Welcome to Gaia! ::

"Welcome to Misfitopia, the planet that proves God has a sense of humor." Catherine smiled as she greeted the incoming tourists. "Here you'll find all kinds of unique creatures, but don't be alarmed. All the inhabitants of Misfitopia are friendly and none of them will bite tourists." Catherine's blue eyes studied the people in the crowd until they settled on a tall man. Handsome, Catherine thought. He had messy brown hair and steel blue eyes. The man watched everything with a hawk like gaze. It's as if he expects something to happen, she mused. He wore a buttoned up tan trench coat, which puzzled her. Maybe he didn't know that there's no rain here. The tourist was muscular and reminded Catherine of a heroic figure you'd expect to save the day. His gaze settled on hers. The tourist studied her, making her feel like she was being sized up. Finally, his eyes settled on the little red jewel attached to a fine silver chain hanging from her neck.

"Before I escort you to the heelabower, or hotel, are there any questions?"

The man in the trench coat spoke. "You are human on a planet of misfits. How?"

Catherine smiled at the question. "My parents moved to Misfitopia shortly after they were married. I was born three years after that move. They never gave a reason nor did they talk about Earth. When I was 17, Dad started experimenting with a new form of radiation. I was in school when the experiment went wrong. Mom and Dad didn‘t get to the sniggleoffital in time. For those who don‘t know, the sniggleoffital is the equivalent of an Earth hospital." This seemed to satisfy him.

Another woman raised her hand. Catherine acknowledged her. “How did Misfitopia get so many different creatures?”

“Good question. And the answer to that is about two hundred and twenty six years ago, this planet was discovered by the Ringlers, who decided to set up a society where everyone got along. I know it sounds unrealistic to most of you, but it actually works. Even with visitors, there has been no crime. Eighty seven years after the Ringlers set up the society we still have today, other races decided they liked this planet and started coming here. As was expected, the various races melded together into one culture, everyone contributing his or her beliefs. The different races married each other and produced unique children. That is why you see so many different creatures today on the planet.” She gave them a few moments to digest the information before continuing.

"Well if you will all follow me, I will lead you to the heelabower where the kwardef, or concierge, will get you settled in." There was a murmur of agreement from the crowd. Catherine liked to imagine a string attached to all their heads that made them nod in unison. But the blue eyed man did not nod like the rest of them.

On the way to the hotel, the tourists watched everything. Catherine guessed it was the first time most of them had been on Misfitopia and started pointing out interesting creatures. "Over there," she pointed, "is the Macraneon." The group gaped at a tall creature that stood on two stork legs. The legs supported a duck body with violet and caramel brown feathers. It had the face of a sparrow and the bill of a platypus.

As they continued their walk, Catherine heard a woman scream. She turned to see what had caused the scream and saw her friend, Flawkfurt, peering curiously at the tourists. Flawkfurt was about 6 1/2 foot tall and looked like a tree. Iridescent orange scales took the place of bark, and red leaves shaped like an oak tree's were spread throughout the upper branches. Bright beady eyes were set into the trunk of the creature and the only way to tell if she had a mouth was to watch her talk. Catherine smiled and stood beside Flawkfurt.

"Flawkfurt," she scolded with a smirk. "You know better than to scare the tourists. I could get in trouble if my boss finds you here." Flawkfurt made an apology that sounded like a rumble. Someone whimpered.

"This is Flawkfurt,” Catherine explained. “She doesn't eat meat because, like an Earth tree, she draws her nutrition from the soil." They all continued to stare.

"Catherine!" Her boss came storming across the street, cutting off any further explanation. She sighed. Too late, she thought. I'm in for another lecture. Flawkfurt took the hint and left with a sympathetic wave of her enormous branch like hands.

"And this is my boss," Catherine said, indicating the angry ape approaching. "His name is Mr. Mashorts R. Dropped, though he prefers to be called Mr. Dropped by his employees." The group wasn’t quite sure what to make of her boss’ name. When Mashorts reached them, the tourists inspected this new specimen of the Misfitopian population. He was short and hunched over like a big gorilla and had sea green fur. He wore thick, black, square framed glasses, a light blue and white pinstriped shirt, and navy blue trousers that remind a person of old private school uniforms for boys.

Mashorts began to lecture as soon as he reached her. "How many times do I have to tell you that being on time is essential to being a teggar? If one group is late getting to the heelabower, then all the groups will be late. You know Earthers, they hate being late...." His lecture continued as Catherine ignored him. She, like everyone else who worked for him, had it memorized. Her boss finished with, "And you're fired. I need teggars who can be where I need them on time, every time.”

Shock registered on her face as she realized what he’d just said. “What are you standing there for,” he continued. “You’re fired. You can go now.” He turned to the group and apologized. “We’ve had problems with her before.”

“What’s a teggar,” someone asked. “A teggar is a guide,” Mashorts responded. “Now, I’ll get you to the heelabower promptly. Follow me please.”

Catherine stood there as the group walked away from her and listened to their new guide. She wasn’t sure what to do now. I guess I could always go home. A long argument with herself later, she settled on buying some chocolate and eating it when she got home.

She looked into his gorgeous blue eyes. "What's your name?" She asked. He smiled warmly, "I am Terra," he responded. He spoke in a kind, warm voice that made her grin spread.

"Terra," she whispered. He smiled at her, holding her close. She reveled in the blissful moment that could only happen in her dreams. "I won't leave you," he told her.


A loud crash from her kitchen jerked her back into her bedroom, without Terra. She sighed. "And it was such a good dream too." The sound of pans crashing to the floor made her frown. What's going on? She got out of bed and walked to the door, careful to avoid stepping on chocholate wrappers.

"Search everything," she heard a female voice say. "I want it found."

"Alright, Talyn." The male that responded wasn't enthusiastic.

The kitchen transitioned into the living room and her bedroom was just opposite the kitchen, which allowed her to see most of the house from where she was. Off to her left was another room that she'd made into an office since her parents' deaths. Catherine opened the door slowly and peeked out. She saw a female figure standing in the middle of the room and directing the actions of two others. It was hard to make out who they all were, but Catherine realized the two tearing up her home were probably men. One of them took out a dagger and started slashing at her couch. He took out all the stuffing while the other one smashed up her chairs and cabinets in the kitchen. The woman simply watched.

"If you two will hurry up," Talyn said, "we'll be able to search the bedroom a lot faster."

What are they looking for, Catherine wondered as she closed the door. And what am I going to do? It was only a matter of time before they came and searched her room. She had a frightening feeling that if they found her, they wouldn't want to chat.

She remembered the instructions her parent's had given her every time they went out. If you ever find strangers in the house that want to hurt you, Catherine, just go to your closet and press the fourth tile up in the back. A room will open and you'll be safe until they leave. They'll never find you. Her mind back in the present, Catherine walked to the closet and opened the door. She stepped inside, turned the light on, and then closed the door. "Fourth tile up in the back," she repeated to herself. She got down on her knees and located the only column of tiles in the closet. She pressed the fourth one up and was surprised to see it sink in.

A section of the floor slid open revealing a set of stairs that went down. She turned around and flipped the light off in the closet before ascending. When she was far enough down, the door slid closed and the tile resumed its normal appearance.

There were only a few stairs that led to a room. The wallpaper gave the illusion of being in a forest and the carpet felt like soft cushy grass. There was a cot in one corner and a communication station set into a nearby wall. Also near the bed was a nightstand. Other than that the room was empty.

A red light near the phone station told her she had a message from someone. She frowned. "How is that possible? I would've seen that upstairs." She walked over to the screen and touched a few buttons to bring it up. She knew the message must have been there a while because the system she navigated was considered out of date and it took her a few minutes to remember how to use. She finally pulled up the message and frowned as the image of her parents together appeared on the screen.

"Hello, sweetheart," her mother said. "Since you're in this room, it means there are people in the house trying to hurt you."

Her father nodded and said, "Just stay in that room and don't come out."

"If the strangers leave before we get home, get out of the house and go to Flawkfurt's. You'll know if they leave because after this message is finished, screens will pop up that will let you see the rooms of the house and what's happening in them," her mother told her. "We'll see you soon, sweetie. Love you."

The image faded out and was replaced by four different screens. Catherine realized that they showed each of the four rooms in her house. I never would have been able to bring a boyfriend home without mom and dad knowing what was going on. And that's how they caught me sneaking out the window one night. The sight of the woman ripping apart her family photo discs brought more tears to her eyes. She watched as all her things were shredded, torn, slashed and smashed in front of her eyes. And all she could do was sit and watch.

Three hours later, Catherine thought she saw them leave. For a long moment, she could only stare at the remains of her life. I have to go see if anything’s intact, though I doubt it. She climbed the stairs leading to her closet and had to strain to open the door. It creaked and revealed a room full of rubble. The family heirlooms she’d kept neatly on the knick knack shelf were broken and strewn among her other possessions. She bent down to pick up a piece of something and tried to guess what it had been a part of. She couldn’t figure it out.

She stumbled over something that could have been part of her dresser and headed for the living room. Cotton stuffing lay over bits of broken furniture with pots and pans mixed in. Catherine stood in the living room and tried to gather her thoughts. She knew she had to do something, but her mind didn’t want to come out of its shock. She heard the front door open. They’re back, she thought. She grabbed a sauce pan and stood just on the other side of the wall so the people coming in wouldn’t see her. She readied the pan and waited until one of them was close enough. Catherine jerked around the corner and drove the pan into his gut.

_________________________________________________________

Terra and James approached the target’s front door. “Ain’t ya glad I did my homework, Terra?” Terra only glared at the annoying man walking next to him. “If I hadn’t a looked up her address we’d be sitting ducks and they’d of gotten to her first.” James was shorter than Terra, slimmer. His hair was black and tied up in a braid that went a few inches past his shoulders. It was a point of pride for him.


“They already did,” Terra said.

“Huh?”

“The front door is ajar.” Terra pulled out his gun.

“And I was gonna show of my lock picking skills again.” James sighed and pulled out his own gun.

Terra pushed open the door while James prepared to shoot whatever might attack. When nothing moved, Terra walked in first. A few steps into the house, Terra doubled over and James readied his gun.

____________________________________________________________

Catherine readied the pan to take another swing when she recognized the intruder. “Terra?”

“You two know each other?” James asked. He lowered his gun and waited.

“Who are you?” Catherine asked as she prepared for another swing.

James straightened a little and said with a smirk, “The name’s Maxwell…James Maxwell. Thief extraordinaire.”

Catherine gaped at James and lowered her pan. Terra recovered quickly and snatched the pan from Catherine. “Catherine,” Terra began. “There are people after you and you must come with us. We are here to keep you safe.”

“Safe from what?” A noise behind her, made her turn to see what new threat waited. Terra raised his gun and fired a single shot that just missed her ear. The man thumped to the floor at Catherine’s feet. I thought they’d left already, she thought after recognizing the man as one of the ones Talyn had been directing.

Catherine turned back to Terra and James. “Terra, you’ve really gotta stop scaring the ladies. It’s why you can’t get a girlfriend.” Terra glared once more at James.

They both turned in time to see Catherine dart away and into her bedroom. She slammed the door closed and locked it. What the hell am I going to do? Think. Think.

“Now look what ya did, Terra. She ran away again. Man, you’ve got bad luck with women.” Terra walked to the bedroom door and started throwing his weight against it in an effort to break it open. James rolled his eyes. “Allow me.” James said, pulling a lock pick out.

Terra stepped aside and James bent down to start working. Hearing her scream, and a few thumps, made James hurry up. Just before the satisfying click came the sounds of a window breaking and then silence. Terra and James opened the door and rushed in, guns ready. Shattered glass lay near the window and they couldn’t find her. Both of them cursed and climbed through the window.

Several moments of silence passed in the house before Catherine opened the closet door and checked to make sure they were gone. She wondered what she would do now as she headed for the front door. I can’t stay here. Everyone knows I live here and people are after me. She thought back to the message and the instructions she got every time they left. They knew this could happen and they prepared for it. But why? What do I have that others would want so badly?

Stepping out of her house, Catherine decided to go to Flawkfurt’s. She was surprised to see two men standing in front of her, one holding a chunk of wood.

“It would’ve worked if you’d of hidden this a little better.” James said while holding the debris. Catherine glanced from Terra to James before turning to run.

“Not so fast,” James said, snatching her arm and holding her. “I know my buddy here didn’t make the best impression on ya yesterday. He can come off as one a those guys who’ll shoot first and ask later. But I don’t get why you’re running away from me. We told ya Miss Brookstone, we’re here to keep ya safe. You gotta come back to Earth with us and our boss can explain everything.”

Catherine looked at Terra, who looked at her and nodded. She thought about kicking James in the groin to get away, but figured Terra would snatch her next and that would hurt. She slumped a little and just stood there, making no effort to get away.

Terra took his portable communicator from his pocket and pressed a few buttons. An old man’s voice responded. “Yes, Terra?”

“Target has been retrieved. Returning home.”

“It’s about time you got her. Did you two get there first?”

“Negative. The others got here first, however she eluded them as well.”

"Hurry up and return home."

"Affirmative," Terra said. He ended the call and tucked the device away.