elstrom99 | The Communicator, Chapter 13 (Reply)

screeeeeeEEEEEUUUUU! screeeeeeEEEEEUUUUU! screeeeeeEEEEEUUUUU!

Hourna rolled over and grabbed Brevix firmly. "Wake up lover boy. Sounds like you're about to be summoned."

Brevix sighed and tried to roll out of the bed, then grabbed Hourna's hand and pried it loose. "I can't leave if you hold on to me that tight!" Then, he turned again and rolled out of bed.

screeeeeeEEEEEUUUUU! screeeeeeEEEEEUUUUU! Screee

Brevix hurriedly pulled his uniform tunic over his head and struggled into his uniform trousers.

"What, no show for the Overlord?"

Brevix grinned at Hourna. "Nope, you're gonna have to forgo my lovely bottom parts for a little while longer." Arranging himself, he walked purposefully out to the hall, then turned left toward the Media Center. Nautewlus hurriedly joined him as he entered the room and took his place before the vispad.

"I acknowledged the call and indicated there'd be a brief pause, sir. I just want you to know that I spent most of the last two wake cycles on the vis with Under-Overlord Phkrena. I'm sure this is working now. She was very helpful."

"Wonderful. Patch our Overlord through, then. Let's not keep him waiting."

With that, Powrlen toggled another control, and the red dot in the center of the vispad expanded to a flash and exposed the glaring left eye of the Drragh Overlord.

"Comander Brevix. Pam rwyf wedi bod yn aros? Dim ots. Rhowch i ... BETH?!?!?! Rydych chi ddim wedi llwyddo i weithredu'ch offer cyfathrebu? Gan yr holl nwyon putrid y Venercatchyar gwych mawr..."

At this latest, Chkarna, Nautewlus and Brevix all turned to face Powrlen.

"Kitty, I'm warning you. This had better NOT be a putlaman joke!"

"Sir! Ask Phkre.... Under-Overlord Phkrena! We talked for several hours yesterday! IT WORKED!"

"It does not work now. I shall ask my Under Overlord. You best not be lying. Now. Do you have anything to report, Commander Brevix? You had better."

Brevix turned to Nautewlus and nodded.

"Overlord, research recently led us to the Indian subcontinent. At Commander Brevix's orders, I sent you a map of this world. You should be able to locate India. It is luminous green..."

"Putrid green, more like. But, go on."

"Yes. Well, anyhow this highly populous region contains numerous temples containing statues of what they refer to as Naga. The Naga, sir, are, we are reasonably certain, members of your lost crew. Four are mentioned, and their Earther names bare resemblance to Shyarcha, Vhrachuggha, Manchyarka and Takshaka. It seems these four were viewed mostly positively by the earthers. The first two were seen as protectors and familiars of two of their deities. The third, Manchyarka, was merely mentioned as the sister of Shyarcha. Takshaka was very feared. Apparently, the earthers believed he was highly venomous."

"Venomous? My Drragh are not venomous. And you keep saying were and was. Past tense. Are these all believed dead, then?"

Brevix interrupted here. "No Overlord. As with all the previous sightings and reports, the Drragh are no longer encountered. They haven't been spotted in many Earth years. In fact, they are generally considered mythological creatures, now. But we do detect vast amounts of vakorianite. So, we know the legends are true. Your Drragh were there."

Nautewlus glanced at Brevix, then added "As in all the other reports, Overlord, it seems the four departed the area, and took up residence under water."

"You keep telling me my people are underwater. But we are not capable of living underwater. How is this, then?"

"Sir, we don't know. We have extended our scans to the oceans of this planet. We do detect numerous underwater caverns. Perhaps..."

"I do not wish perhaps. I wish answers. I wish to see my crew. I wish..." Overlord Chklarna turned his full gaze on Powrlen, "to devour your... 'kitty'!"

Before anyone could respond, the vispad flashed then darkened. Brevix continued to face the vispad. "Nautewlus, what was that he said? And what language?"

In a quiet, subdued voice his Chief Investigator responded. "It was Welsh, sir. He said 'Commander Brevix. Why have I been kept waiting? Nevermind. Give me a... WHAT?!?!?! You still haven't gotten your communications gear functioning? By all the putrid gases of the shining great Venercatchyar...'"

"I see." He tugged at the hem of his tunic, then turned to face Powrlen.

The R'Kaccy was visibly shaken, and staring perplexedly at his communications gear. "It WORKED. It WORKED. By all our goddesses and gods, it WORKED. Skipper..." Powrlen looked with pleading eyes at Brevix.

"Perhaps what our kitty needs is a nice view of your pretty bottom parts?" Hourna had joined them in the center. Nautewlus giggled.

"Not now, Hourna. Not now. This is not good. Powrlen, open communications with Strogonar Andop. Tell them we need a new comm unit, along with a topnotch technician out here immediately. If I need to go to the Syndicator directly, I will. We need this here and installed before the next communication. Or you may not be the only one he wants to devour."

"Yes sir. But sir..."

"Yes?"

"I AM a topnotch communications technician. I'm about the best."

"I know kitty. I know. But maybe two of you can figure this out."

Brevix turned toward the door, and motioned Hourna to follow him. As he passed out of the room, he heard Powrlen low behind him.

"Don't call me kitty."

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