Ancient Birthright (51 page)

The hatch retracted, and Nadya led Airman Mays through the door.

“How are you doing, Mays?” Bitman asked.

“Not too bad, sir. The Doc’s put some blue-green liquid stuff on my burns, and they feel a lot better. The minor ones are almost healed already.” Mays pulled back a dressing and showed the new pink skin beneath.

“Colonel Bitman, this is Nadya Vasina, one of our Russian crewmembers. She’s been studying with Dr. Marra Feuua. You probably saw Dr. Feuua leading the medical team when you arrived,” Prime Garuu said.

“Hello Nadya. I had the opportunity to meet your twin sister when I was at the Moon installation.” Bitman shook Nadya’s hand.

“Can I offer anyone something to eat or drink?” Caraa asked.

Both Striker and Bitman said they’d like something to drink.

Nadya offered to get the drinks and moved to the food dispenser with Mays staying at her elbow to ‘help’.

Bitman’s eyebrows went up. “I think I’ve lost another one. Every time my men meet one of the Russian girls, they turn into love-sick sleepwalkers.”

Jamz waved Striker and Bitman to seats on the couch. Striker was still chuckling at Bitman’s comment when the door opened, and Saigg and his family entered.

Four miniature luzzons rushed the couch and buried Striker and baby John in a mound of nibbling nuzzling luzzon males. “Colonel Bitman, these four terrors are Saigg and Renna’s latest clutch, and this beautiful young luzzon female is Saigg’s wife Renna. Renna this is Colonel Bitman. He took over command of NRAO when I left on the
Endeavour
.”

“Colonel Bitman, it is so nice to meet you.” Renna began plucking her sons off Striker and handing them to Saigg, who placed them back on the couch so they could continue their assault on Striker. After handing Saigg the last baby in the second complete cycle, Renna finally noticed what Saigg was doing and gave him ‘the look’.

Bitman tried hard to cover his amusement, but finally broke out in a full-bodied chuckle.

The smallest male luzzon got tired of fighting his larger brothers for a chance to greet Striker and turned his attention to Bitman. He crawled in Bitman’s lap and used his tail to form a tripod for balance as he studied him. He emitted a sound that sounded like “deeepe” and climbed to Bitman’s shoulder and began nuzzling and nibbling his right ear.

“That’s baby luzzon for I like you and want you for a friend,” Striker told a startled Bitman. “Once they have decided you aren’t something to fear, they get affectionate very quickly.”

“So I’ve noticed,” Bitman said as he plucked the little luzzon off his shoulder, and shifted him in front of his face to get a better look. The baby stared back and smiled then flicked out his tongue and licked Bitman’s nose.

“That’s Faalan,” Renna told Bitman.

Nadya and Mays returned with drinks for everyone then took seats in the chairs across from the couch. The babies climbing on Striker noticed Nadya, with squeals of delight, they shifted their attention to her. Dantee hopped on the couch and sat beside Striker.

“Can I hold John Jamz?” she asked.

“Sure.” Striker handed the baby to her, but John began to fuss after losing his warm cozy cradle.

Reedn jumped to the arm of the couch near John, snapped open his dorsal spines and began a color show to entertain the fussy baby. The changing colors and patterns soon fascinated him.

“These guys make great baby sitters when they’re not flying spaceships,” Striker told Bitman.

Cindy walked in carrying Soleene and interrupted their conversation. Bitman stood with the little luzzon perched on his shoulder for the introduction to the beautiful girl with the numerous deep scars running from shoulder to groin. One of the scars bisected her right breast.

Striker stood. “Colonel Bitman, I’d like you to meet Cindy Dumas, Beldon’s wife and the mother of this lovely little lady, Soleene. I first met Cindy when Agent Hooker dumped her and Beldon in front of me at NRAO. The scars you see are the result of him and his men subduing them in the bedroom of their home while they were naked. They used a breaching charge to blow in the window then dragged them out of bed and through the glass.

“I‘m very happy to meet you, Cindy, and the next time I see Agent Hooker or his men, I’ll be sure to give them your regards, with interest.”

“Colonel Bitman, took command of NRAO when we left. He’s been protecting and hiding your families from Hooker and his goons,” Striker said.

“I didn’t get much of a chance to talk to Beldon earlier. How is everyone?” Cindy asked.

“Your families escaped without injury, but Hooker’s men shot three of my security detail, and his men are being hunted by the military, local police and the FBI. The FBI took Hooker into custody for assaulting one of my men at the front gate. The FBI is questioning him about the disappearance of the Wilkins family and their housekeeper.”

“It sounds like his crimes are beginning to catch up to him. But we’ve thought that before. Someone with political clout has always protected him,” Cindy said.

“I think his protection is coming to an end. His acts have gotten so blatant, I don’t think even the President can cover for him this time,” Bitman told her.

“My observations of the aggressive nature of humans and their seemingly unstable actions are causing me worry,” Prime Garuu said. “The humans who’ve come aboard the
Universe Explorer
have shown us they wish to be friends and companions, but the others on Earth that you speak of don’t sound like they would be willing to establish a trading partnership with us.”

“I’m not sure how to respond to that, Prime Garuu. For the most part, humans are willing to accept the people they have gotten to know and trust as friends, but centuries of fear of the unknown and conquest by stronger and more numerous neighbors has created a society that is quick to react, to try to maintain the status quo, or to gain an advantage,” Bitman said.

Striker raised his hand to stop Bitman from continuing.

“To counter what Colonel Bitman said, you will not find a more empathetic, caring race than humans. When natural disasters occur anywhere on the planet, aid is given freely and quickly to help the afflicted. An example of that was the rescue of the personnel from the International Space Station. Colonel Bitman did not stop to consider the consequences of his actions. He reacted in the typical human way of providing aid as quickly as possible to limit the loss of life, and to help the injured. I believe that once we transmit the programs we’ve spoken of to the people of Earth, these attacks will end, because the population will not tolerate them, and will see the attacks for the self-serving acts that they are.”

Bitman reached up and lifted Faalan from his shoulder. He unconsciously laid the baby in his arms and rocked him as he would a human child.

Renna watched his actions then said, “In my years of contact with Beldon and more recently with the others from the
Endeavour
, I have never sensed hostility or animosity toward us. The ease in which the humans have fit into the routine of the
Universe Explorer
has shown me that they are willing to accept the various species on the
UE
. Major Rishly’s sacrifice to save us from the missile attack demonstrated a deep belief in what he felt to be true and honorable. Any species that will accept the young of another species, and treat them with the love and gentleness they would show to their own kind, must have something in their mental composition that is worth our time and effort to get to know.” Renna gestured toward Bitman, Striker and Nadya, all holding sleeping luzzon babies as if they were cuddling human children.

“I accept your argument,” Command Prime Garuu said, with a nod to Renna. “Other than teaching my older grandchildren some very questionable phrases, mostly in Russian,” Nadya blushed a very becoming crimson, “the humans we’ve had contact with, have acted with altruism and friendship.”

Bitman said, “I hate to cut this discussion short, but I need to head back to NRAO and check on the three guards who were injured.” He handed the sleeping Faalan to Renna with a little smile of regret. “It’s been a long time since I’ve gotten to hold a baby, especially one as active as Faalan.”

Striker and Saigg joined Bitman. “Airman Mays, it would be good if you could join us.” Bitman smiled as he observed Mays making puppy dog eyes at Nadya.

Nadya stood and deposited the sleeping luzzon baby she’d been holding in Caraa’s arms. She turned to Airman Mays and offered him a hand up from the chair. She stepped into his arms and planted an unexpected lingering kiss on his mouth. The kiss lasted until his knees buckled, and he fell back in the chair. “I hope you’ll come back and see me sometime soon,” Nadya told the stunned airman. Nadya then walked to Bitman. “It was nice meeting you, Colonel Bitman.” I’ll tell Sergeant Wainwright you’re ready to leave. Nadya strode to the entry hatch giving her hips a little extra sway. She turned when the door opened and gave Airman Mays a finger wiggle of a wave, before disappearing down the passageway.

Cindy and Becca looked at each other and doubled over in laughter at the glazed look on Airman Mays’ face.

Command Prime Garuu joined the departing men. “That was interesting. I don’t believe I’ve seen a human courting ritual before. How did she do that with her hips?”

“When you get to Earth, I’ll have to take you to a singles bar, so you can get the full effect,” Bitman offered.

Striker kissed Becca and John good-bye, then pulled Airman Mays up from the chair and steered him toward the entry door.

They were almost to the landing bay before Dantee and Reedn caught up to them. Bitman could see Sergeant Wainwright and Tuuan waiting for them just inside the entry hatch.

“Colonel Bitman, the medical personnel are all onboard and strapped in. They are continuing to consult with the medical staff of the
Universe Explorer
through a connection
Jerrod
established,” Sergeant Wainwright reported as they approached
Jerrod
.

“Five more casroo engineers have also boarded. They will be assisting with restoring the Moon base’s operations,” he told Saigg.

Saigg turned to his father with a questioning look. “We got a call from the Moon base while you were in transit. The engineers there requested the additional personnel to help get the installation housing section back into operation. It sounds like the quarters aboard the PTOs have gotten rather cramped,” Prime Garuu told him. “I’ve also had the landing bay crew load additional food units and bedding for the apartments at the installation. The
Universe Explorer
will be in parking orbit behind the moon in six days, and we can transfer additional equipment then if it’s needed.”

Bitman held out his hand. “Thank you for your assistance and hospitality, Prime Garuu. I look forward to talking to you again, and showing you those human courting rituals once you get to Earth.”

They clasped hands for a moment then Prime Garuu stepped back as the humans climbed the access stairs.

Chapter-62

“Having any luck?” Terrie asked Beldon.

“None. I can’t get past the first level of phone receptionists at any of the TV networks. Unless we can figure out something unique to get to the next level, I think we may have hit a dead-end in recruiting video production assistance.”

“Have you tried calling the head of the Networks directly?”

“Yeah, same problem, their calls are screened, and you don’t get past the screener unless the executive knows you, or they’re expecting your call. Do you have any suggestions?”

“Let’s go see one of them.”

“It would never work. We’d have the same problem in person trying to get past the layers of security and screeners.”

“I didn’t mean to go where they work. Let’s drop in for a little informal get together at their house. Can you find out where the head man lives?”

Beldon worked the keyboard and employed several Internet search engines and got Terrie an answer in less than five minutes. “Here’s the home address of the President and CEO of Discovery. Of all the available networks, I think they may be the closest fit to what we need.”

“Pull up Google Maps, so we can take a look at this guy’s place,” Terrie said. “Oh, nice spread. He must have twenty or thirty acres of land around that house. There’s even a helicopter pad. When Colonel Striker gets back, why don’t we drop in for a little nightcap tonight?”

“What if he has security guards or attack dogs?”

“Well, then we’ll just wait in the ship until the guards go ask their boss to come talk to us. If you had a sixty-foot long space ship drop into your back yard, wouldn’t you want to see what was going on?”

“What if he calls the police or SWAT?”

“Then we’ll leave, and try again some other time, when he’s feeling more in a party mood.”

“Okay, maybe it’ll work. Let’s go talk to Dad and see what he thinks.” Beldon pushed back from the computer.

“Dad’s helping the engineers get the installation living quarters back online. I think he’s in the main power control room.”

#

Jerrod
had returned from NARO with Striker, Saigg, and the children by the time Beldon found Duane. The ensuing discussion had pared the group going to try to meet with the network president down to Saigg, Beldon, and Dantee.

Saigg pulled rank as the leader of the team. “Reedn, you need to get some rest. You’ve been going nonstop for the past fourteen hours. Tuuan, I need you to take
Chandra
and transport the nonessential personnel to the
Universe Explorer
. When you get to the
UE
, I want you to stay there for at least ten hours so you can get some sleep. That will also give the scientists a chance to talk to
Chandra
and fill in some of the gaps in our knowledge of the scientific advances since we’ve been gone. Colonel Striker, why don’t you return to the
Universe Explorer
with Tuuan? Your presence onboard
Chandra
will help reassure the passengers that everything is okay since so much of this is new to them.”