"Sheisse," the soldier grumbled. "Now we gotta train two newbies." He withdrew something like a radio from a chest pouch. "We're wastin' time here. Major Stinktiere to mothership. Confirm 3 friendlies within comm scope." A barely-audible voice came back: "Confirmed."
All at once the room went dark as though Jim had passed out; when he came to, he found the soldier - Major Stinktiere - and dozens of similar figures glaring at him.
"Bit dizzy, eh, Lendowyn?" one soldier remarked, offering him his hand.
Stinktiere waved the helpful soldier away. "This is not Private Lendowyn, nor is that" indicating Sharon "Private Sarra." They've both ditched their skins - gone AWOL."
"Ditched their skins?" one soldier gasped. "But if these two are here, how will they ever..."
"We have no time!" Stinktiere bellowed. "We are exfil as of now. Tell the captain to take off - all crew present and accounted for."
As commands were issued, the helpful soldier indicated Jim and Sharon. "What about these two? Who's going to train them?"
"I'll get them up to speed," Stinktiere grumbled. He gestured at Jim. "Dingus," then at Sharon, "Dungus. Fall in."
Jim approached Stinktiere with indignance. "Not that you asked, but our names are Jim and Sharon."
"Stupid names," Stinktiere opined. He waved them to a corridor leading deeper into the vessel.
The duo followed Stinktiere with reluctance. "This is so not cool," Sharon complained. "Don't you aliens want to be on peaceful terms with Earth?"
"We already are," Stinktiere muttered. "We've had a neutrality pact since the dawn of your Ice War."
"You mean the Cold War?"
"Meh," Stinktiere answered. "Point is, you leave us alone, we leave you alone. In this case, your people are ahead by two Mephits - we're ahead by two humans."
As they carried on a skunk in a large robotic suit approached them, his movements slow and ponderous due to the suit's bulk. When he saw Sharon he halted. "Sarra?"
"Um, no... Sharon," she answered.
"Your sister is AWOL, Mofeta," Stinktiere explained. "This is her replacement."
Mofeta was visibly distraught. "You mean you abandoned my sister on that backwards pile of refuse?"
"She chose to be abandoned," Stinktiere countered. "Keep moving, recruits."
Soon they passed other soldiers and technicians busy about their work, but one - a pregnant female, stepped out to bat Jim in the back of the head. "You ran away together? You hustler!"
"I'm not Legolas or whoever it is you think I am," Jim complained.
The pregnant woman gestured angrily at Jim. "He's wearing Lendowyn's skin! These kits are his, genetically! Any DNA test will back that up!"
"Ease up, Sakanakasa," Stinktiere replied. "He's not going anywhere. Plenty of time to solve this."
Sakanakasa made a threatening gesture at Jim, then moved along. Finally they reached the centre of the vessel where the command post was set. Stinktiere summoned the admiral to greet the new recruits. She carried herself with an impressive steel-like resolve; Jim and Sharon were instantly in awe of her command. Perhaps it was simply her odor.
"Recruit Jim and Recruit Sharon," she announced after conferring with Stinktiere, "I am this ship's commanding officer, Admiral Puzzola. This vessel is en route to respond to an emergency distress at one of our colony outposts. Major Stinktiere will handle your training."
"Is there, uh, any chance we'll ever get to go home to Earth? Admiral?" Sharon inquired.
"Nothing is impossible, recruit," the admiral answered. With that, Stinktiere took them to the training centre.
Go back - Go to the parent episode.
Sun May 21 00:34:10 2017