Chapter 48

Mrr'tani Colony
Red Buttes Wilderness
Oregon/California border

Dream Catcher led the way to a full on colony hidden away in the forest, not too far from the lake. What sunlight there was that filtered through the trees fell on cultivated land that flourished with crops, enough to feed the small group of Mrr'tani who were milling about. Hotch could count 40 or 50 of them, all with varying fur patterns and body types. They were as diverse as humans, it seemed, and some of them carried younger ones on their backs while juveniles milled about and played between the trees.

One particularly exuberant group took to climbing the trees and leaping from branch to branch, showing off a skill that an FBI agent could only envy. Hotch thought back to chasing down suspects and leaping over whatever was in the way and chuckled as he watched the Mrr'tani in their play, wishing for a moment that he could have had that kind of energy back when he'd needed it.

"You never told us what a Frr'a'narr'ah is," Radcliffe said when they'd had the chance to put their gear down and rest. Hotch smiled. The man was going to be a good asset to the team with his curiosity.

"Means 'Mother,'" Dream Catcher answered, taking a seat beside them with her legs crossed and her tail wrapped around her hips. "or 'Caretaker.' Means am leader of Jungle clan. Or would in the past, yes? Now means I lead Mrr'tani on Earth."

"You don't lead Jungle clan any longer?" Radcliffe asked.

"Was time before the war, Frr'a'narr'ahn led clans, yes. But war changes everything. Mrr'tani learned to join with other clans. Now are not so separate. Many clans, many Mothers. Keeper made it so, and is better."

"Might be something like race relations with humans, sir," Radcliffe said, turning to Hotch. "The clans are like our racial differences."

"Is little in Earth languages to say what is like," Dream Catcher said. "But will see when you see Keeper. All will be clear."

"Who is Keeper?" Hotch asked.

Before Dream Catcher could answer, a high-pitched whine sounded through the air and through the trees, Hotch and the others could see a small craft, about the size of a Chinook helicopter appear from thin air, shimmering into existence and solidity where there was nothing before. It had a menacing, feral shape to it, all sharp edges and points. It hung in the air a moment and then lowered, landing in the direction of the lake.

"Will let her say," Dream Catcher said, baring her teeth in what Hotch had learned was a smile.

Morgan and the others were already on their feet, but given the lack of reaction from the Mrr'tani, Hotch didn't think that the ship was here to hurt them. He pushed himself to his feet and brushed the dirt and loam off his pants.

Looking up at the sound of footsteps, he watched with interest as three new Mrr'tani walked into view. The one in the lead felt more intimidating than her stature would have justified. She stood a head taller than Dream Catcher, and it was readily apparent that she was a soldier of some sort. She was wearing what looked like armor, though the sun glinted off the gilded edges, and she walked with a lithe grace that wouldn't look out of place on a dancer. On her, however, it looked nothing less than dangerous. On either side of her were two smaller, but no less intimidating Mrr'tani, both with stripes in their fur, and both also wearing the same armor, but where the one in the lead had nothing in her hands, the two behind her carried long staffs that Hotch was sure were more dangerous than they looked.

They stopped a little ways away from Dream Catcher and they bowed.

"May the Mothers smile on you, Dream Catcher," the one in the lead said in greeting, her voice musical and strong.

"And may the Mothers bring you freedom and peace, Wind Dancer," Dream Catcher answered.

The one Dream Catcher called Wind Dancer turned and looked carefully at Hotch and his team. Morgan and McMillan both looked right back, but Hotch saw Radcliffe taking a step back away from the new Mrr'tani.

"Aaron Hotchner," she said in her musical voice, "am Wind Dancer. Am First Guardian to the Keeper of Hearts, and am here to escort you to the Justice."

"I guess we know who the Keeper is now," Morgan said, stepping up next to Hotch.

"This just keeps getting better and better," McMillan said, not taking her eyes off Wind Dancer.

"Thank you, Wind Dancer. It's a pleasure to meet you," Hotch said, not even trying to imitate the bow that they gave to Dream Catcher.

"Is nothing further to accomplish on this world, yes?" Wind Dancer asked. "Humans are prepared to leave?"

"Guess our ride's here," Hotch said, looking at his team. "Get your stuff, and let's go."

They all turned to grab their packs, only to find that the Mrr'tani had already collected them. Eight larger Mrr'tani carried their gear, and looked at the humans impatiently, all but tapping their paws on the ground.

Hotch turned back to Dream Catcher and held out a hand.

"Thank you for your hospitality, Dream Catcher."

"Is pleasure," she answered, putting her paw in his hand. He gripped it and smiled, the fur soft against his palm.

Then he turned back to his team and to Wind Dancer.

"Lead the way."


Wind Dancer led the pack of humans and Mrr'tani down a secluded path away from the main colony to a large clearing that housed the shuttle that they'd seen landing earlier. There was no question about it, that was an assault craft. Weaponry was obvious on the outside hull, with cannons and other protrusions evident on every side.

"Expecting trouble?" Morgan asked?

"Not from humans," Wind Dancer answered. "Stealth ships are assault craft. Keeper said your journey was secret from other humans. Keeper also does not wish humans to know about colony here. Keeper's brother trusts you."

There was a pointed tone in the way that she said it, and a look towards the humans that emphasized the tone in case it wasn't heard clearly enough.

"Don't worry," Hotch said, "we're not here to give away your secrets. We appreciate the lift."

Wind Dancer nodded and resumed walking. When they reached the shuttle, the hatch opened and the ramp slid out nearly silently. The Mrr'tani who were carrying the team's things entered first, stowing the bags out of the way, and Hotch and the team followed. Inside was fairly spartan with four rows of seats with what looked like shock harnesses for each one. Weapons lockers lined the rear of the craft's interior, and up in the front, Hotch could make out the cockpit through an open door.

"Humans may sit with Wind Dancer and True Light in the front," Wind Dancer said as she crossed to one side of the troop bay. She and the other Mrr'tani who accompanied her unbuckled the armor that they were strapped into and set it aside in one of the lockers, then Wind Dancer and the smaller of the other two moved towards the cockpit, Wind Dancer gliding behind the more heavy footed True Light.

Hotch followed and beckoned Morgan to come with him. McMillan and Radcliffe stayed behind with the other Mrr'tani, each of them eyeing the other curiously.

Wind Dancer and True Light sat in the pilot and copilot's seat and in silence worked their way through what Hotch would call a pre-flight, but where humans would be reading off a checklist, they moved nearly in unison, like a well-trained pair, so used to this that they didn't even have to look at each other to make everything work. It was almost like watching a dance, the way that they moved with each other, and Hotch found himself drifting just a little watching it. It was the same feeling that he'd felt when Dream Catcher spoke.

"Let me guess, the Memory?" Hotch asked.

"Yes," Wind Dancer answered.

Hotch waited, expecting more explanation, but none was forthcoming. He sighed and shook his head, trying not to show his frustration at not knowing something that he considered important.

"Worry not, Keeper will explain."

"Who is 'Keeper?'" Morgan asked, picking up while Hotch settled back into one of the cockpit's rear seats.

"The Keeper of Hearts is Frr'a'tan'lass'i'ah of the Mrr'tani. Quadranians say queen, but Mrr'tani have no concept for queen. Keeper joins the clans."

"I don't think I understand. Joins the clans?" Morgan asked.

"Will be easier if shown. Will not be long, and will have answers."

"Why is it that we can understand the Quadranians just fine, but the translators don't work as well with you?" Hotch asked, finally putting voice to a question that he knew all of them had on their minds since meeting Dream Catcher.

"Translators work only for spoken word, yes? Mrr'tan'garr'i' is more than words. Is body, is face, is tail. Is thoughts."

"Thoughts?"

"Yes, thoughts. Please, be patient, Aaron Hotchner. Keeper will answer soon."

Hotch sighed and shook his head with a frustrated grimace, then settled back and buckled the harness as the craft rumbled to life. Again, Wind Dancer and True Light worked in harmony in the front two seats and within a minute, the shuttle was off the ground. The light in the cockpit turned from amber to light blue as a whispering hum filled the ship.

"Must be the stealth generator," McMillan said from the door to the cockpit. She was standing there with Radcliffe at her side, watching through the front viewport as the ship pitched upwards and then picked up speed.

Together they watched the blue sky get deeper and deeper, finally fading to black as the stars faded into existence.

"Did you ever dream of being an astronaut?" Radcliffe asked, the wonder clear in his voice.

"Yeah, when I was six or something," McMillan answered.

"Well, dream come true. Look at that."

The humans fell as silent as the Mrr'tani, watching the stars in the viewport. Hotch looked out at them and for a moment realized just how small the Earth truly was. When it came down to it, there were more species out here in the stars than just them, and humans were all stuck on the one planet. The Mrr'tani, the Quadranians, and the others who'd landed, they were all interstellar races, and the humans had so much catching up to do. But they also had a job to do, and that was what was foremost on his mind. Even with the stars and the beauty of space lying outside the ship, he was already lost in thought, watching the two Mrr'tani in front of him, and with a quick glance to Morgan, he could tell his friend was doing the same.

If they were going to understand these people, then they had to really and truly understand them, it was just like old times, but much, much different. This time, it wasn't a human they were profiling, it was an alien race. How did they go about forming a profile of something so different from them? Did they even have a hope of doing it before they got to where they were going?


.


Note: This chapter guest written by my lovely wife The Blind Tigress