The Communicator, Chapter 11

[elstrom99]

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screeeeeeEEEEEUUUUU! screeeeeeEEEEEUUUUU! screeeeeeEEEEEUUUUU!

 

Brevix rubbed the sleep from his eyes and glared in the direction of the speaker set flush in the walls in one corner of his quarters.  Grumpily, he pulled himself out of bed and moved toward the door.  

 

screeeeeeEEEEEUUUUU! screeeeeeEEEEEUUUUU! screeeeeeEEE...

 

In the Media Center, he heard his Communication Officer, Powrlen, slap the communication controls, and a moment later the gruff, low rumble of the Drragh Overlord.  Pausing, he scratched himself, then turned back, and grabbed his uniform trousers.  Quickly pulling them on, he grabbed a light, translucent tunic from beside his bed where he'd discarded it earlier.  

 

Turning again toward the door, he was not surprised when it opened and Powrlen stuck his head in.

 

"The Overlord, sir... he seems agitated.  Ah, good, for once you are dressed.  Somewhat."

 

"Yes.  So it would seem.  On my way.  Any idea why the agitation?"

 

"None."

 

A moment later, Brevix was standing before the vispad.

 

"Overlord Chk..."

 

"Tak Tak Tak. YA znayu, khto ya. Vam ne potribno nahaduvaty meni. YA khochu ... ty odyahnenyy. Deshcho. YA bachu, shcho moya skarha na Vash Syndykator okupylasya. Dobre. Zaraz Shcho vy povynni povidomyty?"

 

"OH FOR THE LOVE OF...  Powrlen, what vile vat of Vikronian vinegar did you pull that communicator out of?  If I have to send for a replacement, it'll come out of YOUR share of the profit."

 

"Sir..."

 

"At the rate you are going, Brevix, there will be no profit.  For ANY of you.  Give me your damn report."

 

"Sir, perhaps I could help?"  Chief Investigator Nautewlus had quietly entered behind him.  "I have just finished reviewing the final reports from our latest site survey."

 

"Go ahead.  And the communicator isn't working.  If you could try to speak Drragh, to honor our client?"

 

"It was Ukrainian, sir.  I'll translate later.  Overlord Drragh...."

 

"No.  Your version of Drragh hurts my ears more than speaking your Keirish hurts my tongue.  Speak it."

 

"Sir.  We have just finished surveying another region where there seems to be activity by your crew.  We're almost certain we discovered reports of Kukamukan.  It was last seen recently, not far from where Kukulkan, its sister, was reported.  The locals say it was a fierce dragon, but beneficial to their society.  It was last seen..."

 

"Last seen?"

 

"Sir, the time frames between your perspective and the people of this planet is... extreme.  For you it would have been mere months ago.  For the people here, over a thousand years.  That's something like forty or fifty of their generations.  The last stories indicated it went off to join Kukulkan.  We know nothing more, but we believe its disappearance coincides roughly with Kukulkan's own departure from the area.  It would seem probable, Overlord, that it is living with her under the sea.  Or perhaps in some other area adjacent to the sea."

 

"I see.  No evidence that these Earthers killed, or at least tried to kill, it?"

 

"None whatsoever, sir."

 

"In that case, thank you.  And you, Communications Officer.  Yakshcho vy ne vstanovyly tsey komunikator i pravylʹno pereklaly, ya zmusytymusʹ Kukulkana zhyty i z'yisty vas, yak ya dyvytysʹ!"

 

The screen flashed out, and the crew were left regarding each other.  Finally, Nautewlus cleared her throat.  "Powrlen, he said..."

 

"Don't repeat it.  I'm sure it had something to do with my serving as hors d'oeuvres."  Powrlen turned glumly back to his communicator and gave it a sharp kick.  "I really preferred it when he was fixated on the Commander's lovely bottom parts."

 

"I heard that, kitty."

 

"Stop calling me kitty.  And I intended for you to hear it."

 

Nautewlus giggled loudly, "I also enjoyed his admiration for your bottom parts, skipper."

 

Brevix fixed her with an angry glare, but before he could speak, his First Officer, Hourna jumped in.  "Come on, Brev.  Everyone's fixation on those delightful bottom parts has made me..." He turned and sauntered back toward their quarters. 

 

Brevix arched an eye and followed him.

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