by Mirren Hogan
Hearing a noise, he sat up in his bed with a start. Something had fallen off a shelf and he frantically looked around to see what had knocked it off. After a moment, he noticed there was a spot in the corner that seemed… blurry? How could that be? He rubbed his eyes and glanced at it a second time.
“What in the bloody hell?”
Getting up slowly so he could keep his eyes on the spot, he wondered over to the corner and reached out unhurried. In the back of his mind, he knew he was crazy and that any minute, someone would walk in and see him reaching oddly for a trashcan. Questioning his own sanity, he blinked and screamed as something grabbed his hand.
“Hybrintque newoerpl dahiumty zavormialohra!”
He stopped and blinked. “I don’t speak your language, I am afraid. I don’t understand you.”
The invisible hand yanked him down to one knee and grabbed his temples, holding him for a minute. It was a gentle caress, more than a forceful one. He stared into the blurry corner as the slight pressure released. In front of his eyes, the burry spot dulled into a beautiful Cavirq woman.
She stared at him her long silver hair flowing around her shoulders. “I read you. I pick up words you understand?”
He chuckled and sat down on the floor, covering his mouth. “Yeah, I understand you now. How did you get here? Why are you here?”
She struggled a moment before she spoke. “I come. I see you. Picture on treaty ask? I know you help.”
He nodded. “Indeed, I have tried, but they won’t let me.”
She mouthed a few words and nodded. “I try too. My parental unit… hmm, father? He is very leery of Qan'ul kind.”
He chuckled. “I know the feeling.” She looked at him puzzled as he shook his head. “Never mind. I want to help. We can do this together maybe?”
She smiled happily at Dahgan. “That is Månen wish. Please.”
“Is that you name? Månen?”
“You are Dag.”
He laughed. “Most call me either Dahgan or Trep.”
“Trep. I like.” She reached out and caresses his face gently, running her long tendril of a finger across his cheeks and nose. “You are greinal.”
“What?”
She shook her head. “You are…hmm, virile? How you say?”
Dahgan laughed. “You think I am handsome?”
She giggled. “Yes, Månen do.”
“Well, I… yeah, you are quite beautiful yourself. Here, lets get you up out of the cold corner.”
He extended his hand and she placed hers gently on his palm. He helped her to her feet and, to his amazement, she was taller than the books had said. She had to be at least 5’7”. Her skin wasn’t a pale green, but a pale aqua instead and felt like silk across his own. Her eyes were like sapphires and her lips matched the stunning gaze in her eyes. Her hair reached her waistline and was like curled strands of pure silver. He was blown away by how breathtaking she was.
She let go and stepped around him, wandering over and looking into the fish tank by his bed. It had a variety of marine life from different planets in the Red Sector. He watched as she attempted to touch them and stepped back confused when the glass prevented her from it. Leaning against the wall, he just observed her as she went from place to place, examining his quarters. It was fascinating to him; like watching a child who was just learning things.
She played with his stone collection. He took great pride in it. It was a stone from every planet he had ever been to. There was a grand total of 56 of them. It was impressive for a captain in his late thirties. Most captains never get to 25. He had made it a mission to visit as many as he could, even if it meant keeping him moving. He had volunteered for so many missions just to get to set his feet on a new planet. The goal he set for himself was to reach 100 before his retirement. He was over half way there. She picked up the stones and glanced over them. Some of them caught her curious glances more than others. There was one though, and he had several of that particular one for a reason, that really caught her attention.
“This is lopwetri.” He raised his eyebrow as Månen stopped, shaking her head. “Shiny. It shiny, pretty.”
He nodded. “It is called Dapris Lamentra. It is from the planet Stara X4Q in the Black Sector.”
She smiled and rolled the small, marble-sized ball around in her hand, giggling. Her giggle intrigued him. It was somewhere between a chaotic laugh and a deranged serial killer’s chuckle. But it fit her personality. Not saying he thought she was a deranged psychopath or anything, but it was fitting because it was different. SHE was different.
“I can have? Please?”
He nodded, and she smiled, holding it in her hands. A faint glow surrounded her, and he stood up, watching curiously. When she opened her hands, the glow died out and there were now two perfect halves. They were wrapped in a beautiful spiderweb weaved casings, with a silver strand necklace. She walked over and smiled at him. As he looked at them, the necklaces were made from strands of her own hair. He watched as she showed him the two pieces, both having a rune now engraved into the flat side.
“This is you. This is me. Always together, yes?”
He nodded as she placed one around his neck. He felt his head swimming and closed his eyes for a second. When he opened them, he suddenly noticed they weren’t on the ship. “Wait, what did you do? Where is this?”
Månen looked around and ran for a set of vines, pulling them back. “Home. Home, Trep.”
He watched as she waved to him through the vines. Glancing around and pinching his arm to make sure he wasn’t dreaming, he walked slowly through the vines to a small waterfall. There was a cave to the right underneath it that had vines over it, pulled back on one side. He stepped out in awe of what lay before him. Was he on Cavriem?
“How did we get here?”
She stopped and smiled, pointing to the necklace. “You stone… will find me where I am. It will bring you.” He stopped and looked down as the stone glowed.
He blinked and stared at the now empty room. It was dark and boding. He put his hands over his head and growled for a moment, getting his bearings. Sitting up in bed, he ran a hand through his hair. “My god, what a damn dream!”
He shook his head and stood up to go to the bathroom when a dizziness came over him. A moment went by when he noticed that the room seemed to tremble… as if the room weren’t really there. After a moment, he realized that the sleep deprivation had really been too much on him. He washed his face and patted it dry on the towel in his left back pocket. It was a present from someone. He couldn’t remember who, but they said never to go anywhere without it because of its many uses… and he hadn’t. Tucking it safely back into his pocket, he started to leave his quarters. He needed to eat and get to the launch.
Grabbing a snack bag and a protein shake off the out of the cooler before opening the door to his quarters, he stuffed down the dried caprara fruit slices. He didn’t particularly love the taste. But they were packed with all the nutrients he would need for one day. The station gets them shipped in from a planet on the other side of the Red Sector especially for this reason. They could survive off of one of these fruits a day for months before the body would give in. That made them useful for keeping their crew healthy during missions. The station’s cooks dried them to preserve them, making them last that much longer. The best way to describe them was a mix between a dragon fruit and a grapefruit. Much sourer though. A lot sourer. It was kind that they treated them with sweet gum oil.
Walking down to the launch bay, he saw Jevil placing the mechanical Cavirq into the capsule. He looked over the machine and something hit him. Was that how they actually looked? Or was the girl in his dream more of a reality. Shaking off the thought, as dreams were just that, he watched as the pod was fired toward the planet of Cavriem. He drank some of his protein shake and felt his heart drop.
“This species of innocent beings is in danger only because we can’t come to an agreement to be a peaceful damn species ourselves. This whole thing
is absurd.”
“How so?”
He glanced over and shook his head as the station Admiral came over to him. “Really? I think if you really thought back to the six attempts I have made for a new treaty negotiation, you would know why.”
He stared at the launch bay as everyone was cleaning up after the launch. “I read the briefs. I read the whole “it’s my duty” bullshit as well. I want to know why you think that this is absurd.”
“They have been nothing but respectful and peaceful for how long? And WE made the damn mistake! Pardon the free speech, SIR, but I think that since we started this war that we should be attempting to stop it rather than progress it!” The Admiral laughed. Dahgan quickly averted his stare to meet the Admiral’s face… which was full of sheer happiness. “I don’t recall saying anything funny, Admiral Griea.”
Griea turned and nodded. “Indeed, you didn’t. That isn’t why I was laughing.” He looked back to the window and sighed. “I was laughing at the fact that you didn’t put a single ounce of that passion into your pleas. They were boring. And not exactly truthful, if you don’t mind me being so bold.”
Dahgan scoffed and laughed lightly. “Not TRUTHFUL? What exactly did I lie about?”
“It wasn’t that you LIED, so to speak, but that you didn’t give the whole reason that you were interested in SAVING the Cavirq species.”
He started to object and then stopped. “What? Should I have admitted that I am in love with the culture and my desires are to visit there?”
“And…”
“And what?”
“Admit it. You love the culture and want to visit… but your true desire lies with wanting to inhabit Cavriem.”
Dahgan looked away and stopped, considering what he said for a moment. “Yes. It has been a dream for a while now to retire there. I have never told anyone that… so, that leads to the question of, how did you know?”
He raised an eyebrow. “Captain Dahgan, I have known you for 15 years. I see what you have studied, both through cadet school and beyond. Your intentions, although not announced, haven’t gone unnoticed. Submit another request, with more intent and passion and I will pitch it one last time to the Embassy.”
Dahgan nodded. “Understood, Sir. And… I am sorry about the attitude. I hope you don’t take it offensively. It wasn’t meant that way.”
He turned to walk out, laughing. “I will let it slide this time, Captain. Hold your tongue from here on out, understand me?”
“YES, SIR!”
Dahgan waited till he left the room and smiled. Heading back to his cabin, he started writing the brief for the seventh time. Lucky number seven… at least he hoped it was. This time, not taking the political route, but the more personal route. He made sure to mention that he had studied the environment, the ecology, the government and political organization, the species itself … everything that could be studied, he had. He was prepared to not only to make peace with the Cavirq society, but to live there as a Qan'ul diplomat between the Red and Black Sectors.
As he finished it, re-reading it several times to make sure it sounded heart felt, he sighed and sealed it into a brown official post envelope. He left his quarters and made his way to the Admiral’s, dropping the letter in the box outside the door. He smiled and turned swiftly to the alarms going off. All captains and crew were being asked to report to their designated ships for inspection. Odd, they only do inspections when…
“Damn it! They are sending us to invade Cavriem!”
An hour later, Captain Dahgan sat behind the controls of the Vanquisher, the entire team of the Supernova Squadron behind him. Headed to Cavriem. His thoughts running wild, flashing back to that brief. His first in command, Lieutenant Kiall, looked up at him and nudged his arm.
“Hey, are you alright?” Kiall looked around to notice that everyone was seeing what he was. Dahgan wasn’t himself and there was something different about him.
Dahgan shook his head, sitting forward in his chair. “No, Kiall, I don’t think I am. I don’t plan on attacking Cavriem.”
Kiall stopped and turned his head. “Excuse me? The Admiral…”
Dahgan laughed and nodded. “Yes, he ordered us to invade and you know what? I don’t give a damn. This is MY ship. We aren’t attacking. We are going to talk to them. Ensign Evyh, lower the power on our weapons and shields. I want the entire fleet to follow suit. We are to APPEAR as friendly as possible. Ensign Oleka, please send a message to the other ships in the fleet to stand back until further order. Prepare the pod, I am…”
A blast shook them, sending a few of the crew that were standing to the ground. Dahgan rubbed his head, groaning, where it had been slammed into the side of his chair. Pulling back, he saw an odd substance on his head. Shaking his head a bit confused, he was alerted to the alarms blaring. Everyone started to reorient themselves into position. Another blast sent them into a frenzy.
“Will someone tell me what the hell is happening???” Dahgan screamed, sending everyone on edge.
“It appears that we have an unidentified ship in the vicinity that is firing on us! It doesn’t appear to be Cavirq or Qan'ul, Sir.” Oleka started hitting buttons and cleared his throat. “Sir, we have an incoming message.”
“Who is it from?” Dahgan stood, straightening his face and staring at the screen.
Oleka turned his head and stared. “Unknown… I am not getting a transmission from… anywhere.”
Dahgan steadied himself and nodded. “Proceed.”
Oleka nodded and turned back to his screen, hitting a few buttons and raising the power on the transmission. Within a moment, the screen blinked and Captain Dahgan came face to face with a Strevohnian male. Dahgan, awe struck momentarily as he had thought that this species had been obliterated; in shock, he attempted to greet the Captain.
“My name is Captain Dahgan of the Supernova Squadron’s Vanquisher. Who am I speaking with?”
The Strevohnian looked off screen and nodded, a few words in an unknown language spoken. A moment later, he addressed Dahgan in Qan'ul. “My apologies for a long space of response. We are updating systems to translate into Qan'ul understanding. I am Slibrash, Captain of the Magni-85. You have entered territory you are not permissioned to be in. Please leave now.”
Dahgan nodded. “I was not aware that the planet of Cavriem was under your control, Captain.”
“This is unauthorized space. Leave now.” Slibrash stared. It made Dahgan very uncomfortable.
“I am on a peace mission with Cavriem. My issue is not with you. Please don’t make it be. Allow me to do my job and then we will leave peacefully. I am here to talk to the people of the Cavirq nation.” Dahgan stood his ground. He was determined that he wasn’t leaving till a treaty was settled.
“LEAVE NOW.” Slibrash started to get a hint of annoyance in his voice.
Dahgan stared back just as hard, taking a step toward the screen menacingly. “I don’t think that you are understanding me, Captain. I have no intention of leaving until my job is complete within CAVRIEM AIR SPACE, NOT STREVONHIAN AIR SPACE. BACK DOWN!”
Slibrash growled. “Very well… suit yourself.”
The screen went black and Dahgan stopped cold. “Ensign Evyh, prepare us for battle. I have a bad feeling these bastards aren’t backing down.”
“Yes, Sir.”
Dahgan looked to Kiall and shook his head. “Be prepared to take the helm. I have to make it to that planet. If this starts going downhill, we need to make an evacuation plan… and fast.”
Kiall scoffed. “Shouldn’t we just back off and contact the Embassy for instructions? They can deal with these rogue Strevohnians and get us permission to be here, after all. We could go about this peacefully.”
“The Embassy has made it clear they aren’t willing to do this. This is MY SHIP, this is MY RULING. I refuse to let this go because then the Cavirq society will be endangered by the Strevohnian leaders as well as the Qan'ul! Do you not see that this peaceful mission will not be a peaceful o
ne unless someone takes action! Besides, we have no time!”
Kiall stopped and took a second to think before he nodded. “You are right. By the time we get the permission we need, our fleet as well as Cavriem will be in danger of elimination. We need to at least warn the Embassy that the Strevohnian leaders are trying to take over the airspace in the Black Sector though. They will at least send backup to control them.”
“Do it, Kiall.” Kiall nodded and went to send the message as Dahgan turned and announced to the bridge. “Prepare for battle! Charge weapons and raises the shields. Send messages to the others in the fleet and get them prepared. How many Strevohnian ships are in the Sector?”
Oleka started scanning and running information. “Using the signals from the Captain’s vessel, Sir, I am counting at least 20 bouncing signals. I would say a fleet of at least 21, if not more. However, they are cloaking themselves well enough for them to be out of sight.”
Dahgan sighed. This wasn’t going to end well at all. They had came for peace and walked into a war. He stopped to ponder as the crew was preparing; if the Strevohnian leaders were taking over, could it be possible that the Cavriem people weren’t responsible for the ending of the treaty with the Red Sector after all? If he could somehow find proof and get it back to the Red Sector…
An alarm went off and a blast to the hull jarred them. It was starting. Dahgan started shouting orders, blasting lasers at Strevohnian ship. He watched on the screen as it hit their shields, causing a slight crackling across them. Ordering the lasers to keep going, hoping the Vanquisher could break the Strevohnian ships shields before their Captain figured out how to stop them. A few more shots, the crackling got stronger and more wide-spread. Another blast at the hull of the Vanquisher sent them back in space a bit, clicking against another ship in his fleet.