The Voyages Of Ker'Tak and Skye

Chapter 15: Vital Primordialisms

Mekt'Ta's eyes grew so wide, his breath catching in his throat as Ker'Tak's eyes opened. There was no way that what he had seen, what they had seen, was anywhere near true. Thousands were tortured, tormented, and labeled accordingly to Fei'Di, a whole analysis of species, including humans, as prospective slave races... It was abhorrent.

"And how, dare tell, do you know that this is all true?" Mekt'Ta inquired, as Ker'Tak sat back down in the seat just on the other side of the desk. Ker'Tak shook their head, and there was a quiet discussion playing through their head that they knew they had to try and get to.

"How else? He posed a threat to Skye, who was injured enough already. Do not play so naïve, Captain, we use this advantage amongst one another constantly," Ker'Tak reminded Mekt'Ta of the unfortunate facts of Si'Nian culture. They stole information from one another all the time, as it was only ever really barred that one could not use it for the exploitation of that person.

"I see, and how far did you enter into Fei'Di's mind?" Mekt'Ta poised the question with caution, letting Ker'Tak break from the intense staring the two had taken part in.

He would have hurt her beyond care if I hadn't been there, I saw his darkest impulses. The ones we have been taught are not even remotely acceptable to have since day one, he needs therapy, lots of therapy, Ker'Tak could even bring themself to say it as Mekt'Ta's eyes grew wide.

"He would have assaulted her? Am I understanding that correctly Ker'Tak?" Mekt'Ta needed them to say it, for official recordkeeping.

"Yes."

Mekt'Ta stood, not exactly slamming his hands onto the desk, but his placement wasn't exactly passive.

"Ker'Tak, he still has unrestricted access to the ship, the order to his Quarters was a recommendation!" Mekt'Ta's alarm startled Ker'Tak, "You're dismissed, I'm sending members of security to guard Human Skye's Quarters. With any luck, he hasn't-"

Ker'Tak beat Mekt'Ta to the punch in this instance, bolting up and sprinting down the hall. Their feet carried them like the winds of Si'Nia would a petal from the Sek'Tri, moving with fluidity and determination.

She did not need any more trouble, and when the sound of a scream hit their eardrums, they bend down, moving faster on all six limbs than just the two.

Skye was holding her PPW, shaking, her eyes wide and pupils mere pinpricks. Smoke bounced off the ceiling, and ashes floated onto the floor. Ker'Tak paused, standing upright once more.

Skye was awake, now more than ever... She felt the burn of scrapes on her skin along her arms, the hot, salty tears rolling down her cheeks, and smelt the horrid stench of the morgue right in her sister's quarters. Gia was sitting on the sofa, shaking horribly, her mouth covered with her own two hands.

"Sky-Skye?" Gia choked out the words, and Skye bolted to her, breaking from her frozen position, and hugging her sister close, pulling her into what was her safe space. Gia held fast to Skye, breaking down in sobs.

"I've got you; he can't get to you, I promise. He's not going to hurt you again," Skye spoke with an honest conviction, her voice shaky, but her hold on Gia tight.

Mekt'Ta arrived shortly after Ker'Tak, who was frozen in place. Fei'Di laid dead on the floor, his limbs blown off, before being shot squarely between his horns. Mekt'Ta broke their silence, and Gia paled.

"What happened here?"

"He- Mekt I'm sorry... I'm so sorry..." Gia could only muster those few words, and Mekt'Ta's eyes grew wide. He now hurried in to see to Gia, and Skye looked up to him. She still looked exhausted, but now she had slept and was "officially" fit for duty again.

"It is nowhere near your fault," Mekt'Ta immediately spoke, gently asking her, What did he do to you?

Mekt.. Please, just- just go- Gia couldn't stand him asking her that, especially not now, now that the truth had escaped. Mekt'Ta could hear what else was going on, and what deep grief had now settled on Gia's mind. Fei'Di used her like a puppet, tearing her mind open by force and demanding answers.

It was almost guttural, the roar that was rising in his throat. Ker'Tak did not tend to the body, instead gently moving Skye away from Gia.

"Are you alright?" Ker'Tak asked Skye, their voice soft, and small.

"I'm fine, rattled, but fine... Gia needs more help than I...The bruises on her-"

"We know, she will be well taken care of," Ker'Tak nodded, aware that Skye had committed to, what her species would call, a very personal act. The act of killing another living being of the same sentience as herself. "Mekt'Ta will be sure of it."

"Mekt'Ta? He isn't-" Skye began to protest, before Gia shook her head.

"Skye, you have no idea do you?" Gia asked, looking to her sister as Mekt'Ta held Gia close, "I- He will take care of me."

Skye paused as an understanding dawned on her. Skye's small nod gave Gia more comfort than any words or hugs from her could.

"I see.. Your secret is safe with me, but Mekt'Ta," Skye began, pointing to Fei'Di, "If you ever pull a stunt, that is what awaits you."

Mekt'Ta nodded solemnly, his voice settling into a gravely low tone as his nodes flashed a bright green, before a deep blue, until it settled on a saddened, almost conflicted purple, wanting to rage but at the same time deeply aggrieved for his love.

"I understand, Human Skye."

There was a moment of understanding, between the four of them, a moment where the truth bled out into the open silence. Skye, with her ruffled blonde-ish hair, Gia, with the deep purple bruises on her arms, Ker'Tak, knowing the gruesome scene was only the beginning of what was to come for the crew, and Mekt'Ta, burdened with knowledge that had the potential to kill his entire crew. 

Now, it would have been expected of Mekt'Ta to simply, let go, to breathe and to tend to Gia, as naturally as it came to him. There had been a court case earlier, promising that relationships amongst different races had more leeway... If he could simply paint it as that....

Ker'Tak glanced over at Mekt'Ta, shaking their head, solemnly speaking.

"Captain, as much as we all would adore that kind of outcome, one ship cannot stand against an entire fleet not dissimilar to our own ships, it'd be ill advised to attempt such a coup. At least, not without help."

"And you think I cannot find other disenfranchised life-forms?"

"Oh I am well aware that you can, but we cannot overlook what is already present. Percival, may well have our answers," Ker'Tak spoke calmly, just as Skye's voice caught in her throat. 

Ker'Tak was right, they would need help, but what they were suggesting was beyond risky.

"I don't think that's wise either, we should try from the inside first, then get outside assistance should we need it, I mean, there's a reason to it all right? Maybe we can reason our way back out of it, argue the side we're on," Skye offered, swaying slightly on her feet. 

There was a pause, before Ker'Tak asked Skye, as gently as they could.

"Humans are always optimistic their systems work in their favor, aren't they? Even we understand the limits of our own bureaucracy, it'd be nei impossible-"

"Only nei?"

"I- Yes, Skye, only nei," Ker'Tak sighed, realizing their lapses in judgement. Tenacity is something to be admired, though in this instance it was almost infuriating. 

"Then let's give it a try. Sure there are limits to everything, but we can wear them down a little, right?" Skye smiled, just a little. Ker'Tak knew what she was catching on to. Get close enough before blowing a gasket, and, well, it's as good as having fought a whole war. 

Humanity was turning out to be a clever little shit.