by B R Flores
The Ruks grew tired of her and bred her less often. But when they did, it was vile and sadistic. I overheard some of the Ruks talking before the attack. It sounded to me like they were planning on using Connie and Tilly as a trade. Several of the Ruks spoke of a Ryquat Captain conspiring with them to invade Zaurak and Palatu. The Ruks obey and honor this Ryquat as if he were a Ukaru. A Gystfin called Myosis was contracted by the Ryquat Captain to kill you and a Trekachaw called Azha. Myosis’s price was to watch Connie being bred by the Ruks in lieu of payment. He tried to negotiate for Tilly, but the Ukaru warned him never to ask again. I was present in a view container as the Ukaru’s witness to insure no one killed Connie. During the breeding, Myosis took his own pleasure as the Ruks took turns forcing themselves upon her. When the Ruks finished, they threw Connie to the floor and ordered her to crawl on her hands and knees across the room. When she tried to stand up, they’d laugh and push her down demanding she kneel before them and kiss their genitals. Myosis took great joy in watching and requested permission to punish the wife of Victis. A Ruk denied Myosis’s request, reminding him that a Gystfin is not worthy of touching a female Ryquat. Myosis waited until the Ruks left, but I was still there. That monster hit Connie in the face so hard he knocked out most of her front teeth.
I thought he had killed her, there was so much blood. The Ukaru was livid when I told him what Myosis did. The Ukaru warned Myosis that he’d feel his wrath if he ever disobeyed him again. Not more than a day before the Umduls raided this ship, the Ukaru and Myosis took a shuttle to rendezvous with the Ryquat Captain. Lucky for me, the Crozins never consider me a threat. If they knew what I know, I’d be dead.”
“There are no words to express my gratitude. I am forever in your debt. We need to discuss where you, Tilly, and Connie can live and not be in danger.”
Pax and Pify had been waiting quietly inside the room, listening to Marilyn. Pify snorted and waddled over to Victis, “Pax confirm, plan good for all. Tilly likes Umduls, Marilyn too, right?”
“Yes, Captain Pify, I like Umduls,” smiled Marilyn.
“Entertain, Umduls Opus best for all. Toogus superior, Pax agrees perfect for Connie. Pax on battleship, shall we agree twice on important future. Toogus escort family on ships you plucked from Crozin and Gors. Soon depart for Opus to start this new and better life. Umdul engineers gussy-up birds and expel stink. Friction Energy, we do, then old ships return new. My gifts Captain Victis for war and victories to come.”
“What can I say?” Victis agreed.
“All but you knew plan to come,” replied Pify.
“OK then, it’s a plan my old friend. May I ask, what is Friction Energy?”
“Should you? Friction Energy future infinity. Umduls comprehend to assimilate into new. Raw materials obsolete, not important Umduls destiny to be.”
“When did the Umduls discover Friction Energy?” Victis asked.
“Secret till sure we were. Secret for now. Secret of Umduls till secret no more. This I will tell. Phera is clever, has her ways. Shows me ways to better self. You too, want to know? Go now, awaits dwell-8, mezzanine zone.”
“She has her own living quarters on your ship?” Victis looked surprised.
“Close we are as one. Phera makes you call old salt, happy.” Cpt. Pify smiled wide showing his big white teeth and Victis couldn’t help but notice a twinkle in his eye.
“NOOO, you and Phera?” Victis gawked.
“Not so strange, are we? Care for each other, me and Phera. I agree knowledge you need. Phera teach old salt many new ways. Smart you are to learn from Phera, fool if not. Teach communication possible for Ryquat wife beyond the walls of fear. Phera show you trick or two same for me.”
“I’m not sure what you just said, but I trust you, Pify,” laughed Victis.
“Phera waits, otherwise you lose. Learn skills, if not, soon Toogus ship leave with regrets,” said Pify.
Victis turned into energy and circled the ship before landing outside dwell-8. He was having second thoughts about what he was getting himself into. Too late, Phera was buzzing in energy next to him.
“Are you coming in or what?” Phera asked.
Victis flew through the door and morphed into body form. Phera landed far too close for comfort and morphed into body form standing face to face.
“Why are your stripes blue? Are you sick?” Phera asked.
“No, Pify told me to meet you. I’m a little confused, that’s all,” replied Victis.
“Well, allow me to clear thing up for you. Pify and I have owaried, married or whatever you want to call it. We are committed to each other,” replied Phera.
“I know bonding with Pify is impossible, Phera. I’m not in the mood for games,” snapped Victis.
“Hear me out before you give me grief. I tried to bond with Pify the normal way and yes, you’re right it was impossible. There are other ways, if you want to know. We experimented and discovered that when I enter his body while in bonding energy, I can make him feel like we do when Quizans or Trekachaws bond.”
“Do you feel anything?” Victis asked.
“Nothing. Pify makes me happy in other ways. He gives me power and status among the Umduls that is greater than any bonding. Umduls do not restrict their mates from the pleasure of others. What they do demand is a mate they can trust.”
“I thought being faithful was part of trust,” Victis said, doubtful.
“Umduls have many partners and wives. They do not think the way Ryquats do. None of that is important. What is important is this… when I enter his brain, I can communicate with his thoughts. We talk to each other when I’m inside of him,” explained Phera.
“You two talk while bonding?” Victis asked.
“No. When I enter his body to talk, I do not stimulate his libido. I concentrate my energy in his left frontal lobe and left temporal lobe. If you learn this skill, it would be possible for you to enter Connie’s brain and speak to her without fear and chaos.”
“How do you do it?” Victis asked.
“If you’ll allow me, I’ll show you how,” replied Phera.
“Does Pify know what we’re doing?”
“This was Pify’s idea,” assured Phera.
“Alright then, show me how.”
“Do not turn into energy. I must enter you while you’re in body form,” instructed Phera.
Phera turned into white energy and entered his body.
“Can you hear me?” Phera asked.
“Yes,” replied Victis.
“You know Victis, I can hear your thoughts. So, you find me hard to resist? Victis, you have a dirty, dirty mind,” teased Phera.
“Stop reading my mind, Phera. Just tell me how to do this,” Victis said embarrassed.
“Ha, I knew you wanted me. Don’t be so serious, I’m just having some fun with you. Did you feel me when I entered your brain?”
“Yes, you felt warm,” said Victis.
“I’m leaving your body now.”
Phera slipped out of his mind, leaving behind a cold rush. Victis hadn’t realized that his eyes were closed until she told him to open them.
“Are you alright?” Phera asked.
“I’m not sure. That was exhilarating. Phera you are… well, you are hard to forget,” admitted Victis.
“That I am. Would you like to enter me?”
“I’m having a hard time not thinking about, well, you know,” Victis confessed.
“Oh, flatter me some more. I can take care of that desire, too.”
“Do I enter your brain?” Victis asked.
“That is exactly what you do, from the top of my head. It’s easier that way. Listen for my voice, then follow it until you can hear me clearly. Don’t be afraid of hurting me; I’ll tell you how to do that later.”
“Well, that’s disturbing. Are you going to hurt me?” Victis asked concerned.
“No silly. Just go with it.”
“Here goes nothing,” replied Victis.
He turned into
white energy and entered Phera through the top of her head.
“Hello Phera, can you hear me.” Victis heard a faint voice as if he were in a tunnel.
“Come towards my voice. Say something Victis, follow my voice,” advised Phera.
“I can hear you, Phera. Can you hear me better now?”
“Yes. Don’t move. You’re there,” replied Phera.
“This is so weird. If you hadn’t bonded with Pify, or whatever you’d call this, no one would’ve ever figured this out.”
“Told you it was incredible. Now you can talk to your wife. Are you ready for lesson two?”
“Yes,” replied Victis.
“Move towards the back of my brain and down almost to my spinal cord. There’s an area called the medulla and just above the medulla is the pons. That’s where I stimulate Pify’s libido. When you’re there, I will not be able to talk to you. Don’t stay there long, because you’ll get me excited. Move back up to where I can talk to you and I’ll let you know if you found my libido spot,” instructed Phera.
Victis couldn’t control his lust listening to Phera talk about her libido.
“Victis, you are a dirty Trekachaw. We need to concentrate. Stop thinking that way and move down.”
“This is killing me, I’ve never bonded as a Trekachaw. A little patience would be appreciated,” Victis said frustrated.
“Never? That’s too bad. You’re an attractive Trekachaw,” charmed Phera.
“Phera, that’s not helping,” questioning if he should continue and if she was seducing him for her own benefit.
Victis moved his energy to the lower part of Phera’s brain next to her spinal cord. He moved around, hoping he was in the correct area and then returned until he could hear her voice again.
“Did I do it?” asked Victis.
“Give me a minute. Ah yes, you found it. I’ve always done this to Pify, but I’ve never had it done to me. Do it again,” coaxed Phera.
“What about Pify?”
“Pify told me to have ou-dim-fa with you.”
“What is ou-dim-fa?” Victis asked.
“Umdul sex. Pify cares about both of us. He understands that we need ou-dim-fa. To share me is an act of love for him. Pify is very happy. Stop overthinking this. Umduls are not a one-partner ou-dim-fa species. They believe it’s healthy to have bonding relationships with whomever one desires, and I agree. No one is being betrayed,” said Phera losing her patience.
“Not true. I have a wife that I thought was dead, a daughter that I don’t know, and an ex-wife risking her life to spy for me. Oh yeah, and I’m about to have sex, ou-dim-fa, or whatever you call it with another Trekachaw whom I’ve lusted after ever since you became one. I’ve even betrayed myself. How arrogant, justifying my reckless decisions by convincing myself I’m always right. Who’s right? I feel guilty and responsible for an entire new species. What have I done?” Victis said in anger.
“Gag me, you sound just like Azha when he was on Palatu trying to save the Quizans. You did what you had to do. Victis, you saved the Quizans and most likely Earth. I don’t understand the Ryquats blatant dislike for us. Personally, I don’t care what they think. The Umduls have our backs, and I’m positive others in the Galaxy will, too. Vexy sounds like a Ryquat I’d like to meet. Your daughter will be fine, and your wife is a casualty that you had no control over. Don’t beat yourself up. Do what you must do and move on. Do you know why? Because you can make a difference for all of us,” replied Phera.
“What if I could arrange a Quizan merge with Connie before she’s transported to Opus?” Victis asked.
“Victis, who knows if you’ll ever find a Quizan willing to merge with her. I’ve asked Belton to help me find a Quizan for Pify. Zilch, nothing.”
“Why won’t a Quizan merge with Pify?” Victis asked.
“Between you and me, no one wants to be the first to merge with an Umdul. Look what happened when Myosis merged with a Gystfin. Making matters even worse, Pax spread a rumor that when Trekachaws die, their grey-death energy won’t ascend to Aeon Devotio.”
Victis nodded, “Pax told the truth. We don’t ascend.”
“Damn it, there’s no telling if another Quizan will ever merge knowing that. Pify is getting old, he needs to merge soon, or he’ll die.”
“How long does an Umdul live?” Victis asked.
“Around two-hundred years,” replied Phera.
“How old is Pify?”
“A hundred and eighty-one.”
“He still has time; someone will merge with him. Pify deserves to be a Trekachaw. Do you want me to ask Belton?”
“Don’t bother, he’s trying,” replied Phera.
“Phera, do you want me to find your spot again? No pressure, you’ve been very gracious. We can talk or not, whatever you’d like.”
“Yes and no. Let’s stop talking about sad things,” said Phera.
“Okay,” Victis was not sure what to say.
“Victis, this is what I’d like. Let’s bond the Trekachaw way.”
He felt her warm energy joining him in pure ecstasy. Victis could have stayed there forever. He was not strong enough to leave. Phera morphed into body form laying on the floor.
“Victis, come join me,” she whispered.
He floated next to her and morphed into body form.
“Do you think Pify would allow us to do this again?” Victis asked.
“Victis it’s up to me, not Pify.”
“I’m available anywhere and anytime,” replied Victis.
Phera laughed, “I’m sure this won’t be the last time.”
Victis and Phera lay on the floor for hours. They were surprised that no one came knocking at her door or requested her over the intercom. Pify probably ran interference for them.
“Before we leave Victis, I need to explain one more thing,” said Phera.
“All right.”
“The brain stem starts behind the medulla and pons, then continues down the back of the neck. I believe if we were to concentrate our energy in the brain stem, we could kill an alien by restricting their breathing, causing cerebral hypoxia death.”
“How do you know this?” Victis asked.
“My Ryquat-half, Tara, graduated from a medical academy before she became Special-Ops.”
“Shit, nothing about medical training was documented on your Ops background,” said Victis.
“I requested my medical training be expunged from my file before submitting a précis profile of qualifications required for a Special Ops position on your battleship.”
“Why?” Victis asked.
“You would’ve assigned me to Pax instead of Special-Ops.”
“You’re probably right. Did you ever think you’d be a Captain of your own battleship?”
“Not this soon. Did you ever think you’d be a Trekachaw?” Phera asked.
“Not in a million years.”
“I’m going to find Pify,” said Phera.
“Sounds good to me,” smiled Victis.
twenty seven
PECCAVI
THE Trekachaws protected the Quizans, allowing them to do what they did best… soak up the sun and bother no one. Belton was busy being King and liaison for those who visited Palatu. Deneb and Vious had grown restless and were anxious to leave upon Victis’s return. There was one small addition that needed the Captain’s approval. They had bonded in silver and were the proud parents of the first Trekachaw purebred. Vious insisted on addressing him by the Ryquat term, baby. Whereas, Deneb profusely protested wanting to call him a quiey. Tomato, Tomãto, he was the first. Eventually the baby was named after the Earth mission… Kigen.
Unlike a Ryquat baby, Kigen inherited the attributes of a Quiey, and walked within minutes after his silver-light morphed into body form. By the time he was a week old, Kigen had the dexterity and speed of his parents. Until now, Trekachaw eyes were yellow. Kigen’s eyes were as blue as Zaurak’ shimmering snow. It was anyone’s guess when the boy would reach maturity or his
life expectancy.
Kigen was exactly two weeks old and pestering them relentlessly to visit the ships in space. Bored to death, Vious and Deneb were happy to accommodate their son’s curiosity. Besides, they wanted Captain Pify and Pax to meet Kigen. Belton was invited but he declined, claiming he had many things to address before Victis returned. They were neither surprised nor insulted. Belton preferred to soak up the Targus sun all day on a flat boulder outside his cavern. Every night when the sun set, he’d socialize with his crony Quizan Soldiers in the courtyard. Belton preferred his life as a Quizan.
Kigen was impossible to control. They discovered a new skill that only their baby Trekachaw could perform. He was on the bridge one minute, and then gone the next. Panic ensued when he disappeared. Everyone searched high and low, even in outer space. It was Phera who first spotted two blue eyes following her as she walked past a control panel. The eyes faded when she stopped and then gradually disappeared as she moved towards them to get a closer look. The metal on the panel was slightly different, as if a thin layer of clear plastic was covering it. Phera opened and closed her eyes several times to test her own vision. She wasn’t sure what she’d seen, but whatever it was, had vanished. Maybe an extra pair of eyes could decipher the anomaly.
“Pify, take a look at this.” Phera pointed at the spot where she last saw the eyes. “Vious and Deneb should come over here and look at this. I saw blue eyes watching me, or at least I think they were,” Phera explained.
“Bridge navigation panel. Blue eyes not see. Not sure you are, ask me?”
“Pify, I saw something,” said Phera.
“Blue eyes strange, I go. Vious, maybe Deneb then we’ll see,” said Pify.
Pify waddled back to the bridge with Deneb and Vious trailing behind. Phera pointed to the spot where she first saw the blue eyes. “I think I saw them again. I swear there’s something there.”
As if in a trance, the four of them fixated on the spot where Phera had pointed. Not a word was said between them, not even a blink of an eye. The blue eyes appeared then flashed red. Phera jumped back and tripped over Deneb. Deneb moaned in pain and fell on her derriere. Vious stumbled over Deneb and hit his head on the rail and Pify yelled out, “Too funny, almost pee on self.”