“Isn’t it a good idea?” Red asked that evening. She had convinced Mart to come to Allonsi’s lounge again, desperate to explain to him the logic in the two ships staying together.
“…so I can learn, and assist! Allonsi has a small signature and could be very valuable, and Mao already agreed to work with you again!” Red exclaimed.
“I know she did. I need her. Reap still isn’t complete anyways.”
“That’s right! We can fly through the stars together. It’ll be great!” her tail was wagging profusely, chipping away at the ground. She arched her wings, imitating the starships coasting through the cosmos.
“It’s a nice idea, Red.” Mart said with a smile.
Red smiled back, eyes wide.
“So what’s with all this alcohol?” Mart asked.
“Celebration! We all nearly died! I figure I’ll have a lot of explaining to do to Darnell and… well… everyone once we return. But tonight we get to ourselves! I convinced Mao to fix up Reap!”
“Mao told me you took a direct koveran surge and lived?” Mart asked.
“I’m pretty much a type-3. I’ve been linked with Allonsi a while.”
“Is that what it was?” Mart asked.
Red didn’t tell him about her being a Queen, possibly. She didn’t want to be a Queen, or too different. “Most likely.”
“So you’re just immune to it?” Mart asked.
“It’s not that uncommon. Radiation, koverans… all of the Beems’ immunities are passed down to me!” Red exclaimed.
“I see…”
“But enough about that! What do you want to do?” Red asked excitedly. “Allonsi has holomovies. There’s one on the Great War! I’ve got the latest Justice Squad series too!”
“I don’t know, this dinner’s left me stuffed. Lobster is amazing…”
“I know!” Red flew to behind the counter, leaping back with a tray of dessert. “Ice cream!”
“Nova you’re quick.” Mart observed, staring at her wings.
She tucked them against her side self-consciously, “Ha. So I’m not completely a Blackwing, you know. There have been blacker Vulcans out there.” Red said.
“Oh I don’t care what color your wings are, Red.” Mart replied quickly, not sure if that’s what she was getting at.
“And I’m not Vulcan either. So I’m not crazy possessive or anything like that – like some Vulcans are… see I’m the perfect mix. None of the Vulcans possessiveness and none of the Blackwing’s… reclusiveness, and genetic discrimination… ness.”
“Right.” Mart pretended to ignore that last bit. “Not crazy possessive.”
“No!” Red continued. “Let’s watch a movie!”
“Why not…” Mart sighed resignedly.
“Really?” Red’s tail shot straight up. “Excellent!”
Red sent a priority one command through Allonsi’s neural network, shooting him awake. All to activate the holovision in her chambers.
You should calm down, Red. Allonsi suggested, trying to equalize her adrenaline level, only to have her reject the neural interface’s attempts.
I’m calm! Red exclaimed, nervously excited.
“But before we do that. I owe you something, Red.” Mart said.
“What?” Red growled.
“Can you up the volume on that music, Allonsi?” Mart asked.
The volume rose. A slow melody was playing.
There were cracks as Red’s talons cut into her chair.
“I said I’d show you how to dance.” Mart smiled.
So they danced, as well as a Vorchan and Raumen could dance. Red made sure not to slice off his fingers or anything else, and she also managed to keep her tail from wrapping around his feet, the blade-end was now sharp enough to cut.
They danced for what seemed like an eternity, and Red felt weightless by the end of it all. This was the best night of her life. She had never danced before, or even tried. But she had grown quite a bit, and she had gotten her mother’s flexibility, able to stay on her hind legs with support from Mart as well as her tail.
When they finally finished dancing, Red was exhausted, relieved to know she hadn’t hurt Mart in any way. Hurting him would be horrible. She stared at all those clothes on his body, wondering how these Raumens survived without clothes… so fragile, and smooth… and soft.
“So the holosystems are spooled up. You’ll be impressed, Mart. Top-of-the-line equipment. Eight projectors: multi-spectral, omnidirectional, with a redundant backup. Nothing could disturb the experience!” Red said, leaning into him as they left the lounge. “Except ones of our own doing, of course.” I’m getting him into my chambers!
Allonsi tried to suppress her worry at how this would turn out, remaining as indiscriminate as possible. While Red was sure Mart was completely fine with this. Allonsi had an inkling that Mart was merely afraid of breaking the poor Vorchan’s heart. Allonsi made sure not to let that doubt seep into the neural band, however.
Red activated the first movie, and sat down on Mart’s lap. The petting was supreme, and Red quickly stopped focusing on the movie, eyes closed, belly up, wings sprawled over half of the couch.
So tired… Red moaned.
You’re body’s been on overdrive the entire dinner. It’s shutting down.
I don’t mind… Red growled, savouring Mart’s strokes. There’ll be other nights. This is amazing. I love him. I love you. “I love you…” she echoed, licking at his hand and dozing off.
“Oh Red…” Mart sighed. Allonsi watched him pick her up gently and place her on her bed. She cooed and grasped at him, falling asleep again. Red was so light, she really should eat more… but that was for another time. Allonsi kept watching Mart, seeing him looking her over. He took a deep breath and left the chambers.
The Reaper had been connected to Allonsi through a ventral docking port, both ships inactive, but now it was going through its start sequence, ready to spool up.
Mart made his way to the docking chamber, waiting for the chamber to equalize and the door to open. He knew Allonsi might not let him out, but he hoped the starship understood.
Allonsi opened the door. “Thanks.” Mart said, nodding up at the bulkheads.
Allonsi cut off her neural link with Red, afraid of waking the Vorchan with the pity she was emanating. It could never work. The relationship had always been doomed, but Mart had been too caring, loving an individual to ever shoot Red down directly.
When the decontamination sequence finished, and the door back to Allonsi had sealed, Mart looked back. It was hard for Allonsi to see him on the visual spectrum through the bulkhead, but she caught the glint of a tear. He was propping himself against the bulkhead.
“Allonsi, you can hear me right?” he said to the bulkhead.
Allonsi chirped the speakers.
“You understand, right? I’m sure you do. Take care of her. Keep her out of trouble…” he took another breath, shoulders sagging, “You do understand, right?”
“I understand!” Allonsi chirped. She knew Mart wouldn’t be able to comprehend her transmissions, but she felt she still had to say something to this amazing person, “I understand completely. You’re one of the most caring people I have ever met. Have a wonderful journey, and be safe!”
“I hope that’s not you shrilling at me about leaving your Captain. But there really is no other way, you know?” his voice sounded broken. “But I do love her. Tell her that. Love ‘er enough to do the right thing…”
“To let her go… I understand, Mart.” Allonsi beeped calmly, hoping Mart would at least realize her transmissions weren’t scolding.
“Goodbye.” Mart whispered, stepping out of the decontamination chamber and sealing The Reaper’s doors. The ship decoupled from Allonsi, turning about its longitudinal axis and moving clear of the Beems’ distortion field.
It jumped out without a trace.
–
Naturally, Red was devastated the next morning. You were coupled with the ship! You must have a hint of it on your nodescape! What happened! What did he say? Show me the memories.
They were a blur. Allonsi said, I was sleeping. I woke up near the end.
“But I do love her. Tell her that…” Allonsi transmitted.
Then why did he leave! Red was wailing uncontrollably, staring at the ‘play again?’ prompt on the holovision.
I don’t know. Allonsi said, mitigating Red’s grief as she broke down.
You know. It took so long to find him! I—
I know, Red. Allonsi said.
They spoke for hours. They spoke more than they had ever spoken before. At least I have you. Red sighed.
At least, huh? Allonsi said, feigning hurt.
Oh Allonsi… Red shot affectionate thoughts into the neural band.
Allonsi reciprocated.
They jumped home.
–
–
“Oh thank the Nova!” Nyx exclaimed, reading a transmission Allonsi had sent Thanatos a few moments ago.
Well I’m glad everything’s worked out, then. Flames transmitted.
Ha. So we’re married now. You know that means she owns half of you if we ever break up.
That’s funny…
No I’m serious! I figure we wouldn’t split you completely down the side, though. She’d get the right half of your body, right skid, and tail. I’d get the rest of you! That way the central nova reactor wouldn’t get ruptured when we slice.
… … What about my neural plexus? Flames asked worriedly.
Well we both get half. There’d be two you’s, but with less processing power… and I guess jumping would be hard, but who needs that, we could just do intersolar ops.
That’s not funny. Flames growled.
Allonsi jumped in, and the family turned to greet her. Macaria and Kite were immediately orbiting the ship like over-protective gulls, crooning and nurturing her as she tried to pull away from the smothering.
Fawkes could hear the screech of Nyx sharpening her tail against the floor. “She’s in for it now…” Nyx hissed. “Get down here girl!”
“I don’t have a shuttle anymore…”
“FLAMES!” Nyx roared. Flames literally started at the roar, some adrexin seeping into the chambers (the last thing they needed). He immediately launched a shuttle out to recover Red, deciding not to do the docking method for fear of what such physical contact with Allonsi would make Thanatos do.
Red stared at nothing but the ground, wings ruffled, not even tucked alongside properly. Her tail was completely still, and she seemed to be dragging it behind her as she walked across Flames’ massive hangar.
Nyx and Fawkes were waiting by the entrance, watching her take the one minute walk as slowly as possible.
“Oh the things I’ll do…” Nyx hissed.
Fawkes tried to comfort her with a wing but decided to live, instead, and took a few paces back, feeling horribly sorry for Red.
“You know she—“ Fawkes started in Red’s defense.
“I’ll kill her!” she snapped, “Right when she gets here. Good thing that pirate didn’t do it ‘cuz I’ll do it! Wring her throat ‘til she promises never to leave again!”
“You’re slurring—“
She glared at Fawkes. He looked on her sheepishly.
“You sound drunk.” he continued with a smile.
She stepped towards him. He took a step back. “It won’t work this time! Can’t intimidate me, my mate!”
“Official mate!” Nyx glowed, fangs glinting as she smiled.
“That’s right.” Fawkes nuzzled her quickly before Red stepped before them, knowing he had probably just saved the hatchling’s life.
“Red…” Nyx said slowly. Fawkes snuck a wing over Nyx’s shoulder.
“I’m sorry mommy!” Red started crying. Nyx started crying, smothering her hatchling with her massive black wings.
“Red, reckless Red!” Nyx sobbed.
Well that was unexpected. Flames observed.
And everything works out. Fawkes transmitted with relief.
Indeed. I even got to have fun with Violet! Sorry for… you know… hitting on you earlier.
Fawkes laughed, but suppressed it quickly, backing away from Nyx for fear of having her think he was laughing at their moment.
Flames continued, But you know. It’s hard not to fall for those muscular haunches… and that smooth, silky web you call your wing.
Oh is this where we’re at, now? Fawkes asked, using his neural interface to sneak an intrusive phantom caress across Flames.
Fine I’ll stop… Flames transmitted, disturbed by the caress, and strengthening the neural firewalls over his sensory receptors.
Good.
… handsome… Flames snickered.
I’ll find a sharp enough stick, Flames. I’m warning you.
So what do we do now? Everything’s… fixed: Violet is satisfied, Nyx is now your official mate, Red is safe, we’re safe… am I missing anything?
But Red had her eggs stolen, and Ignatio is still out there, somewhere.
Right…
Did you almost forget?
Maybe…
Fawkes sighed, But I guess that could all wait ‘til a lead arises. At least everyone’s safe. All the eggs had was genetic data anyways, her half of a set of chromosomes.
Yeah, he’ll turn up, and yeah to that chromosome stuff. Genetics is complicated. Let them have their fun with Red’s bits. I hope they choke on it.
Fawkes laughed again.
Yeah…—
Don’t say it.
Say what?
Fawkes heard the shuttle spool up and fly off, Red was returning to Allonsi. “You let her go?”
“Yes. While she is young… and reckless… and… well… she’s proven she can take care of herself.”
“Agreed. I’ve done worse anyways.” Fawkes said.
“Oh I know…” Nyx growled seductively, staring him down.
It was nice to have the old Nyx back.
–
Ignatio winced. Serpent blood coiling through his veins. “Yesss” he hissed, seeing the medlab blur as his body fought the genetic mutation writhing him.
He could see into the abyssal fury of beemspace now, feel the cracks of it along their world. He reached for one with his mind, opening a rupture of pure koveran energy that engulfed him in euphoric pleasure. His assistants burned and screamed, their essence devoured and sucked away. They didn’t matter anymore. Nothing mattered. Nothing but this feeling, this wonderful feeling.