23. Tyrxie
Chapter 23
Tyrxie
Goodbyes
“ A fine display,” the Imperator states as the cheering dies down. “Although a little one-sided. But I suppose that was the point!” he laughs, and Xandor nods and bows gracefully. “How about a more even contest? Noroth and your other soldier.” He points towards Logarn. “The blonde one there.”
Xandor beckons Logarn over while whispering towards Noroth, “Be careful. Don’t rouse his rage.” I can just make out the words. Noroth nods in agreement as I lead Quad out of the impromptu circle. “Begin!” Xandor roars once the fighters are ready.
Logarn, youthful and the same height as Noroth, lacks his thick build and battle-worn flat face and lumpy ears. Still, he wisely stays on the outside, attempting to use speed, striking with quick, sharp blows before dancing away. But Noroth is like a stalking monster, catching Logarn’s blows with his guarded arms—a fortress of muscle. With each deflected blow, the crowd gasps between tense silences.
Despite Logarn’s efforts to evade, Noroth anticipates his every move with predatory precision. As Logarn throws another jab and attempts to sidestep, Noroth is on him in an instant. The crowd holds its breath as Noroth wraps his arms around Logarn’s waist, lifting him effortlessly before slamming him down onto the floor with a bone-jarring crack that splits the marble.
The crowd erupts into cheers as Logarn lies sprawled and barely conscious, writhing in pain. “Another fine display,” the Imperator laughs heartily. “Noroth is truly a ferocious fighter! Though it’s a shame about the floor being broken once more!”
As the laughter dies down, a female Nebian with a smiling face that does little to hide the disdain in her yellow eyes steps forward. “And what of the so-called Warrior of Peace? Will you not demonstrate your skill? I long to see it, especially after what you did to my Horaxus,” she sneers.
I look between the female, Xandor, and the Imperator with frantic glances, filled with concern. The Imperator frowns. “We’ve been over this, Consul Juliara. Xandor acted justly.”
“I’m afraid my wrestling days are behind me,” Xandor says with mirth, shifting his half cloak to reveal his missing left arm. Many of the Nebians avert their gaze, a reminder of their people’s shame. But the long yellow-haired female only bristles.
“Seems to me all you Klendathians offer is savagery, not befitting of high Nebian society,” she drawls, waving a dismissive hand through her elaborate, high-collared robe.
“Consul Juliara!” the Imperator roars, his anger palpable.
“There’s no dishonor in her words.” Xandor raises a hand. “In fact, I was going to suggest another cultural demonstration. Can your fine band play the Klendathian lament?” he inquires.
“Of course,” the Imperator says with pride, looking towards the far corner where a large choir rests. “They can play any known song in the galaxies.”
“Impressive.” Xandor nods towards the band. “Please begin.” At his command, the band launches into a cacophony of loud, bombastic sounds, more like a battle dirge than a song. After the initial opening, the music takes on a haunting tone, with lingering beats and instruments, evoking a sense of loss and remorse.
Lost in the music, I almost don’t notice Xandor standing before me with his hand outstretched. My breath catches in panic, aware that all eyes are on us. “Let’s dance, my sexy little puffrio,” he offers, beaming down at me.
What is he doing?
I tentatively take his hand, my heart pounding in my chest, unable to refuse under the scrutiny of everyone’s attention. “But, Xandor, I don’t know how to dance,” I whisper through a fixed smile that couldn’t be more at odds with my frantic heartbeats.
Xandor leads us to the center of the makeshift circle. “It’s okay, I don’t either,” he says with a mischievous glint in his golden eye, quashing any hope of avoiding imminent embarrassment.
“Lovely,” I hiss through clenched teeth, dripping with sarcasm.
He bows gracefully before me. I resist the urge to hide in the shadows, wondering what the void I’m supposed to do next. Then he places my right hand on his left shoulder. “Imagine I have my left hand on your back,” Xandor says with a reassuring smile as he takes my left hand in his right, holding our arms out to the side. “It’s the best I can do, for now,” he laughs, filling me with a strange giddiness at his carefree attitude. “Watch my feet and follow my lead.”
This is voiding crazy!
Xandor smiles at me as the rhythmic music pulses in the background. I follow his advice, watching his feet with keen eyes, as if my life depends on it. I gasp as his foot glides forward toward mine. Instinctively, I step backward, trying to mimic his flowing style. His hand applies subtle pressure, urging me rearward and to the left.
His other foot then shifts forward, invading my space, forcing me to glide backwards. Then, his foot moves again, guiding us through the circle in a flowing box pattern. “Very good. Again,” Xandor smiles and repeats the moves, this time slightly faster. My heart thumps with nervous concentration, but with each iteration, I gain more confidence, enjoying the graceful union of our movements.
“That’s it. Follow the beat of the music. One, two, three,” Xandor says, repeating the count over and over. It makes it easier, our steps becoming smoother, our timing better. “Now keep your head up. Proud like a majestic brutonous.” What the void is a brutonous? But there’s no time to ask—only laser focus will save me now.
I lift my head, seeing Xandor beaming at me, the pride in his eye sending my heart soaring. Straightening my posture, I attempt to mimic him as we continue to flow around the makeshift circle. “One, two, three. Now turn!” Xandor says, twirling his hand in mine. I hesitate for a moment, the timing lost. My face heats, but Xandor smoothly continues, and we fall back into our flowing rhythm.
This time I’m prepared. When Xandor says, “Now turn!” I spin in a circle, following his twirling hand. I laugh at the sensation, enjoying the elegant movements and the feel of Xandor’s hand in mine. Our bodies pressed together, the rhythmic stomping of the Nebians I’m just noticing. We continue to flow with grace, Xandor adding some extra flourishes like pauses and reverse turns that I mimic as best I can.
The more familiar the movements become, the more I enjoy our dance, relaxing into our flowing steps, feeling like I’m floating through the air, my heart carried away by the male I love. “You know, I learned this dance from you,” Xandor says, smiling, between our continued dancing, his voice barely audible over my laughter, the music, and the cheering, thumping crowd.
“That doesn’t make sense. You’ve just taught me!” I reply, giggling in disbelief and graceful elation.
Xandor laughs. “From one of our future paths. When we go to Earth, you learn this human waltz, and we dance it many times.” His words leave my mind struggling to comprehend. Do I learn the waltz on Earth because of this event? Or would it have happened anyway? Xandor must notice my difficulty, as he gives me a knowing smile. “Surreal, isn’t it?”
As suddenly as it started, the music stops, our beautiful dance halting, and I already miss it. Xandor leads me in a bow before the cheering Imperator. The crowd erupts into raucous cheering and stomping feet. My heart swells as we hold each other, basking in the applause.
Amidst the crowd, I spot familiar faces—Noroth, Logarn, Quad, Hyanxa, Mob, and Job—making their way towards us. Many of them have wide eyes, clearly impressed by our performance.
“Your wrestling days might be behind you,” Noroth beams, giving Xandor a hearty slap on the back. “But there’s nothing wrong with your legs.”
Xandor chuckles, “Tyrxie keeps me light on my feet,” he retorts, smiling at me, which makes my heart flutter.
“I bet our wee Tyrxie does,” Hyanxa chimes in with a chuckle, glancing in my direction. “You’ll have to teach me that one,” she says, giving me a playful shove.
“Anytime,” I reply, nodding.
Just need to learn it myself first.
“Where Tiniest?” Quad inquires, casting his head around the opulent room. “See many tinies, but no Tiniest?” He adds, scratching his broad head.
“Felixus... has fallen out of favor with his people,” Xandor answers with a forlorn expression that tugs on my heart with sympathy. “But he’ll be coming with Tyrxie and me to meet Krogoth,” he adds, nodding at me.
“Okay... I miss Tiniest,” Quad replies, hanging his head downward, then exploding upward with worried eagerness. “You leaving too, Tiny?” He adds, pointing many accusing fingers at me.
“Um,” I struggle, taking a deep breath, knowing and dreading that this moment is approaching. It’s something Xandor and I have discussed at length—my decision to leave the crew and join him. What once seemed like a straightforward choice now feels overwhelming, especially as I look at Quad’s worried expression and the troubled faces of the others. This decision is proving to be far more difficult than I anticipated.
“Yeah... I’m joining Xandor. We’ll be leaving soon. Which reminds me,” I state, looking at my wrist console, preparing to send them payments. “The credits I owe you for helping to rescue Xandor.”
“Not a rescue. More like an awakening,” Xandor chimes in with a short laugh.
“You were right, Fuzzy!” Quad booms, folding his arms and sulking. “She leaves.”
“It was obvious,” Hyanxa declares with a knowing grin. “Thing is, Tyrxie, we were in the crowd watching the ceremony, and—”
“I waved at you! Did you see?” Quad interrupts, waving his four arms, reliving the event.
I saw nothing other than an endless sea of faces .
But before I can reply, Hyanxa says, “Quiet, Quad, I’m speaking seriously now.”
“Okay,” Quad whispers, placing a finger to his mouth, something I taught him.
Hyanxa sighs then looks at me, her golden eyes fierce. “As I was saying, we saw the ship, the... Kaanus’s Gamble, and had a talk.” She glances between Quad, Mod and Job. “We reckon you keep your credits. Buying your stake out only seems fair.”
Her words leave me stunned as my hand hovers over my wrist console.
Xandor scoffs, “The most powerful private ship in the known galaxies. It must be worth a billion!” He waves a dismissive hand.
“At least,” Noroth adds with a frown.
Xandor’s caution bounces off me. The truth is, I never expected to have the ship or the money—five hundred thousand credits is a fortune! More than enough to live comfortably, and I know Xandor will always look after me. “What about you two?” I ask, glancing towards Mob and Job with a look of puzzlement. “I thought you were going to retire and have loads of mini-yous?”
Can the universe handle hundreds of Mod’s and Job’s?
“We stay till Hyanxa buys our shares, or we sell ship. Make much more credits. Yes?” Job answers, placing his many arms limbs behind his head with a relaxed sigh. “Work will be easy. Ship doesn’t require new parts, hull’s integrity doesn’t consist of rust and sideways welding. Yes?” He glares at me with an accusing eye.
“Hey, you did repairs too!” I snap back in offense, only to see Job smirking, his antennae fluttering wildly. The realization that he’s just trying to fire me up hits me.
The crew watch me with warmth in their eyes, and it’s at this moment I realize this might be the last time I’ll see them. “Thank you for everything,” I say, through glistening eyes, rushing over to Job, giving him a hug, feeling his bony exoskeleton through his polymer clothes.
“Goodbye, female mammaloid.” Job strokes my back, “I miss your sometimes adequate repairs. Yes?”
“You will, because I did most of them,” I laugh before adding, “Goodbye, Job.”
As I approach Mod, he recoils, holding up his fluttering arm limbs. “No mammaloid excretions, thank you! No?”
Undeterred, I approach with my arms out wide. “Come on, you know you want to!” I latch onto the stumbling Mod like a blood-sucking creature, making sure to get plenty of ‘mammaloid excretions’ on him. “Goodbye, Mod, thanks for patching me up all those times.”
“My job. No?” Mod squirms until he sighs and relaxes, placing a set of arms on my back. “Farewell, black-haired female mammaloid.”
I turn to see Quad, rubbing his eyes, sobbing noisily, which twists my heart, threatening to spill my own tears. “I don’t want Tiny to leave,” he wails, his broad shoulders shaking.
Approaching him, I place a hand on his arm. “Hey, Quad, I’m really going to miss you. But remember, you’re going to meet loads of new friends on the fancy new ship. Lots of new crew to pick up and bash. Okay?” I say, gently.
Quad’s eyes shoot to me, snot running down his face. “I don’t want stupid new friends. I want you to stay!” he roars, crying harder.
“I’m sorry, I can’t, Quad. Sometimes in life we have no choice but to say goodbye to people we care about.” I wrap my arms around him, feeling him heaving against me. “We’ll meet again someday, and you can tell me all about the amazing things you’ve done.”
Quad sniffles as he wraps me up in a crushing, breath-stealing embrace. A long moment passes. Mercifully, Quad’s sobbing diminishes, just like my ability to breathe. “Okay, we meet again,” he finally declares, releasing me with a big, wet smile. “You smell good,” he chuckles.
“Um, thanks,” I mutter, catching my breath, wiping away a patch of tears or snot or both from the top of my head. “Look after yourself and don’t let Mod and Job scam you.” I turn, glaring at the two Glaseroid brothers who shrug. “And listen to Hyanxa. She’ll keep you right.” I frown, my mind assaulted by dozens of Quadisms “Oh, don’t drink Mod’s ointments, and don’t bash people without permission, and no picking them up either, and—”
“My head hurts.” Quad grimaces, scratching his cranium.
Well, that might cover ten percent, anyway.
“Don’t worry, I’ll keep a close eye on him if I don’t throw him out of the docking hatch first,” Hyanxa offers with a smile as she approaches to stand before me. It’s still strange to me, after all the years of hiding in terror from Hyanxa, that now we stand as friends and allies.
So much has changed. I can hardly believe half of it.
“We’re leaving tomorrow,” she glances around the room. “The Nebian’s home planet has a galaxy-sized target on it, and I’d rather not wait around for the plasma.” Her eyes lock onto mine again. “A word to the wise.”
“We’ll be leaving not long after you,” I say, looking back to Xandor, who nods in agreement.
“Good,” Hyanxa nods before adding, “Goes without saying, but if you ever change your mind, you can join my crew. Maintenance, security, void even co-pilot if you want. I know you got the wits and balls for it.”
Her confidence in me overwhelms me with fierce pride, prompting me to grasp her in a tight hug. “Thanks for teaching me what it means to be strong, Captain Hyanxa.” I break our embrace to stare into her golden gaze, smiling. “I look forward to hearing stories of your exploits.”
“Captain Hyanxa has a nice ring to it,” Hyanxa laughs, then her gaze takes on an almost predatory look. “We’re a couple of tough bitches who don’t take no shit. Remember that.”
“I won’t, I promise,” I state, a fire blazing in my heart, glancing around at the crew. “I’ll remember all of you fondly.”
“This party now about Tiny leaving,” Quad bellows, flexing his impressive arms. Noroth, carrying a fresh batch of drinks, makes his way through the crowd, offering them to everyone with a broad grin.
“Honor to the crew! May our paths cross again soon!” Xandor roars, raising his drink in a toast before taking a generous swig.
The other Klendathians quickly join in, and I smile as I watch them before raising my own cup in solidarity with the rest of the crew. The sweet blue cocktail sends a pleasant tingle of warmth through my body. “You spoke so well, my love,” Xandor jests, a grin on his face. “I should have let you do the talking with the Imperator.”
Snorting, I rue the thought of it. “No, I prefer being your sneaky shadow,” I purr, enjoying the way his eye drinks in my visage with a hungry aspect.
Xandor steps closer with an alluring smile. He wraps me up in his powerful arm, pulling me into a warm embrace. I nestle into his chest, feeling the steady rhythm of his strong heartbeat against my own. We stroke noses gently, a tender gesture that makes my heart flutter with affection. “But your light banishes all shadows,” he whispers.
The future feels brighter, filled with possibilities and the promise of a new beginning. With Xandor by my side, I know we can overcome any obstacle, build a new life, because I love him and he loves me. Our love, fated by Gods I do not understand, but I’m eternally grateful they brought us together.