The Waiver 14
The Tunnel-Captain of Nest four-eight-zero-three-four, called Horsa-hitt by close friends, shook his back-arms in exasperation.
How to make contact with a species if they flee from the ambassadors? The aliens agreed to help us, he ranted silently, and now they run? How odd.
He made a quick call down to his ambassadors. Communicating to them via bracelet flashlights.
JAKE
I saw the lights bouncing off a wall before they actually appeared around the corner. Strangely enough, the lights changed from a flashing white to a blue that seemed to throb peacefully. Slowly, the blue lights would get brighter and brighter until I had to squint, then they would dim.
Menderash was still fiddling with the door, uselessly. Every few moments, a device would beep from his position, with no results.
He refused to look me in the eye as he spoke. "I'm sorry, Captain, but there seems to be no electrical or computer components involved with this door. I can find no way to open it."
I nodded and patted him on the shoulder. I'm not sure if Menderash understood that human gesture, so I made it clear. "I know you did your best, but is there ANYTHING-anything at all-you haven't tried yet?" I asked, trying to make up for
my recent crankiness.
The blue lights throbbed eerily on his face "Sir, there is nothing I have been trained to do, that I have not done."
I puzzled over this for a moment and watched the "door" fade in and out with the approaching blue light.
On a whim, I groaned and sarcastically rapped out the "three stooges" knock on the door. I heard others laughter cut short as the recess emitted a grating sound, akin to sandpaper on a chalkboard.
We all took a step back (well those of us with feet) until we bumped into each other on the far wall. The recess slid back further before being pulled or pushed to the right.
I cleared my throat. "Well. Uh. That's convenient."
Marco's laughter was on the edge of hysterical. ((All that crap and all we had to do was knock! Oh, that's priceless.))
With the blue lights inching closer I stared into the new room in front of us. "Marco, Tobias? Take a look in- Crap."
The room in front of us began to glow blue. What seemed like spotlights- no, like traffic lights all around the room. With so much light, the silhouettes behind became more pronounced.
I could now see four legs, flat-top heads and strange glowing circles on their misshaped torsos.
We were trapped.
TL 48034 was surprised as the aliens proceeded towards Tunnel HQ. He immediately ordered the Ambassadors to sing the Blue Anthem to dissuade any attack.
He sent OD's out to the pulleys and several guards filled HQ. Not to show aggression, but so that these newcomers could receive a proper welcome. TL 48034 was not the most decorated and splendored of the Tunnel-Leaders, but he would
give these saviors of the black sea a welcome to make the Tunnel-lord blush!
The TL flashed red orders in the blue song, interrupting some singers. One turned from his console to signal a yellow warning. "TL - aliens near opening!"
The TL absentmindedly gave a green recognition and red "Standby".
The song of blue throbbed throughout the HQ when - BLINDNESS!
A quick strange blindness, much like the signal they had been sent by the ship. So strange.
These aliens must communicate by cutting out a person's ability to grid?
How to respond?
The TL slowly sucked the air up through his pod pores. Time to take a chance.
"Guard Far From TL! Open opening/closing to HQ!"
JAKE
"Um, Hello?" I questioned the silent room. The blue lights stopped immediately and a few shapes moved, bumping into the metal boxes lined against the walls.
One yellow light began flashing insistently.
Something must have clicked in Marco's brain, because he yelled with surprise. ((Duh! Jake, the language of math! They weren't using a universal language! Math is their language!))
The yellow light stopped flashing. I could no longer see anything.
I sighed. "Marco? Try to speak with them. And be smart about it."
((Am I any other way?))
"Whatever, just don't piss anyone off."
I heard a bat flutter and cling to a notch in the wall. ((Um, hello? If you can understand me, turn on a light.))
Nothing. No one in the room moved. Tobias sighed. ((Well, that was pointless.))
A light from the center of the room began the blue throbbing. ((Or maybe not,)) he rectified.
"Sir, I can try and record this for translation." Menderash didn't wait for my response and pushed past me with a metal box. I vaguely saw a mesh grill on the front, before he slipped out of view.
"They don't seem to respond to normal speaking. Marco? You're supposed to be charming, try again."
((Hey, I'm doing my best here.)) The blue flicked and continued. ((We are attempting to translate your language, we need you to speak more. Tell us who you are?))
Menderash's box began speaking in Galard as the blue center light switched to yellow. I managed to pick up on a few words I had learned on board, but I admit that I had to rely Menderash for most of it.
"Speak yellow yellow no warning yellow no pain yellow good time with blue."
I raised an eyebrow. "What the hell does THAT mean?"
((I think they're trying to say "we come in peace" Isn't that what you sent to them?)) Tobias's theory seemed right to me. They were saying the same thing I said, but in thier language.
"The translation is at sixty-seven percent, Captain."
"Please less sound. When more sound, no sight," Menderash translated. Halfway through, he followed his own instructions and quieted down a bit. "Confusion. When less sound, less confusion," Menderash whispered.
"They must see through ecolation or something," I whispered.
"That would explain why they went apeshit when we first came in," Santorelli agreed.
"We are Blue. You come. We are happy. There is much to communicate."
All at once the room lit up with blue lights, each was following the same soothing blue pattern.
I nodded. The Blue. Makes sense now.
((Just what the heck is your malfunction! We tell you we want to help and you shoot us down?)) an enraged thoughtspeak voice interrupted.
No way. That one came from Cassie? ((We did absolutely nothing to provoke you!)) I whipped around, stopping Cassie short with a glare. "Can it," I hissed.
No expression in her owl eyes could tell me what, but something was wrong with her. With our ship damaged and some crazy-ass aliens wanting us dead . . . there was no time for Cassie. Just the thought of discussing this later drained away some of my precious energy.
The box spoke again and Menderash wiped the surprised look off his face to catch up with it. "That is why we summon you! The Blue wish to be friends. You help Blue, Blue help you. We now have same/common/together enemy." Menderash gave me an indignant look. "I've never had to translate light before," He whispered terribly, with a scowl at the word 'light'.
I felt rushed. Hurried. I wanted off this planet.
And I'd do anything to achieve that goal.
CASSIE
We were "silently" escorted to the back of the room, where another door grated open. I gasped at the sight before me.
A large dome, illuminated only by a blue light at it's apex. Buildings everywhere. I could see the forms more clearly now, swarming in and out (and on top) of the structures. All flashing in red, yellow, green and purple. The center light was the only one with blue. Stone huts forming a market or trading place blocked my view of the rest of the city, but what I COULD see. . . It reminded me of Pablo stone huts I had seen in my History-
Okay fine, I'll admit it.
It reminded me of a Yeerk pool, minus the pool.
It reminded me of the underwater Nartec world aka the taxidermists from hell.
It reminded me of-
As if reading my mind, Marco calmed me a bit, ((Just think of the Chee, guys. They live like this.))
"The vhat?"
((Oh, nothing.))
My mind wasn't about to let me off that easy. A theory formed in my mind that all our enemies CHOSE to live underground. The Chee were forced there, to hide. Taxxons, Yeerks, Nartec . . . and our allies were above ground.
I shook this out of my head. No need to judge the Blue yet.
Nothing more from me. The negative thoughts running through my brain . . . I wanted to hurt something, BAD.
Someone hit our ship. Someone made me see Jake hurt, unconscious. Bleeding. I thought it would all be over. I thought I would never have to worry about him dying.
I thought wrong.
Well I'd had enough of sitting around trying to make everything "pleasant". If anyone lays a finger, or tentacle or whatever, on him . . . they are my meat.
Something about that last thought rang familiar. Where had I heard that before? I had never been this bitter and angry, yet it seemed to fit well with the current situation.
Why did it seem . . . right to hear this?
End of Part 14
REVIEWER RESPONSE:
Dysphoria: Ah, nice try. But the hull of the ship is made out a special, lightweight metal that I think could withstand acid rain without help from shields. I was thinking about making it so the shields would still work, but then I said "screw it" The andalites make good metal, I'm sure.
Andre: No, Cassie is NOT pregnant. Just the thought of so obvious a storyline makes me shudder. Nope, you never gotta worry about that. You'll see what's wrong with her soon enough.
Alikat: Yes, I'm glad idiot-proofed the review option, too. Pity they didn't flame-proof it.
RenDevil: That's one of my favorite parts too. (and Cassie's favorite "part") I'm glad I made ya smile a bit.
Kay13: Thanks and YES, I will have to explain that eventually. I don't like to leave loose ends in my fics.
RaspberryGirl: Aw, poor you. But hey, it's for a good cause, right? ((Note: With Raspberry's help I was able to FINALLY knock out this chapter . . . so if it sucks, blame her. ROTFL))
Rachel9466: Fine, fine. You win, here's the chapter.
Rawk: Yes, he is questionable as a leader. I think I'm trying to show some post-traumatic stress. Well, either that or I need some conflict, so I'm taking the easy way out.
JCTigerWolfe: Velcomen! Cassie's your favorite? Wow, I can't believe you admitthat. lol j/k I'll explain Cassie's problem soon enough. I actually didn't think you guys would make such a big deal outta it. Now I guess I have to put a little more into this conflict.
Gah, this HTML thing is awful. I used to just upload txt documents, but now I have to put " " after everything to keep my format. I know HTML, but it's annoying. Anyone else not like this system?
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