ZARED
The meeting went better than I expected, when I outlined Harper’s suggestion. It wasn’t that we couldn’t form a realistic plan. We were thinking like warriors unaccustomed to budgetary restraints of our current status. We were on our own; we couldn’t just put in a requisition to the Consortium for a transport ship. Although it would be foolhardy for us to attempt capturing a battle cruiser, taking a minimally manned freighter was a more realistic endeavor.
What we were planning was piracy. We didn’t see that as a problem since we were going to do it within enemy territory. We were certainly wanted fugitives already after we took out a battle cruiser, stole two-hundred slaves, and plundered the colony for anything we thought we could use.
In reviewing the skills of our rescues, there were four people who had space piloting experience. The women had done a thorough job of interviewing each person and recording useful information. Just as Harper said, most of them didn’t want to return to ruined Farseek without trying to rescue their loved ones. They would have agreed to go almost anywhere to escape slavery on that mining colony.
While none of them had been trained as warriors, there was a couple who had been in law enforcement. Farseek was less affluent than other Consortium worlds. Its people were still skilled in occupations held by androids and robots on worlds like Halor. Farseek may not have had the wealth of the Halorans, but they had all they needed for a comfortable lifestyle.
The people we rescued were motivated by the same need to find their loved ones as the Farseek Warriors. They were willing to work for that and to learn the required skills to that end. Some would be trained with the Earth women to provide support for warrior operations while others who met the requirements and were willing would train as warriors.
We made a new plan and dropped out of FTL as soon as we were in a safe place between star systems. Dread Eight dropped out nearby and we sent out an encrypted signal to the rest of the Farseek Dreadnaughts. Even if anyone decrypted the message they wouldn’t understand the code. It could be hours it could be months before we got a response, if we got one. So, we didn’t just wait to hear back from them.
We used intel we had already gathered to locate a ship repair facility within a few weeks travel where we might find the kind of ship we could need to transport a thousand or more people. It would be the kind of ship that was so large that it would be assembled in space. We would go there as if needing service and reconnoiter to see if any ships were docked of the type we would need and assess the odds we could steal it and escape with it.
We hoped by then we could connect with our other Dreads before we tackled the prison world. We would probably do it with two if we commandeered a transport ship. We’d gone against bigger odds, but things had changed in the months since we’d found our world in ruin. We were no longer Consortium Warriors. We were mercenaries and probably going to be pirates soon.
The entire company agreed that we would do whatever we had to do to find and bring our people home. The Sargans chose the wrong world to ruin, the wrong people to murder or force into slavery. We would take whatever we needed and fight anyone who tried to stop us from finding them and freeing them.
We felt like we owed them that because we weren’t there to defend them when they needed us.
Finding Harper was an unforeseen windfall in my life when I had lost everyone I loved, not knowing if they were dead or alive. Solmatu, my beautiful soul mate, she is the love of my life. I’ll never forget my wonder when I first caught her scent and her beautiful smile when she walked up and introduced herself to me---Harper Avery from the planet Dirt. Every time I think of it I smile to myself.
I hope one day our mission will be finished and I can take Harper back to Farseek to build a new home where we can raise the children we will make together. I wish there were a safe place for her to stay while the ship is in harm’s way, but I doubt she would go. I thought at first it was the heat of passion when she said it. “Don’t you even think around leaving me somewhere safe if you go and do this. I would rather die with you than live without you.”
But after I thought about it, I realized I felt the same about her. That is solmatu.
HARPER
It was mid-morning when Lieutenant Avantu came to the gym where we were finishing our strength training for the day. We were all being called to a meeting in the cargo bay with the other rescues. Zared gave me a smile as we entered but I didn’t go to him. I stayed off to the side of the group with my fellow Earthers. Admiral Degatu was front and center with Zared.
They went over their proposal with the entire group. I was surprised and pleased that it included a variation of what Zared and I discussed. When they finished outlining the plan, they called for a yay or nay vote as to whether the Farseekans wanted to go with the mission or back to Farseek. They voted to continue the mission. Even the few not from Farseek voted to keep to the mission. It was unanimous.
I knew then and there that it could be years before Zared and I could finally make a home on Farseek and start our family. I was okay with that as long as we could work toward that end together. My life on Earth seemed more and more like a distant dream from an alternate reality. Occasionally I still felt a twinge of regret that my family and friends might never know what became of me. But I couldn’t dwell on it.
After the decision was made to continue the mission Zared and I went back to our quarters so we could be alone to talk. He didn’t want to put off our formal mating ceremony in the presence of his people. He no longer believed it would serve to emphasize what they had all lost.
Finding each other was a turning point in both our lives and it would reflect the turning point in all their lives with the new mission ahead of us. I agreed, probably for more selfish reasons---to make it known to everyone that this man was mine.
I also learned that Zared had been keeping a journal as well even before we met. One day when we finished finding his stolen people, we would mesh them together to tell our story for our children and their children, and all who come after us.
I was now one of the Farseek Mercenaries with my mate, Commander General Zared Maktu. As we kissed to seal the deal, that of course led to other things. Somewhere between walking into our quarters and making our way to the bedroom, Zared got a teasing glint in his violet eyes.
“Harper Avery from the planet Dirt, I love you,” he said and laughed as we were helping each other taking off clothing.
“I love you too, warrior man.” We laughed together and started kissing again affirming our love with actions as all that was necessary had already been said.
THE END