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6: The Reunion

Twenty minutes ahead of schedule, one of the four columns that made up the mixed attack force of Earth and Mendall military, each consisting of several troop transports, four armored Cherrodons with manned weapon pods, a dozen light hover tanks and several Dorzeli-An scouts, spread across a four-kilometer front, stopped at the agreed upon coordinates and waited for their allies to appear. Their wait was brief.

All eyes scanned the forest after the announcement over their comm-links that alerted the soldiers and support personnel of the group under the direct command of Supreme Commander Jason Monroe-Talbot that Dorzeli-Ki forces had surrounded all four halted columns. He overrode the communications channels and warned everyone to remain calm and to keep their hands off their weapons at all costs; anyone who fired on a non-aggressive Dorzeli would receive no support from him. With that done he left his personal transport and walked to the head of the convoy where he was met by one of the two red hued Cherrodons that had been assigned to protect its front. From over three and a half meters up the male looked down at him and his direct cerebral translator came to life while the female kept a close eye on the forest.

"Jason?" The voice sounded artificial, but anyone within earshot could hear the hint of affection contained within it.

He looked up at the first Cherrodon the crew of the Thresher Kone had encountered on Mendall and asked, "Yes?"

"One of them is already here." The large canine-like being turned and stared at a group of trees off to his left, "It's a friend."

Jason affectionately patted his large friend on his foreleg. "Thanks Posk, I can sense him too" then moved toward the area that had held Posk's interest. Once there he called out, "Lieutenant Thorn; please show yourself."

The soldiers stationed behind the Cherrodons watched as a male Dorzeli-Ki, who wore a modified Alliance uniform and carrying the largest beam rifle they had ever seen, emerge from a hidden position from among the trees and walk toward their leader. When he stopped less than a few meters from him he stood at attention and saluted.

Jason returned it. "Good afternoon Lieutenant Thorn." He held his hand up to him. Matt leaned down and rubbed his right cheek with Jason's and was surprised by the sensations he felt and the question that was whispered to him; "Have you improved on your diet since we last met?"

He succeeded in not showing his superior a frown when he whispered back in Dorzel, "Yes sir. It was a...most interesting experience." He was glad that none of the nearby Alliance personnel had yet to upgrade their translators, but, as he stood up, he worried about what he had just felt.

Jason responded in Dorzel, which surprised him at how he was able to make such harsh sounds with his human vocal chords. "Good, good; one less hurdle to overcome and don't worry about what you just felt; that's just a side affect of my being a Dorzeli Prime and, just in case you're wondering, I don't intend on exploring that side of my Dorzeli sexuality anytime soon, especially with someone under my command." Jason's eyes fixed upon the jewel which hung from Matt's neck and switched back to English "I see you've picked up a souvenir."

Matt smiled and stood up. "Feih gave it to me when I accepted her proposal to become her life mate."

"Congratulations. It seems you've managed a surprise for me too. We'll celebrate this momentous event later, but, as promised..." Jason made a signal with his hand for someone or something to come forward.

Matt saw an armored all terrain vehicle approach them from the rear of the column. When it came to a stop next to Jason he scented the air, but the strong scents of the Cherrodons masked all others from him.

"Let me introduce the officer who planned our upcoming little fray." Jason turned and opened the passenger side door. Matt recognized the female human the instant she exited the car; his astonishment was evident to all present; "Colonel Sarah Thorn."

His mouth was still open in disbelief when his older sister removed her helmet which allowed her short brunette hair to fall free. She looked younger than her thirty-seven years would suggest, but her rank spoke to her skill and competence as a soldier. He smiled and saluted his sibling.

Amused by his reaction she smiled and returned it, then greeted him. "Hi little brother, you look like you've been keeping yourself fit."

"Hi Sarah," was all he could choke out when she started to walk around his body. He tried to follow her but gave up and waited for her to come back to his front. He became a little unnerved when he felt her hand rub his right foot and leg and was surprised that he actually felt pain when she punched him. He barely managed to hold in an involuntary growl when he lifted that same leg.

She saw this and scolded, "Now, now, mustn't step on a superior officer."

He remembered how she used to act when they were young and his expression changed to one of affection.

"Better muscle tone than when I last saw you," Her compliment was followed by her shaking her hand.

He grinned when he saw how her old joke had backfired. "Thanks sis."

She turned to Jason. "You did a great job getting my brother into shape."

Jason responded with false modesty, "I try to do my best."

"I was already in great shape," complained Matt.

"Yeah, sure," dismissed his sister as she returned her attention to him. "That's why I always used to kick your ass."

He saw that even the Cherrodons were amused by this revelation, especially the female.

"So I hear you finally found yourself a new girlfriend; it's about time; I wondered when you'd get over what's-her-name."

He ignored her reference to his ex-fiancé and rubbed the jewel between a thumb and index finger. "She's a little more than that now sis. We made it formal two nights ago." He grinned just enough to show off his front teeth.

She looked at him with suspicion. "Are you sure you're my little brother? He never would've moved this fast back home."

"I may look like a Dorzeli but it's me in here and as far as Feih is concerned, it was love at first sight." He paused, looked around, then leaned forward and whispered, "Actually, in this case, it was more like love at first fright."

His sister laughed. "Wait until mom and dad hear about this!"

"I don't think you should tell them yet," said Matt, who looked worried over that possible event, "I don't think they'd take this change in my appearance too well."

"Oh, they already know."

Eyes wide open in surprise he asked, "How?"

"When your unit was reported lost we were worried sick, but when you were found they were told that it had to be done in order to help keep you alive while you were on this planet."

Upset about the half-truth Matt glanced at Jason then decided to let it pass but was surprised when she next spoke to him in fluent Dorzel.

"I know, he had to lie a little to cover up the fact that he had already changed you before he told our parents about your situation, but I think it worked out for the best. Don't you?"

Shocked to hear her speak in his new native language he nodded yes,.

She looked to his rear. "So where's your bride?"

As if on cue, Feih and Daihas stepped out from the bush onto the path one hundred meters behind Matt. When they arrived by his side Feih growled, "First fright was it?" and took a halfhearted swipe at him. He grinned and dodged it with ease.

Feih turned from him, bent down and greeted Sarah and Jason by rubbing their right cheeks together. This passed without incident, however, when Daihas greeted her he stuck out his tongue and licked her face. Sarah laughed, grabbed his snout, licked him back then pushed his face away. He stood up and lapped at where her hands had touched him and grinned.

Jason noticed that Daihas' actions had upset Matt and quickly spoke up before he could take any action; "Why don't you follow me to where tonight's strategy meeting will be held. I've had a variety of earth delicacies shipped in and we have more than enough for all of the Dorzeli that are going to participate in the coming battle."

Feih bowed to him, "Thank you Chire Jason. I would be honored to sample the foods that Matt grew up on, but first let me call my family."

She stood up, turned and gave off a series of high-pitched barks. When she received a similar response she turned back to him. "They're passing the word along to the other families and will be arriving shortly."

Pleased to this Jason said, "Good. Now if you'll follow me I'll introduce you to the rest of my personnel."

As his mate and brother-in-law were escorted to the rear Matt assumed his human form; his Dorzeli-Ki body sat down and seemed to all to nod off. He walked up to and pulled his sister to the side then, with a hint of anger in his voice, asked, "Do you know how dangerous he is?"

She seemed unfazed by his behavior. "Oh, I know all about him and his reputation." She tapped the area of her skull where her implant was located.

Matt remembered the Dorzeli's and now his own new powers, "Direct transfer?"

Her face turned serious. "You're finally starting to use your head, lieutenant."

He realized what he was doing and released her arm which caused her to grin.

"Don't worry Matt. There won't be any court martial for you today." She brought her hand up to his face. "He only did those terrible things to their enemies and he actually let one go a month back."

He was still upset by her actions with his potential rival; "Sarah, I know that you're the more adventurous one, but he's just too big for you."

A smirk appeared on her face. "I don't think Feih was wearing anything from the petite section when you first met her."

Matt had to smile; "Touché."

She looked around for any listeners and when she found none within range, they were all preoccupied by the approach of the other Dorzeli, she leaned in close to him and whispered, "I guess I better let you in on a little secret. Before Freerah left earth she didn't just stop in the middle of cornfields, city parks and ghettos during her final five-day fly over. She stopped at quite a few military bases and schools too."

His eyes widened in surprise. "She stopped at West Point?"

She nodded yes; "I was out on the parade when she landed and picked several of us out. Some thought we were about to be killed considering the propaganda that was put out about her before the end of the war, but she just touched us and flew off. They ordered us not to reveal that incident to anyone."

She sighed and seemed to him to become wistful, "After what I felt pass between us that day I understood your obsession with her, but I had a career ahead of me and couldn't afford any distractions." She embraced him. "I'm sorry for allowing people, including myself, to tease you about her for all those years. Can you ever forgive me?"

He returned her hug. "No problem sis. But about Daihas..."

She released him and waved off his concerns. "Believe me when I tell you that when it comes to him I can take care of myself."

He could not understand her cavalier attitude concerning a being as potentially dangerous as Daihas until he received an explanation on a secured channel. He surprised nearby soldiers when he burst into a fit of laughter.

Sarah smiled as he walked backward and, in a flash of blue light, rejoined his larger form, which also laughed the moment it awoke and stood up. He looked down at her, smiled then jogged after the others.

She grinned and walked back to her vehicle and spoke to her Mendallian driver, "Let's go. There's something I need to do before they get to the mobile command trailer."

It did not take long for Matt to catch up with Daihas.

Feih's brother stopped when he heard Matt call his name and became submissive as he approached. "I know I may have been a bit too familiar with your sister." He bowed his head. "I'm sorry."

Matt pointed one of his claws at him and struggled not to laugh when he said, "Don't be and you'll have my blessings, provided she's willing." Daihas' ears popped up as he wondered if Matt was joking with him, but kept his eyes lowered. Matt smiled and said, "I mean it." He laughed at the bewildered expression on Daihas' face when he looked up at him then left to follow the others.

Stunned by what had just happened Daihas reacted slowly when he heard a vehicle pull up from behind him. He moved out of its way to allow it to pass, but, instead of continuing on, it came to a stop in front of him. When he saw that it was Colonel Thorn's car and that she was waving a large piece of paper at him he bent down and took it from her. Without waiting for him to read it her vehicle moved off.

Puzzled by the strange behavior of the two siblings he placed his full attention on the paper that had been handed to him and noticed that it was written in Kroon standard. He wondered how Colonel Thorn had been able to learn the language on such short notice, then read the note. When he finished he crumpled the paper, tossed it into the air and startled all those around him when he gave off a roar of joy, caught the paper in his mouth and, after he swallowed it, ran after the others.