Meat Roll

[Lerak trPexil 0]

Meat Roll

 

“Would au quit looking in that thing Kuval, someone will see it poking out from the hill,” Aluna chided. Her mate had been looking out the periscope for hours, turning it every direction looking for the invasion force that swept over ch’Rihan. At least it kept him busy. She had no idea how long they could be holed up in the depths of their son’s home.

 

Up until a half hour ago she’d been reading from the collection left by the owner of the cargo ship now buried deep in this part hillside, part sea-facing cliff. Its Captain liked the action-adventure series from a millennium ago. Not her genre of literature, but she could not really go outside this bizarre home. The Othan, as she had learned their name, made certain of that through the bombing and curtailing of communication channels. The wireless news reports continued as always, likely under duress as the invasion force had taken the city housing the newsroom.

 

Kuval wanted to leave the Othan news broadcast on, but Aluna would have nothing of it. She needed silence when she prepared the evening meal, even when they were only rations. Prepared wrongly and she might poison everyone. She did not really know what kind of engineer he was, but a survivalist he was not. She’s have stocked the safe room with a more rounded selection. Military rations were meant to last in all kinds of conditions for decades. She figured they did not have that kind of time.

 

“Kuval, do au wish your soup spicy?” Aluna leaned out from the stove to see if he had left the periscope. He hadn’t.

 

“What will I lose if I don’t this time?” He did not move his eyes from the scope, instead turning to look from another angle.

 

“Flavor. He packed more hot spices than pepper, so I’m having to stretch things out.”

 

“Bah, that bhudt. He knew his family would end up here while he’s gallivanting across the quadrant.”

 

The soup began to bubble up slowly. She stirred in some of the hot spices until it disappeared. More stirring and more bubbles as the soup finally heated up After a minute she sipped the brew to see how bad. She gagged, knowing she added too much. Her only solution was to add a bit of nut butter. It was high in kelassium, so it was just as well. No need for intense abdominal pain while detached from medical facilities.

 

“Good news e'lev, this has all the kelassium we need,” she said to him. “Provided we can stomach this freeze-dried mess,” she continued under her breath. Aluna spoke to him again. “Au know; we should be thankful this place even exists. I know how much au like government relocation directives.”

 

Kuval only grunted, spinning around to look out at the ocean. Aluna tasted the soup for what she hoped was the last time. She let it rest on her tongue for a moment, only recoiling a little. “I think this is as good as it will get. Get Lithara will au?” He reluctantly took his eyes off the periscope and nodded as he went to get her. Moments later he returned with their daughter in tow.

 

“What are we having now mother?” Lithara had just placed her own daughter down for a nap in their shared bedroom. No one really liked the arrangement, but the alternative was frightening. Kuval already sat down when his wife brought a hot bowl of soup in front of him.

 

“Another day, another soup. Easy to make, easy to store and I can make it thicker for Rina.” She placed a bowl in front of Lithara.

 

“I know I know, but every meal?”

 

“Na, it’s only lunch, dinner is different. Au could try cooking for once.”

 

“Well, I don’t have the ration culinary skills.” Kuval tapped on a small ISD in the middle of the table. It came to life in sound.

 

“Corrupt government officials have been removed. The Othan Protectorate is here to help quell rebellion. Resistance will be met with force. Stay in your homes. If au do see suspicious activity report it immediately at-”

 

The audio stopped with a tap of Aluna’s finger. “What have I told au about that Kuval? There’s nothing to be gained by listening to their incessant propaganda.”

 

Lithara was adamant. “But there could be news security ridding us of them. Even the Tal Shiar could restore order.”

 

“Seems unlikely,” her father chortled. “I’m only listening for confirmation of the flagship’s arrival and subsequence demise. I-.” Aluna pounded the table with great force. All of the plates jumped then crashed in unison.

 

“I refuse to believe my son is gone or that there is no liberation from this occupation! Until we hear otherwise from trusted sources I don’t want to hear any speculation from either of you! Is that understood?” She eyed each of them waiting for either silent confirmation or a poor choice of rebuttal. They remained silent.

 

The subterranean cargo space they now called home only stirred with the low hum of the life support system. It was self-contained and used the sea to process water and breathable air. The hum was met with the clank and clatter of spoons scooping up soup from their respective bowls. Everyone looked at their food as the ate in quite reflection at her words.

 

“How is the soup?” She asked, breaking the stillness.

 

“Good,” Lithara quipped.

 

“Too spicy, but it’s fine,” replied Kuval. “Would not give it to the baby though.”

 

“Noted,” Aluna said with a raised brow. She took a solemn tone. “We can’t lose hope of never leaving her to say nothing of not seeing my Lerak again. So, Kuval, any progress on the underwater transmitter?”

He put down his spoon and sighed. “To be honest I don’t know if it will work at all or if any message can get to the Talon. I don’t see how-.”

 

“He explained it when he first showed us this place,” she interrupted, looking up at the off lighting of the converted cargo bay. “Au take one of those torpedo things and load it with your message, then au place it in that launcher downstairs. It travels out to sea and then transmits. Some other stations or some sort pick up pieces of the message and, bah, I don’t know the rest.”

Kuval finished,” Then the message gets sent a tiny piece at a time and it gets to his ship. He said it could take some time and may not arrive at all.”

 

“We are staying positive about this.” Aluna chastised him for the negativity. Before anyone else spoke they all looked up.

 

“What was that?” Aluna silenced her daughter. They all heard the rumble this time. The sound came from far above, paused, but started again as a series of rumbles. The ground shook the contents of their safe room. Metal tapped glass, items not secured fell to the ground.

 

“Kuval, go check the periscope…now.” Her husband nodded once and leapt to the scope to see what was happening on the surface. She grabbed something from her pocket, something she’d been working on ever since the four of them had to retreat deeper underground. He moved the scope around and stared into it. He suddenly pulled back the scope and raced back to the table.

 

“Get on the ground!” Before he finished the entire space shook like it had not before. All three of them dropped to the ground and assumed a crash position. Aluna was scared as her shaking hand gave her mate the letter she had been working on.

 

“This is what au should send to our son,” She said with earnest. He took the note and read it.

 

“What is this? A recipe for meat rolls?”

 

“Ie, don’t question me and enter it exactly as written. Don’t change anything. Got it?”

 

“Yes, my e’lev.” He nodded in understanding and headed to the lower access hatch. Aluna turned to her daughter, who was just as scared as she was. She grabbed her hand and held it tight. “This may be the last and only message we get to your brother.”

[KhreRiovtRex 0]

Menkha log Pexil! I enjoyed reading about au family tonight between watching the historical records of alternate timeline Lloann'ha ships. Nice to see au family is a bit more on the togetherness thing, than say......Laeh's Ri'anov...... Hann'yyo for sharing and posting. Meatrolls eh?