Deeney - Alien on the run

ALIEN ON THE RUN!

James J. Deeney

Copyright 2015, James J. Deeney

Please do not copy this book in an unauthorized way.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be utilised in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including, photography, filming, recording, photocopying or by any information storage and retrieval system, or shall not by way of trade or otherwise be lent, resold, or otherwise circulated in any All rights reserved. No part of this book may be utilised in any form or by any means, electronic or form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published, without prior permission in writing from the publisher, James J. Deeney. The moral rights of the author have been asserted.

1

G inger Bap! Ginger Bap! Ginger Bap! Na, na, na, na, na ...

Fourteen year old Tommys eyes widened with anger, and he bunched his fists, as the group of boys taunted him. Just when he was about to lose control and launch himself at the nearest of the bullies, he felt a sharp tug on the sleeve of his school blazer.

Come on, Tommy. Dont mind them. Sure theyre only jealous because you came top of the class again. Come... come ... on. Lets go ho ... home.

Tommy's best friend, Paul Moran began to cough, a deep, hoarse wracking sound that shook his thin body with every explosion.

Reluctantly, Tommy turned to him. The pale, sallow...faced boy stood beside his little sister, Mary, who, though she was thirteen years old, was in the same class as the two boys. Both brother and sister had worried expressions on their faces.

The boys kept up their taunting chant. Ginger Bap! Ginger Bap! Ginger Bap! Na, na, na, na na.

Tommy gave his tormentors, especially their leader, Spud Murphy, the biggest of them, a defiant glare then swung away.

****

A s the three friends walked down the street, Murphy, who was a head bigger than the other boys shouted, I hope youre not looking forward to Sports Day, next month, Ginger Bap. Youll not see me for dust!

Dont ... worry, Tommy, whispered Paul. Youll beat ... him ... easily.

Mary smiled and nodded in agreement.

They were referring to the school Sports Day, and the main race, the three thousand meters. Tommy was favorite to win. He had beaten Murphy at the training sessions the week before. The bully wasnt happy about it. Ever since, he had given Tommy a hard time.

****

A s they walked on, Pauls continuous coughing grew worse. It disturbed Tommy to see how sick his best pal was. He hadnt really noticed how thin Paul had become, until now. Black rings around his deep set eyes, made him look paler.

Are you not getting any better, Paul? he asked.

Naw. My Mums taking me to see a specialist tomorrow. I was up all last night coughing and vomiting.

Our next...door neighbor, Mrs. Moore, said it might be his lungs, or something like that, said Mary quietly. An infection... Her beautiful brown eyes widened as she looked at Tommy.

Ach, exclaimed Paul. Mrs. Moores an alarmist. Thats what Dad... said... said...

They stopped for a minute to wait until Paul recovered. As Mary held her brother around his narrow shoulders, she glanced at Tommy. He couldnt help thinking, maybe Mrs. Moore is right.

Two minutes later they came to the bottom of Clifton Street where Tommy lived.

Tommy I wont be at school tomorrow... the... specialist... explained Paul.

Youre a lucky duck, exclaimed Tommy. He wished he didnt have to go to school. It wasnt that he didnt like school. He did, but this past while, Murphy and his cronies were getting the better of him.

Ill be seeing you, Paul. See you, Mary.

See you, Tommy, chorused Paul and Mary.

As Tommy headed up the street, he was unaware that Mary was looking after him. Then as he disappeared through the front door of his house she sighed heavily, turned and raced after her brother.

****

T hat evening, Tommy stood looking in the bathroom mirror. He glared at his reflection. His red hair, thick and curly, shone back at him like a fiery beacon. With a heavy sigh, he reached for his tooth brush and began to clean his teeth. When he was finished he took a mouthful of water from the tap. As he gargled loudly he glared at his hair again. With an angry splash he splattered the mirror with water. Ahhh, he groaned aloud. Why me? Why do I have to have red hair?

Thomas! His mother called from downstairs. Thomas!

Yes Mummy! Grabbing a towel he began rubbing furiously at the mirror.

Have you brushed your teeth yet?

Yes Mummy! He quickly dried the mirror.

Well hurry up and get to bed! Its almost eleven oclock!

A few seconds later the mirror was completely dried. With a final grimace at his reflection, Tommy hurried into his bedroom. Kicking off his slippers he bounced onto his bed. On his bedside table lay a pile of Marvel comics. He picked some up and began to thumb through them. Selecting an X men comic he began to read. But after a few minutes he returned it to the pile. It was no use, he couldnt concentrate. He lay back with his arms folded above his head staring at the ceiling. Ginger Bap, he thought. What a nick...name. I hate it. I hate my hair. He threw his head back harder against his hands the word, hate, hate, hate, buzzing through his tortured mind. If only I could wake up in the morning and my hair was black, or ... or gray, any color, but red. He growled, as he looked across at his favorite poster of Elvis Presley. The Kings hair was glistening black and combed to perfection. Id even swap my hair for a big nose like Dympna Simpsons, he thought, or, a turn in my eye, like wee Joe McCourts. Anything would be better than having red hair. He tugged at the hair in front of his head. Maybe when Im older, Mummy will allow me to dye it. He sighed then yawned. Sleep came quickly.

****

O n a planet beyond Earths galaxy, a creature called, Dargust worked furiously at the chair it was held captive in. Its suckered fingers elongated and using a tiny piece of metal that it had broken from a conveyor belt earlier, it began to file at one of the links that held it captive.

It took a frustrating long time, but at last he was free. Breathing from a nostril at the back of its head, the creature slipped into the corridor. The corridor, that had roughly fifty doors and was over a hundred meters long, ran almost the length of the space ship. A broad door told Dargust that the Pilot crafts would be moored there. Only using one nostril to breathe through, though he had ten, Dargust slipped as quickly and quietly as he could to the door. He hoped the door was not controlled from the inside. He had only twenty meters to go when one of the side doors opened behind him. Slowly he turned. One of the Valatians had emerged. Dargust held his breath. The giant creature, growling and cumbersome, headed down the corridor away from him. If it had been going the other way it would have seen him. He would surely have been captured again. Releasing his breath, he turned to hurry to the end of the corridor. It was then the Valatian turned. Its huge pointed ears had heard him breathe. With a roar that echoed along the corridor, it stumbled towards him. Racing as fast as his four legs could carry him, Dargust reached the door. He smacked the glowing entrance rod and the door hissed open. He was through. In the bay, he saw several Pilot crafts, most of them sat in their docks. He hoped the one that he decided to take had enough power to get him away. An alarm had already gone off alerting two guards who were working at the far end of the bay. They saw him. Roaring with anger, they raced towards him. It took Dargust three seconds to climb the stainless steel steps. Two seconds more he was sliding into the cockpit. Using his born with, electric powers, he switched on the computer pilot. Two seconds later it was roaring into life. Ahead he could see the massive steel exit door closing. He glanced behind. The three Valatians were firing at him, but he knew he was safe inside the craft. With a smooth forward motion it roared towards the closing door. In a second he was through and out into space. He pressed a suckered finger at the full speed digit. In two seconds his craft hissed into retro drive. A second later he was a thousand miles away. Dargust knew the direction his craft was heading would already have been locked on to. It would only be a matter of days before they picked it up. By then he hoped he could reach the Andromeda Galaxy.