Beyond the Gate
Chapter 14 The Tanith Histories part 4
Ascretta
The Morning after Tharons arrival
My eyes snapped open, I still couldnt believe I wasnt dreaming. Tharon showed up, of all the people I never expected to have fall into my lap, so literally aside from Claire.
My own husband, Tharon, had finally shown up. And he looked every bit as Puss in Boots for that matter too. I got out of bed, distangling myself from the pile that Tharon and I had become, fur, arms and legs, just the two of us.
I saw storm clouds on the horizon as the sun rose. I always was an early riser. The problem however was the mere fact that the horizon was the other sides of the shipyard, and more then likely, farther off. And there was a lot of storms on the horizon, lighting was flashing constantly in the far distance.
I sat for a long moment still in shock of my husband landing on that low midlevel section of a stairwell outside the controlroom of the Ascretta shipyard city. Tharon snored and purred on the bed, I was half tempted to rejoin him
OK fine I was completely tempted, but Claire and Tunia had also taken up residence in the other room of our currently two bedroom apparently, apartment we had picked out for ourselves. It offered a perfect sunrise and sunset views.
Tunia herself was awake and unable to sleep as she paced in the kitchen muttering to herself randomly. The silver and white tabby woman before me was in a white dress similar to what Claire and I wore. I watched her for a minute. Finally I couldnt take it anymore
"Tunia" I said to her tersely, quickly, calmly.
"Huh ?" She stopped her rapid mutterings and pacings and looked at me.
"Whats bugging you ?" I asked her
She sighed in thought and tried to figure out something. "Have you ever studied quantum physics ?" She asked me
"Only to make conversation" I replied to her, which told her I knew next to nothing whatsoever of what she was about to tell me. "Why ?"
"I got to thinking, when I woke up I that room, Claire helping me find clothing and such. What about others that show up here ? I mean, what did you first think when you got here ?" She asked me
That was a good question. "That I cant really answer right away" I said simply in thought. "Though I could really only think of eating something, and finding where I was when I found I was alone." I told her
"So what happens when we're transported here, I mean, do you remember any of it ?" She asked me, I looked at her confused. "I mean sure I remember the hologram showing up while we were inspecting the tablet at Tell Basta, next thing I could remember was waking up with a splitting headache and Claire over me asking if I was alright." Tunia told me.
"Do you remember your old name ?" I asked her. If she could remember her old name, since she remembered Tell Basta, which somehow felt familiar even to me. Maybe we could get somewhere on this one.
She nodded. "Yes, I was named Mai, my husband is Mahumed, but I had a nightmare last night and now I'm worried I will never see him again" She told me. I sighed, I had a nightmare similar that I would never see Tharon again, and there he was, maybe it was just a delayed reaction ?
I shrugged in thought. "Its possible its just on a time delay ?" I suggested.
"Maybe" She replied, she wasnt sure, but I felt sure that something with Tharon showing up when he did, or was it selective ?
"Whats really bugging you, Mai ?" I asked her
"Something tells me there are children out there, in those storms." Mai said in reply, though she later insisted on being called Tunia.
"Children ?" I hadnt thought of that, if children were infact showing up on this planet in the storms that could mean trouble, and lots of issues for the kids, and their parents back on earth wanting answers of what happened to them.
"Yeah, somehow I get the feeling we're going to be parents, you and Tharon, me, maybe Claire. Possibly the others." Tunia said to me as I was quiet in thought, "Its possible some of those kids right now are out there, scared, alone, trying to figure out where they are at this moment."
"So are you saying we should go and try to find wherever those storms are and try to find new arrivals ?" I asked her. She nodded. Going out in those storms, to me, felt like a very bad idea. I thought a moment, I had my radio from the jumper, and connected with Ben. "Give me a minute, Tunia, try and rest." I said to her.
I went out onto the balcony, "Ben, you there ?" I asked on my headband radio
"I am" Came the reply. "I have been monitoring the storms, the same energy signature from Atlantis when Major Pendergast disappeared and came here, each lightning strike is the same signature. I cant say from where or what planet however" Ben said to me. Answering my unasked question.
I smiled in relief, trust Ben to answer what I never asked but wanted to ask. "How many ?" I asked
"Not counting Tunia or Tharon, I am counting an additional seven lightning surges, and seven new lifesigns in the general east direction towards the woods. Maybe in them." Ben also had a worried tone to his voice however.
"What is it ?" I asked, I knew the worried tone meant trouble.
"I am also picking up a cluster of lifesigns similar to you and the troupe, only they are not you and the troupe." Ben replied.
"Can you tell what they are ?" I asked turning to the holo panel next to me and activating it, scanning the area that Ben was talking about for life signs.
"I can send you the data of what to look for. But I am counting several hundred, if not several thousand of them possibly tens of thousands." Ben told me, the holo panel lit up with lifesigns, a massive landscape of a city grew on my screen as it zoomed out. "Fortunately that is not on a peir of the shipyard. But the lifesigns ringed in gold, those are Furling, and I am counting, six of them amid the red."
"What are the red ?" I asked him.
"That I dont know" He replied, "But I can try to find out."
"Please do, in the mean time I have to meet up with some friends, and Ben. Thanks" I said in reply.
"Im just trying to help where I can. If you need me for anything, you know where to find me." Ben told me, he then signed off. Today was interesting, Ben was going to try and find more information, even try and see what the lifesigns he could find were in terms of age.
I found myself wondering if Tunia was right. Maybe there were children showing up. Looking at the holo panel I sighed, grunted and then turned it off, thinking only one word. Pollicles.
Somehow I could remember fighting them. Cutting them down relentlessly in combat before I myself fell inside a structure. I sighed and shook my head. I heard footsteps.
"Up already dear ?" Came the voice I was longing to hear. Us, parents, impossible, but possible the more I thought about it.
"Yeah, I'm out here" I replied, I hadnt eaten breakfast yet, I still hadnt figured out how to make food or get the food making system to work just yet for that matter.
Tharon stepped onto the balcony as the door slid open. "Good morning dear, it felt kind of weird to wake up and not have you on my arm again. I still think its a dream" He said, I smiled and stood up
We embraced and I kissed him as the sun rose. For a good minute our lips were locked in a delicate kiss. When I broke the kiss I asked him. "Still think its a dream ?"
He smiled, we touched forheads. "If we can start every day like this, yeah, I think I can get used to this dream" he said with a soft smile.
I laughed briefly, then told him what Ben just told me. Then I said "We might need to go find Tugger and some of the others, try and train them, I'll go find Zane and Zackary. With us four we can train Tugger and his guys in combat. Its possible we're not alone on this planet"
Tharon knew what I meant, he too had a similar bad dream of being in combat, where he woke up in fact. Fighting and defending the controlroom so those within it could safely get somewhere else through the stargate. He nodded. "Go, find the others, I'll find Tugger." He said to me. He trusted me with Zane, the two were close friends might have been why for that matter.
I nodded and went into the bedroom, quickly getting dressed I snapped up my Ori Staff and ensured my asgard shield was on. And then went looking for Zane. I didnt have to go far, because he was working out, doing situps in the common area of our structure. "Zane!" I called to him from two levels overhead.
"Down here" He was two levels below me as I arrived, I scrambled down the stairs, I saw his gear, including his asgard shield, was stacked neatly nearby. "Something on your mind ?" Zane asked as he came up from a situp and briefly held himself there, looking toards me.
"Yeah, I want you to get Zack and find the Chief. I'm going to go let Munkus know some... important stuff I just found out. We got some training to do, and its possible we might need to set up a nursery of some kind for children. Though I am not sure when they will start showing up." I had told Zane about Ben, and how Ben was working to track further energy bursts like the one that had Claire disappear from Atlantis, and he was also very glad as I was that Tharon had shown up.
Zane and I were strictly all business when it came to our relationship. Zane was never married, he just didnt care for that kind of life, being single, maybe adopting a child to continue his family name could be possible, but otherwise he just couldnt see himself getting married. But he knew that I was a married woman and because of that, he carried himself like a proper gentleman, never making advances on me.
He did two more situps. Speaking between them. "Kids huh... that's a... thing to worry... about" he started doing jumping jacks for a good minute before doing pushups. After his third pushup he said "Alright, I'll go find Zack, where do we meet ?"
"On the grass outside this building. I have to find Munkus and tell him what Ben told me. And then get Tugger to meet up with Tharon for a sparring session" I told him. He nodded from the floor.
"Ah" He replied, he did a pushup. "See you there" He said as he continued his pushups before getting to his feet. By time he was putting on his bandolier of throwing knives and picking up his Asgard Shield I was already down another flight of stairs looking for Munkus.
I found him in the hallway, wandering along with another of the troupe. An older looking fellow, clearly not Tugger. Apparently this old guy was Old Deuteronomy ? I had been briefly introduced, but given the guy looked incredibly young at the moment, the term old was not really needed. However everyone already refered to him as Old D anyhow and the nickname stuck.
"Is something wrong ?" Munkus asked me upon seeing me. I looked between him and Old D, figured it better to just say what was on my mind right then t oboth of them. Apparently Munkus relied on Old D for advice.
I nodded. "Yes" something indeed was wrong.
"So, pray tell, what is wrong ?" Munkus asked, he sounded worried given the state I was in, I was worried, came blasting my way to find him. All because of what Ben had said.
"Ben says he found more Furlings across the shipyard. Beyond its boundraies in fact there is a huge city. Filled with life. But we dont know what kind of life, all we do know, is there is six of our kind in that same city. Possibly young children." I told Munkus
Munkus and Old D traded looks, "Something tells me we would run into them sooner or later" Old D mused.
"Who ?" I asked, "Run into who ?" I looked between the two.
Munkus sighed and ran a hand down his chin before saying. "During the musical theres a song, a poem called the Aweful Battle of the Pekes and the Pollicles. We had no idea they were real, we just did it as a fun thing once a year and during the musical" He explained
"So you think those in that city are Pollicles ?" I asked
"Very possible, but we havent seen hide nor hair of them since we got here. So we have no idea if they're holding those six you mentioned, or if they know there are more than those initial six" Old D said in thought. He was not present at the ball when the pollicles had initally attacked in an attempt to destroy the Jellicle tribe. But now they learned they were Furlings by being here on Ascretta.
"Its not something you would know" Munkus said, unless I had seen the musical, which Tharon and I had been two, a few times if I could remembmer correctly.
I put up a hand in thought. "I just thought of something, everyone involved in the musical is here right ? All of you, all twenty five, including Macavity ?" I asked, Munkus nodded.
"Yeah, all of us, including him, are here. Its weird, its like we became our characters, and also have memories of being these cats in a junkyard outside Windsor." Munkus said
"What can you remember, outside of being an actor or dancer ?" I asked, "Are you sure you do not have any military training at all ?" I looked between the two
Munkus shook his head. But it was Old D who spoke. "Only Quaxo had any military training, but based..." He said as I looked to him expecting something to work with, "But based on the data crystals we found. Tugger, Brutus, Pouncival, Mungojerry and Rumpleteazer all had military experience, even the older ones did too, Tumblebrutus and also Skimbleshanks. They were the military apparently."
"Well, now is the time to don the armory. Its gotta be here somewhere." I mused, I knew exactly where to look for weaponry and gear. "You know what nevermind" I said, I had a impish look on my face.
"What ?" Munkus asked
"I know exactly where to get some gear. I wont be long." I replied, I turned and bolted down the hall, Ori staff in hand as I jogged along. It wasnt going to be the typical gear that the Furlings of old were used to either. It was time to give them some major upgrades.
And I knew just how to do it.
I reached the jumper and activated the door controls with my key. Only Claire and I so far along with my husband Tharon could pilot it safely. But none of them knew what I was going to do. I had my codes fully valid still so I went hunting. Getting into the jumper I went to the pilot seat as the rear hatch sealed behind me. I lifted off the ground soundlessly and cloaked as I flew away.
Munkus and Old D had followed me as far as the bottom of the steps to the tower the troupe was using for their living quarters. They watched dumbstruck as I lifted off soundlessly and disappeared from all senses.
I had the screen active for me as a map to guide me to the first armory, then the next, I picked up all sorts of weaponry, and also first aid kits. Even going so far as to grabbing another handful of asgard personal shields and kull suits. I figured that Tugger would want to show off his skill as a former General brought back to his homeworld.
Ori staffs, kull blasters, jaffa staff weapons I left alone. I wasnt yet sure if the human weapons could work for what I wanted. I picked up a SAW A2 and hefted it. It wasnt exactly what I liked, but it was a heavy weapon, My feline hands still fit easily into it.
I smiled, there was no way however of knowing if anyone else could know how to handle such weapons. I put the machine gun back. Then my eyes fell on something I had missed greatly, the antimateriel rifle sat there as if newly placed there just for me. I picked it up, it was heavy at first, but then its weight felt just right, and I didnt have to strain as I held it.
I smiled. I could spy on those pollicles, if that was what they were. "Ben" I radioed.
"Here" he replied almost instantly.
"Have you been able to find out what kind of lifesigns that are not Furling, that we're dealing with ?" I asked as I loaded the jumpers rear compartments with the weapons, Ori Staffs and Kull blasters, along with a full suit of Kull armor for Tugger. I corrected myself mentally to Captain Tugger. Right now until we knew exactly what we were up against. I was ranking soldier.
"Yes" Ben replied. "But you're not gonna like it"
"Give me ten minutes and I'll come to you." I said to him, I went back to work loading the jumper, a dozen staff weapons, a dozen kull vanbraces, a single suit of kull armor, and a dozen asgard personal shields. And finally my new sniper rifle.
I smiled and locked the armory door. I went to the jumper and got in. Flying back towards the outlaying sprawl of towers we now called home unseen until I chose to decloak.
By time I arrived, Zane had found Zackary, and they had both met up with Tugger and Tharon. The latter two of which were practising attack techiques, and from what I could see, Tugger was a fast learner. And was more concerned with defense and attack, over speed and tactical movements.
As I came in for landing the group came to the jumper, everyone in awe of it execept for Tharon, Munkus and Old D had already witnessed it when I took off so quickly without so much as explaining. I shut down the jumper and took the key, pocketing it I picked up the Kull armor, I opened the rear hatch, the back door slid apart and a ramp slid from the floor as I stepped through it, I tossed the kull armor to Tugger. "Here" I called to him, "You're gonna need this"
He caught it and looked at the parcel confused "Whats this for ?"
"That armor will stop everything short of a nuke" I told him, I smiled, "Put it on." I then turned and went back into the jumper with Tharon and Zane following. As Tugger put the armor on I was more concerned with ensuring that Tharon had a pair of kull blasters, as well as Zackary and the others.
I handed out the Ori Staff weapons as everyone came for one, each name called they stepped forwards, and Zane was going to drill them briefly in movements and brief tactical assements. In the mean time, Tugger and Tharon were going to spar with each other.
"What is all this for ?" Munkus asked when I handed him an Ori staff.
"Ben said we're not alone on this planet. He also told me exactly what we're facing." I replied, I had stopped by the centeral control room of the shipyard. Ben had told me everything he could based on sensor data alone. Every red dot was a Pollicle, every gold dot was a Furling. Every green dot was wildlife. Everything in gray depending on shape was a wall or tree or hill.
"And what exactly are we up against ?" Old D asked as he kindly took an Ori staff, and a Asgard personal shield bracelet I offered him.
"Policles" I replied, both mancats stared at me. "According to Ben there is easily fifty thousand if not more, a few dozen kiloemters southwest of the shipyards outlaying city." I said
"Shipyard ?" Munkus asked me.
I smirked and brought up the key crystal, activating a projection from the Jumpers open hatch, "This section of towers and buildings, the whole hexagonal in pattern, its all part of a much larger structure." I said to him as the map zoomed out to show the seven teired massive structure. "The pollicles are several kilometers southwest of this peir" I pointed at the southwest pointing peir. Directly across from where we had made our new home.
They all stared in awe at the sheer size of the shipyard, the centeral section was literally easily the size of Atlantis, and the seven peirs were the shipyard landing pads, refit stations, drydocks, you name it. All of it was entirely automated too. Finally Munkus got his mouth and brain to work together and asked
"Where is this... Pollicle city ?" I moved the map around, zooming out further, and found it. We stared it for a minute or so before Munkus became thoughtful.
"Ben was able to locate six other Furlings in this mass of red. He also decerned that the gold is Furling, the red is Pollicle, and the green is natural wildlife" I explained the color types. "All that gray, those are walls or trees"
"There is easily several hundred there" Munkus said, Tharon I saw was also quiet in thought.
"Ben estimated nearly twelve thousand in this area alone" I corrected, By then Tugger had donned the kull outfit, and it was surprisingly light. He didnt look too happy of his thick neck fur being smothered, but once he saw the holographic map my puddlejumper projected of what we were up against. He smirked. I looked to him. "How is it feel ?"
"Surprisingly light" Tugger replied. It was snug to his body, and he looked great. "Though it smothers my fur a bit." He complained, I smiled in reply.
I sighed, there was nothing to help that "That is to be expected" I replied simply. "Once you have the helmet on, you'll appear as any other Kull warrior that the SGC came across. Its a complicated story but the armor is from an alien race and made with alien materiel, it can withstand weapons fire from anything from a full twelve gage buckshot point blank to a nuke. It also easily deflects knife attacks." I explained, I saw that he still had yet to put the asgard shield on. "That asgard personal shield will allow you to withstand pretty much anything thrown your way, even magic. And if you get launched into space, the shield will cycle fresh air so long as you remain calm too."
Claire stepped into view as I was speaking, I handed her another Ori staff to give to Tunia, though Tharon had spotted my sniper rifle strapped to the wall over one of the jumpers bench seats. "I see you found another one huh ?" He said, a smile on his face. I smirked and nodded. The .50 caliber anti anything rifle however could not kill a kull. But hooo boy it did take down so many Priors.
"Did Tunia explain the rest of her thinking ?" I asked to Munkus and Old D
"Yes" Old D replied, "She mentioned the possiblity of children joining us. All of us are young adults, so I dont think that will be much of a problem, if kittens are discovered, I started Jellylorum and Jennyanydots on setting up a nursery of a sort." Old D told me. I smiled and sighed with relief, a nursery for children to be cared for.
Did Tunia still see herself, and also Tharon and I, as parents ? I didnt feel as if I was ready for a child, let alone more than one, though I could take in a few. But actually having kittens, that was an entirely different ballgame for sure. To me personally it was a scary thought. So I then asked. "Where is Tunia now ?"
Zane had started teaching Pounce, Tumble and Alonzo some basic team drills, since there was only three of them, plus Zane, it was a good drill he was putting them through. For that I was thankful.
"Shes with Jelly and Jenny as we speak, Skimble is keeping watch and helping them where needed. Cayran" Old D said, jolting the Major from her watching the other men training with Zane. "I'm sorry, seeing those colors in your hair reminded me of a cat I knew. Her name is... was Cayran" Old D said to her.
"Its alright," Claire said in reply, "though I'd prfer to be called Claire. Being with three different names in my head is getting confusing, we at least agreed on that much for now."
"Claire it is, Could you take that extra weapon to Skimble, he might need it, and its better to be safe than sorry." Munkus said, before Old D could shove his foot deeper down his own throat so to speak.
Claire nodded. That was mostly what she came for. "They're expecting me back there anyhow, Skimble even asked for one so I came to get one provided we had one extra ?" Claire looked at me, I nodded, she could take it, I did get twelve after all. Alonzo, Quaxo, Pounce, Tumble, Brutus, Tugger, and Skimble. Eight of them plus Munkus and if Old D wanted one, and finally if any other others wanted one.
I had yet to meet Mungojerrie or Rumple so I kept those two weapons in reserve. For now. I held out a pair of asgard shield bracelets. "Take these too" I said to her, she took them and headed back into the structure.
As Zane drilled three of the cats so far, I decided to teach Munkus how to connect with and fly the puddlejumper. Tharon went with Tugger to spar with him and teach him how to use the Ori staff and the kull blasters. Finally Quaxo took the last two of Alonzxo and Brutus and took them on a quick three person drill. Teaching them how to sneak around.
It was nearly sunset when we were done for the day, and Ben came on my radio with more bad news. Sitting in the Jumper alone, Tharon found me slumped in my seat, exausted, and yet, full of energy, it was like I was pent up and needing to get out and about.
The problem was however, that Ben had detected a band of seven new life signs, directly due east where the storms were that morning. All of them Furlings. Meaning they were outside the meadows, and more then likely beyond the thick trees. It was as if we could only go so far into the trees to begin with.
Not that it mattered at that moment at least. "You alright dear ?" Tharon asked me as he stepped into the jumper, closing the rear hatch behind him. I grunted from where I sat, staring at the topographic map of the planet where the seven lifesigns were. Tharon took a seat next to me. Looking at the windscreen he smiled. "So, seven more there, six more in the Pollicles zone. Which do we go after first ?"
"We go after those seven, but I wanted to confirm it with Munkus, he said to do what I think is best" I replied to him as I relaxed in the chair.
As I looked at him. He looked thoughtful. He looked at me. "What do you think is best ?" He asked me. I stared at my beloved husband. Tharon Perrault, Puss in Boots, Tharon, My husband, my anchor.
That was not an easy question to answer. I sighed, and sat up in the chair. "Most of me wants to find those six in the Pollicles area. But I know for a fact they'd sniff us out faster than expected or hoped for. If I go after those six Furlings, I'd need six more Kull suits, and asgard shields first." I said in reply
"But what about the rest of you ?" He asked me
I stared at him. "The rest of me" I said after a moment, "Wants to find these seven" I pointed at the topographic map. "Because where they are, this area could become a problem were it to rain again" They had all arrived in a drenching downpour, and if it were to rain a second time, they'd never make it out of the valley alive. And the last thing I wanted was for them to be harmed.
"So what do you think ? Would it be better to get these seven, before it rains again, or wait and see if they survive ?" Tharon had a way to getting me to do the right thing, even though I wanted mostly to sneak through the Pollicle territory and recover the six Furlings there. My other half, my consicus I guess it was. Was that little voice shrieking that I should save the other seven first before it rained again.
The radar map flickered. I smiled and sat up in my chair, "I think we're going to have company. Buckle up dear, its gonna be a bumpy ride" I had spotted on the topographic map an incoming storm. Making time my enemy. Which meant that we coiuld either race against the storm, or get there during it. Tharon smiled and sat in the copilots seat as I lifted us from the courtyard, we cloaked quickly and flew in the direction of the seven life signs soon to be in the rain.
I pushed us as fast as I safely thought possible, silently streaking through the air as the weather map showed the storm getting closer. "Looks like a hurricane" Tharon said. He whistled at the sight of it as it came on the screen.
I whistled too, mostly in awe. "It is a hurricane" I said in slight correction, Tharon snickered.
I looked to the controls as the image faded off the windshield. "I am going to try and get as close to the lifesigns as I can. According to the topographic map, they're in a cave protected from the rain. But I cant see anything else. I'll uncloak and activate the shield though." I said, shifting the cloak to shield was easy. Soon we were flying inside the storm. A tempst if I'd ever been inside one I kept my eyes on the topographic map and spotted the cave with its help. "I'll get us as close as we can get. You get them on board. I cant land, there's not enough space on that cliff"
A few minutes later and Tharon was moving to the rear hatch, he opened the hatch, as it slid apart and a ramp formed on the floor to the ground, the mouth of the cave loomed before him, lighting flashed, I tried to get Ben on the radio, only to get static, fortunately this looked like a completely natural storm.
It was ten minutes later in the heavy rain when everyone came aboard, five males and two females. Two of them adults, a male and female, and the rest were teenagers, one of which was female the rest were male. One of the males were badly injured, I surmised it was his landing. With practised ease, Tharon had the injured male set up on one of the benches and was already digging into the first aid kit.
One of the males took a seat behind me as Tharon stood next to me "That's all of them, lets go" He said I nodded and hit the controls to close the rear hatch and then lifted into the sky. The lightning flashed and the rain poured down as the shield took the brunt of the waterfall around us.
I turned slightly as Tharon tended to the injured male with a first aid kit. "So, what do you guys last remember ?"
"A finals exam" Said the male behind me. I later learned his name was Tim, and his prefered the name Benoi. "Was in my classroom taking the finals test, when it started raining, the teacher called for a tornado alarm, next thing I knew I woke up under a tree out there like this."
"I was in the same class," said the injured male, whose name I was later told was Mike. But he wanted to be called Fiddlestix. "Came down hard on a rock, woke up to this bloody mess. Fortunately I dont think its broke"
"You're lucky to be alive had we not came for you this storm would have ruined you guys. I'm Tanith, this is my husband, Tharon" I said introducing us both to the group.
The older of the two adults, the female one, spoke, "I was teaching Mike and Tim when the tornado alarms went off. Last thing I rememer was the classroom windows being blown out and then blinding white. I woke up drenching wet in a lake." I later learned her name was Fawn, at least the name she preferred, her original human name Georgnia, Mike and Tim were both black and gray tabbies with Tim, in this case Fiddlestix, being also with hints of orange and white, while Georgina was a gorgeous pale red and gray mix.
The other male adult, spoke up. "I'm their principal" he said, as he introruced himself a man named Carey Roberts. But he used the name that came to him first, Jochen. "I was the one who called for the tornado alarm."
"My name's Blaze." The only other female said as I looked towards her, She pointed to the last two males, "They're my brothers, Ceaser and Carwyn. We were visiting the school when the storm came out of nowhere, amazing we'd show up with you guys."
"Yeah that's right, you werent students, so why get taken here ?" Asked Fiddlestix.
"The real question, Stix, is where is here ?" Benoi asked aloud. At first Tharon had not the heart to tell him he wasnt on Earth anymore. "I've never seen anything like this place before on Earth. So where are we ?"
I snickered. Fawn looked at me confused. But it was Benoi who asked me, "What ? Whats so funny ?"
"We're not on Earth anymore. The planet we're on now is called Ascretta, you're in a puddlejumper, a ship able to fly in space. At this moment, we're safe, and we're taking you to where you can get further help. Hopefully one of the healers can get to those injuries." I said
"You mean we're actually in a space ship ?" Blaze asked as she stepped up between the two rear seats as Tharon took a seat in the copilots chair.
"Airship, spaceship, watership, recreational ship, cruiseship, any one of those'll do." Tharon replied. He looked at me and raised an eyebrow. "Hendar hos ?" He mumbled. I knew what he meant. He turned his chair to regard the others. "Alright here's a heads up, I know most schools have a ROTC program, whose in it ?"
Blaze, both of her brothers, and Fiddlestix all raised a hand. The others never took part,. "I was a boyscout, just earned my Eagle scouts badge too" Beoni said. He smiled thinly, "That was the closest I ever got to getting into the military." He admitted. That made me realise some of these guys could make for good interior patrolers.
"How skilled are you in weaponry ?" I then asked to the group who were in the ROTC program at the school.
"Not very well trained, why ? You mean with swords and such ? We sometimes go hunting in the fall, but thats really it. Why ?" Ceaser spoke up. But only Blaze held up a hand
I looked at her, "I was a police academy cadet, had gun training every day for three hours as part of the academy" She said. "Why ?"
"Just wondering, trying to figure out a way to put you guys to work, at this moment everyone works, everyone does everyones job. For now, I want you seven to get checked by the healers, if they can do that, Fiddle looks like he might need extended rest however." I looked back briefly at the young man, a tabby of brown, black, and orange.
Seven new arrivals, and five of them were teenagers back on Earth. I could only wonder what their parents, and in this case husband and wife would do when they found them missing. I was not aware the other six Furlings were infact the other six missing students, for a total of ten missing students and two missing adults from the same school.
The other storms out of nowhere on Earth had deposited their pasengers somewhere on Ascretta, but I hadnt found them yet.
20 minutes later
South Peir city
Getting through the storm wasnt easy. But it was worth while as we managed to finally break free of the storm clouds to clear skies above. Finally able to reach Ben, he told me that the storm was a naturally occuring one, and he could not detect any new Furling lifesigns from it. However he was still scanning for more.
Heading towards the courtyard to land I brought the jumper down slowly. "Ladies and gentlemen," I said, "welcome home, Please remain seated until the puddlejumper has come to a full and complete stop." I said, a soft thump of us landing was felt and I hit the door controls for the rear hatch.
Moving out first I called to Munkus, "We got injured, is the infirmary ready ?"
"Where the hell did you go ?" Munkus thundered, but he then relented once I told him about the storm and then he saw the condition of the seven we found, haggard, thin and yet also pretty healthy aside from Fiddlestix broken leg. "Lets get him inside to Jelly, I think she has an infirmary set up" He said, I had Tharon and Munkus carry Fiddlestix inside. The rest followed me. Blaze felt naked, but I smirked, she had thick fur of a gorgeous himalain pattern. I would have to find her a dress to match her fur color.
We got Fiddlestix to the infirmary, and Munkus was giving me hard looks, as well as looks of confusion, and also concern for the well being of our charge as we ran for the infirmary
We arrived at the infirmary. Claire was there,with her was Skimble, the two looked at us confused. But it was Benoi who spoke first, asking Claire her name. A brief banter occurred between Skimble and Claire before Munkus threw me a look, I nodded, we could talk a moment or so later.
Less than a minute later he left the infirmary after ensuring Fiddlestix was going to be alright. And then I followed him out.
Once well away from the infirmary Munkus turned to me. "You did good" He said, he was upset, I could tell, but he was also thankful, I had safely recovered six new members of our race from a potential deadly accident area in a storm.
"You're upset" I told him calmly.
"I am yes" he replied. "But I am also thankful moreso because you saved seven more of us. And whats more, they're teenagers, execept for what, two of them ?" Munkus said to me.
"Two of them are adults, three of them are siblings, two brothers and a sister, then two brothers, one of the two adults is their principal, the other their teacher." I explained to Munkus then what I knew, what the seven could tell me they could last remember.
He ran a hand through his hair. "This is going to be bad" He said, he turned to me as he paced. "Your friend, what is his name, Ben right ?" I nodded. "Can he make contact with his guys, and let them know, those kids are safe ?" He asked me, he was more concerned of the wellbeing of the kids, and the two adults I had rescued with Tharon.
"I can, yeah, I can do that. There's a problem though like I mentioned, those six other Furlings are in a mass of red, Pollicles to be sure. I made my choice to rescue the seven in the storm. There were too many Pollcless to risk it" I said to him.
"What made you pick the seven ?" He asked me then, I had to smile, It wasnt a what, but a who, though a what had a factor in it.
"More like who." I smiled, Munkus looked at me confused as I explained, "My husband. And a incoming rainstorm from hell." Munkus had to smile, I made the right choice in choosing to go after the six in the mountains instead of risking my neck, and those I would try to save in the pollicles area.
"Get some rest," Munkus smiled and clapped me on the shoulder. "You did good" He said to me again, and then went off down the hall.