Wednesday Briefs: Ancalagon Chapter 75

 

We’d shared some information I’d learned and what the team had compile so far, so there were more than a few murmurs when Bouncer made his little threat display. Of course, he’d promptly yawned and then lay down at my feet again right afterward. Lazy little shit caused problems and then left me to fix them.

“Yes, he is dangerous, and he does have natural defenses that could harm others. But so do a great many aliens or creatures from their planets that accompany them among Galactic space. He cannot be separated from me.” In fact, now that I thought about it, the farthest we’d been apart since I’d gotten him out of stasis on Garjah’s ship was the night we’d spent in his house and Bouncer had spent time among the plants. “Bouncer is usually within sight of me at all times. I don’t know what he’d do if you tried to make him leave; he’s not a domesticated pet, he’s a wild animal who is connected to me by choice.” My voice had more steel in it than I expected, but what harm was he doing? Why the talk to move him out of the council room all of a sudden?

An Aelqaed stood from her seat midway up the chamber. “This being you call Bouncer is not just a simple animal. His sentience his hidden, but it is there.”

Sentient? I cranked my head back, frowning. “I think I would know if he was sentient. He’s with me all the time.”

“Would you? I can literally see inside his mind. He is not what he seems.”

Bouncer still sat at my feet, seemingly relaxed, and only flicked one ear in her direction. He didn’t even look at her. “So he’s an advanced, thinking being? I mean, he thinks about where his last meal is coming from sure, but that’s not higher order.”

“So you think.”

The Aelqaed said they could see into minds, but it wasn’t telepathy and it wasn’t scientific. They sensed things and expected others to take what they couldn’t—or wouldn’t—explain on their word alone. “And if his kind is sentient why didn’t anyone else register this on the survey team?”

“We do not go to heavy planets. The gravity is too extreme.”

I scoffed internally but tried to keep my inner derision off my face. Years of experience suppressing my emotions helped as I wasn’t sanctioned immediately for insubordination. “So then any heavy planet we explore and potentially include in the Galactic could have sentient beings we don’t know about because you haven’t figured out a way to make your woowoo work within a transport that would equalize the gravity for you?” So maybe I wasn’t hiding the derision all that well.

“We do not believe that is likely.”

They didn’t? So Ardra is somehow magically different? I held back that argument since it didn’t bear on why we were there. “That still doesn’t explain why Bouncer’s presence is in question.”

“If he’s sentient, he should not be in a closed meeting with the Council regarding inclusion with a new species.” This came from the Tolgoi who’d reentered the chamber. He’d donned a heavy outer robe that tucked his wings down without damaging them.

“You are not serious. Not only is the planet in contention the one he—a supposed sentient being—is a native to that clearly has no issue with Garjah’s people since they’ve never had a conflict, if he’s sentient this a process the council will have to repeat with his people. Which kind of first contact do you want to have?”

“It is not protocol.” The Tolgoi were a pedantic bunch at the best of times.

“Very little of my life has been protocol lately. What I’ve learned is that you do the best with what you are presented with. We—I pointed to Garjah and Bouncer with a swirl of my finger that ended pointing back at myself—“will not be separated. Garjah’s people have been on Ardra beyond the statutes of prior claim, and yet he is here willing to negotiate a treaty that would allow for study and potential use by members also within the treaty. So do you want to continue to bicker about protocol or do you want to make some actual headway anytime soon?”

I hadn’t meant to speak so bluntly, but then again, I was a scientist and not a politician. Garjah was a security specialist, so he wasn’t a politician either. A strategist, though, that he was. He’d anticipated some push back and decided that revealing our overall agenda up front might be necessary.

“Essell.” That was my mother’s hiss from behind me.

Yes, yes, I knew what she would say. “One does not speak to their betters in that tone.”

Screw it. We’d already been there for forever, the chair was beginning to feel like a torture device, and I was getting a crick in my neck from looking up. I leaned forward, sweeping my gaze across the Council members assembled across the room from us in their seats looking down.  

“Garjah is here as a representative of his people. While I will not assume anything about Bouncer he doesn’t show me personally, he may be here as a representative of his kind as well. I’ve done the best I can to be an ambassador. I’d like for the Galactic Council to prove its worth so they know it’s the right choice to join.”

Impromptu speech over, I sank back into my chair. One just did not ask their rules to prove they were fit to rule over them, but in this case, I was firmly on Garjah’s side.

There was a flurry of side conversation, and then the Aqnars took the lead. “We would like to hear more about Garjah’s people, and what they expect from a treaty as part of the Galactic.” 

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Julie Lynn Hayes

Wednesday Briefs: Ancalagon Ch. 74

 

Those words rippled in my brain. Peace. We all claimed to want it, to come in peace or welcome others in peace, but both Garjah and I were dressed in suits; that didn’t show a lot of trust in their peace. Then again, I saw armed guards in alcoves.

Standard practice, but would aliens unfamiliar with the Galactic Council or Institute know that? Probably not. There’s too much at stake to go off on an intellectual tangent about how capricious peace could be. It was why I was a biologist; animals generally didn’t mask their behaviors. You might not know a predator was stalking you, but they certainly didn’t hide their status as a predator when they revealed themselves.

No, they went for your throat openly.

I eyed the Aqnars as we were led into a Council chamber, a large one, that must take up the center of the building. Council seats ranged up the walls on three sides, partially full of members of the Council, and the gallery behind us was empty.

Then my parents sat down in the seats behind our table with two large chairs on a dais facing the Council. I hid my surprise and felt a strange surge of comfort and warmth toward them. It was good not be facing this group alone. Garjah pulled back my chair before he moved his own; they were large, geared for someone his size but he moved them easily. Despite my increased muscle mass and bone density, I would have struggled.

“Thank you.” My voice echoed through the room, and I winced. Bouncer rumbled, the sound a low thunder in the amazing acoustics of the room. “Shh,” I hushed him. I encouraged him to calm, stroking his head and chest until he settled.

That was better. There was room for me to move, farther from the table, and the excuse of Bouncer at our feet was a good one for moving the chairs. Garjah didn’t like to be hemmed in, and the back on the chair was already bothering him. He sat ramrod straight. Maybe the sound bothered him too? I stretched one arm across the small space between our chairs—he’d moved them closer together too—and wrapped one hand around his lower arm. I could only feel the suit, but the contact helped regardless.

Swallowing, I turned to study the group studying us. At least thirty Council members were staring down from their seats. The two Aqnars, several Humans, a contingent of Cheegre in their usual huddle around their matriarch, a lone Togoi with wings fluttering nervously, and an Olnux with a central horn curling around its head in a crown higher than any I’d ever seen before. And that was just the first two rows. I was so busy categorizing everyone I almost missed the opening statements.

Nerves kept me awake, that and experience with long-winded professors. These Councilors liked to hear their own voices—a lot. There’s be an acknowledgement of Garjah somehow, a long-winded rosy-colored picture of their people.

I’d whisper the reality to Garjah, making sure the acoustics didn’t pick up my quiet murmurs. Maybe my parents roving habits would come in handy. I recognized every single race in the chamber and could give some fairly solid advice on who was or wasn’t good ally material.

Case in point, the Togoi. “Seems harmless, right? Dust on their wings is toxic. That one is not gonna last long here; the rest will start to complain before long.” Sure enough, a tiff was breaking out between his guards and the Olnux.

My bet was on the Olnux. He could use that horn to inflict serious damage. They also had a caustic tongue to match. “There you go.” The Togoi bowed to the room, to us, and then to the room again before he swept out of the room.

“Does that happen a lot?”

I leaned in. “Making a representative leave? Not really. But no one wants to be poisoned just for showing up either. He couldn’t calm down, so he had to leave.”

“Make sense.” Garjah watched them all intently, as if he’d have to sit an exam afterward. “This is not how we have interacted with other species before.”

“Joining the Galactic is different from trading.”

“These people are all so young.”

“Uh oh.” I’d lost the thread of the conversation, and in the meantime, they’d moved on. “—discuss your planet’s claim on Ardra.”

“What would you like to know?”

“How long have your people used that planet?” one Council person asked.

“Roughly one thousand and seventy years.” Gajah tapped the fingers on one hand. “Yes, four generations, so that would be it.”

That generated another flurry of speech. Garjah squared his shoulders, his body tense. Bouncer came to his feet and pushed his head onto Garjah’s lap. Garjah stroked his head, relaxing minutely. “What?”

“Prior claim is very established.” His kind lived well over two hundred years? Natural human life had extended, now averaging one hundred forty-three years, barring averse conditions to healthy and safety. Would Garjah be left alone if I died?

How old was he? I frowned, then smoothed my expression when I saw several councilors looking at me.

A councilor from the top rows leaned forward. Human. Male. Ahh, Dr. Chabney was an instructor in biology. “This animal is from the planet in question, yes? He is your pet?”

My frown returned. “No, he’s not a pet. Bouncer imprinted on me after I helped him find food on Ardra, yes, and we are friends.”

Like he knew we were talking about him, Bouncer turned and sat, then brought up one paw and unsheathed his claws, licking between each one. He made sure to flash some fang as he did it.

I swear, if he were human, he’d be such a shit-stirrer.

Want to read more?

J Ray Lamb

Julie Lynn Hayes

 

Wednesday Briefs: Ancalagon Ch. 73

 

The tension rose inside me the closer we got to the meeting. I didn’t know exactly who would be there, but it was rare—very rare—to meet a race as technologically advanced as Garjah’s. I asked for more information about the ship we were traveling on, and it was good that it was smaller and less overtly threatening.

Overtly.

Garjah had tried to reassure me by showing me all the hidden defensive capabilities it had, the weapons shielded from scans that also protected their technology and settlements from space. No one was going to discover they could basically vaporize the entire city where we’d land unless we told them.

My lips were certainly sealed.

Bouncer was unusually subdued, his eyes watching me closely whenever I sat to talk strategy with Garjah. We were both in agreement; we didn’t want to threaten anyone, and the ship’s defenses were just that—defensive. They’d help us escape if something went terribly wrong.

My hope was there would be enough evidence to turn any hostility and fear to avarice. My changes had been necessary, but if this were possible, limb regrowth and genetic alterations to adapt to heavy planet gravity, then more exploration might be possible in human space sectors. As far as our technology had advanced, genetic manipulation on this level without rejection was beyond scientists.

Timok would be in demand as a mentor. He’d be thrilled. I smiled at the thought.

“What?” Garjah asked. He was seated in a chair behind me, wrapped around me to stare over my shoulder at the forward screen to watch as the planet’s clouds parted to reveal the city below. We’d left the ship in space in orbit above our locators and taken the skimmer again.

“Just thinking of ways to torture Timok. He deserves it.” Sanctimonious ass, and he liked to touch too much.”

“Uh-huh.” Garjah squinted. “Is all that shiny material normal? They aren’t trying to blind us, are they?”

I laughed. “No. It’s for power absorption since this planet doesn’t have a strong power supply system, they use solar.”

Garjah raised his eyebrows. “Really? How… old-fashioned.”

It wasn’t cutting edge, no, and perhaps the city could be upgraded to newer tech but that would be prohibitively expensive probably. “Those in power don’t like to waste money on changing things that work.”

Sighing, Garjah squeezed me around the waist. “I guess I shouldn’t mock. My people don’t change much either, we just focus on retaining our culture instead of technology.”

“Good and bad. Remember, all species have it.” I’d seen that in my observations and my experiences moving from place to place. I took a deep breath and rubbed my hands along his arms. “Are you ready?”

“I am.”

I’d vacillated between expecting pomp and ceremony and worrying about being greeted by an ominous number of guards. In reality, there was a small contingent of guards, my parents, the head of the Institute, and several colorfully dressed representatives from the various branches supporting the leaders of the Council. Their gauzy clothes were blown nearly to tatters by the speed of the skimmer before we came to a stop.

I took a bit of pleasure in that, though it resulted in more than a few scowls that smoothed away when we emerged from the skimmer. It was warm, if nothing on Ardra. Still, Bouncer paused and looked up and then rumbled in pleasure. His forelegs stretched out in a long bow and each toe flexed, releasing his curved claws as he elongated his armored back with his ass in the air and then ended with a big yawn—exposing his claws.

A pair of representatives starting murmuring to each other. I couldn’t decide if it made him seem more juvenile and non-threatening or if he was subtly exposing his very real weapons on purpose.

“Mother, Father. You look well.” I nodded to them once. I hadn’t seen them since I graduated, but we didn’t bother with more affectionate greetings. I leaned into the hand Garjah had against my back and kept one of my lower hands on Bouncer.

“Essell. And Garjah, if I remember correctly. Welcome.” Mother nodded once, a polite smile curving her lips. Of course she remembered.

Garjah tapped his chest under his suit and inclined his head. “Thank you for your welcome.”

My father just examined Bouncer, and me, like we were new exotic bugs to pin under a scope.

A Xuchux slid in front of the group, her mass of tentacles propelling it smoothly. It was only disturbing if I looked down. Since she stood a head taller than me, nearly eye to eye with Garjah, that wasn’t a problem. “Councilors Alae and Lipro await you inside.” Her deep voice echoed in the empty bag of her torso, emitting from a hidden valve under her robe.

Her head was dominated by five eyes that circled the crown, giving her a full 360 degree view. She waved a tentacle, her indigo and fire orange robe fluttering as she pointed toward the tall doors left wide open. Could she see them?

Alae and Lipro were both Aqnars and could not be exposed to sunlight. As one of the oldest known alien species on the Council, they were often the ones who greeted the newest.

“Please lead the way.” I ignored my parents, letting them take up the rear while we followed the handful representatives.

Inside the atrium ceiling was awash with rainbow lights glowing from the many rotating planet holograms floating. Garjah stared upward. “What’s that?”

“Those are the planets in the Galactic.” The Aqnar’s voice was bubbly, even far removed from their deep water aquatic origins. Their lungs held a liquid that let them breath atmospheric oxygen, but it was reflected in their voice. “Welcome, welcome. I am Councilor Alae, and this is my partner, Councilor Lipro. We greet you in the name of the Galactic, bidding you welcome in peace.”

“Thank you. I come in peace.”

J Ray Lamb

Julie Lynn Hayes 

Wednesday Briefs: Ancalagon Chapter 72

 

The dark green markings on his body framed his face and graced his neck and shoulders. Some curved down across his chest and others curled over his belly and hips. I reached up and touched the edge of one over his hip where it pointed straight toward his straining shaft.

That bobbed, the gravity pulling it down after the muscles in Garjah’s abdomen rippled at my touch. He pulled in a quick breath and shuffled closer. I closed my hand around his shaft, feeling the supple softness around the rock hard core.

Garjah growled and froze.

“Is the door sealed?”

“Yes.”

“Bouncer asleep?”

“Yes.”

“Then come here.” Scooting back and widening my legs, I pulled his willing body down between my knees. “I need you.” I needed this closeness, to know we were both here and safe. My anxiety was churning a storm inside me, and only his touch could calm it.

We somehow made it work, bodies tangled on the small bunk. Garjah wedged between my legs and I arched into him. He loomed over me, pushed up on his lower elbows, and stared down intently into my eyes. He cupped my cheek with one hand and carded hair away from my eyes with the other. “You don’t have to be afraid. I’m going to keep us both safe.”

I glanced away. I hadn’t wanted him to see my fear, hoping to distract him with my need and his. I wasn’t sure I believed him, but I didn’t want to talk about it right then. “I know.” I curved one leg over his hip and pulled him closer, rubbing over shafts together.

He stroked my cheek, pulling my wandering gaze back to him. I stared into his eyes, unable to look away. “We will be okay.”

“Okay,” I said breathlessly. I licked my lips, and his gaze finally left mine to follow its path. He rumbled and the vibration passed from his chest to mine. The swirl in my stomach moved lower and I inhaled a sharp breath and let it out in a breathy moan.

“You’re mine,” Garjah ground out. He leaned down and licked my lips until I parted them. He staked his claim with each stroke inside my mouth, the kiss a fierce contrast to the gentle hold he still had on my cheek and the constant stroke of his fingers through my hair.

Our chests were heaving for air as we gasped in deep breaths after breaking apart. His salty scent filled my nostrils, and I stroked my face along his neck and laid a row of kisses across his shoulder. “You taste good,” I said huskily. I wanted to touch other parts of him, taste him.

I squirmed under him. “Up,” I demanded, two hands on his ass.

“Oh.” He crawled up the tiny bunk, his outside knee almost falling off. He caught himself, and I joined him in laughing.

“Careful, don’t want to fall off and break anything.” I reached up and palmed his shaft, letting it play through my hand. “That would be a shame.”

“Uh-huh.” The sound came out strangled, the agreement clear but the words garbled. Garjah’s eyes were half-lidded as he knelt with his knees on either side of my shoulders.

His scent was stronger here. I leaned up, nuzzling his hanging balls, then sucked one into my mouth. “Essell,” he gasped.

I chuckled wickedly, and he shuddered beneath the onslaught of my mouth and hands. I sucked, licked, and played until his legs trembled and his lower arms hung limp.

“Enough,” he finally gasped, pulling away.

“No,” I reached for him, not ready to give up the taste of him in my mouth. The bitterness of his precome layered with the salt of his skin and the unique scent that made Grajah so addictive.

“Yes. My turn.”

Garjah loved to tweak and play with my nipples, and they were standing up and tight in moments as he sucked and bit one and then the other. My cock was aching, my balls tight, and I couldn’t wait any longer. Squirming below him, I stretched for the lube I’d tucked under the pillow. “Please. In me. I need it.”

He had the slick on the fingers of one hand and me dancing on them in moments. The burn, the ache, and the pleasure hit in rapid-fire succession, and my body didn’t know what to do with it. I clutched his shoulders and buried my face in his neck.

Garjah rumbled his pleasure as I squirmed below him, pushing back into his touch as he added a third finger. I hissed, not able to move the way I needed to. I pushed on his chest. “I need to move.”

He pulled away slowly, and I regretted the loss, my ass empty. It didn’t stay that way long as soon as I rolled over onto my knees and arched to tempt him to touch me again. “So sexy,” Garjah rumbled.

“Horny,” I corrected. “Need you inside.”

I watched over my shoulder as he slicked himself up and then he was pushing in. It was too much and just right and not enough all at the same time. “Yes!” 

Want more?

J Ray Lamb

Julie Lynn Hayes