DNA strands in my hair [quite open]

[notlewis]

Luis had acquired a new thing in a jar.

Well, really, two new things in a jar, two long organic objects a little less than two feet long that looked like large segmented legs, the type you'd find on an insect. One of them sat on the back end of his desk, frozen in stasis in a chemical designed for doing just that. The other he kept in a different jar and he was currently in the middle of testing some of the tissue he'd scraped off of it. It was placed in an airtight contaminant observation box while he performed various experiments on it.

It was susceptible to various types of damage but also had remarkable regenerative capabilities, growing back quickly when he burned or sliced it away. The real interesting part came when he applied an electrical current to it. The slice of flesh looked like it was sizzling and then suddenly burst into action, growing into a pulsating mass several times its original size and quivering until it exploded, coating the inside of the box with a nasty greenish-purplish-yellow fluid that began to ooze and drip.

Luis stared at it for a few good seconds, then pulled off his glasses, ripped off his gloves and began packing up his supplies, shaking his head with a heavy sigh. He looked exhausted and desperately in need of a distraction.

It was time for a drink. Or to at least find something, or someone, that could get him out of this lab for the rest of the night.

Comments

[governorkang]

"Right now? Have a few drinks and some food with a friend," Kang said simply, filing away that reaction.

[notlewis]

"Sounds like a plan to me. Emphasis on the drinks!"

A pause.

"I can't remember the last time I ate," he added miserably. "So I suppose I'm obligated to eat something, too."

[governorkang]

Kang laughed, "I hope you're alright with venison, then. I have some smoked jerky stashed away in the back room. It's not as good as the venison jerky back on Krynn, but it's not slop, and that's good enough for me."

[notlewis]

"Venison!" Luis looked like he was about to melt. "I haven't had venison since mi abuelo used to cook it back home. I am absolutely all right with venison."

[governorkang]

"...finally, someone on this damn ship that appreciates venison," Kang grinned.

It didn't take much longer to reach the tavern, and after unlocking the front door and lighting a few candles so that Luis could see, he gestured to the bar, "Go ahead and sit down. I'll be right back." And with that, he disappeared into the back room.

[notlewis]

Luis sat down gratefully and wasted no time in laying his head on the table. It was very tempting to doze off immediately, but he forced himself to stay awake with the prospect of alcohol.

"I like you because you're generous, Kang," he called loudly after the Bozak.

[governorkang]

Kang laughed, setting a full tankard down in front of Luis and disappearing once more to fetch his own and the smoked venison, "I owe you for the medbay, Luis, and right now, there's meat to spare. If this had been before our vacation, you probably wouldn't be getting any of it."

[notlewis]

"You don't have to repay me for anything," he assured him, sitting up and grabbing for the tankard immediately. "I probably shouldn't even be working medical, given the circumstances, but..."

He had a long chug of whatever liquor this was. Aaah, sweet whatever liquor.

"Anyway, you never have to repay me. It's my job."

[governorkang]

"They needed all the help that they could get, and you did fine," Kang assured Luis from the other side of the bar. "It's good, isn't it? I got the recipe, and picked up some of the grain and hops needed to make it, too, so hopefully we won't ever run out like we did the cactus juice."

[notlewis]

"If this ship ever runs completely out of alcohol, you can expect a full-scale riot on your hands."

Luis was starting to wonder when the last time he had any kind of calories at all was-- because it felt like his body didn't know quite what to do with this "eating or drinking" thing.

"I will have since killed myself by that point, so you won't need to worry about me inciting it."

[governorkang]

Kang pushed the bag of meat over towards Luis, "Oh, I know it, which is why I'm trying to prevent such an occasion. Now, eat something. It'll help keep you from passing out on my bar." He grinned, teasing, "Even if I were inclined to carry you to a proper bed, I wouldn't be able to do it right now."

[notlewis]

"You could always just leave me here. I'm very used to sleeping sitting upright. I won't bother anyone," he vowed, pulling a piece of venison out of the bag.

"I can't tell you how long it's been since I've had venison. Abuelo used to hunt and cook it all the time back home. You got to see a bit of the forest, remember?"

[governorkang]

"That's not very healthy, Luis," Kang frowned, taking a piece himself. "You're going to work yourself into an early grave, and you're needed on the ship."

He nodded, "I remember. During that crazy shared dream. What does abuelo mean, by the way?" He knew he'd probably butchered the accent there.

[notlewis]

"Early grave, hahahahaha..."

Luis seemed to think that was very funny for some reason.

"Ah, abuelo-- my grandfather. He was the one who raised me," he explained. "My parents left when I was very small."

[governorkang]

Kang quirked an eyebrow ridge, filing that reaction away, too. Interesting fellow, Luis.

"Why did they leave?"

...this was becoming relevant to his interests.

[notlewis]

Luis shrugged his shoulders. "My hometown... it is the kind of place you would enjoy if you were very simplistic, eighty years old, incredibly religious, or possibly already dead. It was quiet and peaceful. Maybe 300 people, at the most."

He had a long sip of his drink and wiped his mouth on his sleeve. "I don't remember them much, but my grandfather always told me my parents were vibrant people, they liked to travel and party. I guess that life appealed to them more than raising a child. Though I can't say I especially blame them. Pueblo can suck the life out of you after a while."

[governorkang]

"...I could never do that. Leave my children. It's not fair to them," Kang shook his head, looking down at the table with an almost bitter smile. "I don't understand why anyone would do such a thing."

[notlewis]

He shrugged again, shaking his head. "Like I said, I don't remember a thing about either of them. I don't even really hold a grudge... Abuelo was all the parent I needed. He was kind and gentle, he always supported me, a very wise man..."

Luis drifted off abruptly and seemed to jump on the subject change. "Wait a minute. You have kids? A tough guy like you? Naah, you don't seem the type!"

[governorkang]

"I wish I could say the same about mine," Kang muttered a curse, snorting.

At Luis's exclamation, he smiled, "Four. Barely a month old. It can't be that surprising, considering I've told you before that I have a mate."

[notlewis]

"Well, they are probably lucky they got out when they did," Luis added off-handedly, pausing for another drink afterwards. Or else I'd have killed them too.

"Having a wife and having kids with her are totally different," he pointed out. "Both things I know I'd be terrible at, so I'll just keep from taking the chance at all." He did smile a bit to picture what any possible children of Kang might look like. "What are their names?"

[governorkang]

"The ganados?" Kang asked, remembering the creatures from the dream.

"Not my wife. Mate. We don't marry like the other races do," Kang pointed out with a grin that ended up falling slightly. "The two males are Brevo and Grosk, and the females are Yana and Kali."

[notlewis]

"Yeah," he muttered, and left it at that for now.

"Sorry, mate," he corrected. "But two boys and two girls. Heh. I bet they're cute." Luis found things like amoebas and starfish cute, baby Draconians were probably somewhere near puppy levels for him. "Eggs?"

He paused, and his head bobbed a bit dizzily. Normally it took many times this amount of alcohol... really must be working too hard. "I am sorry if that's rude to ask, I'm just curious."

[governorkang]

"They are. And they get into everything; even when you think they can't reach something, they find a way," Kang shook his head. "I found Yana on the roof once. I have no idea how the hell she got up there. And yes, eggs. It's not rude at all."

[notlewis]

"That's kids for you," Luis said with a grin. "And see, with my work ethic and my attention span being what they are, I'd be the worst father ever. It's definitely the bachelor's life for me."

Besides, he wasn't even sure if coming back from the dead or whatever had happened to him even allowed you to have children. Not that he was going to go try it out or anything.

"That's right, your mate was in that dream too," he added, seemingly out of nowhere. "I feel like I know her already."

[governorkang]

Kang smiled, "You never know until it happens. I didn't think I'd ever be a decent father, but I managed to raise the girls alright. Things change when you have someone to protect."

...oh, she had been. He remembered the fear that had gnawed at him, and shoved it out of his mind, chuckling, "Oh, she was quite different as a hatchling."