Chapter 11
Vytln
It wasn’t often that Tanin summoned Vytln to the upper bridge.
Their bridge was split into two sections.
The main bridge where Sway would navigate and pilot while Grace, his mate, did her lists and comms and whatever other datawork kept her busy.
A ladder in the wall at the back, however, led to the upper bridge where Tanin worked.
Up there he didn't have the ability to fly, but he could monitor and control the entirety of the Humility.
It was also his space. Much like his private room, it was a place that Vytln and the others didn't tread unless invited.
And Vytln rarely was summoned. He was hard at work on the ship.
He didn't have time for much else, and if there was an emergency that needed his immediate attention, Alred would have just told him that and sent him to the problem.
That’s not what happened, however. Alred only said that Tanin had a comm and that he needed Vytln there. Which really didn't tell him much.
When he climbed the ladder and lifted the hatch, entering the upper bridge, he got no further clarity.
Tanin was there, standing at one of his control panels, looking at some of the readouts of the ship.
He had a captain’s chair here, but it was in the center of the room, rarely used.
Inky black glass all along the walls were actually windows, looking out on the empty void of space.
They were out of subspace, approaching their next job.
Vytln didn't much concern himself with the deliveries, so he didn't know where they were or why, but they weren’t near anything he could see through the windows.
Tanin turned as Vytln came up. Though years had passed, in the dimness of the upper bridge, Tanin still appeared as that dark, demonic shadow that approached and defeated J’tll the Brute so long ago.
His quills remained low now, but his eyes still gleamed with that same hard darkness.
This male, more than any in the entire universe, had Vytln’s respect, and he was the only one who had his loyalty.
“Aye, captain?” He said by way of greeting as he came to stand near him.
Tanin pointed to the side, telling him without a word to step back. Which Vytln did.
“I got a comm,” his captain said. “Grace got it, actually. She transferred it to me when she realized who it was and what they wanted. I figured you’d want to be here for this. But stay there out of sight. Unless you really feel the need to interfere. It’s your choice.”
Vytln crossed his arms, confused but not unwilling to go along. What comm could they have gotten that would involve Vytln? He got his answer soon enough.
“Alred,” the captain called out, facing forward again. “Connect the comm. Make sure Vytln stays out of sight.”
“Aye, captain,” came the toneless response.
The comm connected, the holo display flashing in the air.
And Vytln stilled. His entire body locking down as rage built in his chest, sudden and burning and just as violent as the last time he’d seen that hated face.
His brother, Kldyn, appeared on the display looking at Tanin.
He was visible only from about half chest and up, but it was like he was really there.
The two of them were similar in some aspects, sharing the same shape to the eyes and nose.
But Kldyn’s face was thinner, more rectangular than square, and he was less broad in the body.
He also wasn’t covered in scars. His brown skin was whole and unmarked. His horns had been shined, they weren’t rough and covered in chips. He was a healthy male in peak physical condition, and had clearly taken care of himself through the years.
Years that hadn’t at all dulled Vytln’s hatred for him. It all came rushing back. His fists clenched into tight fists as he bit back the urge to rage. Only Tanin, his infallible and calm captain, standing in the light of the display kept him motionless in the shadows, out of his brother’s sight.
“Greetings to you,” his brother said, giving his captain a polite smile. Friendly. Open. One thing Vytln could admit Kldyn was better at was charm, and he turned it on to full blast with that smile.
Tanin inclined his head, meeting it with his usual stoicism. “Sorry for making you wait. I’m Tanin, captain of this vessel.”
“Oh, it’s no problem,” Kldyn smiled, waving away Tanin’s apology like it truly might not mean anything.
Though, doubtlessly, he would have been angered and insulted if he didn’t receive one.
Kldyn liked to play as an easy going, casual male, though it was far from the truth.
“I understand that you are busy, and I know you weren’t expecting my comm.
Thank you for talking to me regardless. I do appreciate it. ”
Tanin grunted in acknowledgement. “I believe you told my communications officer that this comm wasn’t a professional one.”
“That’s true.” Kldyn frowned, an expression of sadness coming over his face.
Like he might be grieved by something. “I am sorry to interrupt your schedule, but I’m sure you will understand why I had to once I explain.
You see, I have cause to believe that you know something of my brother who I have unfortunately lost contact with. ”
Tanin made a sound that meant absolutely nothing. Merely acknowledgment that Kldyn had said something, and nothing more.
“My brother’s name is J’tll. We were separated years ago after a petty fight that I regret to this day. Nothing hurts my heart more than knowing that I caused him such pain.”
Vytln’s eye was twitching. The sheer audacity of his lies were so stunning, so absolutely stupid, it robbed him of anything like a reasonable response.
Tanin, however, remained calm and unaffected. “I’m sorry to hear that. But there is no male named J’tll on my ship.”
Kldyn made a soft sound. “Perhaps not now, but I received a report that my brother, J’tll y Ntlm, was recently declared dead.
And the last known location was linked to your ship.
He’s never been registered as crew of your vessel, but you can understand that I would do anything to track down any lead I can to find him. ”
Vytln was clenching his teeth so hard, they were on the verge of breaking. Kldyn wasn’t trying to find him. He didn’t consider Vytln lost. He’d sent Vytln to Rik-Vane. The only thing he cared about was the possibility that he might have gotten away from there.
“Do you know anything about him?” Kldyn asked, his expression one of a devastated brother, looking for any sign of his lost family. “Our mother has been worried sick. Please, if you know anything, anything at all, I know it would be of great comfort for her.”
Only stewing anger prevented Vytln from scoffing and breaking into mocking laughter.
His mother, worried? The idea was foolish to the point of ridiculousness.
Mtyn’n was a cold, calculating, vicious beast of a creature.
The only thing she cared about between her sons was crafting them into weapons for taking over the family business.
And only the one who was succeeding at besting the other deserved her attention.
Certainly not her affection, because that female didn’t have an affectionate drop of blood in her body.
But Kldyn knew all the right things to say to manipulate people. And certainly, a regular person would hear of a worried mother and be eager to help in whatever way possible. Not knowing what a heartless t’tcyt she was.
Tanin, however, wasn’t a regular person, and he knew better.
“I’m sure any good mother would be worried,” he agreed. “But as I said, I do not know any male named J’tll.”
“But you have a lvtl male registered on your crew,” Kldyn pressed, his facade of worry cracking as the sharp question flew from his mouth, like a gotcha he was silently declaring.
“I do,” Tanin nodded once in agreement. “But his name is not J’tll. And I’ve known him for many years.”
“My brother has been missing for many years.”
“And I’m sure your worry for him would cause you to see hope in even the most remote of possibilities,” Tanin returned easily.
“But he is not J’tll. Though, maybe I am mistaken.
Tell me, how is this J’tll of yours connected to my ship.
Was he a client? Or perhaps he worked on my ship at our last repair stop. ”
“Oh, I cannot recall,” Kldyn grimaced, basically ignoring Tanin’s question. “I was just so focused when they said he was connected to your ship, I didn’t stop to think. I had to check. Although, thinking about it now, he might have been registered as former crewmate?”
“Hm,” Tanin looked thoughtful. “Then, I wouldn’t know. I bought this ship from the previous captain and none of his crew came with it. I had to build my own crew to replace them. And as I said, none of them were named J’tll.”
“I see. If you will indulge me then, who did you purchase the ship from?”
“A male named Ketavor. I never met him in person. The exchange was done over the subnet.”
“Ah. And this male, Ketavor, where did he come from? Do you know, perhaps? Where his ship may have traveled to or what he might have traded? Supplies or something? What stations he might have visited in his business?”
“I do not, I’m afraid. Our relationship extended no further than the sale and purchase of this ship. I consider what he did to be his business.”
“And what business would that be…?”
“Trading. Like mine. What he traded and where, however, I do not know. I am sorry for your lost brother, but I’m afraid I can’t help you find him. If there is nothing else, I will end the comm now. I have to oversee the pickup of our next delivery.”
Kldyn looked like he wanted to say something else, but Alred, knowing their captain, took the cue to cut the comm right there before he could say something else. An action that, no doubt, would make Kldyn absolutely furious.
But any satisfaction Vytln might have gotten from knowing his captain just disrespected his brother – a male that considered disrespect a crime worthy of maiming or even death – was completely mitigated by the fury he felt at seeing his face.
Hearing his voice. Witnessing the absolute gall he had to play the worried brother while no doubt seeking to hunt Vytln down and punish him for trying to escape Rik-Vane.
Tanin turned to face him, and the calmness of his expression helped. But only insomuch that Vytln could finally let out a roar of rage.
“Kvt ty ytk ch’chrc vrk’tsk!” He snapped, the old curses coming easily to his tongue as he resisted the urge to break something.
Tanin just watched, unmoved. “He wouldn’t tell me where he found out about you.
But I know that Captain Ikvar did register all of your old names as the previous crew of the ship before their ‘deaths’.
He needed an official place and time, and he wouldn’t let me or Grace sway him away from putting you all here.
He insisted on the connection. I think he doesn’t want us to let it go completely.
He is allowing us to move on from our past but not forget it. ”
“And now my brother has used that record to hunt me down,” Vytln snarled.
“That was not meant to be easily accessible by the public. Ikvar assured me of that.”
“My family has connections to the peacekeepers. I’m not surprised my brother managed to get that info. I’m more surprised he even remembered me.”
“He let you live,” Tanin reminded him. “Not because he cared. Your life was a trophy he possessed to announce his victory over you. He doesn’t want his trophy to be lost.”
Vytln sneered. It made sense. That’s probably exactly what happened. “Now what?”
“We deal with it as we would anything else,” Tanin shrugged, unconcerned. “So long as he doesn’t bother us, it won’t be a problem.”
Vytln’s teeth were clenched again. If it were a fight between his brother and their family and Tanin, there was no doubt in Vytln’s mind that Tanin would win. If his brother wanted to make this a problem, if he became a nuisance to Tanin, Tanin would end him just like that. And perversely-
“I want him to bother us,” he said, shaking with rage. Tanin only grunted, neither agreeing nor disagreeing with his sentiment.