Tah found the ‘bar’ just fine. It was in a nicer part of the city. It looked busy for early evening but guessed that most had come from ‘work’. Walking discretely, silently due to his camo, Tah walked into the bar and moved from one group to another unseen. As he studied them, it was clear that there were several groups within these groups of people. Surprising to him was that most were female. Unescorted and no males to speak of. It was clear to him that some were just like the warriors in many ways. Some appeared to be old timers. Some being nurtured. Some were here to drink away the week, some appeared angry, some sad, but generally, they were there to socialise and bond, to have ‘fun’ and catch up with friends and unwind.
Tah was heartened to see that when groups come together with a common thread whether Bataari or Human, the atmosphere is the same. There was plenty of rowdy complaining and storytelling although all were obviously careful not to talk about people from work. Generalisations where the order of the day and clearly no names but meaningful looks. It was clear that these people were protective of their clients and the chatter quickly moved away to other issues. One name came up often as they spoke of many things. Said with a mixture of awe, sometimes gratitude and thankfulness. They had the answers to many things it seemed. Tah needed to check this person out. They were clearly wise and enlightened on Earth cultures and had mentored many of these people and clearly had many years of insight to offer these people when working with males and females of this world. This person would be of use to him.
Alex came back from the ladies and a Cappuccino was waiting for her at the bar. “That’s your one for the road Alex”. Alex smiled at Ryan. She wasn’t much of a drinker. She liked a glass of wine now and then or a spritzer but that was about it and when driving, one was her limit. “Thanks hun, you know me, one drink wonder, got a long drive so the caffeine is perfect”. Alex took a sip and visibly relaxed. “Umm it is perfect”. Ryan laughed at her expression. “I see you’re still a caffeine nut”. Alex nodded. “Sooo, you still doing 12 hour days 5 days a week or are you doing reasonable hours now?” He asked her. Alex laughed, it always came back to work issues. “You know the job Ryan, it is what it is”. “Its gonna kill you is what it is” Ryan choked back emotionally. Alex smiled and squeezed his arm, Ryan had given up mainstream social work finding it too demanding and emotionally wearing, Alex could sympathize. All those that came out of university thinking they were going to make change and save lives were often disillusioned when reality kicked in and unable to cope with the demands of the job, left. “No need to worry Ryan, the jobs the job”. Resigned, Ryan nodded. “Yeah, sure”. Knowing Alex gave too much.
***
Tah had followed the conversations round the room and moved to the couple at what was called the ‘bar’. The female had recently returned from what was called the ‘rest rooms’. Tah did not understand this. Having checked the place out initially on arrival for any possible threats. A ‘rest room’ was not a place anyone would want to rest. Mostly, they were not nice places. Were places where your bodily needs were disposed of. The males were worse than the females. The smell with his heightened senses made him gag. Tah moved to get a better view of the female. Tah had to shake the shock of surprise off himself, this can’t be the right person that the others had talked about? But the name was correct. This Alex was not old and wizened at all. He wondered if he had the right person. Tah touched his PID and looked at the records for this organisation. She had been called a manager. Tah checked again, his concentration distracted by a heavenly scent. Tah breathed deeply. It was amazing, he felt he could breathe it in forever, never ending. It was nothing like the artificial and created smells of this world. He’d had plenty of that to deal with over the past week. This was natural. Sweet, warming but not sickly. Clean, not over powering. Tah felt himself compromised. He had a sudden moment of being out of control. Being led. He leaned forward towards this Alex as if being pulled magnetically to her.
Tah shook his head and refocused. What the hell was going on. Had he been infected with something? He looked round. Everyone was where he’d seen them before. No one had come near him. The smells the same as before. Tah checked his PID. The air was tainted with bi products of this Earth but not any known drugs to influence him were present in any of the scans. Suddenly, Tah’s body went on warrior alert. His chest expanding and his limbs loose. Strength streamed into him from his core. Battle blood. Where was that smell coming from? Tah moved around the space checking for possible attack and found none. Drawing his attention back to the couple at the bar, Tah observed the female. Alex. She was small for a Human, barely came up to his chest. She had what was called ‘blond hair’ pulled back at the nape of her neck. It looked thick. Shinny. Some strands had come loose and were haloed around her face. Tah wanted to brushed them back from her face. Woooah. Tah stepped back. What did that mean. Tah shook his head again to clear it. This time he really looked at the female. Her clothing seemed masculine known as a ‘suit’. She had a clear complexion and her eyes were a deep blue. Tah liked those eyes, they were unique to him and drew him in. This Alex was nothing remarkable by Earth standards from what they considered ‘beautiful’. It meant little to him. His race did not judge by ‘beauty’. She looked nice, he thought but no goddess as Earth literature spoke of, and she looked like no elder he knew.
Tah observed the interaction between Alex and the male, he noticed she was offering moral support both verbally and physically as she reached out to touch this Ryan’s arm. As the female made contact, a growl burst out of Tah. Guttural and harsh and loud. Tah shocked, quickly backed away. What the hell had just happened?, he asked himself he never lost control. And, what in the depths of hell was that? That sound coming from him. A memory surfaced but he could not pin it down. Surprise hit him as he had to bite back further outbursts. The thought of this Alex touching the male was not pleasant for him. His reason told him they were not involved as a pairing but he felt he was struggling for control. He felt the blood rage start to surface. He swallowed hard. Taking calming breaths. Placing his focus elsewhere. He needed to speak to her. To understand what was happening here. Tah did not understand this reaction to the female. There was no mention of it in the Earth information. Did Earth women entice males with their smell? This was a threat to this people. Something unknown. Not recorded. He was a strong male and if he could react in such a manner to a female of Earth, then others would fall easily. Tah realised standing there this was not going to give him the answers he needed. Walking to the back of the bar, Tah entered the rest room for males. Seeing it empty, Tah materialised, placed his PID in camo and turned back towards the bar. He needed answers and he was going to get them.
***
Ann had just seen the guy walk out of the rest rooms. OMG, he was gorgeous with a capital G. She hadn’t seen him go in but hay, it’s a free world right. Simply drop dead gorgeous. Amazingly tall and muscular and big, real big, riding that bad boy biker look. He must be a model, work out a lot but those features, defined and bordered on beautiful in a manly way and that hair, wow, any women would die for it. He carried himself confidently. This guy knew how to live. Maybe he was a model part time and a soldier of some kind with lots of yummy skills she mused. Ann’s mind was going into overdrive. “Clare, check this out”. Ann elbowed Clare and nodded in the new guy’s direction. Clare’s mouth dropped open. “Halloooo” Ann whispered licking her lips. The new guy appeared distracted, he’s attention over at the bar. Ann nudged Clare with a wicked smile “let’s go”.
“Hello, can I help you, I’d like to be of help to you” A female had walked right into his path. Tah looked around at the voice. He’d only taken a few steps into the bar when halted by two females. “I’d really like to help myself to you too”. Smiled the second one, clearly both had been partaking of the alcohol thought Tah. His attention taken, Tah lost sight of Alex at the bar and addressed the two females before him. With a tight smile he told them honestly, “I am sorry, I do not know you an
d it would not be proper to have you help me in any way”. Tah tried to side step them. They moved with him. Both females turned and stared at each other for several moments with their mouths open, then both burst out laughing at him. Tah felt very confused and his face must have looked it, they laughed again at him. “O yeah, your coming with us big boy, the parties over here”. A female took an arm each and led a very confused Tah, past Alex who was smiling madly at them, with her thumb in the air, over to the group that had been talking about Alex previously. Ok Tah thought, I’m integrating and could learn much from this, how bad can this be?
Continued in The Awaking, A Bataari New World Novel Book 1.
Bonded Page 24
