---------------------------------------------------------------------------- "You seem quite distracted, Captain." Ekianei said, not looking up from behind her new desk as she wrote a new law into existence. "Just... Looking over the data from the returning tank crew. You know you could have warned us they were a hive species." Michael replied as he sat comfortably in his posh chair. It had been quite the time since he arrived. Watching as Ekianei yelled people into order, firing others and promoting what he assumed to be those loyal to her. Most of it was done with authority that one would expect of a leader who has been in charge for years, confirming Michael's idea of her being truly the one in charge of things. " Sorry about blowing the forest up." Ekianei passed her work off to a waiting aide and reached for another piece of paper, pausing to look up at the Captain as he gazed into nothingness. "Do you think we knew of such things? Most are lucky to come back alive upon entering the forest." Shifting within his chair in response to her declaration, Michael studied the new leader and gave her a look of annoyance, not buying what Ekianei was trying to sell him. "I find that hard to believe. I mean, most of your homes are made of wood from the surrounding forest, and how do you trade with other cities or nations?" He asked, ignoring the chair creaking under the weight of his armour. "Ahh, quite the easy answer." She replied, dipping her quill and beginning to write another declaration. "You cut from the edge of the forest and work inwards. The Stydun don't seem to like the open plains. Though we still lose countless woodworkers a year from their sudden strikes. As for trade... It's quite a dangerous enterprise, but the unions have their secrets. As do you, I assume. We also have the river the brave use to reach the harbour." Michael sighed, his annoyance growing at Ekianei's half-answers and reluctance to disclose the information he required. "If they have ways of avoiding attacks, I need to know. At the moment, it's either we use their techniques, or we drop an antimatter bomb and douse the area in plasma when we need to make landfall." "Didn't that one machine you send into the forest eradicate hundreds of them? I don't see a problem with your current tactics, Captain." Looking up at another Aide, Ekianei handed the female her completed work and put her quill down. "I have completed my work. My apologies, dear Captain, but I was required to pass these laws and release my people before properly assisting you. However, It is now rather late, and I require rest. If it is acceptable, I would like to offer you my hospitality, a room for the night, perhaps?" Michael fought back his anger but quickly realized it was indeed past two am local time and reluctantly stood from his chair. "I'm afraid I'll have to decline. I'll take my shuttle back to the ship and return here in the morning. Aylen, You will inform me when the ruling class are ready for my presence." "Understood." Aylen replied, moving to follow Ekianei as she began to leave the room. "Is that so? Well, alright, I shall see you in the morning then, Captain." Ekianei replied, looking to Aylen as she left the room and beckoning him to follow her, leaving Michael standing in the room with two aides. "I guess I'll see myself out." Michael said to the room, turning to leave, and walking by himself, following his implants directions. As Michael quickly made his way down the hall, leaving the large residence and making his way to the shuttle, he noticed a relatively large crown of Voktlix that seemed to be gathering. Some even poking the shuttle curiously. "Well, look at that. Anything I can help you, folks, with?" He asked the group as he approached his shuttle. Shifting towards the direction of the odd voice, Vattitha eyed the strange creature as it walked towards her. It was large, larger than any Voktlix she had ever seen. It seemed to wear metal all over its body and appeared to have a rather flat face. "Hello, creature." She said as the being walked up to her. Michael stopped in place, watching with amusement as the group of Voktlix scattered into bushes or even under the shuttle to hide, leaving only the one female left standing in place. "Hi there... You don't seem too spooked to see an alien in combat armour approach you." "Well. You came from the residence of the President. So either you're our new master, leader or grand overlord. Or you're the reason we're all still alive even though the wall has been breached." Vattitha replied, looking back at the shuttle in wonder. "You also have the accent of someone from the central continent, which means you've been here for quite a while." Michaels studied the female with interest. Her coat was a mix of browns, blacks and whites, and she was about the same size as Ankiah, though a bit smaller in the chest area. "Well, you got one thing right. We did stop your cities siege. But I'm not here to be a master, nor have I been here for long." "Is that so? Why are you here, then? How did you learn our language so quickly? What were you doing in the President's home? And what is this machine in front of me?" Vattitha asked, her hands now on her hips. Quirking an eye, Michael watched as multiple Voktlix slowly move away from both him and the shuttle as the female to his front stalked towards him. "Whoa, there, lady!" Michael said, putting his hands up as the female got right up into his face. "I'm not here to hurt anyone, though if my wife sees this, she won't hesitate to hurt you." Vattitha took a few steps back as she sniffed the air, looking at the being with concern. "Apologies, I thought I smelt the danger of a toxin on you. It must just be your natural smell." "That's my wife... She's an Aasteran. They mark their mates with a scent. Apparently, it smells like a toxin..." Michael answered, looking at the female with slight amusement. "So. What's your name, and why are you so concerned?" "I am Vattitha, a medical adept. It's my duty to heal those in need, even if they are not of my kind." "You'd fit right in with my people then." Michael replied, walking past Vattitha and towards his shuttle. "We're here to help. Our reason is much the same as your own." Vattitha eyed the being with curiosity then observed his machine in much the same way. "What is that?" Keying the side open as he approached, Michael placed a foot inside the shuttle before looking back to Vattitha, finding that she was following him rather closely. "A shuttle. It will take me to my ship where the rest of my kind are. Can you step back, please?" "I see." She replied, watching as the being enter and following it in. Michael stopped and turned towards the female, looking her up and down before clearing his throat. "Excuse me... What are you doing?" "I'm making sure you're not doing anything suspicious." Vattitha replied, looking around and seeing a chair that looked suited for her to sit in. "With the police busy returning the populace to their housing, someone must keep an eye on you." Michael watched as Vattitha walked across the shuttle and took a seat, picking up the harness and fumbling with it until it clicked together correctly. "Uhhh... I'm going back to my ship. You can't be here and need to leave." Vattitha pointed her nose to the roof and gave Michael a look from the corner of her eye. "Then remove me, alien. I don't intend on allowing you to leave my sight." "I can very well do that. My people are strong and capable of amazing feats of strength within our armour. Please, you need to leave." Michael tried walking towards Vattitha with annoyance. Vattitha quickly folded her arms and hardened her fur, making it difficult for the alien to approach her within the chair. "No. If you are not here to hurt us, then there is no reason for me not to be able to accompany you to your boat." "That's not how this works, Vattitha. I'm military. My ship is a warship. You can't come." Michael stated, looking through the weapons inventory on the shuttle and finding exactly what he was looking for. "I see. You plan to hide your invasion force from our people while we open our homes to you. Not happening." She exclaimed, seeing straight through this alien. Michael reluctantly walked across the shuttle and opened a locked cabinet, pulling out the stun rod with slight annoyance. "Why are you so set on coming with me? What happened to your clear thinking before?" Watching as the alien pulled out a stick and gripped it tightly, Vattitha sighed in resignation as she realized he was actually about to remove her. "You are from the stars... Your people, you have advanced technology, correct? I wish to see what medical advances are available and use them to help my kind." "There we go." Michael said, placing the stun rod back in the holster. "All you had to do was ask." "You will take me to your ship?" Vattitha asked, stunned at the turnaround. "Maybe." Michael replied, moving to the cockpit door and turning to look at Vattitha. "Can you take me to your ship so that I may learn of your medical techniques?" Vattitha asked, clueing into what Michael was waiting for. Michael smiled and opened the door, looking at Vattitha before entering the cockpit. "Sure. One question, though. You're a doctor, right? Know any sailors or merchants?" ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Srettia sat on a bench in the corner of the hangar, watching as the shuttle arrived and dropped the battered tank in the repair bay and standing in anticipation as it finally landed in its docking harness. Quickly walking up to the door as it opened, Srettia stood silently, waiting for Michael to exit the shuttle, though frowning as a new Voktlix burst from the shuttle in excitement, pausing as it noticed her presence. "It's another alien!" Vattitha stated, walking up to Srettia in wonder. "Hello. I am Vattitha. Nice to meet you." Srettia leaned off to the side, watching as Michael exited the shuttle and gave her a warm smile. "Hello. I am Srettia." Sniffing the air, Vattitha paused before smiling and stepping off to the side. "Apologies, you must be wanting to see Michael." "Yes, I do. How did you know?" Srettia asked, looking at the Voktlix with suspicion. "He warned me about getting too close to him when I smelt an odd toxin coming off his body, told me it was from his mate. I smell the same scent from you, so it's easy to assume you're his wife." Vattitha stated, watching as Michael approached. "You're quite sharp." Srettia said, looking at Michael with an approving smile. "Why is she here?" Michael bumped Srettia gently with his shoulder as he walked by and motioned for the two to follow. "She knows a few people from the merchants union. She's going to introduce me to some so I can figure out how they get trade goods from city to city." "Yup! I get my medical supplies from the local union master, so it's easy to contact him when I need to. That is. As long as you hold up your end of the bargain, and get your doctor to teach me." Vattitha replied, looking Srettia up and down quite seductively. "You know, for an alien, you have hips that would make many quite jealous and the legs to match... Could I interest you in a nice quiet dinner? You may have a small chest, but I'm sure we can find other ways to have fun. Perhaps your husband can join us?" Michael quickly stepped between the two as Srettia flared her hood and spread her feet, throwing his arms off to his sides as his wife began hissing in anger. "That.. Don't do that..." Michael said, watching as Vattitha took a few steps back in terror. "Aasteran do no share their mates and are very aggressive when it comes to people flirting with their partners." "I see." Vattitha replied, smoothing the hardened fur on her back and cursing the fact she wore a shirt today. "I require a new chest covering.. I have torn mine." She said, peeking around Michael and eyeing his furious wife. "My apologies Srettia. I did not mean harm. I formally withdraw my invitation and promise I will pry no longer." Srettia nodded and straightened herself, happy that the opposing female backed down so easily. "Apology accepted." "Well. Let's find you a nice room. We can set you up with the doctor tomorrow morning and figure out where to go from there." Michael breathed out, happy the quarrel ended swiftly. Vattitha looked around the hangar as she left, may of what she assumed male Aasteran ran around with multiple......."Captain. What is your species name?" "Oh, right. I guess I forgot that bit." Michael stated, hitting the lift button and waving the two females in. "I am Captain Michael Graeme. A Terran from Earth. Welcome to my ship Vattitha." ----------------------------------------------------------------------------