Ctarl-Ctarl Comes To Call
Chapter Two: Ambassador Tasska
"...What'll we do now, Gene?"
There really wasn't much the Outlaw could do right now...not with the huge Ctarl-Ctarl ship so close. The sheer size of the vessel dwarfed the Outlaw Star, and its flanking ships that surrounded them on all sides were smaller, but equally impressive. All opening for escape had been cut off so now Gene and his young partner Jim could do nothing but lead the way back to home base. Several times Gene was tempted to deploy the grappler arms and fight his way through, but was advised against the idea, '...it'd be suicide!', Jim had warned him.
"Gene, are you sure this is a good idea?," Melfina asked from inside her navigation tank. Gene looked behind him and flashed a reassuring smile.
"Don't worry, okay? I really don't think they're following us all this way to hurt us. Besides...,' Gene tightened his grip on the controls, '...Maybe we can get Aisha to talk to them. They're her people, afterall."
"Yeah. But they might be as unreasonable as she is. They are Ctarl-Ctarl, afterall no matter how 'nice and polite' that shopkeeper claimed this one was. Anyway, we can't just up and hand over our ship, not without a fight."
"Relax, Jim. I've got it all under control."
"And that's what scares me. I told you you should have left that woman alone! So whatever happens I'm holding you responsible."
Tasska sat quietly in her chair as she stared out the window, searching out the X-GP. She smiled to herself and took a sip of her wine before replacing the glass back on the hovering tray.
"That's the X-GP? It doesn't look like much to me. Are you certain you want to bring that back with us, Lady Tasska?"
"General Zarfan, don't judge by how it looks. Sure, it's not nearly as impressive as our ships, but that won't matter once it's dismantled for study. Father will be so pleased with me that I'm bringing back such a lovely present...and with you for helping me to complete our mission. You've wanted to get on his good side in order to ask him permission to marry me, have you not?," Tasska coyly twisted her hair between her fingers and stood to stand beside the tall muscular male. He smiled and wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
"Nothing will make me happier. Of course, as you wish M'Lady."
"Good. I knew you'd see things my way."
"Lady Tasska, sorry to interrupt. In-coming communication from the Supreme Chancellor."
"Patch him through immediately!" The clear window ahead chanced instantly and the face of an old man wearing royal-like robes appeared before them.
"Tasska, how goes your mission? Fairing well are you?"
"Very well, Grandfather. I have succeeding in capturing the X-GP. Inform father that we shall be returning shortly," Tasska bowed low at the waist and smiled sweetly up at the aged Ctarl-Ctarl.
"Excellent. Good work. I knew you were the right person to choose for this mission. We have succeeded were others have failed. You're father will be very pleased. I will let him know immediately," the Chancellor nodded and disappeared, so now the window was clear again. Tasska turned to the helmsmen.
"Open a channel to the X-GP. I'd like to give them their sentencing."
"Lady Tasska, really. Is that necessary at this time? The whole crew isn't even with them. Why not wait until we gather them all?," Zarfan commented.
"But I'm bored now. All right, I suppose you're right. I'll wait until we have them all under custody, but only because you asked me to..." Tasska huffed and flopped back down in her captain's chair. She was hoping to get more shopping done before heading back, not that getting her claws on the X-GP wasn't fulfilling but she wanted to get as many castor parts as she could.
Tasska Ka-Hori Hori fancied herself as a semi-technician – nothing made her happier than taking things apart, studying every little piece and then putting it all back together good as new. Her position as captain to more than a thousand-strong military personnel was an added perk, because of who her family was. Her family line went back millennia, among the strongest Ctarl-Ctarl there were. She attended the highest academies growing up, received the most intense training in various fields of study and achieved the highest marks in her class. Ka-Hori Hori was a household name…There wasn't a single individual who didn't know it. It was most well known in the military among all else. Tasska's father was Commander of more than ten powerful vessels. Her mother, a famous Astrophysicist. Even Tasska's three younger brothers were making names for themselves in the military now, excelling as fighter pilots. It amazed Tasska sometimes of just how much she could get away with. She damaged more than a dozen ships in battles alone, and none had ever reprimanded or questioned her actions.
But Tasska wasn't arrogant – far from it. She kept an extremely cool head under pressure and her quick thinking had saved her and her crewmate's lives on more than one occasion. Her crew respected her not because of her family lineage, but because she was a fine captain. She was appointed Ambassador because of these same qualities…and because her predecessor had shamed herself. Tasska had never been too fond of Aisha, always thinking that the woman was too wild and too short-tempered to be good at anything. How she had managed to receive the title of Ambassador in the first place was beyond her. Tasska wasn't one to laugh at people's short-comings, particularly ones of her own kind, but she knew Aisha had no one but herself to blame for it.
"Lady Tasska we have just received docking clearance on Sentinel III," one of the young helmsmen reported. The female grinned and rose to her feet.
"Good. Attention all flanking ships! Maintain orbit and await further instruction. If for whatever reason the X-GP tries to escape you have my permission to shoot them down! We'll take it back in pieces if we must. And send word to the Empire of our arrival."
"Alert the Empire!! We have arrived on Sentinel III!!" Cheers from Ctarl-Ctarl personnel could be heard throughout the ship as Tasska and her accomplice Zarfan headed towards the docking bay.
"Ugh. This is where they reside? Such a backwater planet."
"Now now, General. It's not very nice to turn your nose up at the less fortunate," Tasska replied with a slight grimace. She adjusted her cloak and fluffed out her hair, giving herself a once-over before she was to step out in public. Tasska did value her appearance, and wouldn't be caught dead wearing anything less than costly attire. The docking bay was busy that day, several people turned to stare at her. Tasska ignored them of course, wanting to get to where her prey had docked. The X-GP was docked in hanger twelve and its tiny crew were standing close by it. The tall form of Gene turned and waved invitingly.
"Hey how's it going, beautiful?"
"How dare you address her in such a manner you human scum!," General Zarfan growled. He stepped forward sizing the outlaw up. He was the same height, but broader shoulders, a huge trunk and long beige hair tied back in a tight ponytail. Gene seemed un-phased by the challenge, but held his hands up.
"Hey, calm done Big Guy. I'm not gonna do nuthin' I swear." Zarfan snorted and crossed his arms across his massive chest.
"The word of a lowly human means nothing to me. Just keep your filthy hands off her and speak to her with respect," the General grunted with a toothy sneer. Tasska couldn't help but chuckle, and tossed her hair.
"Now gentleman, let's settle this in a semi-civilized manner. Gene Starwind, you and your crew are being place under arrest in the name of the Ctarl-Ctarl Empire. Your ship is being taken under my command and you will be placed in prison to face execution later."
"..Gene, do something…,"Jim whined behind him.
"Arrested? Under what charges?" Tasska reached into her cloak and pulled out her portable computer. She pressed a few buttons and a holographic image of a large Ctarl-Ctarl vessel. Gene recognized it immediately as the ship he had first come across Aisha in…the Orta Hone-Hone. And passing dangerously close was Hilda's ship Horus.
"All Ctarl-Ctarl vessels keep a visual log of where they are and where they have been on previous missions, just for situations like this. I did some digging and found out that you were present on Hilda's ship at the time," Tasska closed her computer and replaced it in her cloak pocket, '…Therefore, we are holding you accountable for all damages to the Orta Hone-Hone."
"Are you serious? Just for a few scratches. Come on, you're not really sore over something that happened so long ago?," the red-haired outlaw asked. Zarfan reached forward too quickly for Gene to react, grabbing the man roughly around the neck.
"Watch your tone, human! We Ctarl-Ctarl take great pride in our vessels. A human like you could never understand the craftsmanship that goes into each one. That scruffy ship you have is an eye-sore and if it were up to me, I'd have it sent to the nearest scrap-yard."
"General Zarfan!," Tasska rested a gentle hand on his muscular forearm. The tall male hesitated before letting go and turned his back. Tasska sighed and returned her attention back to her captives.
"If you cooperate I might be able to get the counsel to grant you a trial first. Now, where is the rest of your crew? It's come to my attention that Aisha Clan-Clan has been associating herself with you, which makes her a traitor. There may be a chance of redemption for her though. Some of the council members take pity on her. Where is she?" Gene blinked and looked down upon the worried face of Melfina. He smiled reassuringly and gestured to follow him.
"She doesn't always tell us where she's going. But she may actually be back at headquarters. Why not come with us? Mel here is actually great cook."
"Pah! Human food does nothing for us. We Ctarl-Ctral have hearty appetites," Zarfan grunted as he proceeded to clean out his ears.
"Believe me, we know. That girl eats enough to feed an army," Jim put in as he ran his fingers through his hair.