HEL Jumper Chapter 3.1

"There are a handful of issues that we should address quickly before  returning you to the planetary surface," Natori declared before anyone  could flee the conference room. Antoth and Veera looked at one another  suspiciously. "Lieutenant, Antoth, I would request that you both allow  this process to unfold before lodging your complaints. I do understand this is a sensitive matter. Io, can you please hail Qul'Roth for me?"

Io wanted to ask his reasoning herself. Winters and Antoth clearly  did, but she decided to comply without question. It was a gesture of  goodwill towards the admiral with whom she had set herself up as an  assistant. The Ghaelen accepted the call promptly and a holo screen  depicting his face and a small amount of his quarters appeared next to  Io. "Admiral Kaczynski, what news?"

"A preliminary treaty has been signed between myself and Antoth. You  will receive a copy shortly for your perusal courtesy of Io. If you  would, Io, please include the original and a translated copy."

'Of course, Admiral,' she nodded politely as Natori continued.

"I am calling regarding your concerns about the extent of human  technological influence on the planet. While this situation is a  difficult one, please know that I and all of my crew take our  responsibilities quite seriously in this matter. During negotiations I  received verbal testimony from the Lieutenant, his AI, and the Cauthan  that there was no transmission of human technology or knowledge outside  of this village. Hmm, yes Io?" Natori asked as she waved to get his  attention.

'In further defense of our actions, sir, the Lieutenant's final order  from his commanding officer was to survive and return to the fleet.  This is not the time nor place, but I saved a recording of this  conversation. I believe his decision to integrate into a population  center must be considered in this light,' Io reasoned as Veera nodded  emphatically and Russell tried to look through one of the walls of the  conference room. Qul'Roth could be seen thoughtfully stroking his chin  tuft.

"I see. Such authority must be taken into consideration. Presuming  there will be an opportunity to review this evidence, I will rescind my  complaints regarding this situation until such a time," the Ghaelen  offered. Natori glanced at Antoth who crossed his arms over his chest  and nodded once, though his brow remained furrowed angrily.

"I thank you for your prudence, Qul'Roth. Given the circumstances,  there will have to be a tribunal called to review the events leading to  the destruction of the Lancer and the Lieutenant's experiences on Mara  since that time. You will be included."

"Why thank you, Admiral. Please accept my humble congratulations on  your new alliance. May it serve to further the Order of the galactic  community."

"Thank you, emissary," Natori replied diplomatically. Veera coughed  loudly the moment Io killed the connection, but those assembled  understood the importance of the admiral's actions. "Now Lieutenant  Winters, you will note I dismissed the Ghaelen to discuss this next  matter."

"You mean the impending court martial for drawing my weapons on the  bridge?" Russell snapped, already agitated at having to recall Jess'  death. "Don't expect an apology."

Silence reigned as Alice and MacGregor shifted uncomfortably,  focusing their attention on the grain of the wooden table. Natori was  not amused, nor was he put off. He took a deep breath, calming himself  as an example. "Not just yet, Lieutenant Winters. What will happen,  however, is that you will undergo a thorough psychological evaluation.  This is not negotiable. Pending those results I will decide how to  proceed regarding today's…diplomatic incident."

Winters looked ready to bite Kaczynski's head off, but Io reached out  for him instead, forestalling any attempt to dig himself further into a  hole. 'Sir, you need this after everything that's happened.'

Russell pursed his lips and bit his tongue, his body language making  it clear that he wanted to break something, to get out of that small  room. The Jumper eventually brought his arms across his chest without  lodging any further protest. Alice looked at him with worry and  confusion while Veera and Antoth hung their heads knowingly. The sun  priest felt compelled to speak, appealing to Kaczynski in a somber tone.

"Admiral, Winters' time on our planet has not been peaceful. He has  been subjected to trials that would have killed our greatest warriors  and he has saved my people, all of my people, on multiple occasions. I  do not fully understand your people's code of martial justice, but I  thank you for any leniency you can show him."

Natori, feeling oddly like Qul'Roth, stroked his chin and looked  around the room, seeing the concerned and imploring looks in the eyes of  the Cauthan who clearly held the Lieutenant in extremely high regard.  "As I said Antoth, we will have a medical professional, someone skilled  in the healing of the mind, evaluate him. Any subsequent disciplinary  actions will take those findings into account. Is that acceptable?" He  offered despite them technically not having a choice.

"Yeah, fine," Russell scoffed. "You don't have to do this, Antoth. But thanks, man." The Cauthan grunted. It was understood. 

"I think we can head down to the surface without fear now?" Alice  suggested, unable to bring herself to scold her petulant brother and  wanting to simply move on. It felt like lightning would strike them all  at any moment. She knew well enough how uncomfortable Russell was, could  see it all over his face. Io helped move the conversation along.

'I am in agreement, Miss Winters. Admiral Kaczynski, you may have  your orbital bombardment weapons and main railgun back,' Io declared  with a snap of her fingers. Kaczynski sought to reassure Antoth.

"I am the only one who can authorize the use of these weapons...other  than perhaps Io at this point. Clearly we'll have to discuss that at  another time if you intend to go with them. I have pledged to defend  your people, Antoth, and I will honor that pledge," he said seriously.

"And we will uphold our end of the bargain," Antoth replied in his  customary, deep tone. "Alice Winters, you will have the protection of  the servants of Uthos so long as you respect our customs and way of  life. However, should you wish to be accompanied by one of the human  soldiers aboard this ship, I will allow it."

Alice was about to entreat her brother and Veera as to the servants  of Uthos when a file hit her A-MACS. She tapped a couple buttons on her  wrist and opened it up. "A primer on Cauthan gods and legends, by Io.  Again?!"

'My dear Alice I can assure you it is woefully incomplete, but for  the time being you should know that the servants of Uthos are the town's  guard force. His high priest in the village, a post Antoth held until  quite recently, is referred to as the Guardian.'

"Ok that's about twenty pages to unpack right there in that sentence,  but thank you, Io. And thank you as well, Antoth," Alice nodded  politely. "I do not doubt the strength or loyalty of your men-"

"And female!" Veera called happily from where she rested against the bulwark. Alice looked between her and Antoth repeatedly.

"Veera serves Uthos as well," he affirmed, more prepared the second time around for Alice to squeal in delighted surprise.

"That's at least forty pages! Oh wow. Ok, yes, sorry Admiral," Alice  hopped back on track as Natori made a 'get on with it' motion. "Antoth,  it would set me at ease and help with my duties as a liaison between our  cultures if I could be accompanied by someone from the Event Horizon.  My brother clearly has his own life among your people which I don't want  to disrupt too much."

"And for that, we thank you," Russell added with a grin as Veera shook her head at the sexual allusion.

"Yeah yeah, thanks peanut gallery," Alice dismissed him playfully. "What do you think, Mac? Care for a change of scenery?"

The Marine had a most confused look on his face, having suddenly been  thrust from the role of 'guy with a gun in the background' to  'potential third human to have extended contact with the Cauthan'. He  stood and saluted Natori. "Admiral, officially requestin' that transfer  if you please."

"Awesome!" Alice exclaimed.

"Miss Winters I have yet to say anything on this subject," Kaczynski  clarified, earning him a cocked brow and Alice's hand on her hip. He  looked at Io.

"Are all Winters children like this?"

'I'd say two out of two is quite the trend, sir. But were you really going to say no?' The AI questioned.

"If I could at least maintain an illusion of control over my own ship  that would be nice," he sighed. "Yes of course, Private. Given the  working relationship you have with Miss Winters I believe this is a  proper arrangement."

"Are you dating my sister?" Russell demanded, standing to his full  height with crossed arms. MacGregor raised a hand nervously to clarify  but Alice cut him off.

"Ok mister, your two weeks are up! You have a fluffy wife already and even if Lachlan and I were  dating, which we are not, you would not have a say! Do you know why he  and I are so close, Russell?" Alice shouted, getting right in his face  despite the height difference as Veera beheld something akin to a  miracle.

"I am so using that tone on him when he forgets to clean the cooking  pot," she whispered as Alice carried on, not allowing her brother a word  in edgewise.

"He and I are so close because I've had multiple nervous fucking  breakdowns on the bridge of this ship; because there was a ninety nine  percent chance that you were dead and the one percent was tearing me  apart. Every star system was one soul wrenching disappointment after the  other. Mac kept me from doing something monumentally stupid once and  talked me down at least twice. We have breakfast in the military mess  every Saturday morning and he's one of my three best friends on the  ship. That was good advice by the way, Natori. Thank you. As for you  Russell, butt out you meathead!"

As the Jumper stared at his sister in stunned silence, Antoth's chest  began to rumble like a barrel full of stones. Slowly the sun priest  devolved into uproarious laughter, pounding his fist on the table. "Oh, I  cannot wait to introduce you to my mate! You and she will love each  other once she gets past the fact that you're human!"

'Antoth, do you really want to be responsible for the destruction of Mara as we know it?' Io jested.

"To think the day would come when our savior wears a look like that.  Ha! Marvelous! I think she'll fit right in, Admiral. Strong spirits  thrive on Mara," Antoth insisted.

"Alice?" MacGregor called into the brief lull.

"Oh um...yes, Lachlan?" Alice replied, suddenly rather self-aware following her outburst.

"Thank ya kindly," he nodded.

"Ah, you're welcome!" She replied happily. "Besides, I'm pretty sure  it would be bad form to date my new research assistant, right?"

"Ha! As ya say, lassie. Admiral, I believe I should be collecting my things."

"Please make haste," Natori agreed. "We should return Antoth and  Veera to their people, and the rest of the crew will need to be informed  of the situation despite the late hour on the ship. Io, please allow  Miss Winters access to the tube systems."

'Yes sir.'

"Thank you. Lieutenant, I would appreciate it if you could escort  your friends back to hangar E-8. I will send for pilot Cromwell. Alice,  you may take whatever you deem necessary but that must include a  portable communications terminal. I expect frequent reports from you,  even if it's just to assure us that things are proceeding apace in the  village. A concrete plan must be devised to study this planet," Natori  commanded. "I will ensure such a system is loaded onto your shuttle."

"Yes sir, thank you so much! See you all in a bit!" With that Alice  promptly dashed from the room. She was followed by MacGregor, who  saluted and then departed in a much more reserved fashion. Io glanced at  Natori.

'Let us walk and talk, Admiral. I will be accompanying the Lieutenant back to the surface.'

"That...certainly has some implications," Natori declared, allowing  Veera and Antoth to exit the conference room before him. Russell was  more than able to find his way back to the corridors that led to the  correct hangar.

'I do not think there will be any issues, sir. As I mentioned before,  every other function on this ship that was assisted by a VI shall  continue apace. I even retained those VI's appearances and dictation  patterns to ensure continuity for the rest of the crew.'

"How considerate of you," Natori replied neutrally.

'I thought so as well,' Io agreed with a sunshine smile. 'Should the  situation call for it I can assume direct control of those functions, or  coordinate them from a higher level. The idea of replicating my  own...self dozens of times did not seem prudent.'

"On that we are in agreement. Someday I would love to take a look at your code."

'Maybe one day, Admiral Kaczynski,' Io mused as they turned into the  corridor connecting the bridge to hangar E-8. 'Let's just say that would  come after I feel comfortable being naked in your presence.'

Winters began coughing loudly in front of them, with Verra patting him on the back as he tried to compose himself. "Io!"

'It is more intimate than even that, sir!'

"Yeah, I know but!"

Io projected herself from his armor, wanting to look him in the eyes.  'You know that one day I hope to have what you and Veera have, right?  It was a partial joke, sir.'

Winters and Kaczynski both felt as though someone had delivered an  uppercut to their diaphragm, though for very different reasons. The  Admiral mouthed 'by God' as Russell reflected on his sister's  observation that he'd 'raised' an AI.

"You think any father wants to accept the fact that his daughter has  grown up? But look at you, running your own ship and everything?" The  Jumper asked. Io cried and smiled all at once.

'I'll be careful. We can talk more of this later. Let me finish telling the Admiral about what will happen when we're on Mara?'

"Alright, you go on then," Russell acknowledged, lowering his left  arm as Veera took his right in an affectionate hold. They were almost at  the hangar.

'Now then, Admiral, I have replaced Cassia with an avatar of myself  that should be seamlessly integrated with her logs on your behavioral  patterns and management style. It is not ideal, but as I said, I am  afraid to split my personality.'

"So life will go on as normal? That sounds acceptable to me. Though I  had hoped to spend some more time conversing with you. What will you do  on the surface?"

'Ah yes, well...hm hm hm. Sorry?' Io apologized bashfully as Natori  approached a traffic jam. Russell and the Cauthan had stopped in the  doorway of the hangar, holding up his progress.

"Io…" Veera sighed with affection.

"You didn't have to," Russell added appreciatively.

'No, I didn't. So if a thank you feels strange you're welcome to  consider it a perfectly selfish act of self-preservation. Thank you,  gentlemen!' Io called out to the two Marines who had remained in the  hangar and received her packages. 'That tube system is truly a blessing,  Admiral.'

"Ah...thank you. I designed it," Kaczynski informed her absently,  watching as Winters approached two crates resting just beside the  shuttle's ramp. Within the first was a brand new Aegis Mk II chestplate  in his colors. The second was stacked full of spare drives and CPUs,  multi-purpose power cells, and two portable solar arrays. Winters and  Antoth marveled at them all as Veera waved hello to pilot Cromwell, who  had chosen that moment to join them.

"So this was your little project then?" Natori deduced as Winters  replaced his chest armor. When he'd secured the final latch, the soldier  looked down affectionately at the old piece of metal and polymer that  had saved his and Io's lives many times over.

"I can have it sent to you sister's cabin, if you'd like," Natori  suggested. "Given that the entire HEL now uses the Mk III design I'd say  you're holding a relic in your hands, Lieutenant."

Russell nodded in silent agreement, handing the battered armor over  to Natori. The Admiral took it in his hands carefully, ensuring a firm  hold on the heavy chestplate. "It's been through a lot, sir."

"Yes, yes I can see that, Lieutenant. Perhaps we will hear this tale one day."

"Your psychologist probably will," the Jumper growled.

'Enough!' Io cut him off. 'Sir, please ensure proper interface of my  drives and cores. You can be moody later. There is an extra slot on your  right shoulder to go along with your leg armor. I hope it is not an  inconvenience.'

"Spirit Io, may I ask what this is?" Antoth requested, withdrawing a  contraption from the crate that folded out into something different from  the other technology he didn't understand. This one looked familiar.

'Of course, Antoth!' Io chirped. 'During my stay on your planet I  have been drawing the energy I need to survive from the rays of your  star, Seil.'

"The lifegiver...of course!" Antoth exclaimed. Io beamed at him from  Winters' armor. The human had just finished the swap of hardware,  prompting her to do a soft reboot and ensure all was well on her 'mobile  platform'.

'Yes, Antoth. However, Seil does not always shine brightly. That  construct there should allow me to draw power from the river near your  village, a backup, if you will.'

"Fascinating. It is a miniature of the great wheel the disciplines of Tyrdus fashioned for us…" 

"Who's he!?" Alice asked in greeting, waving at them all with a  duffel slung over her shoulder, another bag in her left hand, and her  personal tablet in her right. "Damn Io, you've been busy! I always liked  that design on his armor. Glad you kept it. AI's are handy!"

'Hmm, welcome back Alice. I promise to provide you with all the  answers you seek and appreciate your kind acceptance of me. For now, let  us await Private MacGregor and depart,' Io suggested, overseeing  Russell as he loaded the gear onto the shuttle with Antoth while  Cromwell went through her standard preflight checks. 'Oh, and Admiral?'

"You're going to tell me something I don't know about my own ship?" He guessed with mild amusement.

'You may have bays two through fifteen back,' Io replied. Natori's brow furrowed.

"What are you doing in bay number one, Io?" He demanded. "You know as  well as I do that's our largest and most advanced manufactory."

'Truly a splendid creation!' Io gushed. 'The size of a small hangar,  plenty of robotic assistance, precision sensors and printers…perfect!'

"For what?" Kaczynski pressed, looking up at the ceiling as Io used  his earpiece to communicate. It felt like he was looking at her.

'You have to promise not to tell the Lieutenant or Veera,' she whispered conspiratorially. That sent his brows to his hairline.

"Well now I have to know," he grinned. "Your secret is safe."

'I suppose we can consider this our first trust exercise,' Io agreed,  her voice suddenly hesitant and quite feminine as opposed to cool,  calm, and in control. 'I want a body, Admiral.'

Kaczynski silently ran a hand through his hair and whistled quietly  as the final departing human joined them. "What's up in yer kilt Admiral  Kaczynski, sir? Ya look like you've seen a ghost!"

"Maybe more of a spirit, Private MacGregor."

-----

“Hey, you alright?” Alice asked, grabbing Veera’s paw as ‘Brick’ the  shuttle re-entered the Maran atmosphere. The two had chosen to sit next  to one another for the thankfully short trip. Russell was standing next  to Antoth, his hand on the Cauthan’s shoulder. Veera smiled back at  Alice.

“This is not particularly pleasant, Alice,” Veera replied tactfully.  “But having you and Russell here is quite comforting.  And you as well,  Private.”

“My pleasure, Miss,” MacGregor replied.  He’d offered her his hand as well but she’d turned it away politely.

“We should probably tell you a few things about us if you’ll be  staying,” Veera added, wanting to keep focused on something other than  the fading rumbling of the shuttle and the view of vast swaths of land  and clouds on the screen near the cockpit door. “Alice, you will be  alright for the most part once everyone knows you're a female, but  La...Lacklen?”

“Lachlan. Don’t trouble yerself too much over it, Veera,” the well  built Scotsman demurred. “Somethin’ tells me that men have it a bit  different?”

“That’s putting it lightly,” Winters chuckled. “Act like an eighteenth century gentleman and you’ll be fine.”

“Uh...can ye’ be more specific? I seem to have misplaced ma tophat,” Lachlan requested.

‘He means that if you touch a female in the village you could get  into serious, possibly injurious trouble,’ Io clarified for them all.  ‘Sir, you forget we have eleven months of experience on them.’

“But you so love explaining things,” Winters teased her with a grin. Io huffed and turned her nose up at him. 

‘That is the last time I make you a new set of armor. If you’ll  excuse me,’ the AI retorted, commandeering Alice’s A-MACS and using that  instead.  Alice did not mind one bit.

“Cool!” She shouted, holding Io up so they could see ‘eye to eye’.

‘Why thank you, elder Winters. Now then Antoth, please do correct me  if I’m mistaken on any points?’ Io requested as Alice burst into  laughter at the idea of being some sort of authority figure.

“When this infernal shaking stops I’d be happy to,” he growled.

“Sorry about that, just a small patch of turbulence.  We’re getting  under the cloud cover now, should even out,” Cromwell called from the  cockpit, making sure to monitor the status of her passengers and cargo  carefully. “There seems to be some sort of clearing on the eastern side  of the village. Winters, that an acceptable LZ?”

“Negative, pilot. That’s their equivalent of a graveyard. Just  outside the west gate should be fine. They’re used to humans storming  that particular entrance,” Russell laughed as Veera rolled her eyes and  Alice looked ready to demand story time.

‘Let’s at least make an attempt to stay on topic, shall we?’ Io  suggested. ‘Private MacGregor and Alice, you should both be aware that  for this village, courtship, matrimony, mating, and the rearing of cubs  are sacred institutions and traditions. It is a matter of survival and  they take this part of life very seriously.  Private, as a bachelor so  to speak, you cannot touch any women in the village outside of  life-threatening emergencies. Full stop.’

The soldier’s eyes were quite wide by that point and he looked an apology at Veera. “Didn’t know. Sorry about that.”

“Here, it’s fine,” Veera offered, extending her hand to him. He took  it cautiously with a most confounded expression on his face. “What Io  said is true, but that’s assuming a female has not invited you to touch  her. If she has...you may of course do so,” she declared saucily,  throwing her husband a fetching glance. “The harvest festival is only a  few cycles away, darling. Alice? You appear to be vibrating.”

“Festival!?”

“I’m glad someone’s so happy,” Antoth muttered, rubbing his stomach  as he felt ready to lose the chesko stew he’d eaten before leaving the  surface. To his great relief, the bottom thrusters of the shuttle kicked  in and they started their final descent. Cromwell opened the main door  while airborne, allowing Antoth a view he’d never seen before, his  village from above. The breeze felt heavenly. “My word. Perhaps this is  akin to Felen's realm...Winters?”

“Yeah, let’s have some fun,” the Jumper agreed, helping Antoth stand  and maneuver his way to the various handles and other anchor points that  surrounded the open hatch. The high priest looked out and saw more than  one bow aiming at them.

“Ha, excellent!” He shouted, waving his shield at them. The guards  atop the gatehouses lowered their weapons and the village horn was  blown. Antoth couldn’t help but turn to his brother in arms and smile,  watching his people stream from their homes and places of work to gather  in the center of town. It was magnificent to see such a thing from on  high as they spiraled lower and lower. 

“Cromwell seems to be enjoying herself too,” Russell agreed, noticing  something utterly unsurprising thanks to his helmet’s optics as they  finally came to a hovering stop outside the west gate and began a slow  drop to the ground. “Antoth, you might want to duck.”

At Winters’ warning, the chieftain stepped to the side and the Jumper  blocked as much of the open doorway as possible, watching as a  particular female loosed an arrow directly at them.  It struck him  center of mass and shattered on his gleaming, mint condition chestplate.

“Holy hell, what was that?! I thought you were their friend!” Alice  shouted as MacGregor took a knee at the open hatch and readied his M-22  carbine, his heart racing as he contemplated the possibility of having  to kill someone.

“It’s fine Private...ugh, can I just call you Mac?” Russell requested  with a complete lack of concern in his voice, not taking much of a  liking to formal military speech after so long away.

“Don’t have a problem with that,” the Marine replied, still ready to fire.

“Just trust me on this one, alright. There’s a particularly skilled  and pregnant Cauthan down there who hates me for stealing her hopes and  dreams...and saving her entire village,” he related as Antoth tried to  laugh and look serious at the same time. 

“I’ll go first then, try and placate my angry mate. Private  MacGregor, I would ask that you and Alice remain here until I can inform  my people of the treaty we have signed and its conditions. We will have  to make preparations for your stay.”

“Not a problem,” Lachlan affirmed as the shuttle touched down and the  entirety of the village attempted to peer out of the western gate at  once without actually crossing the threshold. A few brave souls did,  Ratha and Staroth foremost among them.

“By Uthos it’s damn good to see you, you big lug! I was afraid of  suffering another battlefield promotion!” Staroth shouted as Ratha  adopted a standoffish posture and glared from under her helm. She was  wearing her armor again and armed to the teeth, the offending bow  clutched in her hand. To her supreme annoyance Winters stepped off the  shuttle too. His armor had been repaired somehow. She drew her knife.

“Get down, Mr. President!” Russell yelled, diving forward and  throwing his body in front of Antoth, laughing hysterically as he went  down in the dirt before springing up and staring Ratha down. The high  priest of Seil did his level best to act as though he disapproved of  Winters.

“I suppose praying to Valta for your disappearance was too much to  ask, even for her,” the Huntress spat, still flipping the blade in her  hand. “Nice armor, human.”

“Nice belly, momma,” Winters shot back, laughing like a madman as  Ratha snarled and hurled the knife at him. He allowed it to clatter  helplessly off his armor before kneeling, retrieving it, and walking up  to her with Antoth. He took her into a hug that had her screeching at  her mate while Io furiously documented the changes in her partner’s  behavior and vitals. It was almost impossible for her to overstate how  much more relaxed he’d become the moment his boots had touched the Maran  surface again.

“Get him off of me, you useless sun priest! This is unacceptable!” 

Antoth did no such thing, more than happy to allow Ratha to have it  out with Winters before the discussion of the finer points of the  treaty. Io sent a message to the small optical aid in Mac's helmet that  urged him to not emulate the Jumper 'if he wished to live'. 

“Thanks for breaking it in. Wouldn't have it any other way. I missed  you, Ratha,” Winters said honestly, returning her dagger to her and  removing his helmet. “Just...don’t throw that at my sister, alright?  Seriously.” She narrowed her eyes at him.

“Your...what? And you what?!”

“I missed you,” Russell said slowly as though Ratha was hard of  hearing. She did not appreciate it. “And I would be thankful if you keep  trying to kill me and not my sister.”

At his repetition, Ratha sidestepped Russell and looked at the  shuttle, seeing a human male with significantly less imposing armor and  dark, fiery hair, as well as what had to be a human female dressed in  black. She hated to admit it but the resemblance was clear, even if the  woman had brown eyes versus the blues of her brother. “Antoth, what in  Valta’s name have you done?” She demanded.

“I was hoping you could put your bloody knives and arrows away so I  could tell you!” Antoth shot back, pushing Winters gently aside so that  he could nuzzle and embrace Ratha. “I promised you I would come back.”

“Don’t you do this to me, not here,” she whispered, dragging her  claws down the back of his armor. “Just...don’t ever go up there again.”

Antoth wasn’t sure he could promise her such a thing, but he wasn’t  about to bring up such eventualities when the present demanded his  attention. “I signed a treaty of peace and mutual cooperation with the  humans who came for Winters. There is much we need to discuss.”

“I suppose letting two more of them in was part of that?” The huntress remarked suspiciously.

“Ratha!”

“Fine, fine! Everyone’s here anyway. Staroth, let’s go already!” She  huffed, turning around and marching back into the village. The crowd  quickly parted for her as the former and current guard captains  followed.  

"Good to have you back, Antoth," Staroth murmured as Winters chose to  stay behind, waving to Gentia and Thantis who both seemed pleased to  see he’d returned. He had others to speak with.

“Hey there. Where’s Xan?” Winters asked as Zolta and Asha approached  him. He greeted them both with warmth and familiarity, taking great care  with Asha and slapping Zolta on the shoulder. “By the way Asha, the fit  on the cloak is perfect.”

“I’m so glad! Xan stayed in the temple with Fenrir,” the young  seamstress informed him. “When we told him it looked like humans he  decided to stay behind, said it was probably you and that his leg was  having a bad day. Oh, hello there Io!”

‘Greetings to you Asha, Zolta. It is wonderful to be back,’ the AI declared.  ‘We have so much to tell you all!’

“I’m guessing they’re part of it?” Zolta spoke, pointing behind them  to where Veera sat in the open doorway of the shuttle along with  MacGregor and Alice. “Who are they?”

“Well, the one on the left is my mate.”

“Oh come on, Winters!”

“Alright alright! The young woman in the middle is actually my older  sister, Alice. The man next to her is a soldier from the vessel that  came to find me. His name is Lachlan MacGregor. Seems a decent enough  guy.”

“Your sister?!” Asha and Zolta both gasped, staring at the  awe-inspiring, metallic vehicle that had landed in the midst of their  fields of grain and vegetables. Out of all the humans to exist, somehow  his sister had arrived on their planet.

“Yep! C’mon, I’ll introduce you. Alice would love to meet you both.  She’s a woman of learning who specializes in alien species and cultures.  She’s here to establish a working relationship between the village and  humanity,” Russell tried to sum up a monumental treaty and agreement in a  sentence.

“She seems nice,” Asha offered kindly.  “Shall we?”

Just as Winters turned to escort them the short distance to the  shuttle, a small, fluffy force latched onto his left leg. He calmly  turned his head and saw a young Cauthan lad, one he recognized well,  clinging to him and crying softly. He turned to Zolta and Asha. “Why  don’t the two of you go on? Veera and Alice have already been acquainted  and I’m sure she can introduce you two. I need to take care of this  young man right here.”

“Yeah, sounds good,” Zolta smiled, taking his wife by the hand. “Good to have you back, Winters.”

“Nowhere I’d rather be,” he promised. “Now what’s all this about little guy?”

“Momma...momma said you went away! Papa went away and didn’t come  back!” The young boy cried, mashing his dark, brown furred snout into  Winters’ leg. 

‘Do not fear, little one. We have returned,’ Io assured him as the  boy’s mother, a Cauthan with blackened grey fur who appeared to be a few  years older than Veera, approached them.

“I apologize for my son’s behavior, human. The rumors traveled quite  quickly. I didn’t know what else to tell him,” she explained. Winters  waved it off and bowed to her before picking the boy up and holding him  gently in his arms.

“It’s no trouble at all,” he replied earnestly. The female smiled at him.

“You have learned our language?”

“I have, though I am still no expert. You’ll have to forgive me. I  know we met before at the Temple of Meylith but I never got your name.  Is that cloak still holding up? Did you get one?”

“I did, thank you. It is his most treasured possession. He even  wanted to wear it during the summer months,” she replied with an  endearing look at her little boy. “I am Sentaura, human. It is an honor  to formally introduce myself. I see you have brought more of your kind?”

“Only two, for now. Antoth has met with a great leader of my people  and signed a peace treaty. He is discussing it with the other priests as  we speak. I’m sure they’ll tell everyone the specifics soon,” Winters  explained, not wanting to cause any sort of scene among the tentatively  nervous and excited onlookers. Thankfully for him, Alice and MacGregor  were staying put. Meeting Zolta and Asha was keeping them more than  occupied.

“Of course he gets to hold the cute little Cauthan boy!” Alice  hissed. MacGregor laughed as one of Io’s translation programs went to  work and used her A-MACS to repeat the line in Cauthan for Asha and  Zolta’s edification. They soon joined in. 

“I’m sure you’ll get your chance soon enough,” Asha assured the young  woman. Her odd, black, one piece clothing left something to be desired,  but the long black fur atop her head was marvelous to behold,  reflecting the sunshine of early afternoon. “Your brother said you have  come to learn about our ways? I never imagined we might meet a member of  his family.”

“It’s wonderful to meet you too! And yes, everything I can learn,”  Alice gushed. “I’ve studied alien cultures from afar for my entire adult  life. To be able to visit this place in the flesh...oh I can still  barely believe this is happening and that you're all so friendly! Asha,  right?”

The grey-furred mother nodded. “I am. And my mate is Zolta.”

The smith nodded, turning back to MacGregor, whose armor was of great  interest to him. Unlike Winters', it was made of various metallic  plates atop flexible fabrics and other materials. It seemed less  protective but much more mobile. “So she’s here to learn. What are you  here for, human?”

“Can’t say I blame yer suspicions, what with my carryin’ a gun and  all. Lachlan MacGregor at your service young man, and you as well, young  lady. I’m here to escort and protect this excitable lass right here!”  He chuckled, tapping Alice on the shoulder. Asha stared at the two of  them with wide eyes.

“Are the two of you mated?!”

“Wha? Ah no! No, definitely not,” MacGregor spluttered as Alice  blushed lightly and smiled his way. “Ooh, right. The touching thing?  Yeah I won’t be touching any of you furry lasses, cross me heart. Alice  and I are just good friends.”

“It took us almost six months to get here,” Alice elaborated, staring  down at her tablet as a note from Io popped up explaining the Cauthan  calendar. “Oh, I see! So yes, it would be about eleven cycles, give or  take. During that time we got along quite well. It was suggested that I  be accompanied by someone during my stay with your people and he was the  natural choice.”

“How interesting! Well, I suppose Russell and Veera were doing all  sorts of stuff before you were officially mated, right? Maybe it's not  so strange?” Asha asked, causing Alice to develop a look on her face  that terrified both Zolta and MacGregor.

“Veera!” She whispered urgently. “When are you going to tell me about  how you and my brother got together?! Oh, and Asha can I just say  congratulations on your pregnancy and if it’s culturally acceptable I’d  love to know everything about what it’s like being an expectant mother  in your village!”

“Sister, are you sure you were sent here to learn about us, or just  gossip all day?” Veera replied with a knowing swish of her tail and a  mischievous look in her eyes. Alice looked ready to keel over.

“In my line of work, those two are the same thing!” She told Veera  elatedly. “Oh God, what am I doing? Here you are...uh…human bias talking  but six months pregnant? You should be sitting down, not me!” Alice's  A-MACS dinged again as Asha seated herself with thanks, taking in the  smooth, clean metal surface with her paw pads. “Huh...almost nine  months? Wait, how does Io know when you conceived your child...cub?”

In the distance, a loud ‘scheiße’ could be heard from where Winters  was still talking to a female Cauthan with dark fur and light grey  plumage. Veera appeared a bit nervous, but Asha and Zolta seemed wholly  unconcerned. “She is a spirit of the moons, right? I’m sure this is just  another one of her tricks. Besides, it’s not like I can hide it  anymore,” Asha replied wisely as Alice and Lachlan looked at one another  with humbleness in their eyes. It was truly a different world they’d  stepped into and it felt almost sacrilegious to consider explaining how  Io was silicon and electricity. Asha grimaced momentarily before looking  over at her mate. “Zolta! Your child is kicking me again! Tell them I  am not your forge’s anvil!”

And so Alice looked on politely with her sister-in-law while the  young, sinewy Cauthan stroked his mate’s belly, hoping to soothe the  rambunctious life within. The human could barely decide what she wanted  to learn more about first, with such displays of family, agriculture,  faith, and gender dynamics there before her. Her brother's relationships  with the villagers were already paying dividends in spades, and she  made a mental note to thank him somehow. All those considerations were  put on hold, however, as the low din of conversation at the gate  suddenly ceased completely. Alice looked up to see Antoth and the fiery  Cauthan he was apparently mated to, along with an elderly couple, a  grizzled and well built smith, an elegant, blonde-furred female, and the  other armored Cauthan that she assumed was the guard captain. Antoth  placed a hand on Russell’s shoulder before calling out to her. “Alice  Winters! We would like to speak with you.”