by S. H. Jucha
Jaktook led the party down the ramp. Tacticnok waited at the bottom. Harbour smiled at her and said, “You’re a devious female, Your Highness.”
Tacticnok flashed her teeth in reply. She said, “I wished you to experience the esteem in which envoys are held by alliance members.”
Jessie glanced at the medallion. “It’s broadcasting your status, isn’t it?”
“Yes, Advisor,” Tacticnok replied. “Come,” she added. “We’ve an audience with His Excellency to attend.”
* * * *
The envoy party followed the same route as the engineers, when they left the dome for Rissness Station.
Harbour took the opportunity to ask Tacticnok about the status of the twenty Pyreans in the hands of the Jatouche medical services.
“I receive daily communications, Envoy,” Tacticnok said. “Every Pyrean was stabilized and safely transported to the station. Most are now undergoing repair. Each will require a different length of time to complete their needs. More than likely, we’ll discover the value of our negotiations before every citizen is ready to return to Pyre.”
On the one hand, the envoy party was delighted with the news about the injured. On the other hand, Tacticnok had reminded them that their mission to Jatouche was tenuous.
The group’s trip down the last tunnel ended at the ramp to a shuttle. However, this ship wasn’t built with the same features as the one that flew the engineers to Rissness Station. That one was prepared to accommodate species of all kinds.
Typically, only Jatouche boarded a shuttle flight to Na-Tikkook, and the Pyreans found themselves slightly uncomfortable in the undersized seats during takeoff. It was fortunate that Rissness’ lighter mass made for a low-g launch compared to Triton.
“It appears that we hadn’t considered all aspects of the envoy’s visit,” Jaktook whispered to Tacticnok.
“This is a detail too small to have been foreseen, under the time constraints,” Tacticnok replied quietly. “However, I want new seats installed for the Pyreans for their return trip.” Tacticnok glanced at Jessie, who was once again shifting in his seat in an attempt to ease his discomfort, and her embarrassment rose.
At Jaktook’s request, the pilot ceased acceleration for short periods of time. It allowed the Pyreans to stand and enjoy the freedom of zero-g, except for Dottie, who preferred the safety of being strapped to a Jatouche-sized seat.
The Pyreans had anticipated a flight lasting weeks and were surprised that it was much shorter. In a matter of days, they felt the shuttle flip over and the deceleration burn commence. They endured the vibrations, as the shuttle fell through the planet’s atmosphere and the press into their seats, as the ship landed tail down.
After touchdown, it was Aurelia who remarked, “Despite the child-like seats, the Jatouche shuttles are a good deal more comfortable and faster than ours and that includes the Belle’s new shuttle.”
“Yes,” Jessie murmured, who had been thinking the same thing. “It’s technology we could use, especially when Pyre’s surface opens up.”
Jaktook ushered the Pyreans off the shuttle through an exit tunnel. In a brightly lit space, cars arrived and whisked passengers away. Four Jatouche royal security members stood next to a car, waiting for Tacticnok’s party. Once passengers and gear were loaded, Tacticnok directed the car to take a circuitous route at a lesser velocity to the royal residence.
Deliberately, the Jatouche didn’t initiate any conversation during the ride. The Pyreans were left in peace to be mesmerized by the view.
“So, this is what a planet can look like,” Henry commented in awe.
“It makes you sad to think about what we have,” Dottie added.
Harbour detected Tacticnok’s mental flinch and made a note to chat with her team. They weren’t to mention the subject of Pyre’s disrupted surface in the presence of the Jatouche.
“Have you ever seen so much greenery?” Devon asked.
“I saw things like this from the upper floor window of the Andropov home, although I was never allowed outside,” Aurelia said. “Every family head supposedly has an expanse of green like this.
Hard stares were directed toward Idrian, and Harbour could sense the anger from the other Pyreans. She was tempted to calm them, but the Jatouche sat too close. Instead, she changed the subject, and asked, “Is that snow on the peaks of those elevations?”
There was a momentary pause among the Jatouche, while the translation failure was checked.
“Ah, yes, a form of crystalline water … snow,” Jaktook acknowledged.
During the remaining part of the trip, following Aurelia’s remarks, Idrian kept his mouth shut. The families’ homes did have significant gardens, festooned with fruit trees and flowering shrubbery for birds, bees, and other pollinating species.
Arriving underground at the royal residence, the Pyreans were shown to their rooms. One room was allocated to each person, much to Dottie’s delight.
“The royal servants will see to your every need,” Tacticnok announced to the envoy party. “You need only ask. No request will be considered too much or too mundane. Please refresh yourselves. We’ll collect you in two hours, as measured by your chronometers, for the audience.”
“Your rooms are at the end of the hall, Envoy,” Tacticnok said, leading Harbour and Jessie in that direction. “Should Advisor Cinders’ personal baggage be placed in your room?” she asked.
Harbour regarded the royal daughter. The little Jatouche had asked a sincere question.
“Not at this time,” Harbour replied.
“Hmm …” Tacticnok hummed under her breath, “Strong females have the most difficulty finding mates.”
Harbour recognized that the royal daughter was speaking for both of them. She laid a hand on Tacticnok’s shoulder in sympathy, and said, “But it’s important that we don’t settle for anyone less than we deserve.”
Tacticnok thought about that and then flashed her teeth in agreement. She directed the servants to deposit Jessie’s bags in the room next door.
Harbour was left in the apartment’s salon, with two Jatouche servants standing by for her requests. She stared at the expanse of space. Her eyes were directed toward the view on the other side of the room, and she crossed quickly to stare out the wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling window. The lush greenery and rolling elevations of Jatouche stretched out before her.
Tears formed in Harbour’s eyes and soon rolled down her cheeks.
“Are you ill, Envoy Harbour?” the senior servant asked. “Should medical services be called?”
“No, I’m sorry to upset you,” Harbour replied. “I’ve never seen the likes of this. Our planet is shrouded in deadly gases and dust. “I’ve lived my entire life aboard a station or a ship enclosed in cabins.”
“We’re aware of the circumstances of your planet,” the younger servant said. “You have our condolences.”
“Enough of this lament,” the senior servant said with authority. “We must prepare you, Envoy, for your audience with His Excellency. Your mind should be at rest, and you should look your best.”
The two servants hustled to unpack Harbour’s duffels.
“I need the contents of this crate,” Harbour directed, “and I require the presence of Aurelia Garmenti.”
The senior servant directed the younger one to fetch the requested individual, while she requested additional staff to unpack the crate. Harbour had considered using her comm unit to call Aurelia, but she was reticent to use her device for communication without first checking with the Jatouche.
By the time Aurelia arrived, two male staff members were laying out the contents of the crate. It had been Harbour’s intention to prepare greens for both of them, but something else caught her attention.
“Can I offer you a green?” Harbour asked, smiling.
“Oh, for the love of Pyre, is that what you brought? I thought I would have to go the entire trip without one,” Aurelia replied enthusiastically.
The older servant
watched Harbour lay out the ingredients, and she made careful note of each item and its quantity.
“Now, all we need is a means of combining them.” Harbour lamented, when she discovered a blender hadn’t been packed.
“The royal daughter has instructed that no request is too great or too small,” the elder servant commented. With a quick order, another staff member came running with a device. It had a slender body and was topped by a small hopper.
The senior servant directed Harbour to load the ingredients into the hopper. Afterwards, Harbour turned around to look at the servant for the manner of starting the blender. She caught Aurelia’s smirk and looked at the device. The blended green had filled the bowl at the bottom without a sound.
“I want one of these,” Harbour exclaimed.
“It’s yours,” the senior servant replied, dipping her head.
Aurelia signed, “Be careful how you speak. You’re an exalted person.”
“Please bring two glasses to the facilities,” Harbour requested of the servant. “Come with me,” she said to Aurelia. “You have to see this.”
Harbour opened the door to a room and waited for Aurelia’s reaction.
“I don’t get it,” Aurelia said. “Why would they leave their drinking water in the open like that?”
“That was my thought,” Harbour said, laughing. “Then I was informed that it was for bathing.”
Aurelia stared aghast at Harbour. “You immerse your entire body in there?” she asked. “How deep is it? Could you suffer from water inhalation?”
Harbour laughed again. “Remember, it’s built for the Jatouche. It can’t be that deep.”
“Should we?” Aurelia asked.
Harbour could sense the young woman’s excitement, and she was happy to share. She signed to Aurelia to calm herself, when she heard the servants coming.
“We’ll enjoy the water, while we take our drinks,” Harbour directed the servants. She expected the drinks to be left, and the servants to vacate the room. Instead, they stood waiting.
“We don’t wish to surprise you with our appearances,” Harbour protested.
“Envoy, I’ve served the royal family my entire life,” the elder servant replied. “I’ve seen alien forms that stretch the imagination. Most important, you are an envoy, and all care should be taken to ensure that your needs are well attended.”
Aurelia shrugged and immediately shucked her skins. After a moment of indecision, Harbour followed. The servants hurried to assist. The Pyrean women eased into the water, pleased to find a shelf to sit on, while their legs dangled in deeper water.
“It’s warm,” Aurelia said in surprise.
“Is the temperature comfortable?” the younger servant asked.
“Yes,” Harbour replied.
Soon the water began circulating, and Aurelia softly moaned in delight, which made Harbour snicker.
The older servant offered a colorful display of products in delicate glass jars. “These are cleansers made from plants found on our planet. They have delicate scents.”
The women slipped off the tops and sniffed each container. Together they chose one that smelled of flowers. The servants used long-handled brushes to dip into the container and meant to apply them to the women’s skins.
“Please,” Harbour said, holding up a hand. “This courtesy will not be necessary, and she reached for the brush.”
The servants flashed their teeth, having realized that they had reached the limit of their ministrations. They sat the greens next to the women and exited the facilities.
“I don’t know,” Aurelia said, taking a deep swallow of her green. “I might have enjoyed being scrubbed from head to toe.”
Harbour stared evenly at Aurelia until the young spacer added, “Okay, maybe not,” which set the women to laughing.
-15-
Audience
The royal daughter was delighted to discover Harbour and Aurelia in relaxed moods when she came to collect them. In the elegantly decorated hallway outside the envoy’s apartment, the rest of the party waited.
The captains wore clean and pressed coveralls with shoulder bars over their skins. Devon’s skins were covered by his security uniform. Idrian and Dottie proudly displayed their expensive and colorful skins, and Harbour wore her silver filigreed skins that Makana made for her.
Dottie was a little miffed when she saw Harbour. She’d thought to outshine the others with her expensive taste, but she realized that it didn’t matter what Harbour wore. The envoy would always attract the attention of every human.
It was Aurelia who was feeling a little embarrassed. Usually, she wore inexpensive spacer-black skins, but Harbour requested Makana make something special for her. The artist chose to embed what appeared to be metal that reflected colors in a gentle pattern. The design began on each shoulder and disappeared down the arms. It was the right touch of attention for a young person.
The young empath stood with her hands locked in front of her, knowing she was the center of attention and was unsure what to say.
“Quite appropriate,” Jessie said, breaking the silence, and Aurelia broke out in a grin.
Tacticnok led the group upstairs to the royal court. The rest of the audience was waiting in attendance, and Tacticnok made introductions for Harbour to every individual. In turn, Harbour introduced each member of her party.
The attendees took their places, and soon afterwards, Rictook entered from the back of the hall and assumed his throne.
The empaths could feel the ruler’s discomfort. When Aurelia eyed Harbour, the envoy signed, “Wait.”
Tacticnok rose, signaled Harbour to do the same, and said, “Your Excellency, I’ve the honor of introducing Envoy Harbour of Pyre to you. We wish to receive your favor so that we might enter negotiations for the benefit of our races.”
“Eldest daughter, your request is granted,” Rictook replied. “Envoy Harbour, welcome to Na-Tikkook. I wish you success in your endeavors.”
“I thank you for your generosity, Your Excellency, in providing this opportunity to my people,” Harbour replied. She was unsure of what to do next until she saw Tacticnok’s signal to be seated.
“I ask all of you to work together to find the means by which our cultures can prosper. I wait to hear what you devise,” Rictook said. “At this time, I’ve only one request of the envoy.”
Harbour immediately stood when Rictook mentioned her name.
“I would feel this power that you possess,” Rictook said.
Roknick leapt out of his seat, calling out harshly, “This isn’t wise, Your Excellency.”
Rictook’s aging eyes delivered a piercing gaze that stilled Roknick.
“Apologies, Your Excellency,” Roknick said, dropping his head.
“I’m ready,” Rictook declared to Harbour, bracing his hands on the throne’s arms.
To Harbour, the ruler’s preparatory actions might have appeared comical if the situation wasn’t so fraught with complexity and tension.
“You appear to hesitate, Envoy. Why?” Rictook asked.
“There are opposing views about human empaths, Your Excellency. I don’t want to inflame the polarization,” Harbour replied.
“A considerate and wise opinion, Envoy. However, I’m requiring this to allow the negotiations to go forward,” Rictook replied. Despite his age, there was force in his voice.
“As you request, Your Excellency,” Harbour replied. She approached the throne to focus exclusively on him and heard sharp intakes of breaths from the Jatouche.
The fingers of Rictook’s left hand rose slightly, and the sounds abated.
Harbour thought of the hopes she had for the success of their mission, opened her mental gates, and ever so slowly leaked her power out.
Rictook’s jaw fell open, his eyes closed, and he slouched in his throne.
Harbour heard a cry from behind her. Then Tacticnok yelled, and Harbour slammed her gates closed.
Rictook returned to full consciousness. He s
urveyed the audience. Jatouche were staring hostilely at one another, and the Pyreans were anxiously wide-eyed.
“That was disconcerting,” Rictook commented to Harbour.
“Apologies, Your Excellency. That wasn’t what I wished you to experience. You’re extremely susceptible, and your audience became alarmed at your reactions,” Harbour explained.
“Only one of us couldn’t control himself,” Tacticnok accused. Her eyes were aflame and staring at Roknick.
“It’s my duty,” Roknick declared loudly, forgetting again where he stood.
“Enough. Leave me,” Rictook requested.
“This way, Envoy Harbour,” Roknick said, trying to take control of the situation.
“You misinterpret my request, Master Roknick,” Rictook said firmly. “I wish to be alone with the Envoy and my daughter.”
“Your Excellency —” Roknick started to object.
“It’s good that you remember my title, Roknick,” Rictook said, cutting the master advisor off. “For a moment, it sounded as if you ruled the Jatouche.”
Royal servants ushered everyone in the audience out, save Harbour and Tacticnok. The Jatouche were left milling around in the antechamber, and the Pyreans were led to their rooms.
“Now, if we might begin again, Envoy,” Rictook said, when the hall was cleared. “I’d like to experience this effect as intended.”
“Your Excellency, I’ll do as you request on the condition that we find a more comfortable place for you,” Harbour replied.
“This is a fair request, Father,” Tacticnok urged.
Rictook accepted, and the threesome exited the throne room via the back passageway and took a lift to the royal chambers. The ruler reclined on a soft pallet, and Tacticnok chose to sit on one near her father. She flashed her teeth at Harbour, admitting that she hoped to share in the sending.
“I believe we’re both ready, Envoy,” Rictook said, catching his daughter’s expression.
