Rennek
I am excited to see my sweet Kate when she enters the bridge, the joy within me is only slightly dampened to see she has brought the sour one, Allison, with her. I sense much negativity from this human.
I go to my mate’s side and pulling her hair into my hand I tilt her head up so I may kiss her lips. She kisses me back tentatively and pulls away sooner than I would wish. Her cheeks flush and she does not look at me. Nor does she look at Allison, who stares wide eyed at her. I can feel the eyes of my crew on me as well, but we do not need to offer them any explanations.
“Hey,” she runs her hand down my arm, reassuring me. “Any new developments?”
“No. None.” I tell her and she reads the significance of that statement in my voice.
“Is that normal?” She looks to me, head cocked to the side in inquiry. She is so cute, my mate. Out of the corner of my eye, I notice Allison make her way to the control stations.
“I expected to hear from Tennir by now,” I tell her. “I had hoped to get an escort for the remainder of the voyage. But we are close now, so it does not matter.”
“Is there anything we can do to help?” Kate asks me.
“No, Kate. You continue to rest and relax. You have been through much,” I tell her as I stroke her beautiful red mane.
“Actually, Rennek… we’re getting a little bored with resting. We’re all rested up now,” she beams a smile at me. “But, we were hoping to start learning more about your ship or any technology you might be able to teach us…”
“I want to learn your weapons systems,” Allison interrupts. “This is it right?” She points to where she saw my crew working artillery during battle with the bounty hunter.
Kellen looks to me and I nod my approval. “They are right, they will all need to learn our ways and technology to assimilate.”
“Welcome Allison,” Kellen greets her and offers her his chair. “Let me begin by teaching you the names of…”
“No,” she waves him off. We all stare at her dumbfounded.
“Him. Lizard boy. I want him to teach me.” Since the females entered the bridge Da’vi has appeared engrossed in his work, now he bristles but still does not turn to face the bossy female. The bossy female who continues to insult him.
“Are you sure?” I ask this odd female. Last I was aware she was spitting hatred at Da’vi.
“Yeah.”
“Why though Allison? Don’t you think it’s be better that Kellen...” Kate begins.
“No. Kellen is going to be pussy foot around what I need to know. He,” she points at Da’vi again, “will not cut me any slack. I want to learn, not have my ass kissed.”
Kate swings her gaze to mine, shrugging. She does not appear to have any grievance with this.
“Da’vi, please begin training Allison in weapons and basic ship functions.”
Da’vi approaches Allison. Her arms are crossed in front of her and she gives him a cold and unbreaking stare. I was at first worried he might intimidate her with his distant and harsh demeanor, but the more I see of this Allison… the less I worry about her being intimidated.
“Follow me,” Da’vi tells her.
“Where are we going? I want to learn about weapons?” She points to the control panel.
“You will work your way up to those weapons, human,” Da’vi says as he stalks out of the bridge. Her look is defiant, but she follows nonetheless.
“Okay… well they seem to have their own thing going on there, but all of the humans will need to learn about all this… stuff,” Kate waves her hand indicating everything around us. I remind myself how primitive the world she came from was. There is so much for them to learn.
“Yes, call your humans to join us. We will begin your training right away,” I tell her. She smiles at me before she leaves the bridge.
“Why did you not tell her you meant for her to use the comms?” Kellen asks after she is too far away to hear.
“I did not wish to embarrass my mate, she is only just learning.”
“Your mate?” Kellen breathes out.
I cannot help but smile. “My mate,” I confirm.
“May the Goddesses bless your union, my brother,” he says, his voice full of reverence. I nod proudly.
“Check in with Dax and Bossan, see who is available to aid on the bridge. I want Bossan to boost our cloaking system and I want someone running deep scans for the remainder of the trip. I don’t want anyone sneaking up on us,” I tell him.
“Yes, Rennek.”
A short while later all the females are on the bridge. I long to be near my Kate, but I am no teacher and Dax loves an audience. So, Kellen and I run scans while Dax gives general descriptions of all the ship’s most basic and fundamental systems. He allows the females to try simple functions at various work stations. Kate and Reagan help one another translate all Dax is teaching. I suspect the lesson is much more difficult for the females who have yet to learn our language. Da’vi and Allison have not returned--I do not know if it means their training is going well or poorly.
“These are the primary communication systems. From here we can create and receive comm links and those of us who are really good at breaking into systems can force comm links if a ship is avoiding our hail for some reason.”
“Like you guys did with the bounty hunter’s ship?” Kate asks.
“Yes, but not all ships are alike, some have more defenses built into their systems. This is true of fighters, destroyers, anything UPC. They will have more protective measures in place to avoid a force link, but Bossan is a genius when it comes to that kind of thing. He can force link just about anything,” he tells them.
“What about you?” Reagan asks.
“I am not as good with computers, I do not have the patience,” he smiles. “I am better at weapons systems and I am best at navigation,” he says proudly.
“You’re a humble guy,” Reagan scoffs.
“Why be humble, when I can be honest? You want humble, look to Kellen,” he shines his wide grin at all the females and I grit my fangs. I know Dax has been intimate with females in the past--many are drawn to his charm and good looks. So, when he smiles at the human females I feel an insatiable need to pull my Kate away from him and fold her into my arms.
When I tune in to their conversation again he is quizzing them on which buttons to press to open a live link. Then, suddenly the comm station is alive with some sort of notification.
Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep.
“That’s a new sound. What does that mean?” Kate asks.
Dax punches a few keys. “An urgent message is incoming…” he studies the screen. “It’s locked and encrypted.”
I hurry over and punch in my codes.
“Put it up on the view screen,” I tell him.
An image of Tennir is suddenly before me. It is dark where he is--it looks like the lab’s lighting systems have been damaged. Tennir looks to be damaged, for that matter. His face is bruised and his lip bloodied. Dim emergency bulbs flicker behind him and he begins to speak.
“Rennek, this message is of the utmost importance. I pray it reaches you. Do not, I repeat, do not rendezvous with me at the lab. The station has been…” he looks away from the screen, “it is not safe. There is nothing left here. I am on my way out as soon as I finish this comm to you and one to mother. Encoded with this message are coordinates for a new rendezvous point. Do not trust anyone Rennek. Rely only on your crew. I hope to see you soon. Take care of yourself, brother.”
The comm cuts out. Kate rushes to my side. Reagan is working to translate and the other females look fearful. I look to Dax and Kellen. I see fury and determination in their eyes. There is a silent acknowledgement between us all. We will protect my mate and her people and we will rescue my brother. Kate’s fingers link with mine and I meet her eyes. They search me.
“All will be well, my Kate,” I tell her.
“That’s my line. Are you okay?” She asks, studying me.
“Tennir is strong and he is smart, I have faith in him.”
I turn to my friends. “Get Bossan up here, I want those coordinates decoded. Everyone else start running scans. Call Da’vi up here, I want him working too.”
“Yes sir,” my friend says and I try to shrug off the annoyance I feel at any sort of command title. It is not command that bothers me, it is the idea that we are not equals. That I could be above my friends in any way.
“I’m sorry, your lesson must end early Kate.”
“Look, I know this message changes things, and you’re worried about your brother Rennek…” she looks to her people. “But I don’t think the lesson should end now. I think this is exactly where we need to be.”
“I do not know if that is best, perhaps you should go back to your accommodations?”
She lowers her voice, “Look, if you send us back to our rooms right now all we’re going to do is worry. Here, we can feel proactive--like we have some sort of control over what’s going on. Back in our rooms, we’re going to feel helpless. I’m going to feel helpless. Let us keep learning,” she begs. “We won’t get in the way, I swear. Kick us out if we do, we just want to watch and learn.”
Before I can speak Dax calls the females over to him, “Who wants to do their first long range scan?” He smiles as if it is all fun--a game. But I see the females relax. Still unsure, I look to Kellen and he nods. They stay then.
“Thank you, Rennek,” Kate says as she pulls me down and kisses me. There is no longer any timidness about it. When I open my eyes, I see two of the females stare at us with their mouths agape. Reagan and the human speaking one who is fearful pull their attention away.