Episode 1

Hot. Summer was never been Xen favorite season, it too hot to cook, too hot to eat, too hot to do anything and swear to the Master on the havens he hates it. But thanks to the store rules, he just needs to open the store at night when the temperature has cool down. Outro was the store name and hence he knows why they name it Outro anyway. His master - Winston once told him ‘Out’ means outstanding and ‘ro’ mean provides, an outstanding store that can provides any dishes through generations. Even though he isn’t the master identical son, but he treats him like his own son and that make Xen want to stay at the store forever.

Outro has never been crowded with customers as long as he remembers, they hardly got any customer since the food supplies price goes too high. His regulars normally just his master old friends and middle-class workers visit once a week. High society people would never notice his store since many chefs move out and created their own planet. They called it Chef Orb or Orb for shorten. It's a planet with five stars restaurants and high-class chef community. Only cooks with high distinction, which also been approved by the Orb can open restaurant there. For example, God of Cookery – a title for whoever win the Resources tournament.

It’s also the only places that hold a special technique to growth crops and breed live stocks; they sell those with high price that only people with money can buy it. Frozen food or canned are still expensive but compared to fresh food, it the cheapest ingredients to get. Therefore, Chef Orb also invented vitamin drink, which is the cheapest eating solution, it provided energy for a day and faster than cooking, but compared with a hot nice meal, it still not popular as it would be.

Xen yawns and stand up from the bench in front of the door to start open the store. The sun setting down and people start peeling on the street. He knows that today might be another day with no customer, but he still wants to keep the store open, otherwise he will get bored with lies all day. Before reaching the store, he moves to the corner and pet the store pet, Bunny. A black rabbit with red eyes. According to his Master, the animal has been here long before he was born, and nobody knows why it stay there but nobody bothers to chase it away. Xen opened a can of tuna and put it in Bunny plate, watching the small creature ditch in the food with a satisfied purr, he turns back to the door and flip the open sign to start a day.

Outro layout was quite interesting. In the middle are the bar tables built into squares, the counter is on the right corner facing the doo and inside was the kitchen area. Close to the wall are tables for four people and on the back is the lounge. It was a mixed of both Western and Asian architecture which make no sense, but it fit in perfectly. The whole store was built in wood and after hundreds of years these items are musty and stale but thank too new technology, it not difficult to repair the interior.

“Oh, my young Xen, how was your day. Would you mind if I have some cold beer?” Qirlin asked with a small, hand holding his hat, and another hold a silver cane.

“Of course, Mr. Qirlin. Our store is always open for you.” He replied, hand reading the fridge on the back of the counter and pull out stack of beers. XEN put it on the counter desk next to the cash machine, Mr. Qirlin favorite spot. He always exclaimed that this is the only place in the store that give him an overview of the kitchen.

“It’s pretty hots lately, isn’t it? You should turn on the air conditioner young X.” Mr. Qirlin suggested, open his beer.

“I don’t think I will Mr. Qirlin. We hardly earn any bells lately and the food supplied is about to run out.” Xen protested, finger on the nose and scratch it. “Besides, we only open at night, so I don’t think it is necessary for us to turn on the air con.” He laughed.

“Petty like your old man.” Qirlin smug and take a sip of his beer.

Suddenly, the door opened with a loud noise and two men stepped in. A twin with different hair color, the red hair is holding a laze gun while the blue hair guy holding a suitcase. They both look exhausted and dirty, worn costumes with scratch over their body.

“Hand on the air, we are taking over this place!” The red head shouts, pointing the gun at Xen. His face was furious, right hand clutching on the blue hair man waist. The other man looks pale, his body crumble and hardly walking. Noise of people chasing them coming from the background make the red hair man muscle tighten, he rushes inside the kitchen area and hide under the counter.

“Hey, get out there this is a private property!” Xen roars, pushing two men out of the counter “If you want to hide get behind the fridge!” Xen protest helps the red head carried his brother to the back and settle them.

Another loud noise coming from the door again, a party of men standing in front, sulking the air “Where are they, where are the guys run away to?!!” Their leader yells demand an answer, eyes scanning the store.

“They run to the back door; you can follow them from the alley next to house!” Xen answered, pretend like he didn’t know or see anything.

The leader punch hard on the door, told his underlings to chase after the twin and ran off to looking for them, Xen slowly turn his back to fridge and said “You guys can come out now. They have gone.” He fold his arm on his chest, hip base on the counter, looking at the twin step out from the behind.

“Thank you very much. We will never forget your kindness.” the red hair begins, helping his brother to stand up and walk to the door.

“Since you already here why don’t you grab some food at our store.” Xen said with mischievous eyes, his mouth curve into a small cheeky smile convince the twin to stay. “The menu is on the table just call me when you’re ready.” He pushes.

“Oh, no. Please we’re not hungry.” The twin refuse at the same time their stomachs grumble makes both men face blushes, put their hands up to reject the offer “Beside we don’t have money but thank you for your offer.”

“Oh please, what type of Space pirates didn’t bring their money. You don’t have it in your wallet doesn’t means you don’t have it in your body.”

“We don’t know what you are talking about.” this time both men face hardens, their eyes narrow, avoid the invitation.

“Oh my, I think you know what I am talking about.” Mr. Qirlin turn away, focuses on the beer on his hand “Come on 1 dish and you’re free to go”

“One more word and we will shot you, old man!” The red hair threatens, pointing the gun directly at Mr. Q.

“If you think you can scare me with a no-battery-laze-gun then I don’t think I will.” He glances, this time he turns himself around and look into their eyes. “Eat anything you want, it not expensive either.”

Xen smiles wickedly, eyes on them like an open invitation. He wants to be the person offer them rather than let Mr. Qirlin be, but since the older man wants to help then let’s he do it. Besides, the store hardly has customer; 2 person means 2 dishes and a few ingredients been used. Xen would happy to cook for them even they didn’t pay him to or help him clean the pantry.

“If you get out of the store, those men will get you immediately. I am surely that they’re still outside looking for you. How about stay here for dinner, our store won’t disappoint you.” Xen spoke up.

“If...if you can make a dish that better the Orb, we will pay for it.” the blue hair guy finally spoke up, straighten his back.

“Deal.”

“But brother, what about the appointment!” The red hair scream and quickly cover his mouth “And we don’t have enough either.”

“Take a sit, boys. Call whatever you want in the menu. I guarantee you that he can satisfied you both with his skill.” Mr. Qirlin firmly said, take the last sip of his beer. “And one more cold beer, please.”

“2 fried rice.” The blue man spoke, didn’t spend a single glance on the menu and put the suitcase on the right corner of the bar table, he sits down followed his brother. They both look calm but in their eyes was impatient.

“Coming up!” Xen answer happily, giving Mr. Qirlin his beer and start cooking.

Fried rice. Mixed cold rice with eggs and butter, then fried them in the pan with high heat. When the mixtures start hardening add green peas and shred pork. Following the recipes from his master, Xen recall the steps and ingredients, his hand moves fast through the spice, gripping each of them an enough amount to add in the pan. Stir the mixture even, turn off the heat and poured it on the plates. “Your fried rice.” He said, put the plates on the counter.

“Don’t get cocky, kid! We have been to the Orb before, if this one is not as good as them, we will get it for free.” The red hair snares, hand gripping the spoon angrily and start eating. His eyes gone wide when he ate the first spoon, then his hand start speed up, the rice lessen after a minute until there was nothing left on this dish. Same for the blue hair guy. “Dang! It’s good!” They shout at the same time with a smiling face.

“Told you so” Xen laughs “Now remember to pay me after you finish.” he hummed happily.

“Urm... oh shit!” They jump of the chair, hand cover their mouth, looking at each other panicky like unbelieved in them self that they just lost the bet. Both men eyes focus on the door looking for a loophole to escape, but unfortunately, Mr. Qirlin hands on their shoulders, gripping tight with a scary smile makes both men squeeze.

“Fine!” They admit “We’re lost! Here is your payment’” they open the suitcase and hand Xen the money. Xen is overwhelmed, it been a while since Outro have customer and 2 dishes in a day, that even better. Xen happily put the money in the cashier and note on the planner. Since the Chef Orb run their own business, place like this become unknown and it hard to keep up.

“But what the hell, kid! Your food was so good! And you’re not from the Orb! Everyone that can cook like you belong to the Orb! Jesus.” The red hair started “I am Reid by the way, this guy Bill. We’re the space pirate R&B. Beside the price wasn’t expensive as we thought, thank you a lot, kid.”

“It’s late, we better get going before those guys spotted our ship. Let’s go, brother.” Reid said after cleaning up their things and left.

“Kay, am coming.”

Soon after they left, Mr. Qirlin also finish his drink “I should better get going, it quite late actually. And it’s time for you close the store isn’t it?”

“I know, goodbye Mr. Qirlin” Xen waves to the older man and open the door flip the sign to closed. Before lock the store, he grabs Bunny in his hand the feed the small animal. He recalled the evening situation; the R&B brother keep praising how he was good as the Orb make his heart swelled of proud. Of course, he is good, he is the Outro chef after all.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***