I was on a roll after part 3 and had this cute little scene pop up into my head. Plus, Garn really needed a moment to rest and take a breath, he’s been through a lot these past few days!
Part 1 Part 2 Part 3
The ship was relatively quiet. Or at least as quiet as a ship can be while bumbling around in space. Perhaps the more appropriate description was that the ship was peaceful. Garn decided that he liked peaceful. He wasn’t sure he understood what it was that he was feeling at first, he’d had so few peaceful moments growing up and working under the Syndicate, but once he figured it out, he decided that it was quite agreeable with him. It seemed to be for Porter as well. His smaller human friend had been recovering quickly after their run-in with Maika the assassin back at the Tupiti Space Port. He could now walk on the leg, albeit with a noticeable limp. Thankfully, it hadn’t seemed to affect his bright and energetic personality, much to Garn’s relief.
Right now though, Porter was asleep. As was Embry, the ship’s medic of sorts. During his time on the ship, he’d been able to piece together a bit more information about his new companions. Embry, he’d learned, had never actually received a medical license. She had training but had never finished. When he inquired more as to why, Embry changed the topic and became much more curt with any further additions to the conversation. Porter was a lot more forthcoming with his backstory. The gist of it was that he’d taken part in some big trading agreement with a private Earth organization and a splinter group from the Bartu Sovereignty that went bad. There’d been some illegal business “under the table” as Porter put it, and he’d been set up as the “fall guy”. The fact that he was a weapons expert and many of the illegal going-ons had to do with the criminal trade of experimental weapons only helped solidify his “guilt” to the authorities that cared. Porter had spent a good part of an entire rotation explaining in great detail how he’d talked, bribed, and fought his way out of the hands of bounty hunters, angry crime lords, sneaking under the radar of law enforcement, and in general living life on the run before he stowed away on The Shasta, this ship, where he met Kaya and Tig.
Then there were those two. The elder human and the kloxan’s story were still a mystery to him. All he’d really gotten to know so far was that they’d been part of a Galactic Confederation crew together. Garn didn’t know much about the Galactic Confederation, other they were considered a continual, pestering antagonist of the Trinn-Har’rups. He’d guarded prisoners of the GC captured by the Syndicate before they faced an unknown, though likely grisly, punishment for the crime of standing in the Syndicate’s way.
Garn felt that among the ranks of guards and soldiers, the Galactic Confederation and those that aligned with them were thought of to be pretentious, power-hungry manipulators. He’d always been around that sentiment, so he never questioned it before. He’d had no need to. Now he was on a ship that had two of them as acting captain and first-mate. Granted they were former Galactic Confederation, so maybe that old profile didn’t fit them. After all, he was now a former guard of the Trinn-Har’rup Syndicate, the stigmas tied up with him probably no longer fit so well either.
And anyway, Porter stayed with them, so they couldn’t be so bad.
Garn rose from the small pile of blankets, pillows, and towels that was currently acting as his bed. Porter had Embry help him scour the ship for as many soft fabrics and items that could be spared to make a spot for Garn to sleep until they could install an actual bed for him. It was nice, but he’d never slept on anything so soft before. Comfortable as it was, between the unaccustomed softness and the overall unfamiliarity that surrounded him, he’d had a hard time finding sleep. As carefully and quietly as he could, he made his way out of the sleeping quarters and down the short hall toward the main hangar room he’d been in when he’d first entered the ship.
The ship was old, but he had to admit that it had been well kept and he’d almost say lovingly maintained. He gave a small half-smile as his eyes ran over the designs in and around the ship. They were outdated. He might even call them antiquated. He liked it though. It felt right and… well he wasn’t sure how else to describe it. Inviting? Warm? Graceful? It was… he felt… like he could belong here. And that made him all the happier.
As he shuffled into the main room, he stood for a moment before he sat down on a bench along the wall to continue processing his thoughts. He wasn’t sure how long he sat there like that, listening to the hum of the ship’s engines and systems when he heard a small quiet grunt to his left. Snapping his eyes open, he searched in the darkness for the source.
His eyes caught a glint of movement from a chair. He felt his fur rise as he instinctively anticipated having to defend himself from an attack. None came though. His brain finally took in what his eyes were trying to see. There was no secret attacker, just human Kaya sitting in a very regal-looking chair. His fur dropped back down and he sighed a breath of relief.
“Sorry I startled you,” Kaya chuckled quietly. Garn could see her shoulders bounce slightly as she shifted in her chair. His eyes ran down her arm. Or where her arm had been. He’d been right earlier that day they’d first met. She hadd stopped what she must have thought was him going to attack Embry. The prosthetic he’d seen her wearing that day and every day since was now no longer attached. Her arm ended just above where her elbow should have been.
After a few tries, he was able to successfully look away. It was hard though. He’d heard humans were capable of surviving attacks or accidents even after losing a limb, but it had seemed like such a far-fetched tale that he wasn’t sure if he’d believed it. The shock alone of having lost a body part was enough to kill many species, but humans, as he now knew, were hardy and stubborn when it came to staying alive and continuing on.
“I… I didn’t realize you were here. I’m sorry I disturbed you,” he murmured as he stood up, feeling like he had intruded on something he shouldn’t have.
“You’re fine, Garn. Sit back down.” It wasn’t a command, it came out softer, like an invitation. He paused and considered that. An invitation. He slowly nodded and sat back down.
“Having a hard time sleeping too, huh?” the human sighed as she leaned further back in her chair.
Garn nodded sharply, then unsure how well humans could see in the dark followed up with a curt, “Yes ma’am.”
Kaya laughed again. “I told you before, you don’t need to call me ma’am.”
“Sorry ma-... uh, sorry. I will try to remember better.”
“It’s okay. I’m sure it’s what you’re used to. I, for one, know old habits die hard.” Her tone was soft and quiet. So unlike the interactions and reprimandings he was accustomed to in his life up to this point.
He settled down a little more, muscles finally starting to drop their worried tension as the two of them sat in the darkness. He eventually relaxed enough that he felt comfortable to break the silence.
“Are you… are you having a hard time sleeping ma- uh, human Kaya?”
She didn’t laugh this time, but Garn could hear the quiet smile in her voice, “We’ll get you through all your formalities yet.” She sighed and stroked her hand over where her left arm ended. “I am. Just some old phantom pains acting up again.”
“Phantom pains?” That sounded serious. Should he go wake Embry?
The worry in his voice must have been picked up because Kaya gently waved him back down as she reached to the counter and picked up a dark mug and sat back in her chair. “My arm may be gone, but sometimes my brain forgets. Sometimes it feels like my arm itches, sometimes it hurts, or at least my brain thinks it does. It doesn’t happen as much as it used to, but still more than I’d like. Especially when I’ve got a lot on my mind.”
She sipped slowly from the mug in her hand. Whatever was in it smelled sweet and calming. Kaya noticed him watching as she lowered the cup and rested it on her lap.
“Mint tea,” she explained. “It helps. Or at least, enjoying a warm cup of it helps me take my mind off the pain.”
Garn nodded silently, not sure what to say. He wasn’t sure what the etiquette was for this situation. He couldn’t take his eyes off her arm and where it ended, but he also knew that for many species, staring for too long at a person could be considered a challenge to a duel, or at least considered rude. Kaya didn’t seem to notice though, more focused on the mug in her hand.
“I brewed it myself,” She continued. “We’ve got a room here on the ship that we’ve filled with plants. It helps keep the air fresh, takes a bit of the strain off the o2 systems. That and sitting in the room or taking care of all the plants helps keep star sickness at bay.”
“Star sickness?” Garn cut in, unfamiliar with the term.
“Void sickness, star sickness, planet separation anxiety, there’s a lot of names for it. It’s not so much a physical sickness, but a mental one. I don’t know how many space-faring races have to deal with it, but it affects humans pretty frequently. It can get pretty nasty too, if it’s not dealt with. I make sure Porter, Embry, and I each spend a chunk of time in the plant room pretty regularly. It’s grounding. And relaxing. Smells nice too. A lot of the plants are, of course, good at filtering the air of impurities, but quite a few of them smell nice. Like the mint, for instance.” She took another sip from the mug and chuckled. “Even Tig likes going in there sometimes. You would think he’d find the humidity levels a pain on the circuits, but he says it doesn’t bother him. I think he finds the plants interesting. Sometimes I notice him laser etching bamboo stalks on packaging scraps when he’s bored.”
Garn hummed and nodded. He’d seen the kloxan do that too. Thinking of him and the human next to him now, he again started wondering at how different they were than what he’d always expected of someone from the Galactic Confederation. Just even in the past few solar rotations, the hard, no-nonsense shell he’d immediately attributed to her when they first met was actually more just her being firm and strong when needed, but thoughtful and gentle at her base. He’d learned so much in such a short amount of time. The galaxy was such a bigger place than he’d ever thought, so much more detailed and nuanced. It had all been so cut and dry and simple when all he knew was what the Syndicate told him. He exhaled deeply as he leaned his head back to rest against the wall.
“That’s quite the sigh,” Kaya noted. “Got a lot on your mind?”
Garn grunted an affirmative. Kaya sat silently as if waiting for him to elaborate. When he didn’t, she leaned her head back to rest against her chair and they both sat silently for a while.
Garn’s mind was racing, and at the same time, it felt like it was stuck in a sticky zawki pit. His thoughts were starting to run into each other and stretch or slow down until nothing was making sense anymore. Maybe he should return to the sleep quarters and try again to get some rest. He looked over to the human who also looked like she was having trouble with her thoughts.
“If I may ask,” he asked quietly so as to not startle her, “what made you want to leave the Galactic Confederation?”
Kaya tilted her head down to consider him a moment. Even in the darkness, he could see the lines around her eyes pull.
“I left,” she began and thought about it a moment, “I left to find my partner.”
Garn wasn’t sure what that meant, so he waited unmoving until she finally continued. Her voice was slow and deliberate, like she was carefully picking through every word.
“We… we were on a scouting mission and there was… an accident. We were separated. I was, well, I was recovered, but he wasn’t.” She paused again and looked down into her mug. Or maybe at her arm, Garn wasn’t sure. “I tried to convince them to go after him. They said he was gone. I appealed. I appealed again and again to higher and higher powers, but I kept getting nos. They told me he was gone and that trying to… recover him would… that it wasn’t worth the risk. He was a good man.” She frowned and looked up sharply. “He is a good man. I think he’s still out there. He survived. I can feel it. And I decided I was going to get him, by myself if I had to. Tig was on our crew as well. He’s been... a dear friend. Both to Ahmad and I before, and now. He believed me. He came along to help me find Ahmad.”
She looked back up at Garn. “Since we left the GC, we’ve found evidence that we were right, that he made it out alive. We just need to find him. And along the way, we’ve picked up a few other lost souls.”
Garn matched her gaze as he listened and thought on the information. She was on a mission. He, well, he was now for all intents and purposes, a fugitive on the run. Other than staying alive, he had no real plans, no goals. What was he going to do now? He must have spoken his question out loud before he realized it, because Kaya cocked her head and gave a small chuckle in response.
“What are you going to do indeed, dantum? I think that’s what everyone has to figure out. Until you do, though, I suppose you can tag along with us for a while.” She took another sip of her tea before she set it back down on the counter. “After all, it’s not like we’d be able to get rid of ya any time soon. Porter’s gotten attached.” She smiled and gave a short hum, “and I think you’d make a decent enough late-night conversationalist. Granted, you do need a little more practice.”
Garn felt a flicker of surprise and returned the smile. He’d like that. Here on this antiquated but cozy ship, surrounded by terrifying but welcoming aliens, he thought he’d really like that.
“Human Vern, are you sure you can carry all those bags? I worry the weight might start cutting off circulation!” Karrig looked up at them nervously. They and Booka Vern had both managed to lift and carry two of the smaller bags of supplies from the shuttle, but the human insisted on picking up bag after bag of supplies until the cargo hold of the shuttle was empty.
“I hate making two trips Karrig. I can get theeeeese,” Human Vern struggled to move some the straps around on their arm to a more comfortable position, “juuuuuust fine.”
“I really don’t think this is a good idea. You do realize we have to carry these all the way to the kitchens."
“Yeah, that’s a far trip, I don’t want to have to make it twice,” Vern huffed as he started for the door. His arms draped out and down in a most uncomfortable-looking position as he walked.
Karrig looked half-exasperated, half-desperately at their other crew member, Booka Vern. She didn’t seem to share Karrig’s reaction. Instead, she had a goofy, wide-eyed grin on her face. Her fur flickered a warm yellow and orange color. She started after Human Vern with her much-smaller load, but looked back at Karrig as she passed him. “I didn’t know humans were so strong! I wonder how much they can lift.”
Karrig really didn’t like the mischevious look in Booka Vern’s eyes. She looked like she was already plotting multiple antics. From what was known of both humans and bookas and the trouble they often got into, it would probably be a good idea to keep the two Verns separated during leisure times.
Up until this time, I’ve been able to post a chapter a week, but I just moved to a new town and started a new job. I’m going to keep writing and posting here, but it may be every week and a half? I’m not sure. I’ll be able to better tell my writing capabilities with my new schedule as I get used to everything with my new schedule.
Don’t worry, I’ll do my best to keep it as consistent as possible. This has been as fun for me to write as many of you have said it’s been to read! Thanks for all the support so far!
Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4
Chapter 6
It was an order, so it had to be followed. That didn’t mean he had to completely understand why. Surely there was someone on the ship better suited to the job. There were almost thirty crew members. At least 12 of them would be just fine at “babysitting” the humans.Babysitting. That’s the phrase that the female human had used to describe the arrangement that Captain Salora had set up. After asking for further clarification of the term, Jebannuck agreed in full. Babysitting indeed.
He wasn’t the only one, of course. The humans would continue to stay in the medical wing for the time being, so Demfar would keep some eyes on them. Outside the medic’s care, they were to be escorted by Ghem-et (another squifra like Demfar), or himself, unless otherwise directed by the captain.
As he strode down the corridor, he caught sight of luminously orange fur disappearing around the corner.“Thurrin, where are you sneaking off to?”
A furry orange face peaked back down the corridor. A small pseudo flame danced off the tip of one of her ears. Her eyes were large, either out of surprise, or from trying to look innocent.“Oh hey, Jebannuck. Where are you off to?”
Without slowing his pace at all, Jeban’nuck quickly caught up to the smaller alien. “I am scheduled to escort the humans from the medical bay to the cafeteria hall and then to a meeting with the captain.”
“Oh, to the medical bay?” She scrambled on all fours to catch up as Jebannuck passed. “I’m on my way there now, actually. Mind if I tag along?”“I didn’t think you were cleared for access yet.”
“What? Access to the humans?” Her ears bent back slightly. “Well, no, I haven’t, but I’m actually going to the medical bay for medical reasons. Medically.”
“Oh really?” He doubted it. Under normal circumstances, it was no issue for a member of the crew to visit the medical bay during their down times for non-emergency reasons, but with the presence of the two humans, the amounts of such “visits” had escalated that Captain Salora had required all non-emergency medical trips to be cleared by an on-duty supervisor.
“Yes, really,” Thurrin shot back quickly. She had been one of those that had tried sneaking in for a look at the humans only to be turned away. “My head’s been hurting lately and it’s been hard to focus on my work. I’ve got a pass, see? Here.”
With a small skip, she was on two feet again, running to keep up with Jebannuck’s long strides as she pulled up a holographic display.
“Fine, fine,” he sighed without really looking at the pass, “I didn’t mean to sound accusatory. My apologies.”
“It’s all right. I know it’s your job.” She deactivated the hologram. “Although,” she returned to all fours and caught up to Jeban’nuck’s side, “if you were to introduce me while I’m in there…”
“Don’t push your luck.”
“Oh no, of course not,” she shook her head, “Wouldn’t dream of it. Me? Never.”
Even though she was in his peripherals, Jeban’nuck could see small flickers in the Booka’s fur. “Your flames are showing, Thurrin.”
The mischievous smile that had been slowly spreading across Ferrin’s face instantly disappeared. “Frewan,” she growled, the flames in her fur brightened by a few shades.
“Watch your language when you’re near the humans,” Jebannuck slowed his pace and turned the last corner into the medical center. “The last thing I need is for them to pick up on a whole slew of swear words.”
“It’s not like they get translated,” Thurrin mumbled as she flashed her medical pass at the sensor near the door. “Wait, did you say ‘when I’m around the humans?’ Does that mean you’ll introduce me to them?”
“That’s not what I said.” He paused and looked around the main lobby. He spotted Demfar behind a console scrolling through some readouts. He tried catching the medic’s attention as he approached, but to no avail.
“A-herm,” he cleared his throat and leaned to the side of the information display.
“Oh, Jebannuck! I apologize, I didn’t notice you come in. You must be here for the humans, yes, well… “His eyes quickly scanned the readout, “just let me… get to a… good stopping point and…” After a moment’s pause, he deactivated the display and smiled at the impatient Sefra. “Sorry, just got a set of articles and medical journals on humans sent ahead from the Confederation outpost. I know we’ll be there soon, but they’ve been trying to send info packets on our guests to tide us over until we do arrive. I’ve noticed that anything at a lower frequency signal cast tends to get picked up a little better out here.”
“Interesting, I’ll pass that on to the Captain when we meet with her later.”
“Excellent, excellent. We’ve been able to receive a few things so far, but not nearly as much as I’d like. Though to be honest, it’s more than I thought we’d be able to get with all the interference. The things I’ve read, Jebannuck, simply amazing! Some a little terrifying, but mostly amazing! I haven’t had a chance to verify all of it with the humans for accuracy yet, but I’m telling you, if even a fraction of it is true, we could be looking-”
“I hate to cut you off, Demfar, but I am on a bit of a schedule.”“Oh, of course, yes. I’m just excited. Probably talk all cycle if you let me.” He used one tentacle to gesture to the corridor to his left. “Gerben’s with them now, if you want to go in and wait.”
“Thank you.” As he started down the corridor, he noticed Demfar switched the holographic display back on and returned to reading.
Our planet Earth, according to the Galactic Confederation of Light, has long been considered one of the finest spiritual schools in the universe. It is a place where human incarnation provides the greatest challenges and can lead to the quickest spiritual awakening.
The book Star Bred – Predictions follows the lives of Starpeople and Starseeds as they awaken to their origins of the Galactic Confederation of Light. Reading like fiction, it is largely based on actual events, the story told through the experiences of the characters in the story.
Extraterrestrial contact features strongly in this material, so when reading Star Bred – Predictions, be prepared for a thought provoking ride. It’ll certainly challenge your view on life and our universe.
