by Petra Landon
“Back on Terra Agri, I felt …. unsettled. Nothing seemed interesting any more. All the activities I had taken pleasure in before were vaguely dissatisfactory.”
She glanced at him only to see his eyes focused on her, a sober expression on his face.
“I would dream of you sometimes, Star Captain” she said shakily. “On this ship, in your chamber.”
He strode to the bed to stand before her. “I know that you were frightened during your time on the Henia. So for your sake, I was glad when you returned to your own world. But I missed you, Sseela. Without you, my rest-chamber felt empty. Even my duties as a warrior did not fulfill me like before. When the High Council made the decision to return to Sector Araloka, I saw it as a sign. Once the negotiations were concluded, I waited impatiently for Commander Kerovac to make the announcement. I was eager to see you again and yet, afraid that I would be too late. That someone else would claim you in the meanwhile.”
“There was never any fear of that. You spoiled me for everyone else” Sila said simply.
At the heartfelt response, he relaxed. Coming down on his haunches before her, the gold eyes tangled with hers.
“I would watch you sometimes when you slept, Sseela. Wondering how your lips would feel to my touch.”
His thumb brushed her mouth delicately and the plump lower lip trembled.
“Wondering how they would feel under mine” he whispered.
Sila’s breath hitched as the calloused thumb carefully traced her mouth. The tip of her tongue came out to wet her parched lips. He growled low in his throat as his mouth swooped down to capture hers. A wave of relief, love and desire washed over her through their mental connection. Her eyes closed as he nibbled at her lips, suckling them gently before a rough, forked tongue licked at them. Sila panted softly in response. It was the sign he had been waiting for. The tongue surged in boldly to lay claim to her, his arms enclosing her to plaster her to him. She could feel the heat and warmth of him against her. Their hearts pounded in tandem, so loud that Sila thought it echoed off the walls in the rest-chamber. Sila threw her arms around his neck, to return his caresses as he ravished her mouth. Her hands tangled in his hair to feel the silky tresses. It seemed to bring him to his senses.
He tore his mouth from her to stand up. Mouth reddened from his kisses and heart pounding from his passion, Sila reminded him unsteadily. “You have something to tell me, Star Captain.”
“Later” he said, his voice thickened by passion. “First, I love you.”
He loosened the string of his trousers with an impatient gesture and they slid down to pool on the floor. He stepped out of them, kicking them away to stand proudly before her. Sila’s eyes wandered over the expanse of bronze skin, the long, muscled limbs, the deep chest and the powerful arms. Between his thighs jutted proudly the part of him she had not seen before. The thick fall of rust-colored hair rippled as he shook his head in the curiously animal-like way he had.
Like what you see, baithoni?
Sila flushed, to give him a nod.
Good. It is my turn now.
At that, her eyes flashed to him. Sila tried to protest as he reached for her.
No, baithoni. I have months of pent up hunger to sate. Let me look at you.
“Please” he said hoarsely as she hesitated. And Sila capitulated. She could never resist him when he used this particular tone with her.
She stood up. With the gold eyes on her, Sila stripped off her gown and underclothes to stand shyly before him. He pushed back the blanket on the bed invitingly and Sila scrambled in under the covers. He joined her, glittering gold eyes raking her.
The first time I saw you I thought that I had never seen anything so beautiful.
Sila’s eyes shot to him, but he was staring at her. “I love the sun kisses on your skin.”
“Sun kisses” she repeated, befuddled by his words.
A blunt finger caressed the spots on her face.
Sila smiled, her expression tender. “Freckles” she said.
“Fricaal” he repeated carefully. “I love your fricaalz.”
“I love everything about you.” Sila’s voice was very soft.
“My Sseela” he said thickly, hunger and passion crashing through their connection to swamp her.
The trill of the communicator filled the chamber. Zh’hir ignored it. After the third insistent trill, he swore under his breath to roll over, his hand searching blindly for his arm-band by his trousers on the floor. Only to realize that he had discarded it by the desk. He swept off the bed with another oath to stomp towards the desk. Sila let out a giggle, pulling the blanket over her, as he padded to the desk with nothing but a disgruntled expression on his face.
He reached for the arm-band to growl impatiently. “What is it?”
“It is Star Admiral Pe’luk.” D’raar’s voice held a note of apology. “He wants to talk to you, Star Captain.”
Zh’hir frowned. He had expected a summons from Space Force. But Pe’luk had retired months ago, before the Henia’s return to Sector Araloka. Why would his old mentor want to chat with him now, he wondered? Zh’hir glanced at Sila on the bed, her eyes trained on him. He sighed, reaching for the console on his desk.
“Transfer it to my rest-chamber, First Commander” he directed, angling the console up towards his face. He wasn’t a prude but he did not intend to let his old Captain get an eyeful of him.
The console blinked on and a familiar face filled it.
“Star Captain Mu’raat” Pe’luk greeted him with a smile. “I like the sound of it. It has been a long time.”
“Star Admiral” he greeted the older male affectionately. “How are you?”
“I have some news, Zh’hir. A few weeks ago, I was recalled from retirement by Space Force. They were looking for experienced hands to mount more expeditions in search of shtoal. We have a trove of archives to comb through and choose likely targets. Two days ago, I was given responsibility for all Space Force operations off world.”
Zh’hir looked pleased. “Congratulations.”
All Space Force operations fell under two broad categories — off world and home world. For centuries, off world operations had been a division merely in name. But as they emerged from isolation in search of new allies and trading partners, the operations had regained a new importance and some of their old prestige.
Sheer relief washed over Zh’hir as he processed the news. If there was more shtoal to be discovered, his old friend would find it. Pe’luk was not an Ur’quay to give up easily. The desperate endeavor to reverse the Ur’quay’s fate would in safe hands under Pe’luk. Now that he had no influence or the power to steer the Ur’quay towards their salvation, it was a relief to know that the Star Admiral held the reins.
“It was a very good day for the Ur’quay when you decided to rejoin Space Force” he said, the words heartfelt and true.
Pe’luk inclined his head.
“Thank you, Zh’hir. I was proud the day they chose you to command the fleet to Sector Araloka. The operation holds the future of the Ur’quay in its hands and I cannot think of a better commander to lead it.”
Zh’hir took a deep breath. “I have resigned my commission with Space Force, Star Admiral” he said formally.
On the bed, Sila stirred, flabbergasted by his words. Though she couldn’t see the console or hear the Star Admiral, the Star Captain’s end of the conversation was translated into her earpiece by her Ur’quay tech which lay discarded with her clothes. While the Star Captain had made enormous strides with Alliance Standard, she kept the translator close since he was apt to lapse into his language when he couldn’t find the words to explain something.
On the console, Pe’luk looked unsurprised, which meant that he had an inkling of what was in the wind. Zh’hir remained silent, waiting for the older Ur’quay male to open the proceedings.
“Have you, Zh’hir?” the Star Admiral remarked. “Who have you tendered your resignation to?”
“Satorik J
h’hrok.”
Pe’luk managed to look both astonished and confused. “The Satorik cannot accept your resignation, Star Captain. He is not Space Force. Must I remind you of regulations?”
“Then, I proffer it to you, Star Admiral” Zh’hir conceded.
Pe’luk contemplated him, his expression impassive.
“I do not accept it, Star Captain. Space Force cannot lose a warrior like you. Not now, when we fight for our very survival.”
“I have broken Ur’quay law, Star Admiral” Zh’hir explained, his eyes tangling with that of his old friend and Captain.”
Sila shot up in the bed behind him, clutching the blanket to her.
“Be that as it may. Zh’hir. But Jh’hrok has no authority to either demand your resignation or accept it.”
Zh’hir sighed. “You know about it?” It explained the unexpected call.
Pe’luk arched his eyebrow at his former protégé, his attitude one of immense patience. “He came to me a half hour ago, with some garbled story of you wanting to be a mercenary in Sector Araloka. I dismissed it. Thought you were pulling his leg, no doubt for some outrageous demand he had made of you.”
“Did he say anything else?” Zh’hir inquired.
“Something about an Ur’quay secret you insist on telling the Aralokans.”
Pe’luk paused. “I could not get any sense out of him. You know the High Council types, Zh’hir. Always high-strung and secretive. And mealy-mouthed about everything.
Zh’hir restrained his grin with an effort. He had missed Pe’luk and his blunt ways.
“So” inquired his mentor. “What is this secret that will bring down the Ur’quay civilization? Considering that we are teetering on the edge already, it must be something powerful.”
“In the past week, we have discovered Tseka’ki in Sector Araloka” Zh’hir explained.
Pe’luk stilled on the console. “The Aralokans know about the gift we Ur’quay possess?”
“Not quite” the Star Captain said evenly.
Pe’luk’s eyes wandered his protégé’s blanked expression. “But why would …” he paused as it hit him. “They have Ur’quay heritage” he murmured, his eyes flickering.
“You knew?” Zh’hir felt his world tilt on its axis. Pe’luk had mentored him and he had always looked up to the warrior — he could not bear it if the Ur’quay he held in the highest regard turned out to have been part of the conspiracy of silence.
“I did not.” Pe’luk shook his head, his mien thoughtful. “But I sensed something was off. The High Council was secretive about their archives. Space Force has copies of the same reports — they were filed by our warriors, after all. Thus, I thought their reluctance very strange. Then, when we brought back news of shtoal in Sector Araloka, there was outright opposition to any agreement with the Aralokans.”
Zh’hir knew about it. There had been quite a skirmish. In the end, Space Force had won because out of the four early expeditions, Sector Araloka had been the only to show promise. And the High Council had grudgingly agreed to seek a pact with the Kampuchan Alliance.
“It made me suspicious, Zh’hir” the Star Admiral continued. “After I retired, I had a lot of time on my hands. And I decided to do something about it. I scoured the High Council’s public archives, trying to match them to Space Force reports from the starfarers. I noted some discrepancies, nothing major. Though I couldn’t put my finger on it, I was convinced the High Council was hiding something. I just didn’t know what it was.”
“The High Council has known about the younglings left behind” Zh’hir remarked.
On the bed, Sila frowned at the cryptic statement.
“This is what Jh’hrok ordered you to keep silent about” the Star Admiral exclaimed as the realization smote him.
Zh’hir nodded. “I warned him that I would tell Commander Kerovac about it. The Aralokans deserve to know. Some of the Tseka’ki are being used against the Alliance.”
Pe’luk pursed his lips. “Do you have proof of Ur’quay genetic code in Sector Araloka, Zh’hir?”
“Medic Vh’raal has it.”
“That is good news.” Pe’luk looked pleased. “I wonder — how did Vh’raal take it?” he asked curiously.
Zh’hir forced his mind back. He had been on edge — fearful for Sila, enraged at the Ur’quay’s secret and drowning in his own guilt for not watching over her better.
“Shocked, disbelieving, incredulous … and shamed” he said, listing them clinically as he thought back to the older warrior’s reaction at the discovery.
“That is how I expect Space Force warriors to react” Pe’luk said soberly, before brightening up. “You have given us the smoking gun, Zh’hir. Something Space Force has been looking for to use as leverage against the High Council.”
Zh’hir stilled. “You will not release this to the public, Star Admiral?” he asked. “They deserve to know the truth.”
“They do, Zh’hir” agreed his old friend. “But our people are frightened — of the present and the future. They are not ready to have the past dissected yet.”
He sighed. “The High Council has learned nothing from history, Zh’hir. As long as they retain control of reversing our fortunes, I fear the Ur’quay are doomed. Space Force has always opposed isolation, from the early days. But we could not overrule the High Council. With this, we can force them to back off by threatening to out what they did to the Ur’quay people. It is a threat that will work, for the people are on edge and blame the elected representatives for the disastrous policies of the past.”
Zh’hir said nothing. He knew that Pe’luk spoke the truth and that unless stopped, the High Council would doom them all to legend status — the conversation with Jh’hrok had made that crystal clear. Yet, hiding this from the Ur’quay did not sit right with him. Would that not make them no better than the High Council, he wondered?
Pe’luk understood the younger warrior’s dilemma perfectly. One that he, and to a large extent, many other Space Force warriors grappled with. Probably one their starfaring ancestors had once faced too.
“Inform Commander Kerovac about this and tell him that Space Force will do everything in our power to neutralize the Tseka’ki threat against the Alliance, Star Captain” his superior officer directed Zh’hir. “Your warriors are in Sector Araloka and soon an Ur’quay Fleet will be there too. Such a secret cannot be kept from them. Once they know, it will not be long before it gets back to Ur’Qia and spreads like wildfire. But, by then, Ur’Qia will start reaping the benefits of us re-engaging with the galaxy. They will experience the fruits of it and not be as frightened for their future as before. They might even be more willing to learn from what was done in their name and hold the High Council accountable for their disastrous governance.”
Zh’hir acquiesced, giving in. Perhaps, his wise friend was right, he realized. Maybe Ur’Qia needed time and respite to deal with this.
“You know this, Zh’hir” Pe’luk said soberly. “Space Force warriors have always been proud of being starfarers. We are the ones that engage with the galaxy and we are the ones that see the benefits of it. The Ur’quay that experience nothing but Ur’Qia find their view of our universe narrowing. It is the same of the High Council. They hold on to the past and our former glory but forget what led to it — a tradition of starfaring. If we do dig ourselves out of this hole the Ur’quay are in, we should encourage others to see the world outside Ur’Qia. It will help the Ur’quay and hopefully, build us a more thriving civilization.”
Zh’hir concurred with the Star Admiral’s view. He had learnt much from the Aralokans. And clearly, his starfaring ancestors had found much to admire in them too. For they had left behind a legacy in the sector, in more ways than one.
“The Tseka’ki here need help, Star Admiral” he said, knowing that Pe’luk would understand. “Without anyone to teach them about the gift, it becomes a curse for them.”
“Space Force will provide assistance and tutors, Star Captain” the S
tar Admiral assured him. “Tell our allies that we will right this wrong.”
Pe’luk relaxed subtly, as the expression on his protégé’s face lightened.
“It will be good to work together again, Zh’hir” he remarked, more lightly. “Focus on cleaning up Sector Araloka and guaranteeing our shtoal and I will deal with the High Council. The Star Admirals have been in agreement for a while. And the experiment in Sector Araloka has convinced us that we are right. We want to re-engage with the galaxy, despite the High Council stymieing us at every turn. Thanks to you, our path forward is less thorny.”
“There might be more, Star Admiral” Zh’hir said thoughtfully. “Others left behind, in other sectors.”
“I am sure there are more, Zh’hir. You pored over the reports our ancestors left behind. They were very detailed and yet, doesn’t it strike you that there is something missing? During their travels, they encountered many interesting and like-minded races they spoke very highly of. Yet, there is nothing, no hint of personal interest of a romantic nature from the starfarers. They were Space Force warriors in the prime of their lives, spending their time far from home with laws on the books that did not allow them to take Ur’quay mates. I would be very surprised if there was no intermingling, no matter what the High Council says.”
Zh’hir could see the softening in his warriors as the months went by. They had made friends with the Hadari’Kor. Soon, they would fight with other soldiers from Alliance member worlds. From there to finding mates was not a leap, given that there was physiological compatibility with the Aralokans. He had met Sila under extraordinary circumstances to forge a unique bond, but it was possible for the other Ur’quay as well, as the sector became less alien and more home to them.
“I will find out what the High Council is hiding and send help to the other sectors, once we can” Pe’luk assured the Star Captain, his voice determined.
They had little resources to spare now and what they had was to be scrambled to ensure that there would be Ur’quay in a few generations. But Zh’hir knew that Pe’luk would do what he could to find and help other abandoned Ur’quay progeny.