“Good morning everyone! Do you have a moment to chat before you head back down?” Natori wondered, entering hangar C-2 to find the ‘Mara gang’ hanging around Pilot Cromwell’s shuttle.
‘We are all waiting here on your orders, sir,’ Io replied in a tone that made it very clear she was holding her head in her hand somewhere in cyberspace. Natori nodded to himself as he landed softly following a short ‘glide’ to the shuttle.
“Ah yes, I suppose you are. Let’s get you all on your way, shall we? Alice, don’t take this the wrong way but you look like my daughter when I’d pick her up from sleepovers as a teenager.”
“That is...exactly what you say to a lady in the morning,” Alice replied sarcastically through a titanic yawn, one that Xan quickly mimicked. His actions had the scientist suddenly wide awake. “Did you see that? He caught my yawn! Admiral, the amount of not just biological but cultural and behavioral convergence on this planet is -oof! Xan!”
“Can’t you just...I don’t know, write him a note later or something? I miss Seil’s light and warmth. No offense but it feels cold on this ship,” the Cauthan scholar explained.
“You have fur!” Alice protested.
“Not that kind of cold. It’s unnatural,” Xan clarified before adopting the mannerisms of the more elder priests of the village. “Sorry, sir. But if it’s all the same to you we should be going. I was treated well, minus a scale being removed. Meylith bless you for your hospitality.”
“Well I’m glad to see you two aren’t ripping each others’ heads off. Just scales,” Russell interjected with a smirk, being in the unique position of knowing both Alice and Xan quite well.
“We had a nice night together but Fenrir may have chosen a favorite spot in the hallway as a bathroom,” Veera added. “Thank you for providing us with a home here.”
“I thank you, Xan. And you are most welcome,” Natori nodded respectfully to Veera. “I will allow you to depart shortly and then find a mop. I simply wanted to report that I received the analysis from Dr. Dupuis and a handful of other scientists aboard who had the opportunity to review samples of Cauthan food and tissue supplied to our labs. Io has kindly given me the honors.”
‘Only because I knew the answer ahead of time,’ she clarified.
“I hope you’ll forgive me for not having spent a year amongst the Cauthan,” Natori smiled. “Veera, Xan, I would like you to know that so long as you are willing to go through routine decontamination, a process I will ask Lieutenant Winters and his sister to explain to you in detail if necessary, you will be welcome to access any and all areas available to standard civilian crew members of the ship. For the time being I would appreciate it if you would do so with accompaniment. I would like to open our dining facilities to you, given the nutritional analysis of the food brought aboard, as well as request a meeting with one of your elders to discuss the potential acquisition of seeds or crops for our grow rooms. Alice, Private MacGregor, please take point in this effort.”
“Yes sir,” they replied, with the Marine rendering a sharp salute. Even he had faint bags under his eyes.
“Thank you both. Finally, Lieutenant, I would like to hear about the full results of your physical. We detected a couple of novel G antibodies in your blood sample and are documenting them for future use. You also have a slightly elevated D antibody count which…I’m not sure what that means,” Natori admitted.
“You didn’t just look at the rest?” Winters wondered before catching himself. “Sir?”
“No doubt I could have, but I intend to respect the confidentiality enjoyed between a physician and his patient,” Kaczynski explained.
“Nothing abnormal, sir. I didn’t experience any illness during the last year either, so I’m not sure what to say about the antibodies.”
“Your body is doing its job then,” Natori encouraged. “These results are an auspicious foundation for a broader human presence on Mara, which is the final item we must address. I do not know if you’ve introduced yourself, Lieutenant, but we have a full squad of Jumpers aboard this ship who have been cooped up for quite some time. It was my intention to send them to the surface today to recon the site you and Io located, and hopefully establish a research and military outpost from which we can base our efforts to determine the true nature of whatever technology you discovered. Io has provided me with your suit’s data regarding that expedition, but I wanted to inform you directly and assure you that no one is looking to steal anyone’s thunder.”
“Let them have it,” Winters waved it off, though not disrespectfully. “If it’s anything like what Io and I think it is, you’ll need us later. Well…you’ll need her.”
‘It’s a package deal, sir. You know that. I’ve already explained to the Admiral that wherever you go on Mara, I go as well,’ Io declared warmly. ‘Can we go sledding again?’
“Were you peeping?” Russell wondered lightly.
‘Aaaah…old habits die hard?’ Io explained sheepishly, her tone of voice inching higher with each word. Winters shook his head as Veera leaned against him.
“It’s fine, darling,” she insisted as the uninitiated tried to decide if Io and Russell meant what they thought they meant. “Admiral Kaczynski, I would be pleased if you allowed other soldiers to become involved in this matter and allow my husband and I a bit of peace.”
“Your pronunciation is better than about half of the humans I know,” the Admiral replied pleasantly, a certain amount of relief on his face. “In that case, I should depart and brief them on their next mission. I thank you all for your understanding and, to our Cauthan guests, I hope that we will see you again soon. Safe travels, Pilot.”
“Aye aye, sir. Hop on in, everyone. The Mara Express waits for no one!” Cromwell declared, clearly better rested than most of the other humans in attendance.
“What happened ta Brick?” Lachlan asked her.
"He'll always be Brick to me, but don't try to act like I'm not running a ferry service here, Private," Cromwell chuckled. As they all piled in she even reached out towards Fenrir, who fixed her with his yellowish eyes and followed her fingers closely. The pilot thought better of it, withdrawing to her cockpit before potentially losing a hand. Xan filled in, rubbing the hyrven lightly under the chin and then more strongly between his ears.
"It's alright, boy. She'll warm up to you once she gets past the claws and fangs."
"And the two tails!" Alice added, strapping herself and Xan in before extending a tentative hand to join him in petting the local alien wolf cat.
"Try here with your claws," Xan offered, showing Alice how Fenrir enjoyed a firmer scratch at the nape of his neck just above the harness that Russell had fashioned for him. "Hey wait…weren't they…your claws are green!"
"Good with animals and notices your nails? Sounds like a keeper!" Cromwell advised over the intercom. Lachlan burst into deep Scottish laughter, Alice blushed to her neck, and Russell kicked the cockpit door with his boot.
"Less talking more flying, pilot," he requested.
"Yes, Lieutenant," Cromwell agreed in a most unapologetic tone. "Fasten your seatbelts everyone, I'm engaging thrusters now."
-----
"Attention!" Sergeant Lipper shouted as Admiral Kaczynski walked into the ship's armory, an expansive room of corridors filled with explosives, armor, weapons, and ammunition, all under the watchful eye of the ship's Master of Arms. The four Jumpers promptly stood straight and saluted, a gesture that Natori returned in full before gesturing that they return to their previous state.
"At ease, Sergeant. I presume Darius knows you're playing poker in his armory?"
"He cleans them out regularly," Natalya offered from her position on one of the benches that sat between lockers and armor racks. A paper book could be found in her hands, The Tempest.
"Well who am I to keep an honest man from a not so honest living?" Natori asked playfully, though his keen eyes scanned the entire scene as if to find anything truly out of place. When they did not he returned to Lipper. "Sergeant, I have a mission for your squad."
"About damn time, sir! What'll it be today? Pacifying locals, escorting civvies?"
"None of the above, Sergeant. I see your long journey has left you a bit excitable. See to it that your head is level by the time you're in a shuttle," Kaczynski warned, immediately cooling the amicable vibe in the room.
"I will, sir. What's the mission?" The Sergeant tried again. The Admiral nodded.
"As I'm sure you all well know, part of our first contact with the locals of this planet included the retrieval of First Lieutenant Winters, Omega Division. He is the only survivor of the Lancer. The Lieutenant has apparently been busy over the last year, and while I am leaving relationship building with the Cauthan to the pedestrian crew of the ship…there is a matter of importance we must address. Follow me please."
A short time later the five of them were seated in one of the small military briefing rooms on the ship, a short jaunt from the armory and the express elevator to the drop pod bays. The nature of shipboard life was such that one never knew who was watching or listening, even if such observation was benign. While it was not the most elaborate of spaces, the Admiral couldn’t help but smile at the lighting which came not from a dingy overhead bulb or bright halogen fixture, but from softer LED’s that formed the ‘molding’ of the room, illuminating the place evenly from on high. He thought it to be an inspired design choice. Once the door closed, countermeasures engaged, and all were seated around a nondescript wooden table, Natori began. “I suppose by now you’ve all realized that what I’m about to tell you is classified. And no, I don’t mean ‘haha Natori likes old Japanese cartoons’ classified. Looking at you, Rex.”
“All due respect, sir, the newer mecha is way better,” the Private replied, his unreasonable bulk still somehow managing to strain his PT gear while at rest.
“Certainly a conversation for another time,” Kaczynski deferred. “Please understand how very serious I am when I say that what I am about to tell you is classified. The rest of the crew can talk all they like about the endless wonder of this new world, its ecosystems, and the fluffy raptor cats that call it home, but you and I must worry about whatever it is in this system that killed the Lancer and tried to kill us.”
Though none of the Jumpers had been making noise prior to Kaczynski’s statement, an even more smothering silence seemed to fall in his wake. After that pregnant pause he continued. “With the help of a select few individuals in core engineering and Cassia, we have fully analyzed the data gathered in the wake of our arrival in this system. You may remember the lights going a bit dim?” Mendes and Natalya nodded. “That was a result of our ship being forced out of warp early by an unknown force.”
“The fuck?” Lipper exclaimed. “How is that-”
“Possible? I hope you four will help us determine the answer to that most pressing of questions,” Natori continued. “Data from the Lancer’s comm buoy, which has since been rendered inoperable by solar radiation, indicates that they experienced the same fate. The unexpected exit combined with their proximity to the system’s star sealed their fate. It appears that our exceptional mass and larger capacitors saved our lives.”
“Bigger is better,” Rex declared, earning a roll of Mendes’ eyes.
“Given that we’re still breathing I have no reason to refute that,” Natori said. “While we can take a look at the warp point now and see subtle inconsistencies, we are unable to trace their origin or origins. Suffice to say they are not natural in occurrence. Envoy Qul’Roth was willing to share information gathered by his species with me, and neither of us were able to find warp points that churn like this one does, at least not in star systems with relatively stable bodies. I’m sure if you tried to warp in next to a black hole you’d have a difficult time but…getting off track?”
“A bit, sir,” Natalya confirmed. Kaczynski cleared his throat and leaned his elbows on the table.
“My apologies. The point is that while we know something is wrong in this system, we do not know why. Without Lieutenant Winters and a whole lot of luck we would be fumbling in the dark. I mentioned he married a local, right?”
“Off track again, sir,” Mendes offered, though this time Natori wagged a finger at him.
“Not so fast my dear Jumpers! I promise this is relevant. You see, the Lieutenant and his bride seem to have taken something of a honeymoon, so much as one is possible in a community operating at an iron age technology level. At the terminus of their journey, the Lieutenant reports that they found a vault of some sort. Or perhaps a bunker would be the best way to describe it? In any case, upon entry he gathered footage that I believe presents overwhelming evidence that a technologically advanced, potentially even superior race or races once called this planet home. It’s all right here,” he offered, passing a data disc across the table to Lipper. The Sergeant took it between his fingers and placed it into the breast pocket of his uniform.
“What’s on it, sir?”
“Coordinates and a written description of the site,” Natori replied. “And before you bite my head off, I’m not sending any of you in there just yet.”
“But the Omega boy just got to waltz on in?” Rex protested, earning a stern glare from the Admiral.
“That is Lieutenant or Lieutenant Winters to you, Private,” he reminded the Jumper harshly. “You all know my feelings on the history of Beta Division vis a vis Delta and Omega, but now is not the time! Lieutenant Winters had no choice in the matter. There was no backup; there was no orbital presence. He was the only human in this system and he took a colossal risk in entering this place, one you should thank him for should you meet him in person. We are not under that sort of duress and so we shall do this properly and in a manner that does not place any of you at undue risk. Is that clear Rex?”
“Yes sir.”
“Lipper?”
“Just give us the mission, sir. We’ll get it done,” the Sergeant promised. All of them were feeling a mixture of tension and eagerness by that point.
“Very well. The four of you will take two shuttles to the surface and approach the site on foot from a safe distance. The Lieutenant was able to waltz on in, as you said, but we don’t know if the facility has any anti-air capabilities. Nor do we know if he inadvertently activated any defenses in his wake. Your mission is to recon the site, confirm this structure is still there, and if so, establish a safe location to serve as a military and research outpost.”
“Scientists won’t be happy walking a couple hours each way,” Mendes mentioned.
“I have no doubt,” Natori agreed. “But I will not put anyone’s life at risk for the sake of convenience. If we are one day able to ascertain that this site does not present a danger to shuttles then we will re-evaluate at that time.”
“Yes sir, we’ll make it work,” the Private agreed.
“Fantastic. The data is all in there but be advised that the surrounding environs appear to be primarily grasslands. Additionally, we have been unable to detect any evidence of local settlements in the area. That does not mean you will not encounter Cauthan, as they call themselves, either nomadic or sedentary. I cannot stress this highly enough to all of you,” Natori said emphatically. “Your lives are your top priority. Even a primitive alien can slit your throat if you are caught unawares.”
“Charming image, Admiral,” Lipper chuckled.
“One I’m sure you’re more aware of than I. But after your lives are taken care of, the sanctity of this planet and its ecosystems are your top priority. I don’t think I need to impress upon any of you how unique an opportunity we have been presented with. Under normal circumstances this planet would be barred from human and Ghaelen exploration, likely for millennia. We have an extraordinary chance to observe and learn from this world, this new Earth. Many back home consider the pacification of Udanis IV to be our crowning achievement as a spacefaring species. What we do here, assuming we are able to return home, will be far more important than anything humanity has done so far in the galaxy. We have been placed in the role of demi-gods. All that remains to be seen is what sort of gods we will be. So when you’re down there strolling through Mara’s pristine fields in your impervious Aegis armor…try to avoid stepping on the flowers, if there are any.”
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
As Natori’s speech ended the four Jumpers looked at one another. Slowly smiles emerged, lines on the cheeks and at the corners of their eyes. Natalya chuckled, and soon Rex joined her in a moment of lighthearted appreciation of the stakes, large and small, that the Admiral had laid out. “You sure know how to get me to watch where I put my feet,” Mendes offered.
“Happy to be of service,” Natori replied, checking his watch. “Sergeant Lipper it’s currently…is it really? This twenty one hour cycle is throwing me for a loop. Please be advised that we are on such a cycle and that 2059 is now a minute prior to midnight. In any case, it is currently 0832. While we are not on the clock per se, I would like this mission conducted expeditiously. Sergeant, can your squad be locked and loaded by 0900 hours?”
“Not a problem, sir,” Lipper replied, standing and saluting Natori. The Admiral did the same.
“Perfect. I have already made the arrangements for your ride to the surface. Natalya, I know you’re qualified as a pilot but please give the others a chance to stretch their wings, so to speak.”
“If you insist, Admiral.”
“I must say that I do,” he told her apologetically before looking around at the whole squad. “Any further questions?” When none were forthcoming he rendered a final salute before sending them on their way. “Godspeed to you all. If it’s a slow day on the bridge I may ride shotgun with one of you. Enjoy your trip to Mara. Dismissed.”
-----
“What’s all this about now, hmm? Break it up you lot or you’ll all be sitting on benches until lunchtime,” Gentia warned, approaching a rambunctious group of her young charges who had congregated around Ursol. The boy was sheltering something against his chest and refusing to let anyone look at it. The warning of the matron of Meylith was enough to temporarily resolve the scrum, and most of the other cubs quickly found other distractions or imaginations to engage themselves. No matter how many sticks or shiny rocks or carved toys Gentia could acquire, it never seemed to be enough. But her cubs knew she expected them to share, and to give thanks that they were still alive to enjoy such frivolity. “Ursol dear, what have you got there?”
“Can’t give it or Laklen never come back!” He insisted, shutting his eyes tightly. Gentia’s face was an impassive mask, torn between comforting a child and explaining the realities of life.
“I won’t take it from you, I promise. Now why don’t you come sit here and we’ll work on your words,” Gentia offered, hoisting the cub up onto the bench next to her as his compatriots chased on another through the temple, much to the chagrin of the other acolytes. “You are talking about the other human male? The one with red fur?”
“Yes Gentia,” he replied politely, hands still held tight around Lachlan’s dog tags.
“His name is Lachlan, my dear,” Gentia said, drawing out the syllables so that Ursol could process them. “Now why don’t you try again.”
“Ah, I can’t give them because Lachlan needs to come back,” Ursol explained slowly, earning a motherly smile from Gentia.
“That’s very good, Ursol. Sentaura is teaching you well. I won’t take that charm from you, but I would like to look at it. Can I see it?” Gentia requested. Ursol looked up at her and slowly opened his hands, revealing the dull metal of the tags. “Thank you, dear. Do you think you can use your words next time to explain to your friends?”
“I try.”
“I will try,” Gentia repeated patiently. “That would make me very happy if you did.”
“He promised to come back,” Ursol whispered with a sniffle, wiping his nose. Gentia was on the precipice of explaining to the young cub that sometimes things can take longer than one would like when a pair of heavy footfalls entered the temple.
“There ye are, wee fluffy lad! I’ve been lookin’ all over for ye! Pretty sure you’ve got somethin’ that belongs to me?” Ursol leapt from the bench and scampered over to Lachlan, leaving Gentia well in the dust to catch up at her own, aged pace. By the time she arrived Ursol was already hugging Lachlan as best he could around his armor, the Marine having picked him up effortlessly. He acknowledged her with a nod and a smile. “Good mornin’ to ya, mum. How are ye, Gentia?”
“I am well, human. You seem to have found yourself a very loyal companion there. He was worried you would not return,” she informed him neutrally. Lachlan held Ursol a bit further from him so they could meet eyes.
“Now what’s this about, wee laddie? I gave ye my tags and told ya I’d be back for em, right? Well here I am,” Lachlan assured the cub. Ursol didn’t have any reply for him, instead looking down at the ground.
“He has to accept it,” Gentia remarked quietly.
“An’ he will, when he’s a bit older,” Lachlan replied confidently, though he certainly couldn’t admit to any sort of surety. “Now are these all your friends, little man?”
Perhaps inevitably, Lachlan’s arrival had caused most every cub and young Cauthan in the temple to drop what they were doing and approach him, eager to see another human up close. “Why do you have so much more fur than Russell?” One of them asked, taking note of Lachlan’s beard, moustache, and arm hair. The Marine had chosen to leave a bit of his armor back at Alice’s lodgings given the heat of the summer’s day.
“Still got a lot less than you!” He replied, waiting for the young Cauthan to laugh following the translation. “Now what are you lot learning today?”
“We will be learning about when and how to harvest various crops…assuming I can regain their attention,” Gentia cut in pointedly, making it very clear that Lachlan was the proximate reason she did not have the attention of her various charges.
“Then I’ll be gettin’ out of yer way, mum. Oh, and Alice might be stoppin’ by later to discuss some things about growing more food? She’s nappin’ for now.”
“Thank you. I will expect her,” Gentia said politely. “Now, if I might have my young student back?”
“I’m going ta go find yer mum and give her a hand,” Lachlan explained to Ursol. “You be good for Miss Gentia here now, ok?”
“Ok Lakkan!” Ursol exclaimed, causing Gentia to huff a sigh of amused frustration.
“The pronunciation of human names will perhaps be a supplementary lesson today. Thank you for your visit this morning, Lachlan.”
“Pleasure is mine, Gentia. I’ll see you later.”
“Selah, human.”
“Oh! Uh, Selah to you too,” Lachlan turned back and replied, not having expected the more formal goodbye. “See you for dinner, wee fluffy lad!”
A much happier Ursol waved goodbye as Lachlan exited the temple, making his way to the northern gate and the fields beyond.
-----
“So, you have returned,” Sentaura remarked, standing to her full height, setting a bucket on the ground, and walking through rows of well tended crops to where MacGregor waited patiently at the terminus of the northern path out of the village. The forest began a short distance away, quiet and subdued in the heat of midday. Lachlan bowed politely, a hand on his rifle to keep it from shifting.
“Selah to ye, Sentaura,” he offered politely. The Cauthan stood still for a moment, her feathers moving in a subtle and inscrutable pattern.
“And to you, human,” she eventually replied evenly.
“If ya don’t mind my sayin’, the little one was a bit more excited ta see me,” Lachlan smiled. Sentaura’s eyes seemed to soften slightly at the mention of her son.
“There is still much in this world for him to be excited about. Do you have need of something? If not, I would prefer we speak once I have tended to my plots. I can come find you before sundown.”
“I get that ya didn’t want my charity, Sentaura. But how about my labor? We’re interested in the food yer growin’ down here,” Lachlan stated.
“Who is we?” Sentaura demanded skeptically.
“Well all of us,” Lachlan replied, scratching his chin. “Well, specifically Alice and Natori, he’s the man who leads us, like Antoth, yeah? And I’m sure lots of people up on our ship would be curious about it. Look, I’m not askin’ to steal some food. Lord knows I’m doin’ that already by eating dinner with you. Just looking to help and understand a bit. Maybe I’ll pick something up that can help the others when they try to grow some of this stuff.” The Marine couldn’t help but look somewhere else when Sentaura had no reply for him. “If it’s more of a one woman job I can just do a bit of explorin’ and-”
“Your people intend to grow crops? Where?” She wondered.
“Up there,” he replied, pointing to the sky with a hint of pride. “How do ya think we all survive? Gotta grow our own stuff! Took us half a year to get here.”
“I do not see how such a thing could be possible,” Sentaura said doubtfully. “However, I suppose that if you will be staying with us you should earn your keep. You will be eating with us this evening?”
Lachlan stood a bit straighter at her pointed question as a couple of other Cauthan glanced their way, curious as to his presence. “Unless there’s an emergency I’ll be down here tonight, mum.”
“What is ‘mum’?”
“Ah, shorthand for mother,” Lachlan helped decode the peculiarities of his speech. Sentaura crossed her arms.
“If you insist on not using my name I suppose I prefer your other method of referring to me.”
“Ya mean fluffy lass?”
“Just call me Sentaura, please.”
“That sounds like a fine plan,” Lachlan agreed rapidly, feeling awkward sweat drip down the back of his neck. “Now what can I do ta help out a bit here?”
“I will show you,” Sentaura beckoned, turning from him with a wave of her bushy, charcoal tail. “And do be sure not to flatten anything with those oversized foot protectors of yours.”
“Boots.”
“What’s that?”
“They’re called boots,” Lachlan clarified, though his statement only earned him a glare from Sentaura. He looked down, not understanding what he’d done wrong.
“Did I not just say to not step on anything?” She huffed.
“I didn’t know ya meant the weird mushroom thing!” He yelped, kneeling in the dirt to see what could be done about the fragile, frilly fungus. “Ursol’s probably gonna have a right laugh about this one.”
Sentaura’s disappointment faded at his mention; and the fact that the broad-shouldered human had visited Ursol and then her in turn shortly after the loud arrival of their shuttle wasn’t lost. She knelt beside him and brushed his hands away, showing him how to harvest it. “This one can be yours tonight. And be sure to get all the roots, otherwise it will strangle the kina vines…”
Over the next couple hours, Lachlan found himself developing an appreciation for Cauthan industriousness, if not intelligence. The newly constructed aqueduct supplied ample river water for the farms around the village, and at most any time of day various farmers and their teenaged children could be seen congregating around the reservoir, taking a bit of time to socialize that would have otherwise been spent walking to the river and back. A few even introduced themselves to him, now more acquainted with the idea of a human or two scattered around the village at any given time. After several trips Lachlan could contain his curiosity no longer, and he inquired about the water situation.
“If ye don’t mind my askin’,” he began, scattering water over a portion of the field that contained tall stalks that looked ready to mature either into edible grains or fiber for cloth. “Why wouldn’t ye just set up shop down by the river? Wasn’t it a pain ta walk down there and back every day?”
“It was,” Sentaura agreed. “And I look back fondly on the few years when I did not have to. But even had the first human not granted us the boon of knowledge, do not think us stupid. We are where we are by design.”
“Ah…” Lachlan blinked a handful of times and handed her the empty bucket. Eventually Sentaura realized his intention.
“My apologies. I was presumptuous. You are curious?”
“That’s why I asked,” he affirmed politely.
“Indeed. Come, why don’t we take lunch?” Sentaura offered, leading him not back to the village, but to the nearby shade of the forest where the smell of earth, soft ground, and respite from Seil could all be found. From within a tree’s hollow she withdrew a waterskin and a small satchel of dried meat. Lachlan sat himself against a separate trunk, extending one leg fully and tearing open a ration bar to go with his half full canteen. “We chose to plant our food nearby for two reasons. The first is to make it easier to retreat inside the walls should we be attacked.”
“That’s a mighty fine reason,” Lachlan agreed, resting a hand over the knife strapped to his chest. He dropped his voice. “Does that happen often.”
“After Winters massacred those three tribes I doubt we will experience another raid for some time, but yes…there have been at least two in my life that I can remember vividly.” When Sentaura was not forthcoming with further details on the raids, instead chewing over a piece of dried ursae meat, Lachlan cleared his throat and moved the conversation forward.
“And the other reason ye don’t farm near the river?”
“To avoid the pests, of course!” Sentaura told him, the eyepiece on his helmet displaying that her word could either refer to generic pests or insects specifically. Before she could get too far into her explanation, Lachlan stopped her.
“Could I ask to record you? It’s not that I don’t find this interestin’, more that I know Alice and the others would really want to hear this as well,” he said around a mouthful of ‘shepherd's pie’.
“I’m sorry, but I am not literate,” Sentaura admitted freely, taking a swig from her waterskin. “I do not have anything on which to write.”
“Not a problem, fluffy lass. Just keep talkin’. Watch,” he encouraged, activating the proper functionality on the personal tablet he’d kept on his person throughout the day. It had served to translate and now a small red light had activated. “Hello, Sentaura,” he spoke as proof of concept, stopping the recording and then playing the sound back. Though its translation functionality had not been a point of remark, hearing his voice verbatim coming from the device was something new.
“It stole your words!” She gasped.
“Not so fast, still got em,” he chuckled assuringly. “It’s just a way to…save what we talk about so that I can share it with others later. It won’ steal anything from ye. It’s more like it makes a copy, transcribes.”
“You intend to share our conversations with the other humans?” Sentaura asked warily, moving past the initial shock.
“Only Alice, and only the stuff about yer plants,” he promised, waving the tablet about in his hand as he explained his reasoning. “I think she would know best what ta do with any information about farmin’ going forward, especially if we want to try growing some of yer own crops. She’s a scientist, I’m just a soldier.”
Sentaura pondered his words for a while. “Yes, I suppose a priestess could possibly be better suited to this task. So you will be a messenger, in effect?”
“That’s right,” Lachlan affirmed.
“And how will I know you do not…how shall I say it? Transcribe something I do not want you to? Or something my son says?” She demanded with that most typical, piercing gaze of hers. Far as Lachlan was concerned, most every Cauthan was capable of it on account of their feline traits. He activated the recording functionality and offered the tablet to her. She accepted it gingerly, turning it over in her hands and getting a feel for the weight.
“When that red light there is on, it’s active. Why don’t ye hold onto it for now while we talk?” He suggested.
“We should return to the fields soon, Lachlan,” she advised as a warning. “However…if you are to assist me perhaps it is better that you understand these things and have a record of them.”
The statement was a bit left-handed, but in MacGregor’s eyes it was progress. He still had the prior night to make up for. “That’s mighty kind of ye, Sentaura. So what were you sayin’ about these insects?”
“Awful little things. It’s why we keep our floors clean and dry.”
----
“Their insects are amphibious?!” Alice gasped excitedly, refreshed after a long nap and meal taken with Xan and Thantis. She and Lachlan were spending some time in the pre-supper hours walking about town, a quest to see and be seen. On the way Alice was making various notes alongside the transcript that Lachlan had prepared of his conversation with Sentaura on the subject of Cauthan agriculture.
“Look I don’t know if they’re amphibious, that’s just what she described. They can’t go too far from water it seems,” the Marine clarified, unsure if the Cauthan even had a word for amphibious.
“That could explain what Kaha mentioned,” Alice muttered, jotting down another note as they walked. Lachlan was forced to grab her by the shoulder and steer her around a Cauthan couple strolling the opposite way. “Thanks for that!”
“Shouldn’t ye maybe watch where yer goin?” He asked teasingly.
“That’s what I’ve got you for!” Alice responded with ease. “Now let’s see…did you get a chance to ask her about these fungi?”
“And what exactly should I have been askin’ the fluffy lass about her mushrooms?” Lachlan asked sarcastically. The young woman at his side snorted through her nose before making another note.
“It’s ok, I was just curious. I’m thinking about the ecosystems in this biome. If insects are confined to bodies of water or other constantly moist places then it stands to reason that other organisms would have to step in to fill those niches left behind. I haven’t seen anything like a flower on this planet, but even if there’s no pollination to be done that still leaves carbon and nitrogen cycles that have to operate somehow. I’ve seen all sorts of dried herbs and fungi in the temple of Kel; was thinking maybe that’s what’s going on?”
“Can’t say for sure,” Lachlan replied as they meandered through the square and towards the western gate. “But Sentaura had some very interestin’ things going on. Plenty of herbs and fungi growin’ between her crops. Somewhere on a fine line between weed and food?”
“Fascinating!” Alice gushed. “Oh, that reminds me. Soil samples! We should definitely get at least a couple from various fields and the forest. Maybe one per crop? Maybe two.”
“Sorry, forgot my entrenchment tool back at the ship. No more diggin’ for me today thank you very much,” the Marine insisted, looking at the Maran soil under his close cut fingernails.
“Oh no, what ever shall I do without a big strong man to operate my entrenchment tool for me,” Alice swooned dramatically. “Hey, isn’t this the temple of their forge god? Maybe they have a shovel.”
“Ye don’t even have any sterile containers,” Lachlan protested, only for Alice to reach into a sling bag that she was wearing and withdraw precisely that. His shoulders dropped. “How did you even-”
“This is what I asked Cromwell to get after Natori said he’s interested in potentially growing Cauthan food on the Event Horizon! Oh, hello there. It’s…Asha, right? Selah to you,” she called in greeting, silently thanking the fates that human gestational periods were only nine months. Asha’s belly was quite prominent, and according to Io she still had almost four full months left before giving birth. The grey-furred Cauthan looked up and waved at them with her feathers.
“Selah to you, humans,” she replied happily, resting a hand on her cub bump. “What brings you here today?”
“Looking for a shovel, actually! I would like to gather a little bit of the soil of this planet for study,” Alice explained. Asha chuckled, her feathers vibrating slightly.
“I’m not sure why you’d want to do that, but we have plenty of it. And you’ve certainly come to the right place. I’m just waiting for my mate. Every day there’s something new that needs building,” the Cauthan explained as Alice was suddenly struck by a new idea.
“If he’s busy, would you like to go visit Gentia with me?” She requested.
“Oh? Is there something the matter?” Asha wondered, a bit hesitant given her lack of familiarity with the older Winters sibling.
“No, not at all. Just, you’re really close to my brother right? I was hoping I could do something to thank you, for being his friend and all that.”
“Not sure ye answered her question, Alice,” Lachlan advised.
“Sorry,” Alice apologized, quickly tucking some stray hair behind her ear. “I was thinking you might like to meet a very good friend of mine. She’s older, like Gentia, and has cared for human mothers and infants her entire adult life. If there’s anything that my people can do to help improve the lives of your people’s mothers and cubs it would be her,” Alice replied tactfully, having quickly internalized how important reproduction was to the Cauthan race and culture. It was apparent everywhere she went in the way the village behaved towards its young and vulnerable. As they were speaking Zolta appeared in the doorway, stepping forward and hugging his mate from behind.
“It’s going to be a bit longer, I’m sorry,” he told her.
“It’s fine, dear,” Asha purred, wrapping her tail around his leg. “Come find me at the temple of Meylith when you’re done. I will be speaking with Alice and Lachlan there.”
“Sounds good. Don’t want you out in the direct light too long,” Zolta agreed.
“Zolta! I’m not so fragile,” she protested playfully, earning a nuzzle from him.
“To me you are. Take care of her, please,” Zolta entreated the humans. Russell’s sister nodded emphatically as Lachlan rested a hand on the butt of his rifle.
“She’ll come to no harm, young smith. Ye have my word as a Scotsman.”
“Your homeland?” Zolta clarified. Lachlan nodded in affirmation. “Then I accept. I’ll see you for dinner, Asha. Be well.”
“You too, Zolta. So Alice, who is this female you were speaking of?” The mother-to-be inquired as they turned back the way they’d come. Alice gave her a smile wide and genuine.
“Her name is Yvonne Dupuis. And I’m pretty sure the moment she sees a Cauthan cub her heart is going to melt.”