**Written by mOrga1998**

The Moon was starting to set, casting the dimming city a pale blue-violet. Stars popped out slowly, glittering peacefully in the darkening navy sky while a few wispy clouds floated around the horizon, though they didn't bother to get closer to the inhabited area. Metice, the glacier in the sky, soon became visible, glowing in the Moon's warm rays. This luminous array was only seen in the early evening, as soon the light will fade and the ice will no longer gleam and sparkle.

Even with the fading light, and with the night invading the void, chasing shadows away, pink and yellow mercury lights flickered on, creating small dancing patterns along the ground. Foreign music floated loudly through the walls of the lower lying buildings; skyscrapers stood tall and forbidding, showing the city's wealth and power. Life bustled about on the floor, retiring home or heading to taverns and clubs for midnight fun.

While most were going home, Joseph walked against the current heading towards the small, somewhat bland, square bar on the far right. An sign hung over the entrance, glowing a purple color, while fancy looking dark colored designs painted the top and sides of a large, long window that really needed a wash. Though the outside was boring, the interior was a little more decorated.

Joseph went through the rounded door and walked over to the counter, regarding the many who were sitting at the bar, or at the tables further from it. They were drinking happily with the others at their tables, some were laughing hysterically and he assumed that they may have had a few too many drinks. The few aliens behind him moved back and forth, checking up on supplies and doing the dishes. The smell of barley and hopps was nearly overwhelming, but after many years of working here at the bar, he had gotten used to it.

He looked up as the front door opened and another customer waltzed into the dimly lit and noisy room. Straightening up he tried to make himself seem a little more self-confident. This was the type that liked to mess with people. "May I help you?" He asked in monotonous voice, being so accustomed to saying that every time he was approached.

"Yes," the man said, gazing over the list of drinks bolted to the wall behind Joseph. After a few moments he stated what he wanted and waited as Joseph filled up a glass cup with the specific alcohol. The second he put the glass filled with foaming umber liquid the alien added, "you're a human." It wasn't a question, it was a fact.

Joseph nodded, picking up a a rough, scratchy orange sponge-like object and pretending to wipe the counter down with it, not wanting the alien to see his expression.

The man sneered, four rounded teeth poking out slightly. He opened his mouth, as it to say something, when a splash of dark, nearly black, liquid soared through the air and scored. He had frozen in shock as the drink dripped down its back and chest, though soon got over it. He whipped around and faced the other that did it.

"Don't mess with the counter boy," the attacker slurred, the words tiered with potvaliancy. Joseph remembered him as the Audichron from a few months ago.

They started arguing, and soon the Audichron was also sodden in alcohol.

But, Joseph was used to this kind of behavior between two customers. He ignored them mostly, though always kept them within his sight just in case it got out of hand. He groaned, after closing he was going to have to clean it all up, along with any other messes the others made—spills, broken glass, puke, and similar things.

The sight of the Audicron always brought up strange thoughts as Joseph worked, even when the alien was in a drunken mood. Actually, the thoughts appeared more when he was drunk, since Joseph first met him when he was intoxicated.

Everything the old man said to him at their fist meeting had stayed in his mind during these past few months. But there were a few things that he had slowly discovered as the days went on. One of them was that the Audichron knew his name before Joseph had even spoken it but, a little while after that, he remembered that the human-like alien could hear the future, not see it. He didn't usually wear his name tag, so that must be it. Maybe he had heard Joseph's name while listening.

That was the main thought that had stayed in his mind , but he still wondered what the alien meant by: Thing is, I've seen into the future. I've heard what you'll find out, little Zusak. It had to do with his future, that was common sense. But it was just so brief, like an omen you hear a shaman predict.

XXX

7 AM. That was when Joseph is finally off duty. So, after cleaning up the messes spread all across the shined floor and walls, he swiped his timecard through the computer, signaling his end of shift, locked up, and made his way back down to his home.

By now the Moon was starting to rise, blanketing the skyscrapers and lower lying buildings in a cool silver light, though in time the beams will become warmer. Stars had faded, and many people were returning home after a night of work.

Joseph's home was toward the middle of the large city, squished between two slightly bigger buildings. There was no lawn or plants anywhere near the house, and it had the bland view of the back of a many stories tall skyscraper. But it was good enough for him, he should be happy to be able to afford the house on such a low wage.

He stepped into the house and flicked the light on, kicking off his shoes and heading into his bedroom. Once inside he grabbed his clothes and made his way to the shower, right next door-it was literally only three steps away. Right as he stepped in he heard a sound that was similar to a meow. The soft noise repeated itself several times before Joseph opened the kitchen window to let the short, yet tall legged creature inside.

The cat-like animal came in and rubbed her fluffy, russet fur against his leg, then looked up at him with sparkling green flecked gray eyes, emitting another silent noise. "Come on, Kat. I just got home. Can't you wait for food?" He said, as she jumped up onto the counter and stared at him with her kitty eyes.

After a while he couldn't resist.

"What do you want to eat?"