The Scavenger and The Lost Lover

Malakal always had a soft spot for broken things.

It’s why he became a scavenger after the Great Move.

As he sat by a round table at the Treasure Trove on the moon, he felt his heart hurt for the woman in front of him. She was sobbing uncontrollably while clutching a teardrop-shaped necklace that had a picture of her long-lost lover.

The woman before Malakal had skin that radiated like starlight and long hair that was as sleek and dark as the night sky. She was dressed in the pressed robes of the Upperwealth. Wrapped in white satin, she donned bracelets and heels that shimmered like diamonds. Despite the broken pendant she wore around her neck, she emulated perfection, a contrast to Malakal, who had blotchy brown skin, peppery, disheveled, short hair, and wore whatever he could find in the Junkyards of the Underwealth.

“Please,” she sniveled. “You scavengers are my only hope.”

She spoke with truth and a hint of disappointment. It was obvious that the Treasure Trove was the last place she wanted to be in, especially for someone of her class. To have a member of the Upperwealth come down from their ivory tower and to the slums in person…this person must mean a lot to her.

Malakal had heard stories of couples that had been separated during the Great Move from Earth to the lunar colonies. If this person’s significant other is back on Earth, there’s no way she could’ve survived, and no one would dare traverse the remains of what is still referred to as Earth to find out… unless you’re a scavenger.

Providing a souvenir from Earth that belonged to a significant other was something Malakal had done before and could do again, but to bring back a loved one home, especially alive...

“It’s never been done,” Malakal said.

The woman looked at Malakal quizzically. “You’ve never seen any humans other than scavengers on your voyages?”

Oh sure, he thought to himself. But he wouldn’t call them humans.

“Listen, lady,” Malakal began. “I don’t know what stories they tell you up there, but whoever it is you’re looking for, they won’t be the same person you knew.”

“You don’t know Kasama,” the woman said matter-of-factly. “She’s strong and resilient, if anyone can survive the mutated wastelands of Earth, it’s her. She’s alive,” The woman said firmly. “I know it. I don’t care how long it’ll take. I don’t care how much it’ll cost. All I ask is for you to bring her home. Name your price.”

Name your price. That sentence was music to his ears. A smile crept up on his face.

“Well, if that’s the case then what are we waiting for?” Malakal asked. "I’m in.”

The woman’s eyes widened with surprise. It was obvious that she had expected to convince him a little more, but Malakal knew if he could finish the job, he’d be set for life. Hell, maybe with this fortune, he’d be able to retire and live amongst the Upperwealths himself.

Malakal pointed at a nearby docking station outside their window view.

“I’ve got a ship docked at The Graveyard. We can leave first thing tomorrow morning.”

“No,” the woman said. She looked around then leaned against her side of the booth. With a finger, she tapped against the table. “We leave now.”

Malakal raised an eyebrow at the woman.

“Whatever price you have in your head. I’ll double it.” She rose from her seat and left behind a bag of coins for their tab. “Now let’s go.”

As she tried to depart, she turned around and saw that Malakal remained where he sat. “What are you doing?" She asked him. "There’s no time to waste.”

Malakal crossed his arms. “Who are you?”

The woman watched Malakal for a moment. “What does it matter?”

“I need to know that we can trust each other,” said Malakal. “I stick up for you, you stick up for me, that’s how it works down there at the Wastes. So, I’m going to ask again. Who are you?”

The woman surveyed Malakal's face. Her jaw tightened, then she relaxed it, sighed, and closed her eyes. When she opened them, her expression softened. “Mag,” she said.

Malakal nodded, then rose from his seat. “Malakal,” he said, introducing himself. He smirked. “Now was that so hard?”

Mag rolled her eyes and together they left the Treasure Trove in search of Mag’s lost love.

The Graveyard was a junkyard refurbished to be a spaceport for the Underwealth and there on Landing Dock Three, was a rundown black and blue starship.

“There she is in all her glory. I call her...The Bluebird,” he said, gesturing to the starship with open arms. “Try not to stare at her for too long, she gets a little nervous around strangers.”

There was a look of concern that spread across Mag’s face. “I was told you were the best scavenger money could buy and yet everything you own seems to be falling apart.”

Malakal looked offended by this remark. “Well, excuse me, Your Highness,” he said with a sarcastic tone. “My mistake for living in the slums. If I knew I was going to be graced by visiting royalty, I would’ve spruced up at the nearest public bathhouse.”

Mag glared at him. “I’m not royalty.”

“And I’m not the best.” Malakal remarked. He rolled up his sleeve to reveal a wrist control panel. With a press of a button, the entrance to The Bluebird revealed itself to them. He gestured Mag inside. “After you.”

Once seated at the cockpit of The Bluebird, they departed from the docking station and headed straight to Earth.

Malakal was preparing the ship for entry, and as he did, he spoke to Mag. “I’m going to need that necklace.”

“What?” Mag said, her eyes wide with fear as she held onto the necklace in a vice. “What for?”

“Relax, it’ll only be for a second. If we’re going to find your partner, we’re going to need a trail. The Bluebird has a tracking mechanism on its dash that allows us to pinpoint exactly where something, or in this case someone, may be within the last twenty-four hours. I just need something The Bluebird can use to track. I’m assuming she’s wearing the other half of that locket?”

Mag nodded and handed Malakal her necklace. With care, he took the necklace and placed it onto the dashboard’s tracking mechanism. After a quick scan, a holographic trail revealed itself before them, leading straight to the Northern Hemisphere.

“Now we’re one step closer to finding your long-lost love, or what’s left of her…”

“She’s alive.” Mag assured as she put the necklace back on. She looked at Earth with determination in her eyes. She wanted to truly believe in the words she was saying.

“Why do you think that?” Malakal asked.

“I wouldn’t know what to do with myself if she wasn’t.”

Malakal was quiet for a moment. “Something happened before the Move?”

“More like something should’ve happened,” said Mag. With her thumb, she rubbed against the fabric of her dress.

"Have you ever been in love?" She asked, not expecting a response.

"Once," said Malakal.

Mag continued, “Before the Great Move, I fell in love with a girl who had big dreams and an even bigger heart. I knew back then I wanted to be with her for the rest of my life, but my family disapproved. They said if I were to choose her over my family, I would be disowned. And despite all my love for Kasama, I was scared to live in the slums…”

Malakal couldn’t help but laugh after hearing that last remark.

Mag winced as if she had spoken out of turn. “No offense,” she added.

“None taken,” Malakal said, truthfully. “I wouldn’t want to live in the slums either. Terrible place.”

Mag felt the grooves of her bracelets as if they were shackles. “I was young, and I let my selfishness and greed get the best of me. I thought I would be fine living a comfortable life as an Upperwealth, but despite the parties and the drinks, I was never satisfied. I was always alone in the end, and the only times I could remember when I was truly happy was back on Earth when I was...” Mag began to choke up and her eyes watered.

“With her,” Malakal finished.

Mag nodded. “She saw me for who I was rather than for what I had and a second with her always felt like a lifetime of what money couldn’t buy.” She looked out into the stars. “She had such a beautiful soul."

“So, what happens if we find her,” Malakal enticed. “Do you think after all this time, she’ll forgive you?”

Mag chuckled. “I doubt she’ll forgive me for the choice I made back then, but I’d never forgive myself if I didn’t try. I'm not afraid to try. Not anymore. That’s why I’m here.”

“You know, if she is alive, a lot of complications could have occurred. If she’s been on Earth for too long, her cells will have already mutated in order to adapt to the changed environment. Would you still love her for who she is if she isn’t who you remembered her to be?”

Mag said nothing, but by the look in her eyes, Malakal knew the answer.

As they passed the satellite belt and broke through the Earth’s atmosphere, The Bluebird found itself landing in front of a small house in the middle of nowhere.

It was nighttime and the sky was lit by nothing but the moon and the ominous green porch light by the door.

“We’re here,” Malakal said. “The tracker indicates that the other half of the necklace should be inside that house.”

Mag looked around, her mouth agape. She was horrified by the sight of her surroundings. “This is where she has been all this time.” There was hurt in her voice. "She must've been all alone."

Together, Malakal and Mag stepped out of The Bluebird and approached the small house. Mag took in a deep breath before knocking against the doorframe.

“Who’s there?” said a croaky voice. Malakal looked at Mag, who stood frozen in her place.

Malakal stepped in and spoke for her. “Travelers, ma’am, we just have a quick question to ask you.”

“Not interested.”

“We’re--” Mag began, mustering up some courage. “We’re looking for someone. Kasama. Do you know her?”

For a moment, there was silence. Then the door creaked open, revealing a woman with scaly pink-and-peach skin with bright yellow eyes and hair as white as snow. Upon her neck, dangling under the moonlight, was a teardrop-shaped necklace similar to that of Mag’s. It was Kasama. "Maggie," she said. She smiled a sharp-toothed smile before covering her mouth and looking down at her appearance in shame.

“I…I know what you must be thinking,” the woman said in a stung voice, picking at her scales out of nervousness.

Malakal looked over at Mag, half-expecting her to be running back to the ship but instead witnessed Mag approach Kasama, and with a delicate hand, lift her chin up so their eyes would meet.

"I've never stopped thinking about you, Kasama."

Kasama’s eyes widened in surprise at those words. The two women embraced, their necklaces meeting and merging to form a heart-shaped locket.

Malakal sighed.

He always had a soft spot for broken things. Especially when he was able to fix them up in the end.

As Malakal headed back to the ship. Mag called out to him. "Malakal! Catch!"

He turned and caught what was thrown at him just in time. It was the heart-shaped locket.

"It’s a family heirloom. It should be worth more than what you were hoping of getting from me."

Malakal was confused. "I thought the plan was to bring you two back home?"

Mag and Kasama smiled with eyes that glinted with the utmost happiness.

"We are home."