Back on the Space Dock
1259 Words
As we leave Tenate Tiger Blaze grabs a flat square, just bigger than my hand. He explains, "We have to get you both entered into our computer, and assign a quarters for you and your brother. With this we can enjoy the space dock and get the computer work done."
I nod my head. "We'll be quartered together, I trust."
"Family usually is." Tenate Tiger Blaze states.
I nod slightly, looking around, not sure what to say or do.
As we get onto the raiser Tiger whispers, "Why are you suddenly nervous?"
Oh boy, if he can sense that, he might be able to tell if I lie. "I didn't expect so many changes so quickly." I answer, "I'll be fine, once everything is formalized, and I tell Skit the good news." I smack my head. "I hope your ship doesn't leave before their wedding ceremony; that wouldn't make him or Kiki happy."
"Our ship." Tenate Blaze corrects.
I nod my head and give him a week smile.
We get to the space dock market space and find a curved bench to sit on. I'm not really paying attention to who is around us.
Tenate Blaze pulls up a screen. "Let's start with Jorman's information, since his birth time and name have already been entered into the computer."
I nod my head again. Inside I'm relieved to have a few more minutes before we deal with my information.
Tiger starts typing. "s*x is obviously male." He hits a couple spots on the square. "I've added a category for species." He informs me.
"Jorman has Nyrarian from mom, and Buggarian from his dad." I state calmly.
"Does it matter what side each species comes from?" Tiger asks.
I shrug my shoulders. "It might not matter to you, but to some species whether you have their blood from a male or female determines their stake on you."
"Why does that sound ominous?" Tiger inquires cautiously.
"It doesn't effect Jorman." I tell him, "But if I wasn't attached to a crew, and the man who helped make me found me, he could force me into his population."
"What species has that rule?" Tiger exclaims, "We want to make sure no one else from that species joins our population, much less our crew."
"Warvian. I'm half Warvian." I inform him, "But that will only be a problem if I run into the crew whose Captain's son is named Vloncar."
"You're named after him." Tiger gasps.
I explain, "Grandma believed that children should show their parentage in their name, particularly if they weren't going to be around. Sort of an extra piece of them to have with you for life."
I tense up, just before a large hand clasps onto my shoulder. I realize my mistake before I hear the voice declare, "Captain Vloncar has been searching for you!"
I grab the hand and pull it forward, as I turn and elbow the owner of it in the nose, causing a satisfying crunch sound. I add a push to his shoulder, sending him to the ground as I step onto the back of the bench and immediately leap off towards the guy who is now on my left, kicking him in the chest. I land in a crouched position, turn, and punch the remaining man in the knee. He crumbles as I stand, and I knee his head, causing him to fall over with a thud.
"What's going on here?" A booming voice says with authority. I freeze for just a moment, before being able to move again.
I know immediately that I'm dealing with a strong Vavian male, as only they have the trait of being able to force their will on others.
The full blood Warvians are stuck in their place, but able to speak. The one whose nose I broke exclaims, "I found the child of Captain Vloncar, and was simply trying to collect..."
Another man in red steps forward. "Who is my child?"
The man's eyes look strikingly like mine; piercing blue crystals. But there's an evil in his eyes that only makes an appearance in mine if I'm really angry. I glare at him, risking an appearance of that evil. "If you are Vloncar the third, then I am your descendant, but I am no child. I am twenty space years old, and I belong to a crew."
"I didn't authorize this crew joining." Vloncar bellows, and goes to step towards me.
I know he plans to rip my medallion off my sleeve. As I adjust my stance to place it away from him Captain James appears, and steps between us. "Vlon is my crew member. You have a problem with that?"
Vloncar steps up to him and snarls, "A Warvian can only join another crew when they have proven themselves worthy to the captain of the father's ship. I am the father, and the captain."
"I already defeated three of your warriors." I point out.
Captain Zerrva has released the Warvians from their frozen state, and they are beginning to rise and indicate them.
"They are good warriors." Vloncar states, "But they are not my best. Nor is this a testing arena."
Captain Zerrva steps up, pushing Captain James and Captain Vloncar apart. Then he turns to Vloncar. "What will it take for Vlon to have freedom of choice?"
Vloncar answers, "The warrior must defeat my best warrior in an arena."
"You can't expect Vlon to step onto your ship." Captain Zerrva states firmly.
"The space dock has an arena." Vloncar says nonchalantly, "The test can be performed there, tomorrow. The loser must stay with my crew. The winner will have choice of crew."
"In the meantime Vlon will be treated as one of my crew." Captain James asserts.
"Agreed!" Captain Zerrva states before any objection can be raised by Vloncar.
Vloncar turns and walks away. A brief raise of his hand calls his warriors to follow him. None dare to walk beside him, they're all at least five steps behind.
Captain Zerrva turns to me. "Skit is your brother?" He quietly asks.
"Yes." I confirm, "The first younger."
"He will bring the belongings of yours and Jorman's to your new ship. You will not disclose the relationship to any who don't know. The wedding plans will have to wait, until you've secured your future."
I whisper, "If they find out..."
"Be sure they don't. At least until you've won." He orders.
I nod my head and look around.
"I will enforce you are regarded as the warrior he challenged you as." Captain Zerrva assures me.
"As long as I win that will work." I reply, still whispering. I turn and start towards my new ship, feeling the weight of the future on my shoulders.
Suddenly a thought occurs to me, and I run back to Captain Zerrva.
"Is there something else?" He asks, looking down on me.
"Do you acknowledge my crew choice of the Maiden Explorer?" I inquire in my normal voice.
He replies, "I do."
"Then I submit that Jorman's bonding to me has been completed in having joined the crew of the Maiden Explorer."
Captain Zerrva calls Captain James over and asks, "Are you willing to keep Jorman as a member of your crew, regardless of the outcome of the warrior test?"
"I will." Captain James states without hesitation.
"The bond has been satisfied." Captain Zerrva declares.
I thank him and head back to my new ship, with the members of my crew who are around, with a little less weight on my shoulders.
- Writer
