22

“Don’t like it that they’re here,” Command Master Chief Umman said as he pointed behind Rev.

Rev turned around. Umman meant Punch and the two Kanters who had come down on the second shuttle. That had been Njuguna’s call. Despite wanting to make her grand entrance, she’d insisted that this be a mutual effort in order to put their best foot forward and show that humans were inclusive.

“That damn genny’s enough to put off anyone.”

What would you say if I told you who “that genny” really is?

Umman was still a puzzle to him. The man was close-minded in so many things and so convinced that he was right that he was shocked when anyone disagreed with him, yet he and Rev were often on the same side on certain issues and had worked together on them.

And despite Rev’s recoil at the statement, which he hoped he’d hidden, there might be a grain of logic in what he said, even if not in the tone. Punch was in a Genesian shell, which was obviously artificial. How would the Zfthu react to that?

Rev was glad Punch was included, and not only because he had a special package for him, if Tomiko got it done. He wanted to get together afterward with his friend to get his take on the other race on the planet. But, if he was being honest with himself, there could be a bit of practicality in Umman’s concern in that there could be unintended consequences of introducing a metallic being to the Zfthu.

The universe was never completely black and white, and that made life both interesting and difficult.

Umman craned his head to look back at the entrance. “When are we getting the show on the road?”

“Soon, I hope.”

The FC party, which included half of the expedition’s leadership, even some who’d never set foot on an alien planet until now, was gathered in the courtyard. Wanting to be there when history was made wasn’t limited to Njuguna, though. It seemed that everyone wanted to be there.

But there was a problem. The Po didn’t seem too keen on joining them as they attempted First Contact. They didn’t want to stop the humans from meeting the Zfthu. They were more along the lines of “you do what you like.” But they weren’t anxious to be there.

Njuguna had pointed out that they needed translators. Given time, their Uauii translators should be able to handle it, but that would be a while, and in the meantime, there were too many opportunities for miscommunication. The Po didn’t seem to think communications would be a problem. But maybe they just didn’t care.

For having a new race suddenly appear in their system, one who they invited to come to the planet, they didn’t seem overly excited about the humans. It almost seemed as if this were a routine event.

Their lukewarm welcome was better than hostility, but it seemed weird to Rev, and he didn’t like weird.

The door to the entrance opened, and Njuguna emerged with Rev and Randigold’s guide. The civilian head was smiling, so evidently, she had gotten her way. Everyone crowded around her to get the word.

“We have our Po representative with us now,” she said, indicating the guide. “They’ll be accompanying us into the Zfthu village to introduce us to them. After discussing the contact with our hosts, I’ve decided that it will be the prime FC team that will proceed.”

That was greeted by a chorus of groans, which included Umman’s, “Fuck!”

Rev was actually relieved. Keeping control of over sixty people would be the proverbial herding of cats. The village was a warren, and he knew for a fact that despite all instructions to the contrary, they’d scatter, and that was a security nightmare he hadn’t been looking forward to.

“Dieter, you can start with the Po. One of them will come fetch you shortly, but the rest of you need to wait here until we can get our bearings and set up a schedule and procedure that will work for the Zfthu.”

There was more grumbling. But First Contact was under Njuguna’s control, and for this, her word was law.

“So, if you’re in the prime team, please form up over at the gate.”

“Sorry,” Rev told Umman as he made his way through the others.

“Form up” was relative. Any military would be embarrassed at the term as the gaggle milled around, waiting for the gate to open.

The prime team consisted of nine civilians, Rev, and the two Kanters. And now the Po guide. Rev had wanted to include Randigold, citing security, but Njuguna had pointed out that neither he nor Randigold were armed, and they wanted to present a peaceful front.

Armed or not armed, Randigold could kick any of the other’s asses, and he’d rather have her with him, but he backed down. He did tell her to be ready to meet them if they had to conduct a hasty retreat back to the castle.

Rev edged closer to Punch. “Well, Punt, I hope this will be a successful First Contact.”

He was getting a kick out of calling Punch “Punt” when in public. It was childish, but there it was. He got the distinct feeling that Punch wasn’t too fond of it.

“I hope so, too. I appreciate the Kanters being included in the effort.”

“One big happy family. Uh, did you see Miko?”

“Yes, and she said I should give you . . .”

Rev’s eyes went wide, and he started to step to him to cut him off when Punch continued with, “. . . her love. And to take care of yourself.”

He calmed himself back down.

Damn Punch. He knew exactly what he was saying. Really fucking funny.

“I’ll have to catch up with you later so you can tell me what she said,” he told his battle buddy, knowing that if his Genesian shell had the ability, Punch would be smirking.

“I think you’ll be pleased with what she wanted me to give you.”

Careful, buddy. Don’t get too cute. You got me, so leave it at that.

Now wasn’t the time, though. Too many people were around. It would have to wait until after he got back.

The gate suddenly opened in a whoosh, taking Rev by surprise. Something that massive shouldn’t move that quickly or silently.

Even the size of it was unexpected. The castle seemed almost ethereal in many aspects, but this thing was far more robust than its outward appearance might lead one to believe.

The Marine in Rev noted that, and he wondered if war had been an issue in the planet’s past.

“Well, that looks like me. I’ll hook up with you later,” he told Punch.

“I’ll be here when you get back,” Punch said as he clapped Rev on the back in a very un-Genesian move.

And suddenly, Rev was aware of a presence in his pocket. How Punch had done that was beyond him.

He casually looked around, but no one seemed to have noticed the exchange. As Punch stepped away, Rev slipped his hand into the pocket to feel the comforting presence of his MF-30.

The planet was still officially a no-weapons zone, which was why the cloak and dagger stuff. The MF-30 handgun was a long way away from Pashu, but at least it was something. Rev wasn’t expecting to have to use it as they met the Zfthu, but trouble rarely announced itself beforehand, and better to have it and not need it than wish he had it when danger surfaced.

“Let’s get this going,” Njuguna told the FC party. “I’ll be in the lead with our guide here, and if the rest of you could just sort of follow?”

Rev refrained from rolling his eyes. Njuguna had proven herself to be a competent manager, but she lacked in the leadership department, in his opinion. This was just one more example of that.

A First Contact was a major piece of history, even if this was the second one on this planet, and they were going out in a gaggle. The holographer seemed like he was frustrated with how things looked, but he didn’t speak up, and Rev didn’t really give a hoot.

He slipped to the side of the group, where he’d have room to maneuver should he need to, and they all stepped through the gate. The last person was only a meter beyond the outer wall when the gate closed just as quickly as it had opened.

“I hope that’s got a safety feature,” Nyad said to Rev. “I’d hate to get crushed by that thing.”

“You and me both.”

Led by Njuguna, their guide, and the holographer, they started across the open, slightly downward-sloping space between the castle and the village. Already, a group of the Zfthu were stepping forward at the edge of the village to meet them. There were thirteen of them, all formed in a single line. Rev immediately realized that they’d matched the number of the people and Kanters in the FC team, one-for-one.

Rev knew nothing about these people, but if he had to guess, he’d say they were wary. Once again, Rev wondered as to the relationship between the Po and the Zfthu. If they were wary, then coupled with the obvious disparity between the village and the castle, it made sense that the uplifted Zfthu were a vassal race, maybe even a slave race.

He shifted his attention to their still unnamed guide. If there was a degree of arrogance in it, Rev couldn’t see it. That didn’t mean it wasn’t there, only that Rev was unable to recognize it.

Njuguna continued to approach the Zfthu, a huge smile plastered on her face, which was against the FC SOP—baring one’s teeth could be considered a threat, according to the manual, which Rev thought was somewhat amusing. Some xenobiologist Ph.D. probably spent an entire career of study to come up with that.

The others started to falter as they watched their leader, wondering when she was going to stop. Rev even thought she might hug one of them. Even without a Ph.D., Rev knew that would be a mistake.

She came to a sudden halt, though, five steps from the nearest Zfthu. That took the rest by surprise, and several made another step or two before they came to a stop.

Rev thought they looked like a bunch of clowns, and judging from the scowl on the holographer, he thought so, too. This was not playing out well as a recording of history.

When Rev and Randigold had first met the Po, most of them seemed to make nothing much of the occasion. The two humans had been seemingly ignored, for the most part. Not so with the Zfthu. There might be thirteen facing them, but behind, the village was crowded with them. They were inside the buildings and in the narrow streets, their attention locked onto the foreign visitors.

Rev had been going over scenarios in his mind on how to extract the team if they were attacked, but seeing the number of Zfthu, he knew their only chance would be if they could outrun them and get back to the Po castle.

Njuguna, still beaming, spread her arms and said, “Greetings. We are human beings, and we are pleased to meet your people. I hope that this is the beginning of a long and mutually beneficial relationship.”

Their guide translated, which sounded to Rev like a series of grunts punctuated by longer hoots more than anything else.

The Zfthu listened in stony silence, barely moving. After their guide was done, it wasn’t the one in the center who responded but one close to the left side. Njuguna seemed surprised, but she shifted to face the alien as they all waited for the translation.

Their guide listened as well, and it had a transformation at the short Zfthu response. Its skin started roiling as if rats were fighting just under its surface.

It paused before saying, “The Zfthu want to know when you’re leaving.”

Rev thought there was more to it than just that, if what the Zfthu said caused that sort of a reaction.

Njuguna either didn’t sense the tension or chose not to acknowledge it.

“Don’t worry. We want to stay here long enough to learn about your people and provide whatever benefit we can.”

It looked like their Po guide wanted to say something to her, but then it faced the Zfthu. Its skin remained calm this time, though, and it did the translation.

Rev watched the Zfthu as their guide spoke. There was barely a reaction. Rev didn’t know the race, of course, so maybe this was normal for them. But he still got the general feeling of wariness. If they were wary, that would be reasonable, given the circumstances.

A different Zfthu spoke, but instead of translating, their guide answered it. The guide and various Zfthu went back and forth a few times. The Po’s skin rippled more than once, but that seemed more controlled now.

Finally, they stopped, and the Po said, “The Zfthu welcome you to Tylydina. This has been a surprise, and they need time to—”

Before their guide could finish, the greeting party turned as one and headed back into the confines of their village.

With barely a pause, their guide continued, “—consider the ramifications of such a momentous occasion.”

Rev’s eyes narrowed as he listened. He’d give anything to be able to understand Zfthu. If he were a betting man, he’d guess that there was a lot more said than that.

He watched the hundreds of Zfthu in sight, but none showed any sign of aggression. He knew, though, he wouldn’t feel comfortable until they were all back inside the castle.

“Is that it?” Njuguna asked, clearly disappointed.

“For the moment, yes.”

“So, we’ll talk to them some more?”

“I wouldn’t presume to tell you what you should do, but . . .”

There’s always a “but.”

“. . . my suggestion would be to give them time to digest this. The Zfthu can be an uncertain race, if that is the correct word. They need to understand that our relationship with you humans can benefit all of us.”

Njuguna stared after the retreating Zfthu. Her big moment wasn’t as dramatic and theatrical as she might have wanted, but a major directive in the SOP was not to push. And in this case, she chose to follow the rules.

“Well, then. Let’s head back. There’s plenty for us to do while the Zfthu discuss,” she said, reasserting her control.

She spun around and started to stride back up the hill. The others hurriedly followed.

Rev brought up the rear, continually looking over his shoulder. In his gut, he knew that more had been said that their guide hadn’t translated. But from what he could see, the Zfthu were not reacting in anger or aggression. In fact, despite the Po’s insistence that everyone—human, Zfthu, and Po alike—were free to do what they wanted, he got the feeling that their guide had done a bit of scolding.

As long as there wasn’t a threat to the humans and Kanters, Rev didn’t care. Let the civilians in the expedition worry about future relations.

Still, Rev didn’t feel completely at ease until they were inside and the castle gate had closed behind them.

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