“There is no reason to doubt her,” Moldew said as he took a couple of steps toward his friend.
“I know,” Raymond replied. “But that is the one thing that can fix everything. I just want to see it. Maybe I'm being sentimental, but I've worked with you guys for a while now and I want to see a permanent stability brought to your people.”
“That causes a slight dilemma,” Ondex said. “It was to be Moldew's final act in his current position. He is to move into a new role after the wedding.”
“Well, that's exciting,” Raymond replied. “What is the new job?”
“I am to be the Right Hand of Prince Rando.”
“There's no better Gote for that job,” Raymond said as he slapped his big friend on the shoulder. “And more time at home, I hope.”
“Yes. Mildy is ecstatic.”
“I imagine so. You know, I bet if we asked nicely, Frank would probably give us a ride home.”
“That is a wonderful solution,” Ondex said in his joyous tone. “If for some reason he refuses, we will just have to work something out.”
* * *
After winding through several corridors they emerged into the Mother's chamber. Frank found his bearings once he realized they were approaching the queen bug from the rear. He glanced at the abdomen and quickly turned away as it wasn't anything to look at. After a short while they finally rounded the partition and the projection of Gladys was there waiting for them. She wore a serious expression that matched that of Constanthos.
“Frank!” the Mother exclaimed.
“Hello, Mother,” Frank said with a smile.
“You once again prove...yourself to be a great friend to the Rhoshe.”
“We're friends for sure, but all we're doing is giving this guy a ride home. It's no big deal, really.”
She studied him for a moment. “You really have...no idea what is going on, do you?”
He shrugged and smiled again. “That's really nothing new.”
“Those...ships in orbit. That blockade...they are here for you.”
“I'm afraid I have no idea who they are.”
“They are all members...of the Assassin's Guild.”
“Well, damn. I'm sorry to put you through all of this. I assume they're here to kill me.”
She let out the bug version of a laugh. “It is no bother. We... hope they do something stupid. What they do...is deplorable.”
“Either way, I hate to be a bother.”
“You brought one...of my kids home.” She turned finally to regard Breet 1751. “He is the best of us.”
“He is pretty awesome. I consider him a friend. He kicked serious ass on Vera.”
“Kicked serious ass?” The Mother again laughed as she turned to Breet. “I believe...that is high praise, Kiddo. And it is...much deserved. I am very proud of you.”
“Thank you, Mom,” Breet chirped. He almost looked weak as the emotions were showing.
“There is a place...at my table for you, that is, unless you wish... to retire.”
“I am honored, Mother. But I'm afraid I am done. I wish to retire.”
They were interrupted by a flying insect that swooped down to make a landing near the platform. “Report,” the Mother commanded.
“A vessel broke through the atmosphere and dropped a cluster of some unknown devices in the general vicinity of our guests' ship.”
“What was the result...of these devices?”
“Several small explosions,” the winged insect replied. “Their cloak is down.”
The Mother fiddled with her pincers while she considered the situation. Finally, she said, “Scrap them. All of them.”
“Mother,” Gladys said, “I'm sorry to interrupt, but I don't want you to feel compelled to fight this battle on our behalf.”
“My dear, we honestly...do not mind. We will take everything that is...out there. They have committed an act of...war. While I do not like to put my kids...at risk, there is a profit to me made. Every vessel has...already been surveyed and logged. And our friend, Frank...will have less assassins to contend with.”
“As long as it pleases you, my friend. I have something for you.” The projection gestured toward Constanthos. “This is Constanthos. She has gathered every bit of information available regarding the production of the syrup.”
The Mother clearly became agitated for a moment before forcing herself to calm down. Constanthos produced a data card and held it up for everyone to see. “I took the liberty of translating the data into Rhoshe,” she said with a slight bow. The room erupted in the bug version of cheers.
“May we approach you, Mother?” Frank asked once the cheering died down.
“Of course.”
Frank and Constanthos made their way toward the queen bug and stopped just short as to remain polite. She accepted the card from Constanthos and regarded it as if it was a treasure.
“Mother,” Frank said, “if at any time you require assistance with any of that, I can put you in touch with someone on Earth. An expert in whatever area we may need.”
“You have me...speechless,” the Mother replied. She grabbed Frank and pulled him in for a hug. The room erupted again. She finally released him and he and Constanthos went back down to take their place next to the projection of Gladys. “And now,” the Mother began, “for your retirement, Breet...1751. You may retire here, with all of your...brothers present.”
“I am deeply honored,” Breet said. “If it pleases you, I would like my friend, Frank, to assist me.”
Frank was confused so he looked to Gladys only to find that she had a surprised look on her face. And then looking over to Constanthos, he found that she also looked very concerned.
“Prepare the area,” the Mother ordered. Several smaller workers emerged from beside the partition carrying an odd package. Constanthos grabbed onto Frank's arm and pulled him back out of the way, as every bug in attendance was doing, while the workers unfolded what was basically a gigantic drop-cloth.
“It will be a great insult to them if you refuse,” she whispered to him in English.
“What are you talking about?” he asked.
“He wants you to end his life.”
* * *
“Ekokes, this is 17. Barrier formation. We have orders to scrap them. Only destroy if they withstand disruption.”
“Carriers inbound, sir,” a random Ekoke replied.
17 pressed the button for full transmission. “Jump to your places and unload.”
The carriers had lifted from Rhoshe One's three moons and upon the order, each micro-jumped to their assigned place outside the blockade of assassin ships. The doors opened and the fighters emerged in a swarm. The lesser of the assassin vessels were disabled immediately but the majority of them seemed to be prepared for battle.
“Switch to your guns,” 17 ordered. “Target their torpedo arrays first.”
* * *
“Two,” Denise mouthed silently toward Gladys where she stood. Pointing to a screen, she identified the areas where two cloaked ships were parked.
Gladys made a mental note of it and with a nod she returned her attention to her projection.
* * *
Breet was moving down the line his brothers had formed, saying his farewells. Frank stood at the opposite end with Constanthos, fighting his emotions.
“I can't do it,” he whispered.
“You have to. He intends to retire anyway. It is their way.”
Frank thought back and remembered when Pock had declined retirement. “Can't he just, I don't know, find another job, or something?”
“It doesn't work like that,” Constanthos replied.
“That's what Pock did.”
“I'm pretty sure scouts are bred with a higher sense of self-preservation. Honor his wishes. Try to make it special.”
Frank was at a loss. He didn't want to kill his friend. His only hope was to somehow try to talk Breet out of it. So he waited patiently for the bug to make his way down the line. After
a long while, he made his way to Frank.
“Thank you for helping me find peace,” Breet said.
Frank leaned in hoping that no other bugs could hear him. “I don't like the idea of killing a friend,” he said.
“I know, and I apologize if it makes you feel uncomfortable.”
Frank reached up and placed his hand on Breet's body just beside his head. “I really don't understand any of this. Maybe you should just come with us and hang out. You know, find something else to do besides just dying.”
“I have lived a meaningful life, Frank. I know you may never understand, but this is what I want. There is nothing left for me to give to my family.”
Frank was trying his best to understand. He hadn't seen any of Breet's fights but he thought maybe they carried a heavier toll than he had realized. He thought back and remembered how Breet was when they first met. “Okay, what do I do?”
* * *
“A rift?” Jard asked himself, looking at the readings. He was still parked in orbit over Hitakkita as his computational systems devoured the data the collector had provided. He put his canister of protein pellets down and manned the controls of his image capturing equipment. Seeing a Gote scout ship, he moved his own vessel into a better position to track it. It was moving off around the outside of the parked ships and into the region of space where the liners were parked. There, among the dense congregation of parked luxury ships, a Gote warship was hidden. Jard smiled as he thought up a prank. He moved close to the warship and scanned it. Once he had the frequency it was using for its communications, he set out to write a bit of programming and then installed it upon a beacon. Laughing out loud, he swooped toward the warship and deployed the beacon. Once he was sure it had affixed itself to the hull, he quickly pointed toward open space.
* * *
“This world is absolutely amazing,” Hiro said, looking at the television.
“It is the model of efficiency,” Phildan replied with a short tone.
“Is something wrong?” Hiro asked.
“The reflective array is down on their boat.”
“So, pick them up and we can be on our way,” Miyako said.
“I'm afraid you don't understand,” Phildan replied. “We can't leave that boat down there. The Sessik technology must remain a secret.”
Hiro nodded once he understood. “We will make ourselves ready.”
10.
Frank drew his sword and stood over Breet 1751, who had lowered his head and pulled all of his legs back out of the way. Kneeling down, he said in a low voice, “You will always hold a special place in my memories.”
“Thanks for everything, Frank.”
Frank stood up tall, took a deep breath, and started, “The Rhoshe family is unique as I have yet to meet a bug that I don't like. Yet even among your fine family, some rise even higher and achieve a greatness that is legendary. It is my honor to assist in the retirement of Breet, the Selfless.” Frank had never felt more like a monster than when he brought the blade down and removed the head of his friend. A ridiculously quick swipe of his blade in the air removed the blood before he replaced it into its sheath. Constanthos joined him at his side, and together, they delivered a crisp bow toward their dead friend. The confused bugs in attendance quickly repeated their version of a bow, and fell back in place.
“That was beautiful, Frank,” the Mother said. “His shell will be raised...for all to see. He truly was the best of us all.” She nodded toward the attendant that stood to her side.
“Breet, the Selfless!” he cried out. The cheering was almost deafening but Frank didn't notice. His heart ached over what he had done.
“What should we do now?” Constanthos asked in a low tone.
Unable to speak, Frank answered with a shrug.
“We can wait it out, or try to bust our way through. Either way that boat is most likely compromised.” Her words were met with a blank stare. “Okay, we bust our way through.”
* * *
“I have muted the transmission,” Gladys said, trying to move her lips as little as possible.
“I am trying so hard to understand what just happened,” Denise said.
“It is their custom,” Gladys replied. “We can discuss it at length later. I'm more worried about those cloaked ships right now.”
“They're holding their positions for the moment.”
Gladys reached over and pressed a spot on her data pad. “I'm making a recording of them. Let me know if they make a move.”
Nera had been sitting silently off to the side. “Frank looks pretty unhappy,” she said.
“I know,” Gladys replied. “I'm going to try to wrap this up.”
* * *
“I would like to make a suggestion,” Captain Ebry said.
“Please do,” Grame replied. He had been pacing around his quarters for so long that he was becoming fatigued.
“Since we know the other warship will be arriving soon, I think I should land this one.”
Grame stared at the little box on his desk where Ebry's voice was emanating from. “What would we gain by losing a warship? You may never get it back off the ground.”
“A permanent base of operations on the surface of Mertia. If the Gotes on the ground are meeting resistance, we could quickly overpower the humans. Both of our ships still have landing craft so I could send humans back up.”
“That is an interesting idea. I think our mistake was sending our drop ships too close to the dome on that continent. Had we only thought it through, we might have realized the human military would have some presence there.”
“Admiral, I studied the reports that were provided. They stated the humans were using electrified weapons. It is now painfully obvious that they managed to revert their ordinance.”
“You always were a deep thinker, Ebry. Maybe you should be in charge.”
“Nonsense. Thinking and leading are two totally different things.”
Grame snorted as he pulled up an image of the landing site. “They used the standard landing formation. Do you think you could park right in the center?”
“I don't see any reason why not.”
“Let us give it one cycle, local, to think on it, independently. We will compare notes at that time.”
“Agreed,” Ebry said. “Out.”
“Out.”
* * *
“He was my predecessor and I have always admired him a great deal,” Breet 2687 was saying as he led Frank and Constanthos back through the maze of corridors.
Frank had to take a few moments before he could reply. “He was fearless and fought by my side with honor. He was my friend.” Constanthos walked silently beside him.
“This truly is a glorious day. You've brought our brother home. The Ekokes are engaged up top. There will be plenty to scrap.” 2687 didn't seem too worried about the war that was being waged in orbit and in the upper atmosphere.
“I wish I could share in your enthusiasm.”
The guard stopped and turned to Frank. He leaned down and spoke in a low tone. “We all realize our ways seem strange to you. But unlike most mammals, you have displayed a willingness to respect our culture. That is why you have gained so much favor with Mom. And that is probably why our brother had so much love for you.”
“I don't want to come off as disrespectful,” Frank replied.
“You have nothing to worry about. You are a great friend to the Rhoshe. I just thought maybe you needed to hear that.”
They started walking, but at a slower pace. “I can't speak for all mammals. Hell, I can't speak for all humans, but I need to mourn the loss of a friend.”
“We only mourn the loss of our mothers. Our brothers get celebrated.”
Frank nodded. “Thank you for that clarification. He deserves to be celebrated, for sure.”
With the exit looming ahead Breet 2687 said, “I'll have you know you are the first beings that have been permitted to carry weapons in the presence of the Mother.”
Glan
cing toward Constanthos and then back to the guard, Frank said, “We are honored. So, what's the situation up top?”
“The lesser ships have all been disabled. There are quite a few that are being stubborn, but we'll get them.” Two guards opened the doors as all the others stopped short.
As they grabbed their face-plates, Frank said, “This is where we say our farewells. Keep up the good work, Breet.”
“Thank you for everything, Frank.”
“My pleasure.” They pulled their varitherm up over their heads and set out toward the landing boat. Frank had been carrying the orb and pulled it up to speak to it as their cloak was activating. “So what's our plan?”
“I've been running a systems check of the boat,” Gladys answered. “Only the biotech room will be able to seal.”
“I'll need time to locate the pad before we lift, sister.”
“Understood, Connie. Let me know when you're ready.”
They walked under the boat and Frank stood beneath a hatch. Nothing happened. “I think the boat is broken,” he said.
“The beams are down,” Gladys replied as the hatch opened. “You're going to have to find a way up.”
“Well, at least it's a wide port.” He jumped up and grabbed the upper edge of the hole and pulled himself up. Reaching down, he offered a hand to Constanthos. She jumped up and grabbed his hand. He easily pulled her in.
“I'll go get the pad,” she said as she disappeared into the corridor. The lighting was dim and Frank thought maybe things were worse than he had been led to believe. But instead of asking about it, he found a spot to sit on the floor where he could lean back against the wall. He sat like that for a while until she finally reentered the room. The door slid shut behind her and she paused to make sure it sealed properly.
“So, how bad is it?” he asked.
She smacked the pad a couple of times, a very human reaction that almost amused him. “It's pretty bad,” she answered as she looked at him and briefly flashed that smile. “Gladys, I have visual on the pad but the controls are dead,” she said into the air.
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