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HUMPBACK HARBOR, OREGON:
Alex is sitting in the copilot’s seat, staring out the window at the Pacific Ocean stretching away to the horizon as he thinks about their stop in Fort Collins. When Mya asked him to let Maka join them, he thought they were good friends, but they haven’t said a word to each other since he picked them up. Once they got Derek in Mount Vernon, Maka gave him her full attention.
When he boarded the jet, Derek tried to be courteous to his uncle. He was glad he didn’t have to converse with him during the flight to Oregon and spent all his time with Maka.
The plane swings around toward the coast on final approach into Bend, Oregon, and Alex stares out the front window at what appears to be the crescent rim of a small volcano on the shoreline. He also sees a long mound of gray boulders forming a breakwater protecting the harbor. The plane makes a quick descent onto the asphalt surface and taxies over to the parking area for transient private planes.
Alex climbs out of his seat, opens the side door for the passengers, and steps out of the way, as they disembark. A moment later, a white passenger van drives up and parks near the bottom of the steps.
Jadin smiles when she recognizes her little brother driving the marina’s bus. When he climbs out, she wraps her arms around his neck and gives him a warm hug. “Look at you, Aaron. All grown up and handsome.”
“Hey, Sis. This is a nice surprise.”
Jadin turns and introduces everyone to her brother. “He works at the marina with my uncle Jerry.”
Aaron finishes shaking hands and indicates the rear end of the van. “I’ll put your luggage in the back. Go ahead and climb in.”
Alex helps Okana remove the luggage from the storage compartment behind the wing of the jet and carries it over to the van. “Jadin told us about you saving your uncle’s marina. I’m looking forward to seeing it.”
“It wasn’t just me, Mister Cave. It was a community effort. I just got things started for them.”
“You can call me Alex. Derek is a year older than you are, and just as modest about his accomplishments.”
“His girlfriend is nice looking. Is she from one of our local Native American tribes?”
“No, she’s Sioux, from Fort Collins, Colorado.”
“Oh, wow. Did she see the spaceship?”
“No, I’m afraid not.”
“Jadin didn’t say how many rooms you needed so I reserved five at the new motel. It’s within walking distance of the marina.”
“That’s great. Thanks.”
Alex goes to the side door of the van and climbs in back with Derek, Okana, and the two women, while Jadin sits up front with Aaron. During the drive to Humpback Harbor, Alex realizes the tension between Mya and Maka seems palpable. He has enough on his mind already and hopes it will ease up once they arrive at the marina.
When Aaron stops in front of the motel, the sun is over the horizon, creating a pastel tapestry across the sky. Jadin climbs out and waits with Aaron while he unloads the suitcases. “Is there a vehicle I can borrow while I’m here?”
Aaron sets the last bag on the ground. “Yeah, you can use this van in the morning to pick up your friends. I’ll get my car on the way home. I’m glad you’re staying at the house. We’ve all been talking about what’s happening with the visitors and the comet, so I’m happy we get to spend some time with you.”
Jadin smiles. “Yeah, me too.”
Jadin walks back to her friends and points to the restaurant a short distance up the street. “Let’s all meet there for breakfast in the morning and I’ll take you on a tour of the marina.” When they agree, she indicates the van. “I’d better get going. Good night, everyone. I’ll see you all in the morning.”
When Jadin and Aaron climb into the van, Alex goes with Mya into the office. Once they have their key cards, they go back outside while the others check in.
Derek fills out a registration form and notices that Maka slid her’s out of the way without writing anything on it. “Don’t you want your own room?”
Maka smiles and wraps her arm around Derek’s waist. “Why do we need two rooms?”
Derek feels his heart rate increase. “I just thought since we’ve only known each other for two days, it was too soon to take it to the next level.”
“I’m a free spirit now, and I don’t want to live by anyone else’s rules.”
Derek grins and slides the registration form and his debit card to the woman behind the counter. Once he has a key card, he and Maka go outside while Okana checks in.
Okana slides his keycard into his shirt pocket as he walks out of the office and joins his friends. “The clerk said there’s an old nautical bar about four blocks up the street. Does anyone want to join me for a drink after we’re settled into our rooms?”
“I’m in”, Alex tells him and looks at Mya. “Care to join us?”
“Sure, I’ll meet you guys there when I’m done.”
Derek looks at Okana. “What’s the drinking age in Oregon?”
Maka grabs Derek’s arm before Okana answers. “I don’t want to go sit in some stinky bar. Let’s go for a walk around the marina.”
Derek shrugs his shoulders at Okana. “Never mind.”
Alex feels his heart break when Derek directs his question to Okana instead of him. He just hopes that somehow he and Derek can mend things between them tomorrow.
***
The aroma of stale beer wafts out from the tavern as Alex opens the door and steps into a scene from an old movie. A plaque hanging on the wall just inside the doorway proclaims the Fast Harpoon Tavern is a historical landmark, established in 1843. The thick floorboards creak under his feet as he and Okana continue to the bar and sit down on nautical style stools.
A bald man with a black handlebar mustache walks up and smiles at the two strangers. “What can I get for you?”
Okana studies the names on the beer tap handles. “Olympia for me.”
“I’ll have the same,” says Alex.
Okana looks around and sees all the nautical memorabilia hanging on the walls and ceilings. There are no booths, just tables and chairs, and six other occupants, three of them women. He also notices the wooden wedges supporting two of the pool table legs. He turns back to the man behind the counter pouring the beer. “This is my kind of place. Is it yours?”
“Yep. Been in my family for three generations.”
“I’m Okana, and this is Alex. We’re here with our friend, Jadin Avery.” He reaches over the counter when the man holds out his hand and smiles.
“I’m Sam Adams, named after a distant relative. Nice to meet you. How do you know Jadin?”
“She’s a member of our team.”
Alex knows Sam is going to ask more questions, so he turns to Okana. “Do you want to shoot a game of pool?”
“A dollar a ball?”
“You’re on.”
Alex walks over and selects a cue stick, inserts fifty-cents, and racks the balls. Okana flips a coin and wins the first shot.
Mya steps into the tavern and wrinkles her nose at the smell of stale alcohol. She sees Okana shooting pool, and Alex leaning his back against the bar with a cue stick in his hand. She continues over and sits on a stool beside him. “Who’s winning?”
Alex indicates Okana. “The hustler. He usually runs the table if he gets the chance.”
Mya orders a glass of wine and watches Okana miss a shot. “It looks like it’s your lucky day.”
Okana turns to Alex with his palms up. “The table is out of adjustment.”
Alex grins and walks over. “Which way?”
“It dips toward the far left corner.”
Alex lines up his shot, allows for the slope, and gets three balls into the pockets before he misses.
Okana goes back to the pool table, and after sinking two balls, he takes a break when a man who was sitting at a table with two young women stands and comes over to him.
“Mind if I play the winner?”
“Sure. I’m Okana.”
“I’m Steve.”
Okana waits while Steve slides fifty cents under the cushion and goes back to the table, sitting close to a woman who appears to be his girlfriend. He makes his next shot and smirks at Alex. “I’ve got it figured out.”
Alex turns his attention back to Mya. “That’s it for me. He’ll run the table now.”
A few minutes later, Okana grins at Alex as he saunters to the bar. He takes a drink from his mug of beer and indicates Steve, who is racking the balls for the new game. “I’m hoping he’ll introduce me to his lovely friends.” He holds on to his mug and goes back to the pool table.
When Okana walks away, Alex smiles at Mya. “We won’t be seeing much of him for the rest of the night.”
“Is he always so aggressive with women?”
“I’m afraid so.”
Mya stares at her nearly empty glass of wine as she slowly rotates the stem. “I hope Jadin isn’t to upset with me. I didn’t know Maka was going to invite Derek.”
Alex noticed how well Mya and Jadin had gotten along during the plane ride and knows that isn’t the real issue. “Is that why you haven’t spoken to Maka since we picked you up in Fort Collins?”
“Can we talk outside?”
“Sure. It’s a nice night for a walk.”
Alex follows Mya out of the tavern and they walk along the street towards the motel. “Actually, I’m glad Derek was able to join us. We haven’t been on the best of terms lately. He seems in love with Maka.”
Mya loops her arm around Alex’s elbow. “She’s not as sweet as she appears.” She tells Alex what happened between Maka and her parents and how she acted after he ended the call. “She’s manipulative and doesn’t care who she uses to get what she wants.”
“Do you think she is using Derek?”
“No, I think she really does like him, but you should warn him she’ll turn on him if it suits her needs.”
“He won’t listen to me. Is that what’s keeping you from joining the colony?”
“No. In fact, I decided to go before she came over to my apartment.”
“What changed your mind?”
“Vickie. The woman who took your saliva. She made me realize just how crowded it’s getting here on Earth. It will be nice to start over and create a better society.” When Alex doesn’t say anything, she looks up at him. “You never told me why you’re not joining the colony.”
Alex can’t tell Mya about his spaceship or that he has a plan to stop the comet, but knows he must answer the question. “I don’t trust Vesta.”
“Why not? I’ve seen the inside of her ship and she has plenty of room. I think she’s sincere about wanting to save some of us.”
“I can’t place my finger on the exact reason. It’s just a gut feeling she’s not telling us everything.”
Alex and Mya stroll past a few small stores in comfortable silence, each lost in their own thoughts. They stop to look down into the harbor, and lampposts illuminate the boats.
Alex moves his arm over Mya’s shoulders. “Have you ever gone for a boat ride on the Pacific Ocean?”
“No, only on lakes.”
“I’d love to take you out on the water tomorrow.”
“I’d like that.” She sees Maka and Derek walking along the docks and pulls on Alex’s arm to guide him away before they see them. “I’m getting tired. Would you mind walking me back to my room?”
“Not at all.”
Alex walks her to the motel and waits while she opens the door. “I should go back to the tavern and check on Okana. I’ll see you in the morning.”
When Alex turns to leave, Mya stares after him, wondering if he has ever been married. She doesn’t think he is the type to settle down.