51 (DSV Nautica) Rest
"Mors, you have clearance to dock."
The giant behemoth limped into dock 12. They had seriously underestimated the power of those attackers. They had already sent ahead word of what had happened, and it had the high command and inner council in a bit of a panic. The damage wasn't severe, but chunks were missing all over the ship. Conduits had been severed and bisected large blast craters. It looked quite the mess. And one of the cannons didn't work.
"We are now docked." Tyr made his report, surrendering control of the ship over to the dock. Workers already activated the repair conduits, adding pieces of Auril which the conduits molded like clay, then hardened permanently into the ship.
Once Loki exited the dock, only to find Mor'os'ine, the only existing fleet admiral, waiting for her. His greying hair still had traces of its dark brown, posture fitting of an officer of his rank. His horns were weathered and cracked, and the right one was missing its tip, supposedly taken by a dragon when the good admiral had the nerve to head-butt him during a fight.
"Rear Admiral." His voice was deep, but quiet. If he spoke up, he could probably blow the room apart. His eyes had a depth to them that made even Loki feel uneasy. Like she her skull was being bored into, and purged of all she knew.
Loki stood at attention as he addressed her. "Fleet admiral. A surprise to see you here."
"Oh? I would have thought it obvious, Lay'kay'ee'n. You always knew when to expect a visit from the upper Elites. You always were intuitive. Almost dangerous." He narrowed his eyes. "Come with me."
Loki smiled, following just behind him.
"In fact, it would be foolish not to expect me. As commander of the fleet, encountering an alien presence that rivals our own...is serious." He finished the sentence gravely. She tried to read his expression, but she couldn't. That had always frustrated her. She could read people, but he was one of the few who she couldn't easily read.
They walked in silence together. The station was often referred to as such, because it was the only major one in orbit, but its real name was Elysium. It was the docking place for the ships, and the home of the Matriarch, Curator, Architect...and just about everyone in an important position. The planet was something of sacred ground. Where one went to escape from the troubles of the unvierse. Elysium was the "Capital" of the planet it was orbiting. The station itself was huge, 30 kilometers long, and almost as wide, 10 kilometers tall. Those dimensions did not include the docks.
Both Loki and Mor'os entered a chamber occupied by several Ayr'een cloaked in the official attire of inner council members. None of their faces were readable. It mattered little. She could feel their unease and furious curiosity.
"Rear Admiral, please sit." Loki did as asked, and bowed her head. They sat in silence, as Loki replayed the battle for all of them. Their faces didn't change much.
"It's them. It's got to be." One of them spoke.
Several sharp breaths were taken, exhaling slowly. They slowly nodded as if agreeing on something private between themselves.
The Fleet Admiral turned heel and left the room with purpose. Loki simply sat still, looking at the opposite wall, as if lost in thought. She thought she knew who the 'Them' was.
"We will get the report soon enough. Rear Admiral, return to your ship and await further orders." The individual at the head of the table motioned for her to leave. She got up and silently left. Of the few things she couldn't stand, it was to be in front of them.
Flare left the Mors at the same time as Loki did. They had some time off the ship, the repairs would take time.
"Aa'zac..."
"Yes?"
"I would like to go home...to the sun tribes homeland."
She felt his surprise, and excitement. "Oh?"
"Yes. I would like you to come with me, if you wouldn't mind."
She didn't even need a reply. She could feel how happy and excited he was. He liked new places, going out and exploring. It made her smile, as she boarded the large transport down to the planet. It would take them to one of the sprawling ocean cities, where she could then travel home.
Sitting down and looking out at the rings surrounding New Ayr, she smiled softly, the pink-purple colors illuminating everything in space around the planet. The rings were a fascinating manifestation. Their concentrated will, as well as their technology, had created those rings. When the Ayr'een first arrived here some 7 million years ago, it was a regular terrestrial planet. Now that they had colonized it, the rings were in full swing. It was comparable to many gas giant rings in terms of luminosity. Down below, the oceans covered almost 85% of the planet, with thin strands of islands and continents dividing it up into multiple oceans and numerous seas.
An arm hugged her shoulder. She knew that presence. Aa'zac leaned into her and nuzzled her neck. She let out a snort and pulled away.
"That tickles!" He got this mischievous grin on his face. "I know!"
She gave him a small push, settling back into her seat cushions. the transport rumbled and began to descend down toward the planet. they could have reentered the atmosphere with suits, but this was easier, and allowed for transport of goods. The younger thrill-seekers would still do free-falls and perform reentry, though.
"You are part of the sun tribe? Figures." He laughed. "I would happen to be with the moon tribe..."
In Flares opinion, he looked it. His white hair wasn't white from age, but from his genes. His primary color was a deep, midnight blue. Why did males have the cooler colors? She inwardly giggled at the thought of Aki finding out she said that. Females tended to be more warmly colored, though it was by no means rare.
It was quite the opposite with flare, whose fiery red colors, and crimson hair burned into everyone's eyes like the sun itself.
"Well, that should make for an interesting conversation." She chuckled. Aa'zac shook his head in a disapproving manner.
"So am I going to see your parents?"
Flare got a very distant look in her eye. The room almost went cold.
"No."
Her answer was quick, almost snappy. Aa'zac did a double take, feeling the anger that she was radiating. Clearly this upset her, he made note not to mention it again.
They sat in silence for a bit before she leaned into him, resting in his lap and hugging him.
Aki leaned against the wall, the water cascading down from the ceiling. Damn, she forgot how good showers felt. She realized how disgusting she was after she and Zhi had been......occupied. She turned a little pink thinking about it, shaking her head and sending water everywhere.
"Hey!"
Zhi had climbed into the shower without her noticing, resulting her splattering him water. She jumped and turned her back.
"Hey! I'm...not wearing anything!"
"...seriously? You say that after what we just did?" He hugged her around the middle, pulling her back against his stomach. "After you squealed like that...." She blushed deep red. "Hey, no fair!"
"After I made you moan for me...?"
The heat rising in her cheeks made her concerned that her head was going to explode.
"Stop it!" She squeaked, getting very embarrassed.
"How you got so shaky...so wet.."
She let out a sigh, falling back into his arms. He caught her and snaked his head down to her neck, biting her gently, letting his hot breath hit her skin. One arm held her up, the other wandered down her belly. It was a very good night.