Chapter 15: A Message to Pass Along

All seemed quiet in Veleshar and Scott’s quarters. It had been the following day. The Greater Adjunct was pacing back and forth in her uniform. Her tilon was open as she seemed to be deep in thought.

The door slid open as Scott walked into the room. He was dressed in his gym clothes, covered with a hint of sweat, and a towel wrapped over his shoulders. Once the doors closed, the man walked over to the oversized sofa chair and had a seat.

“Hello?” he asked her.

Veleshar was deep in thought, continuing her pacing. He noticed that her tail was drooping low, fin sliding across the silk carpet like it was nothing, another sign that she was completely fixated on something.

“Everything ok?” he asked again.

Finally, she stopped and lowered her tilon, turning her attention to Scott. A serene smile appeared on her face as she perked up a little bit.

“Scott,” she happily addressed him.

“You seem pretty focused on something,” he told her.

She turned over to him, walked over, and plopped down onto the seat with a hard thud next to him. “Three things, actually.”

“At once?”

“A Greater Adjunct’s life is always one of focus.” She placed the tilon and paused for a moment.

“Can I help with that?”

“Let’s see...” She leaned her head back onto the seat. “I’m thinking of a crib big enough to hold our babies. I wouldn’t mind one that can hold many.”

He watched her pat her stomach. “Have you gotten tested yet?”

“No ... been too busy. My cycle still lasts for today. I wouldn’t mind being in the tub next time, just to make sure.”

“Of course,” the man smiled. “A crib, though...”

“I might ask our Gersin for some help on that. Heh...,” she gave a short chuckle.

“What?”

“Gular’shel ... when we were thinking about ships we could command together, I remember telling him that I was wanting to have a room large enough to ... have another baby.”

“You had Shira, but you wanted more?” he asked her. “Why not have another baby after just having her?”

“You humans tend to have all your children at once. With Itreans, we have more time to think about it ... take our time. Besides, I was happy with Shira ... for a time. Years later, I brought it up to Gular’shel, but he wasn’t interested in having another baby.”

“One was enough?”

“It was for the best ... a couple of years later, Zilik’s Disease struck. I was already making sure that Shira was happy.” She sighed. “But, I just remember telling Gular’shel that I was ready. When I made this ship, I wanted these quarters to be big ... big enough for some hope of children to run around in.”

“Well...,” Scott said. “You don’t have to wait any longer.”

She went and leaned her head upon his shoulder. “Thank you, Scott. I know you had to sacrifice your career, but I promise to take care of you.”

“I know.”

Veleshar lifted her head away while her nostrils flared. Her attention was directed ahead. She took a deep breath and sighed.

“Of course,” Scott remarked. “That isn’t the only thing bothering you.”

“Taking the ship in for repairs,” Veleshar replied. “Thinking of schedules.”

“And?”

“Crew ... taking the place of the fallen ones. Sometimes it isn’t easy for me.”

“Seven new crew members, right?”

“Yes. A sister to one of the bridge crew wishes to serve ... believes in ‘Roj’na.’”

“Roj’na?”

“The right of vengeance,” she explained. “It’s a ... belief in fighting for the ones that fell in battle. The sister wishes to serve the Gular’shel because it’s her duty to serve her family.”

“You seemed saddened by it.”

“Do I?” She shook her head. “You’re getting better at seeing my emotions. Maybe ... Yes,” she jumped back into her topic. “Well ... I have one crew member down ... six more to consider.”

Scott thought about it as a solution came to him. A big smile could be seen. He knew it was a great idea.

“Make that five,” Scott told her.

“Oh?” she questioned, looking at him.

“Yeah, I know somebody that could serve on this ship,” Scott slapped his knees.

Veleshar almost seemed to know who Scott was talking about. “Ok,” a smile appeared on her face.

“But, I need to talk to her. Mind if I go and access a terminal to send a message?”

“Unfortunately, I’m going to be using my desk for a little while. Sorry, Scott. But maybe you can use someone else’s.”

“Right...” Scott stood up and turned to her. “Might go to medical and use Doctor Kol’da’gash’s terminal. I think she owes me one since I helped fix that glitch on one of her medical devices.”

“Impressing Kol’da’gash has always been a challenge, but she never fails to accomplish her mission. Just make sure to let her know that you need another shot ... one for Yutilians.”

Scott nodded. “I’ll let her know. I’ll be back in half an hour.”

“I’ll make sure to get the bathtub ready.”

“Ok.”

“And, Scott?”

“Yeah?” He paused before heading out.

“I love you.”

“Me too...” The man nodded one last time before he left the room. When the door closed behind him, Veleshar looked down for a moment. Her hand went to her pocket, where she fished out a small tiny chip.

A look of trepidation appeared on her face. She closed her palm and held it close to her.

The medical office was quiet as Scott sat down on his chair. The doctor was busy tending to other crew members, giving the man the opportunity to reside at the lavish desk of Kol’da’gash’s computer terminal. The enclosed room was perfect. The 3D imager depicted Itrean lettering, in which Scott had to coordinate a comms channel back to Cebravis.

“Let’s see if she answers...,” Scott said to himself.

All was quiet for half a minute. The Itrean lettering was flashing a low, dim green light. The man had become accustomed to the new schedule, but it was unknown what time it was back on Cebravis.

A new yellow flashing light appeared. A connection was established. Someone had answered the call.

The face of Xel’di appeared on the projection screen. The Ko’min woman sat next to her small wooden table, wearing a pair of shorts. She didn’t wear any form of shirt, showing a faint, smooth, scaly, flat chest with no protruding nipples. Obviously, this was her off time, in her quarters on Cebravis. A hint of early dawn could be seen from her window behind her.

The look of surprise could be seen on her face and snout.

“Scott?” Xel’di reacted with a few clicks in her voice.

“How are you, Xel’di?” he asked her.

“I’m good ... and you?”

“Doing really well ... for better or worse.”

She kinked her head to the side, her horns giving a dull reflection from the early light.

“You’re still on Cebravis,” he remarked.

“For now. There was a short delay, but I’m scheduled to work on the Lonv’tres with a ... married woman.”

“Well...,” Scott put his hands on the table. “I’m sorry to put you through all that.”

“Mmm...” She mumbled. “Do you enjoy the Gular’shel?”

“Yes ... quite a lot actually.”

“I see.”

Scott looked down for a moment. “Xel’di ... I wanted to call you. You see ... I’m leaving the UHN.”

“Yes, I am not surprised. Human male finds females ... many females.”

Her voice showed more sorrow as she continued to speak.

“Not entirely, but ... yeah ... I’m going to become a father.”

“No longer a virgin?” She realized this in question.

“You’re correct.”

She showed a hint of surprise. “You prefer Shal’rein Cav’intolotin.”

“What?”

“Nothing...”

Her voice had momentarily trailed off when she said her last statement. Her head turned away. Scott wasn’t going to prolong her suffering.

“Look, Xel’di,” Scott told her. “I wanted to call you to tell you that I ... that I missed you.”

Her eyes didn’t look into him. “Why bring pain? You pain me with this call. You have many females on your ship ... be the good male and...”

“Wait!” Scott yelled out to her. His hand went up as if to gesture to stop her. “Actually, Xel’di ... an opportunity has arisen. We ... just went through a big battle on the ship. We lost several crewmembers and we’re in the need of replacements. I plan on joining the crew under the T’rintar clan. You have skills in engineering ... I spoke with Greater Adjunct Veleshar. Do you want to serve onboard the Gular’shel?”

She turned to look at him. She seemed to be thinking quickly at the thought of it.

“You ... want me to serve with you?” she asked with a few clicks in her voice.

“Yes,” he replied.

Her face had gone from a hint of hope to that of sorrow. It seemed her interest had been given to Scott, but something held it back.

“I can’t,” she replied.

“Why not?” he asked.

“It isn’t that easy. I serve under the Greater Adjuncts of Gui’optre. They would not allow me to transfer.”

“Really? Greater Adjunct Veleshar can put in a good word for you. It wouldn’t take much to...”

She shook her head. “No ... not that easy. Veleshar is one Greater Adjunct ... serves under the Greater Adjuncts of Gui’optre. Even her high rank isn’t enough to convince them.”

“Veleshar is in good relations with Greater Adjunct Viala of Gui’lo’trelda. She can put in a request.”

“Yes..., but she serves under her, right?”

“Yeah...”

“Greater Adjunct Bensha’trei of Sobilk would not be willing to give me up so easily. Bensha’trei is...”

She trailed off in her words, not wanting to complete the sentence.

“In other words,” Scott said. “She’s a bitch.”

“I’m not allowed to say,” Xel’di continued. “But others may view her that way. My Greater Adjunct would protest.”

It was possible that Veleshar could worm her away from Xel’di’s leading officer. However, politics was politics. Even if Veleshar did challenge it, she was still in a lesser position than the adjuncts that held senority over her. However, maybe the recent success at Renlar could sway the Greater Adjuncts.

But, would Veleshar be willing to go that far over one single Itrean?

Maybe there was another way, one that was remarkably simple and effective. Scott knew enough about Itrean law to figure out how to circumvent it. He could see her begin to look down again in defeat.

“You know...,” Scott leaned back on his chair. “I was wondering. Do you have a mate?”

BAAM! Xel’di smacked her scaly hands to the table with a hard thud. The sound echoed in her room. It took her by complete utter surprise, even if she retained an unemotional look on her face. Her reptilian eyes were fixated on Scott.

“I do not have a mate,” Xel’di answered. “Are you asking me for mateship?”

“Maybe...”

“But, you are a father...”

“I will be,” Scott answered truthfully. “I know that Ko’min views mateship differently, but mateship is still done the same way. Itrean law must respect mateship bound together, never separated apart.”

Xel’di was careful with her questioning. She already knew that the likelihood of mateship with him and the Greater Adjunct was present. This, in itself, didn’t bother her at all, but her chain of command might. Instead, she refrained from asking it as she considered her following line of questioning.

“Do you want to have children from me?” she asked with a couple of clicks in her voice.

“I’m already requesting for the shot so I can get you pregnant...”

Xel’di’s mouth was agape as the imagery seemed to run through her head. Her hand was held to her stomach. Even her tongue showed a hint of salivation to it.

“You...,” She briefly pointed her finger and smiled at him. “You aren’t ... the human word ... teasing me?”

“It’s as real as it gets,” he told her.

“You would ... be my mate?” Her clawed nails almost seemed to be drilling into the wood of the table in raw anticipation.

“When do you want to get started?”

Xel’di tried to regain her emotions. “I need a mate. I want to have your babies. I promise to never leave your side. Scott, do you need a mate?”

“Yes,” he made the vow to her. “As your mate, you are to never leave me. We live together and never leave one another.”

“Then we are mated...,” Xel’di said. She looked around her room. Her breathing was intense, almost as if the words were the greatest ever told. This was the leverage she needed. Under the mateship rules of general Itrean society, the bond was law, circumventing even some of the strongest decrees.

“I will inform Veleshar of your decision, then,” Scott told her. “She can put in a request to have you transferred to the Gular’shel along with the fact that you’re my mate. I look forward to seeing you again.”

“And I will pass my request to my Lesser Adjuncts of my request to move to the Gular’shel.”

“You sound like you’ve been waiting for this for a while.”

Her voice began to get quieter. “And I promise that when we meet, I will be your personal hink sleeve ... pin me to a wall and never stop...” Her voice completely trailed off.

“What?”

“Nothing...”

If only Scott could have heard what the second half of her sentence was. No matter, he knew that no matter what, Xel’di would come aboard the Gular’shel and become part of the family...

Veleshar sat behind her desk in her quarters. She had narrowed down to three more potential crewmembers for her ship. All had been quiet so far. The light hum of the digital projector remained as the Greater Adjunct’s fingers continued to scroll the list and credentials of each Itrean crewmember.

However, a beeping sound could be heard. It lightly disturbed the Greater Adjunct from her concentration.

Veleshar read the Itrean text depicted on the 3D projection. Two sets of words appeared in the block of Itrean characters: “UHN Lifen.”

“By Itrea’s Embrace,” Veleshar remarked.

The Greater Adjunct felt a hint of relief. She had wondered how much longer before somebody else of interest would respond.

Veleshar tapped the button and altered her posture in her seat. One hand was placed on her lap, and a smile appeared on her face.

On the other side of the projection screen was another Shal’rein woman, a familiar face for Veleshar. Unlike the Greater Adjunct, the Itrean woman was employed by the UHN. Her blue and red uniform had been tailor-made for her size. The rank was given to an Itrean, and possibly the lone current Itrean, to command a human military vessel.

The Shal’rein woman had almost the right side of her face covered by her purple hair. The hint of an eyepatch could be barely seen, covering the eye that could never see past the hair. While she sat behind the desk of her stateroom, a lit cigarette resided in her right hand, along with an ashtray that wasn’t far from her.

“Hello, Mother,” Shira greeted Veleshar in a non-emotional way. Her voice was deep.

“Shira, my wonderful daughter,” her mother greeted her back in happiness. “I get to hear from you again.”

Shira remained unphased. “Likewise...” Her tone gave no hint of appreciation.

“It’s so good to speak to you. How is that devoteful husband of yours?”

The shark-like captain took a drag of her cigarette. “Javier is in well condition.”

“And my ... granddaughter?”

“Healthy and in perpetual development.” She tapped her ashes into the ashtray. “How is your condition?”

“If you called since the latest report, then I’m in great shape.” Veleshar smiled and leaned forward. “I wondered how much longer it would have been before you would have called me. I suppose you had a chance to hear of the news.”

“Mostly. I saw the brief report that you sent to me ... along with the news report of your action at Renlar.”

Veleshar felt the hint of pride. “It was an incredible achievement. The Gular’shel was able to execute the mission perfectly. Plus, I had the help of friends.”

“No doubt you succeeded because of their help. I wanted to convey my congratulations on your success in attacking Zildrek. It’s an achievement that will be heralded for years.”

Shira’s voice almost sounded like she was patronizing Veleshar. Even her mother momentarily frowned.

“You’re not impressed...,” Veleshar remarked. “At least more so than usual.”

“An attack like this was well coordinated. Technology had also played a part in it as well ... along with many other factors. However, your success leaves much to be questioned.”

Veleshar sighed. “You’re so much like your father at times ... I can plan an entire battle ... run straight through the fires of hell, and yet you criticize me at the moment of my achievement.”

Shira seemed to admire the smoke generated from her burning cigarette. Veleshar was waiting for her daughter to come up with some form of excuse.

“The battle in itself was not atrocious,” Shira explained. “You managed to slip in and disable some of their facilities, resulting in the destruction of 1% of a portion of Renlar’s ring. No doubt if other vessels like the Gular’shel were built and in significant numbers, along with a coordinated plan like yours, more damage could have been inflicted. You were quite fortunate for you and your crew to make it back alive.”

“Not all of them ... Shira, please ... get to the point.”

“A well-coordinated plan like this warranted certain results. Enlighten me as to why you performed this mission of yours.”

“You see the results,” Veleshar told her. “I wanted to give some hope to everyone who resisted against the Aksren clan. I wanted to show that the Empress is vulnerable and not be some invincible Itrean floating in her temple.”

“That’s one part, but I also know that you’ve been planning this ... scheme of yours for a long time. In the Shal’rein clan, you often paraded this idea to the Autarch like an infant finding a candy stash to show all her friends.”

“I wanted to do this, daughter. The opportunity had finally arrived, and I wanted to carry it out. It had to be done. The T’rintar ... the Shal’rein, we needed a victory, something that could be brought forth and discussed since the humans reclaimed Cipra.”

Shira paused and took another drag of her cigarette. Smoke bellowed from her daughter’s nostrils. Her yellow shark-like eye seemed to pierce into her mother.

“Do you know what father used to tell me about you?” Shira asked her.

“What?” Veleshar replied.

“Gular’shel had good praise for you. He found that you were a competent and capable Adjunct. He also knew that you could accomplish your immediate goals when you set out to complete them. No doubt you were able to attack Renlar, as you’ve managed to achieve a number of victories for the Shal’rein clan. Gular’shel knew that he could trust you with a given rank because you could reach what you wanted in a given time. However,” she tapped her ashes into the ashtray. “He was no fool either.”

“Daughter...”

“For him, he knew that you were passionate ... passionate about your feelings, about those around you, yourself, and your environment. He knew that you engaged in actions that would have warranted in your own life in the sacrifice of others and vice versa. Renlar is just proof of many of those sacrifices.”

“Your father knew me, Shira. He knew you. He knew about many people. I cared for him just as I do to this day.”

“However,” Shira paused and took another drag of her cigarette. “Gular’shel often had to make plans around you and not necessarily with you in it. He, himself, did his best to keep his emotions in check while making sure to appease you in his future endeavors.”

“That’s not fair, Shira. I loved him, just as you have. I did all of this ... fought in his name to achieve what I’ve done just now. I’ve struck the heart of the Aksren clan and left a scar on them. It will show their people that they can’t hide behind their defenses ... that they’re vulnerable.”

“Hmmm...,” the Shal’rein officer remained as composed as ever. “Let me ask you this, mother. Would Gular’shel sponsor this attack?”

“Yes, he would. He gave me the plans for this vessel.”

“He gave you the plans, but its original intention was to fight Emphra. So I will ask again. Do you truly believe that Gular’shel, in his intentions, would ever encourage this form of attack?”

Veleshar had to be honest. She closed her eyes and looked down.

“I will take that as a ‘no,’” Shira continued. “You say that you fight in his name, but by committing to this attack, you’ve shown a complete disregard for his faith and ideals. Gular’shel did not believe that the other clans should be a threat to Shal’rein because he saw the greater threat of the Emphra.”

“And how are we supposed to win right now, Shira?” Veleshar countered. “I’ve done more than you ever had. I did what I could with the resources I built ... sometimes from my bare hands. By damaging the Aksren infrastructure, I have laid the way for those who wish to carry out their attacks on Renlar. If Renlar is defeated, then we are one step closer to achieving ever-lasting peace. Empress Itsis is the foundation of the Aksren empires. She...”

“I recall a similar argument in Itrean history dealing with the Rototrein Rebellion. However, Rototrein’s advisors finally persuaded him to discontinue his attacks because it would have ultimately led to the loss of countless lives and resources. You did not attack Itsis. She resides on the planet. You are predictable, as usual. I have my own speculation as to why you did it ... You needed the glory of this victory.”

“No...”

“Quite the contrary. Your sacrifice in betraying the Shal’rein clan, much as it has with my prior actions, has put us into a state of weakened power. Even if you claim that your actions are just, the T’rintar clan has less trust in you than a typical T’rintar Adjunct. You deliberately put yourself into a battle where the T’rintar Greater Adjuncts had little to lose if you and your warship were destroyed in the ensuing struggle. However, you had nothing but to gain from this as well. If you survived, you would be more respected, a proven warrior for them to garner reputation and leeway in future endeavors.”

Veleshar leaned her head to the side, causing her woven hair to sag to the desk. “Yes,” she confessed. “That is true.”

“Do not misconstrue this observation as an attack on your character,” Shira explained. “You were stripped of much of your prior resources when you decided to serve the T’rintar. You were fortunate to retain your rank and ultimately regain the Gular’shel, your prior warship.”

“Thanks to some of your efforts...” Veleshar said with a smile.

Shira took a drag of her cigarette. “Yes ... However, I see that I might have made a mistake in ensuring that you got the Gular’shel back.”

“It was no mistake, daughter.”

“Are you sure? Let me ask you this. How do you think the Aksren leadership will react to this recent endeavor?”

“Anger, but my actions were to empress our people and demoralize the Aksren general populace.”

“Yet, the results would still be the same regardless. However, I would like to question their response when they see this...”

The display momentarily switched over to showing the Rampage, Captain Darin’s ship opening fire on Renlar before switching back to Shira.

“Captain Darin helped me out,” Veleshar said.