by G. K. Scott
“Excuse me am I interrupting something?”
Jeuki looked up sharply seeing that Julia had opened the quarter doors. Emma didn’t get a chance to think as Jeuki suddenly let go off her. She hit the bed back first. Jeuki pulled up his clawed hands. “Rude ooman ever heard of knocking?” Julia folding her arms in annoyance. “You two really disgust me.” Lucy suddenly shoved past her. “Ignore her she’s in bitch mode today.” She waved her hand. “We are here to escort you to Oran’s office. I sent you the message this morning.” Emma sat up slightly. “Yeah I got it, my apologies I didn’t reply Jeuki was just showing me something.” Julia put a hand on her face. “Oh and wonder what that was! Oh wait let me think was it his peni…” She yelped as Lucy kicked her ankle full force. Lucy watched Julia limp away. “Show a little respect I like Jeuki and Emma. So does Leo who’ll be joining as shortly. And even though I don’t like him we are agreed on one thing. These two are nice and they don’t deserve the crap you’ve been putting them through at late.” She folded her arms. “Like that psychoanalysing test you did for one.”
Julia turned sharply. “You know the Iron Year rules, hitting other employees is forbidden.” Lucy grunted aloud. “Oh put a sock in it! You deserve it. That test you did was a breaking the rules! Article nine states that all patients being psychoanalysed have the right to be told about the test prier. I would’ve slapped you the other day if Carlos hadn’t been whining about his bloody nose.” She watched Julia limp away slightly. Her gaze turned to Emma and Jeuki who both looked surprised. “Follow me I’ve decided not to take you the normal rout we’ll take another that’s more fun.” Emma walked forward slowly. “Fun?” Lucy waved both hands. “Come on you’ll like it, it’s going to be more interesting that the rout you keep being forced to take.”
8
Julia turned slightly watching as they walked past the huge windows, which looked out in to space. “This is stupid!” Leo turned slightly eyeing her. “Oh please what is your problem?” Julia felt her hand form a fist as she turned eyeing Emma’s skull necklace. “My problem! Some asshole’s made my computer panel only say one thing to me all morning!” She looked at the darkness of space outside. “It keeps repeating you’re not worthy over and over again! Every twenty seconds, some one hacked in to it and I can’t fix the problem!” Leo shrugged taking a sip of his coffee. “No offences but you do tend to piss people off Julia. My guess is someone who you rubbed the wrong way is doing the same back to you.” Julia put her hands behind her back. “Someone stole my white lab mice as well I had five lab mice I was testing on.” She grunted in annoyance. “I’m betting it was Lucy! She stole my lab mice and had them made in to a skull necklace so space girl over there could look fashionable.” Leo turned sharply. “Oh please grow up, Lucy is many things. The biggest being a bitch but she doesn’t steal things.”
He walked away watching Julia turn her back in annoyance. He calmly walked up to glass next to Lucy. “Did you steal her mice and hack her machine panel?” Lucy looked at her soft drink. “No I borrowed the mice, I intended to replace them since mice are dirt cheap and I can another five with three credits.” Leo eyed her in annoyance. “What! So you did steal them, do you know how wrong that is?” Lucy looked at her orange. “Oh she was going to kill them any way, I just made a good use out of them.” Jeuki wanted a skull necklace and I helped him make one. I think it was all for a good thing since he’s given it to Emma.” Leo blinked. “Your are unbelievable you know that? You could get in to trouble for this since the rules state stealing is forbidden.” Lucy eyed him. “Since when do you care whether I get in to trouble or not? You don’t even like me.” Leo growled aloud. “I don’t like you! Sadly though there’s a part of me that would have pity for you if the marines punished you. Since there mean bastards who like to give out pain especially that dick head Lexington.”
Lucy finished her drink. “I don’t need your pity Leo.” She watched as Emma and Jeuki carried on moving looking at the beautiful site through the window. Leo folded his arms. “Yesterday Lexington lost it and broke a guys arm in the cargo bay for answering him back. Apparently he’s been acting out of sorts recently and that’s not a good thing and you know it.” Lucy grabbed two cups from the machine. “Well it’s like you said Lexington is stupider than me. So in that sense I should be okay shouldn’t I?” Leo leaned over slightly. “I’m serious! Frankly I wouldn’t like you to get messed up with him. Hell he’s tried to hit Emma twice and in both case she didn’t attack first.” Lucy looked at the drinks in her hand. “I heard about that.” Leo carried on walking with her. “Well then you see my point!” Lucy smirked. “Oh yes I get your stupid point Leo, so quit trying to shove it down my throat!” She eased up the drink as she moved next to Emma’s side. “I read your information I heard you like hot chocolate.” Emma eyed her before taking the drink. “Why are you being so nice to me?”
Lucy breathed in. “Look I know I can be a bitch and I was very rude for laughing at you. Over what happened to you on Callisto.” She turned slight. “I just don’t agree with how people have been treating you both. I mean they treat you like your some abomination just because you like Jeuki.” She breathed in deeply. “I was speaking to him when he made your necklace he’s a very special being in my view.” Emma put her hand on the skulls. “He’s more than special they’ll never be another like him.” Lucy laughed slightly. “You know what even if you do like him on an emotional level I say good for you.” She grinned widely. “At least you’ve got it in you to look past barriers. More human beings should do that. They might actually learn something.” She calmly walked up to Jeuki pulling up the cup. “You said you wanted coffee, I got you some coffee.” Jeuki eased up the cup. “I’ve heard about it but I’ve never tried it.” Emma grinned slightly. “Now you’ll be able to try it for the first time.” Leo walked up to Lucy’s side. “My god you can actuality be nice when it suits you!” Lucy eyed him. “Shut up Leo.”
8
Oran sat up slowly as his huge door where opened. He watched as the three scientists walked through closely follow by Emma and Jeuki. He breathed out the smoke from his cigar. “Ah so you’ve both finally made it here.” Lucy stepped back, as Julia stepped forward. “My apologizes we were held up by the view from the windows on Iron Years port side.” Oran raised an eyebrow. “Don’t let the view ever make you late again. I’m a very busy man.” Julia slowly moved back. “It won’t happen again.” Leo looked at Emma. We’ll leave you two alone I’m sure Oran has some things he needs to talk about.” Lucy waved slightly. “You be careful okay we’ll be waiting for you.” Emma turned watching the scientists leave both double doors shutting behind them. She turned meeting Oran’s dark brown gaze, he was a stocky man in his late thirties wearing a black business suits. He had short black hair and a dark beard. She watched as his dark eyebrow raised, as he took a long breath of his cigar. Oran breathed out the smoke calmly. “Well we meet at last Emma Wingates.”
He stood up slowly. “Please both of you take a seat. We have time to burn since dinner will be ready shortly.” Emma slowly took a seat watching as Jeuki looked at his. Oran looked at the tall hunter. “Jeuki I wouldn’t worry that’s a reinforced chair it can handle your weight.” He watched the hunter slowly take a seat. His gaze turned back to Emma, he picked up the cigar box. “Cigar? Their Cuban the finest in universe.” Emma waved her hand. “No thank you I don’t smoke.” Oran grinned breathing out smoke again. “Well you have been quite interesting floating around the galaxy with a hunter on an alien ship. It’s all very impressive in my view.” He eyed Jeuki. “I mean you didn’t end up a trophy on his wall.” Emma looked down slightly. “Yautja don’t kill females of the weaker species. It's goes against their code of honour.” Oran turned slightly as a chief put his head around the side door near by. “Dinners ready sir.” Oran sighed pulling up a panel on his desk. “Very well bring it in.”
He pressed the panel watching as the desk began to separate and extra part coming up which moved
outwards making a long eating table which attached to his own desk, whose screen lowered. Sections opened bring up cutlery and plates and classes along with wine. Oran smiled seeing Emma’s amusement. “Do you like it? It’s a converting desk where I can have big dinners and large meetings.” He watched as the chiefs brought around dishes placing them down. “Wonderful design if I do say so myself.” Emma looked at the row of spoons and forks there where at least five a side. Which way was she meant to go? Outward or inwards? She turned seeing that Jeuki had picked up a little spoon and was prodding it with his upper right mandible. Oran grunted aloud. “You start from the outside and work your way inwards.” Emma looked up slowly. “Oh, right.” She looked at Jeuki again watching him bend a spoon with his teeth. Oran looked at the hunter watching as the bent spoon flew across the room. As he let it go with his teeth. “I can see I’m going to need stronger cutlery.”
Emma picked up a piece of fish with her tiny fork. “Thank you for inviting as to this dinner.” Oran sat down picking from his starter. “I’m a thoughtful man I felt you should see the person who’s charge of these ships.” Emma looked at her empty plate watching the chiefs take it away. Her gaze moved as they brought the main course. Oran watched as it placed down and the lid pulled off. “Roasted No-Bo I heard you like to eat this kind of thing. So I had some one buy one from one of scientists on the lower levels.” He smirked slightly. “It was his experiment but I’m sure it’ll taste good.” Emma stared at the man; he’d killed one of these things just so he could do some lavish dish what a waste. Jeuki looked at the strange eating equipment before shoving it aside with his clawed hand. He didn’t know how to use it! It was pointless even trying to do something he had no idea how to do. He couldn’t pick up the tiny spoons with his hands anyway. He hadn’t studied this form of ooman eating ritual ether.
He grabbed one of the roasted meats legs ripping it off. Oran turned watching the hunter tear in to the No-Bo’s leg. “I believe he needs to work on his table manners.” Emma stared at Jeuki she looked at the meat on her plate. “I didn’t teach him about eating this way.” Somehow she’d completely lost her appetite. This whole ordeal was stupid it stank of a rich man’s curiosity. It was highly unlikely he gave a damn about her he was probably more interested in the ship and there technology. Every piece of armour she was wearing was like a gold mind to this man no doubt. Oran eyed the woman she was very un talkative he lit another cigar. “So hunters don’t kill human females, that's interesting.” Emma put down her fork. “No, they don’t.” Oran grinned. “So did you save his life or something?” Emma looked up again. “I killed a hard meat.” She watched as Jeuki threw bones back on the dish. “He spared me and we ended up helping each other.” Oran stood up slowly. “Hard meat you mean a Knopf fascinating creatures those.”
Emma felt her self stop in mid motion. How did he know that a hard meat was reference to a Knopf? She watched as Jeuki’s gaze met hers. He was thinking the same damn thing she could see it in his eyes. She stood up slowly. “Why am I here? Really I would like to know since this dinner of yours seems like a ruse Mr Oran?” Oran sat up breathed out smoke from his cigar. “The scientists are right you are a clever girl. Smarter than Utro ever gave you credit for.” He tapped the tables panel food was slowly slid back as the screen came up again. Emma watched the business men how did he know Utro?” Oran grinned. “Yes Utro he worked for me stunning man of many talents.” Jeuki stood up something had gone wrong, Emma looked panicked he could see it in the back of her eyes. He watched her wrist start to twitch nervously. He moved closer so he was standing by her side. Emma breathed in deeply keeping her eyes locked with Oran’s. “Personally I always thought he was an asshole. Who cared more about his work than the innocent lives around him.”
Oran laughed slightly. “Well we all have our opinions.” Emma raised an eyebrow. “What do you want with us?” Oran tapped the panel watching as a large shining ship part rose up its odd shape gleaming in the light. On the large screen a twelve-figure number began to ring up. Oran grinned leaning forward. “This is a prototype. But it is the piece that will make your engine go back to working at full hyper speed.” Jeuki looked at the ship part he found himself going still that part looked like one of his races ship parts. The only difference was it was made from ooman metals. He flared his mandibles in discontent were had this ooman acquired the information to build a copy of his races technology? It wasn’t even a good copy at that!
Oran watched the hunter’s mandibles move. “Well I don’t need to ask what your both wondering I already know.” He put a hand on the ship part. “Lets just say I have vast resources and have been studying hunters technology for some time now.” Emma narrowed her gaze. “Did those hunters help you willingly? Or did you force them against there will?” Oran grinned slightly. “Nether really, but that’s besides the point.” He watched the twelve-figure number go still on screen. “I have the proposition of a lifetime for both yourself and Jeuki.” He sat up slightly. “Imagine being the pair who changed the space race forever with ships that can move through space at hyper speed.” He breathed in his cigar. “No more sleeping in stases pods for long travels, for two or three years.” He clicked his finger. “Travelling from one part of the galaxy to the other just like that no longer being bound by slow rust bucket ships that move at snail pace.” He stood up slowly. “Imagine the possibilities Emma Wingates you and Jeuki would be legends for centuries to come.”
Emma narrowed her gaze to slits. “What do you want?” Oran laughed slightly. “Such a fire some streak I like it.” He put both hands behind his back. “What I want, no allow me to rephrase that what I’m offering is this copy of your ships part. Which might I add will work in your ship as it’s been tested. In both a human prototype of a marine drop ship and a one of Jeuki’s races ships.” He turned the screen. “As well as this much credit, why you’d be a rich woman. Richer beyond your wildest dreams you could spend the rest of your life happy and content and if you two ever have offspring. Well they’d have no worries since you could live on a planet out of site of humanity and never be ridiculed or harmed.” He laughed again before leaning forward. “All I want is your help understanding the hunter ship I have bellow. You both have unique minds and know how to fix repairs and probably hack codes.” He pulled out his hand. “The ship is from Callisto, so no doubt the controls are the same as yours.” He smiled inwardly. “What do say Emma Wingates and Jeuki?”
Emma stared at him feeling her wrists blades fly out due to her nervous twitching. This was like some horrible nightmare! She couldn’t believe this was actuality happening of all the things that could’ve been considered bad luck! This was the one that she could’ve never imagined or even contemplated. She turned hearing Jeuki roar. She turned looking at him it almost felt like the world around her had slowed down. She turned back meeting Oran’s gaze he gaze wandered back meeting Jeuki’s. She slowly closed her eyes feeling her wrist blades click back in before turning to gaze at Oran. “No.” Oran pulled up sharply. “No as in not enough money? Or no you won’t do it?” Emma slowly walked up to him. “No as in I’ll never help you. I’ll never become your tool to make such a thing happen. I’d just be your puppet!” Oran pulled back in anger. “This is the deal of a lifetime! Why are you walking away from it?” Emma raised her hand. “You want to know why? I’ll tell you why! I don’t work for men who think their gods!”
She looked at the screen. “You just want to rule space as a god, become the man who changed everything at the expense of another race. Whom you have no respect for!” She looked at the ship part. “That ship you’ve got belongs to Jeuki’s clan! Though they might all be dead you had no right to take what’s there’s even in death!” Oran leaned forward. “Well if something’s lying around I take it, I’m an opportunist.” Emma shook her head. “No your not you’re a stupid son of bitch who’s going to get yourself killed. Has it even occurred to you that Jeuki’s race might come and kill everyone here? Just to get that ship back! B
ecause to them it’d be an honourable act to regain the honour of there fallen clan!” She slammed her hand down on the desk hard. “I don’t know if Jeuki’s race would start a war over this but they could!” She leaned closer. “If they did the human race wouldn’t stand a chance!” Oran shook his head. “Your not part of the human race anymore are you Emma Wingates! You’re an outsider a rouge, who’s not on ether side!”
He folded his arms. “I bet you hate humanity since your prefer the arms of an alien to your own kind!” Emma felt her wrist blades click out as she made a fist. “Would you blame me for hating humanity when people like you exist people who believe their own egoistic mouths?” She turned slightly. “People like you take away the good of so many others who you crush for amusement.” She turned away. “Think what you want about me Oran, I might not be on a side. But I swear I’d rather be on Jeuki’s side than yours.” Oran watched her turn away. “Reconsider Emma Wingates I don’t like to be turned down! I always get what I want!” Emma eyed him. “I refuse to work for a man like you period!” Oran eyed Jeuki. “Do you have an opinion or does she speak for you?” Jeuki narrowed his gaze. “Foolish ooman! My race we’ll here of this! No unworthy prey has the right to steal from the honoured fallen!” He eased up a clawed finger. “The great Arbitrators will hunt you as bad blooded prey to the ends of the galaxy so that those honourable in death can be honoured in the place of their death!” Oran pulled back. “By the time these so called arbitrators come hunter the playing field will be more even!” Emma grabbed Jeuki’s hand. “Come on Jeuki Where leaving!” Oran watched them both turn. “You are making a big mistake!” He watched as the huge door where opened and then slammed as the Emma Wingates and Jeuki left. He slammed his hand down on the control panel. Before pressing a button near by. “Get me level twenty science labs and level fifty Marines! Now!”