Empyrean Iris Story Collection

Ethanol

"So, do you guys mind telling me where we're going?"

Sitting in the back seat of the human vehicle, snug inside his test tube he watched as Captain Vir's three brothers exchanged grins turning down another long-dark roadway as the last rays of the setting sun sunk behind the mountains.

Today had been cold, very cold, but sunny. The distant star had lit the snow on fire making it nearly impossible to look at as it sparked and winked from out the window. Krill still couldn't fathom how human survived on such a hostile planet, but to each his own he supposed.

They pulled up another roadway, "Little brother, it has come to our attention that we have committed an egregious oversight of brotherly protocol."

Vir tapped his fingers against his arm impatiently, "And, what is that?"

They turned up another street lit on either side by glittering storefronts and a single glowing neon sign.

Vir glanced out the window and groaned, "No guys, seriously."

The car pulled into a parking lot, "Yes seriously, come on, last time you were home for an extended period of time, you weren't old enough to drink."

Thomas, the second youngest brother, elbowed him playfully in the ribs, "And, I hear ladies drink free on Saturdays."

Vir moaned and dropped his head against the seat in front of him.

Jeremy turned around, "Come on little bro, don't tell me you're still afraid of girls."

Vir crossed his arms angrily, "I am not AFRAID of girls. I just....."

"Just what? Come on Adam, have you ever even kissed a girl?"

He crossed his arms, "You know in all the commotion of, I don't know, being famous I completely forgot."

They eyed him from the front seat, "How about guys because we can..."

Vir glowered from his spot in the back seat, "I want to make out with another guy as much as I want to make out with you, and I would rather eat off my other foot than kiss you."

Krill watched confusedly from the back seat. He didn't know what a lot of these words meant. Drinking clearly meant something more than its usual meaning, and he wasn't particularly familiar with making out or kissing. No one had bothered to explain that to him. Though the indication that human females might be here made him curious. As far as he knew, humans didn't have a mating season, so he wasn't exactly sure how the two groups met each other.

Jeremy popped open his door flooding the car with light, and with protesting Vir was dragged from the car with Krill in tow. "If mom finds out what we are doing, than we are so dead."

David frowned at him, "You're not going to go n' tattle on us, are you."

Vir locked his lips angrily shut and followed his brothers into the warm- stuffy and mildly cramped room. The volume was raised to a dull roar as music played in the background, and humans laughed raucously. Vir set down the container and let Krill out. Krill kept at the man's feet as they moved across to the bar through a sea of bodies.

All around humans held drinks. They were louder and even more aggressive than usual.

Was their coordination off?

The oldest brother Jeremy leaned himself up against the bar. Vir followed with a grimace sliding in next to his brother and helping Krill to stand on a stool. By now they had attracted the attention of most of the bar, and the room suddenly went silent. "Hey, Adam." An older man waved at them from across the room. Vir grimaced and gave a small wave. The man turned to the rest of the bar, "Well don't just stand there goggle-eyed, clap for the man. Not every day you get to thank a man for his service in a space war."