Holding Tight

[Lerak trPexil 0]

Holding Tight

 

This was nuts. Ask Lerak a year ago and it would have been Laehval and himself riding off into the sunrise. One thing a punch to the face showed him: she probably would na show. As much as he wanted her to go, this was na going to happen. Through a strange series of events Lerak wound up with the Daise’Dheno t'Aehjae. It was the bottle of berry wine. She really enjoyed it from all of the praise. That was the hook. Sadly she and Lerak spoke infrequently on this latest assignment. Her fondness for "Lerak's Liquor" could have changed this and her company could have made this mission more bearable. Engineering and Security rarely crossed paths however. Perhaps this was to change.

 

"Are au alright back there? Should have warned au about this trip," Lerak asked through the headpiece.

 

t’Aehjae spoke back into the speaker on her helmet. "I have to admit it’s a bit breezy but I think I'm ok. How much longer until our destination?

 

"About one hour. I could have us beamed there if au are eager to rest," he replied. He was taking long turns this way and that with the cycle. "I'm surprised au came along."

 

"Why are au surprised? And I do na mind the ride. It's quite pleasant." t’Aehjae held on tightly to tr’Pexil's waist.

 

Lerak laughed, "I am na well respected onboard. t'Rexan nearly had a fit when I was the ranking officer on the oria, t'Jhiin nearly spat at me when offered a room for science to work from and... Laehval punched me to the point I needed stitched up." His laughter turned to a drawn-out sigh. First time Lerak heard his disappointments out loud. The cycle sped up and cut into the water more.

 

t’Aehjae felt him sigh, "Are au upset au asked me to come with au? I felt au sigh."

 

"No, no," he squeezed her arm which was still holding tight, "it seemed as though I was getting away from everyone on the Talon when I really did na want that. Au seemed to have a rough time as of late." Off in the distance he could see the start of the morning sun; the rise would appear over the water in minutes. "Were au really going to remain onboard?"

 

"Ie, I have na family, my parents died when I was young. Au are na the only oi whom has had a hard time on the ship. I have felt my share of bad thoughts from those here. N’Dak and I have never gotten along. He and I have fought tooth and nail: first for the Daise' post and now he as XO and I as Daise’Dheno. t’Jhiin and I also have some tiffs. So au are na along there." t’Aehjae looked over his shoulder and saw the beginnings of the sunrise. "It looks as if it’s going to be a wonderful day."

 

"Sure does, weather is going to be cool, but otherwise fine… wait hold on." He brought the cycle to a stop after a few hundred meters. "I drive this thing all of the time, au drive."

 

tAehjae's eyes popped with shock. "Na I am na a pilot I am a Dheno. Au continue with driving yus hoverbike." t’Aehjae had no interest at all in driving the hoverbike. This was his toy, he was afraid she may break something.

 

"Aww, alright," Lerak said, disappointingly. He got them up to speed again. "Thought training may have included vehicular. Regardless of my skill here au could probably lay me out before I knew what hit me." A chirp greeted both of them on their headsets.

 

"Lerak, are au there? Oh, who are au?" a female voice asked over the comm. t’Aehjae jumped slightly at the chirp and the sound of anaher's voice. Things like that didn't normally startle her but this time it was unexpected.

 

"Who's calling for au?"

 

"It's Lithara, my sister and...” Lerak abruptly stopped.

 

"She's a cute one brother, na like the one au talk about." He could hear her yawn. He muttered, "Oh no."

 

"Hello there. I’ve na met au yet," "Do I need to get out anaher bed or na?"

 

Lerak was flushed at that question. He knew what she meant and hoped t'Aehjae did na catch it.

 

"tr’Pexil is she talking to me? What’s this about anaher bed? I didn't plan on an overnight stay." t’Aehjae had a shocked look on her face at the questions being asked.

 

"It's my sister. She was expecting someone else," he said away from the comm, then paused, na wanting to make things worse. "Lithara is a bit more outspoken than most. She means well... I think." t’Pixel spoke into the comm, "No, no bed. Just some quiet please."

 

"Aw, alright then, au are na fun. I will see au in a few minutes," said tr’Pexil's sister, seeming genuinely bummed. He closed the comm line.

 

tr’Pexil spoke to t'Aehjae, "I should have warned au. She's harmless. I did na mean to appear to bring au here under false pretenses." tr'Tr’Pexil was quite embarrassed, but t'Aehjae could na see.

 

"What was she talking about anaher bed? Was that her way teasing Au?" Since they had stopped moving she had released her grip on his waist at least until they started up again.

 

tr’Pixel looked down then spoke, "Can au na tell anyone something?"

 

The look on tAehjae’s face changed to a look of curiosity. "Tell anyoi what tr’Pexil? Is it something au are ashamed of? Have au done something against the Talon? It ca’na be that bad can it?"

 

“t'Temarr and I were getting close, or so I thought until I messed things up. That's why I was punched in the face. After her and I's... close encounter, we had planned to spend time together back on ch'Rihan. I was too eager to na pester her off and on while on duty and she turned against me. I am lucky my belly was na met with the blade. This was ten years of me wanting her down the recycling shoot." tr’Pexil took some time to breath and started the cycle back up. "There au have it. We are only a few minutes from shore." tr’Pexil was shaking, then engaged the engines to a cruising speed.

 

"Do na worry tr’Pexil I will na repeat this. But why are au shaking?" t’Aehjae tightened her grip around his waist once again as they started moving.

 

The feeling of embarrassment, his anger, then t'Aehjae's grasp threw tr’Pexil’s thoughts all around. "I am furious with her and I would have fought back, but in the end I still care. I can't reconcile the anger and... love." The hover craft kick up over the ever taller waves and they closed in on the shore. In the morning light a lit tower could be seen. He turned the cycle toward the tower.

 

"Have au told her how au feel deep inside? I mean if au have na told her then how is she t know. Na everyone can read minds. Au need to express aus feelings to the oi au care for. I learned that long ago. I..." she stopped in mid statement na knowing if she should continue or just listen.

 

"Have au traveled down that road before?" tr’Pexil asked. More lights appeared along the horizon.

 

"Ie, I have." Her voice dropped a bit.

 

"Hmm, tell au what, perhaps over a home cooked meal if au like. To answer aur question, she considered me a source of her weakness. She'd only see my feelings as more weakness." He throttled down the engines as the coast rapidly approached. "I will park this in a location along the shore. We can walk from there."

 

"What distance are we speaking of?" As the engines slowed she released her grip slightly.

 

"About half a kilometer. I'm sure as Daise'Dheno au have hiked more than that,” tr’Pexil smiled. “They live on the third floor of a complex on a hillside. The apartment location allows my father to keep taps on everyone around."

 

"Ie that was na why I asked the distance. I am na worried about na being able to make the trip. I have other reasons for asking. I was wondering if there would be enough time for explanations." t’Aehjae looked over tr’Pexil's shoulder, watching the shoreline approach.

 

tr’Pexil nodded, "We can walk really slowly if au care to, or grab a c'offee. I have plenty of time." Now he was very curious. She'd been a mystery for so many years and managed to stay on the larger side of the brig.

 

"Na we can proceed with aus plan and do aus visit as au planned."

 

Lerak laughed, "It's na really a plan, just a thought. We'll walk up to my parents...” he stopped in mid-sentence. They arrived on the beach, throwing up a bit of the sand as he jumped the cycle over a barrier. He pointed, "Over there is where I'll leave the cycle." He lowered it to the ground and got out, then extended his hand to help her down.

 

t'Aehjae took his hand allowing him to help her from her place on the bike. "Aur au sure na oi will steal it? I would na like to have to contact the Talon and request a pickup." She stepped up on the sand and took in a deep breath. It had been a long time since she had set foot off the Talon onto their home world. She could na remember how long it had been.

 

"A genetic lock, unless its tractor-beamed, then I'm screwed." tr’Pexil waved someone in a civilian uniform. They understood without a word. After getting out his pack and hers the cycle moved on its own accord. He handed t'Aehjae her pack. "This way," tr’Pexil motioned to her that he was taking the ramp out of the sand toward the towering apartment in the distance.

[KhreRiovtRex 0]

Awesome log you two!! And wow unexpected. This...is certainly starting to turn into an interesting stay at home for several of us....heck...even tJhinn went over to see NDak! And hasn't punched him yet! I look forward to reading more!