Aurora Renegades

by G. S. Jennsen

  Caleb made a weak attempt at a laugh. “That never works. I start giving you a back rub, one thing leads to another, and we’re occupied for the rest of the night.”

  She could tell he was in pain, and if anything she was simply hoping to distract him from it for a little while. “Are you complaining?”

  “Not in the slightest. I’m just saying I never get my back rub.”

  “But if you go first I won’t get a back rub. And I epically need a back rub.” She sighed. “Valkyrie, how’s the translation program coming?”

  ‘I believe I have identified a set of ninety to one hundred thirty common words. When next you speak to one of the aliens, I will provide the translation of these words if they are used.’

  “Are any of them by chance ‘peace’ or ‘no harm’ or ‘friendly’? Or maybe ‘hungry?’ ”

  ‘As I believe I’ve identified their method of negation as well as the word for ‘ill intent,’ yes, I believe you can express ‘no ill intent.’’

  Caleb’s smile more closely resembled a grimace. She began to get concerned about exactly how much pain he was in. “Excellent work, Valkyrie.”

  Abruptly he straightened up in the chair as the door to their cell opened.

  Remember what we talked about.

  Resolute but not antagonistic. Reward non-violent behavior with greater compliance. Keep my voice tone even. Model prisoner—that’s me.

  Two aliens entered the room…the same two as before? She thought so. One had neon orange fur with painted black swirls, and the other’s was the color of a grizzly bear. They stopped two meters inside and adopted semi-threatening stances. As before, they wore a sort of utility belt with a baton and what she suspected was a firearm attached.

  “Tktenhtahaan hei? Ca-ni woshdee?”

  “Valkyrie?”

  ‘I recognize ‘where’ and ‘purpose’—I think they’re asking you where you came from and why you’re here.’

  “Time to translate. Do the best you can.”

  Prepared for the possibility of an encounter with the local residents, they had worn their wrist transmitters when they’d departed the ship. Caleb met the aliens’ gazes, more or less. “We come from far away. We mean you no harm—no ill intent.” His wrist transmitter translated his words into a series of stilted noises that sounded reasonably like an electronic version of their language.

  As one, both aliens jerked. The orange one stepped forward and yanked Caleb out of the high seat and spun him around, then wrenched his bound arms upward. Caleb winced but didn’t yell or try to pull away.

  The alien gaped at the transmitter then at Caleb. “Nitaa calisu qanera-nihisaad.”

  ‘Your…our…words….’

  “We only understand a few of your words. We’ll try to learn more, but we need you to be patient.” The response was eked out through gritted teeth.

  The transmitter began squawking, and the alien held it closer, lifting Caleb off the floor and evoking a pained growl from him.

  Worried they were going to do serious damage to his injured arm, she piped up. “Please stop—you’re hurting him! We’re not a threat to you. We’re…explorers. Scientists.”

  “Valkyrie, do you have something approximating that?”

  ‘I will try.’

  The sounds from her transmitter drew their attention to her. The alien eased its grip on Caleb and nudged him back around.

  “Ehatas elpete omani-mahpi, caluni akuru casku?”

  ‘If you are explorers, why did you carry weapons?’

  Their Daemons and blades had been confiscated in their initial seizure. She started to smart off, but heeding Caleb’s advice caught herself. “Protection. Defense. Safety.”

  Their captors studied them another moment then conferred in hushed tones.

  She eyed Caleb, who was watching them closely.

  Are you okay?

  Yeah, but now I definitely get the first back rub.

  She laughed in spite of herself.

  Fair enough.

  Grizzly stared at them as it pressed a long finger to its ear and spoke too softly for Valkyrie to translate. Did they have communications devices in or on their ears? There was too much fur covering the area to tell. After a couple of phrases the finger lowered and the two again conversed briefly, then regarded them in silence.

  Several minutes later the door opened once more to allow the entry of a new alien, one they hadn’t seen before.

  Its fur was the color of pure honey. Elaborate crimson markings decorated its chest and arms, and baubles of an etched white stone hung in the fur around its head. The ornamentation was more extensive and elaborate than any they’d seen so far.

  Their guards backed away to take up positions along each wall.

  This is a supervisor—possibly a leader, but certainly above these two in their social hierarchy.

  She nodded minutely.

  Got it.

  The new alien halted a respectful distance away, gazed at Caleb then at her, then…bowed. At least that’s what it looked like—arms extended at forty-five degree angles from its sides, palms open, its upper body curled down in a sweeping gesture. It was a fluid motion, and the alien smoothly returned to a standing position.

  Caleb dipped his chin in response, and she followed his lead.

  “Shi-hasidi iye nupiya un calisu qaner-nihisaad, hunesni. Bi nako iye nupiya jin sni-sica ktatyk.”

  ‘My…security…say you know—badly—some of our words by a…device. They say you…say…you have no ill intent.’

  Caleb’s voice was measured but strong. “Yes. We are working to learn your words. Our device—” he couldn’t point to his wrist, so he tilted his head toward it “—says to you what we say in your words.” He waited to see the reaction.

  This alien responded in a far more composed manner when the transmitter began conveying the translation. It listened while studying them calmly, then waved its hand in a circle. It might be indicating to continue?

  “We are from far away, from space, the stars, another planet. We’re explorers, and we came to learn about you. We don’t intend violence or harm. We want to be…friends.”

  “Iyapi iwasta glah. Wicohae yuaslatei taashaanii un takunle. Castun nihi mecike-ukveke nupiya?”

  ‘Words are…easy. Actions tell the…truth of things. How can…I, or we…trust you?’

  “We can’t physically threaten you. You took our weapons. You are stronger than us. You have all the power.”

  She had to admire Caleb’s skill at navigating the encounter. He truly did understand the dynamics at play and how to use them to their best advantage. He was telling this alien what it wanted to hear, what it needed to hear in order to release them. His statements also happened to be true, but she suspected it wasn’t the operative factor.

  The alien’s jaw contorted as it listened to the translation, half detaching before returning to a closed-mouth position. When the transmitter went silent the alien paced deliberately across the cell.

  “Bih kalevner-ici isisole.”

  ‘Stop—remove—the…it’s not a familiar word, but it must mean your restraints.’

  The alien had studied her and Caleb as it spoke, but now the two guards approached, suggesting the statement had been directed at them. Orange grasped her by the upper arm and hauled her out of the chair. Its grip was so strong its fingers likely would leave bruises. It moved behind her as Grizzly did the same with Caleb, and a few seconds later her arms fell to her side.

  She didn’t think she’d be able to lift them for hours. She smiled nonetheless, hoping it wasn’t equivalent to a snarl in their body language. “Thank you.”

  “Da honilne kipaz kenqlurisiso. Nupiya cin liite-nihisaad ota. Nihi yisnil iilye.”

  ‘Prove yourselves worthy of freedom. You need learning…more of our words. We will give…help.’

  Caleb made no threatening moves, or any move at all. “Thank you as well.”

  The alien gave a grunting nod of sorts, pivoted and
left. The guards moved toward the door, watching them the entire time, and exited.

  She exhaled in enormous relief and faced him. “You were bri—”

  He held up a finger, turned and walked to the back of the room. When he reached the wall he promptly slammed his left shoulder into it.

  She gasped as he collapsed to the floor; the next instant she was on her knees beside him. “What—why did you do that?”

  He gingerly leaned against the wall. Beads of sweat had formed along his hairline to trickle down his temples. “They dislocated my shoulder in the initial ambush. It’ll be fine in a little while.”

  She stared at him in horror. “It’s been that way all this time? God, why didn’t you say anything?”

  “There was nothing to be done about it, until there was. And now it’s better.”

  She shook her head, incredulous, as he reached over with his good arm and drew her closer to him. “Well, you were brilliant.”

  He chuckled quietly into her hair. “I judged the situation as best I could and responded accordingly. We’re not out of the woods yet, though. Stay on your guard—we’re still prisoners, and one wrong move gets us back in shackles, or worse.”

  “Right. Best behavior.” She carefully rotated her shoulders. “I don’t think my arms work anymore. I had no idea wrist restraints were so uncomfortable…and I can’t believe I just complained when you’ve been silently suffering immense pain for hours.”

  He gave her a little smile, which meant he was feeling better about their circumstances, and generally feeling better. “What, you’ve never been arrested?”

  “Yes, but the officers were lenient because I was cute. They kept my arms in the front.” At his raised eyebrow, she shrugged. “I was sixteen, and I—”

  The door opened yet again, bearing their guards plus the alien who had ‘scanned’ them earlier. She scrambled up and offered Caleb a hand, but he was already up himself. Not showing weakness in front of their captors…. Damn, he was tough.

  This time instead of a scanner, the third alien wheeled in a table. A rectangular, flat object sat atop it. The alien positioned the table in front of the long shelf which ran the length of the left side wall and drew a finger down the object. It illuminated in a harsh white and gold—it was a screen of some kind.

  The alien gestured at them, then at the object, then pressed down on each side in turn; the act appeared to change the display contents. “Lena naaqin un alchinei. Bi nau-tehiya. Nupiya liite-nihisaad el ca-alchinei.”

  ‘These are…words…books? Children’s books. They grow in hardness—difficulty. You will learn our words as children do.’

  She bristled, but Caleb’s hand on her waist stayed her. “This will be very helpful. We need…we are hungry and thirsty. Our bags that were taken contain nourishment for us. Can you have them brought to us?”

  “Hanhon. Nupiya heci akuru casku el wakei.”

  ‘No. You may have weapons in your belongings.’

  “We only need the food and water. You can give our bags to the guards and have them remove the contents.”

  “Sece. Miye apte.”

  ‘Perhaps. I will see.’

  “Thank you.”

  The alien departed, guards in tow.

  Alex sat down on the shelf and tried to get comfortable. She doubted it was intended to be a bench or meant for sitting, but it was the right height for them. “Valkyrie, are you ready?”

  ‘I am.’

  She toggled their connection on and began flipping the pages. It was fast going, as she wasn’t digesting the information on the screen but merely allowing the contents to pass to Valkyrie through her eyes. The early ‘pages’ were heavily illustrated, which was appropriate to teaching a child the names of things. Some of the pictures were quite odd, but she was too tired, sore and starving to bother analyzing them for clues as to the aliens’ culture.

  Nearly half an hour had passed when the guards returned carrying their packs. She cut Valkyrie’s connection, not wanting her glowing eyes to set off another crisis, as Caleb cautiously stepped forward. When he got to the middle of the room Orange held up a hand for him to stop.

  The guards set the packs on the floor by the front wall. They opened them and pulled out each item individually, holding it up and inspecting it before allowing Caleb to identify it. He glossed past the uses for several of their tools but was quick to point out the energy bars and water packets. The guards carried those items over and dropped them on the table, put everything else back in their packs…and left with them.

  Yep, they were definitely still prisoners.

  The instant the guards departed she had a water packet upturned, guzzling half of it in one long swig. Next she wolfed down two energy bars while continuing to flip pages. The illustrations were mostly gone now, and the text became progressively denser in appearance.

  Caleb peeked over her shoulder while he munched on his own energy bar. “Are we learning much about their social structure?”

  “Maybe. She’s storing all the content to analyze later, once she has the language down.”

  “So you’re acting as a conduit, or are you learning it alongside her?”

  “I could if I concentrated. But I’m tired, which has reduced me to a page turner.”

  He reached up—with his uninjured arm—and tucked her hair behind her ear. “Rest while you can. We don’t know when we’ll be challenged again.”

  25

  KAMEN-1

  Detention Facility

  * * *

  Lacking any way to communicate with their captors outside the cell, when Valkyrie had absorbed the entire library they pushed the table and screen to the wall beside the door and waited.

  Alex fell asleep on his shoulder. Caleb allowed himself to relax against the wall while being careful not to jostle her. Their situation was still a long way from safe, but considering they had only narrowly escaped execution a minimum of three times in their first hour on the planet, it was decidedly improved.

  Now came the hard part. Once they could engage in actual conversations with the aliens, things were bound to get dicey. Culture clashes, unintended insults, misinterpreted gestures…in an aggressive culture such as this one, offense would be easily taken and not so easily forgiven.

  His instincts argued their goal needed to be release and departure. This was a dangerous place. Yet the residents were clearly an intelligent species—the most advanced aliens humans had encountered outside of the Metigens by traditional measurements. He believed in many ways Akeso was far more intelligent than any of them, but in a truly unique manner humans were unlikely to ever comprehend.

  If the next hours went favorably for them, Alex would want to stay. She would want to get to know the residents, if only in an attempt to decipher why they existed in one of the Metigens’ pocket universes.

  He’d play it by ear. He was curious, too…despite the inauspicious beginning, these were in fact the walking, talking aliens he’d desired. But his first job was making sure they stayed alive.

  The door opened and one of the guards—the one Alex had aptly named ‘Orange’—took a single step inside. “The Tokahe Naataan wishes to know how many cycles—days—you expect it will take you to become conversant in our language.”

  Caleb pointed using his injured arm to the table, his good one being trapped behind Alex’s sleeping form. “We’re done. Tell your Tokahe Naataan the texts were very helpful.”

  “Impossible. You cannot be finished.”

  Caleb squelched a smirk—he must continue to be polite and respectful unless physically challenged. “I believe we are. We still have much to learn about you, your world and your culture, but our device can now translate more than 40,000 of your words and vice versa.”

  The alien’s expression changed—he couldn’t be certain what it meant, but it was easy enough to guess it represented disbelief, surprise and probably suspicion. Orange turned and left without another word.

  Valkyrie had sent a full
translation file to their eVis thirty minutes ago, along with notes on the species she had gleaned from the texts.

  They called themselves Khokteh, which didn’t have a meaningful translation, and their planet Ireltse, which translated roughly as ‘generous stone.’ They did have two sexes; the notable distinguishing characteristics were that the females tended to be taller and have more slender tails.

  Their technology included non-quantum computing, microtech, hovercraft and sub-light starships. Their social structure was based on roles. Warriors, scientists, educators, builders and so on played their designated roles, though the designating part was mostly competency-based. Government seemed to be a mixture of a meritocracy and hereditary rule. The texts provided little information regarding their recent history beyond vague references to the ‘Conflict.’

  He reached over and gently brushed stray strands of hair out of Alex’s face, then cupped her cheek in his palm. “Alex, baby, it’s time to wake up. I think we’re about to take the stage again.”

  “How did you learn our language so fast?”

  Caleb considered the Tokahe Naataan with studied calm. The title marked their honey-hued visitor from earlier as leader of this city and possibly the entire planet. He expected and was prepared for a few minutes of hard questioning. “We have virtual assistants—rudimentary computers—which can handle tasks such as this.”

  “In your brains?”

  He nodded, but remembered the motion might not convey the information and elaborated. “That’s right. The necessary hardware is implanted when we’re children, using a combination of biological and synthetic material.”

  The alien’s two front-most eyes shifted. “We’ve experimented with similar technologies, but I’m told our brain chemistry is not amenable to it. Where are you from? And be specific.”

  This lie—a small one—had been prepared ahead of time. “A neighboring galaxy we call the Milky Way. We’re deep space explorers searching for other sentient life.”

  “Another galaxy? This is a long distance for you to travel.”

  “Our ship is very fast.”