Captain Rydian of the Human Galactic Unit

Chapter 3

I paced the command center of the ship. Alphonse and Vanessa watched. I was once again in brown clothes, though now I wore my red neckerchief. I figured the more klitons ask about it, the more I can tell about being colorblind, and the more the term will spread around. I was hoping that if the term spread out enough, there would be less suspicion.

I finally stopped and turned to my crew, "Alright, we have a few things we need to fix today. After our little test run yesterday, its clear we're still fairly behind."

I gave a confident grin, "But we now have a better understanding of what we need to do. Three things especially. The first being that I definitely need a better identity here on Klicta. Thanks to my encounter with Orville and his little buddies, we have something to start with. I just moved here from Clairvon Town up north of here, here being Tintale Town, and I am colorblind, meaning I have trouble telling colors at times."

Vanessa looked confused, "But that's not what being colorblind is, sir."

I grinned, feeling pretty pleased with myself at the moment, "Yes, but they don't know that. There's no such thing as colorblind here on Klicta, so I'm using the term to stay out of trouble."

Vanessa thought about it, then smiled, "I see. Very clever, sir."

I rubbed my chin in thought, "Now, about my identity. I need to be able to prove I'm a Kliton. Any way we can do that, Vanessa?"

She nodded with a smile, "Actually, yes. I did research on it and have come across a few different things you should know. For example, klitons age differently from humans."

I sat in my large chair, ready to hear what she had learned, "Ok, explain."

She made a diagram appear onscreen, "Instead of aging constantly throughout years, klitons age in stages."

I actually found that to be an interesting concept, "Stages?"

She nodded and explained as she pointed to a baby kliton, "There are six stages. The first is the Infant Stage. From the moment you are born, you will be an infant. Then, after so much time of learning and attention, you mature to the next stage. Each stage happens immediately, changing your size and even your appearance slightly."

She pointed to the next picture, this one being a little kid kliton, "The next stage is the Child Stage, which would be the toddler years of a human. This stage covers the ages of 5 to 12 in humans."

Then she moved on to the next picture, which was an older kid, "Once they mature in mindset, they mature to the next stage. This stage is the Adolescent Stage. This would be considered the teenage years. Though, this stage is a bit different. This stage can mature at any time, even as soon as the same day for some. No one knows what causes an Adolescent to mature to the next stage. Some believe it's when they overcome a personal feeling, thought, or even fear that they could mature, but no one knows for certain. Your new friends Rubi and Cleo are both Adolescents."

I sighed as I rubbed my head. This was a lot to learn and remember, even with a memory chip. A lot like when to sit and read too long, no matter how good the book is. After a while, it just gets tiring.

Of course, Vanessa noticed, "Are you alright, sir?"

I smiled, worried she would think I was getting bored of her explanation, "This is just a lot to take in, Vanessa."

She looked curious, "Should I stop, sir?"

I shook my head and motioned for her to continue, "No, I'm fine. Keep going."

She watched me to be sure, then continued, "Well, the next stage is the Mature Stage, which would be the young adult stage. Orville is in this stage. Then the Adult Stage, which is obvious, and lastly the Senior Stage, which is also obvious."

I rubbed my chin as I tried to collect my thoughts on the matter, "Alright. Though, what separates someone who is Adolescent from someone Mature? Orville didn't look all that much older than Rubi and Cleo, and you did say you can mature at anytime from the Adolescent Stage."

She nodded and pointed to her ears, "I believe it's their ears, sir. I notice from the Mature Stage and up, the ears are a bit longer and they hang lower. An Adolescent and below have perked up ears."

I thought back to seeing Rubi and the others the day before, "Yeah, I do think Orville's ears were a little different from Rubi's."

Alphonse gasped as he realized it, "Sir, your ears..."

I knew he would catch on, "Yes, they're not pointed, I know. Rubi noticed yesterday. Luckily, Cleo's aren't pointed either. It seems very few klitons don't have pointed ears for some reason."

Vanessa nodded as she made pictures of different Klitons with short ears appear next to her onscreen, "I noticed this too. I think it's considered a handicap. Klitons have exceptional hearing because of their long, pointed ears. Anyone born without it can't, so it's considered a disability, and is usually ignored for the sake of not offending the handicap."

I could understand that, "I see. That explains Cleo's feelings towards Rubi's little interrogation. I'm a handicap, like her, even more so thanks to being colorblind. This could prove very useful. I should have much less trouble now."

Vanessa nodded with a smile, "Yes, and this should help as well." A card printed out of a slot in my control panel.

I pulled it out and looked it over to see my picture and information on it. Though, I noticed some of the lines were filled by "With-held". I felt curious as I looked at Vanessa, "With-held?"

She smiled as she explained, "I registered you as an Adolescent, so you are allowed by law to hide your personal information since you are living on your own. Once you're Mature, you are expected to show full identification."

I looked over the card with a grin, "Excellent. That will certainly keep anymore noisy klitons from getting too deep."

I slipped the card in my jeans pocket as I decided to bring up the next problem, "Ok, now that that's settled, onto our second issue; I cannot read or write Dixon."

Vanessa sighed, a bit disappointed with herself, "I'm afraid we don't have a device for reading or writing. I've learned the characters of the Dixon alphabet, but you would have to learn it from scratch, Captain. Even Alphonse is learning it."

Alphonse nodded, "Miss Vanessa is helping me learn it, but it's no simple task, even with my heightened intellect."

I looked between them both, "So, I'm going to be the kliton who can't read or write?" I sighed, a bit bummed out. That was probably going to come back to bite me later.

Though, another thought then came to mind, "Aren't there schools on this planet?"

Vanessa shook her head, "Klitons gain basic knowledge with each stage. For example, an Infant can't speak, but once they mature to Child, they speak as if they've been talking for a few years. Not perfectly, but well enough to be understood. Same with reading and writing. Klitons get a little smarter with each stage. They only have things outside of basic knowledge to learn, and they have all the time they want to do so. No need for schools here."

Then she smiled, "Though, they do have learning facilities of sorts. Adolescents and up can go take classes to further their knowledge. I'm sure if you started taking them, you could learn a great deal more about their cultures and lifestyles, along with intellect and government information."

I thought about it with a grin, "I see. Perfect. That must be what Orville was studying for yesterday." I turned to her, "See about signing me up for classes, Vanessa."

She gave a salute, "Yes, sir. I'll have it taken care of."

I leaned back in my chair, "And for the last issue; a house."

Alphose was surprised, as I expected him to be, "A house, sir?"

I made a pyramid with my fingers as I thought back to the day before, "Rubi wanted to know where I lived. If I take these classes, the teachers will want to know too, as will anyone I come to meet closely. I can't keep up this act if I don't actually live in town."

Vanessa crossed her arms behind her back with an understanding nod, "I understand, sir. I will see about purchasing a home in town."

Then something else from yesterday hit me and made me groan, "That reminds me. What are we doing about currency?"

Vanessa smiled, "The currency is called links, sir. Unlike with money on Earth, all links are of the same worth. I already made a bank account with more than enough links for you, sir. It's under my name."

I found myself curious, "Your name?"

She nodded, "You're an Adolescent, meaning you can't open your own banking account. Your legal guardian must be responsible for it." She blushed a little as she continued, "So, I entered myself as your mother. I hope you don't mind, sir."

I thought about it, "No, that's alright. I'll make something up. My mother travels, so I decided to move here. Maybe I'll even get sympathy points."

She smiled as she made what looked like a clipboard appear in her hands, "As for the house, it should be somewhere simple, but not somewhere accessible by other people. No apartment buildings or duplexes. A small, single family home. One with a hiding place for the ship."

I nodded as I tried to picture the house, "Somewhere with a wide, flat roof would be best. That way we can safely take off if ever necessary."

She tapped her clipboard, "Here's something. It's even brown, just in case." Tapping the clipboard made a picture appear next to her. It was a small, two-story brown house with a flat roof.

I read the information out loud, "The perfect family home. Three bedrooms, two bathrooms, living room, kitchen/dining room, and basement. A simple house in the wonderful, child-friendly neighborhood of Herring." I smiled as I looked it over, "Sounds perfect. We can hide our supplies in the basement, hide the ship on the roof with the cloaking device, and still have a perfectly normal looking house. This will do perfectly, Vanessa. Buy it right away and we'll fly there."

Vanessa smiled with a salute, "Right away, Captain."

Within the next few hours, we were in the new house. It really was nice and simple. The ship sat nicely on the roof. The only way to reach it was from inside the house through a hatch in the back room of the second floor hallway. This worked out well since it meant the ship was safe from any nosy klitons.

I sat in a large recliner in the living room, "This is actually very nice. Quiet and simple. Hook up a few cameras and it will be our new base of operations." I stood up and used the small remote to change my hair color, "Alphonse, you and Vanessa set things up here while I'm gone. I'm going to go check out these classes." I used a mirror in the hallway to put in my eye contacts, "Vanessa, how do I access the bank account?"

She appeared on the large TV screen in the living room, "Go to the town bank and give them your I.D., then tell them how much you want to take out. A very simple process for an Adolescent. I have your identification registered on the account, so they'll know you have access."

I smiled once I was sure I looked the part, "Good. Then I'm off. I'll take out some links and stop by the class building. What's the name of it, Vanessa?"

Vanessa made a picture appear, a large white building I had noticed in the square the day before, "It's called the Education Hall. Every town or city has at least one. The bigger the town or city, the more Halls there will be. Your class is determined by your stage. I think if you go and request a special class, say to learn to read and write in Dixone, then I believe one of the teachers will give you private lessons."

I turned to my team, "Alright, then I'm off. I'll be back as soon as I can. Wish me luck." Once I grabbed my pen, I headed out.

I walked down the sidewalk towards the square, passing many different klitons along the way. As I went, I thought about what all they might ask once I arrived at the bank and tried to think up good answers for all of them. I looked at the places I passed as I walked. I saw a grocery store, a little stand selling very strange fish, a neat little restaurant, and finally the bank. I walked inside and stood at the teller window.

The woman there was a stern yellow kliton, "Yes? Can I help you?"

I pulled out my I.D. and handed it to her, trying to seem casual, like I'd done this before, "I'd like to make a withdrawal."

She looked it over the card, then looked me over, "Rydian the brown kliton. Looks right. How much?" She handed me back my card, which I thought wasn't a very secure system. Weren't there machines to check the authenticity of the card?

Then I would have to remind myself that this wasn't Earth. They probably didn't have the technology yet. Also, as Rubi said, even your clothes change color when you're a kliton, meaning it would be pretty hard, if not impossible, to fake your identity.

I slipped the card back in my pocket, "A hundred links, please."

She sighed, as if she felt serving a kid like me was the most boring part of her already boring job, "Give me a moment." She stood and went into a back room to get it.

I looked around as I waited. It was a tall white building with a dome ceiling colored in silver. Obviously, everything was some shade of white to grey. The only things colored differently were the pictures, signs, and klitons walking around.

I turned back to the window when the woman returned. She handed me a small red velvet pouch, "Here you go. Please sign this." She slid a white slip and pen forward.

I was about to sign it, but stopped myself. It was at that moment that I had to remind myself that I couldn't write human letters or I was going to have a very serious problem. You see what I mean? I told you this was going to come back to bite me.

I cleared my throat, "Actually, what do I write if I can't sign my name?"

She sighed, getting further bored with me, "Write a vektok."

I didn't have any clue what that was, "Uh, a vektok? What does that look like again?"

She sighed deeper, as if she understood my problem and found it even more annoying, then showed me a signed document, "The symbol right here." She pointed to a funny little symbol where a name should have been signed.

I smiled, trying to ignore how embarrassed I felt at that moment, "Oh, right. Thanks." I signed the little symbol as best I could, then happily left.

Once I was outside, I sighed with relief, "Well, that was embarrassing. Woman must have thought I was the stupidest kid alive." Then I noticed a couple watching me, confused.

I wondered what they were thinking, then realised I had said the words "woman" and "kid". Words I was pretty sure weren't on Klicta. I hurried off, hoping they just believed they heard me wrong. Vanessa did warn me not all the human words and terms could be translated, or at least not well.

I stopped once I reached the square. There stood the Education Hall. I walked up the front steps and went inside, putting the bank incident and the minor slip up behind me.

It looked like a large history museum with many different shades of white all around. I walked on, taking in the sights. Though, the only place I didn't look was where I was going.

I was surprised when I tripped over something and fell on my face painfully. I pulled myself up with a groan, "Ow. What did I trip over?"

"Watch where you're walking, blurk."

I looked to see a pink kliton girl stand up. She had reddish pink hair in a side ponytail, matching eyes, and soft pink skin. She looked annoyed with me, "I innocently tie my shoes and I get a boy tripping over me." She blushed, which really just made her cheeks a deeper shade of her skin color, as I stood up. She looked me over, "A very cute boy."

Believe it or not, I was actually very used to that look, "Sorry about that. I wasn't paying attention."

She giggled and held out her hand, "That's ok! I'm Mimi the pink kliton! You must be new!"

I shook her hand with a friendly smile, "I'm Rydian the brown kliton." She looked confused by my hand shake.

I wanted to smack myself at that moment. They didn't have handshakes on Klicta!

I smiled as I let go and came up with an excuse, "Sorry. That's a little greeting thing I used to do back in my home town with my friends. Sorry if that was weird. Sometimes I forget not everyone does it."

She smiled, waving it off, "Nonsense! I think it's neat! Like a secret hand gesture!" She gave me a big smile, "Does this mean we're friends?"

I found this kliton to be interesting company, reminding me a lot of a girl I grew up with, "Sure, why not? I could use a new friend. I just moved here the other day, so I'm still getting my bearings, which is pretty hard to be honest." I scratched my head, deciding to use this as an opportunity, "Especially since I can't read and write. Don't tell anyone, ok? It's really embarrassing."

She was surprised, then smiled sympathetically, which was my intention, "I see. Learning disability when you matured?"

I nodded, hoping that was a good enough reason, "Afraid so. Think taking classes here would help?"

She giggled with a little hop of excitement, "Of course! Though, I'm sure you'll mature out of that disability. Klitons usually do!"

I could remember what Vanessa explained about maturing, "Well, I don't think I'll mature anytime soon, so I think it would be best to learn now. Could you help me out? This is my first time taking classes. My mom registered me, but I don't know what I'm supposed to do from this point."

She smiled big, looking pleased that I had asked her help, "I would be happy to help, Rydian! Come with me!" She took my hand and hurried me down a hallway. She stopped once we reached a door, "This is the Adolescent's class. I come here every day before I go to work!" Then she gave me a big smile, "We should be study buddies! Come in for the same classes and tutor each other when we have trouble!"

This kliton and her excitable nature was starting to grow on me, "Sure. That would really help me out."

She smiled as she looked at her watch, "Then you should come for seventh dot class, ok? We can meet out front tomorrow!"

I was a bit confused, "Don't I have to go to today's class?"

She giggled as if that was a silly question, "You don't have to take every single class, Rydian. They have classes every day, for every dot. You come anytime and stay as long as you like. Your learning is all up to you. That's the motto of the Education Hall!" With that, she led the way outside.

I smirked once we were out on the front steps of the Education Hall, "Cool. Then I'll meet you here tomorrow?"

She nodded as she skipped down the steps, "At seventh dot tomorrow!" I could guess she meant the seventh dot on the clock.

I smiled with wave, "Seventh dot. Got it. See you then, Mimi." With that, I headed off for the house. Things had just gotten a whole lot easier.

Or so I thought.