Chapter 2
Zahra hadn’t needed to worry about ruining any sort of first contact.
Once aboard the alien ship, they’d been guided to a room, given blankets and pillows, and left alone.
The aliens briefly apologized for not having any other available rooms, but none of her people minded.
It was a safe, warm space. At this point, it felt like a five-star space cruise. No one here would complain.
“Should be at the base any moment.” Logan smiled at them as he turned away from the small window he looked out of at the space zipping by them.
They all sat or lounged in their room. With only about a day between them and the base, Zahra had given strict orders not to leave the room.
The less contact, the fewer chances they had to accidently insult their savors.
Their hiding away could still result in an insult, but she figured it was easier to fix than something said or gestured.
“Good.” Vincent stretched his long legs out in front of him. “I’m ready to get back to our people, have some human food, and maybe talk to my family, assuming I’m not sent right back out to the field.”
“I’ll make sure we all get time to say hi to someone.
” Zahra assured them all. They would all need the reset after seeing so many of their crewmates slaughtered at the hands of the Sri’thaens.
Some might even need some therapy. Zahra eyed Logan, their youngest crew member.
He seemed in good spirits, but she wondered if he’d actually dealt with what they’d witnessed, or if he’d stashed it away somewhere.
The door to their room slid open and one of the aliens walked into the open doorway. His greenish eyes scanned the room before landing on her. “Khaazai requests your presence on the bridge.”
“Of course.” Zahra rose from where she sat cross-legged on the dark metal floor.
“You shouldn’t go alone.” Logan was immediately standing at her side.
“Logan’s right. You should have one of us accompany you.” Vincent said from where he still lounged on the floor, not looking like he was about to volunteer.
“Logan,” Zahra sent him a smile, “why don’t you join me? Stretch your legs.” Then she could keep the young man close, make sure he was still doing well.
“Happy to join you.” Logan stepped in behind her as she led the way to the doorway.
The alien stepped aside, allowing them into the hall, before he turned and led the way in silence.
The corridors were made from the same black metal on the outside of the ship with dim orange lighting, giving the ship a slightly creepy vibe.
The walk to a lift took them only a few seconds, from there they zipped upwards, and when the doors opened again, they were greeted by the sight of a small bridge.
Each station was manned by one of the enormous black aliens.
Khazzai stood in the center of the bridge and turned. His blue eyes skimmed over her, and Zahra felt goosebumps race up and down her spine.
“You called us up to the bridge?” Zahra prompted as she and Logan approached.
“Yes, and unfortunately, it is with bad news, I am afraid.” Khazzai said, his deep voice seeming to carry through the metal of the floor and race up her legs. “Your base is no longer in existence.” He swept an arm out to the viewscreen.
Zahra turned right as Logan uttered, “Shit.”
She mirrored his sentiment, only silently in her head. All that was left of the base was a bunch of debris floating through space.
“Any survivors?” She asked hopefully. Someone could have escaped on a vessel or in a space suit. Anything was possible. Even if improbable.
“We’ve been scanning the area since arriving, but so far, there is nothing. We will do a thorough sweep before moving on.” Khaazai turned to her, “But I will need to know where you would like us to bring you to next.”
“Uh.” Zahra pinched the bridge of her nose as she tried to think of the next closest space station or base. “There’s a space station about a week from here. I can type in the coordinates for you.”
“Draqiex will allow you use of his station.” Khaazai led her over to one of his men.
Draqiex stepped aside, and Zahra noticed for the first time that none of the stations had a chair. Guess they didn’t believe in sitting while on the job.
“I might need some help with this.” Zahra said as she skimmed over the buttons and realized her ocular implants would need time to digest the symbols in front of her before translating them.
Draqiex stepped up beside her and assisted her in searching out the coordinates. Once done, she backed away, and addressed Khaazai, “Seeing that my people will be aboard your ship for a little longer, do you mind if they stretch their legs?”
He inclined his head ever so slightly as he said, “They are welcome to explore the ship and interact with the crew. However, there are restricted zones, but there will always be an armed guard in those areas to warn you or it will require a code.”
“We thank you for your hospitality.” Zahra said before she followed one of the aliens back to their group.
No one would be thrilled to hear the base had been blown to bits, but there was nothing more they could do at this point. It was a war after all.
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A couple of days later, Zahra walked through the corridors of the ship with Logan and another man, Blake. Other members of their crew trailed a little further behind them through the corridor as they looked around the foreign ship.
"Still can't believe the Sri’thaens blew up the base." Blake shook his head. Most of them still found it hard to believe. No survivors had been found despite their new alien allies searching for several hours, combing the entire debris field, just in case. No survivors. All souls lost.
"Thankfully our new companions have agreed to take us to the next outpost." Zahra said, trying to find something cheerful for them. So many lives lost between their crew and that of the base. It wasn’t including any of the other colonies or ships that’d been lost to the Sri’thaen war.
"And like you said commander, maybe we can make some new allies." Logan said, ever hopeful. Maybe it was his age, but he seemed to be rebounding from the loss of so much life decently well. But Zahra was still ready in case he suddenly broke down.
"Depends if they want to join a war." Zahra knew the Kellians had only joined in because their queen was human. Otherwise, the Kellians would have stayed out of the war, despite being an ally.
"Maybe we can negotiate some assistance." Logan shrugged, “Even if they don’t want to assist fully, they might be willing to share resources or technology. Or even provide our ships some safe space in which to retreat or stage from.”
"Again, depends if we have anything of interest for them." Zahra countered. “An ally would want something in return, and seeing how advanced they are, I don’t think we’d have much to offer them.”
Zahra looked over to one side of the hallway and saw a wall of glass. Approaching, she smiled when she noticed it was a training area inside the ship. "Who wants to do something other than wandering around the ship and talking?" Zahra asked, eager to burn off some energy and some pent-up emotions.
"I'd be up for some training." Logan nodded enthusiastically.
Blake nodded his head in agreement. "Might also give us a chance to see some of their weapons, like those plasma spears. I’d love to get my hands on them and see how they work."
"Don't find any trouble." Zahra leveled a stern gaze on the crewmembers that had followed her around the ship.
“If they tell me the weapons are off limits, I'll leave them alone." Blake held his hands up in the air.
As they entered the training area, she saw some of the aliens sparring in one section of the massive room. They shouldn't mind sharing… surely. If her people stayed off to one side, they shouldn’t interfere with any training the aliens were in the middle of practicing.
"Let's start out with some hand to hand combat. I don't want them thinking we're abnormally interested in their weapons." Zahra guided her people over to a section of the training area that was off in a corner.
"You and me then?" Logan assumed a fighting crouch as he faced Blake.
Zahra leaned back against the wall and watched her men begin to wrestle. Other members of the crew also stood back to watch and comment on the fighting styles, sometimes yelling a bit of encouragement or advise.
Not only was this good practice for them, but it'd allow her crew to get out any pent-up energy.
She'd been a little worried they might go a bit stir crazy and start some shit with their saviors.
Especially, when it came to Blake. The man could be a bit quick to act or say things before truly thinking them over.
Her eyes slid over to where the aliens trained, and she spotted Khaazai.
The male was hard to miss. He wore that same black skirt with blue trim.
She wondered if it had its own name like the Scots of Earth had kilts.
Khaazai moved with a grace she'd never have expected from his tall, massively built frame.
It was almost like watching some form of dance as he ducked and lunged with his opponent.
He wore no shirt today, leaving his torso bare for her perusal. And peruse she did.
"Commander."
"Huh?" Zahra turned to look back at her crew.
Delilah laughed when she looked over at the alien men fighting. "I think our commander was a bit distracted by the view." She winked at Logan as she slapped his back.
Zahra frowned but found herself unable to deny Delilah's comment. But seeing the sparkle in the other woman's eyes, Zahra would bet she wasn't the only one watching the show those alien men had been putting on. They moved faster than a human and the power of each blow could be felt across the room.
"Commander!" A deep voice called out from behind her from where the aliens had been fighting.
Zahra spun away from her crew and saw a wooden spear headed straight for her.
Thankfully, it came at her length wise, and she grabbed it right out of the air.
She looked it over, twisting it this way and that.
Lightweight. She wondered if this training stick was supposed to simulate fighting with one of those plasma spears the aliens possessed.
"Dare to challenge me?"
Zahra looked up dumbly to find Khaazai standing nearby. He’d been the one to toss the wooden spear at her.
"Well, commander?" Delilah asked with a quirked eyebrow, and a glint in her eyes as her smile broadened.
"Can't let us down.” Logan chimed in. “Got to show them what we got.” He pumped a fist into the air.
"You two can't be serious." Zahra rolled her eyes. “I don’t stand a chance.”
"He asked you." Dahlia smiled sweetly as Zahra glanced back over at Khaazai. “Wouldn’t want to say no and risk insulting him.” She whispered lower just for Zahra’s ears.
"Okay then, but if he kills me, I'll come back to haunt both of you." She stepped forward to cheers from her crew, which drew the attention of everyone in the room, alien and human. “I’m not sure how to fight with a staff, but I’ll give it a good shot.” She informed Khaazai.
Khaazai widened his stance, so Zahra followed his lead. She figured even if she got soundly beat by him, she could at least take this opportunity to learn something about fighting someone with a wooden staff.
When he began slowly circling her, she moved in the opposite direction, keeping him in her line of sight.
Then he lunged, thwapping her on the side of her thigh with the spear.
She sucked in a startled breath as she drew back, putting some distance between them.
He’d moved faster than her brain could process, and she knew she wasn’t going to have a shot.
She’d be surprised if she even landed a blow.
Narrowing her eyes, Zahra tried to spot a weakness, but the man gave nothing away.
He moved with a grace she could only dream of.
They began circling each other, and then Zahra went on the offensive.
She lunged towards him, and he met her, blow for blow.
Their wooden staffs echoed with sharp cracks.
With one smooth movement, Khaazai spun her fighting stick out of her hands, and she held them up in defeat, hoping he wouldn’t whap her with the spear again.
"You win." Zahra yielded. She wasn’t about to fight him in hand to hand combat.
A deep growl issued from his chest right before the room went eerily silent.
Zahra's eyes zipped back and forth as she tried to read the room.
The aliens around them seemed frozen in place.
Their eyes trained on Khaazai. As if they waited for something.
.. something important? She knew she should have stayed in her room.
They'd only just met this species, and she had no idea about their beliefs or customs. Perhaps she'd insulted Khaazai by yielding and they were waiting for her to apologize?
Khaazai cocked his head slightly as he took a half step closer to her. She met his glowing blue eyes ready for whatever happened.
"I accept your courtship.” He growled out in a voice that nearly melted her knees. Then he turned and left the training area.
Zahra blinked. Then his words hit her. Courtship? Wait, what? She turned and gazed back at her soldiers in a daze. "Does anyone happen to know what just happened? Anyone?"
Logan shrugged, his eyes as wide as saucers.
"I think you might be dating him, sir." Delilah sent her a thumbs up. "Congrats."
"How long until we get to the outpost?" Zahra swallowed harshly.
"A few more Earth days I think."
Good. She’d hide away until then. Then people who were trained in alien affairs could sort out this courtship mess. She just had to hang in there for a few more days.