Zwokkie, Silktail and Alexander had finally found a planet that was suitable enough to provide food. Zwokkie had nearly formally declared hys love towards Silktail, but was interrupted by Alex, calling them for a celebratory dinner. As things started to look good, they were ambushed just as Alex wanted to make an announcement.
I opened my eyes after what seemed an eternity and as the numbness in my body slowly abated, I noticed I was chained up. The blurred forms of Silktail and Alex slowly made their way towards my brain.
Silktail stirred. “Owwww, did somebody get an ID of that elephant dancing on my head?”, shi said as shi tried to sit upright.
My head was throbbing too.
A few moments later Alex opened his eyes as well and judging by his reactions, he felt as miserable as we did.
“What happened?” He asked quietly, trying not to make his head explode by speaking too loud.
“Well, obviously someone ambushed us,” Replied Silktail, “They must’ve spotted us coming in last night and decided to investigate. Found us sitting at the table and used some sort of gas to knock us out.”
“They probably have no idea what to make of us,” I said.
Alex nodded, “That’s probably what is keeping us alive. As long as we stay interesing, we might stay in one piece.”
I took a few moments to look around our cell while Alex and Silktail kept talking. It was a large room, with concrete walls. Our shackles seemed to resemble steel and the door looked equally strong. A few little slots near the ceiling gave me the idea we were in a bunker of some kind, I was positively sure that we were in the building we spotted south of our landing site.
I tried to use my telekinesis, but the throbbing in my head made it impossible for me to concentrate.
A sudden sound at the door caught our attention and we jerked to face the door, too fast. Silktail and I doubled over simultaneously, clutching at our heads. Alex was doing the same.
When I came to myself again, I was completely perplexed to see humans. Or at least, humanoids, but the resemblance was so great. We all used the next few moments to stare at eachother, us being as curious about them as they in us.
They were armed with simple weapons though, nothing more sophisticated than swords, but their clothing seemed like it was 20th Century, or about that time.
Finally they turned to Alex and asked him whether he was allright. They spoke English. A really thick, slandered form of English, but still it was English.
Alex blinked a few times before answering. “Well, I suppose I could do better,” He finally said.
“We are sorry for this treatment,” one finally said, “But we needed to see if you and your two strange pets were dangerous.”
PETS! He just called us pets. I wanted to object, but a silent ‘shush’ from Silktail stopped me just in time. It was almost as if I could feel hir intentions. Better to be mistaken for harmless pets for the moment.
“When we saw you earlier, however,” A smarter one said, “You were speaking to them, and they replied. Are you sure…”
Alex’ mind raced and he interjected “Well, you see, they are simple creatures, but they learn fast. Like parrots they have mastered a few phrases. And as it often gets lonely when travelling, I tend to speak with them a lot.”
And here Alex took care of another tricky question, “And, as they have hands, I thought it would be funny to train them to eat with them, at a table.”
The person speaking before snapped his mouth shut, apparently the answer satisfied him. The first man began speaking again.
“Speaking of travelling, what kind of ship have you gotten anyway?” He asked, “We never saw an airplane looking like that before. And it seems to be protected by some sort of forcefield. What is it?”
Seeing as this conversation was going to be between Alex and our captors, Silktail and I decided to play our parts. Shi began grooming hirself, the way normal cats are used to and I made myself comfortable for a sleep and close my eyes. Our ears, however, were kept focused at the group. We didn’t miss a word.
* * * * *
Alex was bombarded with a regular third-degree. Wether he was, or wasn’t spying for some enemy. In general, Who he was, what he was doing, where he was going, what we were, and so on. Alex made his one mistake, he let slip we were from a different world.
There were a few gasps and the whole party conferred outside our cells, after a few minutes, they came back.
Thankfully for us, these people seemed to be reasonably open-minded and Alex was rewarded with a little history of goings on. Including some massive plugging for themselves.
After a while, the man who said to be Djarren, the leader of a group of rebels that captured us, was convinced that Alex posed no threat to them. He ordered him to be released and they left.
When they were gone, Silktail stopped hir grooming after finishing hir tail, with which shi was currently busy and I woke from my ‘slumber’.
“Did you get all that?” Shi asked. I nodded.
Apparently there was a world war. But instead of sending out nuclear weapons, the main instigators fired a global EMP. All sides continued fighting utill there was a massive shortage in ammunition. The war turned into a hunt. Armies all over looking for weaponsmiths and people who could make munitions.
There was a while where either side tried to kill, or capture the other’s specialists. Untill those people about went into hiding. No firearm was made or repaired, no new bullets were there for the ones that were left.
Finally armies resorted to swords and the like.
I we were any judge, this battle was still going on, and Djarren most probably saw Alex as a means of tilting the balance towards him. In other words, we might outlive our usefullness as soon as Djarren gets what he wants. We had better find a way out.
As we were quietly discussing these matters, a scraping sound at the door warned us in time to reassume our ‘innocent’ positions.
* * * * *
“Why do we have to collect these freakish beasts?” Someone said as the door was opened.
“Oh shut up,” Another voice said, “You’ve been going on about this since we got assigned to putting these animals in the pen.”
So we were about to be taken away. That meant almost all of our bonds would be taken off. So all we needed was a little patience and timing.
In came two guards, one tall, beefy guy and a small person, the second reminded me of a rat somehow.
“What are they anyway?”, the small one said, “I’ve never seen anything like them. That one looks like a big cat, but the top bit looks somewhat like us. Same goes for the other, whatever that animal is.”
I repressed a smirk, so they didn’t know skunks. That could prove usefull.
They released most of our shackles, save one round our necks as a leash. We followed doggedly, not having to act out curiosity as we were taken past a few rooms that looked like armories and sleeping quarters.
Silktail and I repeatedly sniffed around, trying to act more like the simple animals they thought us to be, but also to see if we could smell where Alex was taken past. It seemed like he deliberately trailed his hand along the wall.
Finally we were taken outside. Alex’ trail ended by a guarded room, a simple bedroom as it seemed through the window and he was talking to Djarren, because we could hear bits of conversation going on. In the short period we passed, I heard the words ‘missile’, ‘weapons’ and ‘Death’ a lot.
Our escortes took us round the back of the large bunker we were in towards an empty kennel. The first one still whining to the other about how we scared him so much.
They decided to put me in a cage first, wich was a lucky break. As they opened the door and stood behind me to make me enter te cage, I signalled to Silktail to step aside as far as possible. Shi did so, covering hir nose as shi guessed what was coming.
The rat-like guy stepped forward to push me in as raised my tail to uncover my musk glands. While they were momentarily distracted as to why I did that, I sprayed our captors with my stink. Something we, skunktaur and skunk alike, only use as a last resort.
The stink overwhelmed the two, and Silktail’s eyes were watering. The first of the two passed out instantly, while the second staggered back, clutching at his eyes.
Silktail carefully uncovered hir muzzle and sniffed the air, shi raised an eyebrow andproceeded to pounce on the other guard. Shi incapacitated him without any effort. We took their weaponry and keys and locked them in the kennel reserved for us. With relative ease we cleared the wall round the compound and we carefully made our way to the Starhopper.
On our way there, Silktail began speaking.
“I never thought , I mean..” Shi began.
“I’m sorry you had to go through that. I know it’s really offensive, but it was our chance to get out.” I apologized to hir.
“No, no, please,” Shi continued, “It wasn’t that bad at all. It smelled like, you. Only a whole lot stronger.”
Shi put hir arm round my waist as we walked on, “And I like the way you smell,” Shi softly whispered in my ear.
That remark made me blush from the tip of my muzzle to the back of my neck, and shi knew it. Shi gave me a soft hug and we continued our way north without a word and our arms round eachothers waists. Somewhere the sun was setting and soon we were wrapped in darkness.
* * * * *
When we got near the Starhopper, we circled round the site untill we had the wind in our faces. Quietly we crept towards the edge of the clearing. Where I had some trouble padding through the brush, Silktail fluently moved forward, not even disturbing so much as a dry leaf. Suddenly shi halted and smelled the air. I did the same and nodded.
. “They’re here.” Shi whispered.
“And Alex too.” I added.
There they were allright. Djarren, Alex and some others I haven’t seen before. Silktail wathced them, but I decided to close my eyes and listen.
This had a reason, Silktail and I posessed excellent night-vision. Silktail had an advanced cat’s sight and hir eyes shone lightly with the reflection of light. Mine was a bit more developed, and light was reflected multiple times within my eyes, giving them a more eerie glow, and brighter, than Silktail. While shi could watch on pretty much unnoticed, the glare from my eyes would be easily seen.
“So, the weapons you spoke of are inhere?” I heard Djarren ask.
“Yes they are. Just wait here and I’ll go get them,” Was Alex’ reply.
“Just remember, we still hold your precious pets,” A strange voice called out.
“Oh, you can keep them,” Alex said uninterested,”I can always get me some new ones. They make good fighters, or excellent ‘playmates’.”
Even over the chuckle that followed I could hear Silktail gnawing hir teeth. My heart just dropped.
“Allright, but remember the deal, we still got that missile at our base, try to get away and we fire it at you.”, Djarren said, “The weaponry for your freedom, they were your own words.”
THAT HEEL!
Trading us and weapons for his own safety? I couldn’t believe it. I opened my eyes only see Silktails sagged features, somehow shi could. I was beginning to wonder if all those signs Silktail had given about Alex were true after all, maybe I just wanted to ignore them. Shaken as I was by my final realisation, I fixed m gaze on Alex, only to avert my gaze as soon as I noticed what I was doing. Apparently the after-effects of the gas were gone and I almost grabbed Alex in my Telekinesis. I wasn’t sure if he noticed or not.
Alex opened the ship and went in, a few moments later he called out to the others to come and help him. Djarren and his men went inside, glad that they could now make sure that they got what was promised to them.
We waited for them to come out.
* * * * *
I seemed like they would take forever. Silktail and I decided we’d creep up and surprise those inside when there was movement from inside.
Alex came out, looking very pleased with himself. He lit a cigarette, some he must have gotten from the people on this planet, took a draught and put it out again. He put the packet away and went for a stroll.
I held my breath when he walked near us. He made a right turn and walked on for a few feet, then he turned to face the ship and took a deep breath.
“Nice evening isn’t it?” He said into the air. It took both of us a little while to realize he was speaking to us.
We came out of hiding and he turned to us, smiling.
“How..,” I started.
“I felt you tugging at my clothing,” he responded, “And when I glanced around I saw two glowing green dots in the bush.”
Alex looked at Silktail and me, “I’m glad you’re allright.”
“Yes, I bet you are,” said Silktail coldly.
“Before you accuse me of anything, captain, please listen to what I got to say for myself,” said Alex, looking hir straight in hir eyes.
Shi nodded sternly and Alex told us what happened.
He said that he got the idea that he’d better play along with these people while he thought of a plan to bust us out. So he promised them everything they asked, while carefully looking around and asking questions.
Turns out, the war was long fought and practically over. These men belonged to a small detachment that rather saw the war go on. They used to have a missile.
At that I interjected, didn’t Djarren say they HAVE a missile. Alex smiled and took a little object out of his pocket.
“I asked them to show it to me. I took a look inside and pulled this out. I don’t think they’ll use it.” Said Alex as he put the guidance control chip back into his pocket.
I had to laugh, Silktail frowned at me a little. Alex continued, he had formed this plan where he would lure the leader out to the ship, subdue him and come back for us.
“We were nearly clear from the compound when a small, smelly guard came up to us,” Alex said and frowned, “He reminded me of a small rodent… Anyway he started to furiously whisper something in Djarren’s ear.”
Djarren then, so said Alex, turned to him and said that we were put in closer custody and we were to be put to death if he tried to trick them.
“As it turned out I guessed correctly, you allready escaped.” At that Alex smiled.
“Well,” Said Silktail, “I must say that was a really convincing story, tricking them as you did. You must be quite the actor. I think I’d better hold a sharp eye on you.”
I wondered what Silktail knew that I didn’t and the discussion of a week earlier came into my mind. I felt even more miserable.
“But where are they now?” I asked, trying to think of something else.
“In the Ammo-hold. Sleeping like babies. I popped a SleepGrenade while they weren’t looking,” Came Alex’ answer.
* * * * *
After we discarded the sleeping bodies of Djarren and company, we left the planet. It wasn’t until we were well into space, that anyone spoke.
Alex cleared his throat. We turned to look at him.
“Ehm, I, err, I’d like to try and tell you what I wanted to say before we were ambushed.” He said hestitatingly.
“Oh yes,” Said Silktail, “I believe you were about to confess something?”
Alex nodded solemnly.
“When did you find out?” Said Alex.
“I found the box in the cargo bay before we left” Said Silktail calmly, “I checked again after the accident and was not surprised that I found the missing materials. I wanted to give you a chance of coming forward yourself, and you took your time too.”
“You, stole the radiocative material..” I said, “YOU were the reason we allmost died?” Again, a feeling of anger and sadness came over me and I wouldn’t have held back this time if Silktail hadn’t placed hir hand on my back.
Alex seemed miserable.
“I know what you’re going to say and spare me the lecture.
I know I’m really trying your patience, but at least hear me out. I accept all concequences for my actions as long as you hear my side of this story.”
Then Alex explained to us why he took the radioactive material, and why he needed it in the first place. (If you’re wondering, read the first chapter again.)
Afterwards Silktail got up. “Do you anything else to say?” Shi asked.
Alexander declined.
Silktail spoke, “Alexander Dawson, let the records state that you are hereby relieved of your functions as Security and Supplies officer. Your access to the system is cut to communications only. You shall be limited to your quarters, the bridge and the Mess. You will remain under strict surveillance untill we get back to Federation space, where you will be handed to the proper instances to be tried for the crimes you commited. Is this clear?”
“Yes, Captain,” Was his answer.
“Dismissed,” Said Silktail, shi sounded disappointed.
* * * * *
Later, when it was time to rest, I went to Silktail’s quarters. I figured shi needed some comforting. Besides, I still had something to tell hir.
Shi opened the door when I neared hir rooms.
“I felt your concerned thoughts coming,” Shi said, “Come in.”
I entered hir quarters and we went to the table. Shi was reading a book.
Shi turned away. “I don’t know what to do anymore, Zwokkie. I knew about his past, his records popped up as soon as I entered his name in the computer. But I thought that, maybe by giving him a decent job, making him feel needed, that this would change him. And he really seemed as if he changed. Guess I was wrong.”
I padded up next to hir and hugged hir close as she sighed deeply.
“Come on, don’t be so hard on yourself. You couldn’t help what happened, and he couldn’t either.” I tried to comfort hir, but I couldn’t think of what to say, instead I did what I knew would help me feel better. I radiated comfort and friendship to hir, knowing that shi would pick up on the feeling.
“He looks miserable,” I began, “We’re his friends. I still don’t think he really did this on purpose.”
“All he did was use my ship for smuggling. Do you know what’s IN there?” Shi responsed, “That’s a DNA-Virus inthere. Designed to garble the victims DNA. The next step in chemical warfare.”
I gasped. DNA smuggling was still a hotly debated issue. Most planets forbade it, others didn’t. Shipping it wasn’t exactly illegal either, but as stated, the whole thing was still in a grey area, and it depended on where you came from or where you were going. The fact that was appaling was that he was smuggling warfare equipment.
I composed myself and told hir again that it wasn’t hir fault. I could only hope that Alex wasn’t that bad, and at least Silktail would wait untill we got back to pass final judgement. Still I started doubt my own judgement about Alex, the evidence was abundant and had been all along.
“The harm has been done and he did take the first step himself. We’re still alive and we will survive this.” I concluded, this seemed to reassure both me and Silktail, but not much.
We enjoyed eachothers company for a while, trying to forget what had happened and been said. Time passed and we spent at least an hour in eachoters embrace. When we finally regained ourselves again, I got up on all fours.
“Captain, Silktail..,” I started, “You probably know what I’m about to say. But.. I.”
Shi nodded and got up too.
“Chakat Silktail,” I said, looking hir straight in hir eyes, “Chakat Silktail, child of Flutesong and Broadpaw, I love you dearly and wish to be with you forever, will you be my mate?”
Shi smiled and answered,” Zwokkie of House Bluepaw, child of Softpaw and Jester, I love you too, I will gladly be your mate and stay with you always.”
My heart jumped, I knew that shi would accept but the meaning of these words is deep. It is very special moment when two persons declare their love for eachother. I took hir in an embrace and shi returned it, we must have been standing there for over half an hour.
Silktail broke the silence and called Alex on the communicator. Shi told him, as a witness, to enter in the logs that on this day, February the Tenth, in the year of 2331, Chakat Silktail and Zwokkie of House Bluepaw officially announced to be Mated to eachother. Alex was silent for a moment, and then his voice acknowledged and congratulated the both of us. It might have been me, but he sounded happy.
I looked at Silktail and shi met my gaze. We kissed deeply and afterwards shi spoke.
“You know what is next do you?”
I didn’t answer, I didn’t have to.
***
by taross