Merkiaari Wars: 01 - Hard Duty (28 page)

“You… want be friends?” Tei’Varyk said in cub talk.

“Yes,” Brenda said.

“You want help us kill Merkiaari?”

“If ### come, we stop them.”

“No,” he said feeling this was an important point. “Not
protect
us.
Help
us
learn
how to protect ourselves.”

“We help you,” Brenda said with her head bobbing. “Want you not hunt
Canada
—our ship. We need to send ### ### ### ###,” she screwed her face up at the bad translation. “We need send message home.”

Kajika hissed. “We can’t let them do that. More might come.”

“Quiet you fool,” Tei’Varyk said but it was too late. The device had already told Brenda Kajika’s words.

“You not help us send ### ### ###, we not help you,” Brenda said quickly in reaction. “My Captain… my Tei say he not let you ### his ship. He say destroy ### himself first. You not ### ### you help ###.”

Tei’Varyk’s chewed his whiskers in annoyance. The alien was so angry, he could barely understand her.

“We have these two,” Kajika said. “This lander might—”

“I won’t tell you again. Be silent or suffer for it back on
Chakra
!” Tei’Varyk blazed in anger. Brenda had been friendly, but now the conversation had slipped over into hostile territory.

“I nothing, my mate nothing, ### cub ### nothing,” Brenda said coldly. “Cub not ### our planets, little distance only… understand? Not go like
Canada
go. You learn nothing ### it. We ### be friends, but we not
give
you ###. A gift for a gift, ### we be friends forever. We not like Merkiaari; you not like Merkiaari. We kill them, help you kill them, but
Canada
small ship—not made ### fight. Help ### send message home… help come.
Canada
little ship. Made for explore—understand? Find new things, new places; not fight.”

Brenda had let something slip, and Tei’Varyk’s reaction to it told her that she had. She bit her lip and reddened. Did that mean she was embarrassed? It probably did, because she should be. Her ship was not for war, she said, but was instead for exploring new places. Imagine being in command of such a one, able to go anywhere and see anything.

He would revel in such a life. There would be new systems and planets for the taking, Shan venturing out and making those planets their home. A new and perhaps better harmony could be created. Not a warship she said. That was extremely useful to know. It said the alien ship would be easy to destroy, but he didn’t want to. He wanted it all. He wanted the stars for his people. He had no doubt the Human Tei would see his ship destroyed before allowing it to be captured. He would do the same in the Human’s position.

“I not say yes, I not say no. Elders say,” Tei’Varyk said finally making a decision.

“You go back
Chakra
. Talk elders ### come back and say. We ### here,” Brenda said.

Tei’Varyk flicked his ears in agreement, but then bobbed his head for good measure. He offered her the pictures back, but she said they were a gift. He bowed as best he could and she did the same before giving him a container to safeguard the talking devices and gifts.

* * *

Brenda knew she had gone wrong, but for the life of her she couldn’t see how she could have done differently. She had slipped by telling Tei’Varyk that
Canada
was not truly a warship, but if
Chakra
fired on her, Tei’Varyk would still get a surprise.
Canada
wasn’t a warship any longer, but she had been one once. She could still defend herself long enough to escape into fold space.

Brenda watched Tei’Varyk fit the compads and other things neatly into the container and seal it. They would be quite safe from the cold and vacuum of space. When they were ready, she escorted them to the airlock, all the time looking worriedly at James. Shouldn’t he have awoken by now? Surely the bots had made an impression on the wound after all this time, but if they had, she saw no sign.

The Shan sealed their helmets and stepped into the airlock. Tei turned to face her. He raised a paw and Brenda did the same before closing the inner door and starting the exit cycle. She watched in silence as the outer door opened and her guests left.

“Brenda?” James croaked. “Did I miss anything?”

Brenda gasped and spun to see James looking at her with a grey and sweating face. She was by his side and kissing him before she had even thought to move.

“Are you in pain? Of course you are. I’ll get you something my love; you’ll be all right. I injected the bots, and Fleet has good ones and—”

“Shush, I’m not in pain,” James said then grimaced. “Not much. I missed the whole thing didn’t I? Some hero I turned out to be…” he said as his eyes slipped slowly shut.

“You sleep now. Tomorrow you will be well again,” Brenda said and sat next to him holding his hand with tears of joy in her eyes.

* * *

Aboard Chakra, Inner Belt, Shan System

Tei’Varyk stormed onto the command deck in a state of high excitement and agitation. The Humans could be the saviours of his people, but like all good things, there was another side to the story. What if the Humans came here, but did not allow Shan to learn their technology? What then? His people would be like cubs to them. His people needed friends and partners,
equal
partners, not some kind of master or parent.

“Kon’stanji, you are claw of
Chakra
,” he said as he took his station from Tei’Unwin.

“I hear but…” Kon’stanji hesitated to ask.

“Kajika has shamed me. His punishment is reduction to alternate claw.”

There was some little shock at that, but relief as well. For all they knew, the aliens may have killed Kajika. Only Tei’Varyk knew that if anyone had killed Kajika it would have been him, and it would remain that way.

Tei’Unwin had not yet left the command deck. Tei’Varyk wondered how much he should divulge. He had yet to speak to the elders about his meeting with the aliens. Would they expect him to keep the meeting secret? Keeping it secret might make it easier for them to ignore the aliens. That was something he would not allow if he had his way, but it was not his place to make such decisions. He chewed his whiskers and decided to risk their displeasure.

“We have a great opportunity before us,” he began. “There are two aliens aboard the cub, and they are friendly.”

Gasps and yips of shock surrounded him. Tei’Varyk dropped his jaw and waved his ears in amusement. What did Humans do when they were amused? He glanced at Tarjei and saw worry mixed with relief at his return. The worry was the same as on all the other’s faces, but the rest was for him alone.

“You are certain, Tei?” Tei’Unwin asked. “Really certain they mean us no harm?”

“I’m certain of nothing. Never am I certain beyond some small doubt. You are the same or you would still be Kon’Unwin, but I feel they are not an
immediate
threat to us. I have been given gifts, and I have spoken with the female whose name is,” Tei’Varyk paused and tried to sound the alien name. “
Brenda
. Her mate is
James
. I have been gifted with a device that turns my words into Human speech. They have the same devices to turn their speech into ours. It’s not a perfect translation, but the errors are small enough for understanding.”

“
Humanssss?
” Tei’Unwin sounded the strange name, but he garbled the last syllable. “They are not like the Murderers?”

“No, they are very different. They’re much smaller and carry no weapons on their persons. They have no fangs or claws.” He hesitated. “They say they came to save us from the Murderers… I believe them.”

The command deck was silent, which was not good. Tei’Varyk looked around and saw complete disbelief on every face except Tarjei. She looked afraid for him, and worse, of him also.

“Tei…” Tei’Unwin began uncertainly. “May I have leave to speak with Kajika?”

Tei’Varyk flicked his ears. “You have my leave.”

Tei’Unwin bowed and left in a scrabble of claws. He was in a hurry to verify Tei’Varyk’s words, or refute them.

Tei’Varyk looked around at his crew’s worried faces. They deserved more from him. “I know you doubt me. I have given the Humans nothing but my word that I will speak to the elders about our meeting. The Tei of the ship we have been chasing will not allow us to capture him; he will destroy him first. I would do the same if I was he. That ship has FTL capability beyond any doubt. The Human Tei will never allow us to take him.”

“Then we should destroy him,” Kon’stanji said. “Surely?” he added with his ears at half-mast.

“So, to, does Kajika advise me. I see…” Tei’Varyk said quietly and his crew leaned forward with baited breath. “I see perhaps too much in these Humans, but the elders will decide. The Humans were attacked, as we were, by the Merkiaari. Eighty Human worlds were devastated.
Eighty.
Do you see what that means? I see a chance for our people to go out into the void and begin rebuilding the Harmony of Shan bigger and stronger than ever. I see Humans tracking down the Murderers with us and destroying them utterly. That’s what I see.”

“And what do the Humans see, Tei?” Tarjei asked.

“They see strength in numbers, I would judge. They came to warn and protect us, but I would have them help us learn, so that we might protect ourselves. We are not cubs. I would see us out there among the stars as equals.”

* * *

Aboard Chakra, at station keeping, Shan Inner Belt

Tei’Varyk chose his personal chambers to discuss the situation with the Humans. Besides James and Brenda, Tarjei and Tei’Unwin were also present. Strictly speaking, Tarjei should not have been invited. She had neither the rank nor the experience to warrant her inclusion, but he valued her insights. She was here because he wanted her close, and he was Tei for
Chakra.
If Tei’Unwin didn’t like it, he would keep silent if he knew what was good for him. Tei’Varyk had put up with more than enough questioning of his authority. He would allow no more of it.

“Your people would accept this?” Tarjei said.

“They would ### it,” James said excitedly.

Tarjei flicked her ears in annoyance at the garbled translation. The Humans did not understand her signal of displeasure of course.

“Say again.”

Brenda tried first. “They happy if Shan do this thing.”

Tei’Varyk winced at the static coming from his earpiece. Brenda had spoken the name of the race in Shan, and the translator had not understood her mangled attempt.

“How many Humanssss…” Tei’Unwin said trying to think of a simple way to ask his question.

“How many against it?” James offered and Tei’Unwin gratefully accepted that. “We have two hundred and thirty-four worlds, Tei. ### one ### billions of Humans. I ### tell you ### ### figure.”

Brenda added her thoughts. “Only fifty-eight worlds ### against coming here.”

“Only fifty-eight?” Tei’Varyk said slowly. Did he have that right? “
Only?
” he said exchanging a concerned look with Tarjei. “These fifty-eight would stop us?”

“No,” James and Brenda said together, but James went on. “One hundred and seventy-six in favour of us coming here, Tei. It is enough.”

“Your elders allow this?” Tarjei said in dismay. “You do not care about the fifty-eight worlds against us?”

“We care, but the Alliance is ### by ### vote. All worlds agree to ### by a ### vote. You see?”

Tei’Varyk believed he understood. Two hundred and thirty four elders led the Alliance, but as with everyone, they did not always agree. The Shan system was better. Kajetan always spoke the final word of decision. The other elders helped her to decide, but she, and only she, decided what was to be done.

“I understand,” Tei’Varyk said. “We have two worlds. We have two votes?”

“Ah… no, Tei. The twin worlds of the Shan are…” James looked flustered and Brenda spoke up.

“All Alliance systems have one vote. Your system is the only one with two ### worlds that we ### ever discovered, but the pattern is set. One system, one vote.”

Tei’Varyk thought that was probably best. Two votes might mean Child of Harmony voting
against
Harmony at some future time. He could not conceive of a situation that might warrant it, but best to rule it out now.

“What of our fleet?” Tei’Unwin said. “We will not give up our ships.”

Tei’Varyk couldn’t prevent his shock from betraying itself at the thought. His ears plastered themselves against his head, and his nostrils flared as if facing into a strong wind. He was embarrassed when his lack of control allowed his tail to wind itself around his leg. A cub of two orbits could control himself better. He took a deep breath and forced himself to relax. His tail uncurled slowly, and he was finally able to listen to James. Thankfully, Tei’Unwin was too intent on the Humans to notice his immature reaction.

“All our worlds ### their own soldiers, but there is only one Alliance navy—” James began.

“We will not give up our ships,” Tei’Varyk snapped.