“Humans love to touch things. It is part of how they bond with their world.”
Nashira’s eyes widened. On their planet touching the wrong thing could mean death. Kraz were not a tactile species.
“It won’t hurt you. It’s a holo.” Raan tried to sound encouraging.
Pursing their lips, Nashira nodded and changed the settings on the holo, making it solid. The bonsai image would react as the computer thought it should when touched. Then Nashira pulled off one of their gloves, revealing translucent orange skin and squat fingers.
They hesitantly brushed their fingers across the top of the bonsai before their eyes widened again. “This is not unpleasant.”
Raan inclined his head. “I will leave you to it.”
Nashira nodded absently, studying the plant and running their hand through the small branches.
Raan had no idea if that was what a Human would do with a bonsai, but as long as it kept Nashira happy, that was what mattered.
Raan studied his crew. They stood assembled on the bridge for their final Human lesson. He had saved the hardest for last. Nashira carried the bonsai holo everywhere and had the others petting it, too. Kaj cooed to the engines constantly—admittedly they also ran smoother than normal—and Qasalas … Raan would never get all the tawny fur off of his jumpsuit. More amazingly, they were all getting along. That was almost unheard of.
“I’ve gathered you for the final lesson.”
They regarded him, excitement evident in their postures, dilated eyes, and scale color.
“This is the most vital lesson of all: the hug. It is said that Humans hug frequently. It may even be necessary for their survival as a species. For certain, it is how they seal their pack bonds.”
The others looked on eagerly. Raan prepared himself for the demonstration.
“Nashira, I’m going to put my arms around you. This is a hug.”
Nashira took a step backward before glancing at the bonsai holo. They inhaled deeply before setting the holo down.
Raan stepped forward and put his arms around Nashira, careful not to bump his large cranium on their clear-plas helmet. He squeezed gently.
“Now you do the same.” He kept his arms around Nashira.
After a brief hesitation, they finally returned the gesture.
“This is a very vulnerable position,” Qasalas pointed out.
“Yes. It is a demonstration of the trust in a pack bond,” Raan replied. He released Nashira and stepped back. They looked thoughtful.
“Now you all try,” he ordered.
The others hesitantly embraced one another. Qasalas went so far as to rub her cheek against her crewmates while hugging them.
Raan did his best not to brush away the fur she left, lest he offend her and ruin the lesson.
Once everyone had practiced the hug with each other, Raan inclined his head in satisfaction. “You have all done well. Practice this, and everything else you have learned, and we will find the Humans! Once we have mastered hugging, there is also something called a group hug. We will practice when you are more comfortable with a simple hug.
The others shared glances before turning their attention back to Raan.
“We arrive at the Cignus Two tomorrow at 0800 standard.”
“And the Humans will lead the way against the Conquerors!” Kaj said, shoulder scales turning pink in triumph. Qasalas purred happily and Nashira picked up their bonsai holo and passed it around for everyone to touch.
Raan settled into the captain’s chair. His plan was coming together nicely.
The habitat domes on Cignus Two were similar to the ones his own people lived in. The Humans seemed to require the same amenities—beds, chairs, hydroponics—but all on a different scale than Raan’s people. He shivered and wrung his hands, the strange almost-right proportions making him wish for home.
Qasalas, Nashira, and Kaj moved about, touching, cooing at, and rubbing against everything that had been left behind as they imagined Humans would. Raan doubted Humans took it to the extreme his crew did, but he wasn’t about to discourage them.
Nashira called everyone into one of the domes. “It looks like they grew food here,” they said. “The next room over looks important, too. It is heavily decorated.”
They all went into the indicated dome and ran their hands and claws over the surfaces.
“They like this blue color,” Kaj said looking at a painting on the wall.
“Though not the same color as our sky, it is a sky,” Qasalas said. “See, these are strangely colored trees. What if their sun is a different color than ours? Perhaps they would look for a world with a similar sun.”
“What kind of sun?” Kaj asked. “Can you tell?”
“From the spectrum of the lights in the domes and the clues from the painting …” Nashira trailed off, punching data into their wrist band. “Yes. Yellow. Their sun is yellow.”
“They like trees.” Qasalas touched the painting again. “I’ve seen other pictures with trees and mountains. They must like worlds like mine.”
“We require a yellow sun with a planet in the vegetation zone like yours,” Nashira mumbled as they put in more data. “We have three possibilities within a reasonable distance of our location. However, we do not have time to search all three. We must think like them. Where would they choose to go?”
Raan let them work. His people hadn’t considered the problem from this perspective, and he found himself agreeing with his crew’s logic. The decision to include the others was wise.
“They probably had surveys, and Tian Three has reasonably docile animal life. Humans could pet them. They went to that world,” Kaj finally said.
The others agreed at once.
“Are you certain?” Raan asked.
“Yes. Along with fuzzy animals to pet, this world has trees and water and many pleasing surfaces. Siran Two and Helos Four are not as advanced. While they contain living things, the life is slime molds and not petable,” Nashira said.
Raan could think of many reasons why the last two worlds would have been preferable, but he kept that to himself. “When were those surveys completed?”
“Many years before humans occupied this colony,” Nashira said after checking the data.
“If you are certain, we shall go there.” Raan hoped his crew was correct, but it was a world his people had not searched.
“We are certain it is what the Humans would do,” Qasalas said.
“I will go prepare the coordinates. Take one last look around and meet back at the ship in thirty standard minutes.
“I should like to pet a real plant,” Raan overheard Nashira saying as he left.
Kaj gave a gravely laugh. “The Humans will want to pet Qasalas. She is furry.”
Qasalas rumbled, “Then I will pet them back.”
Raan shook his head. He hoped his teachings hadn’t gone too far.
“Hugs! This victory calls for hugs,” Kaj was saying as Raan passed out of hearing distance. He harrumphed.
The crew had grown increasingly excited over the last few weeks of travel, coming up with questions to ask the Humans beyond how to defeat the Conquerors. They hoped the translators everyone used would cope with the Humans’ language, or that the Humans had some exposure to one form or another of the trade language that many of the starfaring races had developed. Raan suspected they would have a way to communicate.
Another concern was disease transmission, but they had taken all the standard precautions developed over millennia of star travel, and that was rarely an issue so long as protocols were followed.
The four of them stood on the bridge as Qasalas disengaged the ring field and they dropped into normal space. Deceleration would take a day, but they could take readings immediately. Nashira consulted their computers and studied the readings. Kaj came over behind them while Qasalas continued to pilot.
“There are life readings consistent with the last survey.” Nashira fell silent, studying the readouts.
“An
d?” Kaj finally asked.
Raan felt his circulation rate rise in anticipation.
“There are structures that have resemblance to the pictures we observed on Cignus Two. The computers detect life signals consistent with what we know of Humans,” said Nashira.
They all cheered, even Raan.
“You have all done very well,” Raan said. “We must prepare ourselves. It would be most helpful if we can convince one of them to return with us.”
“Do you think one of them would?” Qasalas’s fur rippled in excitement.
“I hope so, for all our sakes,” Raan said.
Qasalas set the ship down gently. Already, bipedal creatures that resembled the few known images of Humans were coming out of the buildings and gathering near the ship. The structures looked simple, but signs of advanced tech showed here and there: electric lights, powered vehicles, and other modern conveniences similar to what Raan’s own people might use. The settlement was built in a flat area near a water source and one of the many forests.
Raan had only been on a non-artificial world once and he hadn’t enjoyed the experience. As the hatch opened, similar sensations assaulted him: moist air, smells, noise, air that moved on its own. He shuddered, but they needed a Human, so he hid his distaste.
Qasalas, Nashira, and Kaj had already descended the ramp so he joined them.
The group of humans who stared back at his crew wore simple plain clothing though their head fur—hair if he remembered correctly—and skin tones varied considerably. He thought he could pick out different genders and thought perhaps the very short were the Humans’ young. It could be so hard to tell with aliens sometimes. The Kraz, for example, were much taller when they formed, pressed to their adult size by the atmosphere.
Realizing his crew waited for him, Raan stepped forward and held out his hands in a universal gesture for peace; fingers splayed, palms up to show empty hands.
After a moment a Human with darker skin and long, gray hair stepped forward. The human used a stick to assist in their walking and they hooked it over their arm and repeated the gesture. “Hello.”
The translators worked!
“Hello,” Raan replied. “We have come for your aid.”
This caused a stir as several of the taller Humans stepped in front of the shorter ones.
“Help. We have come for your help.” What had the translator told them?
“Oh,” the Human who had greeted them said, “Of course. Welcome.”
His crew exchanged glances. Kaj’s shoulder scales went the brightest pink Raan had ever seen. He went forward, hands out. When the Human didn’t back off he wrapped the Human in a hug.
Raan’s eyes widened. The Humans stirred again but the one being hugged laughed after a moment and hugged Kaj back.
“It is nice to meet such friendly strangers,” the Human said.
Nashira and Qasalas stepped forward as well and all gave hugs.
“Come, we must know what help it is you seek. We will go to the meeting hall.”
Getting their help couldn’t be that easy? Could it?
Bewildered, Raan followed the others. Small Humans ran up and touched Qasalas, laughing. She hugged them as well. This made the small ones laugh even more and rush about touching and hugging everyone. Raan endured the contact. Perhaps Humans did touch as much as his crew seemed to think. No matter, soon they would be back on their safe, and sterile, ship; hopefully with a Human along for the ride.
“I am Sita, an elder of our colony.”
“Raan, captain of this mission, Kaj our engineer, Qasalas who is our pilot and our security, and Nashira who is our scientist,” Raan introduced everyone.
“It is a pleasure to meet you all. What brings you to our world? You mentioned you need assistance?” Sita smiled.
Raan was starting to think Sita was one of the Human females. The one that sat next to her seemed to be male. A small furry creature that might have been a distant relative of Qasalas sat on his lap and rumbled.
The creature had excited his crew, especially as the Human did indeed pet it. Apparently, his sources were correct. Humans did touch everything.
“The Conquerors have returned. You are the only species who have defeated them. We want your secret, and your help to push them away from our worlds,” Raan said.
The Humans shared glances before Sita spoke. “That was a long time ago and none here but myself remember those times. I was a young officer in the fleet. I will tell you all that I know.”
“Perhaps you would come with us?” Raan almost held his breath.
She conferred quietly with the man holding the purring mammal before answering. “Yes, that would be acceptable. I presume you will return me once the conflict is over?”
Raan inclined his head. “Of course. We have much to learn from each other but we would not keep you longer than necessary.”
She put her hands together in front of her. “I haven’t been to space in many years. I look forward to it. Is tomorrow soon enough? Would you do us the honor of accepting our hospitality tonight?”
Raan inclined his head again. “It would be our honor.”
Qasalas and Nashira whispered together before seeming to gain some resolve.
“Can we touch the creature?” Qasalas pointed to the small mammal.
Nashira spoke up, “And I should very much like to touch a bonsai. Do you have one?”
Sita’s smile widened. “Yes, of course.”
Sita settled in quickly, obviously used to shipboard life. Her walking stick didn’t seem to slow her down and she happily answered any questions the others posed her. Raan was amazed at the change in his crew over the weeks together. No arguments, no disputes, only friendliness. The small bonsai plants Sita had brought the entire crew had gone a long way toward winning them over and convincing them that his teachings had been correct.
They were so excited to learn more from Sita, they overlooked some of the small details, such as how she didn’t actually touch everything like his crew had begun to do. It seemed only the children had to experience the world that way.
From his observations during the evening he had spent with the humans, they also didn’t seem to hug as much as the crew had taken to. He would never get Qasalas’s hair off of his jumpsuit, but it was a small price to pay for freedom.
He leaned over the computer and input new coordinates. Soon this would all be over.
Raan sat in the captain’s chair studying the distorted view of space through the ring field when the others came onto the bridge.
“We noticed that the coordinates were wrong,” Qasalas said.
“We aren’t going back to our system yet,” Raan answered. It was early to reveal the final phase of his people’s plan but they would need to know soon enough.
“Why?” Kaj asked, scales shifting to an agitated black.
“We made a deal with the Conquerors. They will leave our system alone in return for a Human. That’s why we needed to find them.”
The others traded glances before stepping in front of Sita. Perhaps he had done his job too well.
“The Humans know how to defeat the Conquerors,” Nashira said.
“Yes, but this way leads to a peaceful solution.”
“For how long?” Qasalas growled. “They will want our worlds eventually. Better to fight them off so they don’t ever return.”
He had done his job too well. He thought quickly. “How many of your spawn will never see their first snow trek if war comes to our system?” Raan looked at Kaj.
The Bihamie’s scales flashed to dark purple and he rumbled menacingly.
“We can stop this without a fight,” Raan said. “Nashira, your people will fall first in a fight. Your suits are vulnerable in a way the Conquerors will exploit without mercy.”
The Kraz stepped back and crossed their arms over their chest, shoulders hunched.
“And Qasalas, the Wessen world will be their prize. Strongly in the vegetation zone, they’ll take it f
rom your people and strip it of resources until they’ve used it up, as they do with any other planet they come across. We have to protect our system. Let others fight off the Conquerors. We can preserve our ways of life without the devastation of war.”
Qasalas flexed her fingers, splaying claws. Growling softly, the Wesson looked ready to fight.
“We can’t let the Conquerors have our worlds,” Kaj snarled.
“You can’t stop them,” Raan said.
Nashira shivered. “We will stay hidden in our world. They can not take our resources, our planet is too inhospitable.”
“They will enslave you through your weakness,” Qasalas said, glaring at Nashira. “Then they will get your resources as well as ours.”
Raan smiled. His words had broken their fragile new ways and made them revert to their old, argumentative selves. He hadn’t done his job too well after all. Excellent.
Sita stepped forward and carefully took Qasalas’s and Kaj’s clenched hands. “If my life will save all of yours …” The others stopped arguing over whose species would fall first and looked at Sita. “I will go.” Sita’s shoulders tensed and Raan guessed she wasn’t happy about the idea.
He hadn’t expected her to go willingly.
The others remained quiet for a moment longer, as if struggling with something.
Raan was about to speak and further the disruption when Nashira interrupted him.
“No!” Nashira said.
As if they’d rehearsed the maneuver, his crew all stepped closer and put their arms over each others shoulders.
Raan stared. Were they actually …? They were! He never thought he’d see the day such a disparate group of beings would get along—let alone group hug.
The four stared at him. “Even if we were willing to give up one of our pack …” Nashira said.
“Which we’re not,” Qasalas interjected.
“It’s not what a Human would do,” Kaj finished.
“Besides,” Qasalas said, “the Conquerors will come back, and next time they’ll want more, and more, until we are nothing but their slaves. Better to fight, and perhaps die, than live like that.”
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