by S. H. Jucha
“When do we go?” Jessie asked.
“Do you think the Colony will wait while you deliberate?” Tacticnok asked rhetorically.
“Devon, Aurelia, I need you in Triton’s dome,” Harbour directed. “You haven’t much time to make use of an empty dome. Focus on learning what you can.”
“And when the projects begin?” Aurelia asked.
“Make friends,” Harbour replied and tapped her temple.
Aurelia smiled and winked in reply. An empath could always make friends, especially among aliens.
“Devon, record as much of the construction techniques as you’re able,” Jessie said. “There’s much we need to learn.”
“Your citizens are repaired, Envoy,” Tacticnok pronounced. “They’ve been informed of your presence.”
“Wonderful,” Harbour said, quickly gaining her feet.
Tacticnok flashed her teeth. She indicated a staff member. “She will lead you, Envoy. We can speak later.”
The Pyreans followed the staff member, and Jaktook and Mangoth remained behind.
Tacticnok regarded her advisor and the Crocian.
“This conversation is to remain private,” Tacticnok ordered sternly. “While I trust the envoy and her advisor, the Pyreans are a young race and not fully accomplished in the intricate ways of the alliance. You were part of the exploration and council meeting. Do the Pyreans exaggerate the dangers of the Colony’s expansion? If not, did the envoy misrepresent the council’s reaction?”
Mangoth rumbled in protest, and Jaktook refrained from bristling.
Tacticnok ignored their emotional responses. She’d expected them. As the Jatouche ruler, it was her duty to ensure the accuracy of the circumstances surrounding the Colony and the Tsargit.
“Your Excellency,” Jaktook replied, as evenly as he could. “In my estimation, both have been mischaracterized by the explorers and, specifically, the envoy. I believe the Colony has the potential to overtake the alliance, and I believe the primary reason for this will be the failure of the Tsargit to act.”
Mangoth rumbled in satisfaction. “For a moment, my little friend, you had me worried,” he said.
Addressing Tacticnok, Mangoth added, “It would be helpful, Your Excellency, for you to know that we were made privy to the machinations of certain individuals who aim to replace Councilor Ulgart and his supporters. The goal is to make the council more active in benefit of the membership.”
“That’s interesting,” Tacticnok said. “How soon could this happen?”
“Our source estimates as many as one hundred seventy-five annuals,” Jaktook replied.
It was Tacticnok’s turn to be caught speechless and with her mouth hanging open.
“You can see the problem, Your Excellency,” Jaktook said. “The Colony has expanded from a single intrusion dome that we witnessed on our first exploration to a total of fourteen domes merely because we discovered their activities.”
“Imagine, Your Excellency, what our circumstances might be in the course of time, if the Pyreans had never offered your father, His Excellency Rictook, their services to explore the domes,” Mangoth added.
That thought struck home for Tacticnok. It was a remarkable set of coincidences. It began with the invasion of Rissness by the Gasnarians, the original occupants of the Triton dome, and later, the Pyreans’ activation of the damaged dome. She was amazed at the numerous steps that had to align to arrive at the present day.
* * * *
The Pyreans entered a large dorm room, which was filled with their repaired citizens. Cheering broke out among the residents at the sight of Harbour and Jessie.
Harbour and Aurelia spread their emotional cheer across the room, and it was enthusiastically reciprocated.
Humorously, nineteen of the twenty rehabilitated anxiously lined up to show off their rejuvenated limbs and clear skin.
Last to step forward was Imian, Idrian Tuttle’s son. He was the one individual who JOS medical staff thought wouldn’t survive the passage to Triton and Rissness, due to his severe burns.
As Imian slowly approached Harbour, he ducked his head. “I don’t deserve what’s been done for me,” he said quietly.
“Yes, you do,” Harbour replied.
“No, I don’t,” Imian objected. “I’ve spent my short life voicing slurs against spacers, stationers, and empaths. I’ve mistreated my father’s help, many of whom are stationers. Worse, I’ve done nothing positive with my life. Then when I act the fool and nearly immolate myself, I’m saved by spacers, stationers, empaths, and aliens. That’s ironic, don’t you think?”
“What will you say about us, Imian, when you return downside?” Jessie asked in an accusatory tone.
“I understand the way you feel, Advisor Cinders,” Imian replied. “If I were you, I would doubt my sincerity. I admit it will be difficult, and I’ll probably lose my friends … or the ones I call friends.”
“If you do stay true to how you feel now, consider coming topside to the JOS,” Jessie suggested.
“Or living on the Belle,” Harbour added.
“I could hear my father now. ‘You want to live where?’” Imian said, chuckling nervously. “Besides, what would I do? I don’t have any training.”
Harbour could sense the conflicting emotions clashing inside Imian. She focused her power on him, swept away his negative feelings, and reinforced his hope.
Through a gentle smile, Imian asked, “How did I ever think poorly of empaths?”
“It’s what you were taught, Imian,” Jessie allowed. “You can’t be blamed for that.”
Harbour addressed the entire group. “Devon and Aurelia are returning to Triton,” she said. “You’ll journey with them, and they’ll contact the Belle for your transport. Pack your duffels.”
Harbour spoke privately to Aurelia and Devon. “Jessie and I should return to Triton within three weeks. If we’re not there by then and the Belle’s arrived, load these twenty and the medical equipment that accompanied them and have Captain Bassiter deliver them to the JOS.”
“Understood,” Aurelia replied.
“We’ll leave you two to take care of them,” Harbour said. She hugged the younger couple. Then Jessie and she made their way back to the royal apartments to speak to Tacticnok and the other two explorers.
“I can’t journey with you to Crocia,” Tacticnok said to Harbour and Jessie. “I’ve delayed my return to Na-Tikkook for too long. What’s your general plan, Envoy?”
“I don’t have one,” Harbour replied. “I’m feeling my way through this. I do know we can’t be passive about the Colony. If we were to behave that way, then we’d be dooming our races.”
“I’ve given Jaktook some instructions and a certain amount of leeway to communicate in my stead,” Tacticnok said. “That should aid your discussions with the Norloth.”
“Have you met the Norloth?” Jessie asked.
Tacticnok and Jaktook chittered in amusement.
“Mangoth and his lost sibling, Hangor, are the only two Crocians I’ve ever spoken to in my capacity as ruler and ruler’s daughter,” Tacticnok admitted.
Jessie chuckled, laid a hand on Mangoth’s muscular, scaly shoulder, and said, “But they’re such easy-going, lovable individuals.”
As if to emphasize Jessie’s remark, Mangoth opened his maw and exposed rows of blunt, conical teeth. It was in imitation of a smile, and it did nothing to help his case.
“Eat with me,” Tacticnok requested. “Then rest and leave for Crocia on the next cycle.”
* * * *
On the following cycle, staff tapped lightly on Jessie and Harbour’s door.
Harbour’s eyes popped open and recognized the noise that had woken her. She was sprawled across Jessie.
“You awake?” Harbour murmured.
“For a while,” Jessie replied. “I’ve been enjoying the view,” he added, chuckling.
Harbour felt the rumble of his voice through the ear pressed against his chest. Her head was lightly boun
ced by Jessie’s laughter. She sat up and relished Jessie’s expression and the emotions pouring off him.
“Time to go,” Harbour said, bending to kiss Jessie. Their lips lingered. When Jessie began exploring with his mouth and hands, Harbour pulled back, laughed, and swatted him. “Time to go,” she repeated and climbed out of bed.
After a quick meal, the four explorers were on a shuttle to Rissness.
Mangoth explained that he’d sent a message via cube to the Crocian Norloth. “It’s uncertain whether the Norloth is on Crocia or the station,” he said.
“Does every alliance race have a station near its dome?” Jessie asked. He meant it as a remark against the more fortunate races, but that subtlety was lost on Mangoth.
“Most have more than one station near their dome,” the Crocian replied, “and those who do often have many stations throughout their system to support transport and mining.”
Arriving at Rissness, the team journeyed to the Crocian moon, Dantagar. It was a much shorter journey than the Pyreans expected.
Mangoth’s welcome in the Dantagar dome was an awesome sight and sound for the other three explorers. He was greeted as a hero. The Crocians boomed and rumbled in Mangoth’s honor. Their celebration was cut short, when Mangoth raised his arms.
“I accept your praise on behalf of my clutch mate, Hangor of the Logar,” Mangoth said. “We lament his passing, but we celebrate his courage.” He’d ended his announcement by accenting the last portion of his statement in a raised voice.
The Crocians responded even louder and more raucous than the first time.
Harbour wanted to say something to Jessie, but she doubted she’d be heard over the horrendous clamor.
Mangoth raised his arms again to request quiet.
Even journeyers stopped to listen.
“You’re aware that the Pyreans lost Dillon Shaver on their first exploration,” Mangoth reminded his fellow citizens. “Tonight, when you praise the memory of Hangor, add your thoughts for Tracy Shaver, Dillon’s sibling. Hangor and she journey together now.”
“Pyreans,” a massive Crocian called out. His booming voice filled the dome, and others joined him in a chant, repeating the humans’ name over and over again.
When the assembled Crocians grew quiet, Harbour said to them, “Our explorations have been successful because of the cooperation among Pyreans, Jatouche, and Crocians. Without this commitment to discover the truth, we would be unaware of the dangers that face us. In time, you’ll learn what we’ve found. For now, know that we’re honored by your praise. It belongs to our three races.”
The Crocians took up the chant of explorers, as the foursome stepped off the platform and made their way to the ramp.
Harbour and Jessie found Jaktook walking closely between them. They eyed the escort of huge Crocians that accompanied them through the exit tunnel. It was easily understandable why Jaktook was exercising caution to stay out of the way of the lumbering bodies.
A Crocian, who wore an ornate sheath, spoke to the explorers. “I’ve been informed that the Norloth is in session on Dantagar Station. The shuttle ride will be short,” he said.
“I’m sorry we won’t be able to visit your home world,” Jessie said.
Mangoth laughed. “Jessie, the only thing that’s magnificent about my home world is its citizens. Your experience on my planet would be limited to what you could see through the armored bubble of an aero-touring vehicle.”
“Predators?” Harbour inquired.
“On Crocia, nearly every creature is a predator of one kind or the other,” the Crocian in the sheath remarked.
As they were told to expect, the shuttle ride was short, and the explorers traveled through the station’s extensive length to reach a suite that had been prepared for them. Staff served them a meal and then left them in peace.
“The Norloth is meeting with representatives from significant engineering organizations,” Mangoth said. “Their availability is limited, but they’ve agreed to meet with us late on the following cycle.”
“Your supreme body is certainly more accommodating than the Tsargit council,” Jaktook commented.
“What will you say to the Norloth, Envoy?” Mangoth asked.
“Right now, I’m looking for ideas and the possibility of cooperation,” Harbour replied.
-22-
Norloth
Whereas the meeting with the Tsargit’s council had been a formal setting compounded by arrogant attitudes, the Norloth, the Crocian’s supreme body, met the explorers in a relaxed and cordial atmosphere. However, the greetings were formal, as protocol demanded.
“Envoy Harbour of the Pyreans, I’m Pantar of the Hagetha, and I’m the Norloth’s senior member.”
Harbour introduced herself and her team, and then Pantar reciprocated. The two other members of the Norloth were Mortara of the Gortha and Gartora of the Borthar.
Jessie had a keen idea how Jaktook felt in Mangoth’s company. The explorers were led to believe that the Crocian’s stature was considerable, but he was dwarfed by the members of the Norloth. Each was more than a head taller and carried greater girth. Jessie’s head turning to regard Mangoth and the Norloth produced a rumbling from Mangoth.
When Pantar turned his snout in Mangoth’s direction, the explorer said, “My friend, Advisor Cinders, questions my claim to magnificence in the face of you three, Pantar of the Hagetha.”
Jessie was caught off guard. He didn’t expect to be outed by Mangoth, but the Norloth individuals weren’t disturbed. Instead, they rumbled in amusement.
“Our species is long-lived, Advisor Cinders,” Pantar explained. “And we continue to grow for much of our lives. The eldest of us return to Crocia to live out our time in solitude. By that time in our lives, we needn’t fear the predators of our home world. It’s a good arrangement. In the final annuals of our lives, we exist in a simple manner similar to the way we behaved before we were uplifted.”
“Mangoth is relatively young,” Mortara added. “Even so, at his age, he already exhibits signs of becoming one of the largest of our kind.”
“How long does your species live?” Harbour asked.
“We’re productive for eighty to ninety annuals,” Gartora replied. “We might be advisors or members of the Norloth for another twenty to thirty annuals. Thereafter, our immense size and base urges necessitate we return to Crocia.”
“And how long on Crocia?” Jaktook asked.
“That question, coming from other than Mangoth’s companions, would be considered indelicate,” Pantar replied. “The truth is that’s hard to know. There is intermittent contact with new retirees. However, our kind slowly loses the greater mental faculties. We return to a predatory state and disappear into the broad wetlands.”
“We’ve discovered the remains of many of these dorgatha, as they’re called,” Mortara said, continuing the explanation. “By their size, we estimate that they lived an additional forty to fifty annuals.”
“No wonder you didn’t recommend a visit to Crocia,” Jessie said to Mangoth, which produced booming laughter from the Crocians.
“Other races don’t visit our home world,” Gartora declared, “and our young can’t wait to leave.”
“Come, sit,” Pantar invited. “Let’s speak of the reason for your visit, Envoy.”
Harbour requested Jaktook to display his exploration data, and the Jatouche worked with an administrator to engage the Crocian system.
The Norloth was enthralled by the number of insectoids that littered the domes’ decks. At different times, they eyed Mangoth, Jaktook, and the Pyreans.
When the review was completed, Mortara said, “We saw two non-insectoid bodies. We gave permission for Hangor of the Logar to travel with you.”
“Hangor and Tracy Shaver, a Pyrean, are gone,” Harbour replied. “They were killed by insectoid tube weapons.”
“Our condolences, Mangoth, on the loss of your clutch mate,” Pantar said solemnly. “And to you, Envoy, for the death of your
citizen.”
Mangoth rumbled in lament, and Harbour thanked Pantar for his consideration.
“So, you’ve explored and discovered that the Colony hasn’t been content with usurping one dome,” Pantar commented. He spoke as if he was reciting a mundane fact, but his eyes were hard, as they focused on Harbour.
“The Colony occupies two more domes in a continuous path from the dome we called alpha,” Harbour replied, “and eleven more domes adjunct to those three.”
“A clear indication of the Colony’s reaction to being discovered,” Gartora mused. “What do you expect their reactions to be now?”
The explorers were stunned by the question. It was completely opposite to the Tsargit council’s reaction to the team’s presentation. Where the council couldn’t be bothered with questions about the future, this Crocian threesome had distilled the events to their essence and requested hypotheses about the future.
“For years, I was an officer on a mining ship and then a captain and then an owner,” Jessie said. “Aboard our two stations, my crews constantly encountered the machinations of criminals. Security endeavored to bring these law breakers to justice, but I watched their every improvement in techniques and equipment be foiled by the inventiveness of the criminals.”
“And you think of the Colony as criminals,” Mortara postulated.
“As super criminals,” Jessie replied. “I think their response to our first incursion was extraordinary. Now you can imagine what they’re thinking after experiencing a second evasion against the domes they’ve claimed. Worse, they must be incensed that they couldn’t capture or kill all of us.”
“And we were few in numbers,” Jaktook added. “If not size,” he murmured.
“But you held your own, Jatouche,” Pantar said, nodding his snout in appreciation.
“If I were the Colony, I’d be seeking a means of ensuring the protection of the domes that I occupied,” Jessie mused. “Also, I’d expand my territory as quickly as I could … claim domes before others could.”
“Easier to defend a dome than attack one through a gate,” Gartora agreed.