Chapter Nine: Strange Devices — Part 5
There was silence when C’rona shuffled into her orb, her anger building at being so harshly manipulated. Once inside, A’joshi calmed down, and C’rona faced him, her eyes staring right through the younger male. She turned toward him, her palpi gently touching his. Once the Antansi were within the orb, Devon felt it safe to sit up. He ached all over, and he knew Susan should be feeling even worse. Two children came from the bushes, helping him to sit up, cleaning the blood from his rapidly healing forehead. The sound from within was growing in intensity, a constant hum that had an underlying throb to it. The entire orb began to light up as the lanterns glowed brilliant white in response to the mating. Two younger Antansi sat down next to Devon, who was oblivious as to what was actually going on within the orb. The light was so bright that it left a reverse image in Devon’s retinas. The sounds coming from the orb made him shiver. He had never imagined in a million years such a sight. He looked over at one of the younger Antansi.
What are they doing? Is this some kind of a fight?
Fight? One of the children laughed, the sound of it tinkling with his mind. They aren’t fighting, sir. They’re having sex.
Devon shook his head, trying to block out the sounds. After several minutes the lights began to dim, then the couple within collapsed, and a scream was freed from the orb that was so loud and incredibly nerve wracking that it completely disoriented Devon’s senses.
“I’m glad that I’m not An Antansi.” He said, cradling Susan’s head in his lap.
After watching that, one of the Antansi children started to say, I’m glad I’m not an adult.
Devon picked Susan up and started to carry her back to the human village, afraid to ask for help from either of the participants within the orb. One of the children was kind enough to put the Susan’s staff on her chest. Devon had journeyed four miles into the forest before Susan recovered enough to walk on her own.
“It’s all right. I took you away. A’joshi and C’rona had sex.” Devon shivered, kept carrying Susan even though she probably didn’t need it.
“You’ve got a split bruise on your forehead.” Susan said, her fingers touching it tentatively.
“I tried to kill C’rona when she hurt you. I thought you were dead.”
“C’rona could never kill me – we’ve been friends too long. Even friends fight from time to time. I see she socked you pretty good.”
“No, actually the male did. If he hadn’t I would have killed her for sure.” Devon’s voice became low and quiet.
Susan had her doubts, but voiced an honest concern. “It’s a good thing you didn’t, my love, or there would be no Human Tribe on Antans.”
“I’m too young still, aren’t I?” Devon said, his head throbbing, putting Susan down gently.
“Yeah, and as stubborn, in your own way, as Laura was when she first got here. The average age of anybody surviving symbiosis is fourteen. I guess the symbiont knows that older people will find it harder to adapt.” Susan limped a little when she walked, but kept on pushing forward. “I’ll explain it all on the way home.” Susan answered questions as Devon asked them, and she held his hand, studying him carefully. As they reached the edge of her small village, Devon asked her when they could go back.
“As soon as we’re invited.” Susan said. “After all, it was us who went sticking our noses in where they didn’t belong. At least that’s how C’rona will see it.”
The Antansi cycle passed with no female deaths, and in a few days, C’rona requested a conference with Susan and Devon both. For the first few minutes the situation was tense, but C’rona looked about a thousand years younger, and her voice implied thanks where her words had none.
“Where’s A’joshi? Hasn’t he become part of your family unit?” Susan had asked.
“A’joshi is recovering from his recent endeavors. He has a considerable amount of endurance for one so inexperienced at mating.”
“Will you be expecting children then?”
“No. Used birth control.” C’rona said. “I like to wait about a hundred years into a relationship before committing to children.”
“Word has gotten through the rumor web that your tribe has experienced a sexual peak recently as well. I find it an odd coincidence that it should have happened synchronically with our cycle.”
Susan turned red. “Yes, a most bizarre experience. Those who missed out on sex did survive the ordeal.”
“How many offspring do you expect from this cycle?”
Susan smiled. “To be honest with you, it will be several months before any of us start to show and months again before they are ready to deliver a child. When that happens I figure I’ll be one of the busiest medics in the galaxy.”
“Months? I think most Antansi would go insane with the wait. We tend to know right away, and the child hatches within a few weeks.” C’rona extended a delicate limb, patting Devon on the head. “I should let you know, short but irresistible flesh bag, that had A’joshi not stopped you, you’d be dead right now. He’s a gentle soul, and knows I am an older breed, and can’t turn the blunt paw when striking an adversary, as I lack the additional joint needed for such mercy. But that’s not what I asked you here for. How are your companions doing?”
“They haven’t come out of the symbiosis yet. They’re fighting the transition.” Devon admitted.
“Our telescopes have been monitoring and studying the explosion caused by the collision of two of your interstellar craft, the collision that you survived. We gleaned a lot of information about basic nuclear particles from our studies. And of more importance, at least one more pod escaped the explosion. The other pod followed you to the edge of the solar system, then diverted course. We did a close scan of it, and managed to get an image of both it and its single passenger.”
A beam shot up out of the floor, showing a military escape pod designed to deal with intense radiation and long months in space. With careful focus, a face clarified and froze on the screen.
“Is this man familiar to you?” C’rona asked, upon seeing the concern on Devon’s face.
“I don’t know him personally. I was rather hoping it would be the pilot from our ship. I recognize the shirt blazon though, he’s an Enforcer.”
“He must have been sent to destroy you.” Susan said. “You weren’t lying when you said the Cynosure found you dangerous.”
“According to our observations, he seemed to be following you, but the beacon apparently dissuaded him. He changed course to one of the neighboring worlds capable of supporting your kind.”
“Maybe we won’t have to worry about him too much.” Devon said uncomfortably.
“How many years, at his current speed, will it take for him to arrive at another planet’s surface?” Susan said.
“About three. He’s heading to a planet orbiting one of our neighboring stars.”
Devon leaned back in his chair, its supportive mesh resisting his actions only slightly. “Well then, we’ve got a six years. The Authority won’t risk action until the Enforcer we saw is ready to carry out their orders.” Susan could only hope that Devon was right, and she expressed as much to C’rona.
The aged Antansi shrugged off the concerns. “Our scholars watch the sky, if anything strange starts happening, we’ll have time to prepare. Your fastest war ships can only cross distance between Earth and Antans in about three years.” C’rona’s eyes, or most of them, anyway, shifted to Devon. “You’ve described yourself a scholar scientist. Might I inquire as to your specialization?”
Devon flexed his fingers. “Botany, my specialization within botany is chlorophyll adaptation.”
C’rona clicked. “How much do you know about stellar physics?”
“I have advanced Earth training in Physical Mathematics. I have a feeling, however, that your people know more than I ever could on such matters as hard science and academics.” Devon admitted.
“Don’t humble yourself so. The study of life is the highest order of study known to any sentient life form. Anybody who can grasp the fundamental aspects of carbon based chemistry should have no problem understanding advanced physical mechanics.” C’rona paused, her voice breaking into a vibrant hum. “Our younger mechanical specialists are currently working on advanced theories involving spatial manipulation of matter so that it can travel at a speed faster than light apparent to the standard galactic norm. We have never had a reason to advance in this subject until now, since our species can’t survive beyond the clouds. We thought that maybe you and your colleagues could work with our team. Together, you and your friends might be able to come up with a technology that can give us an edge should the Cynosure decide to investigate this world in the years to come.”
“I wouldn’t normally speak for my companions, but I will now. Sure. We need the challenge. What limitations are there to this job?” Devon asked.
“Limitations? I don’t understand.” C’rona’s eyes darted to Susan.
“He comes from a place where everything is strictly controlled.”
“There are no limitations. Explore every possible avenue. We can simulate perfectly any hazardous or expensive procedure within the virtual universe created by our computers. You’ll understand more once you get to meet our scientific staff. If both of you could please excuse me, A’joshi will be over for a private dinner later this evening.” C’rona said, too old, she was sure, to be sounding like a newlywed.
Susan smiled. “Good-bye, C’rona.”
“Good-bye, Susan.” C’rona said, a glimmer in her eyes.
