Mazorium
I rushed through the halls of Himil Station, eager to get back to my humans.
I hadn’t wanted to leave, but there was an issue at the dock and I had to assess the situation personally.
It did allow me to verify the items I’d ordered were delivered and stowed properly though.
I knew they weren’t everything my humans would need, but they would do until we were at a better station.
Honestly, I was amazed Himil got any traffic considering how poorly run and badly maintained it was. I should write to the Charts Office and give them a detailed report about this place. It could be added to the station section of all Talin unibases.
Thinking about writing reports made me realize there were special items I’d require to properly document the taming of my humans, including a high-fidelity image capture and vid capture.
I’d need to do some research on the best types to buy.
They would need to be able to focus in close on the subject because I was desperate to capture examples of every expression Nadia made as she grew.
I didn’t have any others to compare her to, but I knew she was the most adorable pup any human ever birthed!
Excitement for my new project made me want to rattle loudly. My good mood was dashed the moment I stepped into the medical bay and saw Mika’s bed empty.
“Where is my human?” I roared. Staff ran from the back room and all started chittering at once. My INT couldn’t translate any of it.
“If my human isn’t found, I’ll wage war on this station!”
That made them move. In short order, station security flooded the room. They were a combination of Doringo and Tiltimun.
“We have no wish to make an enemy of your empire,” the leader of the security group said as the rest of them accessed vid captures. “We will find your humans quickly. If they aren’t alive and well, then we will compensate you accordingly.”
“Don’t you realize they are precious?” I asked.
He didn’t answer me, probably because he’d never even heard of the species before today.
Unable to remain still, I paced the bay. Her smell still lingered in the room. I wished I had a talent for tracking with scent alone, but it wasn’t something my lineage was gifted with.
My pacing took me through the entrance of the medical bay and I noticed a Tiltimun at a small cart selling sweets. When I walked over to her, she looked up with attentive ears pointed forward.
“I have many flavors that appeal to many species," she said. “If you tell me what foods you prefer, I can recommend something you’d like.”
Talins have no taste for sweets so I’d normally never approach her. Ignoring the offerings on her cart, I focused on the task at hand.
“Can you tell me if you saw a human being taken from the medical bay?”
The Tiltimun flapped her ears in confusion. “What’s a human?”
I cursed myself for not taking any image captures earlier. I was so focused on wanting high quality that I didn’t bother using my Ident.
Wait, I had a copy of the sales contract that included an image! I unclipped my Ident and scrolled through until I found it. Holding it out, I showed the Tiltimun. She stared at it for a long time, then looked back up to me.
“I might’ve seen such a creature,” she said. “But I’m too busy trying to sell things right now to think about it.”
I wanted to rattle with impatience, but what she was saying wasn’t unreasonable. It cost her money to station her cart here so she couldn’t afford to give information away for free.
“I’ll take two bags of everything you offer,” I said. “Have it delivered to my ship.”
Her ears gave an excited wiggle and she held up her information square to request funds. I tapped the agreement on my Ident.
The moment her information square lit up with a completed translation, she started talking.
“Not long ago, a small, almost hairless creature, just like your image, walked out of the medical bay. She was holding many things slung over her shoulders and in her arms. Then the auctioneer saw her and rushed over to grab her. I didn’t hear what he said, but he dragged her that way.
" The Tiltimun pointed in the direction of the personal living quarters for the station personnel and permanent residents. “The little creature didn’t have big ears to convey her emotions, but I think she was afraid.”
“The auctioneer!” I said, thinking of the large Tulk who’d stood on the stage and facilitated Mika and Nadia’s sale. Tulks were known for their sexual brutality. “I’ll buy an additional four bags of each flavor if you can find out his room location.”
The Tiltimun didn’t hesitate to start tapping on her information square. The people who lived and worked here would have much better access to information than a visitor like me. Within a submark she named a room.
“Bill the same account,” I instructed before turning and sprinting off.
Despite the fact that I wasn’t in the Talin military, I kept myself in peak physical condition and attended practice sessions whenever possible.
It was important for the safety of the empire that every citizen be ready to fight if necessary.
I wasn’t as skilled as a professional soldier, but I was far from helpless.
When I reached the correct door, I closed my fist to pound on it, but I was suddenly surrounded by four other Tulks. They spoke in a flurry of questions.
“Who are you?”
“What are you doing here?”
“Did Effik invite you to fuck his new slave too? You have to go last because you’re not a Tulk.”
Rage exploded through me as one of them touched the door display next to my shoulder. I turned in time for the door to slide open, revealing Mika struggling against the auctioneer's hold. I was surprised to see him bleeding from a small wound on his face. My little human was a fighter!
Nadia was on the floor behind her, screaming. It was clear that Mika was trying to protect her child. This never should’ve happened. It was my job to protect them and I’d failed. But I’d make this Tulk pay!
With a roar, I launched into the room. I grabbed the arm holding onto Mika and broke it at the center of the lower segment. Effik’s hand went limp, and Mika dropped to her feet and grabbed Nadia.
I was thankful she tucked down into a corner, allowing me more room to deal with the Tulk. Before I could do anything further to Effik, the others in the hall all rushed into the room, sounding squealing screams of anger.
The four other Tulks pushed me away from Effik. Blows rained down on me. The Tulks were strong but unskilled, and most of the blows were ineffective. A few landed hard enough to cause some pain but no real damage.
The small room gave the Tulks an advantage. Risking injury to my arm, I grabbed one of the Tulks by the long hair on his chest and pulled him forward and past me. His head hit the wall hard enough to daze him, and I was able to shove him into another Tulk.
This gave me the opening I needed to step away from the wall.
One of the other three Tulks swung a fist at me, but I easily batted it to the side and returned the blow with one to his sternum.
I wasn’t knowledgeable about Tulk physiology, but I must've hit a vulnerable spot because the Tulk went down to his knees, gasping.
The two remaining Tulks lowered their heads and huffed strangely.
Their chests puffed out, and when I went to strike the same spot on another's chest, it felt like I’d punched a stone.
Apparently, I’d gotten lucky with the other Tulk because he hadn’t engaged whatever inner protection these two had.
Backing up a little, I kicked a small table into the air. A second kick sent it into the Tulk rushing at me. He cried out in surprise and stumbled. While that Tulk struggled to regain his balance, I advanced on the last Tulk. I needed to subdue him quickly while we were one-on-one.
The Tulk huffed and squealed, trying to intimidate me. He lowered his head and charged. I waited until the last moment and stepped to the side, delivering a blow to his head with all the force of my turning body.
His squeal cut off and his limp body fell to the ground.
The Tulk I’d punched in the sternum was back on his feet. I faced him, ready for a battle. He looked at the other fallen Tulks, then sprinted for the door. The Tulk I’d kicked the table into followed his friend out into the hall.
I let them go. I didn’t care about them; only my humans mattered.
Effik lay on the ground weeping and clutching his broken arm. “Don’t kill me!” he begged. I ignored him. He wasn’t worth my breath.
I stepped on him to get to Mika where she was huddled in the corner. I crouched down, resisting the urge to touch her. She was facing the wall with her body wrapped around Nadia, shielding her. I was relieved to realize the pup had stopped crying.
“Mika?” I murmured, sounding a soothing rumble. “I’m here. You’re safe.”
She lifted and turned her head to look at me over her shoulder. Her eyes were large and frightened.
“Mazorium? Please don’t hurt me,” she whispered.
I was confused by that. “I’d never hurt you.”
She stared at me as if weighing my words for truthfulness. She slowly turned until she sat facing me. She looked past me to take in the carnage.
“You beat all of them,” she said with wonder.
“Yes,” I agreed. “I’ll always defeat anyone standing between you and me.”
She didn’t respond, only stared at the sobbing Effik. That’s when I understood she might be concerned I’d be violent with her because I’d been violent with them.
“I’d never use my strength on you,” I assured her. “There is no reason to resort to violence between us.”
She nodded. “Thank you.”
“You don’t need to thank me for protecting you. As your owner, it’s my privilege. I only regret this happened. You’ve been traumatized enough already.”
“I, um, I might have contributed to the situation," she said, sliding her gaze away from me.
I snorted. “Highly unlikely. Now, I want to take you back to the medical bay. Can I lift you up, please?”
“I can walk,” she said. “You don’t have to carry me.”