In This Life I Was Loved by You – 6
Things happened so quickly, Justin was barely able to hold it together. He found himself pulled through what he figured was space. When they were far enough away from the planet Tilak, he could hear Brian’s thoughts. But they were so personal and filled with anguish and sorrow at his departure, that he quickly left the mind of his mate. Now wasn’t the time to intrude, though he did send his love, hoping that the thoughts would calm the other man.
Keeping his left hand on his marriage necklace, Justin waited for his arrival on earth. It didn’t take long before he was seeing his world through Keisha’s eyes. He landed directly in front of the big cat as she paced the length of the terrace.
“Father.” Keisha cried, pouncing so she was straddling Justin’s supine body. She began to nose and then lick his face in greeting.
“Keisha, your tongue is too rough, but your nose is soft.” Justin threw his arms around her neck, burying his face in her fur. He loved the clean cat smell and the feel of the thick undercoat that covered his friend. “Where is everyone?” he asked. “We have to leave Earth quickly.”
“I don’t know.” Keisha looked crestfallen for a moment. “They left not long ago. They said Keisha can’t come, Keisha has to wait for father. Father is here now. Keisha is hungry.”
“Time enough to look for prey. Maybe there’s something you can snack on in your cold chest.” Justin said scrambling to his feet.
“I ate it all.” Justin kept a supply of food for his pet in an easy to open refrigerated chest for times when he couldn’t get home to her. “Keisha sad, father gone.”
“It wasn’t your fault, you were drugged.” Justin rubbed behind Keisha’s ears. “There isn’t time to think about this. We need to get to the Siddhartha quickly.” He walked confidently to where his floater was docked, only to find it gone. “Where is it Keisha?” Justin asked. It had never gone missing before.”
“Man took it away.” The cat’s tail twitched. “Bad man, he smell bad. Keisha thinks he taste bad too.”
“Since tasting him isn’t an option, we need to find another way to get to the ship docks. And I’m afraid that Keisha, you are just a bit too noticeable for us to take public transportation.” They’d actually tried taking the public floaters once, but Keisha kept smelling and occasionally tasting with his tongue, various travellers, so they were removed before they reached their destination.
“Justin dear boy, Marilyn is here to help you.” Justin turned at the sound of his friend’s voice. “I hope you don’t mind, I let myself in. Well more I popped myself in, but it’s all good as long as I’m here.”
“I was getting worried.” Justin admitted. “You won’t believe where I’ve been.”
“Oh I think I have a good idea, and look at you my darling boy, you’ve lost your innocence. Was he just the most amazing thing you’ve ever touched?” Marilyn gushed. “I mean, the man has had his way with more men and boys than I can count, but only once mind you. It’s so lovely that you’ve tamed the beast.”
“He was amazing all right.” Justin admitted. “How did you know?”
“Dear me, I do have to keep some secrets to myself. But let’s just say that some mirrors are more interesting than others.” He patted Justin on the shoulder. “No more time for talking I need the two of you to hop into my bag. There’s no time to waste.”
“Your bag?” Justin laughed. “I think we’re just a bit big for that.” Keisha growled and put her head to one side as if considering the request. And then with a pop, both Keisha and Justin found themselves in among a motley assortment of things in Marilyn’s Keisha’s large tapestry bag.
“Just make yourselves at home dears. It won’t be long before we’re on the ship.”
Justin grinned at Keisha who was not pleased with being shrunk smaller than the smallest prairie mouse. She looked around wild eyed for a moment before deciding to relax, curling herself in a protective ball around Justin’s even smaller frame. Keisha wasn’t going to take any chances on father being broken.
On Tilak, Brian packed up the few things he’d managed to rescue from his ship, including the red bag that contained Reggi. “It’s like this.” He explained to the Clan Chief of the Gloinzen, “I’m only going to be miserable waiting around here for Justin to find me. I don’t know how long he’ll be, but I do know it’s going to take at least a month or so. I might as well explore, it’s not like I’ll be back.” He grinned. “Not that you all aren’t great to be with, but you know what I mean.”
“Of course Captain Brian, it is as it should be.” The Chief sat on a bench watching Brian. “We have uploaded some interesting data to your Reggi com to help you in your exploration. And if you don’t mind, we will continue to monitor the activities of your passengers. I’m afraid they are not the kind of creatures we wish to leave alone on Tilak.”
“From what I’ve heard Zuni say, your young ones have taken an interest in the girls.” Brian grinned, tongue in cheek. “Just tell them to be careful when hiding items from the girls as they are vicious if they catch on.”
“We’ve already reprimanded our young.” The Chief smiled gently. “It isn’t polite to tease those who are not as mentally alert as our youngest. I have pointed this out to them and have set them to tasks that will make them recall this life lesson.”
“Don’t be too hard on them Chief, Mel and Linds deserve all they get. I know that Melanie fired on one of yours.”
“Yes, she did and her firearm has now been disabled. She’ll not be doing that again.” He sighed. “There really is nothing on Tilak that will harm either of them, other than themselves. There is no need for firearms.”
“So I needn’t worry about being attacked by wild animals.” Brian said with a laugh.
“There are no wild animals of any size that will be of danger to you.” The Chief hesitated. “There are however people of another race, a more primitive race, but one that is kind hearted and friendly. We have observed them as they progressed in their development over the millennium and you don’t have to fear them. No doubt you’ll come across these people. They are unaware of our existence. We don’t wish to interfere in their progress.”
“No kidding.” Brian turned and looked at the Chief.
“Yes, their skin tone is much more like that of a human, though perhaps if anything, a deeper shade than your own.”
“Black?” Brian asked.
“Hardly black, not even dark brown.” The Chief laughed. “I suppose you’ll just have to see them to know what I mean. It’s an indescribable color.” He jumped down from his perch. “Oh, and one other thing that you may find amusing, is their sex. They are of both sexes in one body.”
“Excuse me?” Brian blinked.
“Yes, it puzzled us at first, not being sure which was male and which female. The gender roles are non-existent. They are who they are, male, female, who knows.” The small man shrugged. “It is of little importance to these people.”
“Interesting.” Brian shouldered his pack after attaching Reggi’s straps to the bottom of it.
“We will keep in touch Brian. Follow the left hand path, for that is the way of your heart. Use this time to reflect on what has been freely given to you by Justin of the Kyllo.” The Chief bowed low to Brian, who returned the honor to the small orange man. Both of them left the hut at the same time, one turning left and one right.
“I have a question Chief.” Brian turned back and asked “I know the Gloinzen do their best to never interfere in the lives of any of the planets they monitor. But you saved Justin. I don’t understand why you interfered.”
“You are very correct Brian.” The Chief began. “And we thought long and hard about this dilemma with Justin, last hereditary chief of the Kyllo. In the end it was a unanimous decision among the High Council to intervene in this case. The union between you and Justin was foretold long before the planet Earth was almost destroyed by men who put personal greed over the well being of the whole.”
“Yes, well, since we’re both male and neither one of us has a womb., and it’s not likely we’ll be growing one any time soon, just how in hell are we supposed to save the planet. That is, if this union between us is meant to do that.”
“Of course you and your mate cannot personally bear children.” The Chief chuckled. “But of course that doesn’t mean you can’t create children. We have many samples of DNA from the two of you.”
“That’s fucking gross.” Brian sneered. “Not to mention damn wrong. You can’t just steal our DNA.”
“Calm down Captain Brian, calm down. You are right, the Gloinzen are not meant to create the future. But what we can do is act as caretakers for the future. If and only if, you and Justin wish offspring, we can help this happen.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.” Brian drawled. “Oh, just how did you manage to get Justin’s DNA?” he paused and then remembered the night of sex the two of them had shared before falling into an exhausted sleep. “Never mind.” He shook his head. “But couldn’t you have taken it from his hair or something?”
The Chief laughed. “You don’t think we took his sperm do you? Oh my no, it isn’t necessary. Our technology is far more advanced.”
“That I can believe.” Brian stretched in the sunlight. “Should I check in or will you have one of my little friends keep an eye on me?”
“Oh, I’m sure I’ll have plenty of volunteers from the villagers. Good luck Brian.” He bowed again before disappearing with a quiet pop.
Brian stood for a moment in silence before turning and continuing his journey. The day was warm, the air filled with the scent of fragrant grasses and sweet smelling flowers. He thought of how Justin would love this place. A little bit of old fashioned heaven tucked away in the universe.
“Boss, I have signs of large life forms a hundred yards to the right.” Reggi piped up, interrupting Brian’s thoughts. He’d been walking for a couple of hours, oblivious to time.
“Didn’t I turn you off?” Brian asked through his mind link. He didn’t want to take a chance on being noticed by what ever it was Reggi had discovered.
“You can turn me off, but I’m never really off, you know that Boss.” Reggi simpered. “I’ve always got your back.”
“You’re always on my back.” Brian hoisted the red pack containing the ship com to a more comfortable position. “Do you have a clear picture yet?” It would be more an outline of what was ahead, but Reggi knew what he meant.
“They’re humanoid.”
“Maybe it’s the bitches.”
“Not unless they’ve multiplied, there are more than a dozen, some of them small, most of them as tall as you.”
“Wonderful.” Brian looked around to see if he could find any sign of the people that he might have missed. He was embarrassed when he realized he’d been walking on what was quite obviously a well-traveled path. Why in hell he hadn’t noticed before he couldn’t say. The path was too wide to be used by the Gloinzen, and besides, they didn’t really need to travel on the ground.
He was about to take another step when he found himself surrounded by half a dozen brightly feathered people. The Chief had been right, there was no obvious way to disguish what sex they were. “Nice clothing.” Brian said conversationally, nodding toward the feathers. “the hat is a bit much though don’t you think?”
The person closest to him had a mixture of large feathers fashioned into a headdress that reached three feet in the air over his head. All of them were smiling at Brian. One reached out to touch the material of his jumpsuit.
“Sorry about the color, it’s regulation for Federation Pilots and I was on a job.” Brian hated the muted and muddied grays and greens that made up the suit he wore.
The feathered people smiled and laughed, not knowing what Brian said.
Brian pointed to himself and said. “Brian.” They all nodded and a few tried to repeat the word to themselves until they all seemed to get the pronunciation properly or at least close enough.
One leaned forward and touched Brian on the arm. “Noola” he pointed to himself.
“Well Noola, take me to your leader.” Brian grinned. It was the beginning of a confusing couple of hours. Unlike the Gloinzen who caught on quickly to the English language, the Noorns didn’t take well to it all. Mostly because a great deal of their own language consisted of clicks and pops, or at least that’s what it sounded like to Brian’s ears. Finally Reggi said. “Okay Boss, I think I have it now. The language is similar to that of the Deni people, similar enough that it makes some semblance of sense to me. I can act as your translator until you learn how to form the words.”
“Isn’t that just swell.” Brian muttered to himself while smiling. He was now in the center of their village sitting under a wide canopy attached to a rather elaborate house fashioned from what appeared to be clay bricks. To the right of him were a group of artisans working with bales of feathers in every conceivable color. Their nimble fingers were weaving the feathers into elaborate pieces of cloth that Brian assumed would eventually become clothing.
Another group were making head dresses, lots of laughter with this bunch as they joked and imitated what Brian figured had to be the birds the feathers came from. What the earth man found the most confusing was the decided lack of sexuality among all of them, young and old alike. He’d never realized how much sexual differences made in judging the character and ability of a person.
While he ate and drank along with three others of high stature, he couldn’t say men, because he didn’t know, Reggi was busy listening to everyone in an attempt to sort out the language and names of those around them.
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Ethan seethed inside from the indignities he’d faced at the hands of that old queen Mysterious Marilyn. He was Ethan Gold, descended from a long line of famous magicians and wizards. Putting him in a world of filth and grime as a rat no less, was the final straw. “I implore you return my bow to me.” He begged, looking to the sky as if uttering a prayer. “Please, I’ve served you well. Return my bow to me.”
“You know, begging doesn’t become you.” The larger rat who had greeted his arrival drawled as he munched on an apple core. “You can scream, cry, beg, or make a deal with the devil himself, your wand was destroyed with Gloinzen power. It will never be restored.”
“You don’t know that.” Ethan spat at him, forgetting for a moment the spell he’d been weaving. His attention span wasn’t what it should be now that he was in the body of a rat. “I’m a powerful wizard in my own right.”
“You’re a rat with delusions of grandeur.” The other rat chuckled. “At best you’ll provide us all with some entertainment. At worst you’ll be dinner one of these nights. We really don’t mind eating the small and helpless of our kind.”
His snickers sent shivers through Ethan’s matted fur. “I understand that our mutual acquaintance Marilyn also sent someone called Wolfram here. I believe he’s a cat, your cat. It seems he has a bone to pick with you. But I’m sure you were a charming owner. Wolfram will welcome you with open arms, or is that open jaws.”
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Keisha, though curled around Justin to protect him from jostling, couldn’t help but let her curiosity win over her good sense as she gazed at the various things in Mysterious Marilyn’s large tapestry covered bag. She reached for and snagged with one claw a piece of carrot cake wrapped in plastic. Before Justin could stop her, a large piece went into her mouth and she chewed contentedly.
“Keisha, you can’t just put stuff in your mouth and eat it. I thought your lesson was learned the other day.” Justin chastised his cat.
“Keisha likes sweets. Carrot cake in auntie’s bag. Auntie not hurt Keisha.” A long pink tongue reached out and licked a bit of icing off of her freckled pink nose. The cake had been large and covered in gooey icing, Keisha’s contented purr sounded as she finished it off, filled the bag with rumbles.
“But the plastic paper isn’t good for you.” Justin said as he held his lips closed in an attempt not to laugh. He could see through Keisha’s eyes as the big cat surveyed the interior of their transportation. But his cat pretended to ignore him as she used her delicate touch to lift up item after item and examine it, test it for taste, smell, and eatability while all the while, remaining curled in place around Justin.
A heavily carved pocket watch caught the cat’s attention. It ticked quietly away, its cover closed. “Hey, careful.” Justin warned when the cat used her paw to pull the thing closer. The pocket watch was as large as Justin was small. They were in a bag after all.
“Alive?” Keisha asked. “Heart beat, tick, tick, tick, tick.” The pocket watch toppled over, revealing some writing in a language unfamiliar to Justin on the back. Keisha growled when the watch fell; it was large compared to them and she didn’t like that it had come so close to Justin. Big thing fall down, hurt father.”
“I’m fine Keisha, just lay off touching things will you. We can use this time to rest.” Though through his cat’s eyes, he traced the engraved words on the watch. There was something about them, something that almost shimmered in the twilight of the bags interior. Justin reached over, touching the first word with his fingers, instantly finding himself sitting across from Brian.
Brian took no notice of him and Justin assumed that the man couldn’t see him. He was surprised that he could see things so clearly. He watched while Brian chewed something that had been handed to him. Unable to resist, Justin stood up to see the clothing worn by the person handing Brian his food. He reached out to touch the feathered wrap, only to find his fingers passed through. In frustration he tried again and again until finally realizing it wasn’t going to happen, he chose to study the intricacies of the design, marveling at the variety of feathers in both color and structure that had gone into the clothing.
Justin turned back to Brian who looked directly at him and he started at the look of sadness in the other man’s eyes. Gone was the confident and loving man he’d left not that long ago after a night of lovemaking. Instead what he saw was a sad and lonely man who looked desperately worried. Justin suspected that he was worried about him. He knew he couldn’t touch him and be felt, but Justin hoped that if he concentrated hard enough, Brian would feel the love he had for him.
Standing in front of Brian, Justin began to trace the man’s face with finger tips that couldn’t feel, yet he was sure there was a blue spark of something, if he kept his skin just barely floating over the older man’s. He projected all the love inside of him as best he could at Brian and slowly, very slowly, Brian’s eyes began to gain some semblance of the deep hazel and gold flecked wonders they’d been while in throes of passion filled moments not that long ago. “Justin?” Brian whispered, his lips forming the word in a silent plea. “Justin, I feel you close to me.” He breathed, hoping upon hope that what he felt was true. “Justin, I never got a chance to say this, but don’t worry about me. Stay safe and live, I’ll be okay here. I just need to know that you’re alive. As long as your heart beats, then mine does as well.”
Justin leaned forward to brush a kiss across Brian’s lips when, in a flash, he found himself back in the tapestry bag, leaning in to kiss Keisha’s nose. “Fuck” he swore, and then kissed the cat’s nose so as not to hurt her feelings. “That was damn amazing.” he looked for the watch but it had moved away from them into a far corner of the bag. “I’ve got to get that watch.” Justin said, but Keisha looked away and Justin could no longer see the treasure he wanted to touch. “Keisha, look in the corner. I want to get the watch again.”
“ Father, Keisha scared, “watch thing’s heart goes faster and faster and father’s heart does too. Keisha push watch thing in corner.”
“Keisha don’t worry, I’m fine.” Justin began to run his fingers through the cat’s plush fur, scratching behind her ears in her favorite spot.
A hand reached into the tapestry bag and scooped up Justin and Keisha, gently placing the two of them on a bed, where they grew in size until they both reached normality. “That was an awesome experience.” Justin said with a smile to Marilyn. “Where are we?” Keisha was looking around the small space they were in, but nothing looked familiar to Justin.
“You’re aboard the Siddhartha, in one of the guest berths.” Marilyn said looking around. “I must say it could use a bit of a makeover. Here let me help.” He muttered a few words and waved his hand until the small room appeared to grow until it reached palatial proportions. The bed Justin and Keisha were sitting on had become large and comfortable, filled with silken pillows and throws made from synthetic furs that were soft and pleasant to the touch. A replicator fit for a Prince stood ready to produce whatever Justin and Keisha should require to eat and drink. Tucked away in a corner was a private bathroom for Keisha that could be instantly cleaned. Justin was sure that there were more luxurious wonders to discover as the long days of flight took place.
“There, now that we’re all comfy.” Marilyn sat down on chaise that had appeared, putting his feet up, sighing in pleasure. “I can’t stay long, it’s a busy day for me.” He reached into his bag and pulled out the watch. “Now Justin dear, I know you didn’t mean to use my little piece of time. But when you did, it gave me an idea. I do believe this watch has been with me forever. It was my mother’s and her mother’s before her.” He held the watch up to look at the carvings on it before placing it in Justin’s hand, folding his other hand over it. “Feel the carvings, do you see the words? Are they warm to your touch? Can you read them deep inside of your soul?”
“I can.” Justin whispered, his voice awe stuck as he felt all the things Marilyn was saying. “I can feel Brian in this watch. Is that weird?” he looked down at his hands that cupped the watch. He couldn’t see it, but he could feel it as if he was looking at the intricacies of the marvelous time piece.
“It’s meant to give you time for the one you love. It isn’t to be used lightly and frankly my dear, I haven’t used it in a long time. Perhaps it’s time to let it go to someone I’ve come to think of as family.”
Justin flushed with pleasure at Marilyn’s words. “You do, you really think of me as family?”
“You’re the son I never had.” Marilyn leaned forward and kissed Justin’s forehead. “Now let me tell you about this little piece of time. It will give you one hour with the one you love no matter where in the universe, alive or dead, that person is. But one hour only. You can think of it as sixty minutes of pleasure, or thirty six hundred seconds of bittersweet pain while you can see but not touch the person you love.”
“You’re saying that I only have an hour?” Justin traced the words on the case with his finger tips. “It isn’t very long.”
“In my time, I found a second looking into the eyes of the man I loved was more than enough time to keep me from breaking apart.” Marilyn looked away he while remembered times gone by.
Justin didn’t need to hear any more. He knew what the old queen was saying. One second of hazel eyes flecked with gold would keep him sane while he searched the skies. “I’d rather have that second of time.” His voice cracked.
“I have to go. They’re doing the pre flight check.” Marilyn stood up. “I need you to cloak the ship, I’m afraid that the Siddhartha doesn’t have clearance. Michael and Ben are leaving without a crew and you know that won’t be tolerated.”
“They know I’m here?” Justin asked.
“I told them you would be. Ben is confident enough to know that I speak the truth.” Marilyn’s hand was on the door. “Justin, it will all work out, it’s only time you know.” The oracle queen smiled as she faded from sight rather than open the door.
“Justin, if you’re here, I need you on the forward deck. We’re taking off and damn we need to be cloaked; full cloaking, not just the half assed stuff.” It was Ben’s voice.
“He’s not here.” Michael piped in. “We didn’t see him come aboard and the ship’s com says he’s not here.”
“The ship’s com is wrong.” Justin said as he and Keisha walked through the door. His walk was confident as he strode across the deck, his hand on Keisha’s head. “I’ll take the mate’s chair.” He said before sitting down. “As soon as you break free, I’ll begin cloaking, but it’s not going to be easy to land again. The Federation is going to be pissed.”
“We’ll deal with the Federation if and when we come back.” Ben began to quickly run through the lift off procedures, ignoring the angry spitting words issuing from the intercom. The air traffic controllers were not happy with them.
Justin used his hands to direct Keisha’s eyes to the console in front of him. He needed to focus on the working of the ship in order to effectively cloak it. He shut his eyes and holding onto the carved watch for moral support, Justin concentrated and used his inborn power to cloak the Siddhartha.
Ben used his expertise as a pilot to steer the ship away from others. Being cloaked, he didn’t have the advantage of the air traffic guys to direct him., something Ben hadn’t thought about until he found his earpiece silent. “Shit” he muttered as he worked his craft around various and sundry ships and maintenance equipment at the port. As soon as he was sure he was clear, Ben began to slip the Siddhartha into the beginning of a warp drive. Underneath their feet, the ship vibrated as if alive. And then they were free of the port. And in seconds were in the quiet blackness of space.
“How long can you keep up the cloaking?” Michael asked. “Because they’ll be tracking us.”
“Long enough.” Justin mumbled, not wanting to break his attention to what he was doing. He let his fingers trace the words on the watch in his pocket, feeling strength rush through it to him and he smiled to himself, sure it was Brian helping. Though of course that made no sense.
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On Tilak, Brian settled himself into the room he’d been assigned. From what he could gather, it was part of the village Chief’s home, slightly more elaborate than the rest of them. What did surprise him was the comfort of the room. Not only did he have a soft hammock like bed, but he had a fully functional bathroom, complete with shower and a separate deep bath. The toilet facilities were tucked away in a corner beside a standing sink. It was much like the bathrooms back on Earth.
In addition, there was a radio on a dresser playing soft music. Brian picked it up and examined it. Wireless technology was obviously in place. He looked around to see other signs that this civilization he stumbled across, was more than it had first seemed. A door knock made Brian turn. “Hello.”
“Excuse me if I get your language incorrect.” The person who entered said. “I’m Kari, and I’ve studied the ancient languages for years. As soon as you were found they had to bring me. Imagine my surprise to hear an ancient tongue spoken. I’ve instructed the Chief to see to that all of this village get the needed instruction so they’ll be able to converse with you.”
Brian listened stunned, to Kari. “I speak an ancient language?” he asked finally.
“Perhaps not ancient for you, but yes for ourselves, it is an old version of the language we now speak.” Kari laughed. “We come from a planet called Earth, though that was a long time ago.”
“It must have been. I don’t recall any mention of a people such as you. I’m from Earth.”
“A people such as?...” the question lingered in the air.
“Well, neither male nor female.” Brian said, deciding to be blunt.
“Of course we have two sexes.” Kari laughed. “But we’ve learned that sexual identity is only a small part of a person. Male, female, what does it matter as long as we all get along.”
“It matters to me.” Brian huffed. “I like men.”
“Yes, I do understand. It’s one of the reasons we’re no longer living on earth.” Kari laughed out loud. “Well, that and a few other reasons.”
“I find it confusing not knowing if I’m speaking to a man or a woman.” Brian began again, almost frustrated in getting his point across.
“But that’s the beauty of it. We are who we want to be. For instance, if you wish to see me as male, then I am male.” Kari caressed the front of the feathered robe he/she was wearing. “I can be who you want me to be.”
“I don’t care what sex you are.” Brian declared. “I just like to know who I’m talking to.” It was hard to explain just how he was feeling.
“Then I believe I’ll be male.” Kari declared, in a lower toned voice.
Brian looked at Kari and was surprised to see the signs of masculinity in his face and bone structure. “You are male.”
“Yes, for you I am male.” Kari walked around the room. “Do you have everything you require?”
“Everything is fine.” Brian hesitated. “I have to ask. From a stranger’s point of view, the village looks rather primitive, and yet you have radio and other comforts.”
“Of course we do. Life is comfortable here. It’s how we want it to be. There are no pressures, we do as we wish. We’ve long decided that it isn’t necessary to constantly strive for more and more material things. Our children study and learn to keep up with what we need and desire to live comfortably.” He grinned at Brian before flopping down on the bed. “Think of it as camping or summer vacation or whatever you humans do for recreation. Now, come and see if I’m a real enough man for you.”
“Not to be insulting Kari, but I’m not in the mood.” Brian smiled and spoke gently, he didn’t want to insult the man who now lay on his bed, a thick cock, purpled with readiness sticking obscenely through the feathers. “Nice cock though.”
“Is it large enough? I can make it bigger if you want?” Kari looked at his creation, impressing himself.
“Gawd no, it’s fine.” Brian laughed. “Nice party trick. You’ll have to teach me how to do it.”
Kari laughed, let his dick disappear as he stood up. “You must already have a lover or perhaps a husband waiting for you.”
“Perhaps.” Brian didn’t like to reveal any personal information. “Will I be able to talk to people now? I mean my ship com can do some translation, but I’m not all that great at learning a new language.”
“Of course you can. The Noorn learn quickly.” Kari preened his feathers, making sure they were in order before walking to the door. “I’ll let you settle in. Are you staying long?”
“Until my…” Brian hesitated. “My husband comes for me.”
“Ahhhhh, yes, your ship crashed. I remember hearing a report on the news. We contemplated sending a search party out, but frankly no one was interested in the travel. We are rather a ‘stay at home’ kind of people.”
“Weren’t you the least bit curious?” Brian asked. “I mean it can’t be everyday a space ship falls out of the sky.”
“No, not every day. Occasionally it happens, but curious, no not really.” Kari shrugged. “Of course I suppose that’s the whole reason why we’re who we are. We just don’t have much in the way of curiosity in our general makeup.”
Giggles coming from the doorway made them both look. Two small Noorn, their hair a mass of dark curls with only one feather tucked in the curls as if an afterthought, giggled behind their hands at Brian at Kari. Their very brief robes were white gull feathers edged in purple and red.
“Mex, Raji, what are you doing?” Kari asked in English.
The two of them answered as one in their native tongue. Both were staring at Brian with interest.
“Speak the ancient words. It is impolite not to speak the language of a visitor.”
“Sorry,” they said, bobbing their heads. “Why are your eyes green?” they asked Brian.
“Why are your eyes brown?” Brian answered back, only to be answered by giggles.
“Where are your clothes?” the one called Mex asked.
“I’m wearing them.” Brian looked down at his jumpsuit.
“Ooooooh….” They looked from their feathered robes, to Kari’s and then to Brian’s rather plain looking tight jumpsuit.
“Enough, let Brian relax.” Kari turned to Brian. “These two are the children of the home. If you need anything I’m sure one or the other of them will be underfoot, you only need to ask. Dinner will be served at sundown.”
“I thought what I’d been given outside was dinner.”
“No, that was merely to keep you busy while we analyzed you. After all, we don’t often, or ever, for that matter have visitors, let alone ones who speak English.” He looked slightly uncomfortable. “I’m afraid you were treated to the ‘we’re just poor innocent natives’ act.” He turned to leave. “Oh by the way, you can turn your ship com back on. Reggi, I believe her name is. She was turned off when you came into the clearing. I apologize for any inconvenience, but we really had to decide for ourselves how to deal with you.”
Brian didn’t know whether to admire Kari and his people or to be pissed at being played. But he could understand the reasoning behind what they did. “I’ll turn Reggi back on.” He opened the red pack, wondering just how they’d known what to do without Reggi being aware of it. She was usually much more on the ball.
Back on Earth at a meeting of the High Council of the Clan Kitwanga, an uneasy hush had spread over those attending.
A stranger had walked into their midst. A stranger dressed completely in black. He was more than seven feet tall, his skin as black as the thick leather clothing he wore like a badge of honor, for leather as clothing had been outlawed for years on the planet Earth. An angry scar ran from his forehead, through his left eye socket, over his nose to end just below his right cheek, causing his lip to curl in a permanent sneer. “You have allowed my disciple to be removed from this planet.” His words were spoken in a low tone that should have gone unheard in the crowd, but instead echoed through all of their brains, like fingernails on a chalk board.
“Your disciple?” The Chief’s aide asked. “We don’t know you and certainly we don’t know anyone who may work for you.”
The man’s arm flashed out straight and the aide fell to the floor struck dumb. “Ethan Gold, my righteous heir, is missing from this planet. He was employed by your people on a mission that could only fail.”
“Ethan Gold was more than qualified to make his mission succeed.” The Chief declared, standing bravely. “He was charged with keeping Justin Taylor, son of the Chief, free of marriage until his 21st birthday. It wasn’t rocket science.”
“And yet the fact that this Justin Taylor has so far managed to elude you and yours for years in his steps to complete that which was foretold, didn’t make you aware that this was a dangerous quest.” the man shook his head. “A quest aided by the Gloinzen.”
“The Gloinzen are a myth, nothing more.” Someone in the crowd said, followed by nods of agreement from the rest.
“Yes, I will remember that when you bow down to the Kyllo before being transported to where ever the Gloinzen decide to place you.”
“Who are you to insult us this way?”
“I am Shane, of Sinvegas.” He stood ramrod straight, his yellow eyes flashing in the black inkyness of his mutilated face. “I want my heir back and I’ll stop at nothing to see that he is returned to me.”. He glared at the Chief, before flashing out with his arm again, only this time the Chief saw the ring he wore on his right hand ring finger connected by a chain that was fastened to a stainless steel bracelet that pierced the flesh of his wrist. The ring was larger than life and described in legends that all the Kitwanga now knew to be true. It was a ring that couldn’t be destroyed and neither could the wearer be vanquished.
“Perhaps we can be of some help.” The Chief said with some satisfaction. If he could get Shane of Sinvegas on his side, then his desires would be fulfilled. It wouldn’t be long before he’d have a Kyllo Chief on his knees before him.