“There is more at stake here besides revenge, Donna. You should know that as well. Another fact you should know is that the Remoir do not change their minds about their adversaries. You must realize that you have cost us quite a lot of humiliation and loss at Guanthan. Nonetheless, you made the decision to intervene and take what was rightfully ours. So, we have decided to return the favor,” Perbron hissed.
“Rightfully yours? Guanthan was a peaceful colony with beings from all over the universe that coexisted before you came along. We have freed its citizens from your oppression. That is what we accomplished,” Dedron said. Perbron was beginning to get under his skin as well.
“Ah, Dedron. Aren’t you the conquering hero? You rose in status as you killed my men and interrupted our operations. I cannot wait to see you crawl!” Dedron glared and was about to reply when Donna spoke.
“Enough, Perbron. What do you want for us to do?” Donna said, folding her arms.
“You are so no nonsense, Donna. I really like that. Let me get right to the point here. I have a trial for each member of your Defense Squad to endure. This trial will test your abilities to survive unlike any other. At the end of the trial, you will either be dead or placed in our servitude should you survive. In exchange for this, we will release your loved ones one at a time,” Perbron said.
“We will never agree to that,” Dedron said.
“Well in that case, we will be executing your loved ones one at a time. I will be sure to beam the transmission to you so that you can see every agonizing moment that we are putting them through.”
“No, I will agree to your terms. I will not allow you to harm my mother,” Donna insisted.
“No Donna. I can’t allow you to do that. There will be no escape for anyone that agrees to such terms,” Dedron said, putting his hand on hers.
“There is no other way,” Donna said shaking her head.
“It’s a tough decision: your lives or your loved ones, but I trust you will make the right one. Tell you what. It looks like you have a lot to discuss. I will give you until tomorrow to make a decision. At that time, I will tell you whose trial is first and where it will take place,” Perbron said. His image faded from the screen as quickly as it had first appeared.
“But wait….” Dedron said, hoping to reason with the Remoir.
“It’s no use. He’s gone already,” Donna said.
“We can’t allow him to manipulate us that way. There is no way that you can agree to those terms.”
“What’s the alternative? Are you really ok with watching our relatives die cruelly, one by one?”
“Of course I’m not ok with it, but there has to be another way. There is always another way,” Dedron insisted. “The first thing we need to do is to stop them from kidnapping anyone else. We already know that they are heading for Barringe. I’m going to activate our cloaking device so that we will not be detected.”
“But if they catch us they are surely to kill one of our loved ones in response,” Donna said.
“Then we don’t need for them to catch us, do we? I know how to travel in secret on my home planet.”
After most of the next day passed, they could see Planet Barringe coming into view. Even from a distance, its lush green color was evident.
“Ah, how I long to take long quiet walks in my home forest again. One day we will return and have a proper visit,” he said.
“I really hope we can do that,” Donna said, although her mind was filled with doubts about the future and whether they were going to have one at all.
Dedron examined the ship’s navigation computer so that he could decide the best place to land the ship. He knew of a few landing sites that were off the beaten path and less likely to be used by the Remoir since they weren’t likely to know about them. The next phase of his plan was to come to his parents’ house by secret, less traveled ways.
As they made their approach, they started to see the tops of very tall trees of every variety and description. There was no immediate indication that anything was amiss and no sign of the Remoir’s presence.
“Maybe we can get to them before the Remoir do. I am going to hope that the eastern landing in the forest of Arbour is still being properly maintained. It was built for the express purpose of leaving secretly should an invasion take place, Dedron said.
“All I can see are trees everywhere,” Donna commented.
“Isn’t it lovely? Oh how I’ve missed the forests of my youth. Oh, there it is!” Dedron said, excitedly as he spotted the runway through the trees. It was the most animated Donna had ever seen him other than when they were making love. In just a few minutes time, they were beginning their descent. There was a very narrow opening that they would have to negotiate in order to avoid colliding with the trees, but Dedron managed to safely bring the space cruiser to a landing being familiar with flying under such circumstances.
As soon as the ship came to a halt, Donna and Dedron exited the cruiser and walked out onto the runway. All around them were the tallest trees that Donna has ever laid eyes on. She could also tell that there was a greater variety of plants and trees here than any place she’d ever seen other than the rain forest. The air was thick, humid and stationary as if no wind ever parted the leaves of the trees. Here and there, a shuffling sound could be heard in the canopy of the trees and in the ground litter.
“This way. There used to be a path that led straight to my village over there to the east,” Dedron said, excitedly. Donna strained her eyes but couldn’t see anything through all of the tangled growth. Once they were at the very edge of the forest, Dedron found an overgrown path.
“Here is it. It’s not as clear as it once was which is probably a good sign. It shows that no one has had to use the secret route in some time,” Dedron pointed out. Donna entered the forest behind him with some trepidation. Although she’d been on hike in the forest back home, she wasn’t sure about this alien environment that could be home to creatures that she wanted to avoid.
“Are there any major predators, reptiles, insects and such that we need to be concerned about?” Donna asked just as something seemed to slither through the underbrush.
“Just be on the lookout and have your laser pistol charged in case you need it. There are all sorts of wild creatures in the forest, but most of them are too shy to come anywhere near us. Most of the Jomeras live in areas further from our settlements. They are some of the most ferocious beasts in the forest.”
“How ferocious?” Donna said as she slowed her pace.
“Well they have two heads, sharp teeth, and they can fly,” he said.
“You’re not making me feel any better.”
“Well do you want me to tell you the truth or not?”
“Of course I do…”
“Don’t move another muscle,” he cautioned.
“What?” she asked, looking down at her feet. Not even a foot away was a coiled serpent with spikes gutting out from its scaly body. It raised its thorny head and hissed at her.
“AHH!” she yelled, practically falling backwards to get away from it.
“It’s ok, Donna. We can’t afford to cry out like that in case the Remoir could be nearby. Let’s get going; just don’t get close to the Derbender. They are highly venomous.”
“I don’t know what you see in this humid, green place. It’s full of creatures that can hurt you and bite you,” she said as she went past the snake again, this time four feet farther away.
“If you know the forest like I do and know how to avoid the animals that live here, you would grow to love it too. This place holds so many special memories for me. It’s a place full of wonder and beauty if you look close enough,” he said, defensively. Donna realized that she had struck a nerve and began to back pedal.
“I’m sorry, baby. I wasn’t trying to criticize the place you know and I love. I just hate snakes!”
“Well look at this and you may start to see what I mean,” Dedron said as he pointed to an enormous red and blue f
lower that stood taller than a sunflower.
“WOW!” she said as she bent its stalk in order to smell its odor.
“Eww!” she said, smelling something not unlike rotten eggs.
Dedron laughed. “That’s how it’s able to attract pollinators,” he said.
“It sure LOOKS pretty,” Donna said with a smile.
They walked further into the forest leaving the landing strip far behind. Soon only a sliver of light leaked in here and there from above the canopy.
“How much further is it?” Donna asked.
“Just a few more miles and we will be on the edge of my village. I only hope that we are not too late,” he said.
After about an hour, they began to hear what sounded like some kind of song. Dedron stopped in his tracks, closed his eyes and began to mouth the words of what was obviously a familiar tune to him.
“Everestina sonnjatha yad landerpondasew, gendasew…”
“It’s beautiful. What does it mean? I take it those are Barringes singing that,” Donna said.
“Yes, it is a song of thanks that we sing just before we eat what you refer to as dinner,” he replied.
“So we are arriving just in time for a meal? Sounds great to me. I’m famished,” Donna said. They peered through the trees and found several naked Barringe sitting around a large fire, waving their hands in the air as if to imitate branches being blown in a steady breeze.
Chapter 6:
The tallest Barringe in the seated group got to his feet and went over to a large wooden table that had been set up near the fire. He held up what looked to be a platter full of a variety of foods that were all alien to Donna.
“Gendasaw yad Kendalot!” he shouted.
“Kendalot!” the others repeated.
“I better switch on my language decoder,” Donna whispered. Dedron nodded and emerged from the trees. The other Barringes didn’t expect anyone to suddenly emerge from the trees; a couple of them grabbed spears and blow dart guns to ready themselves.
“Kendalot!” Dedron said, which translated roughly to “We give thanks!”
The expressions of the assembled group of Barringes changed as one by one they recognized Dedron.
“Dedron!” an older female Barringe called out.
“Mother!” he called out. Within seconds, he and his mother, Gerdred were embracing. The other Barringe then lined up to greet Dedron.
“My son!” the tall Barringe declared, turning his attention away from the feast for a second. “The gods have given us another reason to be thankful besides the bounty of the forest that we enjoy everyday. Our beloved Dedron has returned to us!”
“Thank you father. I also have someone else with me that is hiding in the shadows of the forest,” Dedron said, turning towards the woods. “Come on out, Donna. It’s ok,” he said. Donna emerged with a timid smile on her face. Her t-shirt and shorts were ragged and torn from the thorns of the forest.
The faces of the other Barringe were surprised and shocked.
“Hello!” Donna said with a tentative wave. The Barringe continued to stare at her, unsure of how to react.
“How have you come to be in the company of a female human?” Dedron’s father Jadron asked.
“This is Donna Stevens, a fellow solider for the Defense Squad,” Dedron announced. At the mention of the Defense Squad, the others began to relax their confused expressions.
“I see. Well any member of the Defense Squad is a comrade of ours,” Dedron’s mother,” Gerdred said. She went over to Donna, gently took her arm and touched Donna’s palm to hers.
“This is how we greet those that we have met for the first time,” Gerdred explained.
“Well it is very nice to meet you. Dedron has said so much about you. I am honored to be here,” Donna said. Gerdred smiled, but secretly she was began to wonder if there was more to Donna and Dedron’s relationship than met the eye. She looked at Dedron and noticed the way his eyes twinkled when he looked over at Donna.
“I hope that you will find conditions to your liking. I have never been to Earth, but it is my understanding that these conditions might seem primitive compared to what you know,” Gerdred said with a smile.
“It’s simply gorgeous. I have never seen such lush growth in all my life,” Donna said, embellishing the truth a bit.
“We are glad that you like it,” Gerdred said. Then, she went over towards the table to help her mate prepare the meal. Barringes eat from hand-carved wooden bowls using only their hands. As the bowls were passed around, Donna tried to hide her reaction to the hairy creatures and their primitive feasting. Jadron took his son to the side to ask him a few questions.
“How did you come to be here with just one of your comrades, my son? Are you not supposed to be engaged in a mission?”
“We were and are, that is to say. We were about to be sent on a mission to follow up on a colony that had been invaded by the Remoir. However, Commander Perbron, the son of the defeated Commander Ferbor, let it be known that he wanted to exact revenge on us for the death of his father and the defeat of the Remoir at Guanthan by taking it out on our relatives. Donna decided that we couldn’t afford to let the soldiers evacuate our relatives, and she was right to act in the way that she did. I left with her and we attempted unsuccessfully to save her mother and the parents of one of our comrades from being kidnapped. That brings me to why we are here: we must prepare for the Remoir to come here and attempt to kidnap you and mother,” Dedron shared. As he said this, Jadron’s brow began to furrow.
“You know this for a fact to be true?” Jadron asked.
“Yes, we have first hand knowledge of this. I am greatly relieved to find that you are still here. Now that you know of their intentions, the Remoir will indeed have a hard time trying to capture you.”
“How soon are they expected to arrive?”
“Anytime. We must prepare like we do during an emergency drill as if we are being invaded. At first light, we should begin preparations. There is no time to lose,” Dedron emphasized.
“We will prepare a welcome for them that they will not expect, then. So what are your plans to rescue the others that have been kidnapped?”
“Well, we can hope that they will have the prisoners on the ship with them. When they land, we can take them by surprise, take over their ship and free whomever is on board,” Dedron explained.
“There is another matter that is, perhaps, less urgent than the issue we’ve been discussing that concerns me my son,” Jadron said. Dedron knew what was coming. He took a deep breath, preparing for the inquisition that was to follow. “Does the female human mean more to you than just a comrade?”
“Father, in all of the years that I have walked the universe, I have never lied to you, and I’m not about to start that now. Donna has captured my heart. I have never loved anyone the way that I do her, and she feels just the same way I do. It may not align with our traditions for me to be mated with someone who is not Barringe, but such is the way things are.”
Jadron did not look his son in the eye at first. He looked over at his wife that was laughing at something that Donna was telling her, and then looked at the others feasting and talking amongst themselves.
“Son, I will not pretend that it pleases me to hear that you’ve given your heart to a human, but I can see that she is someone very special. I got a sense of her spirit when she first emerged from the forest, and I could tell that she has a good soul. The humans have been our close allies for a very long time, so I will give you my blessing. However, the Sersay must give you his blessing, and he may not be so easily convinced.”
“I am aware of this and I can only hope that he can look into her soul and see what I see,” Dedron said as he looked over at Donna whose eyes met his.
“In the meantime, let us feast your return. Tomorrow at first light we will prepare to greet the Remoir like the invaders they are,” Jadron stated.
“Thank you father for understanding,” Dedron said. Then, he went over to the
table to get his own bowl of food and cup of Gerfin, a mead-like drink made with honey. Dedron turned around from the table to see his friend, Doridon standing there with a huge smile on his face. Doridon was slightly shorter than Dedron with broader shoulders and ruddier cheeks.
“My old friend, I was beginning to wonder if you had forgotten about us!” Doridon said. Dedron laughed as they embraced.
“I can never forget my best friend: the only one who was able to beat me at the Deep Forest Relay Competition,” Dedron said. Donna was standing nearby watching the two of them.
“I want you to meet someone. This is Donna, a comrade of mine and the love of my life. Donna, this is Doridon, the one I told you about that created the mural for the village,” Dedron said, proudly. Donna was surprised to hear Dedron speak so openly about their relationship.
“I see! You are truly beautiful. It is an honor to meet you,” Doridon said.
“Thank you. Dedron speaks highly of you. He told me what a great artist you are,” Donna said.
“I’m alright I suppose. Some of us are great warriors, and some of us contribute in other ways,” he said with a smile.
As the evening wore on, they feasted and drank feeling almost as if there wasn’t clear and present danger of a Remoir invasion. The entire community embraced Donna as if she were one of their own. As the moon climbed high over the sky, a silhouette appeared on the edge of the wood. Everyone turned their attention to the figure in reverence, stopping whatever conversation they were immersed in. One by one the Barringe got down on their knees and began to take part in a chant.
“Sarongeva Garnson Sersay!” they chanted, until everyone was on their knees. Not wanting to show any disrespect, Donna got on her knees as well although she had trouble figuring out the words in the chant.
“Greeting villagers!” the Sersay said as he stepped into the firelight. His long hair was grey, and he had a beard that reached down nearly to his knees. On his face he wore a cherub-like grin and a youthful optimism that belied his obviously advanced age.
“Greetings be to you, oh wise one!” Jadron said, handing him a cup of Gerfin.
A New Reason To Fight: An Intergalactic Romance Page 13
