Two years ago, Jared was a fearless 19-year-old adventurer, traveling from planet to planet with his beloved motorcycle. His journey led him to Earth, the long-abandoned cradle of humanity now reduced to a toxic wasteland. Though much of the planet was uninhabitable, Jared found fascination in the ruins of old civilizations: the remnants of America, the ghostly landscapes of Russia and China, and the skeletal remains of European countries. Even from a distance, the decaying world held an ancient beauty.
Some Earthlings still live there, but only in certain area that far enough from the old civilization that once destroyed because of World War VI.
While camping one evening in northern China, Jared accidentally stumbled upon a grim dog market where animals were butchered for meat. Amid the mud and blood, he noticed something—a tiny, lump of meat that seems like covering a fragile creature. He tear it open and found a fragile puppy covered in mucus. It didn't take long to piece together what had happened. The pup had likely been ripped prematurely from its mother's womb before she was slaughtered. What are the odds of him finding Jared, and Jared finding him?
Getting lost and find himself here is already sickening, let alone ... whatever this discover is. But knowing the puppy still alive, Jared cover it with a hand napkin, and quickly left this damn market.
Finally in a better place, Jared bought milk and a syringe from a mini-market. He gently fed the pup with the milk, carefully using the syringe. The pup swallowed the milk greedily, its strong will to survive helping it grow stronger with each passing day. This was one resilient pup—just like him. Maybe that's why Jared loved this little one so much.
Jared called him "Herman", as he grew older, the bond between them was instant and unshakable. The dog was very smart, he can comprehend human language as if it's his own, and able to communicate what he trying to say with clear dog-body language that sometimes looked like a hilarious dance.
To keep Herman by his side, Jared sold his motorcycle—the symbol of his freedom—he used the money to secure the proper adoption universal certificates, allowing Herman to leave Earth with him and also a planted detector chip on his ear to locate him in GPS.
Together, they joined BattleLion and traveled the galaxy, facing various dangers and adventures. They went through a lot together, Jared always share whatever he had in a day with him; even if it's only a loaf of bread. If they don't have anything to eat, they just holding on each other and sleep to help them not feeling the hunger. That's why Herman love and very attached to him.
Their bond was formed months before Logan feel sorry about them and offer to join her team--she usually going solo because she didn't trust men easily. Thanks to Logan, from now on, Herman doesn't have to be hungry and guaranteed that he will be fed at least once in a day.
But that doesn't make her got all the rights to take Herman away from Jared! Jared knows Herman also love Logan, but he is the one who save the dog from the dog market hell! She has no right to take him away from Jared!
The plan was simple: get in the unit, grab Herman, and escape Minerva using a rented airbus. Jared didn't care about his other belongings—they could be replaced. But Herman was irreplaceable.
His heart pounded as he approached the unit, swiping his ID card in the scanner. Logan technically owned the unit before they became a team, so it's impossible for her to leave her belongings for a dog that isn't belonged to her, at least that's how Jared calm himself, ensuring that he will get Herman no matter what!
When the scanner lit the green light, Jared feels so relieved and he quickly enter through the sliding door only to get welcomed by silence.
"Oh no, this is not happening!" Jared breath fastens as his instinct already knows what happen before his logic can accept it.
No welcoming bark. No familiar furball leaping into his arms.
Jared frantically search the unit, checking everything and figure out that Logan had taken her most important belongings only and take Herman with her! How dare she!
Jared collapses on the couch and notice Logan left a wad of money and a letter.
"I'm taking the dog with me, cuz the only thing that makes me think twice of canceling our team is him. You're a good man, Jared, in fact, you're the only guy around that I can trust. I'm open to regroup again with you, once you learn how to work as a team. Don't worry about Herman, he is in a good hand who can actually make money. Spend the money wisely, you'll need to eat to work on your missions. Don't use it for beer!
Logan."
Jared take the wad of money and examines all it's sides slowly, with blank stares. Usually his first reaction is to go to nearest restaurant and eat something nice. But now, ... it feels like he sold Herman to eat.
in anger, he throw the wad of money to the wall. This is robbery, return my dog!!
"Bullshit!" Jared chug himself a bottle of beer, as if he beating himself up. "You just want the dog to sniffs money for you!"
Logan knew that Herman is a very good money tracker. Because Argonarian men are not good at making money, they often use their almost magical talent to find money; they got strong intuition that makes them almost psychic. So Jared would go making bet with someone, or enter a caged fight to gain money. But since Herman was around, he had trained the dog to smell money. It works really well.
They had found a bag full of money, however Jared isn't the kind of person who believe in instant money. Instant money always brings disaster. He gave up the bag to the cops and they granted him a small reward. But at least he didn't use money that isn't belong to him.
"That's right, Logan, I can see it through your sly intention. You were planning all this from the start, do you! You want my dog right from the start, that is why you formed a group with me and my dog, and wait until Herman like you enough and kicked me out! That's a theft! Robbery!" Jared grunts angrily to the innocent beer bottle.
"Hey, Handsome, what's bothering you? This beer bottle did nothing wrong," A gentle voice arrived along with a gentle rub on his back. Jared glanced to the voice and he smiles widely as soon as he saw Ken, the 24 years old barkeep with brown curly hair. He always dressed up looking pretty with the skirts, choker, crop top and make up.
"Hey," Jared greeted softly, his anger vaporized as soon as he see something that excites him.
"Having bad day? How about another bottle? Or maybe some mix that I discovered recently? another customers love it," Ken said with a playful sparkle in his eyes.
"Yeah, sure," Jared smack two bucks on the table.
"Add one more, and I'll pour you my magic," Ken smirks provocatively.
Jared not add one, but three more. Ken smirked, skillfully counting the money before flashing Jared a glance that could steal hearts. With a skilled hand, he began mixing up a drink, the clinking of bottles and the swirl of colors adding a touch of artistry to the moment.
"Enjoy..." Ken said, his voice a low, sultry melody as he slid the drink across the counter.
It's just some coffee beer mix with caramel and some other blue colored drink that Jared didn't know what it was. But at least, he got attention from a charming femboy. The barkeep left to serve another men, and Jared back alone with his drink.
"You walk so tall, like you own the world,
Blind to the voices, every lesson unheard.
You can't rule the skies with clipped wings,
A king deaf to truth always fails."
Jared groans as he knew whose song is this. There is this popular boy band in which they obviously marketed for 15 years old girls all across the universe. That is why they should appear feminine, soft, gentle, and fun. They always clean, wearing flashy outfits which most tweens love. Of course they targeted young girls, because young girls have dad who would kill for them. The industry rob those dads using these innocent girls.
However, they are not only charms little girls, but also men. And it's not even gay men, it's men. Dads.
Jared knows the reason. It's Jean Arvin. Among all artist, all musician, all entertainer, he is the one who stands out. Not only because his delicate androgynous frame, but because how nice his voice sounds.
"You chase the sun, but you fear the night,
A crown made of gold, but it don't shine right.
Your walls are high, but they're built on sand,
Cracks start to show, can't escape the land."
Jared glances at the television attach on the wall not far from where he sits right now, the screen shows Jean Arvin being chained on his limbs and also neck. It looks colorful and light, despite the attributes that's being presents in comical way. But it surely triggers some naughty minds. Maybe because how good looking he is, especially under make up.
Whatever the band's name is, Jared only familiar with Jean Arvin. Not because he like him, but because his poster is everywhere! He even popular in Minerva, the home of BattleLions bounty hunters. Jared once put doodle on his poster, messing up with his face using black marker. On the next day, some muscular and intimidating macho bounty hunters gathers around that poster and he's really mad trying to figure out who did it to his idol.
Jared could not believe it. Jean's charm is not only works for little girls, but also various people from various demography. Young old, men women, rich poor, any races, they all love him.
Even now, suddenly some bounty hunters gather around the tv to watch him closely with puppy eyes. Jared roll his eyes, he never understand Earthling's obsession to any figure that they worship. They can literally make everything as their God if they love them enough.
Jared did try to figure out why he was so popular, but just like now, he feel something off. Something just doesn't sit right with Jean Arvin. For some reason he come off as someone fake. Something about him feels like it all nothing but a huge chunk of lie, but Jared couldn't tell what is it about.
"Your pride's a fortress, but it's crumbling down,
The roar of the crowd, now a deafening sound."
The pretty-boy waiter Ken is back, leaning in close to Jared as if trying to offer comfort. "You didn't touch the drink, do you need help?" he ask with his low smooth voice.
His touch was light but intentional, his fingers tracing just enough pressure to feel comforting. His eyes were tempting, filled with a teasing allure that seemed to promise more than just concern.
"No, I'm just lonely," Jared says it flatly.
"I can fix that," Ken waits until their eyes met.
Maybe it was the beer, or perhaps it was the warmth spreading through his chest, a mix of the alcohol and the gentle touch on his shoulders. Then again, maybe it wasn't anything so complicated. Maybe it was just because he wanted it—because in that moment, with the dim lights, the music, and those tempting eyes looking right at him, it felt like the only thing that made sense.
Jared leaned in, closing the distance between them. Their lips met, soft at first, then more insistent as the moment deepened. The waiter didn't pull away; instead, he reciprocated the kiss, his lips pressing against Jared's with equal intensity. It was brief but electrifying.
"I like this mix better," Jared grins.
Ken, however, wet his lips while maintaining his looks lock on Jared's eyes. "I didn't know if you're into guys. You always with that....," he look even prettier when he smiles.
"Bubble Gum-haired nerd? Yeah, thanks to her, no one knows. But think about it; why would a girl agree to take a boy as a room mate?" Jared smirked.
Without another word, they kissed again, a little bolder this time.
"Heart of a lion, I'll rise again, Through the fire and pain, I'll never bend. I'll give it my all, whatever it takes, Building my kingdom on the path I make."