Wednesday Briefs: Ancalagon Ch. 88

 

“We’re on approach now.”

“Are we ready for this?” I sat in a chair and watched our arrival on the planet. It was beautiful from the air. They had so much open space, filled with natural wonders. The colors were vivid from space with small areas of lights dotted here and there as we grew closer. Still, the overwhelming majority of the planet had been kept in a pristine state.

I had to hope that Ases was ready, and that the satellites ringing the planet would bounce the signal he was using out to the Galactic. One of the rebels had the codes, and she’d transmitted them to the ship as soon as we came in range.

“Entering atmosphere.” Even with my increased density, it was a jarring landing. I wasn’t sure what was harder, my heart pounding or the way I was thrown against the strapping holding me to my seat.

“We didn’t come down this hard last time,” I said.

“Last time we were invited.”

Good point. I sat quietly, aware of the tension rising as everyone very competently did their jobs. The communications guy twisted in his chair, “Confirmation, sir. We have two crews at the landing site, and more than enough of a presence to ensure your safety.”

“Any sign of security?”

“Negative.”

Garjah sank back in his seat. “He did it.”

“You doubted Seedrah?”

“Not his loyalty, but his ability to lead in my place. I have broken tradition; I could see the Kardoval using that to replace him.”

“Does that mean it’ll work? We’re going to be safe?”

“We should be. I still want you in a suit.” It was a bone of contention between us; he wanted me in a suit, but he wasn’t willing to wear one. Thought it would show weakness or fear. His skin was thicker than mine, but not that much. A suit would keep him safer.

Bouncer was at my feet, the rough journey not even phasing him. I wish there was some way to protect him, but he was an animal. Besides, he had even thicker skin that Garjah, the ridges on his back protecting his spine. His attention was riveted on Garjah, even as he hovered near me. He definitely sensed something was happening.

The view through the screens changed, and we descended below the upper levels of the atmosphere. The flight eased, and we stood together. The landing zone was almost visible without the magnification of the screens. “Time to get Ases,” I said.

“I’ve captured the feed from his mech,” the communications tech said. “He’s already broadcasting so we can begin to relay as soon as you give the signal.”

“He is?” I asked in surprise.

“We’re ready,” Garjah said.

“Okay.” I took a deep breath. “We got this.”

Ases’ was dressed in ceremonial robes—the easier to drop and shift if he needed to—and his mech was behind him holding him in place with both arms, the eyes lit up the only sign it was recording. “Hey, Essell. You ready for our big show? I always said drama was your true calling.”

“No, you big fat liar. If anyone was a drama queen, it was you.” My voice had the slightest shake to it that I couldn’t hide.

“Guilty,” he sang. “But causing trouble is so much fun. And you’ve been having a lot of fun.”

“Fun. Sure.”

Garjah leaned against me and held a strap on the wall. “We’re landing.” I crashed against his body, and he wrapped both of his left arms around me and held me against his side. Bouncer lay on my feet.

The engine shut off, and the quiet was broken just by the sounds of the metal pinging and settling in the return to gravity. Gravity, shit. “You’re okay here, right?”

Ases had taken a few steps away from his mech, and he’d lost some of his fluid stride. “I’ll manage. It’ll get easier. I’ve been on light planets for too long, but my body adapts quickly.”

All I could do was nod. “Ready then?”

“Ready.”

Garjah led the way. The crew of our little renegade ship lined the corridors, each saluting as we walked past. Garjah saluted back, and I smiled at everyone who met my gaze. The outer hatch seal cracked with a hiss as we neared, and then opened fully. Garjah turned to Ases’ mech and saluted, nodding while staring directly into the viewer that mimicked eyes.

We took the final steps out of the safety of the ship.

The sun blazed overhead, and the breeze brought with it a dusty tang of dirt and the ozone of the protective border between the shuttle port and the city. As soon as we appeared on the walkway, cries and shouts greeted us.

Garjah and I were holding hands, and Ases walked on Garjah’s other side. His mech walked behind him and slightly to one side for the best recording vantage. Gasps and hands pointed to him and the mech. Some pointed at Garjah and me.

Swintik came trotting up. He held out a tiny projector. “They’re all primed for you. Thank you for helping bring the needed changes to our world we’ve been begging the Kardoval for years for.”

“I live to serve.” Gajrah saluted. He attached the projector directly under his face on his naked chest, then looked over the crowd. “Thank you for coming. For those who did not hear the rumors, yes, this is Essell Deray, my bonded mate, and a human who was exploring Ardra. Joining us is an ambassador from the Galactic and their Council to speak to our people and find out how we can work together to ensure peace and open cooperation between their many races and our planets.”

“Why did you bring them here?” That shouted question had to be staged.

“We cannot hide any longer. If we do not dictate the terms of our discovery, we are bound to be victims instead of equals.” 

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Julie Lynn Hayes

Wednesday Briefs: Ancalagon Ch. 87

 

Ases buzzed for entry, and Garjah opened the door for him. “Oh, hello.” He looked up to meet his gaze. “I, ah, wasn’t sure if you would be here.”

“Come in,” I said. I just finished putting out the food Garjah had ordered. I adjusted one plate. “We have a meal prepared, and I need to speak with you.”

“You do?” Garjah stepped back, and Ases entered our cabin. “Uh, what about? Is it my mech?” He peeked over his shoulder. “It isn’t a threat, I promise.”

“We know that.” Garjah nodded when I answered Ases’ nervous reassurance. “Though we may have need of its capabilities.”

“What?” Now he looked confused. “Why? You have this whole ship full of tech. Stars, your tech is way better than anything I’ve ever seen.”

I sighed. “We have need of tech that communicates back to the Galactic directly.”

Ases flushed. “I would never do that,” he insisted. “It’s why that was shut down to begin with.”

“Essell has assured me of that, but due to the circumstances of our return, projecting your arrival to the planet and welcome may be necessary for the protection of all.”

Now it was his turn to turn red, and based on the way his skin was heated, Essell knew his cheeks were probably flaming. “There, ah, might be some things we didn’t share with the Council.”

Ases snorted. “That’s only logical.”

“Things that could put you, as their ambassador, in danger.”

He sobered at that statement. “What do you mean?” No one had even touched the meal, and I was pretty sure it was going to go to waste. I pursed my lips, trying to think of the best response.

“The Kardoval are in charge of the planet. They are the four beings with the ability to rule based on the customs of Garjah’s people. But they did not authorize our trip to Ardra, and they did not wish to approach the Galactic Council.”

His mouth open, Ases stared at me.

“They, um, are not expecting you. And since Garjah and I violated his people’s directive to remain hidden from the Galactic, we could be in a lot of trouble.”

Still silent, Ases split his horrified stare between me and Garjah.

“There are many on my planet who do wish to develop peaceful relations. There is no talk of war, or hiding as a threat. We simply wish to continue living our lives as we have always done so. But since Essell arrived on Ardra, it proved that is not possible. I was convinced that the rebels have the correct path, and we had to make contact. It was time to make our species known the universe, and claim our place before we lost the ability to control our discovery.” Garjah spread his hands on the table. “As the head of security, I was the only one who could do this outside of the Kardoval. Essell only made it easier.”

“I, um, guess I can see that,” Ases said in faint voice. “Not all species have had peaceful introductions to the Galactic; some have been at war with other species and only were approached to calm their sector of space.”

“We do not wish to start a war with those who wanted to claim Ardra, but we also do not want the planets we use to be claimed by others.” Garjah’s lips thinned further. “Your planets are raped for their resources, and we will not allow that.”

“Generalities, big guy. What did I tell you about that? Not all planets, or people, are the same.” I gave him a look, and Garjah crossed his upper set of arms. Some days he was like a child. Or Bouncer. They could both be stubborn and annoying.

“So why are you telling me this and what does my mech have to do with it?” Ases asked.

“We wish to broadcast our arrival and introduce you to as the ambassador who seeks to bring prosperous new trades and knowledge to my people,” Garjah explained. “I have allies among the security forces and the rebels who will ensure that we have the numbers present to prevent our being taken in secret, and if we broadcast to both my planet and your Council and planets that can get the signal, the Kardoval will think twice before acting against us.”

“Why?”

I sighed. “This is information we didn’t share either, and it could be dangerous.” What would Ases do with it? I wasn’t sure, but I hoped it would convince him to help us.

“It seems like everything else you’ve told me so far.” Now Ases had his arms crossed, and he was scowling. I had some groveling to do.

“This is not my secret to tell, and I was shocked when I learned it. Garjah, and every other Four Arms on this ship, does not pick their career. They are both with genetic memories for their roles in life, and they have to learn to access them and act upon them in order to function in their career paths. But they do not have the ability to learn outside of those memories.” I corrected myself. “Or most don’t. There are a few with parents who have had the neural connections for more than one set of memories that is passed on, and then there are the Kardoval. They contain the genetic memories for all roles, which is why they are chosen as leaders. They know, and can speak, for all the different layers of their culture.”

Garjah broke in, “They lost sight of what people want, and focus only on the past. The universe is expanding and we have lost our buffer of open space. It is time to reveal ourselves.”

Ases took a deep breath. “So you want me to help you broadcast our my arrival to prevent this Kardoval from arresting and or potentially killing me for daring to assume an ambassadorship they didn’t authorize?”  

“That sums it up.” 

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Julie Lynn Hayes

Wednesday Briefs: Ancalagon Ch. 86

 

I placed my hands over his, wanting to touch. I laced our fingers together and leaned my hand into our connected palms. “We need to find some allies who can prevent that from happening, because I don’t think I’d like jail.”

He huffed. “As if I’d let Seedrah put you in a cell.”

“Instead of sneaking us back on the planet, we need the rebels to help us make as big an entrance as possible. Do you think they can do that?”

“Maybe.”

“And Seedrah… is he loyal to you or to the Kardoval?”

Garjah hesitated. “He would not do anything that harms any of the Kardoval, but he would also strive not to harm me or mine either.” He sighed. “I would rather avoid putting him in that position. It is bad enough I left him to assume my role without complete training.”

I cocked an eyebrow. “They put Seedrah in charge of all the security forces instead of someone more experienced? How do you know?”

Tapping his forehead, Garjah said, “He has the skills and the memories, just not all the real-life experiences to bring them forth. Still, no one else can take over for me.”

“Okay. So I talk to Ases, you reach out to Seedrah. We just have to arrange for a publicly televised landing and meeting with people who want to arrest us, and hope that doesn’t happen.” I winced, envisioning the look on my parents’ faces if they succeeded after all we’d said and done before the Council.

We needed this to go well… I kept rambling on, “So big splash is the plan. Supporters. No excessive guards. The Kardoval painted into a corner publicly so they can’t make us disappear as soon as Ases turns off his mech.”

“I believe in our ability to direct these events into our favor. You are very skilled,” Garjah said. He squeezed my hand. “But you need to rest first. First shift is early enough to start.”

Sighing, I said, “I don’t know if I’ll be able to sleep.”

“Do you want me to help you?”

“What does that entail?” As much as I gravitated toward Garjah the moment we were near each other, needing to touch and be touched, I wasn’t aroused at the moment. I was tense, my muscles almost aching with the stress of fleeing the planet, traveling to Ardra and the political maneuvering.

“You naked and on this bunk,” he said simply.

I opened and shut my mouth. How did I say I didn’t want to have sex without hurting his feelings? Maybe if I stripped down and he saw that I wasn’t hard?

I shucked the tunic, lifting it off my torso with both sets of arms and then tossing it onto the table. I pushed my pants off and dropped them on top of my shirt. My feet were already bare. Garjah sat, staring while I did my perfunctory strip tease, but then he patted the bunk.

“Up here, face down.”

“Okay.” My voice wobbled, and I wasn’t that steady climbing onto the bunk and lay down with my head resting on my folded arms. It wasn’t cold in the room, but it wasn’t warm either. I shivered when the bunk shifted. I turned my head to look. “What are you doing?”

“Just getting something.” Garjah rifled through a bag on a shelf. He grinned, crowing his triumph. When he turned he had a big smile and something clenched in his fist. “You’re gonna love this.”

Maybe I would. I held in the sigh when Garjah climbed onto the bed next me, closing my eyes. I decided to just let myself feel. What I expected was his hands on my ass, maybe parting my legs.

He did start with my legs, but the tube he’d gotten was apparently oil, and he’d warmed it in his hands before he placed them on my calves and thighs, stroking and rubbing upward, moving back down, then doing it again. Then he started on my back. Two pairs of hands worked to ease my tension. He kneaded my upper back near my shoulders gently but ran the knuckles of his wide fingers down my spine and into my lower back repeatedly as he sought out the knots keeping me tense.

I groaned and melted into the pillow. “So good.”

“Shh, just relax.” He sought out every single knot and tense spot on my back and obliterated them, then worked his way down my arms and palms. The sounds I made had to have turned him on, but my breathing slowed and I didn’t even care that I was half hard. The pain I’d been feeling was minor, but full body, and it amazed me how I’d pushed it down so much that I didn’t even notice how bad it had gotten until Garjah made it go away.

Dimming the lights, Garjah curled around me. I snuggled into his chest. “Sleep,” he said in my ear, and I couldn’t do anything else.

 

Double beeps woke me. “What are you doing?” Garjah was sitting at the table with his comm propped up. Why wasn’t he in the bed with me?

“I’ve sent messages to Seedrah and Chaintrik. They will bounce ahead of the ship, but it will take some time before we receive any responses.” Garjah spun on the seat to face the bunk. “I also ordered food to be delivered and sent an invitation to Ases’ comm so that he can join us after you have bathed yourself.”

“Do I stink?” I lifted an arm and sniffed. I didn’t smell anything.

Garjah smiled. “No.” He came over to the bunk and slid back inside. “But you were so relaxed, your scent was amazing. I don’t think I can keep my hands off you.”

“Oh.” I flushed. “I could go for another massage.”

Garjah slid a finger between my pecs slowly. “How about I do your front this time?”

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Wednesday Briefs: Ancalagon Ch. 85

 

“We need to tell him.” I mimicked Garjah’s pose with my legs spread and faced him head on. “We’re walking into a situation where the Kardoval were actively looking for us because they feared us doing exactly what we did. We revealed your species to the universe. We’re bringing back an ambassador who has no idea those in power want nothing to do with him.”

I cocked my head. “What would they have done to me if they caught us that day we were followed?”

Garjah sighed. “I don’t know. Separated us. Certainly separated you from Bouncer. Timok sent me a message just that morning that said under no circumstances should we let that happen, and he’d tell me why later.”

Narrowing my eyes, I sighed. “He enjoys being cryptic far too much.” I hesitated. “Do you believe him?”

“Always. Yes, he reports directly to the Kardoval as I do, but I was raised with him. We both knew our future.” Garjah sank down on the bunk. “For him to be so insistent, there was a reason we had to stay together, beyond the fact he knew that I would allow no one to take you from me.”

Caving, I abandoned my stance and moved to sit next to him. “I’m glad of that, since I don’t want to be separated from you either.” Mereval had spent the morning with me making cryptic comments about humans and our ability to do harm or avoid it as a species. She’d called them mistakes. The way she’d spoken tome made me seem more like a specimen to be studied than a person—a look reminiscent of my mother’s cold judgement at times.

But Garjah had power in their society; the security forces under him were trained to follow his orders, his command decisions. The Kardoval might set policy, but he was the voice that enforced it. His loyalty had always been to them, before me that is.

What might happen if he’d changed? Due to meeting me? To our bond? I inhaled noisily, then choked and started coughing. Garjah pounded on my back.

“What’s wrong?”

I shook my head, unable to answer while I fought for air. My brain was in overdrive though. Thinking back to when I’d first met Garjah, and how he’d changed. He was far less rigid and had easily taken on the role of negotiating with the Council, something that should have been outside of his abilities if he was still stuck in the mindset of his genetic memories.

And he’d been good at it.

“Stars above,” I croaked. “They saw it, didn’t they? The changes in you I missed because I didn’t know you before. Timok could see it happening, and he knew the bond was changing you. That’s why the Kardoval were studying me, and why they followed us that day. Not just because they didn’t want me to contact the Council or reveal your species to them, but because you’re a threat to their power.”

I stared at Garjah who was looking back with widened eyes. “You’ve changed,” I said in an awed voice.

He opened his mouth and then shut it. “You’re right.” His lower hands gripped his thighs, the skin paling to light green. “I-I didn’t realize….” He studied the floor, but the neutral tan metal had no answers to share.

“You wouldn’t.” I shook my head. “You were focused on the safety of all your people, and that made it seem like you were still the same. Security, safety, making the hard choices to ensure that any threats are eliminated.”

Like a supernova going off in my brain, another epiphany hit me. “And that’s what else they fear.” My voice dropped to a whisper. “That you’ll see them as a threat and eliminate them.”

Garjah whipped his head around to stare at me. “I would never do that. They are the combined wisdom of our people. They are the guides who are the only ones who can see the bigger picture.”

“Are they? Because it doesn’t seem to me that they’re looking at the big picture to recognize what generations of your people have been asking for, or how the universe is changing around them. They missed this.” I waved a hand between us. “And view our connection as only a threat to be eliminated.”

“I will never let anyone hurt you,” Garjah swore. He turned and cupped my face. “Even if we have to turn this ship and leave, find a new planet and make a home among aliens, I will keep you safe.”

“That’s not what you want to do.” I knew that with every fiber of my being. Garjah wanted to help his planet become a part of the wider universe, to take away the threat of an unexpected discovery or an attack that even his people’s more advanced weaponry couldn’t prevent if they were perceived as weak—alone with no allies. “The universe knows about you now. We have to see this through.” I smiled.  “Then maybe we can think about a comfortable retirement spot. Somewhere Bouncer will enjoy.”

The cerops lifted his head when I said his name and chirped, then put it back down on his bed when I didn’t say anything else.

“We can sneak back on the planet, but that won’t exactly be a dignified return,” Garjah said. “I think we need to return in full view of the public.”

“Then we need to talk to Ases,” I said again, circling back to what had started us down this spiral. “He can be our reason for an overt return, and he has the power to broadcast it as well. At least, that’s what I’m pretty sure the tech said his mech could do, if it wasn’t shut down.”

“You want to record our landing? We could be arrested.” Garjah shook his head. “It won’t look very good for the treaty I’ve negotiated, if I’m placed in custody.” 

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