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Sunday, December 11th, 2011

Moon Phase = Waning Gibbous

Once Alex had freshened up and dressed, he left the bathroom to find Shane leaning against the guest room door. His expression was all Alex needed to get that he was still miffed about last night.

“Get in here,” Shane said before opening the door.

“What exactly do you want me to say?” Alex asked.

“Just do it.”

For a moment, Alex feared he was about to lose his access to the monthly ration. “If you’ll at least hint why.”

“Last night.” Shane then pointed into the room. “Move.” As soon as Alex went inside, he shut the door and started talking. “Dad couldn’t convince Mom nothing serious happened last night, so here’s the deal. You’re breaking the news and details to her, and Dad, before you leave.”

Alex relaxed a bit, but Shane’s tone still bothered him. “Fine, but do you honestly believe any of this was on me?”

“You brought one of them here.”

“And if the other hadn’t come into this house, on that one night?”

Shane didn’t respond immediately. “Whatever. Just do what you have to.”

“You didn’t talk your dad into cutting me off, did you?”

“No. That’d be stupid.”

“Good. Just making sure.”

Shane left the room a moment later, and Alex moved to recover Bearmon from the closet. “I heard. Guess we have no choice now.”

“It’ll work out.” Alex and Kudamon then began discussing, in lowered voices, what things to say before leaving the room.

Again Shane was waiting for them, his attention initially on Bearmon, who hid behind Alex’s leg. “In the kitchen,” Shane said with a tilt of his head to the left. He stayed where he was as Alex walked past.

In the kitchen, both Michael and Carol were making breakfast, Michael stopping as Alex came close. His expression was neutral, backing up Shane’s earlier claim. “Morning, Alex.”

“Shane said you needed something from me?”

This time, Carol stopped and looked towards him. “Just an explanation of what happened last night.” Michael said.

Despite what Shane had said, and the fact that Carol had no doubt seen worse, Alex felt some of his confidence wither. “Alright. This may be hard to believe, but something came out of his computer. A physical something.”

“That’s a new one.”

“Was to me too until Friday night. One of these things also came out of my computer.”

“The white one?”

“Yeah.” Alex then pulled the device from his jacket pocket and held it face-up, in response to which, Kudamon left it and stood on his arm.

Carol’s immediate reaction was much like Alex’s mother upon seeing him as a werewolf, except there was more curiosity than horror in her visible expression. Michael however appeared more confused.

“My apologies for worrying you both last night.” Kudamon said. “My intentions were anything but.”

“Wasn’t there another, from Shane’s computer?”

Alex looked down at Bearmon, who gave him a nod. “He’s right here.” Alex continued talking as he made the effort to pick him up, his weight slowing the attempt. “And he’s not dangerous. Just was looking for something and wound up here.”

When Bearmon was lifted into the view of Carol and Michael, he turned his head slightly to look at them before giving a quick wave and a ‘Hello.’ When neither of them responded, Bearmon looked back at Alex. “I didn’t upset them, didn’t I?”

“No, this is normal behavior for the average human.” Kudamon replied from his position atop Alex’s head, before turning his words to Shane’s parents. “I understand you must have many questions. I will answer them as best I can.”

“I’ve got one.” Shane said as he came around Alex’s left. “What exactly are you?”

“AI programs, digital creatures, probably both.” Alex said.

“Correct, on both counts.” Kudamon said.

Shane chuckled in response, but in a way that implied ‘I can’t believe this’.

“Of course, neither of us expected to run into werewolves in this world.”

“Yeah,” Bearmon said. “That scared me.”

“Seriously?” Shane asked, still chuckling.

“It’s not funny. It really did.”

Things went quiet again until Shane stopped chuckling. “So, now that we know all of this…” Michael began.

“Sir, if I may?” Kudamon said. “Keep the word of our existence a secret. Alex was supposed to be the only one who purposefully knew, but due to these circumstances, all of you are now involved.”

“Involved? How?”

“That you know we exist, and that others like us can cross over into this world.”

“From where?”

“The simplest answer would be ‘the internet’, but such crossings are possible anywhere there is electricity flowing.”

“So how much risk are we all in now?”

“No more than before. It was just bad luck that Bearmon came out of a computer in your house on the night of your full moon.”

“And you’re not going back until you see the factory, right?” Shane asked.

Bearmon nodded. “I just want the trip here to be worthwhile, that’s all.”

“Myself, I intend to stay with Alex for a while.” Kudamon said. “And this kind of situation is why.”

“I see.” Michael said.

“Is anything else on your minds?”

“Are you coming back here after?” Carol asked.

“No.” Alex replied. “I’ll send him back at my place.”

“We appreciate that, Alex.” Michael said.

Alex then set Bearmon down and got the steaks from the fridge, offering both Michael and Carol handshakes and thanks for feeding and housing him. Outside, it was a dark overcast with a cold wind blowing, the street thankfully lacking any moving vehicles.

“Brrr.” Bearmon said after a moment, his huge paws wrapping around his body.

“You’re cold?” Alex asked through his hunting mask.

“You’re not?” Bearmon replied.

“A bit. I’ll warm up on the way.” Alex then set his skateboard down and picked Bearmon up again, kicking off once both had a good grip on each other. He was quick to make his way to his old middle school and follow the sidewalks that were smooth enough to skate over; Bearmon’s weight made doing even an Ollie nigh impossible.

Alex soon passed the church and turned onto the street leading to the old sugar factory. So far, only two cars had passed him -- both times he told Bearmon not to move -- and only once did he have to stop and catch his breath. On the final stretch, he put the bike lane to use to avoid the rougher sidewalks, coming to a stop near the bridge over Oyster Creek.

Bearmon said nothing for a while after Alex got the both of them over the creek and as close to the old factory as possible. The land was surrounded by chain link fencing, with signs in a few places. Some with historical facts, others information about who owned the land the fence was guarding.

“So this is all that’s left.” Bearmon eventually said, sounding like his mood had sharply dipped.

“Yeah. I never got the chance to go inside myself. Would’ve been too young to remember much, though.”

“They would have let you taste what they made, right?”

Alex nodded. “Fresh from the factory, before it shipped to other places around town. Did that for years.”

Bearmon then went back to staring at the old buildings and lot.

“How long has this building been standing?” Kudamon asked.

“Since eighteen-forty-three, so…almost a hundred and seventy years.”

“Guess that’s why I was promised that it was here.” Bearmon said.

“Probably. It was a half truth, however you look at it.”

Another few minutes passed with no talking, and then Bearmon sighed and said, “I think I’m satisfied. Thank you for doing this for me.”

“You’re welcome.” Alex then held out his right hand, to which Bearmon had to figure out it was a handshake gesture. Despite whatever made him up, his grip was far stronger than Alex thought.

* * *

As Alex closed in on the drive way to his house, he stopped his skateboard and stamped the tail, pushing the nose into his waiting hand. He couldn’t smell Bailey outside, and the vehicle his parents were driving wasn’t there either.

“Bearmon, I’ll have to leave you in the back for a few minutes.” Alex said as he headed for the house.

“What for?”

“Don’t want my dog to get excited and start chasing you.”

“Oh. He’s not mean, is he?”

“No, just loyal and protective.” Alex was close enough to touch the gate a moment later. “See if you can climb over.” Bearmon succeeded within seconds, dropping to the ground after. “Alright, good. Hang tight. I’ll be right back.”

Inside, Bailey was ready to jump up and greet him, his tail wagging wildly. “Hey, boy. I missed you,” Alex said as he returned his dog’s affection. “Were you good for Marcus and Catherine?” Bailey barked in response. “That’s my boy.” Bailey then shifted focus to all the scents on his clothing, looking up at him when he’d sniffed enough. “Yeah, I know boy.”

Alex then got to work reconnecting the house’s router and plugging in his father’s computer before moving to the hallway and closing its door behind him. His own computer was then reconnected before he headed for his parent’s room to retrieve Bearmon.

“Some warmth at last,” he said once inside.

“Hope the trip back is much the same.” Alex said as he pulled Kudamon’s device out of his pocket. “All clear.”

Kudamon emerged with little pause, and made a perch on and around Alex’s shoulders and neck. “Bearmon, are you truly satisfied? Once we send you, it cannot be reversed.”

“Yeah. I said no arguments, and I meant it.”

“Then let us begin. Alex?” Alex hummed in response. “Press the button on the device once, then tap and hold the screen for five seconds.”

Alex did so, and upon the screen came a series of strange symbols, along with what looked like a QR code, with hexagons instead of squares.

“Now, turn your computer on and hold the screen of the device close to the monitor.”

Alex did so, to which nothing happened for almost five seconds. Then came the telltale sign of tweeping electronics and the screen began to glow a bright white again.

“That means the gate is open. Bearmon, whenever you are ready.”

“Alright. Just pull that chair out.” Once Alex did, Bearmon climbed onto it and stared at the solid white screen for a minute. He then looked at Alex and thanked him again before reaching for the gate and being pulled through, the gate closing a moment later and the screen returning to the main desktop.

“And he’s gone.” Alex said.

“Yes. A job well done.” Kudamon said.

“Any chance he might come back?”

“There is the possibility, but I highly doubt it. He was only the curious type, and was scared when he got here. Satisfying his curiosity should quell any desire to come back.”

“Good to know.”

“But keep in mind, he was only one and easy to satisfy and send back. Others may not be.”

“That sounds ominous.”

“Factual more than anything, but true nonetheless.”

Before Alex could respond, his stomach growled and he placed a hand over his abdomen. “Oh, right. Skipped breakfast.”

“We should remedy that, then.” Kudamon said before Alex made his way to the kitchen to fix them both something.

-- End of Story #1 --