Windjammer: The Tradership Saga Book 1

by M J Gauntlet

  As soon as the crew of the Windjammer had taken their positions, the Krillians lowered their heads. Their topknot feathers began to slowly rise until they were splayed out majestically a full meter above their heads. They then began to emit a low keening sound that soon filled the room as it rose in volume and intensity. Just as the noise rose to a crescendo so loud Zax, had to force himself not to not cover his ears, it abruptly ceased. A taller than average Krillian nobleman, who was bedecked in a splendid shimmering robe, stepped forward and raised his head as his feathered topknot slowly lowered to lay flat against his skull and back.

  “Gentle beings, we are gathered here today on this sad occasion, to pay homage to the honorable family Crist’takk for premature the loss of members of their lineage. Along with the Crist’takk, represented are the Taskki’takk, the Hristtk’takk and the human crew of the tradership Windjammer and her esteemed Captain Ahosi’takk.”

  The Krillian noble stepped forward and turned to address the Windjammer crew, specifically Captain Ahosi.

  “I am Jurrak’takk head of the Taskki’takk and as head official I will be presiding over this sad occasion. While it is unusual to have an alien species in attendance at these proceedings, it is nonetheless an honor to have all of you present. We thank you for being willing to participate in this solemn ritual, as the delay that would have occurred due to the unfortunate absence of the head of the Sasskka’takk, would have been painful to all. Since you are obviously new to these proceedings and due to their solemn nature, it behooves me to enlighten you as to what is transpiring.

  “Before you, you see the ill-fated clutch of eggs, the future offspring of the Crist’takk, which must be evacuated into the void due to an unfortunate contamination of their shells. The contamination was caused by a new strain of fungi that was able to elude our medical filters and deposited itself on the surface of the eggs. Before it had been discovered and eradicated, the fungus had already compromised the egg casings, causing them to weaken beyond repair.”

  Zax, along with Pilar, was the closest to the rim of the amphitheater and looking down he could see that the surfaces of three of the ovoid shapes were pitted and cratered. The fourth seemed whole and unmarked.

  Captain Ahosi nodded at the Krillian noble’s explanation, but couldn’t help asking the obvious question:

  “Did this fungus effect the growing fetuses inside the eggs?”

  “No, they were untouched, but the effect was just the same as if they were directly affected.”

  “How so?” Zax blurted out without thinking, earning a stern glare from the captain.

  The nobleman seemed nonplussed by the question and turned towards Zax at the end of the line.

  “You see young hatchling, it has to do with the physiology of our species. While we are basically mammalian, our DNA contains a great deal of reptilian genes. We do lay eggs, but we suckle the young after birth. While the embryo gestates within the shell, it reaches a point where it must break through to continue to breathe. This emergence is critical to the final development of the youngling. Certain enzymes, hormones and neural connections are formed during the emergence that will take place only at that time.

  “Each egg is unique and is suited for the embryo it contains. The shell has developed for that individual alone and any compromise in its integrity is ultimately disastrous for the emerging youngling. If the shell is too soft or brittle, there is not enough resistance for the hatchling to develop the necessary hormones and muscle to survive. If the shell is too hard, then there is an over production of critical enzymes that eventually poison the developing nervous system and the hatchling dies.”

  “But couldn’t you just repair the weakened area?” Ahosi said, momentarily forgetting herself.

  “No honorable captain, that simply will not work. The ‘repair’, as you call it, must be an exact match in both hardness and elasticity. If its composition is off by just one micron, the effect is the same as having no reinforcement at all. Since each ovum is unique, there is no universal buttressing that would work.”

  All this time Pilar was staring over the railing at the unfortunate clutch of eggs and then she abruptly turned to face the noble.

  “But noble sir, one of those eggs seems untouched by the pitting. Its shell seems whole. Was it damaged on a microscopic level?” she asked.

  “No little one, you are correct. The fourth ovum is indeed untouched and that is the saddest part of all, for it too must be evacuated along with its siblings.”

  “But…why? Pilar asked, eyes wide.

  “Because when it emerged it would be alone. There would be no other brother or sister to share its existence. If only two of the clutches of four had been affected, then the tragedy would have been lessened for the Crist’takk clan. As it stands, they are to lose all their lineage, for we only produce one clutch in a mating.

  “Surely,” Pilar began, “A civilization as advanced and intelligent as yours has develop a social mechanism for such occurrences. Are there no adoptions or foster homes?”

  There was an uneasy angry stir that swept around the chamber. It was stilled by the Krillian nobleman’s raising his topknot crest to its full height.

  “Brothers and sisters be still,” he said, holding his arms out in a wide sweeping motion, “remember these are our guests and are unfamiliar with our rites, customs and society. Take no offense, for these are beings that are used to living life as singularities. Do not scorn, only pity.” The nobleman then turned to Pilar and spoke very softly and slowly as though speaking to a child.

  “Little one, that is not our way. When forced to live by oneself, we would prefer suicide rather than a continued existence alone. It is our nature.”

  All the while the others were speaking, Zax found himself looking down at the eggs on the floor of the chamber. There was something about them that seemed somehow familiar…it wasn’t the shape…nor their size, it was…

  Absorbed in his thought, Zax’s found himself leaning closer to the railing then his eyes widened suddenly with a recollection and he inadvertently let out a ‘whoop’ that startled everyone in the room into silence. Clamping his mouth tightly shut, he straightened up to become aware that every head in the room had turned towards him, but he was too excited to feel abashed. Stepping forward to face the Krillian noble, all the while trying to ignore the twitch between his shoulder blades as he could feel the cold stare of Captain Ahosi at his back, Zax loudly cleared his throat and stared up into the alien’s golden hawk pupiled eyes and spoke.

  “Please forgive me noble sir, but I believe that I may have a way to save all four of the ova.”

  If Zax had dropped a gravity bomb, it wouldn’t have had the same effect on those in the room as that simple sentence. The topknots of every Krillian in the chamber immediately rose to their full extension, towering above their owners like sea fond agitating the air. Every eye in the room was now fixed on him, including those of the Windjammer’s crew. There was a low mummer of incredulity that filled the air of the chamber and several of those in the entourages took a menacing step forward as alien voices cried out.

  “Hluffkr alk Sakki…”

  “The audacity…”

  “Impossible…”

  “Tkki ki patakk…”

  “How could an eggless singularity possibly…”

  “Grayson be quiet!” Captain Ahosi hissed, between tightly clenched teeth. “You have no idea the trouble you are about to get us all in.”

  “Please…please, noble beings!” Jurrak’takk pleaded, trying to soothe the crowd of his outraged fellows. “I am sure that this fledgling youth means well.” Turning back to face Zax, the official shook his head sadly before he spoke.

  “Young one, it is unlikely that you have come up with a viable solution without ever facing this malady. Especially since you have only seen the ovum from afar. What you suggest, a solution to an age-old problem for our kind, has been attempted by our best physicians and researchers for over a century without
success.”

  Although a little daunted by the audacity of what he had proposed, Zax straightened his spine to look the nobleman directly in his eyes. “That may be so, honorable one, but I believe that there is a resolution to this problem right at hand, and if you would allow me to approach and examine the eggs below, I think I might have a possible treatment for this condition,” he said unabashedly.

  Another murmur of outrage circled the amphitheater, but Jurrak’takk quelled it once more. “It is not for me to resolve this matter. It is up to the clan leader of the Crist’takk to decide.” Turning, Jurrak’takk faced the lead member of the Krillian honor guard that had escorted the Windjammer crew to the chamber. The tall alien stepped forward and lowered his head so that it was within a few centimeters of Zax face and intensely stared into his eyes. The huge golden eyes of the Krillian met the smaller, yet intense golden eyes of Zaxxion and after the briefest of moments the Krillian straightened up and nodded once to Jurrak’takk.

  “Let it be so.” Jurrak’takk commanded, into a deathly quiet chamber. With that, Zax walked over to the ramp leading down to the chamber’s floor and strode over to the clutch of eggs. Being very careful not to touch them, he bent over and scrutinized each of the three damaged eggs carefully. Paying close attention to the pitting and scaring along their surfaces, he nodded as if to himself then straightened and turned to the audience surrounding him.

  “I will need to go back to the Windjammer and retrieve an item or two from my quarters before I begin,” he said firmly.

  “Very well, Zaxxion Grayson you will be provided with an escort to and from your ship. I suggest that you travel with a member of your crew, so as not to unduly upset any who might see you traveling alone. You have only one reelkk, about an hour in your time, to return and attempt this healing. The ceremony must be completed before the end of this revolution.”

  “I understand,” Zax turned towards the Windjammer’s crew, “Would you accompany me Pilar?” Turning to look at Captain Ahosi, Pilar raised a questioning eyebrow. The captain paused a moment, then gave a stiff nod of approval. Seeing this, Zax ascended the ramp, he and Pilar filed in between four Krillians who had detached themselves from the group and walked on either side of the two of them. Zax could feel a distinct change in their demeaner. There was very little ‘honor’ in this guard. Zax wanted to run but could only travel at the pace of his escorts. Sweat began to accumulate on his brow, as they finally reached the boarding ramp of the ship. Zax realized it was possible that what he was depending on might not even be there! So much has happened between the time he left the dry docks on Bright and the present. Throwing protocol to the wind, he left the somewhat surprised honor guard and bounded up the ramp, leaving the startled guard suddenly alone with a single human. Pilar quickly scrambled up after Zax and disappeared through the hatch behind him.

  “Zax! What’s going on?” Pilar shouted, after his rapidly vanishing back. “Do you really think that…”

  “No time to talk Pilar, we are on the clock!” Zax shouted over his shoulder.

  Zax found his stateroom without having to think about the route. Thankfully, he had traveled the ship’s corridors enough to find his way to his cabin without assistance. Palming the door open, he shot through it before it had fully opened, slightly tearing his borrowed dress uniform. Rushing over to the room’s storage closet, he slid it open, yanked his rucksack off the floor and placed in on the table. Only then, did he start to worry about what he had just promised the aliens. It had been so long ago that he sequestered the items in his pack, and it had passed through so many hands, that he wasn’t even sure the items were still in the side pocket. Silently saying a prayer to ancient single god of Old Earth, he unsealed the inner side pocket and ran his hand along its insides. His fingers grasped what he hoped they would find and with an enormous sigh of relief. He resealed the pocket, hefted the rucksack over his right shoulder and dashed back out into the passageway. It wasn’t over yet.

  “Zax, is everything alright? Once the crew passed through the main portal of the colony ship, all contact had been severed. I cannot help but notice that there is an armed group of Krillians at the foot of the main hatchway and both you a crewwoman Pilar seem to be in an agitated state. Is there a problem?”

  “Sorry Windy girl, I can’t stop and take the time to explain, but now me and Pilar must get back to the colony ship as fast as possible. I will be able to fill you in later…I hope.”

  Racing down the passageway, he reached the still open hatchway and motioned for Pilar to follow him back into the colony. Zax did not wait to assume their position between their escort, but rapidly walked ahead having memorized the way. Emitting squawks of surprise and what sounded like indignation, in a flurry of flapping gowns their Krillian escort found themselves scurrying to keep pace with the two humans as they hurried down the halls towards the egg chamber.

  Once Zax had reached the gallery, he descended to the egg floor alone and removed his rucksack ignoring the shocked faces of the aliens surrounding the auditorium. Unsealing the side pocket of his pack, he withdrew two items: a roll of almost transparent plasticine and a UV light projector. Approaching the first ovum he held out his hand, palm first and without touching its surface, he carefully tried to estimate the perimeter of the pitted area. As his hand moved across the egg, he unexpectedly felt a slight tingle as though from a static discharge. Being careful not show this reaction on his face, he continued moving his palm until he was sure he had enclosed the entire disfigured area.

  Satisfied at his guesstimate, he unrolled a length of the thin velum to encompass the affected area and carefully pressed it against the egg. This time, as he came into actual physical contact with its surface, Zax received a stronger shock. Taking care not to betray his surprise, he stepped away and picked up the UV lamp and passed it over the patch. Not waiting to see its effect, he quickly went over to the next ovum in line and repeated the same procedure. By the time he finished applying a patch to the third and last affected egg in line, the surface of the first that had received his administrations had already begun to smooth out and the pitting had completely vanished.

  Before stepping back, Zax went over to the unaffected egg and lightly ran his fingers over its surface, checking for any microscopic breaks or scaring that might have gone unnoticed. Working in the darkness of ion tubes, had given his fingers a heightened sensitivity to even the most minute of weaknesses on a surface. Again, he received a mild shock, but he could neither see nor feel any imperfections. Walking back along the line of eggs, he leaned forward and scrutinized each one in turn and then with a satisfied nod, he finally turned to face his enraptured audience.

  All the time he had been working, the gallery was absolutely silent. When the onlookers realized that Zax was finally finished, a faint murmur went around the audience chamber. Even the crew of the Windjammer had broken protocol and were excitedly talking in low whispers amongst themselves.

  Jurrak’takk separated himself from his clan members and leaned forward. Without addressing either Zax or the rest of the humans, he raised his left arm and spoke Krillian into a wristcom that looked surprisingly like the ones the humans wore. During this time, both humans and Krillians found themselves almost shoulder to shoulder, as they had collectively leaned over the railing, trying to get a better look at what appeared to be a clutch of now, normal eggs.

  A section of the wall in front of Zax slid aside, revealing a passageway, from which four Krillians emerged carrying various instruments and devices. Unlike the gaudily dressed members of the audience, these aliens wore plain unadorned garments, each with an identical badge on their shoulders. Ignoring Zax, they stopped before each of the ovum and began taking measurements and readings. After their initial examination, the three compared their findings, there followed a burst of Krillian language exclamations. With eyes widened in shock and surprise, the four once again approached each egg and this time gave them a thorough examination. They even included the
unmarked and untreated egg in their inspection. Once again, they compared their findings then after a long moment, they turned towards Jurrak’takk and spoke a series of alien sentences. Even though they were speaking in their native tongue, Zax could hear the note of awe in their voices. Jurrak’takk listened intently, then nodded once, slowly.

  Jurrak’takk turned to his fellow Krillians and spoke to them in a low toned voice. Then something unexpected and startling ensued: the air in the room began to fill with a soft crooning. It began as a low vibration that slowly rose in amplitude to where it filled the entire chamber. Quite different from the shrill high-pitched keening of the opening ceremony, this sound was low and melodious, almost reverent in tone. Looking around the rim of aliens, Zax could see the fleshy throat sacks beneath their beaks swell and deflate in rhythm to the soft, almost soothing serenade. The Krillians were now all bowing at their waists, their crest feathers were again fully extended, and all were directed down at the clutch of eggs…no…they were pointing at Zax!

  After about ten minutes, the Krillians began to straighten up and their crown of feathers slowly lowered, to lay once again flat down their spines. The last to resume an upright position was Jurrak’takk. The tall alien quickly cocked his head to one side in a distinctly birdlike gesture, and fixed his golden unblinking eyes upon Zax.

  “Young being, our nursery experts have confirmed that the eggs have fully recovered from their condition and are structurally perfect. They also state that the fetuses within each egg, are healthy and unaffected by whatever it was you applied to their surface. We cannot express the extent of our gratitude. The lineage of the house of Crist’takk has been saved and it seems, you have discovered a cure for a condition that has plagued we Krillians for centuries.”

  “I am very glad to have been able to help. To tell you the truth, I wasn’t sure that my application would work,” Zax replied.