A Fine Mess
Chapter 21 - Matron Mind Trip
The Arbitrator's vessel settled into the holding clamps, a heavy groan of stressed metal echoing through the docking bay. The moment they were stable Kh'val and Elder Kh'alik marched swiftly toward the airlock, intent on reaching the Grand Matron's docking platform before her ship arrived. In their haste they missed a message blinking on the console.
Kh'alik hurried down the stairs to the engineering level barking a litany of instructions to the Arbitrator behind him. "Do not make eye contact with her; she has an intuitive sense and can easily read your meanings even if you try to hide the truth. Do not speak unless she or I address you directly."
Kh'val followed immediately behind his sire and chuckled quietly at the imposing figure of the High Elder as he continually straightened his robes and armor, though subconsciously he checked his own appearance as well – the Grand Matron always made him uneasy, and to be exclusively in her presence sent a chill down the Arbitrator's spine.
"…and above all, do not – I repeat – DO NOT mention Kh'aan unless she questions you directly. Is that understood?"
"Yes, High Elder." Kh'val snorted at the stench of anxiety rolling from his sire in waves. So much for your stoic nature, 'High Elder'.
Kh'alik heard the sharp exhale from his Thirdborn, and was about to remind him of his precarious place when the door hissed open. He nearly tripped over his own feet when they came face to face with the Grand Matron herself. To make matters worse, Kh'val was unprepared for his abrupt halt and collided with his back, causing the Elder to stumble forward a step before regaining his balance.
"Grand Matron, wha…I…you…" Kh'alik could not seem to form a coherent thought as his mind struggled to maintain what little poise it could muster. The scent of extreme discomfort coming from the Arbitrator was not helpful either as it fueled his own unease. Before he could compose a fitting greeting Grand Matron Sh'aan turned down the corridor, and her assistant silently directed them to follow.
"Elder…"
"Be silent!"
"But she…"
"Silence!"
Kh'alik could not fathom what the Arbitrator was thinking, but he did not need it clouding his already confused mind. How could she be here already? Why were we not informed? Could she already know what has happened to Kh'aan?
Kh'val followed the High Elder, struggling to maintain his silence while his mind screamed with a thousand questions. His sire's posture remained as straight as a ceremonial spear, but Kh'val could smell the dread coursing through him, and wondered if the Grand Matron could as well.
Grand Matron Sh'aan strode purposefully through the corridors, chuckling quietly at the amount of panic radiating from the two hunters following her. Their unease was testament to the secrets being withheld, and she was determined to get to the bottom of this colossal mess no matter how much further discomfort she had to inflict on them.
They reached the corridor containing the meeting chambers, but rather than turn the corner Grand Matron Sh'aan continued onward as though oblivious to what should have been their destination. Kh'alik grew more disturbed as each step took them further from the relative stability of the meeting rooms. A quick glance over his shoulder proved that Kh'val was thinking the same thing, evidenced by a nervous twitch of the Arbitrator's mandibles. He turned his attention forward in time to nearly collide with Sh'aan; she had stopped in the corridor to address her assistant. Kh'alik regained his composure and tried to appear 'patient' though he felt far from it. A moment later the young aide nodded to her superior before hurrying down the corridor; Sh'aan glanced at them before continuing their march. She passed every conceivable meeting location and ascended the central access stair, much to the Elder's surprise. Several turns and corridors later they followed her into the starboard arboretum – a large internal garden used not only to supply necessary plant stuffs for food and medicinal purposes, but also used infrequently for meditation.
Grand Matron Sh'aan led them down the winding path to the central courtyard, a roughly circular area containing several curved benches surrounding a large fountain. She gestured to the benches before making herself comfortable on the edge of the fountain – she did not miss Kh'alik's surprise at her casual demeanor and choice of venue. Elder and Arbitrator sat rigid on two of the benches and tried not to look at each other. They heard the door open through the foliage, and soon after Sh'aan's assistant approached carrying a tray of beverages and fruit, which she set on the edge of the fountain before stepping to the side to take notes of their meeting. Once she could delay no longer, Sh'aan addressed them.
"From the speed that you were travelling I suppose you had hoped to arrive before me?"
Kh'alik knew right away from her inquiry that she already knew more than they could guess, and that he had no choice but to answer truthfully – all of his carefully prepared speeches were useless. "We had hoped to, yes, but were obviously not swift enough."
The regal female caught a twitch from the Arbitrator. "None the less, you must have outfitted your vessel with some impressive modifications to arrive so swiftly, Kh'val."
Kh'val snapped to attention when she spoke to him by name. I must answer, she has spoken to me. But what can I say? What does she know? "I…y…yes, Grand Matron. Over the years I have made…some…additions."
Sh'aan's eyes narrowed as she studied the hunter. Though you hold your secrets close, Arbitrator, it will not help you. She reclined on the edge of the fountain until leaning on her elbow, and her assistant stepped forward immediately to place a stool under her feet. "I suppose you both wonder why you are here, hmmm?"
Kh'alik squirmed under the weight of her question. "You have requested our presence, Honored Matron, but have not explained your purpose." He caught a light scent of annoyance from the Arbitrator. Do not anger her, you fool! To his chagrin Sh'aan's gaze lit upon Kh'val like laser sights, and Kh'alik immediately grasped why she had requested the Arbitrator's presence. Kh'val may be skilled in deception, but in this instance he is grandly outmatched.
"Kh'val, is there something you wish to say?" Her voice was calm but her eyes challenged the Arbitrator, who visibly shrank away from her.
"No, Grand Matron." Kh'val tried to steel his features but her glowing eyes were unhinging him.
Sh'aan sat up straight on the edge of the fountain and pushed the stool away with her foot. She pierced the Arbitrator with her gaze until she saw his fear plainly. You do not fear me, Kh'val. You fear what I know. Before either hunter could blink, her demeanor changed again and she smiled warmly.
"Tell me, Kh'alik, have you ever heard of a Mhneschk?"
The High Elder's confusion was genuine, and relief flooded him at being able to answer truthfully. "No, Grand Matron, I have not. If I may ask, what is a Mhneschk?"
Sh'aan sensed Kh'val's extreme discomfort as though it were her own. "It is a space-faring creature, Elder, the likes of which most have never encountered." Her eyes flicked to the Arbitrator for a moment before returning to Kh'alik. "It is a living phenomenon that could easily be mistaken for a harmless astronomical nebula. These creatures are thousands of years old, if not more. I have not seen one myself, but the archives of the Grand Matron allude to their existence."
Kh'val sat very still hoping to spontaneously cloak. His mind could not process coherent thought, instead babbling frantically like a chastised pup. She knows. How could she know? No, it is only my imagination. Then why does she keep looking at me!
"Kh'val?" The Arbitrator jumped in his seat, much to Sh'aan's amusement. "Have you encountered one of these entities?" She knew that he would not dare lie to her, and watched in his eyes as he tried to come up with a suitable fabrication before resigning himself to the truth.
"Yes, I have seen one before." His insides churned but he refused to give in to her. "Many years ago."
Sh'aan studied him closely knowing that he was holding something back. "Then you are one of the lucky few to survive an encounter." She saw him flinch at the implication that he did not merely 'witness' the creature, but before she could continue her questioning Kh'alik interjected.
"Forgive me, Grand Matron, but why is this creature of any interest?"
The regal female averted her gaze from the Arbitrator with difficulty. "These entities are predators. They seem harmless to passing vessels, but once engulfed a ship will be trapped and slowly digested."
Kh'val saw his opening to feign ignorance. "Digested? It eats ships?"
"Yes. A vessel caught in the gaseous interior of a Mhneschk will slowly be dissolved, along with anyone inside." The look in her eyes informed Kh'val that he was not fooling anyone.
Kh'alik felt superfluous with the Grand Matron's attention fixed on his Thirdborn, but his confusion was growing and demanded answers. "But what interest is this to us?"
Sh'aan stood and slowly walked around the fountain. "These creatures exist because they feed, and are able to find food – in the form of unsuspecting vessels looking for somewhere to hide. A harmless nebula would be a good place to elude capture, and only too late would such fugitives realize their mistake." Having completed her circuit of the fountain she resumed her seat.
"Our true purpose here is Kh'aan." At the very mention of the Firstborn's name both hunters flinched. "He is out there right now trying to escape with his life, and if he encounters one of those entities will be caught completely off guard."
Kh'alik straightened in his seat. "Kh'aan has chosen his fate. If he wishes to disgrace his clan and go rogue with an ooman pet, he should pay for his treachery."
Kh'val, unable to hold his tongue any longer, voiced his agreement. "If he finds such a creature, would it not be a fitting punishment for a Bad Blood?"
The Grand Matron shot to her feet with a roar that shook them to their bones and made their blood run cold. "Kh'aan's punishment is not for you to decide! You will find him, and you will bring them both back to me ALIVE!" Her eyes flashed as she stepped forward, and it took all of her control not to maul the both of them for their audacity.
Kh'alik bowed his head in submission and from the corner of his vision saw Kh'val do the same. "As you request, Grand Matron, so shall it be done." He raised his eyes to see that she was staring intently at the Arbitrator.
"I expect, Kh'val, that you will do everything in your power to return your brother and his companion safely." Sh'aan saw him wince before he met her gaze.
Kh'val wanted to scream in frustration but managed to keep his tone neutral. "Of course, Grand Matron. I will do as you have instructed."
Sh'aan stepped back. "Then I suggest you leave now. There is not a moment to lose." The Arbitrator stood, mirrored by the High Elder, and both bowed before heading for the door.
"Elder Kh'alik?" He stopped and turned around, and heard Kh'val pause behind him. Grand Matron Sh'aan casually stooped to choose a berry from the fruit tray. "We have a meeting with the Council in two hours concerning the Announcement Ceremony. I expect you to join me."
He could not believe what he was hearing. "With all due respect, Grand Matron, I feel it would be best for me to accompany Kh'val." When Sh'aan met his eyes he tried to convey his meaning. He must not be sent after Kh'aan alone!
"I am sure you do, but I have complete trust that Kh'val will carry out this mission to the best of his ability. He does not require your supervision." She glanced past the Elder. "You have your instructions, Arbitrator. You will report to me directly on a daily basis."
Kh'val clenched a fist behind his back and bowed again. "Yes, Grand Matron." He turned to leave again when her voice cut through him like hot metal.
"I want them both alive, Kh'val. Do not disappoint me." Sh'aan watched as his shoulders tensed before he disappeared through the foliage. The tension radiating off of Kh'alik drew her attention to his astonished face. His mouth opened and closed several times before he was able to speak.
"There is something you are not telling me, Sh'aan." He fixed her with his most piercing gaze that usually had hunters cowering in fear. "What is it that you know?"
The regal female resumed her seat on the fountain and began to peel another fruit with her talons. "I know many things, High Elder. You should see to your affairs before our meeting. You know how council meetings have a tendency to continue endlessly."
Kh'alik bowed slightly before turning on his heel and marching from the arboretum. The frustrated female sighed heavily knowing that the worst was yet to come. Her assistant stepped forward.
"If I may be so bold, Grand Matron, they both seemed to be hiding something."
Sh'aan smiled to herself before rising."You are very observant, Mr'sah. You honor the sires of your lineage." The young aide glowed from the praise, and Sh'aan made a mental note to inform her revered fifth sire of her exceptional service. She snatched one more piece of fruit before gesturing to the tray. "Take the remainder of our snack down to the slave quarters and then meet me in my chambers."
The young assistant nodded, but her gaze fell longingly on a platter of purple star-shaped fruit; Sh'aan laughed. "Alright. Take all but the cizili. You may have that for yourself."
Mr'sah grinned broadly and bowed low before hurrying to complete her tasks. The Grand Matron watched her for a moment before heading to her personal chambers. She needed privacy in which to organize her thoughts before the council meeting, and wondering if Kh'val would keep his word made it difficult to concentrate.
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High Elder Kh'alik shuffled through the corridors in a daze. No matter how he turned the thoughts in his head, he remained wary and confused. What is she up to? It is obvious that she distrusts Kh'val, but if that is the case why would she send him after Kh'aan alone? Would it not be more prudent to send us both, or someone else entirely? And why did she become so angry when we voiced our opinions about Kh'aan's punishment? Surely it would be in the best interests of the clan that he be punished for his actions, so that no others follow in his footsteps.
The Elder received a strange look from a passing healer, and tried to rearrange his features into an unreadable mask. Perhaps she wants to hear his side of the story before passing judgment. Or maybe she has no intention of punishing him. He snorted at such a ridiculous notion. Absurd! He has abandoned his clan, his birthright and his duty to mate with a human. Like any Bad Blood he will face the ultimate punishment for this betrayal of his clan. Kh'alik halted in a juncture and squared his shoulders, a low growl escaping from his throat. The Council will see reason, and Kh'aan will bow to their will.
Sufficiently reassured, the High Elder continued to his chambers to bathe and collect his thoughts before meeting with the Council.
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Kayla stared bleary-eyed at the scanner display. It had been several hours since she and the hunters had convened in the Command Center to analyze the strange planet, and though she was intrigued, her exhaustion was taking its toll. At one point Kh'aan had noticed that she was fidgeting in her boredom and frustration, and had set up a small corner of the console for her to study the visual scan on her own. The grateful marine knew that her constant questions were annoying the hunters, and though she could not read the symbols in their language, she knew her way around a graphics display. After a few minutes of instruction and deductive reasoning, she was confident enough with the controls that Kh'aan left her to her own devices and returned to the discussion with his comrades. She had studied every bit of the planet that the scan indicated, noting the nearly flat surface elevation, the extensive ocean surrounding less than a dozen small islands, and was intrigued that the planet seemed to spin on a backwards axis. Either that or it's upside down. It will be weird readjusting to sunrise and sunset directions.
The human stretched her arms to the ceiling and let out a loud yawn before resetting her eyes on the scan. She wanted to enhance the view to see the surface up close, but her groggy mind forgot which indicator was the 'zoom' button. She was about to just give up and rejoin Kh'aan when her elbow rested on a small square in the bottom of the screen. The view immediately zoomed in closer to the surface and she felt an excited jolt of wakefulness. Eureka! What have we got here? The water is so clear! I bet I could see all the way to the bottom swimming on the surface. Woah! I wouldn't want to swim near them! What are they? Whales? A small group of very large shadows passed under the surface of the sea in her display, and the marine felt a childlike moment of glee at the possibility of exploring this strange planet. She felt her eyes drooping again and tried to stay focused, the continuous clicking dialogue from the hunters acting like a metronome in the background of her mind. Let's see…if the little red blips indicate life, there isn't much on the islands. The oceans seem teeming with…HEY! She lifted her finger from the panning command and zoomed closer to the surface of the ocean. Deep beneath the surface in one of the deeper portions there seemed to be an abundance of life, but what looked like swarms in her view appeared entirely too organized to be simple schools of sea life. What if this place is inhabited by mer-people or something? Those clusters look more like how a city looks from space. She panned back to the largest island – less an island than the crown of a dead volcano jutting from the ocean. The central valley looks really lush. If there aren't any caves, we could definitely build a few huts. She zoomed out again and briefly scanned the remaining islands before returning to the volcanic crater. It seems to be the only one with possible shelter. The rest look like grassy sandbars. Well, as long as it's a dead volcano…
Suddenly the marine's eyes snapped open and she sat up, surprised to be nestled in a rather luxurious bed of furs. She wondered briefly how she got there, but her fatigue reasserted itself and she swiftly fell back to sleep, not hearing a low purr as the door closed.
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Kh'aan had been standing at the console discussing whether or not they would be able to land the ship when he heard a light thud from the corner. He and Shl'nar turned at the same time to see that Kayla had fallen asleep on the console – her finger was poised over the magnification command causing the image to repeatedly zoom.
"Is she alright?" The aide's concern seemed genuine, much to Kh'aan's surprise.
"Yes. I did not realize how long we have been awake. She needs to rest."
Shl'nar did not understand. "But you only just awoke today. Why would she need sleep already?"
Kh'aan made the strange 'silence' gesture with his finger as he approached the female. "Oomans require more sleep than we do, as well as more frequent feedings. It has been at least 4 hours more than she is accustomed to."
Aide and pilot watched intrigued as he very gently picked up the human, first tilting her upright in the seat and then slipping his arms underneath her. He turned to Shl'nar with the question obvious in his eyes, and the aide did not hesitate.
"All of the guest chambers are empty, though I put your possessions in the first." Kh'aan nodded his thanks and slipped silently from the command deck. The pilot snorted in disbelief.
"Such care…I would think it unnecessary if I had not already guessed his feelings for her."
Shl'nar turned to him. "Feelings for her? They are comrades; that is all."
Ti'nuk grunted. "If you think so. I cannot fathom any other reason for his quest except that he has feelings of a personal nature for the ooman."
Shl'nar knelt next the pilot's chair, his tone heavy with caution. "Do not mention that to Kh'aan. As far as he told me, he feels that she is an honorable warrior who did not deserve to freeze to death. He may take offense if you suggest that he has that kind of interest in her."
Ti'nuk was quick to clarify his meaning. "I would never suggest anything to him. I only wonder myself." She is an interesting creature. It would not be a surprise if he did.
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Kh'aan walked swiftly to the guest corridor and entered the first room. The first thing he saw was the remains of his life spread out on the sleeping platform. Now is not the time, he growled quietly. He balanced the female in the crook of one arm and cleared away a space to lay her down. Kayla moaned when he released her before she curled up in a ball. Kh'aan chuckled quietly and quickly moved his possessions to a nearby table before pulling up a fur to cover her. He stepped back to the wall to dim the lighting, and was about to leave the room when something made him stop in the threshold and turn around. Aside from her heat signature he could barely make out her form, but a moment later he saw her sit up abruptly and gaze at the furs in confusion before settling down again. Purring lightly, he slipped from the room.
He arrived back in Command to catch a strange look from the pilot. Before he could speak Shl'nar stepped forward. "How long will she sleep?"
Kh'aan cocked his head to the side in thought, and then shrugged – the human gesture was not lost on the aide. "At least six hours, perhaps more if her fatigue is great."
"Is it safe to leave her unattended?" The hunter growled for a moment before answering and Shl'nar realized that he'd said something wrong again. "I mean no offense. You know your companion better than I. I should not have asked."
Kh'aan's gaze softened. "It is alright, I should not be so defensive. I had the same thoughts myself for a time. I think she knows to ask before disturbing anything."
They settled back to studying the planet, but Shl'nar could not stop Ti'nuk's theory from plaguing his mind. What if he does have 'feelings' for her?
After a few more hours of staring at the console, Kh'aan and Shl'nar decided to take a break and rest their eyes. Ti'nuk, left to his own devices for a while, found himself curious about what the human was looking at on the side console. He set the ship on automatic orbit and slipped into the other seat. What would a human find interesting about this tiny planet? He activated the screen and immediately saw a close view of the central valley in the crater. He and the others had been studying the same land mass, and so instead he cycled through some of the previous command actions. After a few moments he stopped the scan, focusing on the clusters of lifesigns under the vast ocean. She spent quite a while examining this area, if the time span is accurate. Why would she find groups of marine life so fascinating? He was about to access the sub-surface scan when he heard footsteps approaching. Though not concerned with being caught, he did not want the Firstborn thinking that he did not trust his companion, and so he quickly deactivated the panel and returned to his seat. Perhaps later I will ask.
Kh'aan and Shl'nar entered Command to find Ti'nuk where they left him, though the pilot wore a lopsided expression of amusement as though he had discovered a secret. Shl'nar stepped forward to resume studying the scan, but turned when Kh'aan passed him to approach the side panel. He took the seat vacated by Kayla and opened the scan she had been studying.
"Is something the matter, honored warrior?" The aide walked over to peer over his shoulder.
Kh'aan cycled through the screens Kayla had been monitoring. "No. I had been wondering what she was studying over here, so I thought I'd take a look." To his surprise, Ti'nuk spoke up.
"Actually I just did, Firstborn." The pilot turned and rose from his seat to join them. "She had been studying the central volcano as we were. I believe that she has also come to the conclusion that it would be the best place to search for shelter." Ti'nuk paused to gauge their reactions – aside from surprise he sensed no reprimand, and so continued. "She had also been studying several clusters of lifesigns under the oceans…here, and here."
Kh'aan and Shl'nar leaned forward and the aide spoke first. "Why would they be so interesting?"
Kh'aan mused for a few minutes while Shl'nar and Ti'nuk speculated. After a few minutes he sat upright and activated the sub-surface scan. The screen blinked before zooming in past the surface of the ocean. To their surprise it revealed a vast network of undersea ridges that seemed to be pocketed with caverns, and within each appeared well organized groups of lifeforms. Kh'aan sat back with a surprised grunt.
"What does that look like to you, Shl'nar?"
The aide stared at the screen for a long moment before he realized what Kh'aan was asking. "The only thing I can compare it to is seeing a lighted settlement from orbit."
Kh'aan nodded while a sinister smile crossed his features. "Leave it to Kayla to find sentient life, if that is what we are seeing."
"Why is that such a surprise, Firstborn?" Ti'nuk could not contain his curiosity.
Kh'aan winced at the title but tried to ignore it. "It just reminds me of something she once said. Let us hope that those life forms are completely aquatic."
He leaned back over the screen to pan over the surface. Shl'nar leaned over to the pilot and offered a bit of advice. "He really hates his birthright, Ti'nuk. It's hard for me as well, but try not to call him 'Firstborn'". The pilot turned away to hide a laugh but nodded in agreement.
Kh'aan snorted quietly at Shl'nar's 'advice' before turning to face them. "Tomorrow we will land and explore. We can see no more from here, and the sooner we figure out if there is shelter the better off we will be." They nodded in agreement and plotted a course of action for the next day. Kh'aan hid a smile as a thought took root in his mind. I should tether Kayla to my side or she may get lost following her own curiosity. Another thought made him laugh out loud. Perhaps not…she would probably beat me to death with the tether.
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AN: In case you're wondering, and have already figured out my naming parameters…Mr'aal's first letters would normally not have gone to a female of his lineage, but Mr'sah's matron went Bad Blood, and the young assistant chose to identify herself with the revered sire of their line rather than be marked by her matron's name.