankly it’s too late. We are off world, and unless you plan to swim through space to get back to Astra’s house your stuck. So, your choice. Ropes or no ropes?”

I stared at her. My indigo eyes widening with shock. “How long was I asleep!” I said If we were already off world and far enough out into space that I had no escape options, I had been unconscious for much longer than a night.

She leaned back over me, her knee almost escaping from the gaping hole in her jeans, her face barely containing the laugh that was dancing in her eyes. “Three days.” She said.

Three days, two hours, forty-two minutes, and thirty seconds. You snore a lot by the way, thought Fred. 

I glared up at Bert since I couldn’t really glare at Fred. She bent down and placed the palm of her hand against the cords that bound my legs. The cords slowly dissolved into a cloud of dust. “Let’s go with no ropes,” Bert said with a smile.

I stood up and stretched. Being asleep for three days had made my muscles tense. Just as my realization that I had been kidnapped by Bert had made my mind anxious. Bert sat perched on one of the fluffy chairs that had been behind me in the room. Her brow was furrowed in a moment of thought. Maybe she, like me, was deciding if I was going to throw her out one of the train windows. I walked towards her chair and snatched her hot chocolate from her hands. “Since I am going with you, willing or not, what is this mission that I am so desperately needed for.” I said.

She shifted in her chair slightly so she could see my face better. I am over seven feet tall, so she had to look almost to the ceiling to meet my eyes. “You know the mission. We are going to the dragon world to question them about Chester and his travels. You need to go with us,” she said.

I held up my hand with my palm facing towards her. “Stop. I already told you I didn’t think this trip was worth it. Besides I have never been a part of questioning beings’ missions. That is your job. I have always been involved in research and planning and stealth missions. This is not a good fit for me,” I said.

“Well like it or not you are going. This was one of your worlds to protect after all before you tried to retire. Even though you tried to abandon it you need to be there. Especially as their current beacon is a certain someone named Chester that we can’t trust,” she said. Anger had begun to flush her face and cause her skin to shift to a deeper color of purple. 

Although we spent lots of time together on earth. I was realizing for the first time that she hadn’t forgiven me. Although abandoned was too strong of a word in my opinion. I may have faked my own death to retire from watching over certain worlds, but it wasn’t to abandon anyone. Everyone in the council knew I was still alive. I was just attempting to escape from the never-ending demands for consults, advice, and missions from all the worlds I had come to know. I needed time to myself. They all knew why and agreed to repeat my cover story. The story of my death. Even Fred agreed to help. How exactly that was considered abandonment was beyond me. Especially in that moment as my own anger began to rise and curiosity began to grow. 

Bert interrupted my train of thought with a huff of air. “Listen, if Chester is endangering this world and endangering Al’s people we need to help. It is the only logical way forward. IF nothing else we can at least rule out the fact that Chester has been using their resources to travel. Time well spent. I have had my suspicions about this for a while. Ever since I found Al on earth at the garage sale. So, I asked Fred to do some initial research, but he hasn’t found much. We need to go there and check ourselves. Also, there is something else to consider. I had a communication from one of the dragon leaders last night. One of your apprentices is on their world being held captive by Al. He caught them trying to sneak on world to look for you. So are you going to abandon them, the dragons and your apprentice, again” asked Bert as she stared up at me. Her smile gone. Waiting for me to challenge her claim of abandonment, her request for assistance.

I ignored her challenge. I wasn’t going to defend my choices to her. I already had years ago after we spent days arguing about how she thought I was wrong about everything. How she thought I would step in while she was away protecting Clara. I ran my hand through my long silver hair. If it was one of my old apprentices that was in danger somehow, I should at least consider rescuing them. Each member of the council had apprentices shadow their work in the hopes that they would take over their roles when the time for retirement came around. No one could work forever. No matter how much they wanted to. Unfortunately, when I left my post early, none of my apprentices were quite old enough to take over. So, if they were trying to find me, something more must be wrong on that world. Bert was right. Even if I hadn’t been there in a while, if I have been away and retired, I couldn’t just let them fall victim to something I could stop. I should have realized that on Earth when Bert and I were first arguing about the trip. Although to be fair she didn’t share all the information with me then. But maybe she shouldn’t have had to.

Yes, you should rescue them. It is your job thought Fred as he announced my thoughts to the room.

“Fred, stop telling Bert what I am thinking. It is rude,” I said as I turned towards Bert. “Something isn’t right about the story you’re telling me Bert. Al has kidnapped an apprentice?” I asked warily waiting for her to object to my questions. “Al? We are rescuing an apprentice from Al? He would never harm any trespasser under the age of five hundred. He sees them as students, as children. Plus, he is our friend, your friend. If he knew about Chester he would have told you already” I continued.

The anger had faded from Bert, and wrinkles started to appear around her eyes as she scrunched up her face in concern. “Apparently not this time. He sent a decree to Astra saying that the apprentice will be put to death. We are not sure if this is Chester setting a trap or something else, but Astra decided we need to go check either way,” Bert said as tears began to form at the edges of her eyes. Was she starting to cry?  Bert never showed emotion unless she had to. If she was that upset, something was truly wrong.

 “So, I told Fred we would pick you up, and bring you with us at all costs even if you wouldn’t accept our initial arguments. I was hoping you would agree on earth after hearing Clara’s story. Would understand how Chester can sneak into places he shouldn’t be, but you were being stubborn as usual,” Bert continued as she gazed up at me waiting for a response. 

I didn’t have one. I was flabbergasted. Al and his people had been known to be aggressive about their territory, but never to children, never towards us. Most beings know the dragons as explorers, and those who travel to collect things from each world they enjoy. But only the oldest worlds remember that the dragons had a greater place in the universe. They had been charged with the task of protecting the place where all ocean creatures were born before they were sent to their respective worlds. They took up the task valiantly, peacefully, and even built a giant wall and gate to protect that area of space from wanderers and danger alike. Always leaving one of their own behind to guard the gate. The Gate of Dragons as it had long ago been named by travelers. The dragons themselves were peaceful creatures, guarding the treasures of the universe, even if their reputation had become tarnished over time. 

Long ago, Als people often visited other worlds and fell into the lore that was created. Often pictured or described as large fierce beasts that stole treasure from the locals and killed for pleasure. However, even though the descriptions of what they looked like were very accurate, their demeanor was always described falsely. Large four-legged creatures with long tales and claws they were, most of the time, but they were more accurately described as galactic archeologist rather than blood thirsty beasts. Most of Al’s kind still roamed the galaxy collecting artifacts and data to share. But obviously something had change, and drastically. As in the past couple of weeks. Bert had just had tea with Al a few weeks ago. “Who is the apprentice,” I asked Bert softly. 

 Bert stood up from her chair and started walking towards the door. “Does it matter? This mission is not a good fit for you.” She pulled the hood of her emerald, green sweatshirt up over her head and pulled the strings tight as she walked towards the door. Effectively hiding her face from me. 

We think its Fall’s daughter thought Fred after a long pause. Filling in the silence Bert had left hanging in the air. Speaking the words Bert would not.

Bert began to walk out the door and I turned to follow her. Bert was right. I could not abandon this mission, and I understood now why she hadn’t told me all the details back on earth. Fall had already lost his world. If he were to lose his daughter to Chester too, I don’t think he would survive it. He also was not the right person to send after her. We don’t know yet if the dragons are truly angry, or if something else is going on. I don’t think Fall would have the self-control to go in peacefully to find out. Nor would most of the beacons at this point. If there was any chance that the captured apprentice was Fall’s daughter I had to help. “Okay what’s the plan?” I asked.

Bert stopped and placed her hand on the yellow wall as if to hold herself up. “We are going to try and make a trade for her,” Bert yelled back over her shoulder as she opened the first door of the airlock that lead to the next car of the train. A whoosh of air blew her back a few steps. Her hair whipping across her face as she stepped without hesitation out into the gap between the two train cars. The void of space expanding in all directions around her. A small metal platform the only thing guiding her to the next car. “Do you have any ideas about what we should trade?” she asked as she pushed against the wind making her way towards the airlock door for the next car. 

“I assumed you already had a plan,” I said with a huff in my voice as I followed her over the gap. 

We walked into the second car of Fred, which was currently the navigation room. As I stepped over the threshold the airlock door closed with a thud behind me, and Fred’s voice streamed into my mind again.

Look who is finally awake. Welcome back! Thought Fred.

Apparently, Fred had decided I was to be considered alive now that I had agreed to go on the mission, and that I finally deserved a formal welcome.  Over time Fred had developed his own odd sense of humor. He probably thought it was entertaining that Bert had captured me so thoroughly. “Thanks Fred,” I said as I rolled my eyes and began to examine the navigation car. “I see the two of you have been redecorating.”

Yes, Bert and I have been keeping busy while you have been getting your beauty sleep, Fred thought dryly into my mind.

The last time I had been on board, the navigation car had been a simple room filled with a variety of space fairing instrument that each of us had picked up over the years. A silver global compass on one table, star charts scattered across another.  Now it had been modernized to meet the latest trends that Fred had come into contact with during his most recent travels.  The decorations had remained the same over the years. A warn wooden floor and tall wooden doors at each end of the room. Dark blue painted walls with a ceiling completely made of glass. But now, instead of long wooden tables covered with piles of charts, the left-hand side of the car held a fleet of newly installed computer stations that still smelled of freshly fused metal and plastic. Each displayed the star charts for the void of space we were currently in and gave off a golden glow and a soft buzz as if inviting me to sit down and use them. I walked instead to the other side of the room and took a seat at one of the long wooden tables that contained the silver instruments we used for navigation in the olden days. Each spinning, turning, and whirring indicating the motion and direction of Fred. 

Bert walked across the car and sat in the seat next to me. “You still prefer the old navigation methods I see,” as she pick up a spiraled piece of metal that was vibrating slightly. 

“I prefer to use the tools that I know work, and that like me. So, what do you think would be a worthwhile trade for Al to even consider releasing a trespasser to us?” I asked as I leaned back in my chair. Settling into the familiar curves.

We are going to visit Al? That seems like a bad decision thought Fred.

“I wasn’t asking you Fred. I was asking Bert,” I said looking out across the room as if I could spot Fred sitting in the room with us. “Why are you playing dumb? You already know the plan.”  I said.

Bert began to laugh. The signs of concern briefly leaving her face. “We have been arguing about this for a few weeks. I don’t know why he is acting so —”

I was trying to get Hum’s opinion without your influence, thank you very much. But since you have ruined that game, I will get straight to my point. Al is unpredictable because he is old, irrational, and loyal. He is best left alone and to his own devices. Fred thought in a rush of words. Although Hum may be more irrational than Al now. You know since he is technically dead. So maybe we would have an advantage He continued.

Fred had a fair point. Al is certainly loyal. As his people built the Gate of Dragons, and watched over the ocean, his people had become very serious about their responsibility, if not compulsive. “Just because he is committed to his job doesn’t mean he won’t negotiate” I said with a shrug. “As I was saying, what should we trade?”

Just because he is willing to negotiate doesn’t mean he won’t hurt you. I mean I will be perfectly safe. I am only concerned about you and Bert. I don’t want to fly home along after this is all done thought Fred.

“Thanks Fred,” said Bert as she looked out the ceiling windows, watching the stars streak by, and avoiding my gaze. “I was thinking we could add something to his collection.” She said.

“What is he collecting now? Gone are the days of gold coins and jewels. At least last time I talked to him. Five hundred years ago or so,” I said as I tried to angle my chair to get Bert to look at me. 

Bert finally turned to face me. Her eyes sparkling with another wave of laughter. She must have been waiting for this conversation for a while. Waiting to trap me into her master plan. She could barely contain her smile as she said “Last time we talked he showed me his artifacts from the fifteenth universe, from the third planet, year 1978, earth. I believe the locals from that area of space refer to that time as the disco era.” She said.

“Excuse me?” I said as I stared at her with a blank face. “I knew you were spending time with Al and you said he was collecting again, but you could have told me he was collecting disco artifacts. How could you hide this amazing fact from me?” I said.

“Apparently Al loves the music, the clothes, the decorations. He even decorated his home in the style. Mirror balls and all.  So, I figure we might be able to give him something fun. I even programmed Fred with some music from that time just in case we need it during the meeting,” Bert said with a determined look on her face. 

She already had everything planned out. I am just along for the ride. “No. No. we don’t need the music. We can negotiate without it. Although I have to say I am extremely skeptical that we will be able to find any disco artifacts within this void of space. All of the stuff we have stored is on some rather distant planets at this point, and we certainly don’t have the time to travel to the fifteenth universe, and to my knowledge you haven’t really kept anything from that era. Unless you were hiding it somewhere.”  I got up from my chair and started to pace from one end of the room to the other. This was a stupid idea. Fred was right. 

“Well we don’t actually have to go find something to trade. I already have something that should work,” Bert said as she swiveled her chair around to face me.

I spun around. “What do you have?” I asked.

She reached under the navigation table and pulled out a pair of tan leather roller skates. Complete with fluorescent green wheels. The leather was worn and wrinkled, the white shoelaces stained with grass and dirt. “I believe this is the pair of skates you stole from Al last time you saw him?” She asked with raised eyebrows.

HOW had she found these? “That’s ridiculous. The last time I spoke to Al was around five hundred years ago. Roller skates didn’t exist back then, and he was collecting sapphire crystals that long ago,” I said as a flush of red began to appear on my cheeks. 

Bert leaned forward in her chair and placed the skates on the table in front on me. They made a loud clang as the wheels hit the wooden surface. “The last time you spoke to Al was five hundred years ago. The last time you visited him was about forty years ago according to him. Al contacted the council complaining that you had broken into his home and stole a prized position. Were you really that bored with life? That bored with my visits. Or were you taking a hostage to ensure he kept quiet about you actually being alive perhaps? Anyway, Astra stole them from your living room closet awhile back in case we needed them some day.” Bert said.

So, she knew. Bert knew that Al had threatened to tell everyone on his world that I was alive. He had disagreed so strongly when I made the decision in the first place, and I had to take precautions to make sure he stayed quiet as his unrest continued to grow over my decision. “The fact that I stole them is beyond the point,” I said quickly. “How long until we get to the Gate of Dragons.”

Bert got up and walked towards the navigational displays. “Ten hours. Are you sure you don’t want to talk about anything before we get there?” she asked.

I shook my head and turned to look out of the windows on the ceiling. Using the stars as a distraction from my current concerns “No. We will go to the Gate, rescue Fall’s daughter if needed, find out about Chester, and then leave again. Easy. We have everything we need. Something to trade, a way to get there, and information about who Al is holding captive.” I said.

Well now that you two have decided what you want to trade, and have finished arguing while pretending not to, I should tell you that we have received a communication from Astra. Walter and her are taking Clara back to Bert’s house on earth now that everyone else has moved on to other tasks. We are to meet them back there when we are done. Also, she says if Hum is truly unwilling to help that Walter will come meet us and they can trade places thought Fred. 

“Well I guess you are off the hook then Hum. I will make plans to continue on when Walter gets here,” said Bert as she turned to leave the room.

 “Wait.” I said as I reached out and grabbed her arm, preventing her from leaving the room. “Who says I’m not still going to help you?” I said.

True anger finally came to the surface of Bert’s face. Her eyes narrowed, and she pressed her lips together. “Look” she said as she threw my hand away from her and backed away a few steps. “We both know the only reason you are here is because I abducted you, and that the only reason you stayed is because you felt guilty about abandoning Fall. Now that Walter can be here too you can leave.” Bert turned and walked out the door.

I almost left. Bert was right. The only reason I initially stayed was for Fall. I sulked in my chair for hours, avoiding Bert, and trying to think my way out of my situation. All I could think about was why I had left all those years ago. I truly thought everyone had understood at the time. 

Just because we understood, doesn’t mean we agreed with your choices, thought Fred as he interrupted the turmoil running through my mind. 

The day I decided to leave the council, to leave my responsibilities behind, was the day I found out that my entire family was gone. Killed in a civil war. Trying to prevent a civil war that wasn’t even theirs. Ours. My wife, my four daughters, my two sons. All gone in a moment. I decided in that same moment that I owed the multiverse no more. So, I left. Allowing the council to cover my tracks. As a result, I had spent the last three hundred years virtually alone. 

You didn’t have to spend it alone. You could have hung out with me. I would even have built you your own room. Bright green shag carpet included, free of charge. You are the one who imposed self-isolation continued Fred.  Do you want me to find you a way to earth? He asked.

“I’ll stay. It’s the right decision for Bert and Fall,” I said as I continued to sulk. 

And for you thought Fred as a soft breeze rushed into the car as Bert opened one of the doors and slid in. 

“Still brooding I see? Well?  Have you at least made a decision about what you are going to do? We are almost at the Gate, and I need to know what my resources are. You included,” Bert said as she leaned against the wall. 

“I will help you finish this mission. But, you will not tell Al I am on board. If he finds out he will tell everyone else in the galaxy that I am alive as retaliation for my involvement, and possibly take ME captive for stealing his property. I can’t have that.” I said. 

“Deal” Bert said as she walked back out of the car. 

We arrived at the Gate of Dragons in the middle of the night. Bert and I stood at one of the windows watching the gate rise above us as we pulled in front of it. The gate itself sat on the edge of a vast ocean that flowed up to and over the edge of the old rock wall that encompassed it. Much of the ocean water escaping over the edge of the stone wall creating a vast waterfall dropping into nothing but a sea of stars. The Gate was the only piece of land that was visible. It was a large stone structure that measured fifty feet tall, and every manner of water dwelling creature was carved into the stonework. Blue and green gems placed throughout the sculptures sparkled underneath the light of the four amber colored moons that floated overhead.  Fred parked himself right in front of the gate. Blue and white waves washed up over his golden sails as the train came to a complete stop. 

“Remember I am not here” I said to Bert as she moved to open the door and step out into the water.

And remember I am thought Fred.

“I know” she snapped as she glanced over her shoulder at me as if it was my fault Fred had suddenly become so sassy. “You better duck down then and only peek out the window. You are too tall for him not to see you lurking in the doorway.” She said.

I held my breath as I watched Bert step out of Fred and wade up onto the stone floor that was awash with salt water. Her jeans soaking up the icy waves with each step she took towards the gate. Bert began glancing around her as creatures began to peer at her from around the gate, and over the edges of the stone wall. Ocean creatures, some as small as a coin, some as large as a mountain, that were curious about who was coming to visit them. The ocean creatures never feared a visitor. It was the Dragons who feared for them. 

Bert stepped on to the stairs, the pair of roller skates slung over her shoulder swaying slighting as she worked her way upwards. She knocked firmly on the door that was carved from glassy black stone. “Al? Are you home?” she yelled up at the doors. “I have a gift for you.”

Some of the ocean creatures made a low rumbling sound as her knock echoed through the quiet of the night, as if they were letting Al know there was someone at the door. 

The large door opened ever so slowly and slightly. Allowing only enough room for an eye to appear between the crack that was created. The eye was a deep yellow color and was surrounded by black and green scales that reflected the moonlight. It was Al. Or At least Al’s eye. “Bert we both know you aren’t here to give me a gift. You want the girl,” Al said while peering at Bert through the crack in the door. His eye lingering on the roller skate that Bert was now holding out towards him. “Go back to Fred and leave. I will not give her to you. But if you want to leave those on the doorstep, I will retrieve them later.” He said.

HI AL! Thought Fred very loudly out his side door. As if he was trying to make sure Al saw me.

“Hello Fred” said Al with what sounded like a smile, but his focus remained on Bert. 

Bert took a step forward and leaned on the door. Purposefully avoiding looking back at Fred and me. “Al, what happened. We saw each other a few days ago. Why didn’t you tell me something was wrong? Let me in and let’s talk. I know Fall’s daughter may have broken a treaty agreement when coming here to look for Hum, but we can talk through that.”  She said. 

Al pulled back from the door and opened it wider causing Bert to stumble. I could now see his whole face. The long snout, the tall pointed ears, and the second large eye that was narrowing in concern at what Bert had just said. “You don’t understand what is going on. I was called home. No one else but our community is to be let in. I can’t talk now.” He said. 

“She broke the treaty agreement. You are doing your job. I understand that. What would you like me to say?” Bert said as she pushed her long hair out of her face. “I can’t fix this if you don’t let me help. Let us come inside.” She said. 

“The only beings allowed inside are us, and those who wish to be buried here,” Al said slowly as he looked up at Fred. He knew I was there.

I ducked down lower below the window to ensure that Al caught no glimpse of me, and heard Bert continue her conversation. “There is someone who wishes to be buried at the base of the ocean. It was their dying request, and I have come to fulfill it. Will you let us inside,” she asked.

WHAT was Bert talking about? This was not the plan. The plan was to make a trade or to get AL to come outside and talk. I risked another look out the window and saw that Al seemed taken aback at this request. 

His face taking on a look of concern he said loudly, “who has died? I have not heard any reports?”

“Hum” Bert said with her eyes cast down towards the stone steps. Was she smiling?

“Hum may be dead in spirit, but he isn’t dead. He faked his death. I was there. We argued. Epically if I remember correctly. What game are you playing?” asked Al as he took a step back from Bert and prepared to close the gate in her face. It sounded as if someone inside was calling him away. A faint voice that I couldn’t make out but hopefully Bert would be able to.

Bert reached out in an attempt to prevent Al from closing the door. Pressing her arm up against the heavy stone. “Yes, it is true he faked his death, but he has also died. He died three days ago.” Bert ran her hand across her eyes as if brushing away a stray tear. “With his last breath he requested to be buried here, by you if possible, and to give you back these skates.” She said. 

“Prove it,” said Al bluntly as he stared at Bert. Bert’s fake tears weren’t fooling him either. Or he thought they weren’t fooling whoever else was inside with him.

“Aren’t these skates proof enough? Didn’t Hum steal them from you?” said Bert as she held out the skates again.

“For all I know Hum could have lent them to you for this mission of yours, to rescue Fall’s daughter,” said Al as he pushed more forcefully to close the door. Bert’s arm began to buckle under the pressure.

I had to act fast if I was going to help Bert play out this crazy plane to get in the Gate. “Fred tell Bert to come back to the train for a minute. Tell her to tell Al that she can produce my body as proof,” I whispered at the floor of the train. 

“Listen Al,” I could hear Bert say from my place on the train floor. “I have Hum’s body. Let me go get it.” She said. Fred either had communicated my message, or Bert had her own ideas about what she wanted to do next.

“If that is true I will come help you. Let’s go,” said Al as he walked out from the gate, closed it firmly behind him, and started to walk towards Fred. 

 “Fred, quick, do we have any burial blankets on board?” I growled as I began to crawl towards the doorway that lead to the cargo car. 

Yes, Bert has laid some out for you in the navigational car, thought Fred as if he was enjoying my frustration. I believe they are in your favorite colors! he thought. 

So, Bert planned this all along. I knew something was off about her story and plan. A simple trade would never have worked. This was ridiculous. She had yelled at me for pretending to be dead, now she wanted me to play dead. Why didn’t she just tell me from day one what her plan was?

Because you would have argued the whole way here about how you didn’t want to do it thought Fred. And I thought this would be funnier. She agreed. Thought fred. 

“You two are the worst!” I snarled as I crawled quickly to the navigation car, ducking low so no one would see me through the windows. 

Once in the car I stood up and noticed that Bert had in fact laid out a burial blanket on the floor. It was red and silver in color, woven from a soft silk. I could hear footsteps working their way down the hallway. It was likely only Bert, we hadn’t resized Fred so Al could come inside, but he would be listening. Maybe peering an eye down the hallway. I doubted he would shift forms. That was more work than just waiting for Bert to check inside the train. I lay on top of the burial blanket and began to cocoon myself inside.  The car door opened, and I stopped moving. Arms wrapped tight to my chest, and ankles crossed over each other, I closed my eyes and held my breath. My face being all that was left to see.  Bert leaned close to my face and pulled the last folds up over my eyes. She whispered close to my ear, “pleasant journeys.” 

“Why wasn’t his face covered?” Al whispered from right above me. I tried not to jump out of my skin. 

“I wanted to say goodbye one last time,” said Bert. Avoiding looking up at Al who was likely now sticking his head in one of the car windows based on how close his voice sounded. Fred must have opened one for him.  

“He is really gone,” said Al in a softer tone. “I was hoping someday he would come home to us.” Al paused, and we sat in silence for a moment. “Nevertheless,” he said with a sigh, “we will bury him. Drag him down to the door and I will help you carry him inside.” He said. 

Bert complied. Grabbing me by my feet and pulling me down the length of the train towards the opened door. Taking great care to bump me into as may furniture corners and doorframes as possible. We made it to the door. I could smell the ocean air seeping in through the weave of my blanket, and I felt a firm pair of warm clawed hands reach out and wrap their way around my torso. Another set of smaller hands, Bert’s, were cradling my head. Tilting me so that my feet were higher in the air then the rest of my body.

I could feel the spray of water begin to soak through my blanket as we worked our way towards the Gate, and could see the light of the moons blocked out as we crossed underneath the archway of the door. 

The rest of the journey was a little fuzzy. All I could feel was a gentle sway as we walked up or down a hill as Bert and Al made their way towards the cemetery, the occasional gust of wind that blew its way past us. Apparently neither of them was in the mood to talk, because they walked in silence the whole way there. 

The silence was unsettling. Too real in that moment. I wasn’t sure how we were planning to rescue anyone and was hoping Bert knew what we were going to do once we were inside. I wasn’t particularly in the mood to fight Al. I would if I had to, but I was hoping we could avoid it.

I was shaken from my rather unsettling thoughts when I felt myself placed upon the cold sand and heard someone begin to dig. The scrape of the shovel, and the smack of the sand as it was tossed aside. 

“How deep do you want me to dig?” asked Bert from my left. Her voice sounding gruff.

“Eight feet? Isn’t that about average?” asked Al softly.

Bert must have agreed, because she continued to dig without response. After a long while the steady sound of digging suddenly stopped, and I felt my body lifted, then lowered into the newly dug grave. “Wait” said Al gently. “I want to place the roller skates in the grave with him. He liked them enough to steel them. It will be my gift to his memory.” His heavy footsteps faded away.

I began to try and sit up, but Bert forcefully pushed me back down. Was Al coming back? Was this part of the plan? Why hasn’t she said anything to me? A million questions began to run through my head. I had become suddenly very aware of how underprepared I had made myself for this mission by hiding from Bert during our journey. 

FRED! FRED! What’s the rest of Bert’s plan I thought as loudly as I could, hoping that Fred would answer me. I started to move my arms slightly in an attempt to loosen my blankets. Trying to figure out when would be the best time to jump out. Since Bert and Fred weren’t giving me any directions, I would make my own plan, but Als footsteps were returning. I would have to wait until the time felt right.

 I felt the heavy weight of the roller skates placed upon my feet. “Okay let’s finish this task,” said Al.” No need to keep Hum waiting any longer.” He said. 

The shovels resumed, and the heavy weight of sand started landing on my chest. Scape, thud. My legs. Scape, thud. My arms. Scape, thud.  

They are going to bury me alive! I had no idea why Bert was letting this happen, or how long I should wait. The weight grew heavier as more sand was tossed upon me. Starting to build up around my face. Scape, thud. My breathing becoming more difficult. Scape, thud.  I couldn’t take it anymore! Then I felt someone lean close over me. I heard a soft voice near my ear. It was Al.

“Fall’s daughter is working with Chester. She is inside now. What should we do?” asked Al.

I must leave this here Astra. I need to talk to Bert about what we need to share about the next part as she witnessed more of it then I did, but we will be in touch soon.

-       Hum

Well, everyone, I guess we will be waiting till next week to hear more from Hum. Tune in then for another episode of The Star Jelly Files. 

Thank you for listening to this episode of the Star Jelly Files podcast. I hope you enjoyed this episode and that you are having a great day. The Star Jelly Files is written, produced, voice acted, and created by me, Elizabeth Hamblett. If you would like to support the podcast and gain access to bonus content check out my Patreon at www.patreon.com/starjellyfiles. The link is also in the description.

Copyright 2021 Elizabeth Hamblett. All Rights Reserved.