Yes it's another update for a Tale of a Warrior. Thanks to my three reviewers – so far – for this chapter. Yes you all know what's gonna happen next…
Kharina: Hmmm, actually you caught me out on this chapter. Asculin was going to have to add another person to his Proud List, but…the chapter didn't end up like I thought it would.
I'm glad you read the other review responses as they might hold some info that might make the story more understandable and clarify on any points that may seem…odd.
Thanks, for your advice on the SAT's. I just hope they're over quickly!
Anyhow, yeah, I really enjoy talking about the arisths because it's so fun knowing already what they'll end up as! All I have to do is decide how they got there!
I like your plan for the fic about Seerow; you should go ahead with it.
Irish Rage And Love: Well, you got me there, on both accounts! Yes, I did actually alter the name velociraptor to come up with the name Veloce. I find it interesting that you think they also kinda sound like the dino too. Yip, the Galard in Hath-Galard is there for a reason. You'll just have to read on to find out!
Laughs Yes, you caught me. I only realised I'd used the 'kangaroo-like' after I posted the chapter. Sometimes it's hard to write remembering that you're an alien, at least for me. I'm glad though that you did notice it otherwise it would have nagged away at me for ever. Thanks for your detailed review, please keep it up!
The REAL Cheese Monkey: Great. Really good to know you liked the descriptions of the Velocians. Velocians? I never actually thought of calling them that before. Cool name. I was wondering what everyone would think of the description. Glad to know you liked it.
Now heeere we go! This one's gonna be a tear jerker. (I hope)
Chapter Six
Into the Abyss
"What is that?" Hath asked. For about the seventieth time, I might venture to add.
I turned to see what had caught our charges interest, this time. An access panel. How could an access panel interest anyone?
(Hmmmmmmmm,) Alloran seemed to share in my thoughts.
Seerow frowned at us, and then he turned to face the three Velocians, (That is an access panel. It allows us to interface with the ships computer.)
It seemed after an hour of the 'tour' of the Nexus Hath had still not found anything that was of no interest to him. Seerow seemed to have decided to take charge of the tour. None of us argued as he appeared to find to easer to speak with these aliens than the rest of us.
To be reasonably truthful Lor-Halid bothered me. He was hanging back at the rear and seemed to have no interest whatsoever in the ship. He had said not a word since our first encounter and what ever Hath had said to him seemed to have put him in a disposition. I could practically see the anger seeping off him.
The female, on the other side of the tail, seemed to be very light hearted, ecstatic even.
She followed behind her husband but would often just jump in and make a comment about this or that. This would on occasion interrupt her husband, Hath. I found this lack of respect very unsettling.
The Veloce's mood seemed to change very rapidly. One moment Hath would be calm, even bored, the next his pupil less eyes would widen and he would roll questions off so fast that I could not even begin to interpret them.
This behaviour I noticed was not limited to Hath, his wife, even Lor to some extent, exhibited the same quick-changing emotional pattern. This species confused me. Aylary would have found them interesting, I thought.
(- we have many different species of grass on this ship,) Seerow was saying. (Lord Hath? May I ask you a question?)
Hath bared his sharp teeth in a smile, "Of course, my young pup."
"Grrrrah! Haroo, ellrrra serrggrha!" Lor erupted in the Veloce's own language.
Hath swung around to face Lor. His short chestnut fur bristling, teeth bared. "Harressla! Sipprgra ellrrra lan'ghrrrraah!"
All around us warriors turned to look at the display of these two aliens; tension seemed to spark in the air between them.
Seerow seemed to look lost, apparently something in what he had said angered Lor. He stood teeth bared, eyes narrowed, facing Hath.
Both I saw had extended five centimetre long claws. A sharp dew claw rose at the end of each leg. They were preparing to fight!
(It's for dominance!) Seerow exclaimed. (You see it in hunters all the time! The omega, Lor in this case, is challenging the alpha, Hath.)
(What do we do about it then!) Sofor cried
(If they kill each other, the captain won't be haaa-ppp-yyyy.) Alloran smirked. (There you go peace-lover Seerow…make peace.)
"Arrowwwwwww!" Hath cried, baring his teeth. No, not teeth. Fangs.
Thank the stars! Lor hung his head and backed away. He seemed to have decided now was not the time, or the place, to start a fight.
It was a good thing to. We would have dealt with them if he had. We had the entire situation under control.
Hath retracted his claws and turned to face Seerow. "I find myself apologising yet again, pup. My brother – "he jerked his head towards the submissive Lor, "– merely disagrees with the idea of passing any information onto another race."
(Oh,) Seerow mumbled. He quickly regained his posture, with one glance at Lor. (Well I was merely wondering, do…do you have any ships? I mean, you, know…)
"We had ships," Hath answered.
(But not know?)
"No," Hath smiled. "Long ago when I was young. We flew through the stars, but then we found that we could do no more. There as an Alliance.
It was known as the Galard Alliance. It consisted of many races, the Velocians, the Le'ernu, the Cha'kok, the Spineus, the Pemalites and the Terrans.
One by one they left – our – our – this world. The Le'ernu simply died out. The Cha'kok, couldn't stop the death of their star. The entire species died out in less than a century. The Spineus had left the Alliance long before it disbanded. We have no idea were they went. The poor doomed Pemalites. They where the only real, fully peaceful species. They – "
Hath shook his head. He had become very upset it seemed. His voice had become thin and dry.
"- they were destroyed. We never found out who destroyed them, or even why, one day we received a transmission. They were gone. All of them. As for the Terrans. They were the last to leave. They retreated back to their planet. Our last survey mission told us that they had forgotten the old ways. Their technology, their very way of life. I suppose you could say instead of advancing they deteriorated.
That left us alone, alone in this universe without any real prospect for reforming the Alliance; my father Lord Ptah-Galard drew us back to Velocia-Rex. We have waited since then for a species to come that is morally advanced enough to join us."
The Pemalites were a very advanced race from far across the galaxy, surpassing even the Andalites.
They are most noted for their hologram illusions and their androids the Chee, which function as sentient, emotional beings.
It is said that they advanced beyond ordinary jealousy and anger and hate, and had virtually perfected their world. Though they are considered a myth more than an actual certainty.
All three of the Veloce looked so upset I feared they would become suicidal.
Seerow looked confused. (Does your name Galard have anything to do with the interstellar language?)
You see Galard is the interstellar language; it is often used in trade. It has existed even before we Andalites flew through space.
All of a sudden Hath went back to being happy and playful, "Yes. My father, Ptah, helped in the creation of that language. He ruled over us the time the Alliance was formed, since we Velocia were the founders of said Alliance, it and the newly formed language were named after our ruler, my father."
(But the language has been in use for thousands of years. How old are you?) Alloran asked, bluntly.
"I, myself, in your Andalite years, am at least five-thousand seven hundred point oh three nine years old," Hath answered.
Allorans eyes widened. That was very, very, very old. He looked at us; apparently he seemed to have been hoping to throw Hath off. It had not worked.
(Aristh Asculan!) the thought speak voice cam through the intercom. (Report to the bridge.)
I looked at the others. Then left, quickly.
When I arrived at the bridge, the captain was waiting for me. I knew something was wrong the moment I looked at his main eyes. What had I done?
(Prince Eoptis has just made contact with us,) the captain said. (He wished to speak privately with you. Go to my ready-room.)
I walked past warriors, all kept their main eyes averted. What was wrong? What did the prince want with me?
(Sir?) I said to the screen showing the face of my teacher.
(Aristh,) he replied sadly. (It is not good news that I carry. I asked to be the one to inform you…I didn't want some Warrior who didn't even know you to tell you…I regret…)
(What, sir!) I was becoming anxious. I was aware of myself yelling. I knew the other Warriors on the bridge would hear me, but I didn't care. What was wrong!
Prince Eoptis sighed. (Your father, died…two days ago. Apparently Soola's Disease set in. You know it can happen to anyone. They never knew it was coming…there is no cure. I'm sorry.)
(NO!) I yelled at my prince. I honestly didn't care. Not then, not hearing this news. (NO! I spoke to him just a few months ago, he can't be dead….he just can't.) I looked at my prince pleading with him to tell me he was wrong. That my father was alive.
But my prince couldn't say that. Couldn't take back what was true. (The civilian ship the StarFlyer will make contact with you in two days to take you back to the Homeworld for the burial. I'm sorry Aristh for your loss but you are not a child any more. You must accept that he has gone. You must be strong.)
Have you ever wished that you could just become another species? Leave your body and be something else?
I did, I wished that I could become a Veloce. Maybe then I could just forget this dreadful feeling of loss. This abyss of longing that had opened up in my hearts. Maybe then I could just become happy, just like Hath. Maybe then I wouldn't hate myself.
That's another chapter finished. I hoped you liked. Please REVIEW.