by S. H. Jucha
“This is something I have to do,” Nata said stubbornly. “Don’t ask me why. Things are a bit confusing right now.”
“Give me one reason,” Neffess implored. “If you get killed, I must have something to tell Nyslara and Pussiro.”
Nata stopped dead in the corridor and eyed her best friend. “I do know one thing, Neffess. I need to understand if I’ve lost my nerve ... if everything that’s happened has robbed me of my joy of flying. During the graduation exercises, you and I competed as the final pair. That was one of the most exciting moments of my life.”
“For me too,” Neffess replied, extending a dark-nailed, fur-clad hand to ruffle Nata’s short hair. “And I’m glad that the contest was declared a draw even though I won.”
Nata grinned. “And you think I’m the foolish one,” she replied. “You know I won.”
Neffess pointed down the corridor. “Go, my stubborn pup mate. Attack that drone with your ship and find the courage that I know beats in your heart. Then come back to me with that same grin on your face.”
Nata nodded, turned away, and received a stinging slap from a Dischnya tail.
“Ow,” Nata yelped, rubbing a sore buttock. “You’ll pay for that when I return,” she called over her shoulder.
Nata hurried below, claimed her traveler, launched, and stationed the ship between the target asteroid and the Arcus.
Alain replied.
Alain mused.
The fleet received Lydia’s warning that Vyztram had sent the recall directive, and all eyes focused on holo-vids and telemetry relays.
The drones rose and sped toward the Arcus.
Nata singled out a drone that would have to pass near her. She experienced a brief moment of hesitation. Then anger at her timidity swept the emotion away. She didn’t want to be that person — the one who hides from life.
Choosing to wait, Nata wondered if the oncoming drone would consider her ship a stationary obstacle and pass close by. Her thinking was correct.
With the drone a mere fifteen kilometers away, Nata executed a spiral to direct her traveler into the drone’s path. The maneuver would make it hard for the drone to calculate her position.
Let’s see what you can do, Nata thought.
The traveler interdicted the drone’s path. The fleet held a collective breath. A collision was imminent.
Then the drone was past.
Hector refrained from sending his favorite form of laughter. Like Alain, he was an admirer of Nata and hoped to see great things from her, when she matured. He took what amounted to about a half second of telemetry, slowed it by twenty times. Then he sent the vid to Nata and all ships.
Nata watched the vid several times. She couldn’t believe what she saw. Her maneuver was perfectly executed. Few pilots could have spun into the drone’s path so neatly.
Watching the timeline, Nata realized that the drone had detected her presence and evaded her in less than a quarter second.
For the drone to accomplish the maneuver, the arches surrounding the drone’s hull glowed brilliantly, and the ship twirled rapidly on its axis. The tactic allowed the drone to execute a neat half circle around Nata’s traveler.
Franz replied, displaying a wide grin, and Reiko shook her head at the pair’s antics.
Across the fleets, individuals replayed Nata’s interaction with the drone. Her detractors thought she was suicidal. Many knew they would never have volunteered for the dangerous duty and admitted that Nata had more courage than most. Then there were the likes of Tatia, Franz, and Ellie, who thought they’d found a young pilot who, one day, might replace their beloved Admiral Svetlana Valenko.
Neffess could care less what others thought of Nata. After reviewing Hector’s vid, she chuffed in appreciation. Her pup mate’s ferocity had been restored. She strode the corridor with her tail high and its tip twitching. Every now and then, the air would crack from the snap of her whip-like tail.
37: Courtesies
Following Trobath’s introduction to the other mandators by Scarlet Mandator, Killian needed no prompting by Alex about what to do next. It was Mist Monitor, who gave Killian the idea.
The scouts, Killian, Bethley, and Trium, requested a cargo traveler. With nowhere to touch down on the crowded top of Mesa Control, the pilot picked up the SADEs, Trobath, and Mist Monitor near the tram exit at the bottom of the tall rocky spire.
Mist Monitor delighted in directing what was to be termed a road show by Miranda, or what was more properly described as an air-hopping tour of Ollassa enclaves, which were scattered across the World of Light.
The enclaves were clustered around light industries that didn’t adversely affect the planet’s ecology.
The SADEs established their routines at the first stop. The enclave comprised about two thousand Ollassa and was situated nearly a kilometer away from the ship’s intended landing location.
Killian had timed their arrival to coincide with the arrival of the Light. They’d slowly overflown the enclave to attract attention. Then they hovered high above the meadow before they descended slowly.
The pilot set the traveler down, keeping the ship floating atop the grasses. The ramp was lowered until it was level with the deck. Then they waited.
To support the scouts’ tour, Scarlet Mandator had sent a message across the planet to all enclaves. The Ollassa were told to watch for the Omnian seedling ship. It would offer them a glimpse into the future of the Ollassa race.
With the warming beneficence of the Light, the Ollassa emerged from their protective bubbles and made the journey to the meadow, where they’d seen the seedling ship land. As the first Ollassa arrived, they saw SADEs bracketing an Ollassa on the ramp of the seedling ship.
Mist Monitor made an introduction and asked for their patience, while others arrived.
When the pilot informed Killian that telemetry detected that the Ollassa numbers making their way to the meadow had dwindled to a trickle, he signaled Bethley and Trium, who slipped off the ramp and mingled among the throng.
Then Mist Monitor addressed the nearly three hundred Ollassa, saying, “I’ve the privilege of introducing the first Elvian I’ve met. You’ll have questions, and some of you are too far away to communicate with me. The SADEs carry devices that can speak to you.”
Bethley and Trium hoisted their holo-vids high in the air, and blooms gravitated toward them. When the Ollassa realized that the holo-vids transmitted the monitor’s words, they crowded around. Thus, the audience formed three distinct pools, which focused on the three SADEs.
Killian kept some sensors focused on Trobath, who waited in the interior’s shadows. He would transmit visuals of her to the other two scouts.
“This is Trobath, an Elvian female,” Mist Monitor announced proudly.
Trobath walked from the ship’s interior and onto the traveler’s r
amp. She delivered a bow and an elegant flourish of an arm and a hand.
Near Trium, an Ollassa beamed a question, and the SADE relayed it to Killian.
Mist Monitor read the holo-vid’s output and responded. “You witnessed Trobath’s greeting. The Elvians express their sentiments on meeting one another with these movements. I find them intriguing and wish stalks were capable of such intricate manipulations.”
“Why does the Elvian wear a device over her mouth?” an Ollassa near Bethley asked.
“Our oxygen levels are too rich for the Elvians,” Mist Monitor replied. “According to the Omnians, Elvians will need one or more generations to adapt to the World of Light’s air.”
The next question was, “Where will they live until then?”
“In domes, which they’ll build with the help of the Omnians,” the monitor replied.
“Then they’ll stay within their domes for centuries of annuals,” an Ollassa proposed.
“No,” Mist Monitor replied. “With these filters, they can leave their domes to ride our trams.”
“Then they can roam the World of Light freely,” an Ollassa declared. The beaming was strong, and the sharing of the statement caused stalks and fronds to tremble.
Mist Monitor hesitated, struggling how to answer, not expecting such a hostile response.
Trobath turned toward Mist Monitor, and her fingers relayed her apology. Then she stepped toward the ramp’s edge and jumped down. The grasses hid much of her height, and she tilted her face upward to regard the blooms directly in front of her.
The Ollassa closest to Trobath cued stalks to shift backward, but their retreats were blocked by those behind them.
“Do I frighten you?” Trobath asked. She didn’t wait for answers. “We’ve overflown your planet. It’s beautiful, and it’s full of predators. You ride in your trams and hide at night in your protective bubbles. We must do the same ... transport via the trams and take shelter in our domes.”
“You’re an animal,” an Ollassa accused.
“But we aren’t predators,” Trobath replied. “We culture our food, which means that you’ve nothing to fear from us.”
“You destroyed Ollassa ships and members of our race,” an Ollassa retorted.
Killian stepped forward and raised his voice. “Omnians have determined that the Ollassa ships were destroyed by an automated system designed to protect the resource harvesting,” he said. “The vast majority of the Elvian fighters have been destroyed. The few fighters remaining will power the Elvian domes and protect the Worlds of Light from other intrusions.”
“We would see the Elvian remove the filter and prove that the air overwhelms her,” an Ollassa challenged.
When Mist Monitor heard the request, stalks extended straight, lifting the body high. It was a statement of great indignation.
“I would consider asking that of Trobath, if you will first wait here while the Light diminishes,” the monitor beamed. “If any of you are present when the beneficence returns, she’ll consider demonstrating what happens when the filter is removed.”
Trobath raised her hands, and Killian easily whisked her onto the ramp. “Mist Monitor is generously protective, but I’m not opposed to demonstrating the effect of your air on me.” She lifted a hand toward the filter, but Killian blocked it.
“Mist Monitor has relayed what was learned from Omnians about the air aboard the Elvian ship,” Killian said via the holo-vid. “Our leader, Alex Racine, nearly succumbed to the lack of oxygen aboard the ship. Due to the failing nature of the ship’s air circulation systems, only SADEs have continued to visit the Arcus. Now, if you doubt what Omnians tell you, then there’s no hope for an alliance, and we might as well abandon the Ollassa to their fates.”
Aboard the Freedom, Renée held her breath, and Alex grinned. He thought it was a superb moment to challenge the crowd’s growing turmoil.
“Well?” Killian demanded. “Do we leave, or are there civil questions to ask of a potential ally?”
Mist Monitor’s stalks eased, and the SADEs waited for a response, which was slow in coming.
“We can’t perform the Elvian’s motions of meeting,” a younger Ollassa said. “How are we to greet them?”
“This way,” the monitor said.
Trobath turned toward the monitor and extended her hand palm up. Then Mist Monitor signaled a control stalk, which placed the pad in Trobath’s palm. Her fingers closed lightly on the stalk’s tip.
Many Ollassa shuddered, but the youth stepped forward, and Trobath recognized the opportunity. She hopped off the ramp again. On this occasion, the soft soil didn’t bother her as much as it did the first few times.
Trobath extended her hand to the youth, whose stalks and fronds were only two-thirds the size of mature Ollassa.
The youth placed a stalk in Trobath’s hand, and when she closed on the soft pad, the bloom petals twisted and curled. “It tingles,” the youth beamed.
Youthful blooms beseeched Trobath to experience the greeting, and Killian directed them to remain where they were rather than work their way to the front.
The SADEs guided Trobath to the interested Ollassa, and she wandered through the throng, demonstrating the touching of stalks to her palm.
Mature Ollassa chose not to participate, but there was no denying the reactions of younger members of their race.
Despite living in enclaves or working aboard ships or in space, Ollassa lived singularly isolated lives. They were born of the Life Givers. They didn’t mate. Therefore, they’d never exchanged intimacies.
Renée de Guirnon had initiated something she couldn’t have imagined. During the first visit to the World of Light, she’d expressed a desire to feel Mist Monitor’s petals. When permission was given, she’d delicately touched the soft elements that surrounded the bloom. The petals had curled around Renée’s fingers, and both the Ollassa and the Omnian had greatly enjoyed the experience.
Mist Monitor’s delightful contact with Renée, an animal, had opened the possibilities. Now, other Ollassa were learning that contact with animals could be safely and pleasantly accomplished.
When Killian felt that the throng’s favorable experience was at a peak, he recalled Trobath to the ramp and lifted her aboard. Then he cued Mist Monitor that they were leaving.
“You’ve met Trobath,” the monitor beamed. “Yes, Elvians are animals, but so are the Omnians. Would you dare tell those who have befriended us that they aren’t welcome? If one race from beyond can exist in harmony with the Ollassa, why can’t another? Think on what you’ve seen and experienced. Scarlet Mandator awaits your thoughts.”
Bethley and Trium swiftly wove through the audience and leapt aboard the traveler.
Trobath delivered a complex, yet elegant, courtesy, employing her entire body.
As the ship rose, blooms followed Trobath upward. Many of the youthful Ollassa signaled stalks to rise in farewell.
The pilot’s route had been planned by the SADEs. Enclave coordinates had been transferred from Mesa Control. So, the traveler flew toward the next location.
The moment the crowd disappeared from sight, Trobath and Mist Monitor hurriedly backed into the ship’s interior for safety. They watched in surprise as the SADEs remained on the ramp and gazed at the world below.
“You’re not afraid of falling?” Trobath asked the SADEs.
“It’s a matter of knowledge,” Bethley replied. “We know this ship’s capabilities, and we calculate the risk is negligible.”
“Still, it exists,” Trobath pursued.
“Our lives can end in many ways. More than likely, it will be sudden,” Trium said. “We choose not to miss the view of the World of Light from this ramp.”
Killian held out a hand to Trobath. She regarded Mist Monitor, whose stalks and fronds trembled at th
e bloom’s consideration of examining the ground from on high. In sympathy, she stroked the monitor’s petals, which quickly settled the Ollassa. Then she stepped forward slowly, reaching out to grasp Killian’s hand.
Immediately, Killian directed the pilot to maintain the elevation but sail the ship slowly over the terrain.
Held safely by the SADE, Trobath carefully turned her head, which had been focused on Killian’s chest.
“I find this world so bright and colorful,” Trobath gushed, while she watched the trees, grasses, flowering plants, streams, and rocks roll past. “I wish all Elvians could witness this,” she added wistfully.
“With your efforts, we might make that happen,” Killian said. When he felt the slightest tug on his hand, he led Trobath into the interior.
Then Bethley signaled the ramp closed, and the pilot accelerated toward the next enclave rendezvous.
“That went better than I thought it would,” Renée commented to the bridge.
“For a moment, it was touch and go,” Tatia said.
“Killian is achieving his full potential,” Julien commented. “Bethley and Trium learn by observing his actions.”
Alex understood what Julien was implying. For the SADEs to be respected by the worlds’ races, they had to be capable of understanding the motivations of biologicals and developing close relationships with them.
Most humans thought few SADEs were capable of that level of sophistication. Omnians knew better, and the SADEs within the fleets and on Omnia were proving it.
* * * * *
While Trobath and Mist Monitor toured the enclaves, Lydia, Othello, and Vyztram dealt with the complexities of the Arcus and the drone module. The drones had landed aboard the Elvian ship and mated with their cradles.
SADEs carefully measured several drones to confirm that they rested above the cradles. The heights were the same as discovered on the asteroid.
Othello commented to the other SADEs.