by S. H. Jucha
“Remember that you said that, Captain,” Olivia replied, with the first touch of mettle in her voice that Lindsey and Sasha had heard, “when food spills from my mouth onto your plate.”
Harbour laughed, waved a hand to Olivia to join her, and said, “I’ll appreciate that you were considerate enough to chew the food for me. Now come and sit.”
Olivia forgot to cover her mouth, when she grinned at Harbour’s incredulous response. The camaraderie of the three women emboldened her. It helped her focus on the conversation and not her face.
Harbour outlined the basic plan of transporting the Jatouche aboard the Belle, while their equipment rode in the bays of the Annie.
“That will facilitate the transfer of the equipment to the YIPS, but also allow the Jatouche to enjoy the comforts of this ship,” Olivia supplied.
Harbour was to note that Olivia would do that frequently. The engineer’s mind processed thoughts so quickly that she was able to jump ahead of a speaker and see the pros and cons of what was being said to her. It was the one thing that Harbour most wanted to determine about the woman, exactly how flexible was her mind. After all, Olivia would be working with advanced alien technology, not to mention the aliens themselves.
When Harbour wound down, she enjoyed her meal, preferring to let Olivia eat in peace and allowing her to cogitate on what she’d been told.
Olivia finished eating, pushed her plate away, and steepled her hands, allowing the fingertips to touch the tip of her chin. “Biggest challenge, Captain, will be the language barrier,” Olivia said.
Harbour held out her hand, and Olivia gazed at the small device resting there.
“Some sort of ear comm?” Olivia asked. When Harbour grinned at her, she exclaimed, “No! A translation device,” and snatched it out of Harbour’s hand, holding it up to examine it. “Any other goodies?” she asked.
“Afraid that’s it,” Harbour said. “Understand that we’ve had limited access to the Jatouche language. These ear wigs hold early communication versions. I believe we’ll get updates from the Jatouche.”
“But they’ll primarily be based on first contact conversations,” Olivia pointed out.
“Unfortunately, yes. You can imagine that Captain Cinders and his crew didn’t have engineering and metallurgy dialogs as priorities,” Harbour said.
Olivia’s laughter about Harbour’s comment erupted as a strangled snort. Unfortunately, it loosed a small amount of spittle flying from the corner of her mouth to land on Harbour’s empty plate.
Harbour leveled her gray eyes into Olivia’s wide ones and said, “Did I misunderstand you or were we only going to share food in this manner?”
Sasha’s raucous laughter rocketed around the salon. Seated across from Olivia, the teenager’s reaction was devoid of accusation or recrimination. It was simply a response to an incredibly funny and quite human moment. Moreover, it allowed Olivia to relax and join in the laughter about the awkward moment and Harbour’s jest.
“Just testing the parameters, Captain. It’s something all engineers do, as a matter of habit,” Olivia allowed, using a cloth to wipe her mouth.
“Yes, well, to return to our discussion,” Harbour said, smiling. “You’ll have the Jatouche aboard for weeks, with their scientists, engineers, and techs at your beck and call. While you work at understanding what they have, what they need from us, and how this device will be deployed, I need you to keep some things in mind.”
“Such as,” Olivia queried.
“The Jatouche will have the opportunity to observe us in detail over the course of this project. It’s possible that they’ll want to leave engineers and techs behind to monitor the device,” Harbour started to explain.
“But we won’t be learning anything about their home world or civilization unless I ask the right questions,” Olivia finished. “I take it you wish me to be a social scout. Learn about them, their customs, their home world, and so forth.”
“It would be good to know about their gates too,” Lindsey offered. “Triton has one. How many do the Jatouche have? Where do they go?”
“What’s the relationships they have with other races?” Olivia supplied, and Lindsey nodded in agreement.
“I have a thought,” Sasha announced.
The three adult women turned to regard the teenager. “This is something Aurelia said to me. One of the Jatouche didn’t like her. Actually, what she said was, ‘I detected animosity from him.’”
“Who was that?” Harbour asked.
“Jittak,” Sasha replied.
“Did she know why?” Lindsey asked.
“Oh, yes!” Sasha replied, eager to take part in the adult discussion. “It was when the Jatouche discovered Aurelia was an empath. She demonstrated just a little of her power to Tacticnok, and Jittak wasn’t happy to learn that the Jatouche are highly susceptible to an empath’s sending. Aurelia said she detected plenty of pleasant reactions and one that was cold, hard anger. She said it came from Jittak.”
“Who is he?” Olivia asked. “And please don’t tell me he’s the lead engineer.”
“Captain Cinders thinks he’s a military officer who was assigned to protect Tacticnok, who, if you haven’t heard, is a royal member of Jatouche,” Harbour explained.
“I heard her spoken of as Her Highness Tacticnok. Are you saying she’s like a princess?” Olivia exclaimed.
“Rictook, her father, rules the Jatouche, and Tacticnok is his heir, or so I understand,” Harbour replied.
“Is this a good thing or a bad thing that she’s running this project?” Olivia asked.
“According to Captain Cinders, the plan to rehabilitate the planet wouldn’t have happened without her efforts. I think it’s an excellent thing that she’s in charge,” Harbour said.
“Anything else you want me to investigate?” Olivia asked. “We have plenty of time yet before we reach Triton and even afterwards to work on this.”
Harbour regarded Lindsey, her mentor, across the table. Cool gray eyes regarded green ones.
“Come to think of, I have a big one,” Lindsey said, leaning back in her chair to consider how to phrase her thoughts. “From what I’ve learned from our captain, the Jatouche are attempting to repair Pyre because of a fight with a race called the Gasnarians, during which they somehow damaged the planet. All well and good, if they can repair the problem, but is that it?”
“You mean, do the Jatouche fix Pyre and go home because we’re a primitive lot in their eyes and they have no need for us?” Olivia asked.
“That’s precisely what I mean,” Lindsey replied, “which makes it important to find out what, as a society, they do need. Maybe we don’t have it now, but, if we knew what it was, maybe we can work on creating something they need.”
“Did anyone think that it’s who we are that the Jatouche might want?” Sasha asked.
“What do you mean, Sasha?” Harbour replied.
“Well, we’re human. We’re different from them. We might be valuable to them just because of that. And we’ve got empaths. They might value our services,” Sasha replied.
The adult women paused to consider Sasha’s statements. Harbour admitted to herself that she hadn’t thought of a relationship with the Jatouche from that point of view and made a mental note to speak with Jessie about it.
* * * *
The Jatouche’s equipment was loaded on the Annie long before the Belle made Triton. Afterwards, much of Tacticnok’s support staff journeyed home through the gate. The contingent who remained consisted of the eight original team members and a collection of scientists, engineers, and techs, totaling thirteen more individuals.
Once the Belle arrived, it was recommended to Harbour by Dingles and Danny that the colony ship’s last shuttle wasn’t to be risked in a moon landing. It fell to the Annie’s shuttle to transfer the twenty-one Jatouche to the colony ship.
Harbour and a select few individuals waited anxiously in the corridor outside a bay for the Annie’s shuttle to dock and the bay
to pressurize. Through the viewplate in the airlock, they watched three human figures bound down the gangway. One came through the airlock, and the other two waited on the bay’s side.
In the corridor, Jessie popped off his helmet.
“Who’s with you?” Harbour asked, tipping her head toward the two individuals standing in the bay.
“Belinda and Rules,” Jessie replied.
“Problem?” Harbour asked Jessie, gazing behind him and expecting to see the Jatouche trooping down the shuttle’s gangway.
“Our guests will need a few moments to collect themselves,” Jessie replied, stripping out of his vac suit.
“We can help with their personal gear,” Harbour replied. “There’s no need for our guests to cart it off the shuttle.”
“That’s not it,” Jessie replied. “They’re going to need time to compose themselves. I would guess Jatouche transports are a great deal more sophisticated than ours, meaning a lot smoother. I think if you shaved the fur off our alien friends’ hands, you’d have seen white knuckles on every one of them during the flight until we hit zero gravity. I witnessed a lot of terrified eyes and gritted teeth.
Jessie tried to keep a sincere expression on his face, but a lift of an eyebrow and a twitch of a smile gave him away.
The humans waited in the corridor for several minutes before the aliens walked down the ramp, one by one. They were none too steady on their legs. But, as they crossed the deck, they pulled themselves together, and, with Belinda’s help, the first eight of them filled the airlock and came through.
Those individuals with Harbour took the suits from the Jatouche and stored them.
“Your Highness, welcome aboard the Belle,” Harbour said, as graciously as she could manage.
“Your offered courtesy of both my title and the hospitalities of this ship are much appreciated, Captain Harbour,” Tacticnok replied. She introduced Jaktook, Jittak, Jakkock, and Kractik.
In turn, Harbour introduced Lindsey, Nadine, and Dingles.
“Perhaps, you’d like to rest and freshen up after your trip,” Harbour suggested, as Belinda and Aurelia continued to bring groups of Jatouche through the airlock.
“That would be appreciated,” Tacticnok replied.
“Afterwards, I’d like to introduce your technical individuals to a few of our preeminent engineers, who will be working with you,” Harbour said.
Several of the Jatouche, who were busy removing their suits, chittered excitedly among themselves, but Harbour didn’t receive a translation. They must have comms control with their ear wigs, she thought, noticing every Jatouche wore one.
“Afterwards, if you’d like, Your Highness, you can dine with Captain Cinders and me to discuss the project,” Harbour offered.
“We’ve brought sufficient rations to last many cycles, Captain, in case your dietary habits don’t agree with us,” Tacticnok said.
“We consume fruits, vegetables, and other plant-based products, as well as cultured protein,” Harbour replied.
“Excellent,” Tacticnok replied excitedly. “We’re omnivorous but don’t consume the flesh of animals.” Listening to a great deal of chatter from behind her, Tacticnok flashed her teeth at Harbour. “My team is pleased to hear that they won’t be depending on Messinant paste to get through the many cycles we’ll need to deploy the first device.”
“If you and your Jatouche will follow Nadine and Lindsey, they’ll take you to your cabins,” Harbour said, directing the way down the corridor. “After you have some time to refresh yourselves, we’ll collect you for the meetings. In the meantime, we’ll have your gear removed from the shuttle and brought to you.”
“Again, Captain, your courtesy is appreciated,” Tacticnok said. “I can see why Captain Cinders admires you,” she added, flashing her teeth, as her eyes sought Jessie’s reactions. As she suspected, he was surprised by her comment. Admire her from afar, do you, Jessie Cinders? Tacticnok thought.
Jakkock stopped briefly in front of Harbour and handed her a small case. “More ear wigs with the latest translation iteration, Captain.”
“Thank you, Jakkock,” Harbour replied, accepting the silvery case. “We’ll collect our first lot and return them to you for an update.”
“No need, Captain,” Jakkock said, patting a case he carried. “Your first group of ear wigs will be updated soon after I’ve found my lodging.”
Harbour, Dingles, Jessie, Belinda, and Aurelia stood aside, as the Jatouche streamed past them. Each of the aliens tipped a head, as they passed Harbour.
After the Jatouche disappeared, Harbour signaled to everyone to remove their ear wigs and cup them tightly in their hands.
“Did everyone notice that some of the Jatouche chatted together, but we didn’t hear translations?” Harbour asked quietly.
“Comm control over their ear wigs,” Jessie replied. “I wonder if we have that capability.”
“Or if we’ll be led to think we’ve got control, when they’ll always be on,” Dingles replied.
“Either the voice of reason or paranoia,” Jessie murmured.
“Only time will tell,” Belinda added.
“Which means, for now, be careful what you say, when anyone in the group has an ear wig,” Jessie said.
“Dingles, for now, don’t distribute these freely,” Harbour ordered, handing off the case to him. “They’re to be given out for meetings and collected afterwards. The exceptions are the five of us, along with Olivia, Pete, and Bryan.”
“Understood, Captain,” Dingles replied.
“One last thing,” Harbour said. “I understand the nod to a captain, when the Jatouche passed me, but why the gleams in their eyes?”
Aurelia giggled, and Belinda said, “The Jatouche spread the word about the effect Aurelia’s sending had on them. Apparently, it was more potent than we understood. To the Jatouche, Captain, you’re royalty … the empaths’ leader. Every one of them is probably hoping for a taste of your power.”
“Not all of them,” Jessie said, with a sour expression.
“Yes, Jittak. I noticed he didn’t seem to appreciate my presence,” Harbour replied. “Dingles, a cabin for our two spacers. I’ll see to Captain Cinders myself.”
“Aurelia, Belinda,” Dingles said, turning around, bending his arms, and offering them to the two women. They laughed, hooked an arm, and sauntered down the corridor with him.
“Dingles has sure changed,” Jessie said, shaking his head at the view of the three bantering spacers walking away.
“Love of a good woman will do that to a man,” Harbour said, watching Jessie closely for his reaction.
“Even if the woman is an empath?” Jessie asked, returning Harbour’s gaze.
“Especially if the woman is an empath,” Harbour replied. “Shall we?” she said, sweeping her arm in the same direction that the Jatouche and the three spacers had taken.
-30-
Engineers
The Jatouche were surprised to discover they were allotted a cabin for every two team members, except for Tacticnok. They had expected dormitory accommodations.
As they were led to their cabins, most of the Jatouche became quickly disoriented by the warren-like corridors and decks. Soon, a few of them were utterly lost.
“Not to worry, Your Highness, I’ve had Kractik tracking our every move.” Jittak whispered, with his ear wig output off.
Tacticnok had just commented to her two human hosts about the vastness of the Belle. She glanced toward Kractik, whose embarrassed expression revealed her unhappiness following Jittak’s request.
“With this information, Your Highness,” Jittak continued, “I can return us to the bay, at any time.”
Tacticnok switched off her ear wig output and asked, “What then, Jittak?”
“I’ve stored weapons in our personal carryalls, which the humans are unloading. If necessary, we can force them to return us to the dome and journey back to Na-Tikkook.
Tacticnok swallowed her anger, and, instead of replying
, she walked quickly ahead to join the human females. Jaktook stared silently at Jittak, as he passed the officer to catch up with Tacticnok.
The Jatouche were shown their cabins and its features, and they were able to relax in the accommodations. Once refreshed, Jaktook returned to Tacticnok’s cabin and tapped softly on the door.
“No need to state your reason for being here,” Tacticnok said, after she invited Jaktook to join her. “Jittak is growing more paranoid every day.”
“It’s the presence of so many empaths that’s frightening him,” Jaktook replied.
The pair of Jatouche reclined on pallets to speak further, appreciating that their hosts had made an effort to provide their preferred manner of relaxation.
“Have you felt any of the empaths’ power since we’ve been aboard?” Tacticnok asked.
“None, and I think that it might be scarce,” Jaktook replied.
“Why?” Tacticnok asked.
“If Captains Cinders and Harbour were Jatouche, what role in our society do you think they would occupy?” Jaktook asked.
Jaktook’s question was why Tacticnok valued his advice. He helped her think of the greater issues, when the smaller ones fought to occupy her mind.
“I’m unsure of where to place Captain Cinders, but Captain Harbour would probably occupy the exalted position of emissary to a partner race,” Tacticnok replied.
Jaktook flashed his teeth and nodded in appreciation, and Tacticnok was warmed by his admiration.
“My judgments are the same,” Jaktook said. “Captain Cinders’ team evidenced surprise after witnessing our reaction to Aurelia’s sending. Surely this event must have been shared between captains and their associates, which is why we’ve felt none since arriving.”
“I’ve lost your train of thought, Jaktook. What is it you saw in the dome that I missed?”