Chapter One

NOT TOTALLY UNEXPECTED

Jill uReglimi
Odin Path

As the Odin entered VeRash space we were contacted by a Priority Vessel. The Universe was aware of my 'official' mission; I was returning the survivors of the ivKovoc explosion to its homeport and accepting ini who wished to train as medical technicians.

 

As the Odin Path could not land, other crafts must dock to collect the VeRashians. I wanted to see them off, these survivors, these proofs of my success. Perhaps I thought they would look at me with gratitude.

 

I had offered berth to any who desired to remain, but none took it. Only iKyimin, who Sharon had appointed to be my First Aide, stayed.  If iKyimin had not been ordered to my service by the Sakari, would he have gone with the rest? I think so. I think the Vees left not because they really wanted to, but to remain here, with me, made them less.

 

I watched them pass, most marked with the scars of burns, some limping, some in pain, but all in uniform, walking to the shuttle bay.

 

None looked at me. It hurt.

 

Trying the slap it away, give reasons and protocols, I went to the Bridge.  We had to wait to board females who wished to train as 'zeduini'. I would not show these women, these ini, any special note. To gain their respect I must be as cold as ice and distant as Sol.

 

As I sat waiting, without warning, there's an entrance, an Aide announcing iKhay uVoguli with his squad. If ever one needed a poster boy for the ten minutes hate, it was this one.

 

He was very broad and very ugly. He had one especially hideous scar on his face which he emphasized by habitually turning that cheek to the person he spoke with.

 

If one were watching a vid of this interlude, the assumption the ship had a strong and unpleasant odor could not be escaped, as the expression on this uVoguli's face suggested the ship and crew reeked.  There was no reason for this iKhay to march in with his retinue and act as if we were a conquered ship to be boarded.

 

Ignoring me and speaking at iKyimin the iKhay barks; "What is your rank?"

 

"I am umRain, omTay." My Aide responded.

 

Sneering, with a voice that sounded like a stuffed exhaust; "Wherefore are your marks of said rank, so called umRain?"

 

I was about to explain, but a glance from one of uVoguli's horde suggested if I spoke, I would be killed, apologies offered later.

 

iKyimin began; "omTay, due to my injuries--"

 

"Injuries?" Sniffed uVoguli, forming his mouth into a tiny pout, before expelling his liver coloured lips with; "Are you shazi? Do you cry when you are struck? Remove yourself from my presence until properly dressed, or relinquish the rank you assume!" bellowed uVoguli.

 

iKyimin bristled, I could see him debating whether or not to die as response to the insult, but chosing not, forcing himself to show homage, and depart.

 

"Who is next in rank?" The obnoxious iKhay asked.

 

No one spoke. I was in charge, uVoguli ought have spoken to me. He didn't even look at me, his eyes going to the only other ZeSha on the Bridge.

 

"omTay," tried a very nervous eJovic, "The sister of Ki-ZerShaz is the omTay of this vessel."

 

"Sister?" The iKhay hissed.

 

"Zha, Lord, his adopted sister, whom he cherishes," continued eJovic.

 

"Where is she?" uVoguli asked swinging his head from one side to another as if he didn't see me.

 

"Before you, Lord, this is Jill uReglimi."

 

If I'd thought him ugly before, I was in for a treat. He stared at me, his eyes a murky purple, his gross features twisted into contempt.  I did not know what I would do or say. I felt if I spoke he'd kill me on general principles. At that moment, no less than the president of the "We hate Jill" fan club entered; iKhyarm, himself, looking more an iKhay than this creature before me.

 

"What do you here?" iKhyarm asks in his beautiful voice, which resonated in the room as if he were an opera singer.

 

"I am iKhay uVoguli." Barks ugly.

 

"I am iKhay iKhyarm." (Since when? I thought) "And this vessel, as the other is my province. I do not recall granting permission for your arrival."

 

iKhyarm was backed by his pretty boys, uVoguli had his fright faces, and the right and wrong of the situation was evident.

 

"Apology, iKhay." uVoguli gave, with a brief sign of homage.

 

"Remove." Said iKhyarm as if asking a waiter to take a plate from before him.

 

The monsters left and the humans, whether Odin or Zechian, were practically trembling.  I think iKhyarm enjoyed it, for he stood on the bridge as if posing for a holo. Gleaming in his power. I could almost see him a king, with a crown and long ermine trimmed red robe, ordering uVoguli's execution.

 

In less than a minute, iKyimin returned, saw iKhyarm, gave a sign of homage.

 

"Why were you not present?" iKhyarm asked aware how his voice filled the chamber, how it reverberated.

 

iKyimin wet his lips; "The iKhay demanded I--"

 

In a beguiling voice, his high cheek bones, pronounced widow's peak, and tumble of blue black hair falling as a cape around his beautiful face, aware of his captivation iKhyarm spoke; "The iKhay is not your lord. Jill uReglimi is your lord."

 

"I am contrite, iKhay." iKyimin capitulated.

 

"umRain, if Ki-ZerShaz appoints a chchpayn captain and you are first aide of that chchpayn, you die before abandoning."

 

As iKyimin put up his hands and bowed his head, iKhyarm, pleased with himself, strode from the bridge, his beauty kings following.

 

I babbled; "I don't expect uVoguli to hold rank much longer. After all, he might..." but it wasn't for me to say and was no longer relevant. I turned to the Bridge crew.

 

"Alright that's over." I began. "No further boarding is permitted save to receive ini willing to be trained in medical procedures."

 

My crew was seriously disturbed; it had been sometime since they'd been cowed by Zees, I suppose they forgot how it felt. I asked Gerry for the roster, had him announce that this watch terminated early and those required for the next watch should immediately relieve those on duty.

 

The humans were more easy to comfort then my Aide. I gestured iKyimin into the Ready room.

 

"I ought not have abandoned you." He said.

 

"You--" I stumbled.

 

"I am charged with your security, I am to attend you."

 

"It is alright." I flipped.

 

Releasing his tension, he barks; "It is not correct! We had to rely on another to preserve our dignity, not on ourselves. We have lost prestige."

Impressum

Verlag: BookRix GmbH & Co. KG

Tag der Veröffentlichung: 31.01.2022
ISBN: 978-3-7554-0661-7

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