Fall and Rise of the Macas

Chapter 3: Journey To Brendon

Chapter 3: Journey To BrendonOnce they were on board, Jarvis delegated Tamar to set their course for Brendon. The prisoner he sent to Medical and ordered him restrained. He then informed the crew via the communicator as to their destination and the problems.

“There will be nay brew till we are sure there are nay other predators in this quadrant. All the Captains and Directors will join me in conference. While the supply system tis being repaired, everyone tis restricted to showers every third day. We'll rotate through the ranks and the schedule will be posted. Thalians, ye have done well.”

Kahli's white teeth flashed as he entered. “And do ye think they'll thank ye when ye change the showers to every second day?”

“'It tis an edge in case something else goes wrong.”

The seats were filling by the different Captains, and Directors. Lillie, as Recording Director sat beside Jarvis.

Malta, Captain of Medicine, from the House of Medicine entered. Her black hair was pulled back and in a clasp before cascading down to her backside. While she was shorter than most of the Houses, standing barely six-foot tall, she had the supple grace of Ishner. A purple sash representing the House of Medicine circled her waist. She had the darkest eyes in Thalia and was much sought after as a win in the Arena. She bowed formally and handed her crystal to Lillie and sat down next to Kahli.

“Malta, give your report.”

“Aye, Captain. The prisoner has been sedated, but he tis also electrically bound for safety's sake, and a trooper has been assigned to stand guard. We request that the duty be changed every four or five hours.”

“Agreed. Pillar, ye attend.

“Lillie, your report.”

Lillie had consulted the various crystals. “We have sent space messages to the Justine League and to the De'Chins advising them of the outposts' destruction and suggest they set out patrols. They may nay receive it any sooner than our arrival in Brendon.”

“Engineering reports that the Supply Sector tis under control, but some of the hydros are nay repairable without more water.” She frowned as she scanned Kahli's crystal and looked at her brither with a frown. Kahli kept his face bland.

Jarvis broke in. “Ye have all heard my announcement about the showers. As soon as we determine that we are not pursued in any manner, I twill issue the last of the brew. There will nay be any more till we arrive at Brendon.” He ignored the stunned faces.

“Lillie, I want ye to make extra crystals of all our reports and seal them in a space container. If anything happens to us, they must reach Thalia. The alien nay suited up when he burst out of the compound. I dinna think they expected us. Mayhap someone notified them of the false going home message we sent off six months ago.”

“Kreppies!” Lillie spat out the word.

“Aye, mayhap, but we have nay proof. All are to remain battle ready and rations will be lean. Any problems will be routed to me immediately. All routine reports are expected every four hours. Any questions?”

Malta spoke first. “The alien's blood shedding was a large amount, but his blood type does nay match ours. It tis more like that of a Kreppie, but we dinna have any in supply. If Kahli (and her saying the name was like a caress) could devise a filtering system for ours, we could make him more comfortable.”

Kahli scowled at the thought of wasting water on an enemy. “Can ye keep him alive without it?”

“I canna say. He tis an alien and nay cooperates. He may decide to expire and it will be necessary to use liquids to keep him alive.”

The scowl spread across Kahli's face and Jarvis hurriedly asked, “What about the De'Chin? How tis she?”

“She was badly abused, but she should heal without any problems. She tis tranquil now and will remain so for six hours.”

“Did ye get any information?”

“'It tis on the crystal, but it tis nay much. According to her, the beings came in to steal the minerals and ore already extracted. She was the only one kept alive for beddings, so whoever we killed in the outpost was nay De'Chins. She, like all De'Chins, tends to be hysterical about such things.” Malta shrugged, dismissing the De'Chins as nay Warriors.

“The attack was to rob and destroy. They were nay interested in prisoners or what could be learned about the De'Chin planet. I think they already ken. Thalia must have this news.”

Kahli spoke next. “Since we will need extra water for both the alien and the De'Chin, showers remain at every three days till we need to go to a full week.”

Jarvis nodded. “Our course tis toward Brendon. We'll arrive a bit weary, but nay too famished or athirst. Mayhap we will offend from nay showers, but the Brendons are the politest of beings. By then we will have transmitted our news to the Justine League and Thalia. The first scheduling for showers will be out this evening, and all those who participated in today's foray will be listed. All may return to your duties.”

* * *

Freshly showered, Jarvis was not weary enough for bed. Today had been what any Warrior craved, and he believed more campaigns would follow. His body surged with energy. Nay bed, but a bedding was his need. He donned the black loin thong and headed for Lillie's quarters. The temperature was nearing eighty-four instead of seventy-two, and clothes were too hot for comfort. It was one formality he had eased for all off duty.

Jarvis touched the DIP (door imprint) that admitted him. As Captain of Flight, he could open any door within the ship, but he and Lillie had reached an agreement and he was welcomed at all times. All kenned when he was on or off duty and where he would be.

Lillie's wide face beamed with pleasure. “Jarvis, tis welcome ye are.” Her magnificent broad shoulders, wide torso, and heavy legs rippled as she strode toward him as unencumbered of clothing as he. Her dark eyes bubbled with anticipation. “Ye are a Director who kens the needs of your Captain.”

Later, hours after Jarvis had gone, Lillie scanned her crystals with satisfaction. “Jarvis, darling, someday ye may find these fascinating. What a magnificent body ye have.” Quiet descended over all but the piloting section of the ship.

Kahli had made his bed in the Supply sector nearest the hydro beds that had been repaired. To the crew it appeared he wished to be near if the repairs should fail, but they were homeward bound and it was his way of signaling the end of beddings. That Malta might fume did not bother him. And Malta had her own worries in Medicine.

* * *

Tabor carefully breathed the air around him. It was a thin mixture approximating his needs. He realized he was laying on cloth with arms and legs attached to glowing posts. He peered with half-lidded eyes to determine his location, ignoring the throbs in his head and left leg. He was drowsy, too drowsy. He had been drugged. Anger began to boil inside of him. Who had dared to do this? It could not be the insignificant creatures they had bested on that sand, blasted asteroid; nor could it be the sniveling creatures that called themselves Krepyons. He noted with interest the tubes running into his left arm, then realized another was threaded through his nose and into his throat. He was puzzled. For what purpose? And the thought that it was probably for drugs and nourishment. The fools! No Draygon would submit to capture.

He let the anger course through him, building his strength, pushing back the edges of darkness still clinging in the recesses of his brain. He forced his body to lie still while searching the room for any sign of movement. The clear, tent shroud over his body prevented his nostrils from identifying the source of the creature he knew must be somewhere in this room. Someone had to be here, waiting, watching for some movement from him.

Then across the room, someone moved into view. He sensed that this one was female, although the figure was wide and muscular, like most species there seemed to be a hint of mammary glands in the upper portion of the torso. He began the breathing exercises, gradually expanding his lung capacity. Where, he wondered, were his mates? Their scent wasn't mingled with the other alien, gagging odors. Had they all died while he lived? He would take his revenge through death. His mind told him she must be one the Thalians the Krepyons had warned them would be the dangerous ones. They might fight, but they would not win. He filled his lungs again and arched his back against the force, howling his rage.

Trooper Tene was atop him immediately, holding the lunging body with her weight. Median tried to inject a stronger drug directly, but she had to move the sheeting out of the way. She was too late with the drug. Trooper Tene's face was gashed and bleeding from the creature's fangs. Worse, the struggle had upended the water sitting on the built out tray and the sheeting torn. Any bacteria the alien breathed or carried could be harmful. The whole room would need cleansing. The mapping of all the tissues and bacteria found wouldn't be completed until morning. She cursed inwardly as she shouted for her assistant. “We need vacs.”

Meler was prepared and at her elbow with the equipment.

“Do the suctioning now. There are red welts growing on Tene's face from the bites.” Median gave her orders and set about re-sheathing the alien. She'd worry about Malta's and the Captain of Flight's wrath after things were cleansed.

It took an hour to cleanse Tene and the room. Then she put Mali in charge while she went and made her report directly to Jarvis.

Jarvis asked a few quick questions.

“Did the alien break the force?”

“Nay, he was nay strong enough.”

“Thank ye, Median, make sure that Lillie tis forwarded all medical crystals.”

Once she left his room, he summoned Kahli and Lillie to the Control Room and explained the extra water usage. “Malta tis running a program to determine if the bacteria are harmful. We'll know by tomorrow if more cleansing tis necessary. If it tis, we'll need to cleanse anyone near him when it becomes necessary to remove the sheathing. We have him so heavily sedated, nay questioning tis possible till we reach Brendon. Can we spare the extra water?”

Kahli's face had whitened. “I dinna. We had some leeway, mayhap more than enough. We could let the brute starve.”

“Aye, and then what? Search empty space for their planet?”

“They canna be too far. Their ship was comparable to ours.”

“Aye,” he answered “and Thalia has been looking for them for almost sixty years. They ken where to attack us.”

“That means they have the help of the Kreppies.” Kahli spat out the hated word.

“But we have nay proof, Kahli. It tis ye who must decide the division of sustenance and the clime for the ship.” Jarvis nodded at them both. “Thalia's Council will decide on the captive. When ye have your data, let me ken. The crew will abide by our orders and we'll endure till we reach Brendon.”

Kahli's face was back to its normal reddish hue. “By Gar, Jarvis, have ye anything else to throw at me?”