The Star Guardian

Chapter 10: Travel To The Ori Confederation

I awoke feeling rested. It must have been hours since we fell asleep. I pulled myself out of the bed and did my usual washroom activity. On the food dispenser, the screen thoughtfully showed the estimated time to the Ori border. There was lots to go yet.

I got a cup of hot beverage and took a seat at the table. My mind wandered as I sipped my drink and inhaled the vapours.

I don't know how long I was like that, but then suddenly a pair of arms wrapped around me from behind. Snez's voice said "Good Morning!"

"Good Morning Snezana." I said. I took a moment for something to sink in. She had greeted me in English, which was the Earth language my mother had used with me long ago. I turned in my chair, and her arms until I was facing my captain. She was smiling.

"You speak English?" I asked, in English. I hoped she was not too fluent as it was not my best. It had been many cycles since I spoke it.

She smiled and responded in Ori. "Only a little. I did some research, and Ship had recordings in the archives. I learned some greetings and a few phrases."

"It was a nice surprise. Thank you. I have not heard that since before my mother died." I said, in Ori.

"I'll be right back." She let go of me and dashed to the en-suite. I turned back around to take another sip of my drink, to find that it had gone cold. I took my cup back to the food dispenser, and got a fresh cup for myself, and a cup of whatever Snez usually drank. I put our drinks on the table.

Soon Snez returned and sat and took a sip from her cup. She nodded and smiled at me. I smiled back.

"You smile a lot." I said.

"I do since I met you. I'd say we are all smiling a lot recently." She said.

"Yes." We both took a sip. It is funny how your life can change so quickly.

"When we both have time, I'd be glad to share with you the recordings I have. Earth is a closed world, too primitive. But, from time to time, other races have observed from a distance though." She smiled at me. I felt she was trying hard to win me over. The thing was a little was ok, but she was in danger of going too far.

"You had me at good morning." I said in Ori. "If I never hear any more, it would be fine with me. Earth is not my home. I am content to let it be." I slid out my chair a bit and opened my arms, and she was in my lap. We hugged.

"Snezana, if I am a genetic match to Baglogi, does that mean that Humans are connected to Baglogi?" I asked.

"I don't know. Perhaps many thousands of cycles ago, some Baglogi settled on Earth." She said.

"Or perhaps long ago, Earth had an advanced space-faring society. They had some terrible war, and the survivors regressed to a more primitive level. Meanwhile, some had escaped the war and moved on to become the Baglogi." I suggested.

"I don't have an answer. We can only speculate." She said.

A while later, Cyrille had got up. We all ended up in the main bridge to plan our visit to the Ori Confederation.

Cyrille said "We need to tread carefully. This vessel is a warship, and it could trigger the wrong reaction if we are not careful."

"I agree, we don't want to get killed on the way to meet our future ally." I said.

"What do you have in mind?" Asked Snez.

"In purchasing, when you deal with a vendor who is perhaps a little difficult, it is important to be on the same side of the table. If they see me at first contact, it should be enough to get them to listen. Then, at Ori High Command, I suggest just Ian and I meet with them. Our Ori citizenship credentials should offer us some protections you do not have. We cannot put the last Baglogi and our captain at risk." Cyrille said.