Roland Part 2

Roland – Part 2
written by John Appius Quill

Roland and Lux stood at the curb waiting for their car while the coldest city winds in decades swept through the streets and blew their heat generating jackets around like the loose sails of a ship at sea. Roland reached inside the chest pocket of his jacket and increased the temperature. It was a dry cold that would bring snow soon. Fortunately Roland and Lux knew they would be off Earth soon to a planet of warmth and sunshine.

”I bet you didn´t know that I can feel the cold too.” Lux said as the smile on his face broadened.

”I´m sorry to hear that Lux.” Roland answered as they stepped into their car and drove to the JFK spaceport.

*****

Days later Roland and Lux stood on a large platform half way up a canyon wall waiting for their ride to the Governmental Palace while scorching winds swept through the rocky canyons and blew a dry heat that flapped their heat-reflecting shirts around like the loose sails of a ship at sea.

”I feel like a baked potato.” Roland said to Lux.

”Yes, my polymer skin is secreting cooling oils.” Lux said.

They waited for what seemed a very long time. Roland nearly emptied his water pouch while Roland sipped his gel tubes. The sky suddenly darkened as a huge shadow blocked out the burgundy, purple sky and hot winds blew down at sandstorm speeds forcing Roland and Lux to grab hold of their sun goggles. Roland pointed up at a massive dragon that was landing. Its rider hopped off when it hit the platform It took large dragon steps forward in between growls that shook Roland to the bone. Roland and Lux jumped back then ran to opposite sides of the creature.

”Does it even know that it can´t digest me?” Lux yelled over to Roland from the other side of the growling dragon.

”Those jaws can still chew you up good, Lux.” Roland warned as the dragon´s head moved from side to side looking at Lux then Roland as they spoke.

”What do we do now Roland?” Lux asked jumping back from the dragon head that swung his way.

”Help us!” Roland yelled to the rider.

The robbed figure held up both hands in a gesture Roland thought meant for them to stay back. Roland was not sure if they had committed a diplomatic faux-pas or if the beast was just hungry and saw them as baked hot dogs in the barbecue sun. It´s jaws were easily as long as he was tall with nostrils large enough for him to be aspirated inside should the creature inhale with too much zest. Roland thought they maybe stood a chance wrestling its tongue if they found themselves in its mouth. Roland and Lux bolted for the side of the cliff. Lux´s pocket watch bounced out of his shirt during the sprint. Lux grabbed his watch and accidently opened it as Roland began to climb the cliff.

”Greetings and welcome to Sunnius Prime.” The watch said.

The watch translated the dragon´s growling. Lux froze and Roland jumped off the hot cliff ledge he had tried to climb. He expected his counterpart to be humanoid.

”Greetings. I´m Roland, The Negociator from Earth and this is Lux my co-negociator.” Roland said into Lux´s watch as he wiped dust from his clothes and blew on his burning fingers.

”Greetings. I´m Negociator Ahark and this is my co-negociator Rarark.” The dragon said.

”Greeings.” Rarak said holding up both hands as it had done before.

Rarak stepped forward. He wore a white loose rob that blew in the wind and revealed him to be made of carved pieces of stone with no physical connection between his joints as if they were somehow magnetically held together. Roland wiped fog from his goggles as he stared at Rarak.

Ahark saw Roland stare at Rarak and said. ”Rarak is a magically animated being who achieved his sentience some time ago.”

”Congratulations Rarak. I have only recently achieved sentience maybe we can talk about some of the challenges that lie ahead for me?” Lux asked holding his watch up.

”Yes and maybe you can tell me about the strange weather you have back home. I hear it´s very different.” Rarak said.

”Not so different.” Roland and Lux answered in unison wiping their foreheads.

All three humanoids jumped on the back of Ahark and the four headed to the Sunnius Govenmental Palace.

(745 words in story) John Appius Quill © 2017