His name is Joe Steel, and he will change the universe. He is a teenage human who’s lived his entire life on Pturllel. To the intergalactic civilizations, however, he lived on Ou-4. It is a contested world currently occupied by three warring species: the Kelkers, the Birnsteins, and the Humans. Joe lives in the occupied territory of the Birnsteins in the now devastated capital of Aitupo.
The Birnsteins are a ruthless and dangerous species. They come in, use everything without restraint, and then move on. For them, the universe is infinite. If the beauty is no longer seen, then the Birnsteins move on to the next planet.
As a military occupation, the Birnsteins care very little for the original Pturllel inhabitants still residing around Aitupo. The best way to survive is to stay out of the Birnsteins’ way. They don’t want you asking them for help. They don’t want you hindering their goals. A few inhabitants try to gain favor with the Birnsteins, but most find ways to work together under the Birnsteins’ notice to survive. The inhabitants’ lives for the last fourteen years have been full of challenges with new ones every day.
***
“Look what’s scampering around here?”
The Birnstein’s chirps drew Joe’s attention. He looked up to see four Birnstein teens walking his way. They walked arrogantly, which looked odd considering their worn garments and unkempt feathers. Joe knew exactly what these outcasts wanted.
“What’s this?” growled Caracal. The Kelker moved forward, but Joe quickly moved to Caracal’s side and held out a hand to stop him.
“Hold on,” whispered Joe before addressing the Birnsteins. “What do you want, hatchlings?” he sneered.
The Birnsteins stopped ten feet away. Joe, Caracal, and two others had been walking along the side of the road. They’d been meandering the dirt covered streets of Aitupo near their residence, the Aitupo Chapter of the Ethiek Mission. Joe and the others wanted to get out and about for the day with no location in mind, but their wanderings now crossed paths with these Birnsteins.
“Watch your tongue, filth,” snapped the tall, navy feathered Birnstein who stood in front of the other Birnsteins.
“Get ‘im, Ahk!” shouted Hyr, slightly pumping his fist and staring wide-eyed at Ahk. The other two Birnsteins nodded silently in agreement.
“Yeah, you’re so much cleaner than us,” said Joe, spreading his arms and looking briefly at his own torn clothing. “Still need your cheering section to keep you feeling big, huh, Ahk? Is that what you think will get you noticed? You know the Birnstein Empire doesn’t care about any of us who grew up here, right?”
Ahk stared hard at Joe, his white eyes trying to pierce a hole through Joe’s face. Joe adjusted his shoulders, shrugging off the gaze. Knowing he’d hit a nerve, Joe’s smirk turned into a full on smile.
“Don’t let me get under your feathers, Ahk. They’ll get even more ruffled,” taunted Joe.
“J-Joe…not again,” whispered Spass, whose greenish amphibian skin started to turn dark in fear of the escalating exchange.
Joe waved Spass’ concern away.
“We’re just trading barbs, right, Ahk?” he said.
Joe and the others had dealt with Ahk and his friends many times. They’d grown up knowing each other on the streets of Aitupo, and meetings like this had been nearly a daily exchange. Sometimes, Ahk and his friends walked away with the victory, but today, Joe had come out swinging, metaphorically speaking. Looking up and seeing the Birnsteins so soon after leaving the mission had made Joe frustrated but empowered. He didn’t want to put up with this just yet but wouldn’t back down either.
“Chir chir chir chir,” laughed Ahk, drawing caws from his Birnstein companions. “Spass looks like she’s gonna faint. Chir chir chir chir.”
“I’d catch her,” Joe chuckled. “But if it was you, I’d let your soiled avian ass drop.”
“You need to watch what you say, Joe,” said Ahk, his laugh dying.
Ahk’s feathers began to puff out, and he raised his arms slightly. Joe just stared back as he recognized the Birnstein’s threatening stance, which he’d been on the receiving end of several times before. Joe knew Ahk hated it when his intimidation tactics received no response. Joe started to grin as Ahk’s companions laughed and chirped to support their boss.
Slowly, Ahk began to calm down. He lowered his arms back to his side, and his feathers began to settle. He shifted his weight from side to side to readjust his shirt, and the whole time, he just glared back at Joe. Even through his arrogant confidence, Joe began to think something was wrong as the other Birnsteins quieted down.
“You guys don’t even know what we’re doing here,” Ahk said. “We’re taking a look around our new home.”
“You’re moving to this side of town?” said Joe. “If you move too far away, the Birnstein Empire will forget you guys exist.”
“No, they won’t. We’re going to get noticed soon, Joe. We just need one big thing.”
“One big thing,” giggled Hyr suddenly.
“Does harassing orphans really score you that many points with the big birds?” asked Joe sarcastically.
Ahk smiled and let out a soft chuckle. It was eerie. The other Birnsteins tried to mimic it.
“Nothing that easy. But there are lots of opportunities. The Birnstein Empire doesn’t care about most of this trash, but they like seeing inferior beings put in their place.” Ahk paused for a moment and then glared threateningly at Joe. “And they enjoy seeing poor houses burn to the ground. Reminds them of other missionaries.”
This time, Joe’s demeanor changed. Ahk’s intention was clear. The mission had been threatened. When insults came at Joe, he could brush them off, confident in who he was and what he had the capacity to do. But when others were threatened….
Caracal reached out to grab Joe’s arm, but Joe stepped aside and avoided him. Spass made a concerned yelp, and Joe’s fourth companion, Kalli, whispered Joe’s name as he took a step away from the others toward Ahk.
“Tread carefully, Ahk,” said Joe, locking eyes with Ahk. “Some things aren’t to be thought of, let alone muttered.”
Ahk paused for a moment but soon brushed Joe off.
“I’m just trading barbs, Joe. Isn’t that what you said earlier?” said Ahk, stirring chuckles from Hyr and the other Birnsteins.
Joe didn’t respond. His eyes remained transfixed on Ahk, not wavering as he stared at the Birnstein teen. Ahk hesitated, looking past Joe at the expressions of the others, all of whom looked at Joe, unsure of what was going to happen next.
“Hey! What are you all doing over there?” said a voice from the side.
The others turned to look down the road and saw a Laurel sister standing there. She was shrouded in nearly flawless robes with dirt and dust from the roads covering the ends near her ankles. She had two children with her, both considered toddlers amongst their respective species. The Laurel currently held a bag in each hand as the kids both were licking their own snack sticks.
“Sister Gotuh!” exclaimed Kalli.
Ahk laughed.
“You need the sister to save you,” he hooted.
Joe had yet to take his eyes off Ahk. Joe would not be distracted by Ahk’s taunt now.
“That’s enough, all of you,” said Sister Gotuh as she started walking toward the group. “I think you’ve all had enough fun for today. Come on, now. There’s chores I need done at home.”
Ahk continued to laugh before he waved a feathered hand dismissively at Joe.
“Enough of this. Have fun with your chores, Joe,” he said before he motioned with his head for the other Birnsteins to follow him. The whole group chirped merrily as they walked down the street back the way they’d come.
“Joe, come on,” said Sister Gotuh.
Joe finally turned away from watching the Birnsteins, and he put on a smile as he looked at the Laurel sister.
“I’m coming, sister,” he said.
“You need to leave those Birnstein youth alone. They’re nothing but trouble,” said Sister Gotuh. “You understand?”
“Yes, sister,” said Joe. “Everything is fine and forgotten.”
***
“So you lied to Sister Gotuh,” said Caracal.
“Of course he did,” chimed in Kalli.
“What?” asked Joe innocently, his expression trying to relay confusion.
“Why would we be going to this side of Aitupo if not to find Ahk,” said Caracal.
Joe slowed his pace and his confused look turned cold. He didn’t really look back at the others as he spoke.
“You all heard what Ahk said yesterday. We need to end this.”
Caracal let out a low, worrisome growl but didn’t say anything. Kalli took a finger and tucked her blown blonde hair back behind her ear as she looked at Spass. Spass’s skin turned darker with concern.
“Does this mean we aren’t going to Marlie’s for a snack,” said Spass with a mournful whimper.
Kalli put an arm around Spass.
“We will,” Kalli said. “We deserve it. The sisters didn’t go easy on us this morning, afterall.”
“Not now,” said Joe.
“Joe, we shouldn’t do this.”
Joe came to a sudden stop and turned to face the others. Everyone flinched from his sudden motion. When they looked at him, they knew Joe could not be persuaded from his current course with his intense expression.
“We can’t let this stand,” Joe shouted. “What Ahk said is no spar. He meant his threat. Or have you all forgotten what happened last year to those other missionaries?”
“You mean the off-world food deliveries?” said Spass after thinking for a moment. “That was an accident, wasn’t it?”
“No,” said Caracal before Joe could say anything. “The Birnsteins didn’t like what they were doing and chased them out.”
“Not true,” said Joe. “The Birnsteins had beings like Ahk attack them. How many died that night? How many starved in the weeks that followed?”
Everyone was silent, all looking away from Joe.
“Joe,” said Kalli quietly, “The Birnsteins can’t do that to the sisters.”
“Why not?!” demanded Joe.
“Because they’re Laurels. Any harm to members of the Laurels’ faith is an attack on their species. Everyone knows that. Remember what happened a century ago when Sister Eespch was assassinated.”
Joe chuckled.
“What about Pturllel?” he said. He then motioned around him. “How many Laurels died here all those years ago, and how many Laurel warships have come to avenge them? We can’t let Ahk do that.”
“But we’re only going to talk, right?” said Kalli.
Everyone looked at Joe, and they saw his expression relax as he looked at Kalli. A small smile returned to Joe’s face before he turned and started walking again.
“Of course,” said Joe. “We’ll talk. Ahk loves to talk.”
The others followed Joe, and Kalli saw Caracal’s fists clench and remain so the rest of the way.
***
“There they are,” whispered Joe. He stood up straight and stepped out of the alley into the street.
A handful of beings walked along the street, but Joe’s attention was fixated on Ahk and his two Birnstein companions, the always laughing Hyr and the silent Tra. All three were currently walking toward Joe and the others, but they hadn’t seen them yet. Joe grew tired of that.
“Hey, Ahk!” shouted Joe.
“Joe!” squeaked Kalli quietly, who’d seen what Joe was about to do and hadn’t reached out to stop him soon enough.
Ahk had been laughing at something Hyr had said, but now, Ahk glared at Joe. Rage soon filled Ahk’s features.
“What are you doing here?!” demanded Ahk.
As the Birnsteins approached, both Ahk and Hyr were flapping their arms, attempting to make themselves larger and more intimidating. The flapping caused their bulky clothes to move violently, and dirt was knocked loose along with a few feathers.
When Tra started moving more smoothly behind Ahk with a malicious look on her face, Caracal stepped forward next to Joe to meet her. Joe quickly raised his right hand to stop Caracal, and Joe heard Kalli and Spass come up close behind him.
“We just came to talk,” said Kalli.
Ahk stopped a few paces away from Joe. He ceased his flapping and did a double take at Kalli before looking bewildered at Joe.
“To talk?!” said Ahk.
Hyr let out a heavy sigh and shuffled side to side. Joe paid Hyr no attention. Joe knew the tagalong Birnstein was more bark than bite.
“That’s right,” said Joe, spreading his hands out slightly from his sides. “We need to talk about what you said about the mission.”
Hyr and Tra both gave Ahk a glance before he let out a loud hooting laugh. Hyr soon joined in.
“That?” said Ahk. “Why? Did you like the idea?”
“You’ll take it back,” said Joe softly, his tone growing cold once again.
Kalli reached out and placed a hand on Joe’s left arm, but Joe took half a step forward to break away.
Ahk stopped laughing and let out a low growl to counter Joe’s threatening movement. Joe couldn’t stop a small grin from tugging at the corner of his mouth. Tra moved on the edge of Joe’s vision, but Joe also heard Caracal growl his own warning to the female Birnstein.
Both parties stood motionless in the street for several moments. Other beings in the area had stopped to see what was going on, but Joe kept staring at Ahk. The Birnstein seemed to be debating what to do, Ahk’s eyes flickering open and close but never looking away.
“Do you understand, then?” said Joe.
Ahk began to shake his head side to side.
“No,” he said. “You’ll take it back!”
Ahk’s voice crescendoed before he started to raise his right arm and throw a punch at Joe.
Smoothly, Joe moved to the side and then juked back as Ahk attacked with his left. Joe could hear Hyr encouraging Ahk from behind, and Kalli and Spass hurried back to get out of the way.
Ahk was angry, and his reckless attacks showed it. Joe knew he had the advantage, and he kept predicting where Ahk would come from next. Joe moved back repeatedly, taking steps to his left in a circle so he could keep himself and Ahk in the street and away from the buildings. Over Ahk’s shoulders, Joe saw Kalli and Spass to the right and Hyr to the left. Then Joe got distracted wondering where Caracal had gone.
A hiss came from Joe’s left and he decided to put Ahk down now. Joe blocked Ahk’s wild right arm with his next swing, and then Joe swung his own fist to catch Ahk in the beak. The Birnstein squawked as bits of blood appeared on his face. Ahk staggered backwards, lost his balance, and fell over. Ahk coughed, reaching up to his injured beak to assess the damage. Joe knew the bird was down for a moment, so Joe turned to his left to see what the cat-like hiss from Caracal meant.
When Joe turned slightly, he heard a cry from Caracal, and Joe saw the Kelker fall to a knee. A shadow at the edge of Joe’s vision got Joe to look down, and he saw Tra right on him. Joe tried to get his arms up to protect himself, but the female Birnstein came in fast, her claws homing in on Joe.
Joe tried to fall back to his left side, but Tra’s claws stopped him. Her right hand came up into Joe’s side, and the claws cut deep. Joe inhaled quickly as the sudden pain washed over him. Joe had to get away from her. But when Joe’s eyes focused once more, Tra’s left hand was coming at Joe’s head. Her claws came down across Joe’s face, cutting him across the right eye. Joe’s right arm was at his cheek and stopped Tra’s arm from coming down any further, but the damage had been done. Before he could determine how hurt he was, Joe used all of his strength to knock Tra’s arm away, but that just caused her claws to cut further across the right side of his face. Through his left eye, Joe could see the Birnstein sneering at him, and Joe knew she’d achieved her goal.
Joe then hit the ground with Tra over him. Her left claws were raised up into the air with Joe’s blood dripping off them. She twisted her right wrist slightly, digging deeper into Joe’s side, and now Joe let out a scream from the pain.
Suddenly, Tra was pulled from Joe, and he saw Caracal now standing over him through his blurred vision. Caracal hissed at Tra after throwing her away, and then Caracal turned to look down at Joe. Caracal’s expression showed grave concern and fear, and Joe knew he must look as bad as he felt.
An object suddenly came from the left and connected with the side of Caracal’s head. Caracal stumbled away with his hand on the right side of his head. Hyr had grabbed a blunt object of some kind to hit Caracal. Hyr and Caracal both then moved out of Joe’s vision.
Joe now saw the sky. The outlines of the nearby buildings reached up to the sun overhead, but Joe wasn’t able to focus on anything. The pain in his side and around his eye began to grow, and Joe fought to stay conscious. Spass then kneeled at his side, and she looked terrified. Her skin had become very dark, and her eyes were wide with horror.
The sight of her mentally cut Joe as deeply as Tra’s claws had cut him physically. He began to cry and closed his left eye, soon passing out from all the pain.