CHAPTER 11 THE HANGOVER

It was six o'clock on a Saturday morning, and some members of the Whittaker family were in the kitchen, trying to eat breakfast or at least facing the attempt.

—Does anyone know what the hell we drank last night? — Kyran asked, an ice-cold bottle pressed against his forehead as he struggled to open his eyes, the electric light hammering at his temples.

—I have no idea, — Dennis replied from across the table, massaging his temples to relieve his headache. —Whatever it is, it's a curse.

At that moment, Claudius and Sapphire entered through the kitchen door, letting the rays of sunlight filter through the wide windows.

—¿How are you guys? — Claudius asked, opening the refrigerator to find some ice for his own forehead.

— How do you think we are? — Dennis replied in a choked voice — And please keep it down, it's making my head spin.

—Looks like the party was pretty lively Safiro commented with a wry smile.

—As if you hadn't participated, — Kyran said. —Why aren't you the same as us if you drank as much as us?

—Don't believe him, he's a liar, — Claudius intervened. —He's just as bad as we are, he just hides it.

— Did you have to open your mouth, Claudius? How much do they pay you to be a gossip? — said Sapphire, annoyed — And shut up already, I want some silence.

—You'll have to put up with us, — Dennis replied. —The four of us are the same. You're a scientist, Safiro, ¿why don't you do something to help us get over this hangover? ¿Maybe some pills?

—I already created them. Remember a few months ago when we had a hangover? — said Safiro.

— Oh, yes, I remember — Claudius added. — ¿What happened to them? ¿Why don't you give us some now?

—Because they don't work. I tried them on myself just now and they don't work. I don't know what happened, but this time they didn't work at all, and it's not because they expired. Actually, I think what we took was much stronger. I would have to have a sample of those drinks to make some pills that really work.

—Too bad, I don't think they'll let us take the drinks out of that place, — Claudius said, trying to smile.

—They didn't let us take the girls out, let alone the drinks, — Kyran replied with a smile, although his head hurt from moving.

—Ha, ha, ha! — Dennis laughed, but the pain cut him off. —Don't make me laugh, bro.

—Okay, that's enough, — Kyran intervened. —I'm going to try to get us out of this drunkenness that's killing us before our father or grandfather sees us and tells us off for being like this.

— I don't think they'll tell us anything. They must be worse off than us. They're sleeping now, so they don't even know we're down here— Claudius commented.

—Lucky for us. They know how they get when we go out partying without them. They think we're still little kids—Sapphire added.

—That's not the problem. The problem is that our brother Kyran starts fighting when he drinks, and that's why they're afraid we'll get into fights— Dennis explained, smiling.

—You know how I get when I drink, so you shouldn't invite me if you don't want me to, — Kyran said, throwing a tea towel at Dennis.

—The problem isn't you, brother, but your genes. Our uncle Rodrick is just like you in that regard— Claudius tried to calm him down—I tried to make our father understand— Claudius continued—I told him that physically resembling him and having some of his personality doesn't mean that you're the same in everything, and that you had to get something from our uncle, even more so that you weren't born in a laboratory like us, but that you were conceived naturally and that it was normal for genetics to act more on you than on us.

—What did he say? — Dennis asked, curious.

—I don't know, but I think our father understood what I told him— Claudius replied.

—Now I understand why our father let me go peacefully— Kyran commented. —But anyway, now I want to get rid of this damn headache. So, are you guys coming with me or staying here?

—Okay, where are we going? — Dennis asked.

—I'll open a portal to go to a not-so-holy place, but there we can find someone to help us with our hangover, — Kyran said, getting up from his seat and trying to summon a portal with his power. However, his headache made it difficult for him to concentrate enough. —Damn, I can't do it, — he said frustrated.

—Let me do it— Safiro offered, taking out a command board to enter the coordinates. —Tell me, what are the coordinates? — she asked Kyran, who gave them to her, and so they were able to open a portal. They came out to a place with streets of ancient stone, where the corridors smelled of urine and mold.

—¿What place is this? — Claudius asked.

— It's the planet Nix — Kyran replied. — We have to be careful. We're in the dark zone, where everything is illegally obtained.

At that moment, a young man passed by and Kyran stopped him. —Can you tell me where the —Star Remedies Galaxy— ¿apothecary is?

—You have to walk down this hallway and then turn left, you will find it, — the young man replied.

—Thank you— Kyran said—Come on, brothers, let's walk.

After a while following the young man's instructions, they arrived at the pharmacy.

—This is it, — Kyran said, pushing open a beautifully decorated glass door. A bell rang as they entered, causing a man to emerge from behind a curtain. He was the same age as them. Kyran approached the man, who smiled at him and gave him a hug.

— It's been so long! — the man exclaimed, placing his hands on Kyran's upper arms. — You haven't changed at all.

—And I see that you have changed, — Kyran replied with a smile.

—I don't have an antidote like you to stay young, — the man joked.

—Meet my brothers, — Kyran said, pointing at them and bringing them closer to the man. —This is Safiro, my scientist brother. I'm sure you'll have a lot to talk about, — he joked. —And these are Claudius and Dennis.

—Nice to meet you at last, — the man said. —My name is Alexei Kranov—

—Nice to meet you, — Claudius and his brothers replied.

—And what brings them to these parts, especially the Imperials? Does your father know they are here? — Alexei asked.

— Do you think he knows? — Kyran asked — You know very well what he would do if he found us here

—I hope they've erased the coordinates of that portal, — Alexei said.

— Don't worry — Safiro said — I didn't let him keep them, so no one knows we opened it. Unless our grandfather starts scanning — she added, thinking.

—I hope he doesn't, — Dennis said. —We'd be in serious trouble. With our father it wouldn't be such a big deal, but with Grandpa it's a different story.

—Well, if that happens, I'll tell them that I forced them to come and that'll be it. It won't be the first time I've been punished, nor will it be the last, that's for sure—Kyran said.

—Okay, — Alexei said. —How can I help you?

—We need those hangover pills, — Kyran said.

—Ok, the ones we created— Alexei said, pointing between Kyran and himself.

—Those are the ones, I guess you improved them— Kyran said.

— That's not even a question, my friend. You know how I am— Alexei replied.

—Well, I need a few for my brothers and I and tell me how much it will cost me to pay you for them— Kyran said.

—You know I wouldn't charge you, — Alexei said, leading them to the wooden bar and handing them the pills. All four boys took them and felt better immediately. Alexei handed them glasses of red liquid.

—I don't want any more drinks, — Dennis said.

—It's not a drink, it's a non-alcoholic beverage that I prepare, — Alexei explained.

—That tastes good, — Claudius said, taking the glass. Kyran smiled at the sight.

—You know how to make drinks and fizzy drinks and pills—said Safiro. —What did you study at university?

— I studied Raciomics — Alexei replied proudly. — It is a career that combines chemistry, physics and molecular energy. I learned about the composition and interactions of elements, as well as about energy processes and molecular reactions. All of this has allowed me to develop skills to create innovative and effervescent drinks and pills —

Oh! – exclaimed Sapphire – that's why I noticed that your combination is so exact, especially in the pill, and how were you able to make it without losing its effect?

—It depends on what drink you take, — Alexei replied with a wry smile. —Besides, you guys told me where you had your drinks at the Wandering Star's Star Cantina. All the drinks there are adulterated.

— Oh, that's why the taste was different! — Dennis exclaimed with a grimace of amazement — Now I understand why we wake up with a hangover worthy of a starship, as if we had sailed to the ends of the universe and returned to tell about it — Everyone burst out laughing at Dennis' comment.

Kyran picked up his glass and placed it on the coaster, thinking about the night he and his brothers had spent. Alexei, meanwhile, wiped the counter, wiping it and cleaning the bar.

—I need to talk to you, Kyran, — Alexei said in a serious tone.

—I'm listening, — Kyran replied, placing his glass on the coaster and turning to Alexei.

—Two weeks ago, Niko Bellic came looking for us, — Alexei began. Kyran frowned at the name. He hadn't heard of the man in a while and he didn't want to see him, especially after what he had done to them.

She lowered her head, concentrating on the liquid in her glass, as Alexei continued his story. —I told him to stop bothering us. He wanted to know where you were, and I told him to leave you alone. I told him I wouldn't give him any information, and that if he wanted to find you, he'd have to deal with me.

—And what did he say? —Kyran asked, keeping his gaze fixed on his glass and resting his arms on the counter, with his head bowed.

— That he needed us and asked for our help — Alexei continued. — I told him that we didn't owe him anything, that we had already gotten him out of many troubles that he got himself into for free, and that he should get out unless he wanted a bullet in his brain.

—And he just left like that? — Kyran asked, clearly annoyed.

—Yes, he left. There was no other option, I was aiming at his head. I stressed to him to leave you alone and that I wouldn't even allow him to disturb our lives. You know how he is— Alexei replied, with a serious look.

— ¿Who is that guy? — Dennis asked, visibly worried.

—It's nobody, — Kyran replied, taking a sip from his glass.

—But that —nobody— is looking for you— Claudius intervened. —And apparently, he wants to interfere in your life to disrupt it. So, will you tell us ¿who this man is, or would you prefer that we find out on our own?

— That man was a classmate of ours — Alexei said — He was always getting into trouble. He comes from a powerful family in the nebula region of Star Aether. His family traffics in weapons and slaves, but he is the black sheep, since he is no good at business and prefers to wander around as a bum.

—He doesn't seem like a good character, — Safiro commented, taking her glass and looking at it closely. —If that man is looking for you, perhaps he wants you to do less honorable work. And if so, it will get you both into trouble. And if our patriarchs find out, it will get us into trouble.

—I don't think it's a problem, — Kyran intervened. —If he came here two weeks ago and hasn't looked for me, perhaps you convinced him, Alexei, to stop bothering us?

—I hope so, — Alexei replied with a slightly worried expression.

—Still, I'll be keeping an eye out for that guy, — Claudius said determinedly.

—Do you know him? — Dennis asked curiously.

—No, but it won't be difficult to find out what he looks like— Claudius replied. —At Zenith we have a fairly extensive database to locate him.

—Okay, — Alexei said, changing the subject with a thoughtful pause. —There's something else I need to tell you, Kyran. — With a deliberate movement, he pulled a carefully folded paper envelope from his jacket. The elegant calligraphy of Kyran's name stood out on the surface. —This is for you.

Kyran received the envelope with curiosity, his fingers brushing over the textured paper. Opening it, he discovered an artistically designed invitation inside. He couldn't help but smile at the gesture, wondering what adventures awaited him at this mysterious destination. —In the end, he made it, — Kyran commented.

—Yes, — Alexei replied with a smile.

— Why didn't he tell me? I met him a week ago—Kyran was surprised.

—He hadn't received the patent yet, but now he has it. He told me to give you this invitation, — Alexei explained.

— But he knows I can't go alone— Kyran said with concern.

—I know, — Alexei replied as he placed the other invitations on the counter. —There are eleven invitations in total for you to bring to the men of the Whittaker family.

—Okay, let me convince my family now to go,— Kyran said, smiling and finishing his drink.

— Convince? — Dennis asked, taking his invitation — This is my invitation, I can't be convinced for a free party.

—Me neither, — Claudius added, taking his own, and Sapphire quickly took hers out as well.

—The problem is not convincing us; the problem will be convincing the adults in the family— commented Safiro.

—We'll see how to do it, — Dennis said, looking at Claudius.

—That's true, — Sapphire agreed, also looking at Claudius, who was being watched by Kyran.

—Wait, — Claudius intervened. —If you want me to talk to them, you know what.

—We know that they always listen to you, brother— Dennis interrupted—And that you always convince them to do something we want.

—Me and my damn mouth, — Claudius muttered. —Fine, I'll do it for the good of the family, but if it goes wrong, don't blame me.

— Why should it go wrong? — Kyran asked, putting his arm on his brother's shoulder. — You always manage to get them to do what you want in the end. It's known by all of us that they always agree with you in everything.

—Not always, — Claudius muttered thoughtfully.

—They've always listened to you, — Dennis insisted.

—It's time to go, — Kyran announced, standing up and creating a transport portal with a wave of his hand. —I want you to teach me how to make these pills, — Safiro said to Alexei.

— I have no problem teaching you— Alexei replied. —We agree on a day and time to meet.

—Okay, I have the coordinates, I'll call you on LumiCom— said Safiro shaking Alexei's hand and saying goodbye. They all entered the portal, which closed behind them, and returned to Whittaker Castle, arriving at the computer room that was on the underground floor.

—Well, here we are, — said Claudius.

—I hope you haven't noticed, — Safiro said, as they heard someone clear their throat behind them. They all turned around to see Julian standing in front of them with his arms crossed.

— ¿Where have you guys been? — asked Julian, Francisco Javier's brother and uncle of his father, Terry, which made them his great-nephews.

—Great-uncle, — Claudius replied. —We went out for a walk and our heads were a bit bulging.

— Aha, be careful guys. Now I was the one who discovered you, but if my brother or your father found out, you know what would happen. You know that I'm not a problem, but be very careful where you go out with that portal— warned Julian.

—We'll keep that in mind, Great-Uncle, — Dennis assured.

—Go have breakfast and then you can go to bed, not everyone in the family is awake yet,— Julian told them.

—Okay, — they all nodded.