Etterian battleship, Kushin

Orbiting mid-grade planet, Earth

12252 years, 4th month

At the male's groan, Ulriq tightened his arm around his throat, halting his ability to breathe. From behind, he had both legs wrapped around the warrior's torso, his thigh muscles as taut as his arm cutting off oxygen. Four seconds, three seconds...kill him, the darkness whispered. Ulriq's vision tinted with red; his focus intensified. A need to fight, to kill, roared at him. The seductive allure bombarded his control, and he released the warrior, rolling away from him, from the temptation.

"That's the fourth warrior this morning, Ulriq." Nerx—his sub-commander—strode toward him. Ulriq snarled, bounding to his feet in a smooth motion.

"I needed the exertion." He accepted the cloth Nerx handed him, wiping the sweat dripping off his chin and drenching his chest.

"What we need is a distraction," Nerx frowned. "What I truly want is the heat of Etteria's suns on my face, to crunch the gray sand beneath my heels, and the sweet nectar of our hahyt blossoms to fill my lungs."

Ulriq grunted, the urge to see his homeworld was as strong. Too many distant memories flashed in his mind. The setting of the magnus sun on their scarlet oceans. The bright white of hahyt blossoms nestled in blue leaves, and the taste of fresh kreso in the king's hall. He glanced at Nerx, remembering their shared experiences, the number of times they had saved each other's lives, and the long journeys endured with shared determination. Staring at his glowering battle-bond, a little warmth flooded him, reminding him relationships mattered.

The moment he had received command of the battleship Kushin, an energized Nerx had bounced around him with rarely observed enthusiasm. Then they had notified him Nerx would second Ulriq's command. It was one of his fondest memories, seeing Nerx step off the docked scimitar. In that moment, peace consumed him; all was right with the universe. This decision solidified his respect for his king.

"Any sunlight would appease you. Yet we are surrounded by uninhabitable planets, or low and mid-grades, at best." Ulriq released a slow exhale, hoping to ease the pressure squeezing his chest.

"This I know. I propose we change course and discover a planet with wildlife worthy of a hunt." Nerx shifted his bulk, an indication of his restlessness.

"Fair enough." Ulriq forced a smile. The unused curl cracked his lips. He hid his wince by tossing the cloth into the waste disposal.

With a last nod at Nerx, he strode to his quarters. His footwear made no noise on the grated-metal flooring. As an Etterian, each movement must be in silence no matter the terrain. Disrobing en route to his cleansing room, he stepped into the cubicle. It sensed his core temperature and judging by the scalding water pouring over him, he was hotter than usual. Yet further evidence his emotional stability affected him. Adjusting the temperature, he hoped the icy water would cool his inner turmoil. Tugging the Maloidian clip off his braid, he flicked it to the floor. His hair unraveled, then swirled and danced in agitation.

With a deep sigh, he raised his arms and splayed his hands against the white bulkhead, lifting his face to allow the water to cascade over him. He gargled a mouthful before spitting it out. Slumping his shoulders, he lowered his hand and took care of his morning chore. For the briefest of moments, the torment eased. Yet his fulfillment remained lackluster, the fleeting joy overshadowed by irritation.

He stepped out, and the water switched off. After activating the air-dryer with a press of the blue button, he waited for it to complete its task. His body once more trembled with pent-up energy. The moment it shut off, he scooped up his clip and strode naked to the replicator to punch in an order for another set of armor.

"Malia pa," he mumbled.

His hair tugged and pulled as it braided itself. He caught up the end and slipped on the clip. Something in the metal placated his hair. They hadn't found another restraint that kept it calm.

Dropping his braid to brush his heels, he hovered his hand above the reflective surface of the replicator. He would order his usual armor, except the thought of its confines made him feel trapped, within his body, within his circumstances. A tension rose, pressing on his senses. At the sight of his trembling hand, he growled and punched his requirements into the replicator. Yanking the standard armor off the counter, he pulled them on and reached for his footwear. The auto-servos would take care of this morning's armor he had discarded. If in good order, it would stack them within the airing closet for later use.

He stilled, staring at his old armor. The dark pieces splattered his floor like lifeless shadows scarring his soul. He grumbled at his fanciful thoughts, wondering if he descended into the void at a faster rate.

Requesting a container of water from the rehydrator, he stomped to the communications room. He nodded at Pilot Ksal, dropped into a chair, and slid his data tablet closer. With each tap and swipe of a finger, his irritation increased. Over two hundred requisitions later, he realized he had reread the same one for the third time. His head jerked as his gaze focused on his data tab, to verify he had indeed read the same words.

Disgust followed next, and as his lips curled downward, no reaction reflected within him. He almost grunted, not liking that smiling had become a rare mannerism for him. There were moments spent with Nerx and his other battle-bonds when they would share giyua juice, laugh and share past events and gika kills. But it had been a while since Ulriq had enjoyed such a time.

After another hour, he gave up on his data tab and took note of his communications room. On one side, large display vids revealed the surrounding stars and a tiny blue planet with its single orbiting moon. Ksal frantically typed on his multi-lit console, his concentration intense as expected of an Etterian warrior. His long black braid pooled on the floor behind his metal chair. Ulriq was proud of his males, of their dedication, their honor as indicated by their braids at heel length. Each dishonorable action cost them a foot of hair. It served as a visible symbol of a warrior's obedience, of his willingness to serve Etteria.

On the other side of the room, three males—led by Data Officer Prex—surrounded this galaxy's holographic model. They cataloged all data received from the scans, though how much of it they analyzed, Ulriq didn't know.

"Supreme Commander?" Pilot Ksal's voice reached through Ulriq's distraction.

When he gave the male his attention, Ksal tapped a button on his console. A strange male voice reverberated through the comm room. His words synchronized, joining in a melodic flow. It was a strange way of speaking indeed. The cessation of movement around him drew Ulriq's notice. His males had stilled to listen; they faced the large display vids despite there being no image alterations. He understood, accepting their curiosity as it echoed within him.

"What language is he speaking? Is that his homeworld?" Ulriq peered at the planet that from this distance showed promise and mineral wealth.

He couldn't assess whether the planet was rich in resources when everything looked appealing from afar. Data analysis of the planet's population, communication, history was never his forte. He lacked the patience for it. Focusing on the console, he frowned. Tension rippled through his body, tightening his muscles, increasing his heartbeat a fraction. It wasn't the unusual situation that had Ulriq tensing. He stilled the urge to clench his fists. For the past few days, his emotions had been unstable, fluctuating from irritation to impatience which he couldn't reveal to his warriors.

As their commander, he had to remain impassive, and in control, as expected of an Etterian male. He blamed the confines of the battleship. During peace, they navigated and charted their expansive universe. Their mandate was to extend Etteria's knowledge and star charts. It was a repetitive task no warrior enjoyed. The long journeys tended to scramble their brains. They were simply not capable of handling extended periods of inactivity with no testing of their battle-honed skills. More to the point, Ulriq struggled to endure this.

"Yes, Supreme Commander. That is Earth, a mid-grade planet. It is home to a volatile species. They have managed to travel within their system but no farther." Ksal didn't look at him, but he hadn't expected him to. "Their air is breathable, if a landing is required."

"And we have their informational databases?" Ulriq asked.

"Yes, according to protocol. I am uploading their language now." Concern etched across Ksal's features a few minutes later, and Ulriq waited for the pilot to clarify his annoyance. "They do not have a planetary language, Supreme Commander. I have sent three of their most-spoken languages to you." The unit activated the three for themselves as well as an analysis tool to assist with language recognition. Expectantly, Ulriq activated his Optical Data Implant, or O.D.I., embedded in his wrist. A sensation rippled up his arm and the Earthian's words—still echoing through the communications room—were, in an instant, translated. Not a medic, he couldn't go into detail as to how the O.D.I worked, just that it was powered by his neural system, and utilized those pathways to connect with his mind.

Of the looped message, the birdsong was the first understood. Its meaning increased Ulriq's pulse, and his core temperature rose. The words were evocative as the Earthian addressed a sister he had failed. He had a deep affection for his blood-bond, evident by the level of emotional intensity in his voice. The pain, sadness, despair tainting the Earthian's voice, was strong enough to reverberate through Ulriq. He barely contained the shiver raking his body.

"That is love?" Ksal asked.

Love? Ulriq frowned at Ksal's words, at his reverent tone. It was an archaic term in Etterian culture. Acceptable emotions didn't include 'love', unless under certain circumstances which were rare. Affection was tolerated, but love was too volatile an emotion. It was uncontrollable and distrusted.

"Yes. He loves his... sister." Ulriq took a moment to wonder what 'love' might be like. Unfortunately, he couldn't begin to imagine. His range of emotions was limited as expected. Yet an ache pressed on his chest, heavy, dark, and noticeable. The strangeness of it tugged his lips downward.

"May I share this Earthian's words with our males, Supreme Commander?" Ksal asked.

The hope on his pilot's face would pass onto his males. They could use the distraction, he noted as he tossed his data tab onto the table. To encounter love without suffering under its influence; it was a gift from the Maker.

"Yes, you may share it, Ksal." He listened to the words again. "He believes he is dying."

"Jack, I hope this gets to you, my sister. I love and miss you, and I'm sorry I couldn't return to you as I promised." The male followed the words with the melodic birdsong which echoed his message, that of loving his sister for an eternity and beyond.

"He is breaking a vow?" Ulriq asked the communication room, in general. That this troubled the male implied he was honorable. "Scan the vicinity, Ksal. He might still live." Ulriq jumped up to stand closer.

Ksal's fingers flittered across the console with practiced speed. The display vids altered to focus on the source of the Earthian's voice. Suspended in mid-animation—a creature in a white-constrictive suit—drifted against a backdrop of stars.

"Can he not return to his space station?" Ulriq pointed at the alien's structure on the horizon.

"Scans show there are twenty-one life signs on the station; their pulses slow and steady. I suspect they are resting, Supreme Commander, and are unaware of his predicament."

"Has he requested assistance?"

"No, but there is a sadness to his voice as if he believes no assistance could be forthcoming." Ksal shook his head, the frown on his face mimicked Ulriq's own.

This species intrigued Ulriq, with their emotions and their damu-like vulnerability. He hadn't experienced such vulnerability, not since he was six years old. To evoke intense emotions for an Etterian meant an impactful event had occurred like the loss of a blood-bond. His warriors knew the creed. To feel is to fail. Their joy and hope might hasten the void. He scowled, concern deepening as Ksal's dark-blue eyes briefly paled.

"To feel is to fail." Ulriq's voice conveyed the fiery burn of anger he struggled to contain.

Ksal stilled, then squeezed his eyes shut for a second before nodding his thanks.

Ulriq sighed, strolled to his chair, and dropped his bulk into it. He had overestimated his warriors' ability to resist the tug on their souls. He didn't like that this Earthian could affect his ever-vigilant males with his strange emotions. As if this Earthian's love was contagious.

Charge after charge buzzed up his arm, startled him, and stoked the angry burn coursing through his veins. Tapping on his O.D.I., he deactivated the notifications temporarily then flicked through forty-two messages from his crew.

"Our males request we rescue him. Alodon's balls!" Ulriq roared his frustration and bounded up. He punched the ship-wide comm system on the console with more force than intended. It didn't matter that he was revealing his restlessness; this needed to end. "This male cannot be rescued. Cease comming me!"

Ksal's fingers flew over the console with more urgency than needed. His posture stiffened as if anticipating a battle, yet his lips had curled in distaste.

"What alarms you?"

"I am tracking a Yithian slave ship. It travels past the first planet from the sun. Expected path is not near our current position. I will continue to monitor their trajectory."

"Why would you need to concern yourself? We are in stealth-mode, are we not?" Excitement skittered through Ulriq; the need for battle bombarding him.

"A slave ship, Supreme Commander. If we do not rescue this Earthian now, the Yithians might. His message is still broadcasting."

Ulriq scowled. He wouldn't doom anyone to the Yithian arena, not if he could help it. Yet, to rescue this Earthian would require they reveal their presence. This he couldn't allow. It was against protocol.

"Comm King Xeus." He didn't need to wait long. As expected, Adviser Cales answered the communications request promptly.

"Supreme Commander Ulriq," he said.

Ulriq gave a slight nod, in acknowledgement of the older male before him. He first noted the two physical attributes that mattered to an Etterian.

Cales's black braid was thick and long, a visual display of his unquestionable honor. As adviser, it was his responsibility to mete out the Foot of Honor. This was the removal of a length of hair from a disobedient male: a chore all knew he detested.

His eyes were dark blue. The color denoted control of one's emotions and since he was old enough to be a lima kuu, a great teacher, his control was formidable.

"Greetings, Adviser. We have a situation requiring the king's guidance."

"Cryptic but intriguing, Ulriq. Is this a matter of urgency?" Cales asked.

"Yes. We have encountered an Earthian stranded from his planet and station. An approaching Yithian slave ship is forcing my hand. I request permission to violate G.C. laws to retrieve him."

Violating the Global Council laws entailed a heavy monetary penalty, not that Etteria would feel the cost. The violation was more a matter of honor since King Xeus had been the forerunner in the creation of these laws. Having said that, the rumors or buzz indicated a rift had formed among the council with corruption running rife. It was an unstable time to bring the Etterian honor into disrepute.

"Has he requested assistance?" Cales arched a brow in query.

"He has not; however, his message is one I admire." Ulriq gestured to Ksal to share the Language Protocol and message with the Adviser.

Cales took a moment to listen. The adviser's expressions mimicked Ulriq's current volatile emotions, though, he knew, feeling them would cost Cales. The more an Etterian aged, the more the void claimed his soul, and the less emotion they dared to experience. It was for this reason they cultivated a tighter control. Any intense emotions siphoned the remaining light, bringing the darkness closer. When the void consumed a male's soul, it led him to sacrifice his life on the training battlefield at Calustrum. It was why only the youngins still revealed emotions; they had the luxury of time to do so.

"Is this love?" Cales asked, then shook his head.

"I believe so, Adviser." Ulriq frowned.

Ksal tapped the display vid, drawing his attention. He focused on the active scanning of the solar system from Earth itself.

"Earth scans their solar system. The longer the Kushin remains in orbit the greater the chance of discovery. We will need to leave stealth to rescue the Earthian."

"This is a matter of honor, Ulriq, permission granted. I will inform Xeus should the buzz reach the council's ears. Keep me informed." The comm ended from Cales's side, as expected. It was frowned upon should Ulriq have ended a comm on a higher-ranking warrior.

"Ksal, task Der, Kanzo and Sena." Ulriq leveled his gaze on Prex who had returned to his duties. "Prex, record the interaction. It might appease the G.C."

Data Officer Prex straightened to his six-foot-four height, typed on his O.D.I. before rushing out of the communications room. Ksal grinned and attended to his task. Ulriq reached across and tapped the comm button with less vehemence than earlier.

"Permission granted for the Earthian's rescue," he said to his crew.

With a deep sigh, he lowered his heavy frame into his chair and waited. Sitting didn't calm him. His black armored breeches were as confining as he had predicted and the urge to rip off his vest pushed against his control. Too energized, he jumped up and waited, spreading his legs wide and planting his feet firmly. His fists clenched as he fought the need to fidget. As an Etterian warrior, he commanded his body.

Minutes later, Prex had activated various security vids for the interaction. The display vids filled with the dark-gray interior compartment of the kuta shuttle. The four males suited up under the eager attention of the Kushin crew. Their air-suits were made of a Maloidian-nano polymer, similar to their armor but with additional sensitivity to the demands spacewalking, or spacing, placed on their bodies. The nanos in the suit monitored their oxygen usage and would recycle it for the short spacing required, otherwise they'd attached additional equipment to the suits.

Ksal punched his console and shared the rescue vids with the crew. Ulriq wondered what the consequences of that would be. More harassment?

En route to the Earthian's location, his males on the kuta, chatted among themselves, their words discernible with the advanced hearing of their species. It wasn't acceptable protocol to listen in on conversations, but in this case, it was unavoidable. Ulriq didn't appreciate their eagerness. An Etterian warrior was to remain vigilant, to stave off the void for as long as possible and to never bring shame upon their people.

Their conversations ceased, and they hovered around the door. The pilot must have aligned the shuttle with the Earthian. They flipped their visors over their faces when the compartment's lights flashed to green indicating a loss of pressure, life support and gravity. The shuttle's door opened, and Prex shifted into position with an additional vid to reveal the white immobile figure. Ulriq's battle-bond Kanzo launched himself at the Earthian, activating his boot boosters by tapping the heels together. He reached the drifting male with ease then deactivated his boosters to spin them using the Earthian as an anchor. Kanzo redirected them to the waiting shuttle with the aid of his boosters once more. A perfectly executed retrieval; Ulriq approved.

Inside the shuttle, the door sealed, and the green lighting altered to white with his males flipping up their visors. Ulriq ground his teeth as he tightened his jaw. Kanzo's eyes had swirled to ice-blue. Ulriq would need to talk to his males regarding their recklessness. He refused to lose a single warrior to the void, not under his command.

Prex scanned the Earthian to assess his breathing compatibility as was protocol when encountering an unknown species. At his nod, Kanzo pried off the Earthian's helmet; the latches unable to withstand the strength of an Etterian male. They stared at the Earthian, with his pale skin and white hair. , his coloring was startling. Not that it was unpleasant, just unusual. All Etterians, male and female, had black hair and dark-blue eyes.

"He is alive. His body needs oxygen." Der stepped forward, knelt in front of the sprawled male, and roared.

The Earthian's eyes opened, and he bolted into a seated position. Ulriq stared in amazement at the pale-blue eyes. The color was unexpected. Etterians were born with such eyes, but as they trained to control their emotions, the color transformed to dark blue.

"What... what happened?" The Earthian rubbed his face with his gloved hand. "Where am I?" He scanned the shuttle before blinking at the looming warriors. "You're not a known alien species."

"He is well!" Der called out, a victorious expression on his face. The bright smile was incongruent with the older warrior's stoic demeanor.

Heat swelled Ulriq's chest with an unexpected joy, yet he wasn't willing to acknowledge it.

"Greetings, tiny Earthian. We are Etterian warriors and have rescued you," Kanzo offered his hand to assist the male up. Instead of using it, the Earthian did a strange thing and shook it—three times—before releasing it.

"What was that?" Ksal asked the console.

"Thank you. I believed I'd die..." The Earthian staggered to his feet. His white suit was of a poor design; it restricted instead of enhanced his movements.

"Yes, we intercepted your message. It is why you were rescued," Kanzo said. "Tell me, why did you pump my hand? It was meant to assist you to your feet."

"Oh." Pink splashed the Earthian's pale cheeks, the color of their Etterian sky as the magnus sun set.

What was the significance of such a reaction? Ulriq had never known a species where their skin changed color. The yellow of a Maloidian, the gray of a Yithian, the green of an Algri, and the bronze of an Etterian only darkened.

"I greeted you; we shake hands." He held out his hand again, and Kanzo accepted it to 'shake' three times. "Yes, like that." The Earthian studied the males staring at him and gave a nod of thanks. "I'm Michel Dunois, an Earth Space Agency astronaut, and you are...?"

Kanzo asked which Ulriq appreciated. The Earthian's response might appease the council. Although, in truth, he hoped they never learned of this incident.

"Birdsong?" Michel Dunois frowned then shrugged. Ulriq arched a brow at Ksal. Perhaps their data scan of the Earthian's language was defective. "I needed help, but I didn't expect it. Thank you again."

Ulriq strode out of the communications room, his destination was Docking Bay J where he would await the shuttle's return. He entered the bay as Michel Dunois stumbled down the lowered ramp, his gaze scanning the interior of the bay. One of many on the battleship. Ulriq glanced around as well, attempting to see his ship with fresh eyes.

The dark gray of the Maloidian steel bulkheads gleamed in the white lighting. Metal-grated flooring lined the large bay which housed two kuta shuttles and one scimitar as per protocol. Maloidian crates lined the walls, magnetically attached for safety. His males darted across the bay, attending to their tasks with utmost efficiency despite their obvious interest in the Earthian traveler. Warmth flooded his chest, recognizable as pride, at what his males had accomplished.

"Michel Dunois, this is Supreme Commander Ulriq, and this is the battleship Kushin," Kanzo said.

Ulriq accepted Michel Dunois's offered hand and shook it three times. Why the repetition?

"A pleasure to meet you, Supreme Commander." At the male's use of 'pleasure', disapproval swept through Ulriq, snatching a little more of his control. But the words were in a formal tone, therefore the use of the word 'pleasure' wasn't meant to offend.

"This is impossible. In rescuing you, we have violated our Global Council laws regarding our dealings with mid-grade planets. Earth needs to believe you have expired."

"Then why did you rescue me?" The Earthian flushed pink.

Ulriq didn't appreciate the potent, yet controlled emotion directed at him. It was a mark of disrespect, of ingratitude.

He growled, his voice lowering. Adrenaline flooded his body, and even though there was no battle to fight, the burn of anger still resonated through him.

"Arena?" Michel Dunois gasped, his cheeks trembled, then he pinched his lips and raised his determined gaze to Ulriq. "I must go home...to my sister. She's all I have."

Impressed by the male's ability to contain his emotions, Ulriq opted to ignore the disrespectful outburst and acknowledge the strangeness of the situation.

He pasted on a stiff smile before gesturing to his observing males. "Your message was felt by all. But we cannot allow you to return you to your homeworld."

His fists clenched. "So if I remain on this battleship, what becomes of me?"

The Earthian wasn't aware of the significance of the word 'felt.' Etterians didn't use it often.

Ulriq sighed, his patience ebbing. "You will be an Etterian male, subject to our law. We will train and treat you as a warrior."

"I can't say goodbye?" Michel Dunois asked in a strangled voice. He paled making Ulriq realize these skin-color fluctuations were not controllable.

"What would you tell her, Michel Dunois?" Ulriq hated that he was in this situation. His booted feet were on a path he couldn't escape.

"I would tell her I'm on a long-term mission, and not to expect to see me for years. At least she'll know I haven't died, that I didn't break my promise to her."

"And you cannot do so via a comm?" Ulriq folded his arms across his chest, more to still his restlessness than for any other reason. "I will give your words further thought. More than this I cannot promise you. Kanzo, see him settled."

"Yes, Supreme Commander." Kanzo gestured to the male to follow him.

Ulriq scowled as Kanzo led the Earthian away. This new development didn't please him. He ignored his males's gazes trailing his pacing form. He wanted to grant the male his request, to bid farewell to his blood-bond, a sister. And he suspected the gender of his blood-bond tipped Ulriq's leniency. Females were rare, to be cherished.

But to visit her endangered his males and their mission. A hovering battleship would start an intergalactic incident. And setting foot planetside would increase the risk. In addition, he knew not the character of this species. Could Michel Dunois be trusted to keep his word and not attempt an escape? It wasn't that he considered him a prisoner. No. What Ulriq needed was to remain honorable in all things. He had to decide and soon.

He growled in frustration. An hour ago, the monotony of exploration had been his only concern. Now the requisitions were side-lined due to the number of reports he now needed to submit. With a grunt, he acknowledged he had already decided. Michel Dunois's plea hadn't changed his mind. Ulriq strode over to the Earthian's quarters, where Kanzo waited outside his door.

He greeted him with a nod, grateful Kanzo had the forethought to communicate the location of Michel Dunois's quarters to him. Ulriq didn't waste further time and opened the door. The Earthian had dressed in blue breeches and a soft-looking tunic. At least it allowed for better ease of movement. He gestured for Ulriq to enter while he rose to a standing position.

"You may comm your sister, Michel Dunois, but a visit is unacceptable."

"It's Michel, or Mich, Supreme Commander." He paced; energy vibrated off his body. "I understand the risks and your distrust. I'd feel the same in your shoes."

Ulriq bristled at the word 'feel' even as his gaze traveled to the Earthian's tiny feet. He would never fit in Ulriq's shoes.

"Please, hear me out," Michel pleaded.

Ulriq clenched his teeth, not liking that this male thought his decision was negotiable. "Usually, I notify Jack..."

"Jack?" Ulriq echoed, recalling the prior use of it.

"Jacqueline, but I call her Jack."

"Continue." Ulriq spread his legs and rested his arms behind him, waiting to hear Michel's plea.

"I'd let her know I was home, and we'd meet for dinner. I'd sometimes surprise her at her house, but if you allow this, I'd suggest we meet at my house under the pretense of a barbecue. It's far out of town and away from nosey neighbors."

"How long do you expect to waste our time further?" At Ulriq's words and unrelenting gaze, Michel grimaced.

"An afternoon, approximately four hours. I won't try to escape. I understand rescuing me violated some council law, and I'm sorry for my part in it."

Ulriq turned to Kanzo. "Allow him to communicate with his sister, and nothing more." He strode off, too irritated to endure the disappointment clear on Michel and Kanzo's features. Pausing in the passage where no male hovered, he struggled for control, hoping to silence his instincts screaming he had erred in judgment.