Fractured Alliance by Robert Stadnik

Author:Robert Stadnik [Stadnik, Robert]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-02-25T07:00:00+00:00

It was late afternoon. With PHOENIX in orbit of the purple colored planet and scans of it underway, Julie felt it was a good time to go down to the botanical gardens to clear her mind. The garden was the one place she could wander around and not feel she was on a starship. She also had another reason to come down here. It was a chance to visit Drix’s grave. Given the problems with the Cresorians on board, she wanted to spend some time with him. It would help her remember when he was alive and living on PHOENIX.

As Julie made her way to the gravesite, she was surprised to find someone already there. She was flanked by two security guards. “Limex?”

The female Cresorian turned around. “Hello, Julie Captain. I learned this was the resting place of Drix, and my curiosity brought me here. I asked your computer what this stone structure is with his name on it but am still confused by its purpose. Why did you not adhere to Cresorian death tradition?”

“Because of her.” Julie pointed to the other gravestone with the name Sulix on it. “When her body was found, Drix didn’t want her to be alone. He asked if we could apply human burial practices. When he died, it seemed only fitting to do the same with him.”

“Was Sulix his mate?”

Julie sighed. “No, Sulix was already dead when we found her ship. She was the first female Cresorian he’d ever encountered. He wanted to serve his people by mating with her.”

“Meetings between males and females were rare,” Lemix admitted. “We still do not have a count of how many of my kind are left. I am certain our numbers have shrunk since our race left homeworld so many cycles ago.”

“Do you have any children?” Julie asked. When Limex gave her a perplexed look, Julie clarified. “Offspring.”

“I have one gogankin,” she replied. “My suhokei perished barely a cycle after hatching. My gogankin is fully mature now. I count myself fortunate for producing offspring. Do you have any…children, captain?”

“I’ll look after her,” Julie said to the guards as she motioned Limex to join her on a walk, which the Cresorian accepted. “I don’t have any kids.…offspring. My husband and I do want children but are going to wait.”

“Husband…that is your mate,” Limex confirmed. “Yes, I have heard that term numerous times here. You humans remain with a single mate for most of your lives.”

Julie chuckled. “If things work out, yes.”

“Does John Captain have a mate?” Limex asked.

“He did. She died when we protected the Ni homeworld from a Screen attack.”

“For his mate to sacrifice herself to protect an alliance race is a selfless deed,” Limex said. “It is the single notion I have impressed upon the others. We must honor the sacrifices this ship made to free us all from the Screen.”

“Can I ask you something?” Julie asked.

“Of course.”

“Drix was the only Cresorian we dealt with before you all came on board. He never had any problem living with humans and adapted to life here very easily.

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