Warriors of Mari-Ur_The Reaping

by Astra Lynne

  Mattaki reached over and tipped Amelia's face back to meet his gaze. "I saw you, on my walk Amelia. You are my destiny. My Nacresscence burns because you are near me." Amelia froze not knowing if she were more afraid of what Mattaki had just told her, or the excitement she felt at the thought. Either way, it was too impossible, she thought. They knew nothing about each other. They were LITERALLY from two different worlds. It was a ridiculous idea, but her heart pounded at the thought of it just the same. Time froze as Mattaki slowly leaned in and claimed Amelia's mouth with his. Her breath died in her lungs and she was powerless to move as she feeling the press of his full lips against her own, moving and caressing over them sending his soothing warmth all through her body. Instinctively, her hand reached up to push him away, but every part of her wanted to stay right where she was, in this moment, not thinking about or caring about the situation. Instead she rested her hand on the center of his chest wanting to touch him…anywhere and everywhere. She could feel his Nacresscence pulsing and growing warm beneath her touch. Mattaki groaned at her touch and the burning fire beneath his Nacresscence. He pulled her bottom lip into his mouth and ran his tongue over it. Amelia gasped at the difference in texture, both soft and rough at the same time. The surprise sent shivers down her spine and made her clench her thighs together to hide her arousal.

  With every bit of strength he had, Mattaki forced himself to pull away from her. They sat there, silent and breathless, neither wanting to be the first to speak, yet suffering in the silence. They both turned to each other at the same time, expecting the other to speak first, when at last a high pitched alarm began sounding from Mattaki's belt. Amelia yelped in surprise, "What the hell is that?" Mattaki reached quickly to his belt and silenced his communicator. There was a shuttle, heading their way. He had to get her back to the lodge, now. "I will explain in time," he said simply, bending to throw her over his shoulder. "Be silent," he commanded as he ran faster than Amelia thought possible through the jungle. Vines and branches beat against her back and head. She was sure she would be bloody by the time they got back to the lodge. Suddenly, Mattaki stopped and placed her back on the ground. She righted herself and found they were not back where they came from, but at a small circular building in the back. "Where are we," Amelia spat. Mattaki said nothing but grasped the back of her neck and pressed a thumb hard against her lips. "I said be silent," he commanded, furrowing his brow. Amelia did not question him, no matter how much she wanted to. With his free hand he opened a door and pushed her inside. All around there were what appeared to be weapons. Mattaki waved a hand in front of a screen and she could see other Mari-Ursians stepping out of a shuttle craft not unlike the one in which Mattaki had brought her here. She gasped, wanting to ask him who they were, but not daring to speak. Mattaki exhaled in relief. "It is my father and brother," he explained.

  Mattaki grabbed a small weapon from the wall and pressed a button on the side. Immediately the weapon lighted up. Mattaki held it out and pressed it into Amelia's hands. "You stay here," he said. "Use this for protection. I will be back for you in less time." Amelia nodded. Silently she made a note to start correcting his English. If their destinies were somehow tied together, he would have to start using the right words, she thought. He touched his forehead to hers and stroked her bottom lip with his thumb, but in an instant he was out the door and gone. She watched the screen as Mattaki jogged towards the lodge, but with each step he took, her anxiety grew and she felt suddenly very alone.

  Chapter 12

  "Ho," Mattaki called out from just inside the door. Considering the possibility of what could be happening at the Hive, he thought it safer to announce his presence before following his father and brother into the lodge.

  "Mattaki, come," his father, Joshur called from the great hall. Mattaki crossed the distance and had to admit his heart was happy to see his father and brother. He stopped a respectable distance and pounded his fist across his heart in salute, which his father then returned in kind. Joshur reached out and embraced his oldest child with the relief only a father could know. He had thought too many times the past several sun cycles of hearing Mattaki had fallen in battle. He would not, could not tolerate the thought of losing his son, either of his sons, in such a senseless battle. War had been his life at one time, now his every strategy and every move as High Commander were to maintain the tenuous peace Mari-Ur had for the past 5 centaleps. Joshur released his embrace and held Mattaki at arm’s length. "I have been worried, my son," Joshur admitted at last. "I am glad to find you are alive."

  Mattaki, when he was finally released from Joshur's grasp, took his salute from his brother, Ninurta, and then embraced him warmly. "Brother," Ninurta smiled. It had been an entire centalep since Mattaki had seen his brother. Their paths had not crossed at the Academy during Ninurta's first cycle there. "You have grown bigger," Mattaki said, rustling Ninurta's close cropped hair.

  "Soon I will be bigger than you, after all I am already smarter and better looking," Ninurta teased. The brothers embraced again, this time with fervor of the unspoken possibility of war passing between them. "My heart is glad to see you well, brother," Ninurta whispered through controlled emotion.

  "There is much to discuss," Joshur interrupted, switching over to Commander mode.

  "Yes, I am eager to hear what has happened at the Hive," Mattaki replied, motioning for everyone to sit at the table.

  "Should you not retrieve your human female from the weapons silo first?" Joshur asked simply, allowing the revelation to hang between the three of them. A cold chill ran down Mattaki's spine and caused his Nacresscence to burn brightly. He did not like that his father already knew where Amelia was. While he did not doubt the abilities of the High Commander, knowing he had spied on them enough to know she was there troubled Mattaki greatly. If the High Commander knew, who else could know? On the one hand, he had been given an order by his father and his Commander, to refuse was treason, but on the other hand, he was pulled to protect Amelia at all costs. In that instant, he was willing to protect her with his life.

  "Calm down Mattaki," Ninurta soothed, sensing Mattaki's agitation. "We mean her no harm." Ninurta's voice was careful and slow. Mattaki kept his eyes trained on his father. Neither warrior gave as much as a blink for the other. At last Joshur tired of their standoff nodded. "Listen to your brother. We could have killed her a dozen times over by now. Besides, she was chosen as an Ambassador of her people, she will want to hear the news we bring and I'm too tired to repeat it." Joshur sat down at the head of the table with great affect. "Ninurta, prepare us all some hot ale while your brother collects the Ambassador," Joshur commanded.

  Amelia began to worry when she didn't see Mattaki right away. He had said it was his father and brother, but that wasn't necessarily a good thing or he wouldn't have stuck her out in this warehouse type thing with a weapon she wasn't exactly sure she could use if she had to. This futuristic space weapon was just the latest chapter in the crazy movie of her life thus far. Although, she was curious if she could fire the thing. She had only fired a gun once when her brother stole their father's 9mm and dared her to pull the trigger. Her parents were not the spanking type, but when they were found out, their mother wore both of them out for playing with something so dangerous. Maybe she would ask Mattaki to teach her how to use the weapon when he came back. If he came back.

  God she hoped he came back. She thought about the kiss they had shared. It was tender and hot at the same time, unlike anything she had ever felt with anyone else, but she was still unsure about the whole fated thing. How did that work anyway? Did she have any choice in the matter? How would she choose anyway? She thought she knew what she was looking for on Earth in a partner, but this was another planet and it didn't seem exactly fair to judge Mattaki by Earth standards. But then what was so bad about him anyway? He was tall…really tall. He was handsome, no doubt, but she wondered if she would think him handsome compared to other Mari-Ursians and realized that was a pretty shallow thing to thin
k. He was protective. Very alpha male, which she didn't think she was supposed to like, but found really REALLY hot. Then there was the way he seemed to look at her, all the time. She caught him staring at her when he thought she was not paying attention. It was more than a curiosity of her as a human, but of her as a person and that was something she had rarely felt from any Earth relationship. He wasn't much of a talker, she thought, but then, after being in a relationship with Derrick, who thought every word that fell out of his mouth was gilded and gift wrapped, being with someone that wanted to hear her talk might be refreshing.

  Amelia shook her head, trying to snap herself back to reality. She couldn't possibly be thinking of being with an alien could she? What if they had some sort of weird customs she couldn't understand? She honestly knew next to nothing about this planet or these people. For all she knew it could have all been some elaborate ruse and the Mari-Ursians were the bad guys. What proof did she have they were the benevolent saviors of the Human race really? Logistically, transporting all the people of Earth to another planet was damn near impossible. She remembered all the things Ellenaki had told her on the ship, and all that she had learned from her did sound reasonable at the time, but now she wasn't sure what she should think.

  Amelia nearly fell off of her chair when she saw Mattaki appear onscreen jogging back towards her at last. Her heart leapt and she felt the familiar stirring in her stomach. She was excited to see him. Relieved, to see him, she corrected herself; it's not the same thing. Or was it? His Nacresscence, which she felt oddly attracted to, was glowing bright. She wondered if that was because he was coming back to her. Would he kiss her when he came through the door? Did she want him too? Yes, she thought, if she were honest she really wanted him to kiss her again. She really wanted to feel that warmth from him again.

  "Amelia," Mattaki called from outside of the silo, careful not to startle her while she was holding the weapon.

  "Y-yes," Amelia stammered. "I'm ok, you may come in." Mattaki stepped through the door and caught Amelia's eyes in an intense stare. My God, Amelia thought, those eyes look right into me every time. He closed the distance between them in a single stride and grabbed the weapon from her hand. "It was not smart to give you a weapon before I have properly trained you on how to use it, but I had to be sure you could protect your person." Mattaki explained, touching a button and powering down the small weapon. Despite herself, Amelia had to take a deep steadying breath standing so close to Mattaki now. As if her previous thoughts were written across her face, Amelia's pale skin flushed deep crimson looking up to Mattaki's lips. She turned her face away so he would not see her blush, but it was too late. "Why do you do that," Mattaki asked.

  "Do what," Amelia asked, still not making eye contact with Mattaki.

  "With your skin. Normally, you are very pale, but sometimes your skin flushes like you have a fever."

  "It's called blushing," Amelia explained through a sheepish smile. "Human's flush when they feel….um…." she stammered.”Well lots of things actually."

  "What sort of things?"

  "Embarrassment, mostly. Or excitement, anger."

  "And which of these do you have now," Mattaki asked, so close to her she could feel his body heat. Amelia forced herself to look up at him. His mouth was pulled to one side in a bit of a smirk, making her wonder if he was well aware of what she was feeling. It was a bit unsettling feeling she could not hide her emotions from him, but it was oddly comforting and exciting as well. The thought of someone knowing the deepest parts of herself she had kept hidden for so long, and them still wanting her, was a feeling like no other. Amelia turned her back to Mattaki to try and right herself. Mattaki walked up close behind her, nearly enveloping her with his massive presence. He pushed her long red hair to the side and nuzzled the flushed pink skin between her neck and shoulder. "And which of these, do you have now Amelia," he repeated. She could feel his warm breath blowing fire across every pore of body. Despite herself, Amelia rocked back on her heels and against Mattaki. Every part of her wanted to push against him until he bent her over and took her right there. Her pussy contracted involuntarily and throbbed so hard she whimpered.

  Mattaki took Amelia's wrists and pinned her against the wall of the silo and growled close to her ear. He had the answer he had been searching for since his Walk. Amelia, his fated one, desired him as well. This blush of the humans was like his Nacresscence, and she glowed pink all over for him. She would be his when the time was right.

  Amelia took several cleansing breaths to try and get her thoughts together. She could feel his warmth pushing into her again and traveling through her nerve endings to every part of her body. She closed her eyes and felt it spread over her in a wave. The tension in her shoulders and stomach relaxed and she felt awash in peace. They stood like that for a long moment, calming themselves. Everything they needed to say passing between them wordlessly. It was not the time. They were no longer alone, but when they were, Amelia was ready to run the biggest experiment of her life with Mattaki.

  "Come, meet my father and brother," Mattaki said stroking the side of Amelia's cheek with the back of his fingers. "They bring news from the Hive."

  Chapter 13

  Joshur looked like a weathered mountain, Amelia thought, scarred but unmovable. If she had to draw a picture of the scariest, most intimidating powerful warrior on an entire planet, Joshur would be it. He was as tall and broad as Mattaki with muted darker magenta skin. He face had long pinkish scar from his cheek down to his neck and Amelia was certain his jaw was carved out of pure marble. His eyes seemed lighter than Mattaki's but just as intense. Like the great leaders of Earth, his very prescence made her stand straighter and at full attention. He stared at her, nostrils flaring as if he were angry with her over some unknown insult. It was then she remembered him from the platform back at The Hive. She had a flash of shaking his hand, before chaos erupted, but she could not trust her memory of that day. Mattaki had told her on the walk back to the lodge that he would most likely stand silent for a brief time, as was their custom as warriors when meeting a new person. It was a way of deciding who was a friend and who was a possible enemy. Enemies tended to be uncomfortable with silence, but friends, with nothing to hide, would not be uncomfortable. That had to be a Mari-Ursian trait, she thought, because she had never been more uncomfortable in her life.

  "What do you call yourself," Joshur asked in perfect English.

  "Amelia," she answered, be damned if she would stammer this time.

  "I am Joshur, High Commander of all the warriors of Mari-Ur. This is my second son, Ninurta," he said gesturing to the smaller warrior. Though his words were polite, his tone did not agree. Joshur sounded more like he was reading from a list than introducing himself. Ninurta for his part smiled broadly and extended his hand awkwardly, palm up. Amelia took his hand and gave it a few pumps as a hand shake. Ninurta smiled even bigger and nodded, pleased to learn the human greeting from an actual human. He was not quite as tall as Mattaki, much thinner, but still close to six feet five and imposing. Amelia noticed his Nacresscence was more jagged than Mattaki's, and did not glow like the other two Mari-Ursian warriors.

  "It is nice to meet you," Amelia said to Ninurta.

  "Medha qualet," Ninurta asked looking at Mattaki.

  "Qalat lak rayihat mithi almaeiz," Mattaki answered him. Ninurta threw his head back in laughter and slapped his brother on the shoulder. "Ninurta does not yet speak the human language. He has not had training at the Academy as of this time," Mattaki explained to Amelia.

  "We brought this," Joshur said holding out a small card like apparatus. Amelia looked from the card to Mattaki, who was clenching his teeth.

  "Is it a good concept, can it not be tracked," Mattaki asked.

  "This has been programmed at the Academy by a trusted advisor," Joshur offered. Mattaki considered this for a moment and took the communicator from him. Turning to Amelia he applied the communicator to her tunic. To her amazement, the card seemed to adhe
re to the fabric by some sort of static electricity. It reminded her of the card Ellenaki used on the ship to scan her. She wondered if there were different cards for different things. She wanted to touch the card and figure out what the thing was. "I have many functions, do you wish to hear a list," a disembodied voice spoke in Amelia's head, causing her to yelp in surprise.

  "It is the communicator," Mattaki explained. "Do not be alarmed. It will translate what we say so we can all communicate. I will explain it later. "

  Joshur motioned for everyone to sit, taking his own seat at the head of the table. "The attack on The Hive was as we expected. It was executed by the Scincidians, with assistance from internal factions who disagree with the Reaping. There were many casualties, both Human and Mari-Ursians. Additionally, there are three other Earth Ambassadors and warriors unaccounted for." A palpable silence spread across the table as Joshur and Mattaki stared at each other.

  "What about Earth," Amelia asked. "Where are the rest of the Humans?"

  "The Reaping has been halted for now. We managed to acquire the ship with the Ambassadors, the first transport ship of 100,000 Scientists, but the larger transport ship of one million was attacked. The cryostasis pods were ejected before all was lost, but we have not been able to retrieve them. After that, it was agreed: ships full of humans are too easy of a target. It would be like leading them all to slaughter."

  "But what if we are facing our extinction, are you only going to leave them all there to die," Amelia asked incredulous.