Chapter 5
FALON
When the drop shuttle finally lands, I am not sure who is more anxious, the females or me.
ANDI was a pleasure, and if my fingers had not still been so sensitive, I would have loved to sync up with him, but my usual attachments do not seem to be cooperating.
Even though the Aynar marked me as a failed experiment, I have grown used to the upgrades they inserted into me and the information they can effortlessly provide.
Edie has been talking to the others around us, leaning up against my chest as we wait for the ramp to open.
And even though I am slightly nervous about meeting the Commander in person, the feel of her in my arms helps anchor me, as she is really all I need.
The one they call Ginger looks like she is ready to crawl out of her own skin, but the tic the ramp is on the ground, she hesitates to step forward.
I look out the doorway, only seeing the Commander and a few others standing nearby. When it looks safe, I motion for the others to go around Ginger. She will come when she’s ready.
The females practically run down the ramp, all of them excited to be around their own kind as they search through faces, hoping to find possible family or friends who might have survived.
The Commander stands at the end of the ramp, meeting each one of them and frack, he is a big male.
Einar is the largest of us and still, the Commander has an inch on him.
In all my rotations, I have never been intimidated by another like I am the Commander.
It is not just his size, but the power that seems to radiate all around him.
He is absolutely terrifying, standing there with a small smile on his face.
Walking beside Edie, her hand is safe in my own as we head toward the others. The moment I am before the Commander, I hit one knee, and my head bows. “It is an honor to be in your presence, Commander.”
Instantly, his massive hands are on my upper arms, pulling me up, and it is a good thing he is holding onto me because my legs are so weak I can barely stand.
“You bow for no male Falon! You are one of mine now, and we hit our knees for no one but the Lord of Light, or in your case, the God of Ruk. Come, join my Kira and I here for a moment. I need to witness this joining.”
Stepping beside him, I pull Edie up against my chest, needing her quiet strength as I quietly try to pull myself together while all eyes are upon Ginger as she stands halfway down the ramp.
Everyone gets quiet, just as a human male, the first one of his kind I have ever seen until we arrived here sees her standing there.
Edie leans back against me, and I feel her small frame start to tremble.
When I glance down, she has tears running down her cheeks and is holding onto my arm wrapped around her waist, as if it’s a lifeline.
When I peer back up, Ginger is in the male’s arms, and there is not a dry eye in the place.
Everyone, including the Commander, seems to be leaking.
I knew this was a highly anticipated reunion, but the fact that it is upsetting my mate is unacceptable to me.
Quickly, I pick her up, tucking her face into my neck as I hold her up by her luscious ass cheeks, pulling her close until I feel her tears lessen.
By this time, the male has physically carried Ginger off.
The others start returning to their previous duties.
Suddenly, I am at a loss as to what to do next.
“I’m alright, Falon. You can put me down, honey.”
I pull her back gently so that I can see her face. “Why did the leaking occur?”
“Ginger has been searching for Ricky since the moment she landed on Deapra. I could feel their love … and the heartache it caused from being separated for so long. These were happy tears mixed with sad ones for all who witnessed their reunion. There are not a lot of happily ever after’s in real life, honey.
So anytime you get to witness one, it pulls at the heartstrings. ”
The voice of another female has me turning and she is quite stunning in a whole other way. I knew human females varied in coloring and height, but some are so extreme that you would think their god was simply having fun when putting them all together.
“Hi, I’m Kira … DaR’s other half. We didn’t have time to talk before. Things got crazy there for a few days with that rock floating around, but I’ve put together a light lunch for us so that we can discuss the settlement and other stuff with you guys. I know all this must be a little overwhelming.”
“I am beginning to think that overwhelming is the norm. What about the other girls? Should they come?”
“Carla and James are going to take them to their dwelling pod so they can get settled. We’ll have several other pods ready shortly according to MeK.
So hopefully one of them will be in a location you and Edie prefer as I’m sure you’d like a place of your own.
Come, we have much to discuss. SAGE worked hard on what she calls human chicken salad, and she also made some new chips I’m excited to try. ”
DaR is a few steps away, speaking to a male with a white bandage around his arm.
Once they stop talking, he turns back to us, and I can see his eyes evaluating me as he walks forward.
I am a large male, especially compared to the small human males around here, but he need not worry, as I have no grievances against this race.
“If you all are ready, Falon. We have your futures to discuss, and since it is still quite chilly out here for our human mates, let’s head into my personal shuttle so that we can talk in comfort.”
I can tell he is trying not to be intimidating, but I am out of my element here. This world and all that is in it is strange. At least in the Void, you knew most of the others around you were in the same mess you were. Here, I am more than likely the only criminal planetside.
Edie and I follow behind them, but my eyes do not miss a thing as we walk through the shuttle area.
Several of these I know I could infiltrate if things go bad, but none look as if they could burst through the Veil.
I need to hurry up and heal so that I can familiarize myself with this side of the Veil.
I have no idea whether there is a hidden corner, unknown to the Commander or his sons, where we could hide if need be.
I shake my head at those thoughts. I have been a pirate for so long that it is hard not to look at the opportunities around me.
The Commander’s shuttle is like no other here.
It is sleek and shiny, as if just commissioned.
Instead of a ramp, the front of the ship tilts down slightly, and the entire front slides open as we approach.
We walk into a lavishly decorated space in which I instantly feel out of place, as I have spent most of my rotations in ships that were merely patched together.
The Commander’s mate turns towards mine.
“Edie, I’m going to grab some drinks if you’d like to come with me. I want you to meet SAGE. She’s in the kitchen area. You two boys have a seat. We’ll return in a minute.”
The Commander must have seen my puzzlement at her calling us younglings.
“You will get used to their terminology in time. Word of advice … just go with it. It appears we are easier to train in languages than they are, or our females are simply too stubborn to learn, but either way, it’s not worth mentioning.
Sit, let us get to know each other better so that we can figure out the next steps and your place here. ”
Looking around, I sit down awkwardly on a half-round, soft platform while the Commander sits across from me in a single chair.
I know I look like a youngling peering all around, but I had no idea a shuttle could be this nice.
ANDI was clean and shiny, but this is like a space-worthy floating dwelling.
DaR motions around with his hand, “I can tell you approve of the newest addition to my fleet.”
“She is a beauty; if she handles as well as she looks, it must be a dream in open space.”
“The Virulent is as beautiful as she is deadly.
She may be small, but she packs quite a punch as she is heavily armed.
Not many full-size cruisers could take her down, as they cannot match her maneuverability.
I have enjoyed piloting her tremendously.
Makes one my age feel quite youthful when you are behind the controls.
Falon, I need to thank you once again for what you did on Destiny. I understand your original reasoning was to protect Edie, but you saved hundreds of lives by that selfless act.”
“There were no other options. I simply reacted without thoughts of the outcome. I knew I had the ability to fix the issue and did the best I could. I will say thanks to LeX and the advanced medical equipment on Destiny that I have mostly healed. My fingers are still easily overstimulated, but I would love to sink them into this shuttle. New designs always intrigue me.”
“Just let me know when you feel like you are well enough to do so. I would like your input, as you can see the ship in a way none of us can. Your skills will be highly sought out, especially when we cannot figure out what is wrong with any new design.
While the females are distracted, tell me about your family. EvO informed me that you had just been reunited with your mother when they found Deapra. Unfortunately, my knowledge of the Void is practically nonexistent. I know bits and pieces, but I am hoping you can help me with this.”
DaR sits across from me with his massive legs crossed at the ankle, relaxed. I know he is trying to appear less intimidating, but I can see his eyes miss nothing, and the power simmering just beneath the surface is ready to strike at a moment’s notice.