by G. K. Scott
8
Eddy leaned back in his chair he turned sharply as the female marine sitting at the screen turned sharply. “Sir! We have confirmation coming through from the Ultra Sera! Their mission has been a complete success!” Eddy turned slightly hearing the cheers from the central control room. “Excellent! Tell them we are opening the docking bay!” He turned looking at the screen as the dock ship broke away from the Yautja vessel. Which slowly backed away as they turned in space heading towards the docking bay. Eddy leaned forward. “Put me through to them.” He watched as the female marine began to type, she turned sharply. “I’ve made contact with them and am putting them through now sir.” Eddy watched as the main screen changed as Marcus’s face appeared on it. He leaned forward slightly. “Well done both of you.” The scientist pushed up his glasses slightly. “Oh it was no trouble once Emma and Jeuki recognized us it was very easy going.” Eddy turned as Lucy’s face appeared on screen. “We passed on the message you sent to the elder of the clan.”
Eddy leaned forward sharply. “What did he say?” He watched as Lucy pulled out her note pad. “Well we have a recorded message from Emma and Jeuki. The Elder can’t speak our language so they recorded this for him.” Eddy smirked slightly. “Send it to us please.” He watched as Lucy slotted the pad in to the panel she typed quickly. “Message downloading now.” Eddy sat back watching as the female marine turned in her chair. “Message reserved sir, would like to put it up on the main screen?” Eddy put a hand on his chin. “Put it through ship wide.” He watched the Bishop Android turn sharply. “Sir is that a good idea I mean what if it’s a bad message?” Eddy sat back. “I think it needs to be heard ether way.” Eddy put his hands together watching as Emma Wingates face appeared on the screen. He found himself smiling it was so good to see her face again, he watched as a clawed hand appeared followed by Jeuki’s face, the huge hunter leaned down slowly so he was on the screen. His upper mandibles clicked repeatedly.
Eddy turned as Sierra put up his hand. “That’s Emma Wingates! That’s the woman Oran was complaining about?” Eddy growled aloud. “Yes it is, now be quite Sierra I want to listen to the message!” He watched as the sergeant fell silent. Emma turned slightly on screen. “My name is Emma Wingates and my partner is called Jeuki.” She looked up slightly. “What you’ve heard about us may be bad or good but overall it doesn’t matter.” She moved slightly. “We have received the hyper drive technology Oran stole from the Tosuji clan and are for grateful for it’s return.” Sierra looked up slightly. “Em…is she dating that really ugly faced bastard?” Eddy slammed his fist down hard. “Yes she is! Also his name is Jeuki and he’s not an ugly bastard!” He turned slightly. “I met him in person he’s one of the nicest beings I’ve ever met!” Sierra put up both hands. “My apologises sir its just seems a little disturbing that’s all I mean…he’s and she’s.” Eddy slowly met his gaze. “Would you like me to pass you a shovel Sierra, or would you like to just shut up before you dig yourself a bigger hole?”
He watched as the sergeant fell silent again. He slowly looked up as Emma carried on speaking. “The Tosuji clan does not hold any of you responsible for Oran’s actions. They are aware that the trouble was caused was by a certain group of humans who are now died or so we’ve heard.” She watched as Jeuki leaned closer. He tapped his upper left mandible. “We will not be starting a war over this.” He flared his mandibles. “Believe me though if this happens again we will not take it so lightly. We are not a race who believes in war but if our race is treated like animals and put in to cages ever again. We will be forced to take very serious action!” He eased up a clawed hand keeping his arm around Emma. “We do not tolerate being stripped naked and forced to eat meat out of dog dishes! You wouldn’t do it to your own kind, so I don’t expect your race to do it to us!” He flared his mandibles in anger. Emma leaned forward. “Jeuki is in his right to say that, what Oran and his people did was horrible.”
She paused before looking up. “I know even though I say this that there are some very good people among you, people like Eddy Ida who saved my life. The scientists Lucy and Marcus were wonderful through out the handing over of the hyper drive. I know there are thousands more good and honest people among you.” She eased up a hand. “Which is why I beg of you not to get in to this situation again and to stop others from doing it. I was on Callisto I saw what was going on and I did nothing. The same events played out on the Iron year and hundreds have died.” She looked up slightly. “Please stop this from happening again.” Her gaze moved slightly. “The Yautja are a wonderful race and if the day comes when we come to an understanding it will be a great day for the human race.” Jeuki leaned down. “I known not all oomans are bad but I understand that some badly reflect of the rest of your race. Those who do must be stopped if you are ever want to come to an understanding with my race.”
Emma breathed in deeply. “I hope that this message comes through and that it is reserved well. In ten minutes we will leave this part of space. We wish all of you well on your journey back to earth.” Jeuki nodded slightly. “Safe travels oomans.” Eddy leaned back watching as the screen went to black. He turned to the female marine. “Put Lucy and Marcus back on, on this screen only.” He watched as Marcus’s face appeared the scientist smiled. “Well there you have it I hope the whole of the Sirun got the message.” Eddy smiled slightly. “They did thank you very much.” He leaned forward. “Out of interest do you have any news on Oran?” Marcus turned around slightly. “Yes we have what’s left of him which isn’t a lot.” Eddy looked up sharply. “Did the Tosuji clan kill him or did he have a Knopf in his escape pod? “Lucy shook her head. “Nether he ended up crashing in side the Tosuji clans ship. Horrible really he fell out because the space glass broke on impact and the pod ripped him to pieces.” She moved out of the way showing the crippled pod with its red bloodstains. “Really nasty end.”
She grunted slightly. “We’ve retrieved the only part that was intact which was one of his arms.” Eddy looked up slightly. “A lot of people on the Sirun are going to be disappointed about his death since they wanted him to be brought to justice.” Lucy shook her head. “Yeah well the arms all we’ve got they’ll have to make do with that.” Marcus leaned over. “You know on another subject could we have a medic? Lucy’s got a bullet still embedded in her shoulder it really needs taking out.” Eddy leaned back. “I’ll have one ready you as soon as you dock.” He put a hand on his chin. “I have no idea how Leo got that handgun on to the Iron Year in the first place.” Marcus slowly pulled the control lever. “He properly had it coated with some form of resin, so the computers only scanned that and missed the gun.” He raised an eyebrow. “Emma’s weapons never even registered on the weapon scanners because of what there made from.” Eddy looked up slightly. “That’s true.”
Lucy nodded slightly. “Yeah well I can’t wait to get aboard.” Eddy smiled. “ The docks door is opening for you now.” Marcus pulled the controller. “Great I can see it opening. We’ll finish this conversation on board. We really want to get out of space right now, since Emma and Jeuki’s ship is leaving.” Eddy smirked watching the screen go back to the view of the Yautja ship, which was still floating in space. Bishop turned slightly. “I’m glad that the Yautja took the hyper drive, and did not declare war on us.” Eddy put his hands together. “So am I, I was worried for every one on this vessel, since we’d have been first on their list. Thank god for Emma Wingates and Jeuki, I’m sure that those two talked them out of it if they were thinking about it.”
8
Emma grunted painfully feeling Jeuki ease up her arm he cocked his head to one side looking at the bullet wound. She could feel the fur skin of the bed under her fingertips. The elder had sent them both to lie down and get some rest he had said that he’d take over from them. She knew in less than five minutes they would be leaving and the Sirun would be alone in the darkness of space. Jeuki slowly pulled his med kit free from his back putting it on the floor before pressing it. He s
lowly eased up the glowing blue vile this wound wasn’t as bad as it looked after he’d cleaned the blood away. He slowly pulled Emma’s shoulder armour free with his other hand. “The bullets not embedded it’s gone through your upper arm.” He slowly poured the liquid on to her wound rubbing it in with his fingers he felt her wince painfully. Emma felt Jeuki slowly wrap liquid bandage around her upper arm. “I really wish he’d shot me somewhere else.” Jeuki moved his clawed hands slowly eased off her armours front and back plating. “I wish he hadn’t shot you at all.”
He moved a clawed finger over the wound on her stomach. “Does that hurt?” Emma put a hand on her necklace. “No.” Jeuki moved his hand across her the claw marks on her upper leg. “Do these hurt?” Emma shook her head. “Only the graze wound from Oran’s blades hurts.” Jeuki eased up her leg carefully putting the healing ointment on her wound. He slowly closed the vile placing it back in the med kit he slowly eased out the long syringe only to feel Emma stop his hand as he brought it up. Emma looked at the long syringe. “I don’t need that I already took a large dose.” Jeuki nodded slowly placing it back in the med kit. He pulled himself a little closer to her. He looked up slightly slowly easing of her upper and lower leg armour. He watched as she pulled her other shoulders armour free then eased her wrist armour off. “Does it hurt anywhere else?” Emma looked up slightly. “Nothing else hurts.” She paused watching as Jeuki pulled of his shoulder and wrist armour.
He breathed in deeply easing of his front and back plating, which he put on the floor with the rest. He eased his clawed feet out of his sandals watching as Emma did the same with her feet. He turned slightly feeling Emma un-clamped both sides of his upper armour plating which she pulled off slowly. His whole body ached he turned seeing Emma toss her belt on the floor it was the last item of her armour. She tuned slightly easing his belt free as he slowly pulled off his upper leg armour followed by his lower armour. He tapped his upper right mandible looking at the armour, which was scattered around some how he really couldn’t be bothered to put any of it on their racks for cleaning. He breathed in deeply he’d never felt so drained he’d been on hundreds of hunts and none had been ever been so tough or as emotional. He watched as Emma slowly got up putting her hands slowly through his dreadlocks. He turned slightly feeling her ease his sight lens free putting on the table next to hers. He blinked seeing his normal sight return in his eye.
He was about to say something when he felt her move her fingers gently over his mandibles. He found himself breathing in deeply the motions of her fingers were so nice over each mandible. The sensation was also so different to anything he was used to feeling. He gently moved a clawed hand over her hanging cloth. He felt her bring up her hand moving it gently over his upper mandibles. He still couldn’t get over how strange her fingers moving on them were. It really wasn’t like anything he was used to. He moved both hands up putting them each side of her material top. “We should both rest.” Emma raised an eyebrow. “I know.” She moved her finger watching Jeuki move his upper left mandible as she moved her index finger across it. “I’m just glad to be sitting here with you.” Jeuki adjusted his hanging cloth slightly. “You have no idea how good I feel being her with you.” Emma herself up slightly. “Oh I think I do.” Jeuki turned slightly. “How so?”
Emma put a finger on his right mandibles causing it to stop moving. “You always tap that mandible when you’re excited.” Jeuki pulled back he laughed slightly he leaned over slightly as Emma leaned back on the bed. “So tell me, which mandible do you like best?” Emma smirked as he leaned closer. “That’s not fair I have so much choice.” Jeuki leaned closer until he was level with her face. “Why do you have trouble picking one?” He was on top of her, both clawed close to her arms. Emma looked up slightly. “Because to pick one would be hard since I like all of them.” She eased up her finger running it down his slowly over each mandible. “I mean they all make up your wonderful and unique face.” Jeuki slowly moved himself so he was lying close to her he pulled up one of her hands in to his own. “Your a very beautiful mate.” Emma turned slightly pulling one of the pillows under her head. “So you don’t care that I don’t have mandibles like you?” Jeuki leaned over running his fingers through her hair. “No I like you just the way you are.”
He put a hand under his chin. “Oomans with mandibles that would be strange though.” Emma laughed slightly. “No stranger than you or me being together.” Jeuki turned slightly. “That is true, when I think about it.” He slowly laid his head on the fur pillow. “Maybe if we had offspring they might look that way with mandibles and all.” Emma pushed his shoulder with her hand. “Stop it Jeuki.” Jeuki leaned back laughing again. “I know you’re worn out but I just wanted to have a little fun, before we both dose off.” Emma pulled her hand running it gently down his chest. “Every moment I spend with you is fun. I mean I feel alive not dead in front of a computer screen.” Jeuki tapped his upper right mandible. “I doubt the fun will end today I mean we have so many more trophies to gain and worlds to visit.” He moved his clawed hand up along her stomach trying not to touch her healing wounds. “Who’s know we might be able to go to the home world where my people live and see the great temples.”
He raised his hand. “Then I can show you off to all the other males.” Emma sniggered she moved herself so she was pressed against him. “I doubt they’ll be impressed by a human female.” Jeuki leaned down slightly he ran his upper mandibles gently across her face. “That’s there loss, I still believe that you have a hunters soul.” Emma looked up as he moved away slightly trying to stay awake she could feel the tiredness setting in. She’d seen one of the younger hunters the one who didn’t call her puny dose of on the ship floors. Every one on board needed sleep and soon all would get it once the elder set the ship to go to its destination. She leaned up slightly kissing Jeuki’s mandibles. “Thank you Jeuki.” Jeuki looked down slightly. “For what?” Emma slowly put her arm around him. “For always being there and for always looking after me when I was to afraid to.” Jeuki nodded slightly watching her close her eyes sleep finally setting in. “I’ll always be there for you.”
He turned hearing the engines come on-line with a start. He lay down ignoring them he didn’t care what direction they where heading in to him it didn’t matter he just wanted to lie on the bed with Emma in his arms. He had waited so long for this moment and had believed that it would never happen. Yet here he was and it was happening. He put his arm around her he could feel her breathing, which was quite, and calm. He tapped his right mandible he had no idea what tomorrow would bring but it didn’t matter they where together. He closed his eyes being together like this as mates was far better than anything he could’ve foreseen it felt good and right.
8
Eddy looked up sharply as the Yautja ships engines came on-line blasting a powerful stream out in to space. He found himself stopping in mid motion this was it they were leaving. It was almost depressing that they’d leave this way but he knew due to what Oran had done this would have to be how they departed. Ever part of him wished he could’ve seen Emma and Jeuki one last time in person. He sat back as silence hit the control room, the huge vessel slowly turned in space. It’s drifted as it pointed it’s self in the opposite direction to them there was another huge roar as the engines came on fully. The huge ship seemed to stay still for a moment. The next moments there was a rush of white light as it’s hyper drive came on. In seconds it blasted forward like a meteor disappearing in to the blackness of the spaces dark black oceans. Eddy found him self-breathing in quietly he slowly blew a kiss out at the screen where the ship had been. “Safe travels Emma.”
He sat back watching as Sierra turned slowly. “Your orders sir?” Eddy leaned forward breathing in sadly, how he still wished Emma could be sitting by his side. He knew full well that, that would never be and for all the hopes in the world it was just a shattered dream. He eased her long dread lock free from his armour looking at it. Sierra turned sharply. “Sir! Yo
ur orders?” Eddy looked up sharply coming out of his thoughts. “Are Marcus and Lucy aboard?” Sierra turned quickly. “Yes there aboard and are both heading towards the nearest medical room.” Eddy looked at the hair in his hand. “Ready the engines we are going back home to Earth. The Bishop android turned slightly. “I’m sorry she never loved you.” Eddy turned in surprise he found himself sniggering. “You don’t miss a thing do you?” The android looked up slightly. “The hair was a give away sir.” Eddy leaned back laughing. “You know with you around I’m going to really enjoy this trip home.”
CHAPTER 30
THE DAYS OF REMEMBRANCE TO THOSE WHO DIED AND THOSE WHO HAVE YET TO GREET DEATH
Location, floating above the ice planet eduiji watching as two Yautja battle cruisers come to greet us.
It’s been two weeks since we left the Sirun floating alone in space. It really doesn’t feel like that long I mean once we reinstalled the hyper drive everything seemed to go faster. It’s amazing I mean I used to think that going at half hyper speed was fast but this is truly phenomenal. I mean you look out the window and the stars just fly by like comets. We had to set down on a marsh planet so Jeuki and my self could but the new hyper drive in but it was all worth it. It’s been an odd couple of weeks on board the ship. I guess I say that because I’m starting to get to know the elder and the two young bloods better. It was tense at first with the one called Idosoi. The other young blood Adarmi is very open to me, as has the elder Erisoki. I think the only reason that Idosoi who isn’t getting on with me like others doesn’t say anything is because he’s afraid of Jeuki. I have seen Jeuki flare his mandibles at him a couple of times in anger during our clan talks where Jeuki translates what’s they say to me.