Unwanted Visitor

It was a rather quiet end of his shift. Danayal had the night shift so he would be able to spend time with River the next day. This had also given Tyran time to visit Jaya and Alexandria. However, it was late and he didn’t really pay attention to some late clients coming inside. In fact, the bar would close in less than 20 minutes.

Suddenly a man walked up to the bar. He looked haggard, but not terrible . . . worn, but not ragged.

"Hello there, Danny-boy," the man said.

Danayal stared at the man; he seemed to be frozen on the spot. "What are you doing here?" He choked out.

"Well, I've come to see you," he said. "I'd heard you managed to get yourself out of a bit of a mess and into a nice job and home and, well . . . I thought I would come out here and see for myself."

"Well you’ve seen me now." He said angrily. "So you can tell your wife that her former son is doing fine, without either of you." He handed a few orders out, and ignored the man.

"Well, son, I'm not exactly on speaking terms with your mother," he replied and paused for a moment. "She sort of kicked me out . . . Took everything, including the bar . . . In fact, the witch is even remarried. She hardly waited a month after the divorce was final."

"And you think I’d feel sorry for you? Well I don't. I hate her, and I hate you. You’ve done enough to let me know I wasn’t your son. I have a father already, and *you* aren’t him." Danayal said, the fury still in his eyes.

"But we took you in when you had no one!" the man insisted. "We gave you food, clothing . . . We gave you anything you could ever want as far as toys went!"

"Yeah… right." He snorted. "And you told me you tried to get rid of me, before I was born. But that it didn’t work. I have all I need from my father now; a loving home, friends... help when I need it. I don’t need you! Child Protective Services didn’t take me away from you because you took such good care of me."

"But everyone makes mistakes . . . Even you were given a second chance. Perhaps you could give me one?"

"The answer is no! I know your kind. I see them here in the bar on a daily basis, I had to work to get where I am. Tyran gave me a shit-load of conditions and rules I had to obey. That was hard, but I did it." He said with pride in his voice.

"And that's very good of you . . ." he said. "But you know, son . . . I have no where to go. I have nothing . . . Not even a single coin or credit to my name and no job . . . Couldn't you spare some kindness on an old man whose made mistakes?"

"And you think I have money? And a large house? Sorry but I don't. I have a room that’s large enough for me. And I’m not allowed to have anyone else sleeping in there; the janitor will throw me out otherwise."

"You have no friends that could help me; anyone that might give me a job?"

"Sorry but no. My friends don’t own businesses, except Tyran who owns the bar. I know a security guard, babysitter, a trader, and someone working at the spaceport." He saw the man cringe when he mentioned the security guard...

"My, what an array of friends you have . . ." the man replied.

"And none of them will be able to help you. There are jobs enough if you wanna work." He pressed a security line that went to Tyran's comm.

Tyran had gotten the message as he checked his comm. He looked at Jaya. "Dan has problems at the bar. It could be a fight... This is a signal he only can use in emergencies. I have to leave."

"I'll come with you," she said, getting to her feet.

"Can't you even spare your old man a drink?" Tangor Bergman asked his son.

"That I can do… what do you want?"

"The strongest stuff you've got," he replied. "It's got to keep me warm out there in the cold, cold night."

"Tarkelian sunrise it shall be then." He mixed up the drink and handed it over. He’d merely offered it so the man would stay put, until Tyran arrived.

"Ah, you're a good man, my boy . . . Very good indeed." The man began drinking it down.

Tyran entered the bar and stopped dead in his tracks. "At the bar, that’s Tangor Bergman. Go get Shara. He’s not allowed to even go near his son. He has to stay at least 100 meters distance." He hissed. "I can handle him, but get me help. No need to kill him or make it a problem."

"I'll buzz her . . . meanwhile, I won't be far," Jaya said, assessing the man who she had heard nothing but bad things about . . . She wasn't planning on letting him get away.

"Good, I’ll go have a word with him," Tyran said and walked up to the bar. "Hello Dan, time for you to go back and fetch yourself some dinner."

Danayal understood the hint and fled into Tyran's apartment while Tyran took over the bar.

"You must be the man who’s been taking care of my son," Tangor said with a smile as he finished the drink.

"And who might you be, sir?" Tyran said with a frown.

"Tangor Bergman," the man replied. "I'm Danayal's father."

"Then you are mistaken in that fact, since Danayal's father was told in court that his parental rights were stripped, making Danayal legally my son. You have no right to call yourself his father. To the law, Danayal and me, you sure aren't." Tyran said and calmly started to wash off the glasses that were spread on the bar. The last clients emptied their glasses and started to leave sensing trouble coming.

"And just who are you to tell me you've taken my place?" the man said standing up. It wasn't that he had ever wanted Danayal, but he wouldn't have his title stripped from him just like that. After all, he might have been a lousy father, but he had been there during conception.

Jaya sensing trouble as well, edged her way silently behind the man, exchanging a look with Tyran as she did so.

"I think I have to ask you to leave, right now." Tyran said calmly. "You aren’t allowed to ever go near Danayal again. You know that. I don’t know where you got the nerve to call yourself a father. He calls me his father, but he’s *never* mentioned you in that context."

"Why you-" Tangor said getting to his feet to reach across the bar. Before he was able to even reach his arms out, Jaya had him from behind and slammed him, headfirst into the bar. A couple of glasses fell and broke.

"Sorry, I'll pay for those," Jaya said, giving Tyran a smile. "And as for you, I wouldn't go near Danayal again . . . Not only has Security been alerted, but if you so much as look cross-eyed at Danayal I'll give you a lot more than merely a bump on the head."

"Shara! Finally! I have someone violating a court order, by visiting Dan. This is his former father. You must have heard a few things about him from your sister I believe." He motioned Jaya to let the man go.

"Yes, I have," she said entering with a set of bindings. She took Jaya's place. "Nice work," she smiled to the other woman as she saw the lump growing on the man's forehead.

"Just keeping him in line for you," Jaya replied. "He was making a lunge for Tyran."

Shara quickly bound his hands behind him. "Well, you're coming with me, sir . . . and we'll see where you get to go from there."

With that Shara marched the man out of the Starlight Inn to the tune of his angry words.

Jaya looked at Tyran and then back to his apartment. "Do you think Danayal's okay?" she asked.

"No, he isn't. Go to him…please. I’ll close the bar. I left Shara a comm to message me about what will be done to that …that...”

"I know . . ." she said with an understanding look, before going to Danayal.

Danayal was lying on the couch. He was crying. He had held up his front very well. He hadn’t shown any fear, but he’d always been deadly scared of that man!

Jaya could sense everything he was feeling and went to him, taking a seat on the coffee table. "He's gone," she said to him. "Shara came and took him . . . She'll probably see if there are any warrants out for him and then deliver him to the Serenity Police department . . . He's not going to be bothering you again . . ."

"My mother... She remarried… he came here to beg me for money, and housing, but I could feel he was only after his own gain. He had no one else to go to. I feel guilty."

"Don’t be . . . after what he put you through . . ." she said gently taking his hand in hers. "You're doing the best thing for yourself . . . You don't need that man in your life."

Tyran came in as well. "Dan, leave it be… he doesn’t deserve you. Legally he isn’t even your father anymore, and you know that." He said gently. "Tonight I want you to sleep here. I’ll feel safer if you do. Jaya will also stay here… alright, Jaya?"

"Sure . . . I have no problem there. I'm not required anywhere else," she replied with a smile.

"Thank you,” Tyran smiled. “Now, go to bed, Dan." He hugged the young man and smiled. "You are safe…”

Danayal, without argument fell down on his bed and slept. An hour later, the door chime went off. It was Shara, who’d come bringing news about Danayal's former father in person.

"Well, it seemed he had some outstanding warrants," she said as she entered. Dan had heard her and had woken up, though he was still half asleep on his feet. She smiled as she saw him. "I don't think you're going to have to worry about him anymore, Danayal." Shara then went to him and gave him a warm embrace. "He can't hurt anymore . . . In fact; he's sitting at the Serenity City Police Station waiting for a transport to take him to the Feneral Penal Colony."

"That's great to hear!" Jaya replied with a smile.

"How long will he stay there?" Danayal looked sleepy.

"From what I saw, he's going to be there for about 10 years . . . He's done more than just bother you. Try stealing, armed robbery . . ."

"What?" Tyran gaped. "And he came here begging Dan for shelter and money, claiming his wife threw him out. Dan was so clever to warn me..."

"Well, apparently that much is true . . . He's divorced from his wife and that's apparently why he's turned to this wonderful life of crime which he is now going to finally pay for!"

"Thank god for that,” Tyran smiled. “Now, Dan, I think you can go back to bed. He won't pester you anymore, claiming he’s your father.”

They watched as Danayal, without saying a word, dragged himself from the room, back to his own, disappearing from sight. They all knew he’d be back to sleep in a matter of moments.

I’ll also file a complaint because he tried to attack me… unless you think Jaya will get into trouble for interfering."

"She was stopping an attack . . . I can't see how she could get into trouble. After all, you can verify her story along with probably a couple of your last patrons . . ."

"I'm not worried," Jaya replied. I'd rather see that man out of here for as long as possible."

"Then I’ll file a complaint, first thing in the morning." He said calmly. "Danayal is finally sleeping, but he did great tonight. He showed no fear towards his father. I heard that form Fred Felsher... he was always in the bar at the time."

"Good . . . Might want to see if Karissa’s available for a visit," she said softly. "I'm sure Danayal could use a friend to talk with other than us . . . Someone not so closely involved with what happened," Shara said.

"Yeah, I already left her a message, telling her what has happened."

"Good," Shara smiled. "Anyway, I'm going to go . . . Have to finish up my shift."

"I understand, thank you for coming by." He let her out and looked at Jaya. "And now we finally have time for ourselves." He kissed her, happy Dan was alright...