Chapter Text
“Give me a synthbeer, bartender.”
The patron flagged me down, a look of exhaustion spread over his face that screamed for his craving for the beverage. Nevertheless, I was always excited to see our good Terran troops in their uniforms. Their efforts were necessary to fight against the weeds who wanted to take over our way of life and dismantle the core of who we are.
And I was happy to provide a safe haven away from all the unpatriotic, evil acts of the overgrown dandelions and their ever so eager sapsuckers they called ‘pets.’
The Keystone Tavern was my pride, my own Heart of Terra. It was a wonderful little hole in the ground deep in the center of Old Town, one of the few places the communist wormheads couldn't get their grubby mitts on. It was the only remaining safe haven for those like me, who couldn’t stand for the dictatorship we found ourselves under.
Men and women wanting to see the Will of Terra break through yet again, fighting for our right to our markets and companies, for our correct and proper way of life, the way we were meant to live our lives. Word is that some of the Rebellion was even using my bar as a private meeting place! It made me quiver with excitement that my little place of business was being used for such a just cause.
I handed the synthbeer to the soldier, a happy grunt escaping his lips. He tipped the glass back, allowing the alcohol to slip down his throat before letting out a loud satisfied gasp. He wiped his face and turned to me. “Thanks Garrett, I swear this is the only place I can find this stuff anymore. I ain’t gonna use any of that propaganda shit they gave us to try it.”
“I hear you brother, nothing beats the classics, no compiled shit.” I leaned forward on my elbows, a nice smile curling at my lips. “And I will always be happy to serve military men like yourself.”
“Cheers to that!”
We shared a laugh before I moved on. Lifting spirits with spirits, my job as a bartender… Always such a fulfilling and freeing job.
To craft a smile with a craft beer, whisking people away with a whiskey… By my hands alone I had forged a place for us to plan and thrive.
The Free Will of Terra would never, ever die.
The sound of a bell signified the opening of the front door. I turned on my heel, facing the entryway. “Welcome to the Keystone Tavern, please take a- ugrk .”
What I was met with was one of the most beautiful ladies I have ever had the luck to gaze upon. She wore a tight black cocktail dress, with a deep reaching neckline that would make any man blush. Her eyes dazzled with gorgeous sky blue marbles, straight out of the ancient postcards from Terra. Her blonde hair bounced in full gorgeous curls, framing her sharp jaw and pursed lips. My eyes followed down her body, gazing upon her full breasts, soft curvy legs, delicate feet in black flats.
Nearly everyone had seen her enter, and just as many were left staring as she adjusted herself. A few more seconds passed before everyone broke away, continuing their muttering and planning, enjoying themselves in the escape of alcohol.
The woman sauntered up to my bar, purse clutched in hand as she sat herself on a stool at the corner, waving over to me. Her smile made my heart melt. I truly was such a lucky man.
I slid down the bar, grabbing a rag to throw over my arm. With a quick comb of my hands I straightened out my hair, tucked my shirt into my pants, and met face to face with the wonderful lady in front of me. I exaggerated a polite bow before giving a crooked smile.
“Hello Miss, I am Garret Wilson, and I will be your bartender tonight, or every night if you’ll have me!”
The lady let out the softest purest giggle before resting her cheek on her hand. “Well aren’t you just a handsome guy! I’m Candy, and I’m wondering if you could get me a bourbon on the rocks?”
“For a dame like you? Anything you want, first drink is on me.” I spun around to find my rare liquor. If I wanted to make a good impression I needed to find the good stuff.
“Oh you’re too kind! Especially with this lovely tavern! I’ve heard many things about it, after all.” I swore I heard the subtle shift of a dress, the gentle tap of long beautiful nails along the hardened countertop. “About this place being a ‘safe haven?’”
My heart skipped a beat. She was this beautiful and friendly and was like-minded? Cupid, be still with your arrows! “Very much so, a place to get away from all the greenery and live in the truest way we should! Are you perhaps looking for a place to stay?”
“Oh no no, I was just curious to find such an establishment! Thank you so much for confirming Mr. Wilson.”
“Oh nonsense, call me Garrett.” Ah! Finally I spot the prize of my collection. If I was going to make a good first impression, a lovely 13 year aged bourbon whiskey would say more than enough.
I spun back around to the bar, grabbing a glass before letting it spin across the bar. I rustled around for some of my good ice, took a scoop and let it clink into the glass. I popped the cap and let the rich liquid pour down into the glass. “A bourbon on the rocks for the sweet lollipop named Candy!”
“Aww, thank you!” I watched her small, delicate hands wrap around the chilled drink, lifting it to her lips as they parted, the dashing red wrapping along the rim as she tilted it back into a soft sip. At best I knew I was most likely the same red as her lips, more hot and bothered than I had ever been before.
From this close, I could faintly smell the sweet trickles of her perfume, a lovely flowery smell mixed with such sweet fruity undertones. I pulled at my collar. This woman was making me do and think unspeakable things, all from just being in front of me. I readjusted my trousers before leaning over the bar near her.
From the corner of my eyes I could see the other patrons looking over at me and smiling slyly. I knew exactly what they were thinking. ‘Oh! Seems Hopeless Garrett is trying to make a move on yet another stranger. Let’s see how this blows up!’ Not this time fellas, I was going to get this girl.
“So what brings you to a plaaa aaaawn .” A large bellow escape my maw, a yawn that could rival the sound of a ship engine. A sudden wave of soft sleepiness overcame me, causing a brief stumble over myself. “Ahem. Excuse me, it must have been a much longer night than I thought!”
Another giggle from the lady. Success! ”I don’t mind! You make very pretty noises after all.~”
“AH-oh umm, thank you!” And now I was making a fool of myself! I could feel my face turning redder and… thoughts really slowly down. “I ‘ppreciate the compliment.”
“Now tell me…” Her voice shushed to whispers as she leaned in, eyes growing wide. “Is it really true that the Rebellion likes to use this as a rendezvous?”
“Mmmm, yesh. Sometimes at least. So I hear. YOu know i get Reaaally happy to hear that they like to use thish placsh for that…” I was starting to slip, falling into what felt like a drunken stupor. All I could really focus on was that wonderful pretty perfume Candy was wearing, so sweet and… something.
In my haze and dopey nature I let my peepers wander across the bar. I smiled as the rest of the patrons seemed to be just as silly as I was! Falling and stumbling, laughing away their sorrows. Suuuuch a lovely bunch.
“I’m really glad you’ve been honest with me Garrett! It made my job really easy for Doctor.” She looked down at me with a smile as she sipped on her bourbon, licking her lips as the lipstick stained the glassware.
“Heeeeyyyyy no promblemm! BUt Doooctor? You work for a hospital or someting?”
“Heheh nooooooo silly! I like you. You’re goofy.” Candy proceeded to pull out one of those affini tablets and punch things onto it. Some folks were starting to tumble towards her, laughing and yelling at her to stop, or something.
Oh.
Oohhhhhhhhh.
Fuck.
“Ooooh youre a fucking sap sucker! HAh!! What a bitch.” I tried to lift my arm to slap the tablet out of her hands, but the best effort I could manage was a muffled giggle as I slowly continued to fall to the ground.
“Heyy… that’s not really nice! I’m sure Doctor will teach you manners for being so mean and silly! Ferals are always so sillllyyyyy.” She bent down and pecked a kiss on my forehead, a tingle spreading throughout as I started to slip away.
The rest of what occurred around me fell into a blur. Some men try to swing on the lotuseater, all with her simply just stepping out of reach of them as she bonked them on the head. More and more people started to fade away, slumping over onto their drinks as the stench of spilled alcohol started to fill the tile grooves.
At some point someone tried to pull out their firearm, shakily aiming it at the girl before a loud bang rang throughout the bar.
The girl fell backwards, her head connecting with the bar before slumping to the ground. A single hole was made in the front of her dress, the rough size of a bullet with scorch marks to match.
But, no blood. None gushed from her. And it wasn’t much longer before a grumpy huff heaved out. Slowly but surely she began to stand up, cracking her neck with a loud pop. From this angle I could see the back of her head and neck, all traced with the deep green scar of one of them . She was more than a sapsucker, she was one of their happy pets!
She reached her hands down the front of her dress and fished around before pulling out the crumpled body of a bullet and tossing it to the ground. She gazed over at the terran who pulled the gun. “Hey! That would’ve hurt anyone else…. That’s not really nice to do!”
“What would have hurt, little one?”
I did my best to pick my head up from the bar to look for the new voice. What I was met with was someone impossible large, impossible to understand. They shifted and squirmed, all folding into themselves as they wove together. A large affini, eyes glaring around the bar like spotlights. They briefly rested on me, the piercing gaze causing me to shudder. Fear and horror slowly filled my mind, and all I could do was manage a giggle.
“Doctor!” The wormhead wrapped her arms around the monolith. “This meanie shot me! It would’ve really hurt if I was human…”
The weed’s eyes flash a deep burning red with the simple mention of her being hurt. In a swift movement the xeno crossed the bar, vines unfurling as they reached the man who pulled the gun.
Whatever was done was nearly imperceptible, but the affini was whispering something into the man’s ear. He looked uncomfortable and started to be stricken with fear, eyes growing wider and wider until tears rolled down his face. Their vines released the man as he fell to the ground sobbing, his gun scattering across the floor.
The xeno’s eyes started to dim, replaced yet again with the soft blue spotlights from before. They wandered back over to the wormhead before picking her up, swaddling in her arms. All she could do was giggle, whispering thank yous to her weed between her shrill laughter and moans.
“Now, as I promised Lollipop. I said you get to pick one. What one do you want?”
“Hmm…” The wormhead scanned the bar, a ditzy emptiness hazing her eyes as she studied us all. Her gaze suddenly fell to me as her eyes brightened with excitement. Her arm extended to a point, directed at me. “That one!! They made me laugh a lotttt.”
The mass stared down at me, studying me, breaking me apart in her mind. Then she smiled, a large thorny mess of teeth with their lips curling like a wolf’s.
Deep instinctual fear filled my heart. She gazed upon me like a predator, and I knew all I was to her was prey.
“I think that’s a perfect choice. I suppose let’s get them all wrapped up and back home, no?”
“Yaaaay!!!”
Her cheers were the last thing that I heard, my body finally giving in to the pressure as I fell in darkness, gone before I could even hit the floor.