Chapter 381

The shuttle bobbled slightly as it set down, the engines giving a slowly unwinding whine as the vibration stopped. Nakteti looked at Major Carnight and frowned slightly.

"What?" the Terran asked,

"Why the noise? Graviton is normally silent," she said.

Carnight nodded. "It makes us Terrans feel better. We know the engine is shut down. Think of it as an audible warning."

Nakteti nodded. It was one of those things that she had meant to ask about but had gotten caught up in the whirlwind that had become her life.

Carnight stood up, moving to the door of the shuttle. Nakteti frowned as he half drew his magac pistol, standing in the doorway as it slowly opened.

The level of paranoia seemed excessive. The shuttle was heavily armored, with battlescreens. Carnight was wearing his adaptive camouflage with armor panels and carrying a fully loaded magac pistol and a 'Mark Two Cutting Bar" on his hip.

He looked outside then turned and waved.

"This way, Madame Diplomat," he said seriously.

Nakteti sighed. The level of formality had spiked since they had arrived in the Pubvian system and to be honest, she had expected more of a gentle species since every Terran she knew of were all "PUFFIES!" and excited.

Major Carnight moved out of the door, hopping out of the shuttle. As Nakteti approached the stairs descended for her as she took in what was beyond.

A formal looking building, made of sparkling marble, set in the middle of immaculate lawns. She could count three fountains and see gardeners (all fully covered Pubvians) working on the shrubs.

She moved down the steps, slightly amused that she was not wearing the veils or the full body covering, but instead a comfortable Tnvaru body suit with warm and soft gripping slippers.

"The Pubvians are unsure of how to proceed, Nakteti," Major Carnight said when she finished descending down the steps. He made a motion and lead her toward what was supposedly t he diplomatic residence.

"Why?" Nakteti said, gripping the carved wooden rod in her hands tightly.

"Your shipboard personnel all have jobs, but they found no security detachment," he said. He gave a slight chuckle. "Except me."

"So why the problem?" Nakteti said, relishing the feel of real grass beneath her feet. She let Major Carnight walk on the laid stones of the path and instead walked in the grass next to him.

"You have to remember, when they met us, we were, well, a little more militant," Major Carnight said. He sounded slightly embarrased. "Terra, humans, had just finished three back to back wars, some pretty nasty stuff, including a Temporal Incursion. We left Fortress Sol and met the Pubvians soon after we met the Rigellians."

"I thought you didn't fight the Rigellians," Nakteti said.

"We didn't. Terra fought the Skrevick, who invaded Rigellian space less then a year after we met the Rigellians," he said. He winced slightly. "To the bitter end," he glanced at her. "We tried to save them, we really did. When we found out the purpose of the beautiful crystalline, almost butterfly-like ships that were behind every warship, that exploded when the warship was destroyed no matter what we did, we tried everything to save them."

He stopped, reaching out and poking a sharp looking thorn on the stem of a flower that Nakteti found quite beautiful to see and pleasant to smell.

"We would have helped them. We really would have," he said softly. "But instead, they just kept coming. Wave after wave," he looked over. "And then, it was over. And they were gone from the universe. No homeworld, no clue where they came from, just... gone."

Nakteti let Carnight be silent for a moment, watching him press his fingertip against the thorn then let up on the pressure, only to do it again. The razor edge of the thorn glittered, but was unable to even mar the Terran's skin.

He had been slightly strange since they had arrived, and Nakteti had begun to worry about him. She could see the three flashing LED's beneath the skin of his neck.

"What does it have to do with the Pubvians?" she asked.

Carnight jerked, as if she had physically struck him, and looked at her, his eyes a dull red.

"We met the Pubvian and the Pubvian engaged in their typical dominance games," he said. "They hit a colony, 'pacified' it, and let us know that they were the reigning power in this sector."

Nakteti stayed silent. She could faintly hear traffic and the sounds of a city beyond the walls of the diplomatic estate she was standing on. The breeze was warm, but felt chilly somehow.

"We had just gotten done fighting the Skrevick, just finished with the Temporal Incursion, we were in no mood to have someone roll up on us and slap us across the face," he said. "We only had about twenty colonies total, and the Pubvians had just taken one away and were busy installing their own government."

Nakteti reached out and took his hand in one of hers. "And then?"

"To the Pubvians, we should have, if we could, taken back our colony and taken over one of theirs," Carnight said. "Instead, we leveled their fleet, stomped their colony forces, made orbital strikes on their colonies, and landed in force on their homeworld and the home system," Carnight said. "They slapped us, challenging us to a duel, and we stuck the barrel of a pistol in their mouth and told them to prepare to meet their gods."

Nakteti nodded. Six months ago, she would have been shocked, horrified.

"We calmed down, after the Second Terran/Mantid War, after the fall of the Imperium, after we had completely lost ourselves in blood lust and rage. They did not see that part, did not experience it, but they can believe it," he said. He looked up at the clouds in the sky. "So now they're unsure of how to treat us. They know that in eight thousands years and some change we've done nothing but get stronger, we somehow brought them back to life after getting xenocided, so now they're really unsure of the power dynamics."

Nakteti shifted her grip on her stick, putting one end in the ground, holding tight to it with three other hands, and leaned forward on it. She had seen elders perform the same action and could suddenly appreciate it.

"Pubvians don't like being unsure of how the power dynamics lie," Carnight admitted. He stopped pressing his finger on the point of the thorn and looked down at her. "So they're being really careful. To them, their complete and utter curb stomping was only a few decades ago. To us, it was eight or nine thousand years ago."

Nakteti nodded, moving toward the doors of the estate's manor, gently tugging Major Carnight with her. She had noticed that despite the fact there was no way she could actually move the massive primate with a gentle tug, he followed her as if he was a child.

Pack bonding instincts, she thought to herself.

"I understand it. My people feel much the same way. We had become traders, commodity brokers, consortium leaders, with massive convoys and freighters," Nakteti said. "Then the Precursors destroyed it all, and we are unsure of our place in the universe now."

"So you can understand the Pubvian's hesitancy when discovered that your security detail consists of a single Terran with a magac pistol and advanced combat systems implants," Major Carnight said. "They're unsure if the Terrans now consider a single man the equivalent of what would have been a combined arms brigade when they met us. They're unsure if it would insult you to offer their own security forces, or if you have a cultural taboo against security forces, or even if it is a sign of your species dominance that all you need for protection is a single Terran."

Nakteti laughed. "Do they not know that we ran from Terra when the Lanaktallan attacked it with just enough crew to do a test voyage?" Nakteti stopped next to the fountain that the path divided to circle before rejoining to lead to the steps of the manor. She leaned on the stick, looking at the water.

The sand had gold flecks in the blackish blue. There were small fish inside the water, moving around lazily.

"They are still trying to figure out how that changes the power dynamics," Carnight admitted.

"Can you blame them?" Nakteti said. "I understand how they must be feeling. Now I understand why they gifted my people with this manor, why they have invited me to a diplomatic function despite my insistence I am not a diplomat."

Major Carnight looked down at her, checking his retinal link to see her vitals.

She was calm, collected, everything stable at her vital's baselines.

She looked away from the fish swimming lazily in the fountain.

"Let us take a tour of the manor and then summon the clothiers," she said softly. "Put out of your mind politics and games of dominance," she tugged on his hand. "Your job is to protect me."

She tapped her gripping stick on the cut stones of the walk.

"Politics and games of dominance are a Tnvaru matron's milk and honey," she said.

--------------------

Nakteti stood and looked at the outfit in the mirror. It was holographic only, the Pubvian women around her gossiping as they rapidly put together the 'gown' from the fabric they had brought with them. Nakteti had been surprised they didn't use even basic fabric extruders like the Lanaktallan.

Instead, it was a mass amount of cloth the Pubvian females called 'bolts' wrapped around a wooden dowel with handles sticking out of the sides.

Her implant was showing her a translation of their speech over their heads as they chattered in their native language.

"...give him another chance since we all returned to life," one was saying. "I have had time to think through of what he had done and realize that perhaps it is not a bad thing."

"But he slept with your sister," another said.

The first one gave the equivalent of a shrug. "Eh, my sister's unlucky in love. She is very docile and submits to me now that I have informed her that I will allow my husband to service her twice a week at my discretion."

"She is much more pleasant to be around," a third said. "Her speaking voice is a screechy as a Treana'ad matron that has discovered her daughter has eaten all of her ice cream."

That made all four of the Pubvians snicker.

Nakteti kept her face still as another Pubvian draped a necklace around her neck, nestling the pendant between her mammaries.

Pubvians love their jewelry, she thought to herself. Just like my people do. A common thread that I can use during this diplomatic function.

"Then your husband is doing a community service to the entire city in satiating her appetites so she is no longer such a chore to be around," the fourth said, giving a giggle. "Perhaps we should have a cast made of his genitals and then we can have a copy of them cast in gold and warsteel for all to admire."

All four of them laughed and Nakteti kept her face motionless.

Gossip, spousal trouble, bonding over gossip, jewelry, and now fine fabric clothing, Nakteti thought to herself, running her blunt claws down the sheer fabric and luxuriating in the feel of the cloth weave. We have much in common.

A glance showed her that Major Carnight was only a few steps away, his feet shoulder width apart, his open hands one on top of another behind his back, his elbows at a near perfect ninety-degrees, his back straight, chin lifted, chest out, shoulders squared.

Nakteti had to admit, it was an impressive pose that suggested dangerous competence and a willingness to instantly move into action should he be called upon, while appearing perfectly at ease and relaxed.

Two of the seamstresses stood up and moved over to her, adding to the soft sheer cloth covering her fur.

"It is so nice that you have fur," one said. "It is difficult to create fashion for Terrans, Mantids, and Treana'ad, much less the Rigellians, as they lack the proper amount of fur."

"I can imagine," Nakteti said.

"Your people must have been alarmed to encounter hairless ones so fierce and dominant," the one who had suggested a statue be made of the other Pubvian female's husband's genitals.

"My ship was being attacked by a Precursor Autonomous War Machine," Nakteti said. "We were grateful for the assistance."

"Is it true you met the Daxin the Janissary?" one asked.

Nakteti nodded. "Yes. He is the one who saved my ship and crew."

All four of them gave a giggle and a shiver.

"How do you know of him?" Nakteti asked.

"Everyone knows of Daxin the Janissary," the oldest Pubvian said. She stepped back and rubbed her fuzzy chin with her middle hand. "Is it true the rest of the Immortal Janissary are dead? Lost on a forgotten battlefield?"

Nakteti nodded. "Yes. Over the centuries the Terrans have been involved in many conflicts. Many have died."

"The Terrans are a dominating people," the obviously youngest one said. "Woe be unto those who seek to dominate those who will not submit."

Nakteti nodded as sleeves were pulled up her arms and the oldest began running an autostitcher around her arm with well trained and highly skilled fingers.

"Yes," she said, glancing at the mirror.

Major Carnight stood, staring at a point above everyone's head.

Nakteti could see the light on the butt of his magac pistol blinking steadily, telling the whole world it was armed and the smartlink was engaged.

"Woe indeed."

------------------

Nakteti sat and brushed her fur slowly, wearing the delicate and well tailored modesty clothing that the seamstresses had designed to go on underneath her gown. She had listened closely to the gossip, knowing that there was no way that any Pubvians who would be allowed near her had not been vetted, coached, and given a script.

It had been enjoyable, listening to their gossip and banter, avoiding giving too precise of an answer to any of the idle seeming questions posed by the dress makers.

She had known it was all a test. The Pubvians were testing her abilities.

She wished her mother was present with her. Sangbre was canny and experienced, a political infighter with decades of experience at Matronhood and leading a star trading consortium.

But she knew that wishes were for children. She was the one who was present, which meant that it was all on her.

A Pubvian 'servant' came in, bowing.

"Matron Nakteti, there is a communications request for your bodyguard, the Terran Major Carnight," the Pubvian said, their face hidden by a mask and their sex hidden by a voice modulator.

"For Major Carnight? Why announce it to me?" Nakteti asked, still brushing her fur.

"It's a full channel high bandwidth realtime hypercom transmission, Matron," the Pubvian said.

Nakteti considered it, frowning slightly. She wondered who would send that kind of message to Major Carnight.

"Very well, put it through," she said.

"Matron, it is full eVR. You would be included in the call," the Pubvian warned.

"By all means, put it through," Nakteti said, not bothering to stop brushing her fur.

Another test. It must be, Nakteti thought. She turned to Major Carnight and smiled at him. "This must be an important communication."

Nakteti sensed something strange in the Terran's stance, in his facial expression, but did not worry.

The room shivered slightly as the eVR system came on.

A Terran woman appeared at the far end of the room, sitting on what looked to Nakteti as a throne. She had on a skirt made of fine leather and decorated with precious metals and gems. Her hair was in a complex braid, wires of precious metals running through it, ornaments and gems glittering in the braided black hair. Her skin was a deep rich brown and dust from precious gems glittered on her skin.

Nakteti noticed she was also bare from the waist up, in direct opposite of the social norms for modesty that Nakteti had learned about. The Tnvaru could see that the Terran woman's mammary glands were swollen with milk, and two small infant Terrans were on her lap, one attached to a breast, its eyes closed and holding tight, the other laying on the Terran woman's lap.

"Devie, there you are," the woman said, lifting her hand from where she had been patting the sleeping infant's back and giving it a leisurely wave. "I was starting to wonder if you would ever answer my call."

Major Carnight moved up next to Nakteti, letting her grab one of his hands. Nakteti was careful to not grab the one that she knew he used to fire the pistol.

"What do you want, sister mine?" Major Carnight asked.

"Why, to simply see how my brother fares in this malevolent universe," the woman said. "My liege lord, King Nganto, urged me to contact you with everything that has occurred."

Nakteti had been around Major Carnight long enough to recognize the slight tightening around his eyes.

"You're doing this in front your court, aren't you?" he asked.

The Terran woman laughed, sliding one finger between her breast and the cheek of the infant, breaking the suction. She transferred the baby, who made slight sleepy noises of discomfort and annoyance, to the other breast as she laughed.

"Of course I am, Devie. I am, after all, nobility. My people are keenly interested in seeing me contact my long-lost brother," she said, still smiling.

Nakteti could see it. They had the same eyes.

"What do you want?" Major Carnight snapped.

"To extend a formal invitation from His Royal Majesty, King Nganto, to the Tnvaru Matron Nakteti. He offers her his protection and succor during these times, when a malevolent universe seeks again to wrest away everything beautiful," she smiled.

"That will remain up to her," Major Carnight said, his voice cold. "She seeks the Confederate Senate."

"Bah," the woman waved her hand again, making the nursing infant open its eyes and look around for a moment, holding tight to the breast, the nipple staying in the infant's mouth as it pulled back slightly to look around. The woman gave a wry smile. "Ah, Devie, still dancing with the cooling corpse on the ballroom floor as if you can bring it back to life."

She suddenly leaned forward slightly, her face going from bored laziness to such an intent predatory stare Nakteti almost stepped back.

She was aware the two Pubvians who had been watching immediately pressed their faces to the floor in submission.

"The Confederacy is dead. The Mar-gite killed the Confederacy as surely as a spear thrust through the heart killed the Arch-Magus right on this very dais," she said. "Admit it, Devon, it's dead. It's a shambling corpse, a zombie shuffling along completely unaware it has died."

She leaned back. "Come to me. I will protect you when Space Force's strength fails against humanity's foes."

"The Confederacy isn't dead, sis," Carnight snapped. "You've been singing that tune for over a hundred years, and the Confederacy is still here."

"A corpse lies on the floor until someone buries it," the woman said. She gave a laugh. "Did you approach the Senate yet?"

"Yes," Carnight said.

"And found it was naught but specters and memories," the woman said. She leaned back, tapping her fingers on the arm of her throne. She turned her attention to Nakteti. "Tell me, Matron, don't you feel it? The chill of the grave that the Confederacy has one foot firmly planted within?"

Nakteti shook her head. "No. Everywhere I turn I see life," she waved her left gripping hand. "Here, upon Pubvia, there is life, not blasted rock and death," Nakteti leaned forward. "Can you return life to the dead on such a scale."

The Terran woman laughed and looked at Major Carnight. "Oh, I like her," she looked back at Nakteti. "I cannot wait to meet you in person so that I can present you at His Royal Majesty's Court of Wonders," she said. She pointed toward Major Carnight. "Bring my wayward brother with you, and I shall reward not just you, but your people. You need allies, you'll need trading partners, and I offer that to you."

She leaned forward again and Nakteti realized both of the infants were staring at her.

"Bring him to me, and I shall reward you beyond you or your people's wildest dreams," she said. "The Confederacy is dying, as all empires do. Do not let his blood and life be spent in the defense and dreams of a dying beast," She looked to the side. "This conversation is over, Oracle. Let your magic cease."

The hypercom transmission suddenly ended, with the words "CONFEDERATE DIPLOMATIC COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM" appearing in mid-air for a handful of seconds before vanishing.

Nakteti turned and looked at Major Carnight.

"She seems nice," Nakteti said.

Major Carnight just nodded stiffly.