“So the other two are your actual siblings, true sisters, not just a name you use to relate to each other?”
“Yes, we are siblings, chosen by the previous queen mother to spend our life in the service of her daughter.”
I pondered her words for a few seconds. “Just remember, this room is the great equalizer,” I said, gesturing around us. “In here, her shit is no better than yours.”
She laughed, and I figured I should shut up. Talking smack about untold millennia of culture could lead to problems I didn’t need.
“She told us that you say the strangest things sometimes, and it takes her a while to understand your meaning,” she told me.
I untangled myself from her hug and washed my hands and face. “I guess that’s true, there are a lot of things I am bad at,” I admitted. “It’s true, I have no skill as a diplomat. While your life maybe normal to you, it sounds like slavery to me, but not totally. I’m not educated enough to understand it. Taz should be traveling and learning new things about the universes we all live in, with people who can educate her properly on cultures, those who would be interested in your culture and history. She doesn’t need to be lowering herself to my level, or the level of my band of misfits.”
“You do not know our queen if you think she would enjoy traveling with a ship full of scholars and diplomats. That would be her mother, but not Queen Tazleaha. She seeks adventure, and if that means danger and battle, then all the better.”
“I see that in her, but I was just pointing out that as a queen, having the proper knowledge of a culture would be important,” I re-emphasized.
“One more thing, and quickly,” she said. “They are stirring. My sisters and I are not just her attendants, we are also her personal body guards. Our training began the minute we were placed in her service. She is not ever supposed to travel without us, but she did, and it has caused some controversy. I say this in case it is brought up by anyone in your presence.”
“Okay, I’ll remember,” I told her. “Can you get me a robe or something to wear, as well as for yourself.”
“Yes, right away,” she said. “Much to all our disappointment.”
Chapter 39
We were not going to take the same route the Claymore had taken, simply because there was no one chasing the Nas Et Nass. The Trillond either didn’t know we were out here or didn’t care. I began formulating a different plan than what Aisling and I had talked about. —one that would save time, and she wouldn’t be there to be involved in it. That might piss her off, but if I kept my promise not to hurt anyone, then maybe she would get over it.
Taz spent the day in meetings, covering in-depth some of the situations that had been glossed over while she was away. Her list was not extensive, but it was going to involve some traveling if she was going to take care of the situations in person. I managed to get a few minutes with her to talk about my plan and get her approval.
“I think it would work out better if we plot a course for the Warhammer and arrive before the Claymore, I explained to the crowd around the table. “I could assemble a team of my people and yours and secure the Warhammer, quickly locking up any troublemakers in the brig.”
“My queen, we should set course for Cjittan and leave these strangers with their own kind in Allond space. What they do after that is not our concern,” the chief engineer responded.
“There are matters that involve you that have been neglected in your absence,” the captain agreed.
Taz sat like a boulder, staring off into space. Whatever her thoughts contained, her face didn’t betray her. No one else at the table had anything to add, except the colonel, whose soldiers were stationed on the Nas Et Nass.
“It would be good to be a part of this mission the human proposes. My men grow bored and my soldiers are hungry, they would relish some action,” the colonel said.
“Enough! Set the course for the Warhammer, this detour will not take long, and then we can continue on homeward,” Taz ordered, looking for someone to argue with her.
“Yes my queen, I will instruct the navigator immediately,” the captain said.
“Benjamin, why don’t you wait for me in our room. I will be along shortly,” Taz said softly.
I stood and walked out, acknowledging no one as I left. I didn’t think it was worth making an issue of being dismissed. I heard footsteps moving fast behind me, but I kept walking. They fell in on either side of me.
“We were told to be your escort when we are not needed by our queen.”
“Great, feel free to tag along, except for when I need some privacy,” I said. “Got it?”
“Queen Tazleaha has instructed us to teach you our names, and has ordered that you are not to give us stupid human names.”
“She what?” I said. “She knows I’m lazy and could care less about learning the names of individuals of other species. Just for that, I’m calling you April, May and June.”
“They sound like nice names, but you will bring her wrath down on your head if you don’t at least try to learn these. I am Romoc, my sister here is Crnaca, and our other sister is Lemra.”
“That’s not bad,” I said. “My choices are easier, but if it makes her happy, then so be it. Romoc, does it upset the queen that I call her Taz?”
“I believe that as long as it is in private and not around our people, she finds it acceptable. But your people should know how to address her as well while on the Nas Et Nass. The suitor that you fought used to call her Taz, and she hated it. But she does not when you say it,” Romoc explained.
“Yes, Benjamin. That should tell you something, should it not?” Crnana pointed out.
“Well, she hasn’t complained, which is amazing. I was just curious if she had shared that with you.”
“Her attitude and how she associates with you and the others in your group is far different than the queen we know. The little things you feel slighted by are nothing when compared with the iron hand that rules her people,” Romoc said.
“You can go now,” I said, gesturing to the door I had stopped at.
“No, we are to stay with you,” Crnana added. “We will not disobey our Queen on your word.
“Look, I’m just going to exercise and work out some of the stiffness. I don’t think you’ll be needed for anything, so go relax somewhere and come back in a couple hours.”
“She said you would argue and show resistance, and that we were not to back down,” Romoc said.
“Okay, you can come in, but stay out of the way. I wouldn’t want you to get hurt.”
You wouldn’t have known you were on a starship when you went through the doors to Taz’s quarters. Any other living quarter on a ship was metal covered with metal.
Like the armor she wore the day I first day I met her, silver and gold adorned the walls, as well as a deep crimson red. Like her bed, there was furniture covered in thick padding and soft leather. The lighting was ornate and the designs on various pieces of trim around the room were inspired by insects. Go figure.
I saw no pictures of family or friends. I thought there might be a picture of Taz’s mother or her as a child. I couldn’t say much, though. I only owned a few pictures of my family, and they weren’t on display either. I went to the bedroom to strip down and put on my thermals, which had been washed and returned. I just wanted to stretch and work out some of the kinks. Whatever had broken inside me was on the mend; the nanites started repairs immediately after I hit the ground. That plus the time in the tank with an additional nanite cocktail, and I would be as good as new in another day.
It didn’t take too long to get limber and stretch my back out. Normally it wouldn’t be strange to have someone watching me work out, it happened all the time, but these two seemed to be studying my every move.
“How about we take a walk or a run? This ship is long enough that I could get a couple of miles out of a trip to the end and back.”
“There is nowhere on this ship you can do a run from one end to the other,” C
rnana said.
“Sure there is. I spent a week on one just like this,” I protested. “The lower level has a corridor that runs from one end to the other.”
“Yes, and you are not allowed on the lower level,” Romoc said.
“Well I heard Taz tell the captain that my word is as good as hers. So I’m telling you we are going, or you can stay; your choice.”
“We will restrain you if necessary,” Romoc commented matter-of-factly.
“Ladies, if you start something, make sure you’re able to finish it. All I want to do is go for a run.”
“You cannot go below. It is not allowed, even for you,” Crnana said softly, trying to ease the tension.
“I guess you’ll just have to try and stop me. You have my curiosity piqued,” I said. “It’s a human thing. You say I can’t and won’t tell me why, then I’m gonna do it.”
I was ready for them, and they didn’t even wait for my words to echo off the walls. I caught Crnana in mid-air and threw her across the room. Romoc saw her sister flying and tried to form a new plan of attack, but I had mine already in motion. I charged her and ran right through her on my way to do the same to her sister, who had just stood up.
I wasn’t planning to actually hit either of them if I didn’t have to, but knocking them around a little bit was a different story. I know we would be seeing a lot of each other, and there needed to be a precedent set in place. If I let them get coordinated, I knew it would be harder to finish this quickly and cleanly.
Crnana tried a kick to slow me down. I caught her leg and lifted her off the floor. She punched at my face and my free arm blocked her fist, knocking it away. She had no idea how close the wall was until we hit it. I felt her exhale and loosened my grip so she could slide down to the floor. Turning, I saw Romoc backing towards the door.
“Oh no, you’re not going anywhere. I told you not to start this,” I said. “Some bodyguards you two are. Maybe it’s your other sister who is the tough one.”
“We will get you, have no fear. Count yourself lucky we cannot kill you,” she answered.
She crouched, ready to spring. I feinted like I was going to rush her and stopped, but she didn’t and fell short. I was on the move again; reaching out, I smacked her in the side of the head. It was more insulting to her than hurtful, and really pissed her off, which was what I wanted. I could hear Crnana moving around behind me and decided to take care of Romoc first. A leg sweep put her on her ass, and in the same motion I was up and running out the door.
I ran past several crewmembers. They were shocked at my behavior by the looks on their faces. Like I cared. I found a lift with the door open and jumped inside. I scared the hell out of some poor Cjittan crewman, although in this case I couldn’t blame him.
“I want to go down to the lower levels,” I told him. “Can you take me there?”
“I am not permitted,” he said, looking frightened.
“Okay, well show me what to do, then. I will do it and you will not be responsible,” I said.
He pointed at a spot on the screen and I touched my finger to it. He nodded and I felt the lift dropping.
“If you run into the queen’s body guards. don’t tell them you saw me, okay?”
“I will try to evade their questions, but no promises. Are you the queen’s betrothed?”
“What? Betrothed? Not yet, or at least I don’t think I am.”
“You mean you don’t know?” he said, surprised. “Well, it is said that you are.”
“Damn. Are there any escape pods down here?” I joked.
“You would try to escape your responsibility?”
“It’s called a joke. You people need to get a sense of humor button on that damn regen tank and jump in.”
The door opened and I stepped out. “Thanks,” I said. “If it comes down to it, tell them I forced you to take me here. They’ll believe you.”
I turned and walked down the corridor. It looked familiar and smelled even more so. Sight, smell, and now sound. I stood and listened to chittering and chirping, clicking and clacking. I knew what was down here.
The cages were lined up by species, and in this case there was no arena, so all the space was utilized more efficiently. The beetles were first. They were quiet until I got closer, and then they got excited. Fresh meat does that to caged critters. I kept walking and saw things I wasn’t sure were even insects.
I would have to ask later, because they looked formidable and might be something I was interested in for a later date. The mantis cages were next. There were at least twenty of them, and I wondered if there were any telepaths among them. I didn’t have to wait long. The group closest to the bars were vibrating their wings, and it seemed they were agitated. I saw them parting and letting one from the rear approach.
We know who you are, it said, cocking its head to one side.
You know me, then tell me — are we friend or foe? I asked.
We are friend. You are an honorable warrior who has proven to many of our kind your worth.
It reached out and rested one of its front legs on my shoulder. I reached in and scratched it between the eyes, just like I do Imelda. I heard the sound of running feet and glanced over my shoulder. A lone crewman was running towards me with his weapon drawn.
“You get away from there! Are you crazy?” he shouted.
“Yes, I think I am a little crazy. Are you?” I answered.
The whole cage of mantis began to open their wings and vibrate them, some raising up and reaching out with their two front legs.
“Put the weapon away, you’re getting them agitated,” I said.
“You do not give me orders here. I work for the colonel, not some alien trash.”
“Trash, really? You don’t even know me. I can’t let you get them agitated.”
“You take a step and I will shoot you,” he said.
“Then you will be shooting your queen’s betrothed,” I said, using the term the other crewman had used. “What do you think she will do to you? Take a second and think about it while I calm them down.”
I will handle this fool shortly, I told the mantis. Does he treat you properly? I would like to know before I teach him the error of his ways.
He is ignorant and lacks respect, but has not committed any grievous acts against us, it said calmly.
I held up my hands and motioned for them to calm down, which they did. They were going to anyway, but he didn’t know it. The crewman had moved closer while my back was turned, but I knew exactly where he was. The mantis had calmed down for the most part. He was trying to look around me at them.
I turned at a speed he could barely register, wrapped my arm around his, and pulled up, bending his arm in the wrong direction while same time turning him so his weapon pointed down the long corridor. I hit him with my fist once, but hard. His head snapped back and his eyes were rolling in his head before he hit the floor.
“Call me trash, asshole,” I said. Seemed like not all of the Cjittan approved of their queen’s choice of lovers. Taz could deal with them if it happened again. I picked up his weapon and left him on the floor.
I noticed that anger triggered the strength and higher rate of speed I could move at now, just like when I lost it on Athena. When I had been messing with Crnana and Romoc I was no slouch, but it was nothing like speed I had just moved at.
I am going to continue to walk, my friends. Do not harm this fool, it would anger your queen of queens, I told the mantis.
We will do as you ask. There are others who have heard of your exploits with the other soldiers of Cjittan and know of your relationship with Queen Imelda. They may have questions for you.
I will do my best to put their minds at ease if there is a concern.
You should hurry. I sense there are others seeking you, it said.
I took off at a quick pace and turned off the main corridor onto an intersecting one. It had become strangely quiet, and I could hear them trying to revive their crewman.
Hurry
, come this way! something said. I heard a tapping sound and followed it. I came to another intersection and followed the sound, finally arriving at a number of cages containing spiders.
The tapping didn’t stop until I was almost standing right in front of her. I believed it to be a female because of its size. Imelda had once said the females were almost always larger and more ferocious.
“You will tell me of my mother or I will gain my freedom someday and hunt you down,” the voice demanded.
Relax, I said. Imelda is your mother?
Yes.
Are you the new queen?
Yes.
Imelda is happy and safe; she feeds well on our enemies.
Keep her away and safe. It would not be good for her to return.
I do not believe she wants to return. She is happy traveling with us and teaching my daughter how to hunt.
That is good, the spider said, appeased. I sense the approaching two-legs are angered by your visit.
They will get over it, or spend some time in the infirmary, I said. Imelda has never called us two-legs.
It is what we the soldiers of Cjittan call them. We have no care if one is better than the other, they are all the same to us.
But you do know which ones to obey when you are given orders?
Yes, we know by scent. Tell the queen we hunger and tire of eating our dead. This thing they call peace is a terrible thing for the soldiers of Cjittan.
I understand how it would be. I can tell you they are taking action and preparing a place for you to feed, but it will take some more time before they are ready.
We have heard of this. I fear our time is up; our queen and the others approach.
Lean down quickly so that I can touch you.
I was stroking her head and speaking softly out loud to her when they came to a stop behind me. I didn’t turn to look, but there were at least six individuals.
The Chronicles of Benjamin Jamison: No More Lies (Book 3) Page 32
