Golden Lion Series: Part I

This is a long story. This is only the start. It's about a large group anthropomorphic animals living on a satellite after Earth has vanished

“Do what you feel in your heart to be right-for you'll be criticized for it anyway. You'll be damned if you do, and damned if you don't.”-Eleanor Roosevelt (1884-1962)

Cain brushed his short blue hair out of his eyes, staring at the early morning city out of his window.

The sun was just beginning to rise over the tops of the dull gray buildings, only to be thwarted by the fog that drifted through the streets silently, reluctant to leave.

Birds flew through the cool, crisp air, twittering daringly on the edges of the tallest buildings. They called out to each other merrily, diving at the dumpsters far below in search of breakfast.

Cain rubbed his eyes wearily, looking at the clock on his bedside table. Six in the morning. He hadn't slept. At all. He yawned, taking the red chip out of the laptop and locking it back in its case with a click. Cain loped down the stairs, stifling a yawn. “Why do I bother having such a big house if I'm all alone?” he mused, stumping his footpaw on a painting that had fallen off the wall some time during the night. “Oh yeah... the Artifacts.”

Cain walked into the kitchen in a half-daze, digging around for the frying pan and setting it on the counter. He cracked two eggs, emptying them into the frying pan. He went about tidying the kitchen until they were ready, wriggling his nose in appreciation of the delicious smells wafting around him.

After he was done eating he put his dishes in the sink, looking around. “Hector?” he called out.

A large mechanical Merlin swooped down from the rafters, landing on the headrest of the chair beside him. “Morning, Cain.” he said. “Sleep well?”

“If by yes, you mean no, then yes.” Cain snorted.

“What about me?” a small blue mechanical orb asked from where it sat on the table.

Hector shook his head. “Agi, you don't even sleep, and neither do I.”

“So?” Agi said. “It doesn't mean I wouldn't like to be asked the question once in a while.”

Cain laughed. “Did you sleep well, Agi?”

“Yes, wonderfully! I dreamt of sheep...or whatever it is you organic beings dream of.” Agi floated off the table and hovered around Cain's shoulder.

“Do I have anything planned today?” Cain asked.

The merlin paused a moment. “Lets see, Melete was supposed to bring over those new Artifacts right about...” he paused for effect, hearing a knock at the front door. “Now.”

Cain groaned. “That's today?” he asked, opening the door. “Hey, Mel.”

Melete mumbled something from behind the mass of boxes she held in her paws.

Cain dragged off the first couple and set them down on the ground, so he could better see the ocelot's face. “What are all these?”

The ocelot grinned, wriggling her ears. “A bunch of old manuscripts about the city.. I thought you'd like them.” she said, setting the rest of the boxes down on the floor, closing the door behind her. “You look horrible, by the way.” she said.

Cain blushed, lowering his ears. “I was up most of the night studying that chip.”

Melete stared at him. “Most of the night?”

“Okay, okay, the entire night.” Cain said. “Is it that obvious?”

“I could pack my closet into the bags under your eyes.” Melete said.

Cain laughed. “Want some breakfast?”

The Ocelot wriggled her whiskers. “Depends... got any bananas?”

Hector swooped low, dropping a banana into her paws. “Already got it!” he said, perching on the railing of the stairs.

Melete peeled the fruit. “Thanks.”

Cain dug into the boxes on the floor, examining the titles written in old, dead languages. “The annals of Eula, being the record of the four cities of the inside ring.” His eyes widened. “If this is an original copy, my gods.. where did you get these?” he asked.

Melete grinned. “You can thank me later. Just tell me, are they authentic? They were to the best of my ability, but you're better at it then I am...”

Cain nodded. “Aye, I think these are the real deal. Which makes this thing about.....”

“A thousand years old?” Melete said.

“Just about. How do you do math so fast?” he asked.

Melete twitched her banded tail , gloating. “It's an acquired skill.”

“I'm going to head on to the museum, you should probably get ready...” she said.

Cain groaned.

“Cheer up!” Melete called out, her banded tail dissapearing around the door frame. “Tomorrow is Friday!”

Fifteen minutes later, Cain rushed out the door, Agi floating on his shoulder. He drove to the Museum, parking in the lot below. He snuck into the door of his office, hoping not to be noticed.

“Cain!” a voice called out.

Cain cursed.

A gray mouse strode up to him, golden earring dangling out of one ear. He was dressed in the outfit of a space rogue, completely black, with simulated grime on his fur. “Late again?”

Cain nodded solemnly in answer to the head curator's question, trying to stifle a laugh at his ridiculous outfit.

The mouse grinned. “Up studying more Artifacts again, eh?”

Cain nodded, breathing a sigh of relief. He was lucky in the fact that he actually liked his job.

“How many times have I told you, rest is more important than any discovery you could possibly make?” the mouse laughed.

Cain laughed as well. “So, Felix, what's with the space pirate suit?”

The mouse picked at the suit. “Oh, this? I thought I'd try a new look for the office.... seriously, though, I'm helping out in the age of Space Piracy exhibit today. Figured I'd best look the part, especially since that one hologram went missing...”

“Have fun with that.” Cain said, walking into his office.

Cain looked around and snorted. It would take a very large, backbreaking stretch to call this place an office.

Old fragmented discs lie on one table. The walls were covered from head to toe with large cabinets, all containing “neatly” filed Artifacts yet to be displayed. The research computer sat in one corner, awaiting orders.

“Hey Art, got that program decoded yet?” Cain asked the computer.

“Yes!” Art replied. “Chapter One: Proper care of your man eating space mucus.” Art paused. “Should I continue?”

Cain sighed. “Another instruction manual. Figures. Maybe another time.”

“How come if Art's proper name is Artifact Research Terminal, he actually does more translation then research?” Agi asked.

“Because I don't have the time to do it myself, and I'm lazy.” Cain admitted.

Agi laughed, a high pitched, mechanical sound.

Cain went to work, organizing and gathering various information. Agi zoomed about, finding various titles and tools. A while later Cain looked up at the clock and blinked. Lunchtime, already?

Cain unlocked his office door, pushing it open. “Odd... I don't remember leaving the lights off...” Cain flipped the switch on the light. Nothing happened. He walked into the room, folding his ears in frustration. “I know I had a flashlight in here somewhere.”

The door creaked shut behind him. “The Freck...” Cain muttered to himself.

The floorboards creaked. “Hello?” Cain called out, stubbing his footpaw on the table.

“Damn it!....Agi, light please!” he called out

Agi turned on her light, casting a pale beam of light through the darkness.

“Pan around.” he said as the floorboards creaked again.

“Cain...”

“Was that you Agi?” Cain asked.

“Nope!” came her high pitched response.

Cain screamed and tripped, falling as Agi's light found someone hiding in the corner. An intruder!

The lights flickered on and Melete fell out from behind the door, laughing. “Your...face!...” she wheezed.

Cain looked around him, taking a better look at the “intruder.” It was only a hologram!

“So this is what happened to the missing space pirate?” Cain said, shaking.

Melete nodded. “Felix more than approved. The old mouse said I could scare you witless with it, long as I brought it back in one piece.”

Cain shook his head. “That mouse always did love a joke.”

Melete walked over, deactivating the hologram and storing it in her pocket.

“You have anything else planned?” Cain asked.

“Well...maybe.” Melete grinned .

“Like what?” he asked.

“I was thinking you, me.. Friday... night on the town?” she said.

Cain wriggled his ears happily. “Sure.”

Melete walked off. “See ya Friday.”

Cain grinned. “Now, if there are no more distractions....” he announced idly to the room. “Back to work.”

Author's Note

I'm semi worried about the dialogue in this. What do you all think? I'm not a fan of adverbs, myself. I tried to cut most them out. I think I failed.