by Astra Lynne
"So, that is how it is? Humans treat themselves and their planet with disrespect and you expect someone else to come in and make all of the sacrifices," Joshur leaned back in his chair and sneered at Amelia. "Typical Human."
"That's not what I meant," Amelia backtracked. Admittedly, humans had been the worst to their planet, she could not deny that, but if there was something the Mari-Ursians could do to help, wouldn't they?
"You realize, saving Earth, will come at a great sacrifice from the Mari-Ursian people? Humans will be of no use in their own defense. It will all be left to my people to save you from enemies you do not even know exist. As a father, I will be asked to send my sons and the sons of fathers everywhere, to wage a war for a planet many galaxies away. And for what? To give you a second chance to destroy it all again? For me, that is not a decision to make lightly."
Amelia folded her hands in her lap and dropped her eyes. All this time she had been selfishly assuming, even with what Ellenaki had told her, even with the events at The Hive that the Reaping and subsequent saving of the human race, was a relatively easy, albeit enormous, undertaking. She had not considered the sacrifices of the Mari-Ursian in terms of war. She felt silly and selfish. Mattaki placed a comforting hand on Amelia's shoulder, sending his warmth coursing through her. Unknown to both of them, Joshur and Ninurta exchanged questioning glances with each other.
"We should make our way back to the Hive at the end of the Lep," Joshur commanded. Mattaki opened his mouth to protest, but Joshur raised a commanding hand to silence him. "I'm afraid that is an order from your High Commander, not your father. Amelia will need to regroup with the other human Ambassadors. You two will need to be available to your brethren. Your mother and sister are coming here underground with their security detail for their own safety. We will wait for them to arrive and then we will return to the Hive." Joshur rose in such a way as to indicate he was not willing to discuss it. Ninurta and Mattaki rose and bowed in deference of their Commander silently as he stalked away.
"That went well," Ninurta said at last, sitting back down and drinking his ale.
"Have you been to The Hive brother," Mattaki asked at last.
"Yes, my unit was brought in right after the attacks to assist with keeping order," Ninurta began. "The dead were still being taken out. So many families." Ninurta shook his head sadly at the thought. "Four from your unit are still missing."
"Do you know the names," Mattaki asked.
Ninurta shook his head, "Father will not tell me anything. He thinks he is protecting me, as if I will merely go back to the Academy and life will go back to normal."
"You will go back to the Academy. Your training must continue. Now more than ever it is of vital importance."
Amelia rose. She needed to lie down. Her heart, despite Mattaki's comforting touch, was heavy and burdened. Mattaki and Ninurta stood as well, as was their custom. "Amelia," Mattaki began.
"I just need to lie down. It's been an eventful day," Amelia excused herself and hurried to her room. Once she was alone, she allowed the hot tears to finally, cathartically, spill down her cheeks. She was both tired of crying and tired of trying not to cry. She must allow herself to feel the sadness and sense of loss, the fear of the unknown, and the pressure of what was expected of her. Asking why these things were happening to her was getting her nowhere. Concerning herself with details out of her control was getting her nowhere. The constant worry over trivialities was getting her nowhere. People were dying to save her and those like her, while she fretted and wrung her hands like a doddering fool. She could not be that fool any longer, she told herself. Tonight, she would have her cry if she needed it, but in the morning, she would be what the people of Earth needed her to be, and what Ellenaki believed her to be. Tomorrow, she would dedicate herself to being the Ambassador her people needed.
Chapter 14
Amelia's newfound resolve and dedication to her Ambassadorship did not go unnoticed by Mattaki. Instead of staring out of the windows for hours at a time and trying her best to be inconspicuous, Amelia was asking questions and hanging on every word he, Ninurta and Joshur said. She questioned things she did not understand. She asked for assistance in using the communicator, not quite grasping the technology that allowed the small card to read her thoughts. Occasionally, she would begin to ask a question, stop mid sentence and stare out of the upper corner of her eyes before exclaiming "Nevermind," and tapping the communicator. This amused Ninurta greatly, but annoyed Joshur to no end. If Amelia was aware of Joshur's annoyance, she chose to ignore it. She was bold in her pursuit of every bit of knowledge she could glean from the communicator or the three of them.
"Does she know," Joshur asked, taking a seat next to Mattaki and nodding in Amelia's direction where she stood staring out of the window. He placed a mug of warm ale in front of Mattaki and took a large gulp of his own.
"Know?"
"So you wish to play it coy? Very well, I see how you follow her every step with your gaze. You are more alert to her every whim than you are the orders of your battalion leaders. Your Nacresscence burns hotter than the sun each time she looks at you. But most importantly, you could have saved so many at the Hive, but you saved only one. Her," Joshur tipped his cup in Amelia's direction.
Mattaki bristled at how easily his father could read him. Though logically he knew he could trust his father, in his heart he dared not trust Amelia's safety to anyone. It gave him great pause to consider his father would not accept Amelia as his Fated One and if he did not, what that would mean for their relationship and his service as a Warrior.
"I saw her on my walk," Mattaki admitted quietly, letting the words hang between the two of them. "I told her she was my Fated One. But Humans do not have fated ones. She does not understand all that it means, and there has been no time to fully explain it to her."
Joshur sat quietly contemplating what Mattaki said. His nostrils flared and his Nacresscence glowed hot beneath his tunic.
"You are angry," Mattaki said.
"I am concerned," Joshur managed in reply. "Have you told anyone else? Your brethren?"
"No one else," Mattaki said shaking his head and fighting to control his rising anger.
"Good," Joshur said downing the last of his ale. "Keep it silent for now."
"You disapprove," Mattaki said accusingly, losing the ability to control his disappointment in his father.
"I do not disapprove. I do not know her well enough to disapprove of her." Joshur's voice was sharp, commanding but carefully controlled.
"Then what is it," Mattaki demanded, his voice rising.
"Watch your tone warrior," Joshur commanded. "You are my son, but you are also my subordinate. I am fated to your mother so I will grant you a small understanding, but do not test me." The two warriors sat silently for a moment to regain their composure.
"You would do well to control your emotions," Joshur advised. "These are troubling times. I do not know what is to be expected from it all." Joshur stared past Mattaki, as if watching something unseen. "I fought in wars and conflicts all of my youth, thinking I could end all of them. When you were born, I could not bear the thought of sending you to a war. Every battle, every scar, every sleepless moon cycle, I gave everything I had as a man, as a warrior, in the hopes you would never have to fight. Now, with the humans, I am facing the greatest fight of my life: sending you to War, and I do not know if I can do this."
Mattaki softened at his father's words. "I apologize for my impetuousness father." Joshur smiled and clasped Mattaki on the shoulder.
"I do not know how others will accept your situation. If it is well known, what little protection I can give you may not be enough."
Mattaki nodded at his father's logic.
"Mattaki, will you take me outside today," Amelia asked from across the room. Mattaki looked to Joshur and Ninurta, both of whom looked at their communicators and nodded their approval to Mattaki. "Yes, we may go out today." Mattaki fought to suppress a smile when he though
t of having time alone with Amelia again. Now that they were soon going back to the Hive, he did not know when they would have the opportunity again. "Great, I will be ready in two minutes," Amelia exclaimed as she darted off to her room. Mattaki did not know what a minute was but was certain he would wait any measure of time.
When Amelia reemerged from her room, she had changed into another of Nala's tunics. Unlike anything she had ever seen on earth, the light blue garment was made out of a liquid like fabric that seemed lit from within. She had found a length of gold rope and fashioned it into a belt, fitting the fabric closer to her body. "I am ready," she stated, nearly sneaking up on the three warriors. Each of them turned and eyed her curiously. Joshur cleared his throat and Ninurta immediately turned his head away. Mattaki, however, could look at nothing else. He stared at how the fabric hugged all of her unusual and fascinating curves, thinking how attractive her differences from Mari-Ursian women were. At last he nodded and led Amelia to the door.
Amelia stepped into the brightness of the sunlight and took a deep breath. She thought of the sunlight, the way it seemed brighter, the colors seemed more saturated and wondered what type of star Mari-Ur had. "Mari-Ur rotates around a white supergiant star. Earth Scientists had not plotted the stars in this galaxy; therefore there is no equivalent name for this system. The sun is referred to as Utu on Mari-Ur" The communicator had the ability to read her thoughts and answer her questions immediately. It was a bit disconcerting. She did not yet know how to control it and felt a bit like she was walking around with the know-it-all friend. "Is there some way to turn this off," Amelia asked Mattaki. "I'd rather just ask you my questions if you wouldn't mind." Mattaki reached over and touched the communicator. A blue light flickered and died and Amelia could feel a quietness return to her thoughts.
"That's much better," Amelia smiled up at Mattaki.
"You seem different this day," Mattaki said, returning to his imperfect English.
"I had an epiphany," Amelia reasoned.
"I do not know this word Epi-fiony?"
"It means I had a realization," Amelia explained. "I've been so busy wrapped up in how all of this inconveniences me, I didn't bother to think how many lives, both human and Mari-Ursian, were at stake. I feel I owe it to our people to do my duty as an Ambassador. I'm still afraid, I'm still unsure what is expected of me, but I'm tired of being afraid. I'll figure it out as I go."
"Courage is not the absence of fear but the triumph over it," Mattaki said with a smile.
"You are familiar with the words of Nelson Mandela? Impressive," Amelia raised an eyebrow and smiled broadly at Mattaki.
"I studied several of your planet's great philosophers during my time at the Academy. When I learned I would be assigned to The Hive, I immersed myself in learning much."
They walked along in silence for several more moments. "That plant looks like something we ate just a few nights ago," Amelia observed, pointing to a bright purplish root plant. "Almost all vegetation is edible," Mattaki explained. "Especially in this area. The desert has some plants that are. . ." Mattaki searched his memory for the correct word before resigning himself to telepathically asking the communicator. "Toxic."
"So I can just reach out and eat anything I see?"
"Yes, the land is very kind to us," Mattaki smiled. He reached past her and plucked a small yellow berry from a tree. "Start with this one," he whispered, placing the berry gently to Amelia's lips. Amelia opened her mouth and allowed Mattaki to feed her. She could feel her heart begin to pound and her stomach flutter. She wondered if feeding someone was as intimate of an act on this planet as it was on hers. Biting into the berry caused an explosion of juice tasting like a spicy grape and filled her nostrils with the scent of roses and lemons. The juice then began to effervesce and tingle like little explosions. It was a full body experience and made her squeal with delight. "That's amazing," Amelia exclaimed, immediately reaching for another. "What are these called?"
"Ladhiqua berries. Do not eat too many, they will give you a pain in your head." Mattaki could not help but chuckle at the look on Amelia's face. Her already large and green eyes wide with surprise made her look even more beautiful.
"What are some of your favorites," Amelia asked.
"The Jeki flower," Mattaki answered, remembering the day before when she licked the nectar from his finger and sent explosions coursing through his body. He could tell she remembered as well when she smiled innocently and flushed a deep pink.
"Come, I will show you others." Mattaki took her hand and lead her through the dense growth of jungle. She took two quick steps for each of Mattaki's long strides. He was surefooted as if he had explored this area a thousand times. She had to admit it was endearing to think he wanted to show her as much as he could.
Just before Amelia was about to cry for mercy and a short breather, they came upon a small clearing. "It is just over there," Mattaki said pointing to a wall of unremarkable vines. Amelia could barely catch her breath and placed her hands on her knees to rest. "Amelia, you are tired, I will carry you on my shoulders," Mattaki said with concern.
"No," Amelia protested. "It's ok; I just need a breather, just give me a sec."
"I do not understand these words." Mattaki lifted Amelia onto and over his shoulder before she could protest again.
"You know we are really going to have to talk about this cave man thing you do," Amelia screamed through gasps of breath.
"We may discuss anything you like."
Mattaki pushed through the wall of vines effortlessly. At last he sat her on her feet and held her while she steadied herself. The area was so thick with vegetation, there was barely any light penetrating, save the soft blue glow of Mattaki's Nacresscence. She looked up into his blue black eyes and ran her hands across his shoulders longer than she intended, but she was lost in the warmth pushing into her hands. It calmed her heart rate and slowed her breathing. It was unexplainable, but when she was near him, she could feel her anxiety and worry melt away. "Do you do that on purpose," Amelia asked in a whisper.
"What do you mean?"
"Make me feel . . . calm, and warm," Amelia clarified, running her fingers lightly over Mattaki's glowing Nacresscence.
"I am not doing this with purpose. But I am glad I make you calm and warm."
Mattaki broke her gaze at last. He held his hands up to indicate Amelia should wait, then turned and leaped several feet in the air, swatting at a hanging vine. Instantly, the jungle canopy illuminated in thousands of small twinkling lights that reminded Amelia of fireflies. A shock of lavender came to life under the twinkling lights and made Amelia gasp at the sheer beauty of it all. Thousands upon thousands of small lavender berries, literally dripped from vines as far up as Amelia could see. She could feel warmth all around and realized it was warmer there than outside of the canopy. They were in some sort of naturally made greenhouse within the jungle. Mattaki pointed behind her and she saw a small waterfall and pool of water with steam billowing out from it. It was a hot spring she guessed. "It's beautiful," she exclaimed, marveling at the thousand points of tiny dancing lights.
"This is an Eanab canopy," Mattaki explained. "The vines grow in such a way to enclose and insulate an area around a . . . warming pond." Mattaki struggled to find the right words to explain. It would be so much easier if she had her communicator on, but she would not need him to explain it to her, and he liked that she watched him while he spoke. "The steam makes it hot in here, and helps the vine to grow. Great fragrant flowers attract the Narbaq, which pollinates the flowers and causes the berries to grow."
"I've never seen anything so beautiful," Amelia whispered, still awestruck by the amazing beauty of this place. The scent was like that of thick jasmine, and the air tasted sweet when she took a breath through her mouth.
"Here, I will get you some berries," Mattaki said. He took a few running steps and leaped as high as he could, grabbing a vine with both hands. The vines were strong, capable of supporting his weight as he swun
g back and forth several times. Amelia giggled, amused by the contrast of the big fearsome warrior and the playful, youthful look on his face now. She could imagine Mattaki and his brother swinging from vines much like these for hours as children and her heart was full of memories of her own childhood. Both Amelia and Mattaki froze and looked up when a loud crack cut through their laughter. Amelia screamed and went running towards Mattaki, who went flying through the air and into a dark purple bush that sent powder billowing out all over the canopy. Mattaki leapt out of the bush and righted himself as the powder from the bush and petals from the vine rained down around them. "Oh my gosh you scared me, are you ok," Amelia asked breathlessly, coughing and choking on the powder billowing around them.
"I do not know what an OK is," Mattaki said seriously brushing himself off and checking that Amelia was unhurt. Despite herself, Amelia chuckled
"Are you hurt," Amelia corrected.
"No, I am not hurt. Come," Mattaki took Amelia's hand and lead her to a soft clear spot and urged her to sit down. Grabbing the vine he came and sat beside her. "These are my favorite. Eanab is a fruit that grows only in the forest canopy. It makes its own canopy, inside the larger canopy so that it may insulate." Mattaki gestured around the canopy as he twisted the small berries from the vine. He held out his hand to Amelia urging her to try them. The purple, even in the dim light of the canopy, was such a saturation of color as she had never seen. Amelia sniffed the berries, thinking they reminded her of a woodsy strawberry. She popped two berries into her mouth and moaned with pleasure. It was the most intense flavor she could imagine, tasting sweet, tart and creamy all at once. "This is amazing," she exclaimed.
They sat there eating the fruit in a comfortable silence. Amelia enjoyed the warmth created by the hot spring and the dancing lights of the Narbaq. Mattaki's Nacresscence glowed a bright blue and caught Amelia's attention. When she looked at his markings, really looked at them, she noticed the iridescent blue glow seemed to flow like brilliant swirling water. The longer she stared at it, the more relaxed she became. She thought at first it was Mattaki sending his warmth through her, the way he sometimes did, but this felt different. Amelia felt as if she were wrapped in the softest, warmest blanket there ever was. She became aware of each twinkling light of the Narbaq all the way to the top of the seemingly endless canopy. Staring at the lights made her intensely aware of her heartbeat, beating in time to the twinkling lights.
