Xeno Core

The airlock finishes cycling with a hiss. Sliding slowly up, it reveals a pair of male Tserri standing on the other side.

The pair are dressed in matching leather outfits, complete with full combat regalia. Knives, spears, and lengths of thick cord hang from them in easily reached places. Powerful hand drills and compact lasers complete their arsenal. Between them stands the largest example of their horned beast pets that I've ever encountered.

The creature stands taller at the shoulders than young Han, who eyes the strangers uncertainly.

The larger of the two barks a command at the youth, who steps back rather than comply. His partner growls menacingly, which causes Yosip to stand from the piloting seat.

The smaller Tserri reaches one claw toward a wickedly curved dagger at his belt, barking insults. Yosip darts forward, faster than anyone would expect from his lumbering bulk. Jets capable of propelling him through the vacuum of space power his movements, accelerating his composite alloy fist nearly faster than I can track without equipment.

Yosip only hits him once, but it is enough to crush the dark furred muzzle of the aggressive male. Rather than retaliate, the larger Tserri laughs at his partner's misfortune. He slaps Yosip once on the back before kicking his friend. The pair's pet licks at the blood flowing from its owner's face, bleating happily and easily avoiding the shooing claws of its master.

Yosip gestures to the youth, then rumbles orders to the adult Tserri. The pressure of his grasp is enough to frighten me and I emit a flash of orange light. Thank the tides Yosip retains enough control to preserve my existence.

The injured Tserri climbs upright, dark blood dripping from his face. He spits blood onto the deck and staggers back to his own ship, laughing partner trailing behind. They have to drag the horned creature away from the spilled blood.

The Supply-Master stands with his arms held loosely at his sides, watching the pair until the airlock finishes its cycle. He relaxes slightly when the two ships separate, and he turns to regard Han. He finally relents his grip upon me, freeing me of my newfound fear of shattering.

Han looks up at the Supply-Master, eyes wide, ears back. The youth's mouth hangs open, though his lips try to form words without sound. He gestures with one claw absently, unable to understand what just happened.

"Han?"

Han leaps into the air, all four arms pumping frantically. The youth yells, a single high-pitched roar that echoes tinnily off the walls of the shuttle. Yosip sighs before stomping heavily back to his seat.

Tapping at the controls, Yosip brings up a simplified chart of the surrounding volume of space. Behind him Han chatters happily, asking questions that the officer ignores. Yosip steers us closer to the main body of Gelen's fleet, where he'll have another chance to turn over responsibility for Han and myself to another.

Direction set, he then composes another communication. He sends it off with a grunt. Yosip then laughs before commenting to Han, probably reassurances that the youth will soon be safely home.

Han is too busy running back and forth, attacking imaginary opponents to answer with more than a grunt. Until the youth expends some of that energy, this shall be a noisy flight. Taking advantage of the youngster's focus on his games, Yosip prepares a simple meal without being pestered with endless questions.

Nothing fancy, merely those provisions intended to feed Yosip during his short hiatus, but more than Han is used to. Upon seeing the gor grubs and slices of gau on bread, Han plants himself beside the Selber officer. Yosip laughs at the youth's antics and slides him half of the food, as well as another bulb of birpa.

They eat, occasionally exchanging short comments. For at least this short time, Yosip relinquishes his hold upon me, setting me upon an unoccupied cushion of the crash couch. The couch is surprisingly soft, and I enjoy the plush upholstery.

All too soon they finish their simple meal. Yosip clears away the remains, placing them in the waste disposal where they'll be stored for later reclamation. He then once more picks me up in one hand, the better to guard my safety.

He's busy showing Han how the piloting controls work when the screen lights up with an incoming message. Yosip nods sagely before initiating communication.

On the screen Eva Chel's worried face appears. She rapidly questions Yosip, and during the barrage of words my name is mentioned many times. Yosip takes the assault placidly, like a good officer should, before responding calmly.

Eva's face shows evidence of disbelief which only increases when Yosip lifts me to where the camera can reveal me to her.

"Shit," she exclaims, rubbing at her eyes with one slender hand. A larger hand settles on her shoulder, causing her to take a sharp breath.

Attached to that hand is Ship-Father Jim Tollek, standing bravely despite the clear signs of exhaustion upon his gray face. His uniform is wrinkled and his crest of dark hair is disheveled.

He gives a short speech, raising his hands and forming fists that he shakes passionately as he speaks. Eva's face sets into firm lines, ready to do her duty despite the difficulty.

Yosip grunts and turns off the transmission. He then makes a comment that sounds oddly like Jim's voice to Han, who laughs hysterically. Truly, the long separation from his people and the stress of being locked in such cramped quarters must be bearing heavily on his young mind, to react so to such a heroic figure as the Ship-Father.

After Han recovers they return to their lessons, and Han does an admirable job of smoothly adjusting our heading. He's guiding us as if he were an experienced pilot by the time we arrive at the new meeting point.

There we encounter a much larger vessel than before. Meant for storage of raw materials as much as for habitation by the Tserri miners, the massive ship swallows the shuttle easily. Yosip takes over the controls to bring us inside, thankfully.

The hangar is large enough for twenty similar sized ships to fit easily, though only half of that space holds any crafts. Small rock-biters crewed by a single miner sit next to tugs capable of hauling enormous loads behind them. A single sleek scouting vessel stands on one end of the hangar, currently being serviced by armor suited crew.

Guided by a tan furred female in red and gold armor who directs them from a control room of the carrier ship, Yosip positions the shuttle between the scout and the other small ships. Suited crew rush to refuel the shuttle, well-trained at the station for just such occasions.

He thanks the guide and severs the communication. Then he stuffs me inside his shirt and issues some kind of stern directive.

Han answers with a happy bark before I hear him scurrying around the shuttle. I'm not sure what he's doing. What ever it is, it doesn't take very long.

"Ch'shrr," Yosip says, thanking the youth, then stands and walks a short distance. Han's claws tinkle upon the deck behind us.

The door opens, and a deep Tserri voice speaks. Yosip answers and begins walking again. The newcomer's clanking steps join Yosip's own, as they escort the two strangers aboard their vessel.

They walk a short distance before another door cycles open with a hiss. Yosip steps through the entry way, Han right behind him. The escort stays at the door, speaking again. I recognize Jim's name among the growls and hisses, though the stranger's accent makes it hard to be certain.

"Ch'shrr," answers Yosip before the door closes. I'm excited to see what their accommodations look like. How have they decorated the quarters? I doubt they'd offer a hero anything less than the best room available.

Yosip doesn't take me out of his shirt yet, however, and I must wait to see. He walks across the room and drops heavily onto something padded. It squeaks under him, giving a fraction of a bit under his weight. Another weight hits the floor beside him.

Han moves around not far away, exploring the new room. It's larger than the interior of the shuttle, at least. The young Tserri activates some machine and it whirs to life.

His little voice exclaims, "Birpa!"

Yosip chuckles. The youth runs up to him, and Yosip shifts positions in his seat. Yosip thanks the youth before drinking. He evidently does not enjoy the carrier's particular flavor of birpa, as he makes a sound of disgust after only one swallow.

Han laughs but keeps drinking his own. There's a thud beside us, and Yosip rumbles again. The two continue like this for some time before being interrupted by a knocking at their door.