The Cat's Meow

This is a short story I wrote for a competition on the spore.com forums. It is about a bounty hunter named Grell. He can be found here, the Nurples here, and the Nurple Patriarch here. I hope you enjoy my story and let me know any comments/suggestions you may have.

The Valarian Project has been known to always pay of its debts. They have a proud reputation and have no indications of abandoning this creed. This level of integrity highly intrigues a certain bounty hunter, as he has had numerous debts squelched. If anyone had the honor of fulfilling payment, it would be the Valarian project.

Thunder began to roll in as Grell exited his Spacecraft. He walked slowly down the concord and exited the docking bay, all the while enjoying the scenery and collecting his thoughts. As Grell approached the market square leading to the projects’ headquarters, he noticed a shadowed figure in an alleyway watching him.

The rain began to pour. Grell took off after the figure, the rain slowly trickling across his wrinkled brow. The shadowed figure was quick and light on his heels, rounding a few corners before hiding in a dumpster. He had figured he had lost the bounty hunter, as he had lost sight of him after the second corner.

The rain became a torrent. Grell walked with a slow pace up to the dumpster. He lifted the lid and grabbed what appeared to be a creeping Nurple by the neck. He squeezed his thick hands and asked,  “Why are you stalking me?” The Nurples eyes began to bulge from their sockets, his mouth agape collecting the rain. The Nurple threw his arms about wildly. Grell loosened his grip, the Nurple coughed and sputtered before saying,  “Why should I tell y,” before finishing his sentence Grell had tightened his grip and with his free hand ripped the Nurples signature tail from his body.

A lighting bolt struck the ground nearby. The Nurple let out an unimaginable shriek, and spit up a few drops of blood. He then said,  “The Valarians have a contract out against our Patriarch and it is my duty to report which bounty hunters visit their headquarters”  Blood began to pour profusely from his tail section,  “Please take pity upon me, I am merely a messenger.”  Grell chuckled,  “You must not have heard of me before,”  and with that Grell took the Nurples tail, wrapped it around his neck and suffocated the poor beast.

The storm had passed on as Grell approached the Valarian Project carrying his new trophy. Upon entry he was escorted to a dark room where a voice emanated from all around him.  “I can see you have a Nurple with you,”  the voice said,  “there is no doubt then that you know our task.” Grell nodded laying the corpse before him, “My price is one million Parbles.”

“It will be done,”  the voice replied.

Grell hurried back to his ship, as he knew time was of the essence, the Project had undoubtedly cast many bounty hunters against this Nurple. He made his pre-flight check and was on his way to Falompop, home to many great Nurples.

Upon arrival on the planet Grell noticed a ship he had seen before departing. It was Raifia, and he was sure of it  An old comrade out to do the same task, Grell now knew this would be an interesting bounty. Grell left his craft, and went in search of a Nurple bound to know the secrets of not only his civilization but of many ancient ones. He waited until nightfall and went to a local establishment, and in the corner, a bottle to himself, there was the Subterranean Nurple Grell had been searching for.

A light wind began to wrap upon the bars front door. Grell approached the lush and said,  “If you value your life, then you will answer my questions.” There was no response.  “Where might I find your patriarch?” Silence. “Is he on this planet?”  Grell slammed his fist. Silence. Grell was becoming impatient, he knew this Nurple had information, and he was determined to find out what.

The wind had begun to pick up and a dust storm had engulfed the tavern.  “Why is it that you might be asking me for this information now,”  the Nurple finally responded.

“That is none of your concern.” Grell said.

“Oh but isn’t it? Do you think that you are the first to seek my guidance?”  The Nurple let out a long belch, “I know of the bounty contracted on my leader, and I have recently relinquished this information to another bounty hunter.”  Why then should I be so eager to now tell you.

“Well isn’t it obvious, now that you have said this much, there is no turning back.” Grell snorted and hissed as he finished his sentence, realizing Raifia may well get this bounty before him.  “If you were willing to give out this information then it is perfectly clear that you are at odds with your leader and this is heresy, you would not want this to get out would you?”

“Fine if you must resort to threats upon me, I will concede.” The Nurple seemed nervous and leaned in closely,  “He is in hiding on Relios IV, in an abandoned research facility, and please do not let it be known I helped you.” The Nurple looked upwards as if in prayer,  “It is bad that enough I witnessed the horrors I did under his command.”

The wind was now at a violent howl, and gusts frequently smashed into the walls of the tavern. Grell said nothing and walked toward the bartender.  “That man in  the corner is a traitor to your nations, he wishes the Patriarch dead.” Grell wanted no more bounty hunters on their way to Relios IV. As Grell got in his ship, he could hear the faint sounds of police sirens.

Relios IV is a highly populated planet, yet not one within the Nurples empire. Grell found it strange that the Nurple leader would hide in such an undesirable place. He asked the local denizens the location of the abandoned station. Not many people even knew of the existence of a research facility on their planet. One female however, was a former member and told Grell where it was located.

Grell approached the station as he heard a loud noise from within the building. It was no doubt Raifia had already collected the bounty. Grell dismayed, yet still curious approached the gate. He could see in the distance a hunched figure dragging another toward the gate.

The only noise audible was that of the figure dragging his corpse. Grell wait hidden to surprise his old friend as he departed the facility. He waited until the sounds had stopped at the entrance of the gate, and he lurched forward and yelled as loud as he could. To his surprise it was not Raifia that was there to greet him, at least not alive. The Nurplehopper had killed his comrade

Blood began to pulse through Grell’s body and the weather turned inclement. Rain began to pour, wind began to gust, thunder roaring, and lightning abound. In a fit of rage Grell leaped over the fence tearing a pole from its cemented hole in the ground. He held the pole vertical as he fell back to the ground, driving the pole straight through the Nurples abdomen.

The only thing on Grell’s mind was revenge, the rain downtrodden and heavy fell against him unlike any storm had before it, and this only fueled his savage nature. Grell busted through the main compound’s door and saw the Patriarch with a wry smile on his face.  “So you’ve come to kill me then?”

“What else would I do with you, you’re tyrannical days are over.”

Grell hurled himself forward and as he did, two flying creatures appeared and shot a sticky resin at his feet.  Oh did I fail to mention my companions?  Grell became infuriated he looked around for a solution as the Patriarch neared him. Nothing.

The Patriarch came closer and time was running out for Grell, he gave one last concerted effort to escape. He leaped high with a tremendous force that tore off his right foot. As Grell came down, he grabbed one of the companions in either hand and smashed them together as he hit the ground. He was in pain but his rage vastly overpowered that. Now he knew nothing was in his way, he flung one of the dead companions at the Patriarch as he fled hitting him in the leg and disturbing his gait.

Grell picked up the fallen Patriarch, who no longer looked like a great leader, fear stricken in his eyes he said,  “Please spare me.  I’ve done you no wrong.”

“Why do they always say that,”  Grell said as he slammed the patriarch’s spinal cord across his good leg.  “Now to collect my debt.”

Grell fitted his severed foot with a robotic counterpart on his ship as he made his way back to the Valarian Project. He could only stare at the remnants of a once mighty leader reduced to nothing. His thoughts centered around his own downfall, and he began to feel a tense pressure in his neck. He could no longer think about his family, they were gone and it was his fault, but he could not think of it any longer.

Grell was led into the same dark room he was in before and he laid down the Patriarch before him.  “Okay, I’ve done your task, now where is my money.”