An enormous rusty barge enters a Monte Carlo harbor, creating a stark contrast against the gleaming spotless yachts bobbing on the water. Kofi, carrying a small pet carrier thanks the captain and crew, slowly disembarks and resists the urge to purge himself of his seasickness through his mouth. He finds a bench facing away from the sea and sits down to rid himself of nausea and wobbling sea legs.

The warm spring sun beams towards Kofi’s face as he nearly nods off to sleep, only to be awakened by a loud squeak from the pet carrier. Kofi snaps to attention, making sure nobody is around to see him, and brings Nia out of her carrier.

“I’m sorry, Nia,” Kofi admits as he feeds her a banana. “People in these kinds of places, or rather, nearly every place, never appreciate rats, even if they are heroes.”

Nia nods in begrudging agreement, then continues to finish her banana. Kofi continues as he watches jet-setting tourists and locals walk by.

“We’ll have to be careful; people don’t take kindly to seeing rodents in fancy places such as this. Ironically, their vast amounts of waste can not only feed multiple rats, but many people as well. None of them have a clue of what we’re always going through, not a… ow!”

Kofi sees Nia scratching his thumb with a nail and her face gives off the impression of a mother sternly correcting a naughty child.

“You’re right,” Kofi says in between putting ointment on his thumb. “At least Mr. Cash understands.”

“KOFI!” a young woman’s voice shrieks the moment the hidden bomb explodes.

Kofi falls to the ground and sees two fingers in front of him before he blacks out.

Two weeks later, Kofi looks at the city’s skyline from his hospital bed. He finishes breakfast and buzzes the nurse to take his tray away. She does so and tells him that someone wants to meet him.

Jean Cash enters, holding a small box with holes in it.

“Are you doing any better, Kofi?” Mr. Cash asks gently.

“I suppose,” Kofi mumbles, “But that pain, nobody else should ever go through that.”

“In life, pain is inevitable, but unnecessary casualties aren’t always.”

“How?”

“You are a courageous man to save your sister.”

Kofi blushes and looks away. “I try to do what I can. That’s my purpose.”

“We should all do our part to protect the important one in our lives.”

“Not that many people care about that. Protectors are always few and far between.”

“There are always willing helpers. Perhaps you are looking in the wrong place.”

“What makes you think that?”

Mr. Cash opens the small box to reveal a small female African pouched rat with a bandage on her waist, who stares at Kofi.

“Who is this?” Kofi asks.

“Your hero. She sniffs out hidden bombs, including the one you and your sister don’t have to worry about anymore.”

“Will she recover?”

“Yes, she seems to like you.”

Kofi strokes her head, and the rat responds by nuzzling against his finger.

“Does she have a name?”

“You can name her.”

“Okay then, I’ll name you Nia, for purpose. How’s that?”

Nia nods in approval.

Mr. Cash hands Kofi a playing card, the ace of spades.

“Doesn’t this card mean death?”

“Yes, but it’s a reminder to do the right thing for the right reason. Death is a possibility, but with those like you and Nia never giving up, it will never become inevitable.”

Kofi and Nia look at the sky while thunder rumbles in the distance. Hearing it, Kofi puts Nia back in her carrier, tucks it underneath his jacket, and heads off to hail a taxi.