This is a short chapter, just to get the week started.

Chapter 9 “Sherata Cats or Mech Warriors?” The nurse held up two brightly colored ace bandages. “Sherata Cats are for babies,” scoffed Rin, then struck a dramatic pose on one leg with an arm stretched above him and a closed fist as if he were trying to take flight. “Mech Warriors, Protectors of the Universe!” “Mech Warriors it is then,” said the nurse. Bae lay back on the emergency room bed while the nurse wrapped his coconut sized ankle. He really didn’t want either bandage, the pain meds were starting to kick in and he just wanted to sleep. He heard Mrs. Hansson’s voice next to him and forced his eyes open. “Sweety, the Constable is here,” said Mrs. Hansson. “A man came in a few minutes ago with a ruptured spleen, we think it’s the man that attacked you. The Constable needs you to identify him.” “It will only take a moment,” said Trey’s voice. “I’ll help you sit up.” Trey did something to the bed and pushed him into a sitting position, then went around to the privacy curtain stretched across the emergency room cubicle he was in. “Don’t worry, honey, he’s in handcuffs,” said Mrs. Hansson. Trey pulled the curtain back. The Constable and a deputy were flanked to each side of a man with his arms behind his back; the man was having trouble standing and obviously in a great deal of pain. Bae took a long look at the man, then shook his head. “That’s not him.” “What?” said Trey. “Hon, you don’t have to be frightened, he can’t hurt you,” said Mrs. Hansson. “It’s not him, I’m certain,” said Bae. “Clear the room,” said Lord Lothan. The nurse looked like she wanted to argue. “You can finish that in a moment.” The nurse set the bandage down and everyone filed out. Lord Lothan pulled the curtain shut and came to stand next to Bae, then lowered his voice so only Bae could hear him. “Are you sure you want to start your Governorship out like this, it could be seen as a weakness?” “Or as merciful,” said Bae. “Now that I’ve had a chance to look at him, I recognize who he is. He’s the third mate on the Maratan fishing trawler. He has two kids, a boy and a girl. If I identify him, the trial will take ten minutes, then he’ll be hung. I don’t want to start like that.” “Well, there is something to be said for mercy, sometimes, but he shouldn’t get off without punishment,” said Lord Lothan. “I know,” said Bae. “I’ll talk to Captain Sal before he goes looking for him in the middle of the night and wraps an anchor around his neck. I’ll have him quietly demoted to deckhand, and he’ll never be promoted again. He’ll do the crappiest jobs there are for the rest of his life, but at least his children will have their father.” “Is this Bae talking, or your mentor, the former Governor Baestar?” asked Lord Lothan. “Governor Baestar was a great man, this is what he would have done,” said Bae. “Can I go to sleep now?” “Morphine will do that to you,” said Lord Lothan, lowering the bed back down. “Go ahead, sleep now.” The voices faded away and Bae slept a dreamless sleep. When he next opened his eyes he was in a big soft bed with the covers pulled up to his chin. He heard someone shuffling around and lifted his head. His eyes were blurry and it took a moment to realize it was Rin arranging bottles on a shelf. It took another moment to realize he was in Governor Baestar’s bedroom. He’d only been in here once before when the Governor had been sick several years earlier. The room no longer looked as it did then, all of his stuff from his old room was here. He wasn’t ready to deal with the reality of it all yet. He was still tired. He lay his head back down and closed his eyes, and pretended the Governor was still here, watching over him. He’d loved the old man like a grandfather. It was dark when he opened his eyes again, and Massi was sitting on the bed next to him. Bae lifted his head but didn’t see Rin anywhere in the room. “I’m sorry, I’m really, really sorry,” said Massi. “For what?” “I didn’t go to the airport with Mrs. Hansson. I should have been there, I’m so sorry.” “It’s not your fault, you can’t be with me all the time, and geez, its only a sprained ankle.” Massi tipped his head slightly. “It’s my fault you got hurt.” Bae stuck his hand out. “Hi, I’m Baestar.” “Huh?” “Apparently you’ve never met me before if you think there was anything you could have done to stop me from being stupid. Heck, Trey couldn’t stop me, and he’s a full-grown bodyguard.” Bae pushed the blankets back and tried to sit up, and winced when he tried to move his foot. “Can you untuck the blankets, they’re pushing on my foot?” Massi jumped off the bed and pulled the blankets out and over Bae’s leg. “Oh, that’s better.” “You should prop it up on a pillow,” suggested Massi. “Good idea, but I got to go the bathroom first,” said Bae. Massi rushed back around the bed and picked up an odd shaped bottle with a handle from the floor. “Here, use this, you’re not supposed to get out of bed.” Bae looked at the bottle, and then up at Massi. “You’re kidding, right?” “The doctor said you have to stay in bed,” replied Massi. Bae shook his head. “Yeah, not going to happen. Help me up.” “Here, you’ve got some crutches.” Massi retrieved a set of crutches leaning against the wall while Bae slid to the side of the bed. “Gah, this bed is huge,” said Bae. “I wonder if I can get a normal sized bed.” “I’ll ask Mrs. Hansson,” said Massi. Bae stood with Massi’s help and got the crutches in place. Bae took a few tentative hops, then stopped and looked around the room. “Umm…where’s the bathroom?” “Oh, it’s over here,” said Massi. “Mrs. Hansson had to show me, it’s hidden. I guess Nobles like to pretend they don’t use bathrooms.” Massi pressed a carved relief of an elk on the wall and the secret door sprung open. “Oh, that is so cool,” said Bae. “Close it, I want to try.” Massi pushed the door shut and Bae pressed the elk. The door swung open again. “That is the most awesome thing I’ve ever seen.” Bae hopped into the bathroom on his crutches and Massi shut the door again. Bae’s eyes widened at how big the bathtub was, it could double as a swimming pool. The call of nature grew more urgent, but Bae stopped and was confused. He called out to Massi outside. “Hey, there’s two toilets.” “Use the one with a lid,” Massi called back. “How do you know?” shouted Bae. “Mrs. Hansson had to tell me,” Massi shouted through the door. Maneuvering on one foot was a challenge, but with the help of the crutches, Bae finally managed it. He shouted to Massi. “How come the other bathrooms don’t have two toilets?” “This is the Governor’s personal bathroom,” replied Massi. Bae finished his business, and a new problem arose. “Hey, where’s the toilet paper!” “Now you use the second toilet,” shouted Massi. “But I’m done?” shouted Bae. “Trust me, move to the second toilet,” shouted Massi. “Okay, but there’s still no toilet paper,” shouted Bae. “Push the green button on the side,” shouted Massi. ‘HOLY MOTHER OF PEARL!!!! WHAT THE HECK!!!!” shouted Bae. Bae heard something heavy outside the door hit the floor, followed by the roar of laughter. “Oh you’re a freaking comedian, very funny,” shouted Bae. “Is this a joke? Now I’m soaking wet.” The roar of laughter increased, and then there was a knock on the door. “Bae, its Trey, there is toilet paper, it’s under the case that looks like a candy dish with seashells. You’re supposed to use the toilet paper first, then move to the bidet.” “What’s a bidet?” shouted Bae. “That’s the second toilet that sprayed you with water,” said Trey. “When you’re done with the bidet, use one of the towels on the shelf, then put it in the wicker basket to be washed.” “That’s just gross!” shouted Bae. “There’s water everywhere now. Dang it, and my pajamas are soaking wet. I’m using the downstairs bathroom from now on. Someone get me a new set of pajamas.” A new voice came from the other side of the door. “What are you two doing? Are you tormenting that poor boy?” The voice belonged to Mrs. Hansson. Bae heard a drawer slam and then Mrs. Hansson spoke again. “I’m going to open the door, honey, I’m not looking.” “NO! I’m fine, I’m just going to crawl out the window and runaway and live at sea as a pirate.” The door clicked open, but not all the way. Mrs. Hansson’s arm snaked around the corner and deposited a fresh set of pajamas on the stand next to the door. “There you go, sweetheart, it’s the ones with seagulls on them.” The door clicked shut again and Bae could hear Mrs. Hansson scolding Trey and Massi. “You two should be ashamed of yourselves, and you a grown man picking on a little boy.” “I was helping,” protested Trey. Massi continued to roar with laughter. Bae glanced at the window and tried to decide if he could make the climb down from the third floor. There were plenty of sailboats at the Marina. He could steal one and nobody would ever see him again. It would serve them right. But, then with his ankle swollen, he would probably fall to his death. Still though, even that might be a better option. It took him nearly ten minutes to get his dry pajamas on, leaving the soaked ones on the floor. His bandage was wet now also, so he unwrapped it and left that on the floor also. He faced the door trying to figure out how to get out. “Hey, how do I get out of here?” he shouted. “Press the dolphin, dear,” said Mrs. Hansson. Bae found the carving of a dolphin and pressed it. The door swung open. He glared at Massi as he hopped back to the bed. “I’m not cleaning that mess up,” said Bae. “Did you wash your hands?” asked Massi. Bae threw one of the crutches at Massi. Massi easily dodged it and wisely retreated back towards the far wall. Rin came through the door next carrying a tray with a bowl and a glass of juice. “You’re awake, yay!” said Rin, then stopped and looked through the open door of the bathroom. “Eww… what happened?” Bae crawled into the bed and pulled the covers over his head.