by S. H. Jucha
“There’s that word,” Priita said. “I saw it last night; or was it this morning? I think my brain’s a little muddled by the lack of sleep. It’s in the vocabulary list as a proper noun.”
“Here’s the person to ask,” Olawale said, as Julien walked down the corridor, whistling.
“Greetings, eminent humans of learning,” Julien said with an expansive air.
After a quick exchange of pleasantries, Priita said, “Julien, I came across the term Dassata, and the crew chief mentioned it in passing. I understand it means peacemaker, but the database lists it as a proper noun.”
“You’re correct in its Dischnya meaning, Priita. However, the soma of Sawa Messa apply the term to only one individual, Alex. It’s their name for him.”
“You mean title,” Olawale corrected.
“No, Olawale. Alex is addressed as Dassata by the Dischnya, and you’ll hear many of our people often refer to him in that manner. For humans and SADEs, the thought of referring to the man as Alex seems inappropriate.”
“What do you call him now?” Nema asked.
“Whatever I feel like at the moment,” Julien replied with a wink, which elicited a round of laughter from the professors.
Alex and the twins came down the corridor side by side. When they stopped in front of the professors, Alex said, “Look who I found,” and neatly stepped aside.
“Hello, my dear friends,” Francis said. Tears welled in the captain’s eyes at the sight of his Sol friends.
Alex and the twins stepped out of the way to avoid the crush of bodies as the professors mobbed Francis.
“A wonderful surprise,” Olawale said to Alex, when the hugging ended and the tears were dried.
“Francis, are you joining us?” Priita asked.
“Yes, I’ve not had the opportunity to visit the spot. In truth, I’m not sure I had the courage. It’ll be much easier in the company of friends.”
“Of course, it will,” acknowledged Priita, linking her arm in the captain’s to enter the airlock.
Ellie piloted the traveler planetside and dropped it not far from the place where the mission’s shuttle was pinned by the Tawas Soma net. Alex led the professors to where the shuttle had rested. The indentation in the ground, marked by the crushed brush, was testimony to the exact spot.
Alex described the events — the warriors’ attack, the mission team taking refuge in the ship, the Dischnya’s metal net robbing the energy of the shuttle’s power cells, the dwindling food and water supply, and, finally, the decision to close the rear ramp, sealing off the air flow.
“Rescue was literally moments too late for Edward and Ullie,” Alex said. “I’m so sorry, my friends.”
Nema stood beside Alex. She took his hand in hers and patted it with the other. “Edward is not to be added to your list of regrets, Alex. He’d be ever so grateful that you rescued his compatriots.”
“I do commend the team’s decision,” Alex replied. “With their limited knowledge of the circumstances, they chose not to escalate tension with the Dischnya by attacking a superior force. Likewise, they chose not to allow the Dischnya access to the technology onboard the shuttle. It was a selfless and courageous move on their part.”
The small group moved on to discussing the steps Alex took after freeing the prisoners from the Dischnya, and what he considered the educational challenges the professors would face.
Alex glanced over Yoram’s shoulder and spotted Pussiro loping their way and thought, Here comes your first challenge, my friends.
Pussiro, who had been out with a group of warriors observing the ongoing work on the nest’s structure, had spotted the traveler landing and hoped to see Dassata.
Alex introduced Pussiro in the simplest of terms and decided it was best to clear the air now. Alex sent on open comm, which alerted the twins, who were unsure of what Alex intended.
“Pussiro, these are the soma of Edward Sardi, who died aboard the traveler that was trapped by your net. They’ve come to grieve at the site of his loss,” Alex explained.
Pussiro was transfixed. During his introduction, his legs had been extended. Now they sank, and the lips of his muzzle trembled.
“Professors, Pussiro is the warrior commander of the Tawas Soma nest. He’s the individual who ordered the warriors to attack the shuttle and trap it with the net. He’s just been told of your relationship to Edward and why you’re standing here.
Now the Harakens resembled Pussiro. They were frozen in place. They’d excitedly come face-to-face with their first Dischnya, only to discover he was responsible for their friend’s death. Lesser individuals might have focused on their anger, but the Sol natives knew where that led. Anger about Earth’s wars and decay had given rise to United Earth, a crushing political system, which they’d fled. Alex had given them an opportunity to live full and productive lives without fear. Mistakes would always be made when individuals, races, countries, or worlds met for the first time. It was what was done after the mistakes were discovered that made the difference between those who valued coexistence and those who prized revenge.
Priita made the first move.
Priita cleared her throat, leaned her head back, and uttered a squeak, which made Pussiro’s eyes widen and wonder what the human was trying to do.
Olawale stepped beside Priita and deep from his heritage, born millennia ago on the African plains, a truly remarkable howl burst forth, which Olawale directed at the sky. The others joined in, doing their best to copy Olawale, and the more they yelled, the better they felt. The howling grew in pitch and volume, as the professors emptied their pain into the sky.
Pussiro’s ears twitched upward. The expression of lament struck a chord deep inside Pussiro, and it called to him. He glanced at Dassata, who nodded toward the group, as if to say, join them if you wish. Pussiro filled his lungs and rose on his hind legs. His howl rose and blended with Dassata’s soma, lamenting the fears and anxieties that created the mistakes of first contact.
Alex let the group empty their pain to Omnia’s bright sky and when they quieted, he laid a hand on each of Pussiro and Priita’s shoulders and smiled. Priita smiled shyly in return, and Pussiro exhibited his rows of sharp teeth, which momentarily concerned Priita.
“Impressive display, isn’t it?” Alex said to the professors. “Get used to it. That’s a Dischnya imitation of a Haraken smile.”
Pussiro went so far as to face each of the others of Dassata’s soma and extend his version of a smile.
“Pussiro,” Alex said, “these soma are here to help the Dischnya learn our ways.” His implant was busy sending translations of everything he said to Pussiro so that the professors didn’t have to struggle with the language.
Pussiro listened to Alex’s translations of his soma, who told of the many ways they could help the Dischnya. When Pussiro finally replied, the group looked at Alex in confusion.
“Did Pussiro say that he wants none of what we offered?” Olawale asked.
“Well done, Olawale, you’re catching on to the language quickly,” Alex replied.
From Pussiro’s perspective, Dassata’s soma exhibited the seemingly universal trait of confusion, the frowning forehead. He chuffed for their attention, stepped next to Alain, and proudly extended to his full height.
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Étienne sent, maintaining a straight face, as the Dischnya towered above his crèche-mate and kept pointing repeatedly to Alain and then himself.
“Is Pussiro telling us that he wants to be in security?” Nema asked.
“My learned colleagues,” Yoram said, interrupting the discussion. “I believe you aren’t assimilating the elements of this entire discussion. Pussiro has been introduced as a wasat, a warrior commander. He sees our escorts as warriors on behalf of Dassata. Pussiro has no need of the domestic training concepts we’ve enumerated. He wishes to be what he has always been, except now in the service of Dassata.”
The other professors looked to Alex, who said, “Yoram got it in one.”
Olawale started to point at Pussiro, but Alex locked the professor’s arm via his implant, overriding Olawale’s movement.
“That’s an unusual experience,” Olawale said, when Alex released him. The professor lowered his arm and looked questioningly at Alex.
“Let’s not strain relationships this early, people,” Alex said. “No pointing with fingers or toes. They’re aggressive expressions. Indicate a Dischnya by turning your hand palm up and keeping it low … no higher than the Dischnya’s clawed feet. You’ll learn other restrictions over time.”
Olawale pulled up his Dischnya vocabulary and did as Alex instructed. Letting his implant drive his speech, he said to Pussiro, “Wasat, warrior commander.”
Pussiro chuffed in reply and lowered his hind legs.
“Dassata warrior?” Pussiro asked, unsure of whether the soma understood he was asking a question. He strode to stand beside Alex, and he repeated in passable human language, “Dassata warrior.”
* * *
Nyslara ventured from the nest for the first time since her birthing. The heir had progressed from mewling to pup and would respond to Pussiro, who watched over her. She pressed the button on the comms station and was soon in touch with Dassata. She chuffed in pleasure at the workings of the alien tool. Communicating to another leader, wherever he or she might be located, at the touch of a device appealed to her.
“Dassata, I would speak with you and your soma who would teach the Dischnya.”
“It’s good to hear your voice, Nyslara. I hope the heir is well.”
“Dassata’s concern is appreciated. The heir has become part of the soma.”
“I’m pleased to hear that, Nyslara. I will gather my soma, and we’ll be planetside soon.”
Nyslara waited with Nafalla, the midwife, beside her for the return of the nest’s emissary, who was sent to fetch Homsaff. The young queen had communicated to Nyslara that she too wished to speak with Dassata. It wasn’t long before Homsaff was seen loping across the plains with her wasat beside her.
Nyslara chose to visit her nest’s new domicile, while they waited for Dassata to arrive. Tawas Soma warriors sought to accompany Nyslara, and she waved them off. A short bark underlined her request and quickly wiped the confusion from their brows, as they leapt to attention. Homsaff took advantage of the moment by issuing a strong command to her wasat.
As the three females strode away, the wasat and warriors exchanged dubious looks. It was unheard of to have two queens unaccompanied on the plains and together too.
The females experienced a liberating freedom, crossing the plains without escorts, enjoying the wind cooling their fur and the brush of grasses against their limbs. This is the Dischnya’s future, Nyslara thought, and she swelled with pride at what she’d help to bring about.
Investigating the nest’s new domicile, Nyslara witnessed many of the facilities being installed that she’d seen aboard Dassata’s ship. They wouldn’t be operational until Dassata’s soma completed the installation that she understood would bring water from the green. She’d wondered who had been brave enough to enter the green to draw the water until it was explained to her that the soma would tunnel through the ground to tap water reservoirs. “Much safer,” Nyslara had commented.
A shuttle landed, while Nyslara, Homsaff, and Nafalla were examining the food dispenser being installed. One of the soma gestured to them and said, “Dassata,” pointing to the exit.
Nyslara chuffed, marveling again at the means by which Dassata’s soma communicated with their minds. But do I want that for my soma? Nyslara asked herself.
Alex and the professors waited for Nyslara in the shade of the traveler. Harakens had asked him if he’d considered using Rainmaker to freshen the atmosphere with more moisture, and Alex had replied that the Dischnya preferred the drier conditions, and that the great belts of forests to the north and south needed no more water.
When Olawale wondered why Alex’s city center wasn’t situated within the forest, he sent them a link to Z’s data of his time searching for the dangerous species that haunted the Dischnya. After the Haraken professors watched sections of the vids, it effectively ended the discussion and permanently dissuaded the Sol natives from thinking of venturing in that direction.
Alex pointed out to the professors the three Dischnya exiting Nyslara’s new housing unit. The group watched the three females cross the grassy field with easy, running strides. The usually brown grass and shrubs were starting to green and bloom from recent, sparse rains.
“Are those tails?” Nema asked, watching the females approach.
“All Dischnya have them at birth. The males have them truncated in a ceremony when they choose to be hunters or warriors,” Alex replied. “A word to the wise, my friends, you can tell much about a queen’s mood by the movement of her tail, and, by the way, it’s also an extremely effective weapon.”
After introductions, Nyslara spoke right to the point, “Dassata, we must discuss your school.”
“Nyslara, with all due respect, these are the soma who will conduct the school. You need to discuss your concerns with them, and I will facilitate the translations.”
“No, Dassata,” Nyslara replied adamantly. “Concerns must first be addressed to you. In your school, queens and soma of many nests will mix. This can’t be accomplished by your spray. Emile must solve this problem before school begins.”
When Alex translated Nyslara’s request, Storen, the xenobiologist, became fascinated, as did Boris Gorenko, whose field of study was human medicine.
“A nest’s soma are transfixed by the scent of their queens,” Alex explained. “They’re confused by the scent of another queen and could become fixated on her. Furthermore, if soma are without the scent of a queen for a prolonged period, they suffer an emotional withdrawal of some sort, although we’ve been careful to ensure that didn’t happen.”
“When did you have the opportunity to separate a queen from her people?” Storen asked.
“Twice for their Fissla, a queens’ conference; twice when we brought Nyslara into orbit; and once when we transported three queens to Sawa,” Alex replied.
Alex’s new Dischnya words sent the professors pulling up definitions from their database. “You took the queens to their home world?” Storen asked. “We missed a marvelous opportunity,” the xenobiologist lamented.
“You’re correct, Nyslara,” Alex said. “I’ll request Emile find a permanent solution for the soma’s needs.”
Nyslara dipped her head in acknowledgment of Alex’s reply. “Now, Dassata,” she said, “whom do I speak to about the school?”
“This is the school’s leader, Nyslara,” Alex replied, motioning Olawale forward.
When Olawale drew close to the Nyslara, the queen leaned forward and sniffed, and Alex hid his smile.
“Not metal soma,” Nyslara commented to Alex.
“No, chona,”
Alex agreed.
“His color is pleasing,” Nyslara added, admiring Olawale’s dark skin. “Your school will need help, Olawale. It must instruct the soma in different ways. There are preferences.”
“That’s the purpose of a school, Nyslara, to teach the soma what they wish to learn,” Olawale replied or, rather, it was the translation Alex delivered to the queen after translating Olawale’s reply.
“Some soma wish to learn the ways of your healing … to do what was done for Dassata and at my birthing,” Nyslara explained.
“Medical training,” Boris said, clapping his hands at the translation. “I would love to teach that.”
Nafalla barked in pleasure at the pronouncement.
“Other soma wish to learn Dassata’s ways to care for our structures and the facilities they offer,” Nyslara said.
“This can be done, Chona Nyslara,” Olawale stated formally.
“We have one more concern,” Nyslara said. “Our pups will learn Dassata’s ways, but Pussiro, my mate, is a wasat. He and his warriors know only one way of life, and they’ve had too many years of fighting to learn another. Can you train them to be Dassata’s warriors?”
“It would be difficult for your warriors to learn the ways of our ships, space, technologies, and weapons. Space,” Olawale said, pointing upward, “is a cruel matriarch. She doesn’t forgive mistakes.”
“Can these ways be taught?’ Homsaff asked.
“It’s possible, Chona Homsaff, but it would take time and be difficult for the warriors.”
“Good,” Homsaff chuffed. “I’ll learn these ways.”
“Chona, you’ll learn the ways of a warrior?” Priita asked, surprised and hoping she had translated Homsaff’s words incorrectly.
Homsaff’s tail snapped angrily over her head. “What a wasat can do, a queen can do better!” she declared.
“You’ve heard our requests, Olawale,” Nyslara said, rising on her hind legs. “When do you begin teaching the soma?”
Olawale was taken aback at the pace of the conversation. He and his people intended their first visits planetside to allow them to become familiar with Omnia’s physical environment and visit the site where Edward lost his life. Instead, their second encounter with the Dischnya had turned into a planning session with queens. Better said, it’d become an opportunity for the queens to make their demands. Olawale turned to Alex, and his eyes appealed for help.
