Captives of the Unknown

By TheRealXenocide

Disclaimer: This story contains plot elements and characters created and owned by Sunrise and/or their successor companies. No permission has been given. No money is being made with this story, and no infringement is intended.

Note: Title burrowed from Jim Ross.

Chapter 6

Business Is About To Pick Up!

The next morning, things were predictably awkward among the crew of the 'Outlaw Star'. Conversation was stiff, almost too polite.

When morning meal was served, it was brought by a different Ctarl-Ctarl then the one from two days ago. Apparently, he had been informed about Jim and Suzuka changing rooms, as he did not question which room they entered. He seemed to be sniffing the air throughout the meal, and looking at Aisha. He refused to speak, except to instruct them into their rooms for clean-up. After he locked the door and deactivated the light shields, he sniffed the air again, and glared at Aisha. "Disgraceful."

"What did you say?!" Aisha roared.

"The boss will not be happy." He said as he turned to leave.

"What the hell are you talking about?!" Aisha continued to roar at his back. He refused to respond, and closed the door far loader than it had ever been closed before.

Jim walked over to Aisha and placed his hands on her shoulders. "Hey, calm down Aisha. He can't hear you anymore."

"What did he mean by that?" Aisha was still angry.

"I don't know."

"Um, I might have a guess." Melfina said.

"What is it, Mel?" Jim asked.

"Well, we don't have showers in here. And we know Ctarl-Ctarl senses are sharper than ours." She seemed to hesitate.

"Go on, Mel." Gene encouraged.

"Well, is it possible he smelled Jim on Aisha?"

"Of course." Suzuka replied. "While it's not true of all Ctarl, many have a strong superiority complex, looking upon other species with disdain."

"Aren't you laying it on a little thick, Suzu?" Aisha asked.

"No." Jim answered. Aisha looked at him, questioning, and a little hurt. He gently took her hands. "I know you've become an exception to that. How else could you fall for me? But, Aisha, do you remember how many times you called us 'lowly humans' during that first year?"

"Not anymore."

"We know, Aisha." Melfina said in a comforting tone.

"But, Aisha, you've learned from working with us. How many Ctarl would have had that chance?" Jim asked.

"Only outcasts, some merchants, and diplomats." Aisha answered. Then she looked like she remembered something. "And in military training, Ctarl-Ctarl superiority is a constant theme."

"So, if that explains his reaction to you," Gene began, "Why would he think their boss would care? I mean, didn't the other Ctarl guard say they wouldn't care if Mel and I did? So why would the boss care about them?"

"We didn't do THAT." Jim said.

"But, depending on how closely you cuddled, the scent might be enough for him to assume that." Melfina pointed out, blushing slightly.

"As for Gene's question, the only answer I can come up with is that if Aisha is the main target." Suzuka replied.

They all looked at her a moment. "But why me?!"

"I don't know, yet. But it does give us a line of thought to focus on."

They did that for a couple of hours when they heard a deep, half growl of a voice. "Aisha Clan-Clan." They all looked to the bars as the speaker came into view. He was a middle-aged Ctarl male in full dress uniform. He was holding a tube of some kind in his left hand.

Aisha's reaction was immediate. "Governor Tam-Tam?! But you're supposed to be at the sector embassy in Heifong."

"Aisha Clan-Clan. My movements do not need to be cleared with you."

"Yes, sir." Aisha was trying to show respect, but her surprise was still obvious.

"However, due to my respect for your father, I will tell you that I was dispatched to personally oversee your return."

"You say return. We say kidnaping." Gene remarked.

"It was expected she might not come voluntarily, human." His tone suggested that he was barely tolerating the interruption.

"Excuse me, Governor," Suzuka said, "But you have hired a known double-cross artist for this mission. Whatever else . . ."

"We are aware of Ronald MacDougall's reputation. His ship is in orbit, no doubt with his brother. If he tries anything, they will either die, or wish they had." His patience was clearly ending. "Now, however, you have acted shamefully, Aisha Clan-Clan, and disgraced both our families."

"What the hell are you talking about?! Why would any of you care if I'm with Jim?! I've been abandoned out here since the Leyline! What business is it of YOUR'S who I choose as my mate?!"

"Are you claiming you don't know about the marriage contract?"

"WHAT?! I don't have a contract! And those things are illegal, anyway!"

"Not for the noble houses, if the Emperor signs off." He then opened the tube, and removed the paper inside. Unrolling it to display to Aisha, he continued. "And as the Emperor is a traditionalist, he had no problem signing to a marriage contract between two houses as closely connected as ours. I am surprised that your father didn't tell you."

"But, why?!"

"How to you think you got your original ambassadorship?" He asked. "Your father's contacts were not enough for you, but mine weren't enough for my son, Harith, who also want the position. So, we negotiated an agreement. You get the post, and after your Leyline mission was over, you were to become Harith's mate."

"Harith?! But I can't stand that guy! And father knows it!"

"Is that why you did not return? Or perhaps that is why your father did not tell you. I've told him many times he coddled you. In any event, we got tired of waiting for your return, so we took action. Now, however, we will need to move things up."

"You can't be serious!"

"Prepare to move out." He commanded. He then moved back in the directions their guards had always left. He stopped just past the edge of the opening. He pushed a series of buttons on his own wrist controller. In sequence, the light shields for their room activated to block entry, a light shield appeared in the passage between he and the door, and the door to the cell opened. "You have one minute before ghrighri gas is introduced into your area. Get moving."

"You would use that gas on your son's betrothed?" Suzuka asked. She ignored the fact that they had not seen anything that appeared to be for introducing gas, as there were still too many unknowns.

"I don't expect a lowly human to understand the complexity of Ctarl-Ctarl customs." The governor answered sharply. "Now move!"

"Let's not risk it, guys." Jim said. He stepped out into the passage.

"You sure, Jimmy?" Aisha asked.

"Not really, but I don't see a better choice." He admitted.

"Damn. I hate this but he's right." Gene agreed, and started moving. The ladies followed suit, and joined them in the passage.

Once clear, the governor activated the light shield at the bars. "Now, walk that way." He pointed in the direction away from him. "And sit in the seats."

Not having any better ideas, they walked down the passage. Soon the floor changed from stone to metal, with a narrow gap in between. They found themselves in a small room with six spaceflight chairs. "Well, six chairs for five of us. I guess they're still using preexisting stuff." Jim observed.

A heavy door slid down behind them, sealing them in. "Dammit!" Gene cursed. "That's a bad sign."

They felt the entire room vibrate. Suzuka got it first. "To the seats, quickly, we're on a truck."

They hurried to take her advice. Seconds after they buckled in, the 'room' began to move. And the driver was in a hurry. "Is anybody betting against the spaceport?" Jim asked.

"No." Gene answered.

Faster than they might have expected, the truck stopped. A moment later, their 'room', which they now knew was a modified cargo container, rose and moved. They were glad they'd stayed buckled in when they were tipped on end. "I hate this." Gene complained.

They heard a loud clang that they thought sounded like the container being locked into place. "How long do you suppose they'll make us wait?" Jim asked.

"I wish I knew, Jim." Aisha answered.

About five minutes later, they had their answer as the rumble of engines shook the craft.

Being experienced with spaceflight, they could tell when they had entered orbit, and when the artificial gravity kicked in. They also knew to wait for a few minutes in case of the need to dock with another ship, which did happen. A few moments later, their container was moved again, until they heard the sound of clamps around the end of the container they had entered. A moment later, the door slides up, opening to what could only be called a cage. A one foot wide door was visible on the opposite side of the cage, with two of the strongest looking locks any of them had ever seen. "Get out." It was the commanding voice of the governor.

Carefully, they complied. As soon as the last of them had entered the cage, the attached end of the cage slammed closed, followed by the container door. As the container was taken away, the governor spoke. "In case you could not tell, Aisha, we are in the cargo hold of the Ctarl-Ctarl warship 'Orto Hone-Hone'. In about a week, we will rendezvous with the Ctarl-Ctarl warship captained by Harith. Once there, he will restore honor in accordance with our laws and customs, then he will take Aisha as his mate."

"Like hell he will!" Aisha exclaimed.

"If you want your friends to survive and be returned home, you will marry Harith after his victory."

"Victory?" Suzuka asked, dread settling in.

"In order the reclaim his honor in this, he will fight the one who stole his mate." He pointed to Jim.

"What?!" Jim and Aisha exclaimed simultaneously.

"The good news for you, human, is that the fight is not necessarily to the death," He said as he turned to walk away, "The bad news is that it often ends that way." He ignored Aisha cursing him as he walked away until he reached a bulkhead door. "You only have yourselves to blame, Aisha."

"How the HELL do you figure that?!"

"Had you not disgraced yourself with that human, we could have handled the marriage simply in the Ctarl-Ctarl diplomatic mission on Sentinel III when Harith arrived. Instead, we need to move this up in order for him to deal with this matter of honor in a timely manner." He closed the door behind him, ignoring Aisha's continued cursing.

Before he took more than a couple of step, a member of the crew approached with a data pad. "Sir, a message from the captain."

The governor took the pad and read it. "Hmm. And they have no idea what these sensor shadows are?"

"No, sir. They're still unclear if it is a natural phenomenon or artificial. But the captain thought you should know."

"And they are not clear that something, TWO somethings, tracking us through the sub-ether, on different but parallel courses, can't be natural? Tell the captain . . . no, on second thought, I'll tell him personally." With that, he stormed off, leaving the crewman to wonder just how violent that conversation would be.

Back in the cargo hold, the human crew of the 'Outlaw Star' looked at each other in stunned silence, until that was broken by a sound they had all heard before, rarely, over the years. A very particular stilted laughter. The laughter that proved just how scared Jim Hawking was.

"Jim." Melfina began, clearly concerned.

Any move toward him, however, was disrupted by Aisha, who had rushed over to Jim and collected him in what would have been a smothering embrace had she not been so careful with her grip. "I'm so sorry Jimmy. I really had no idea."

"I know, Aisha." He managed through his fear laugh.

Aisha saw Melfina looking at them, her concern evident. She carefully signaled Mel with her hand, nodding when Mel looked. Accepting the invitation, Mel moved in to where they stood, taking Jim's elbow. "I know it sounds bad, Jim. But we won't stop trying to find a way out of this, and neither should you."

"Mel."

"She's right, partner." Gene came in. "Look, I know this has been more uncomfortable for me than it should be. But I'll be damned if I let you lose each other over some bullshit arrangement Aisha didn't know about and doesn't want."

"And on that note, I'd like to ask some questions about this." Suzuka said. She was moving as she spoke, so that as she finished that sentence, she was on Jim's side opposite Melfina. She took his chin between her fingers and gently guided it until he was looking at her. "James, I will not think less of you for your fear. The situation is serious enough for that to be understandable. But remember what I've taught you about channeling your fear into action. And for you action means thinking."

It took him a moment to gather himself. "Yeah, I mean, yes, sensei."

"Now, Aisha, it sounded to me like we were being held in or near the Ctarl mission on Sentinel. Am I correct in believing that you didn't know about that cell?"

"They never told me about it."

"But how is that possible?" Gene asked. "Didn't you introduce yourself as an ambassador when you met Horus?"

"Well, yeah, but I wasn't in charge of the diplomatic mission. I had that rank so I could freely move around to investigate the Galactic Leyline."

"Diplomatic Immunity." Suzuka said.

"That, and ships like the 'Orto Hone-Hone' are required to follow the orders of anyone of ambassador rank or higher."

"Aisha." Jim asked, trying to follow Suzuka's advice. "What did he mean by saying that the fight is not necessarily to the death."

"Well, the history is complicated, and I don't know all of it. But what it comes down to is that, because arranged marriages involve noble families and proud Ctarl-Ctarl warriors, fights about them needed a non-lethal way out. I mean, if one of the kids objects and the other demands it happens . . ." Aisha's eyes grew wide, and a dangerous grin came to her face. "Guys, I think I know how to get Jimmy out of this. And I am going to enjoy it."