Julius Nix Finds A Plant, part 3

"Good evening, Spirit Gardener Shokon," Father Dominic greeted the attendant with a small bow.

 

The attendant gave a small bow of his own, his three-fingered red hands folded over the front of his blue robe. The small tusks meant the attendant was male, or at least used male pronouns. Julius didn't know much about Athee biology or culture, but he did know they took their pronouns seriously and tusks were masculine, so there it was.

 

"Fatherdominic," the attendant turned the title and name into one word and added a series of low sounds and hums that ended in a click, "welcome. You have brought someone?"

 

"Yes, this is a friend of mine, Mr. Julius Nix."

 

Julius got a smaller bow from the attendant. "Misterjuliusnix."

 

Julius glanced at Father Dominic, who inclined his head and shoulders slightly. Julius repeated the gesture to the attendant. "Um. Hello."

 

"Do you have a moment to talk?" Father Dominic asked before Julius could commit some sort of social faux pax. "We have a story to tell that is of importance to your garden."

 

The attendant, or Spirit Gardener as was apparently his title, nodded and led them through the greenhouse. They followed him to a pair of benches under the branches of a feathery leaved pink tree. As they sat down, the priest and detective on one bench and the gardener on the other, Father Dominic said, "Mr. Nix is a private detective."

 

"I am not familiar with this title," their host said.

 

"People can go to him for help when the Guard is unable or unwilling to assist," Father Dominic said. Julius thought that sounded too noble, half the time he was just digging through the dirty laundry of spurned spouses, but he'd go with whatever got them the info they needed. "I should let him explain why we're here."

 

Julius explained, keeping his language in check. "See, sir, I was hired by a maintenance worker who found something… strange. Turns out, there's an illegal carnivorous plant that's spread from your garden to the maintenance tunnels. We wanted to tell you first instead of taking the evidence to the Guard right away, since they'd just come down here and throw the rulebook at you. Metaphorically, I mean."

 

Spirit Gardener Shokon was very still for a long moment. "I appreciate your consideration. The tradition is less common now, but the plant you mention, the kodam, was once often used to absorb the spirit of a loved one."

 

"Absorb… how?" Julius asked, though he had a feeling he already knew.

 

"The body is ritually given for food so that the spirit can join in the plant's existence, and can be cared for."

 

Julius didn't know where to go with this.

 

Good thing he'd brought a priest.

 

"I understand the importance of such a ritual," Father Dominic said, "and why you would go through the risk of bringing the necessary plant on board the station. We Slanae honor our deceased by seeing their remains given to nourish the future generations. Unfortunately, your plant has spread into the maintenance tunnels below us and is responsible for the problems you've had with your water supply."

 

Spirit Gardener Shokon groaned. "I told my apprentice to keep careful watch, it spreads very quickly. It appears this was not enough. The kodam is very strong and sturdy. This is why it was often chosen to house a spirit in the old days."

 

"Can you move it?" Julius asked.

 

"Perhaps, but it is a delicate procedure and I do not want to cause more damage to the garden's structure in an effort to preserve the kodam."

 

Father Dominic spoke, "It would also be essential that wherever you put it doesn't become a new problem."

 

Spirit Gardener Shokon nodded. "I do not know how to prevent that."

 

Julius grinned. "I think I may know a guy."

 

*

Jerry Renea had worked for Port Station Maintenance for twenty years. It wasn't glamorous, but it was necessary and honest work that paid the bills. He'd seen some weird shit in his career, and made a habit of steering clear of anything remotely resembling trouble. He never expected he'd hired it.

 

"Like I've been saying," Julius repeated as he trailed after Jerry, "the only reason why the plant spread so far in the first place is because they don't know how the station's built. But you do! And you know what to look out for if it gets out again."

 

Jerry wasn't sure how Nix had even figured out where he lived, but this was not a conversation he wanted to have on the walk home. "And like I've been saying, it's not my problem!" He lowered his voice with a glance around. "It's illegal! If the Guard find it, I'm fucked."

 

Julius rolled his eyes. "Oh bullshit, how would you know what an illegal alien plant looks like? 'Gee, officer, I tried to tell you something was down there, but no one would listen! Guess it was a plant, huh?'" Jerry was unimpressed. Julius sighed and managed to block the other man's way, hands up in apology. "Jerry, it's got the spirit of a guy's wife or something. He's grieving. Let the damn plant stay, huh?"

 

Jerry crossed his arms. "It's what?"

 

"I don't understand it either, but I don't have to. It's not about me, or you. It's about them. It matters to them."

 

"Didn't it attack you?"

 

"It didn't attack, it's a plant, it's incapable of conscious thought. I'm just an idiot with an overactive 'ooh shiny' impulse." Julius paused for breath. "Look, Jerry, you'll get paid."

 

Jerry was skeptical. "Paid?"

 

Julius shrugged, "Probably not a lot, it's not like they have a steady income, but Spirit Gardener Shokon was very firm that they would do what they could."

 

"… Guy's wife?"

 

"Thinks her spirit is connected to the plant. If he takes care of the plant, he's supporting her in the afterlife."

 

Jerry was quiet for a long moment. Then he sighed. "Hell, hard enough supporting the wife and kids in this life, they gotta worry about the next one too?" He grumbled and pointed a finger at the damn detective, "Fine, I won't report the plant, but only if they do exactly what I say to keep it out of the fucking pipes."

Julius smiled. "Absolutely."

 

*

 

The Athee Spirit Gardeners were of mixed opinion concerning Jerry's help, initially, but once he took Shokon down into the maintenance tunnel to see what the plant had done and how Jerry wanted to get it out, they started figuring out a plan. Julius left them to it, and found Father Dominic waiting outside the tunnel entrance. He'd stuck around as a respected neighbor, just in case any misunderstandings needed smoothing over. 

 

"I presume it went well?"

 

"They're still talking, but yeah, I think they've worked something out. Are you disappointed Jerry wouldn't let you down there?"

 

"I understand his concern," Father Dominic said graciously. "I am quite tall."

 

Julius chuckled as they started walking.

 

"Hey, when we met Shokon," Julius asked after a moment, "what was up with all the hums he put after your name?"

 

"That was my name."

 

Julius blinked. "The rumble and hum and click. That's your name."

 

Father Dominic smirked. "There's a reason I use 'Dominic.'"

 

"Hang on, say your name."

 

A low rumbling sound came from the priest, changing tones a couple times before ending with a sound like an old clock's tock. 

 

Julius braced himself for embarrassment. "Ok… wait, is the rumbling part of it?"

 

"Yes."

 

Julius took a breath and tried, pitching his voice as low as he could and trying to mimic the tones. 

 

Father Dominic laughed.

 

"Oh come on!" Julius punched his arm, "Was I that bad?"

 

"Yes!" He was still laughing, "That was atrocious!"

 

Julius tried again, and watched his friend stumble from laughing so hard. "Jesus. Ok, what am I doing wrong?"

 

Father Dominic straightened up and tried to be more dignified about the whole thing, "The sound should be more in your chest, try to ground yourself in the vibration."

 

"Ok…" Julius tried again, "—shit that feels fucking weird stop laughing!" He grinned, laughing himself. He'd never seen his friend laugh before, not like this. It was cute. "Ok, ok, I'll stick with Dominic."

 

"Please," Father Dominic cleared his throat and collected himself, "though I appreciate the attempt."

 

Julius realized they'd reached the church.

 

"So, um. See you around?"

 

"You're welcome at the church anytime."

 

Julius was suddenly… awkward. "Right. Yes." It would be a lot harder to make him laugh in the church. "Is there any place nearby that serves stuff you can eat?"

 

Father Dominic tilted his head, puzzled.

 

"I mean stuff you enjoy eating," Julius clarified.

 

"Ah. There used to be a stall in the Market that kept stock of a soup I enjoyed. It was run by a human couple, both Catholic, but they left when the woman fell ill and needed more specialized care than could be provided here."

 

"I guess blood isn’t used in a lot of cooking?"

 

"There are many dishes that incorporate it in some way, but finding the right consistency and chemical composition is tricky."

 

Julius nodded, "Not just a flavor thing, but texture, too, I get it."

 

The priest tilted his head again. "What?"

 

Julius shrugged, "Lots of humans have foods they don’t like just because of the way it feels in their mouth. That's not exactly the same as what you said, but that’s what I’m imagining."

 

Father Dominic was thoughtful. "Interesting."

 

"I’ll keep an eye out for a place, then, if you wanted to go out with me– for food! Get out of the sector, sometime." Oh god he was gonna die on the spot. "See you later!" He waved and made a hasty retreat.

 

"I… look forward to it, Mr. Nix," a very confused Father Dominic called after him.

 

Julius rushed back to his office as fast as he could, the blush slowly fading from his cheeks. He felt like an idiot. What the fuck had happened, how could that have come out so weird? All he wanted to do was ask a friend to get a meal sometime.

 

Well. That wasn't all he wanted to do, but that was all he could do.

 

He really wanted to know him better. Not just because the Slanae was astoundingly attractive to him, but the way he saw the universe was fascinating. He felt like they could have a lot in common, despite being two different species.

 

He sighed as he entered his room. Start with finding a place to eat.