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Shalin

Beginnings ...

Twelve years ago - Argelius II

 

Shan Shalin moved between tables, serving food and drinks to a variety of races. They had all come for the same thing: to eat, to drink, to relax, and to trade. Many trades were made among the tables of his father's cafe while his sisters danced. It put the customers at ease - a fact that Shan hated. HIs people were on display, to serve and to entertain while the 'important' races did business. Shan listened to them ... listened to them arrogantly speak of how meek the Argelians were, how impressive they were, and all their accomplishments and plans. It irritated him, because he knew they were right. Argelians were meek, and would never interfere with business transactions between stronger races.

 

His people wouldn't, but he would.

 

Shan left the cafe with three bottles of Ansir swiped from his father's pantry. Making his way through the Argelian fog, he located the Arzen spaceport and landing pad 72A, where a small Aurora-class starship sat. Summoning what courage he had, he walked boldly to the ship and rapped on the hatchway. A heavy-set Tellarite looked down on him, to which he smiled and offered a bottle. "It's from your Captain - I have specific orders to give one to each of the crew."

 

The Tellarite snarled at him. "We are fools: no one is to drink while on duty."

 

Shan maintained his kindly manners. "There is no alcohol: nothing to worry about, I assure you." He handed the Tellarite a bottle.

 

Opening it, the crewman sniffed, then drank carefully. "Hmm ... it is not disgusting." He nodded and waved for Shan to come in, where two other crewmen sat. Passing out the bottles, Shan bowed and exited quickly, finding a place to hide. After fifteen minutes he stepped carefully back to the ship, unlocking the hatch. The crewmen were all asleep, tipped bottles spilled upon the decks. Moving passed them, he collected a key-prod before opening the hatch to the crew quarters where a young girl lay in binders.

 

Dark eyes fluttered open, taking him in at an instant while he undid her cuffs. "Who ... who are you?"

 

"No time - we need to get out of here fast. The Orions are coming for you." Helping her up, he gestured for her to follow. "Don't worry about the crew; they'll be out for hours."

 

She looked over the Tellarite as they passed him. "Amazing - he was just in with me. Poisons usually don't work on Tellarites that quickly."

 

"It's not a poison or a drug - it's Ansir ... or 'Breath of Ansir', to be exact." They exited the ship and dashed into the thick fog. "Ansir is an ancient myth - a god of sleep. The drink Ansir is delicious, and it induces sweet dreams." Shan smirked. "Many races consider it a delicacy." He started to lead her away from Arzen. Turning to her, he became very aware of her appearance. She was young - younger than he was; ghostly pale, but with dark eyes that seemed to take in everything. "You're going to have to hide for a while, then we can see about finding you passage home."

 

The girl smiled. "Oh no ... no no no! The Orions are going to tear this place apart looking for us: me because they want me back, and you because you were stupid enough to try to save me. We're leaving, and we're leaving now."

 

Shan shook his head. "I can't leave - my family ... my whole world is here. I'd be lost out there." He looked down an alley, "I have to stay, but maybe you're right - you need to g-*"

 

----------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Shan groaned as he woke up, the back of his head throbbing. A gentle hand rested on his shoulder. "Shhh ... don't move - you're safe for now."

 

He eased back, taking in the fact that his head was resting in her lap. If she was really out to hurt him, she had a strange way of showing it. As he rested, he could hear a steady thrumming that he was sure wasn't in his head. "We're ... not on Argelius, are we?"

 

The girl eased him gently to the deck, curling behind him while cradling his head with her arm. "A Vulcan trade ship - I highly recommend them. Of all the races in the galaxy, they're the most reasonable when it comes to stowaways." He could hear her smile as she spoke. "We have no identification: if we're caught, we'll be indentured until we work off our expenses. Sometimes they even feel sorry for us .. as much as a Vulcan feels anything, I guess. If something about you impresses them, they'll even go out of their way to help you better yourself."

 

Shan sighed, trying to rest. His head throbbed from the blow. "I wish you didn't bring me."

 

The girl smirked. "No you don't. You're glad I brought you here. You're too adventurous to stay on Argelius. Besides, if I left you there you would've ended up in a back alley with your throat cut. As it is, nobody knows who you are and you're about to embark on a great adventure. Not only that ..." She rummaged in a pouch, bringing out a small wrapped stick. "I brought snacks."

 

Shan accepted it; they didn't taste bad at all. He tried to relax; he had to accept whatever was going to happen next, whatever that was. From now on his entire future was wrapped up in the fact that he heard about a girl who was going to be sold to the Orions to be tortured and killed, and he couldn't just sit on the sidelines. Finishing the stick of whatever it was, he settled on the deck, allowing the girl to keep him as comfortable as she could. "By the way ... I'm Shan."

 

"Tch'ana ... I hope you'll always remember me," She eased behind him, keeping him warm. "... and maybe remember that I saved your life."

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