You don't always make the wisest decisions in the heat of the moment with no information.
Chuck meditated on this important fact as he wove his way between tents and stalls in the alien bazaar, Rinda at his side. He had split them up. Taken the Orang, the obvious target of the feathered dinosaurs, and fled like a bitch in the hope the others could make it back to the ship without too much trouble. The fact this meant each group was now that much weaker hadn't occurred to him. The fact the others now had nobody who spoke the local language was also a downside running through his mind. Most importantly, though, was the realization that bridges dictated the routes back to the ship, and if they were all going to use the same bridges they might as well have stayed together.
If a decade of watching The Amazing Race had taught Chuck anything, it was that running without a plan was suicide. With that in mind, seeing no immediate danger he pulled Rinda into the shadows of a zebra colored tent and stopped, panting.
The damned gravity was also going to be an issue. He could tell that already.
"Rinda, check the map. Assuming the others are going back the way we came, find us a different route back to the ship."
She was looking at him, all four eyes round in awe.
"You shot them," she whispered. "All of them."
He shook his head, laughing tiredly.
"They were big and close together. I also hit the wrong one at least twice." He grabbed the water bottle from his belt and took a gulp. He hoped he hadn't killed them. Really hoped they survived. He had shot to kill, of course. He knew that much, that if you tried to wound you'd likely just miss. But, damn it, he was a future engineering major, not a soldier! They had been living, thinking people! For all they had seemed to be threatening Rinda in that strange language...
She was still staring at him, mouth agape.
"Map! Please, Rinda!"
Shaking herself, getting her mind back where it belonged as her training kicked in, Rinda quickly pulled the folded tourist map from her belt. As she looked, Chuck handed her his water bottle. She took a quick swig, handing it back without her eyes leaving the map.
"Thank you..." A moment later, nimble hands swiftly refolding the map neatly and returning it to its proper place, she nodded towards the south. "That way. We..."
A buzzing came from her belt.
Chuck watched Rinda grab the communicator, a sinking feeling coming over him. Moving together, they heard Daium's voice.
"Rinda! There's a Ludzie ship here! Get back here!"
Chuck closed his eyes, shaking his head. Well, duh. Opening them, he saw Rinda just staring at the phone in amazement as well.
"Um, we already know, Captain! We shot three!"
"You WHAT?!?"
Sensing this perhaps needed a human touch, Chuck gently took the device from Rinda's hand. She gave it up willingly, eyes on him, but Chuck had no time to decipher her expression.
"They were about to fire on Rinda. We split up: I have her, the rest are running back to you the way we came. I'm going to find a different way back, over to the outer ring then to you, in case they're hunting for Orang's."
There was a pause, Alicia's voice replacing Daium's.
"We're two platforms west of the ship. We'll wait for you at the next bridge we come to."
Rinda quickly whipped the map out, pointing to their position and the bridge in question. Chuck nodded.
"Sounds good. Only one bridge to cross to get to your platform. Gotta go and beat the alarm. Later."
Flipping the off switch, he handed it back to Rinda, leaning in for a quick kiss. Her lips kissed back almost desperately, trying to follow after as he pulled back.
"No time, my friend. Let's go."
****
Alicia turned off the phone, looking at her wife and husband-in-law in disbelief.
"OK, didn't expect this."
Daium was rooted in place, expression shocked.
"What... what happened? We were supposed to be away from fighting! I didn't want this!"
"No time," Justin said, gaze quickly sweeping the Orang office. "Quick, anything we need to steal from here that we can get in five seconds?"
Daium shook her head, eyes following his, face still worried.
"No. Have all the data. Rest is nothing."
"Out, then!" Grabbing her hand, he half led, half pulled Daium out through the waiting room and onto the exterior staircase. Alicia was a step behind, closing the door to the spy center behind her. She doubted they'd be back, but regardless, there was no reason to leave it open to strangers. The trip up, in almost full Earth gravity, had been painful. The trip down was comically fast, half running, half falling. At least twice, only the railing kept her from just continuing forward at the bottom of a flight and going right off the platform. They reached the bottom with so much momentum they just kept running for a hundred feet, before slowing as gravity and aching sides demanded their due. Not stopping, Justin passed his water bottle around.
Alicia drank thankfully, taking a long swig and handing it back. Her other hand she kept near her pistol. They had practiced with the weapons. Not so much out of future need, or so they told themselves, but because it was something to do. The ship was, despite its size, small, as was their group, and boredom was always an issue. You couldn't just have sex all the time. Rinda had taught them the basics, drawing on her military training. There was only so much you could do in zero gravity, but target practice had definitely been on the agenda. Alicia had been good at it. It had surprised, and pleased, the blonde. Chuck joked that with her facial scar and a gun, she looked like a pirate.
At the very least, she could use a bottle of rum right about now.
They were in the middle of what on Earth might be called an office park. Buildings of various shapes and sizes, occupied by delegations from hundreds of worlds. Mostly private and commercial, from what Daium had been able to tell them, trading both for the products of this water world, and among themselves. This series of artificial islands was the planet's only surface habitat, condensing all their contact with the universe into one space.
Perhaps this was why it was so god damned ugly.
The trio passed between two rusting metal structures. Each loomed up over them about six stories, just boxes. Alicia liked her buildings pretty, stylish. At the very least, they should tell you what they are even without a sign. Like that one up there, next to the bridge. It was built like a seashell, yet looked menacing. It said military. It said, police.
So did the half dozen giant crabs blocking the bridge.
Daium halted, hand going out to the metal wall to keep her balance, the other two copying her lead. Alicia's hand crept closer to her weapon. Justin's eyes flicked down at the movement.
"Don't, Alicia. We're outnumbered."
"We ARE getting through."
He nodded.
"Alive, though. If we're going to fight, we need to hook up with Chuck and Rinda first."
"NO FIGHTING!"
Daium literally growled at her lovers.
"No fighting! I'll talk to them." Her eyes went to the center one. "I think that's the same one I talked to earlier. Let's go." Taking one step, she paused. "But... be ready, my loves."
****
Daium was sweating under her black fur. Damned sun. This planet needed trees. Glorious, tall trees with green leaves, providing shade, protection... providing all that was needed for life.
This world had nothing but danger.
Ah, well. It served her right. She had picked the planet. Had the entire universe to choose from, and she had picked this for their first way station. They had to stop somewhere, and it had seemed far enough away.
Silly Orang.
Walking across the hot metal, deciding then and there that the human concept of "shoes" for things other than snow boots was one she really should adopt, she kept her gaze on the red Mard with the blue claws. Yes, it definitely was the same one she had talked to earlier. Its eye stalks were on her, and she took some comfort in the lack of any overt aggressiveness in the crabs as the three of them approached. They were simply blocking the bridge to the next platform.
"Dockmaster Vei," she greeted him, stopping just out of what she hoped was claw reach. Justin and Alicia stood on either side. Her protectors. Standing straighter, she drew strength from them.
"Captain Daium," Vei replied, voice deep and amused. "It seems your crew has run into some problems."
She nodded.
"I just heard. They were threatened, and defended themselves. We're returning to the ship."
"They fired on peaceful Ludzie crewmen, fresh off of their ship. Are you Orang THAT warlike that every dispute must be settled this way?"
HER people warlike? As if the Ludzie were much different?!
Daium willed herself calm. He was baiting her. If she struck out, his job was that much easier. The crab chuckled, as if taking her silence as agreement.
"The Ludzie ship brought news, as well. News of your planet Tanah."
She felt the humans on either side of her tense. They didn't understand the words, naturally, but both the taunting nature and the name Tanah had jumped out at them. She gritted her teeth.
"Yes. We know."
"And you did not tell us. Your ship did not broadcast your news to us, as is required. This is almost as wrong as what your people have done. Tell me, what do you think I should do?"
Oh, there were so many ways she wanted to answer that.
She heard something behind them, saw the guards looking over her head. Justin leaned his head closer and whispered.
"Chuck and Rinda."
She nodded. So. They were now two groups instead of three. All she had to do was convince this idiotic official in front of her that it was in his interest to let them go on their way...
Daium smiled.
It was obviously a disquieting sight. Dockmaster Vei seemed to rear back a bit, as did the guards on either side. She adjusted her glasses, all four eyes fixed on his.
"Yes. Tanah is no more. But, the Orang are. Our fleets have struck back. Taking vengeance, as is our right. Now, we are regrouping. Our warships and civilian transports. All converging on one system.
"Here."
Vei staggered back, as if struck. The others shot their eyes into the sky, as if warships were just then about to tear down onto their world. Daium just smiled wider.
"We are just gathering, naturally. We will not stay. It will be good for your economy, all those ships needing to be supplied. So long, that is, that there is no reason for them to be upset with you. We Orang, at the moment, are in a rather bad mood."
The Dockmaster's eyes narrowed.
"What do you want?"
"Free passage for all my crew back to the ship, and no hindrance when we take off. Delivery of any and all supplies they may have legally purchased from your fine merchants." She paused, considering. "You may also want to tell the two Ludzie ships now here they may want to leave the system rather quickly."
She crossed her arms over her chest.
"Now."
****
Melinda didn't think they were going to make it.
They had crossed over the first bridge without much problem. The humans had left the commotion behind, quickly getting lost in the milling crowds. The crab guards hadn't even looked at the five as they pushed two carts of supplies past onto the swaying bridge. Once across, though, Melinda had looked back. The guards on this side seemed to be getting some sort of call, probably from headquarters. One was starting to look up towards them as they pushed their way into the crowded market.
The word was now out. The guards at the next bridge would be alert. And...
And the cart was getting damned heavy.
"Tammy, could you..."
"Sure."
The blonde moved in to keep the cart moving, Melinda gratefully stepping away. Nona and Hannah had already relieved Anthony on the other one, giving him a rest. They were moving quickly through the stalls and tents, metal wheels making enough noise on the metal ground to make all thoughts of sneaking anywhere too silly to even consider. Not that five humans all dressed in the same black pants, white shirts could really hide. They stood out, among the alien weirdness. Or, at least, she thought so.
She hoped Chuck was OK. Wished he was here. Wished he was there to protect them. He had been awesome! She always knew he was great, but the way he had shot those bad guys! Man! She just wanted to jump him as soon as they got back to the ship! Yeah, Anthony had shot too, but she had no desire to do anything to his mustached body. He was no Chuck, after all!
"Turn here!"
At Anthony's command the three women wrenched the two carts to the right, sending them down a new street. Melinda, at the rear, looked around. They hadn't come this way. It made sense: their trip through the market had been rather wandering, haphazard. They hadn't gone to every stall, and now Anthony was using the map to find the shortest way back to the ship. Every second counted.
Still, she couldn't help but look at the merchandise as they passed. Most of it seemed to be art, or at least what some alien race considered art. Carved stone and wood, paintings of God knows what, jewelry of various types. Reminded her of the Allentown Art Festival, which her parents had dragged her downtown for as a kid. All that was needed was a stall selling bad watercolors of the hockey arena, or a Buffalo Bills logo... like that one there to her left, hanging on one of the tent supports...
Melinda stopped so fast she almost fell over. She blinked. It was still there. A painting, of some sort, looked like oil, of a Buffalo Bills helmet. An old one. She wasn't into sports, but knew the team now had orange helmets instead of white ones. Or had they gone back to white again? She didn't watch so didn't know. But, still! Turning, she saw the others already two stalls away.
"Guys! Stop! Over here!"
Anthony stopped and turned.
"We don't have time... stop!" His hand shot out to Hannah's shoulder, eyes wide. Melinda turned back to the picture. Still there. God. Why did they have to find this NOW, when they had no time?! She could hear the others coming up behind her. Anthony quickly moved to her side.
"Oh, good eyes, Melinda. Good eyes." He looked around, quickly focusing on the alien manning the stand. Melinda's gaze followed. It was an insect. Grasshopper like, five feet tall, crouched next to a cash register. It was looking back at them with what could only be interpreted as amazement.
"Anthony, what do we do?"
Motioning her and the others to let him do the talking, Anthony looked at the insect while pointing to the picture.
"Excuse me, where did you get that? Do you speak English?"
The creature's sparkling gold eyes widened.
"Jung ner LBH qbvat urer? V gubhtug nyy lbhe xvaq jrer qrnq!"
Anthony shook his head.
"Sorry, don't speak gibberish. Can we buy this? How much?"
The shopkeeper's eyes seemed to sweep over them, one three digit claw coming up to stroke it's chin. The grey alien turned to the fabric door at the back of the tent.
"Danny! Goldie! Pbzr bhg urer!"
There was a rustling. The orange flap lifted...
In walked two teens.
One stood on two feet. He was male. Mostly human. Younger than the store workers, but no longer a child. Dressed in just a blue skirt, or kilt, his skin was a light brown, perhaps a tan. He had two human legs, two arms, a normal body, chest bare and a bit scrawny at five feet tall. His hands, while five fingered, seemed to have claws rather than fingernails. It was his face, though, that startled the humans.
He had a snout.
It was flesh colored, like the rest of his head, jutting out a good four inches. The nose at the end was flat and black, the lips of his mouth also black. His hair was red, a dirty brownish red, shaggy. From the top of his head, two rounded ears stuck up. Hair grew from them, the backs at least. He looked at them with green, shocked, human eyes. His companion...
She was on all fours.
Covered with a golden fur, shaggy but well kept, she wore no clothing. Her face was more human than his, fur thinning out then vanishing to reveal tan skin. Her blue eyes, set above a button nose and red lips, echoed his surprise. She reared up, startling Melinda. Standing on bowed legs, she looked to be about four and a half feet tall, from her clawed toes to the rounded ends of her ears. She also was thin, although the fur covered any curves. Her breasts, covered apart from the black nipples with shorter fur, were about baseball sized. While clearly not her preferred mode of walking, she stood next to the boy, taking his hand.
The two groups just stared at each other.
Finally, the storekeeper chittered something to the two. The boy seemed to cringe, the girl stepping closer to him in fear, but in a moment he straightened and looked at Anthony.
"Wi..."
He paused, wetting his lips.
"Will you buy us?"
"Buy?!?" The word was almost spit out of Nona's mouth. Her face was livid. Anthony held his hand up, silencing them. Melinda could understand how her friend felt, though. Were these... slaves? Pets? Either was horrible! Anthony was keeping cool, though. She could see his mind working.
"Does she understand this language?"
He addressed it to the boy, whose eyes widened even more. They flicked to the grasshopper for a split second, then went back to Anthony.
"No..."
"If you had someplace to go, could you flee here?" He said it casually, looking at the Buffalo Bills picture, hand running down its frame. Melinda tried to keep her expression passive. The boy seemed to be trying to stay calm as well.
"Yes..."
"We are eight Humans, from the world your parents or grandparents were from. Tell her we do not want you, then go gather all you can and leave immediately. Go to landing pad sixty three. If you beat us there, tell them Anthony sent you." He turned to the shopkeeper and shook his head. "Sorry, no. Don't want them. Come on," he told the others, moving quickly. Grabbing a cart handle, he began pushing.
Melinda moved. She didn't dare look back.
"Oh, God," she whispered, helping Tammy move the second cart, "who are they..."
"Our future," Tammy muttered.
****
Chuck wasn't sure if he was reassured by the crab escort all the way back to the Bells, or worried. Word of current events seemed to have made it this far, causing countless alien eyes to glare menacingly at their little band as they passed through the streets. He wasn't sure, if push came to shove, whose side the guards would be on. It wasn't something to be tested, that's for sure.
They were moving quickly. Anthony had called a few minutes earlier, voice tense. Apparently, his group had picked up crab bodyguards as well. That was a load off Chuck's mind. He had been worried about Melinda, regretting not grabbing her for this side trip. That would have been selfish, yes, but he doubted she would have objected at being put in danger so long as she was with him. He hoped she wasn't upset at being left...
The final bridge to the ship was in sight. Only a few hundred feet away, the bulk of the Bells beckoned to them. Home... and, it was that, wasn't it? This was home.
Not Earth.
No. They couldn't go back now. Neither Orang would be welcome there, and most of those who now called those girls friends would not abandon them. He could see Nona leaving, given a chance to go back to her family. That would be more than understandable. Would Hannah go? To be with her husband and daughter? Chuck wasn't sure. If the chance came now, then probably yes. In an instant. In a few months, though, when the inevitable happened and she and Anthony produced a baby...
No. This was home. The sole outpost of humanity among the stars.
The bridge archway stood before them. A crowd had gathered, aliens of a rather displeased demeanor forming a half circle around the entrance. Crab guards kept them back, using their mass and claws to clear room. Chuck couldn't help but laugh, to keep his nerves in check.
"I see we're popular."
"Very," Alicia agreed. The crab at the head of their group let out a loud sound, startling the humans. A moment later a path cleared, reluctantly, through the mob. Chuck tried not to make eye contact with any of them as they quickly passed through. They were strangers, and he wanted to keep it that way.
Once they were through, the guards joined their brothers in the line, while the Dockmaster moved to the center. He began shouting various threats and commands to the mob, to little apparent effect. The humans stood there, unsure. Chuck looked at Daium.
"Do we wait for Anthony, or do we go to the ship?"
"I say we wait," Rinda told him, standing at his side while giving the crowd an unforgiving stare. "In case we need to go get them."
"Agreed," Alicia added. "We don't want to have to fight our way out of the ship. We might as well hold here, while we can."
A commotion in the crowd distracted them. Something was moving through it, with no regard for others. The humans and Orang tensed, hands on their sidearms. The disturbance reached the edge. The nearest crab tried to react, but two figures dashed around him.
Chuck and Rinda had their weapons out instantly, Alicia a split second behind. The two figures slid to a stop. The kilt wearing boy put his hands up, dropping burlap sacks, while the furry four legged girl dropped down to the ground, looking like nothing so much as a frightened dog. Her eyes looked up at them tearfully, voice soft and frightened.
"Anthony sent us!"