The United Coalition of Northern Starspace

"Black Warrior of the Northern Realm." Alekai mumbled, mostly to himself. It sounded so strange, the appellation.

"The Black Warrior of the Northern Realm is an ancient legend, some of it badly misunderstood...some of it patently false. At the core of it, however, is a shining truth."

"The Black Warrior is a defender of the people living in the Northern Realm."

He turned to Jesse. "Do you have a star chart of that section of space as seen from Earth?"

Jesse nodded. She concentrated on something and waved her hand.

A 3D sphere showing a small section of space appeared at the center of the table. It was barely visible and Alekai leaned in to take a closer look.

"It's too bright in here." Tom jumped up and closed all the blinds.

Immediately, the points of lights twinkling at the center of the table could be clearly seen*. Jesse reached out and moved the sphere so it was oriented towards Alekai.

"This is what you see from Earth. It's called Black Warrior."

She pointed to the various points of light. "You see how these stars make up the turtle?"

Alekai squinted. "Not really."

Jesse laughed. "It's okay. From other planets it looks more tortoiselike. On Earth, not so much, but trust me, it's turtle-shaped."

She pointed to another set of stars. "That over there is the snake. See it?"

Alekai shook his head. He could not see it at all. As a connect-the-dots picture, it was miserable. How that could possibly be a snake, Alekai could not imagine.

Jesse laughed. "I'm glad you can't see it because I can't see it either. We've just all been told that it's a representation of a tortoise and a snake, and nobody has ever challenged that assertion before."

He sighed with relief. At least he wasn't the only one who couldn't see what was supposed to be something supposedly observable.

"But remember, this is a constellation that was brought here from another world where the snake and turtle is very clearly seen if you stand on that world, looking up at the night sky."

He clicked his tongue with frustration. "Tch. So we're getting this second-hand information from some aliens standing on another world looking up at points of lights that make up a real constellation in their backyard?"

Jesse shook her head. "Don't think of it that way. What you're getting is the actual grouping of stars that make up the various members of the United Coalition of Starspace that rule the Northern Realm."

"Ah. So the turtle and snake thing is just a symbol for this—this united star group?"

Jesse laughed. "Wrong again. The turtle and snake symbol is a representation for two of hundreds of ruling worlds of the United Coalition. These two specific worlds are comprised of the turtle people and the snake people."

Alekai rolled his eyes. "Turtle and snake. Those are just ancient myths from some ignorant cave dwellers who barely knew how to control fire so they could keep warm and cook food."

Jesse stood up and towered over him in all her 5-foot glory. "You're a snake and I'm a turtle. Do we look like myths to you?"

Alekai said nothing. Even if he did not believe that she was a turtle, there was no denying he was turning into a snake.

Jesse snapped a finger and the sphere disappeared.

At the same moment, the oven timer gave a DING.

Tom Duncan threw back his head and drained the last of his second beer.

He got up and waddled over to the oven, stuck on a mitt, and pulled out the pan filled with various golden pieces of finger-foods. He placed all of the items on a large platter and set them on the table in front of them.

Alekai's stomach began to growl as the familiar mouth-watering scent of the hot foods began wafting in his direction.

"Well, I reckon you kids must be hungry by now." Tom began pulling out some plates from a side buffet.

"There's some chimichangas, some egg rolls, some small pizza pockets, and some tamales."

Jesse squealed with delight. "Oooh! You're such a good cook!"

Alekai laughed. "He's no cook. He just sticks frozen food into the oven and bakes them till they're hot."

Tom grimaced as he walked around and raised the shades, letting the bright sunshine in.

"Well it worked, didn't it? Been feeding ya all yer life. Look how big and tall you've gotten."

"It's got nothing to do with you, old man." Alekai mumbled around a mouthful of tamales. "It's genetics."

"Genetics my rump."

Alekai rolled his eyes. "You ate the same things I did didn't you. How come you're so short?"

Tom scrunched up his face. "Ungrateful bastard…I should'a just buried your little egg ten feet under so you couldn't crawl out after you hatched."

Then he turned towards Jesse. "I'm done with this boy. Don't you have something you're supposed to give me?"

Jesse smiled. "Ah yes."

She reached into empty space and pulled out another box. "Grandma says thank you for such a good job taking care of Alekai all these years. Here is your payment."

Tom Duncan jumped up into the air, shouting. "Yes!!! I'm finally free! Thank God Almighty, I'm free at last!"

Tom grabbed the box with greedy fingers. He tore open the box and pulled out a flat disc-shaped object the size of a large cookie.

The disc was on a ball chain which he promptly slipped over his head.

At Alekai's questioning gaze, he grinned and touched the disc with gentle hands. "This is a kind of…hmmm, how shall I explain it."

He snapped his fingers. "It's a universal passport!"

Alekai shook his head. "Your payment is a passport?"

Tom Duncan laughed and shook his head. "No, no. This has always been mine. The payment is that I finally got it back!"

Jesse turned to Alekai, her white teeth flashing. "He was a convicted felon. He has finally finished serving his sentence and he's been granted his freedom."

"Wait," Alekai raised a hand in protest. "You people handed me over to a convicted felon???"