[Kalen]
"Raith to Nerik. Status Arrain?"
From what seemed a millennia, 'valiant' political attache` tr'Nerik silently drew his disrupter.
"Here," he whispered to his PC (personal communicator). After tapping it off for a couple seconds, he finally let the comm open again to hear Raith with a more professionally worried tone. A silent muffle was let out next to him. "And the dear Maenek."
Nerik coolly let go of Meira t'Kethry, she gave a little shout of annoyance, rubbing her mouth where he had almost been gagged.
"Be silent," he said.
"Au be silent," she uttered back and drew her disrupter that she had just recently acquired, prepping it to attack P'tng again. Moments ago, as Nerik made his way to the medical bay, the doctor ran out in peril and force as she fired a shot behind her. Aliens Nerik had never seen before chased her for what was a fairly quick moment when the Arrain expertly jumped a little way into a storage room. He had grabbed her and spun the both of them out of sight.
A game had evolved with the P'tng. The species' primal instincts at high resolution. Nerik, out of habit, directed his voice to his PC. "I'll get back to you." It came out more harshly than he wanted to, but at no matter. Nerik stepped up and quickly ran into a side corridor, Kethry following. "Let's just kill them now," she suggested.
"There's a chance we'd fail."
"It may be equal odds but we have the weapons."
He smiled. "Au seemed to have missed them beforehand."
However, contrary to what he'd expect she was distant to the offense. Nerik wondered about Meira. He had aquaintedly known the t'Kethry clan and Den herself but this one seemed a little out of norm for him. Not that she wasn't familiar in looks but she seemed softer and yet strong at the same time. The quaint Rihannsu fierce female. But at the moment she was coerced, perhaps periodically now, in mild lapses of thought, of self-concern, of something bothering her...
"Wait for a moment," Nerik suggested as he quickly glanced into the ajoining primary corridor. It didn't seem to be the time to begin asking and comforting whatever may be going on in her life.
Around the corner, one creature was close. Too close. He was searching. The sounds of the other one was also close.
"They sound like Aehallh razor beasts." Kethry sighed, her disrupter poised.
"They probably are," he said in agreement.
Nerik quickly glanced in the corridor they were in for an alternate attack route. "I think we should backtrack them," he commanded, motioning quietly.
Kethry nodded slightly, sluggish, and went along.
Suddenly the grotesque P'tng creature leapt into the corridor. His clawlike hands and arms ready to assault. Nerik had only a split-second as he fired his disrupter, severely wounding the creature in his chest. "Fall back!" he uttered to Meira but it was too late as the second creature jumped from the corner and mauled him to the ground.
She shrieked, more in compassion for Nerik, but of course he already knew a P'tng was ready to shred him to pieces. Meira fired her disrupter and it charred the creature's sides and elbow. Nerik heavily pushed the limp body from him. Kethry was breathing hard from exhilleration, trying not to let out her terribly and horrendously afraid show. She swallowed and walked over to Nerik, checking over him. Nerik was dazed a bit.
"Au have some lacerations... minor bruises..."
"I'll live at least."
"Na."
Nerik gave her a dark look.
"Au see, this political officer has found out he's been cheated and will eventually end up in a yy'a hand."
"Truly, you all are out to get my distinguishment," he said with humor.
Kethry smiled faintly and helped him up. "Of course we are."
*=\/=*
Heading for the Oira, both Nerik and Meira keept watch behind them,
just in case more of those aliens has infiltrated the ship. Meia found
a medkit and tended to Nerik's injuries, chuckling at the political
officer squirmed at her minitrations.
"If au would stay still I can finish quickly.." Meira replied as Nerik
growled at her slightly. "I am sure au would be used to pain...with au
job" Meira replied, looking at him. Meira knew that Nerik served with
her Aunt, and was curious about him.
"What is that suppose to mean?" he glared at her as Meira shrugged
slightly.
"I just wondered why au chose Political Officer..I mean was it to
cousel..or something else?"
"I have my own personal reasons for doing what I do..." he replied as
Meira closed the medkit.
"We all have our own reasons for things that we do." Meira replied, a
frown marring her brow, staring off into space.
Nerik looked at her curiously. "Something is obviously bothering au..."
Meira looked at him, biting her lip. "Au knows my Aunt Den...correct?"
Nerik nodded. "I served with her aboard the Rakholh...why?"
Meira sighed, placing her hands on the medkit. "Something has..happened. And I think...well..I am na sure but she
has..had a change of heart...or someone has..swayed her decision
somehow. She feels diffrently about this whole thing...even the
erei`Riov"
Nerik looked at her. "Au aunt is usually pretty set in her ways...do au think maybe it was
an ouside influence?"
Meira looked at him and shook her head. "I do na know. I could na talk to her. She should be working on getting
the ship she was given together along with the crew...she has talked to
many about becoming part of the crew..but I get this..strange
feeling..that she will turn this around and...do something
really..unusual for her.."
"Unusual? Like?" Nerik pushed gently, trying to get Meira to voice her
suspisions.
"Na..it is na..." She replied, shaking slightly, then looking at him,
the smile returning to her face. "Now..we should head back to the Oira to the erei'Riov..and report to
him what has happened..." Meira said, opening the door slowly as she
moved out into the corridor again. Nerik watched as Meira quickly moved
down the corridor towards the lifts and followed her.
|