Eventually Ronovin began to recover and hobbled to his feet. “Great Father Fyu! What was that?”
As calmly as he could, Hiron responded. “A reasonable show of force.”
Ronovin shook out his head and sighed. “Alright pup. You got me. For now. Put that rifle away.”
Hiron hesitated. Without the rifle, the soldier in front of him would have no trouble killing him dead. But if he did actually come in peace, or worse, was on official business, continuing to hold the rifle would be seen as an unacceptably aggressive maneuver, which could also kill him dead.
“I ain’t gonna tear your throat out.”
Hiron sighed and set the rifle down, but quickly moved one paw back to his pouch.
Ronovin chittered. “Good, you can listen. Wait… what have got got there in your pocket?” Ronovin’s ears fell, and he put his paw to his face. “That’s from Chuck, ain’t it.”
“My sources are confidential.”
“Sure, pup. Mine too.”
Hiron chittered softly. “So, are you going to make me ask again?” Hiron spoke far more authoritatively then he felt.
Ronovin grinned and slowly approached, stumbling slightly as his paws ticked periodically.
Hiron perked an ear in eager anticipation, pawing his weapon.
Ronovin stopped in his tracks, ears falling in slight trepidation. “If Busani doesn’t promote you, he’s an idiot. By Fyu’s Whiskers, you’ve got scars!” He chittered briefly before calming himself. “I’m here on official business. The rest of this conversation is considered need to know. Understood?”
Hiron nodded.
“Good. I’m Chuck’s envoy escort while he remains on Gao. I’ve come here to discuss your interactions with him, as well as any other observations you had while in his presence.” He winced slightly, as his claw wounds began to take their toll. “Give me a minute, I’ve got my aid kit over here.” He staggered over to an unfamiliar pouch on Hiron’s table, opened the kit and began to treat his wounds. “If you need me to, I can get official approval for an interrogation. But, I don’t think you want that.”
“No…” Hiron sighed. “That won’t be necessary.” Hiron tilted his head accusingly at Ronovin. “If you are merely here for information, why attack me?”
Ronovin shrugged. “Why not? It’s fun!”
“You tried to strangle me!”
“Nah, if I had tried that, you’d be dead. Believe it or not, sleeping in your nest is not the sign of impending ambush. Not a good ambush, at least.” He looked Hiron up and down, then sighed. “Look, this conversation will not work if we are both at each other’s throats. You don’t trust me not to maul ya, and I certainly don’t trust ya not to zap me. What is that device anyways?”
Hiron hesitated, then cautiously retrieved the item from his pouch, holding it at ready.
Ronovin fell to fourpaw and approached Hiron. He moved his snout closer to the stun gun, sniffing it. Ronovin glanced up at Hiron and with one rapid move, chomped down on Hiron’s paw. Either through reflex, or pure instinct, Hiron managed to fire the stun gun. Ronovin received a severe case of potential difference to the mouth, and Hiron, now connected to the beast by his paw, received a dose of his own. The two of them fell towards each other. Unfortunately, the current running through Hiron kept his paw firmly clamped on the trigger. Ronovin seemed to be unable to release his jaw as well. After several agonizing seconds, the stun gun timed out, and the two poor Gaoians collapsed to the ground.
There were a few moments of peace and quiet to… wait no, that was just his ears refusing to function. Eventually his hearing returned, and after several gasping seconds, he heard Ronovin struggle to his paws. “Wow, quite the rush, ain’t it?” He chittered full of mirth. “There, I mauled ya, and yo…” his body jerked in protest. “You zapped me. Satisfied?”
Hiron twitched on the floor in response.
Ronovin chittered again and shuffled awkwardly to his medical pouch. “Seems I’m getting better at this. Somehow. Let me get that paw fixed up for ya.” He began to treat the bite wound.
Finally, Hiron recovered enough to speak. “What is…” Another spasm interrupted him. “Wrong with you? Are you insane?”
“Nah, I just like results. Got that out of your system now?”
Hiron twitched, flopping back the the floor.
“Good.” He chittered. “I must say, getting zapped is much more… invigorating when you’ve got someone else doing it with ya. So, where were we? Ah yes, are you done? Or do I still need to break the fight out of ya?”
Hiron struggled, but eventually brought himself to sitting position. He started to protest, but eventually resigned with a nod. Hiron had lain, helpless, in front of Ronovin for far longer that it would have taken to gut him, if that had been his intention.
“You do learn! By the way, you can have your toy back.” He handed Hiron the stun gun.
Hiron grinned sadistically. “I learn from the best.” He lunged for Ronovin, who recoiled far too slowly. The stun gun made contact with him and… nothing. “Though sometimes, Ronovin, you have to show restraint.” Hiron chittered as he withdrew and pocketed the item.
Ronovin quickly dropped the stunned look off his face and chittered deeply. “I like you already. I doubt even Aru would try to pull something like that on me.” Noting Hiron’s smug face, he continued. “Alright, don’t let that go to your cranium or I’ll have to pull it back outta there. I still think I owe ya something… special.” Ronovin showed a particularly gruesome mouth of teeth. The effect was hardly diminished by the presence of Hiron’s own blood in that smile. Hiron couldn’t help himself from panicking a little.
Ronovin chittered. “Now you’re getting it. So, about Chuck…”
Very Early Morning 1y11m1d BV
Halls of the dormitories, Whitecrest Clan Enclave, Wi Kao, Gao
Ronovin
In the end, Hiron had let Ronovin curl up with him to sleep in his nest-bed; Trust was easy to earn if you were willing to work for it. Unlike the Fathers that sat in their offices all day, he had no qualms with cashing in his dignity if the payout was right. It only took another few small, calculated losses throughout the evening to part as, if not friends, at least allies.
After only a few short hours, Ronovin awoke, and left the soon-to-be Officer to sleep. He quietly walked the halls.
His leg leapt to the side, and he stumbled to regain his footing. Still? Keeda damn, those stunsticks were quite the toy! He needed to get one of these for his students. Some of them are getting a bit too complacent for his taste. He chittered softly to himself.
The conversation with Hiron had gone well too! Hiron still had plenty of work to do before he was spec ops material, but he could certainly get there, in time. Ronovin was most impressed with Hiron’s engagement with the Hunters. Even if embellished, Ronovin doubted that he, himself, could have performed much better. He almost found himself jealous of Hiron’s encounter; There were so few beings that could properly challenge him around here.
Though the most interesting part of the conversation, by far, was Hiron’s description of Chuck. Flowing from Hunter to Hunter, dispatching them with ruthless untrained efficiency. He could hardly imagine what Chuck could be capable of if properly instructed.
Hiron had said they key to Chuck’s performance was some sort of formless inner rage. The rage that he described was not something that Ronovin had seen himself. As Hiron had described it, it sprung forth unconsciously, triggered by what Hiron had claimed was an empathic response to the suffering of those around him. Normally Ronovin would be quick to dismiss such claims, but the Hunters were dead, and the Chuck he knew had not shown that form of brutality. It was as if there was a second Chuck hiding in that head somewhere, ready to strike. Hmm. Oh well, such matters could wait their turn.
He approached the door of his mark. Ronovin saw no reason to scratch this time.
**A few minutes later*
Visitor’s dormitories, Whitecrest Clan Enclave, Wi Kao, Gao
Chuck
“Oh god!” Chuck attempted to jump up out of bed, only to be stopped by a familiar beast sitting on his chest.
Ronovin sat, panting happily.
“Must you?”
Ronovin shrugged. “It’s fun.”
Groggily, Chuck checked the time. “Why is it so early?”
“It’s the only time I could arrange. Come, I’ve got a fun morning planned!”
Chuck considered simply going back to sleep, but decided against it; There was no way the furball was going to let him.
Ronovin brought over breakfast. “I’m not going to let you stall this time. Eat!”
Chuck stared blankly at the food for a moment, then shrugged and dug in.
“We’re leaving in five!” Ronovin shouted as he left the room.
a short while later
Shuttlecraft, Wi Kao, Gao
Chuck
Ronovin hurried him into a shuttlecraft. They immediately departed.
“So, where are we going?”
Ronovin chittered. “You said you wanted to see some local culture. I decided to oblige.”
“This early?”
Ronovin nodded. “Yeah, this is the only time I could secure the facility.”
Chuck stared blankly ahead. “So where are we headed?”
“Well… I was going to take you to a local art museum… but I decided that would be boring. So I won’t.”
“That doesn’t tell me anything.”
“I’m getting there. Hmm… I decided that I should take you someplace fun instead.”
“What like go-karts?”
Ronovin tilted his head, puzzled. “Yeah… thought about it, looked it up, decided that you could get that on Earth. No, we’re going here.” He pointed at a large building ahead. “Wi Kao’s Stoneback Museum of War! I’ve been meaning to come back here for a while now anyways. Don’t worry, we got the whole place to ourselves. The curator owed me.” He landed the craft. “Come on, this will be great!”
a short while later
Stoneback Museum of War, Wi Kao, Gao
Ronovin
That one had to be luck. There was no way Chuck had read his mind. Hmm.
A quick mental paw to the face later, and Ronovin remembered that Chuck had been watching over his shoulder while he was searching for local race circuits between bouts. Well at least that case had an easy explanation. More concerning were the numerous times that Chuck had skillfully leaped over carefully obfuscated details to disturbingly accurate conclusions, many of which were not meant to be public knowledge. Ronovin had played nice each time, jokingly dismissing each carefully guarded secret’s reveal, as if it were nothing of concern. To reveal his concern would only further the human’s relentless probing.
Chuck had played it all off as simple humor. Each probe for information was a jovial exercise wrapped in layers of curiosity and fascination. Was this behaviour instinctual? Did Chuck even realize what he was doing?
Still, at least Chuck was cooperative. Ronovin could work with him. As long as he could stay with Chuck, he could limit what the human did with his newfound knowledge, and keep a close eye on what other realizations he came upon. But, even so, Chuck was clever. There were surely secrets that he was keeping to himself. That was fine, everyone has their secrets. The only secrets that truly concerned him were the secrets that Chuck knew about him and would not disclose. Just how much did he know?
Pointless musings aside, the best way to stay safe was to stay with Chuck, to keep an eye on him. It didn’t hurt that he actually enjoyed Chuck’s company. It was not often he came across a mark as intriguing as him, let alone one that could match him in wit and combat. He almost felt sorry for all those stuffy ol wheezers sitting in their offices back in the enclave, carefully keeping their business and pleasure compartmentalized. Almost.
Chuck interrupted his thoughts, He tugged on his arm, inquiring about one of the exhibits.
Ronovin chittered softly. This was not an activity he often had the chance to experience. It was a nice change of pace. Wandering through aisle after aisle of the relics of old, sharing old Keeda tales of glory and bravery. They passed exhibits depicting weapons, vehicles, harnesses, along with several stories written on plaques. From modern arms, all the way back to tales of old. For a short time, Chuck was a cub, eager to learn what Ronovin himself had known since he was a young pup. It was nice to finally have an edge, even if only a small one, over the mighty human.
Eventually, they reached the end of the path. But Ronovin was not done yet. Oh no, he still had his ace up his cuff.
“You’d best appreciate this next part, Chuck. This one cost me a big favor.”
Chuck looked to Ronovin, intrigued. Excellent.
They walked back, past one of the modern armor displays into the garage behind. From there they walked out onto the tarmac outside. He heard Chuck gasp behind him. Perfect.
“Hey Aru, how’s it looking?”
The large Stoneback Brother emerged from the hovertank. “Its all ready to go. What’s the occ… Is that a human?”
“I don’t know. Looks kinda like a Nava grub to me.” Ronovin tapped his foot and slyly grinned.
Poor Aru didn’t know what to think. He just stood there lost in thought. “Is it safe?”
Ronovin chittered. “Yeah, yeah he is.” He turned to his charge. “Chuck, this here is Brother Aru of Stoneback. Him and I, we go way back.”
Chuck extended his arm.
Ronovin tilted his head towards Aru. “You’re supposed to paw that.”
Aru looked questioningly at Ronovin, but did as requested.
“Chuck Byse. A pleasure to meet you.”
Ronovin was sure he heard the poor Stoneback’s tendons strain. He chittered softly at Aru’s pained expression. “Chuck, this isn’t the place for formalities. Aru here is a Stoneback. You are supposed to greet him like this!”
To his credit, Aru ducked away as soon as Ronovin spoke, but Ronovin was faster. He pounded Aru to the ground, and the two began to wrestle. After a quick tussle, Ronovin found himself pinned. “Have you been practicing Aru?”
“Every day.” Aru chittered happily.
“You should fight Chuck here. He loves to wrestle.” Ronovin glanced at Chuck. Eyes wide, slowly shaking his head and mouthing panicked words. Check, check and check. Nothing was quite as fun as inciting panic.
“Is that so?” Aru grinned.
Chuck tried to protest, but his frantic pleadings fell on deaf ears.
Ronovin declined to tell Chuck about Aru’s lack of implants. “Yep, sure does! He even beats me sometimes.”
Aru grunted mockingly, “That seems to be happening quite often now, doesn’t it?” Aru turned to the human. “Are you sure he wants to fight, Cousin? He certainly doesn’t look like it.”
“Nah, of course he does. Aliens are weird.” Ronovin grinned at Chuck.
Chuck stopped complaining and stared at Ronovin in disbelief.
“Well alright then, let’s go.” Aru got down on all fours, wagged his tail and pounced.
“Make sure you keep those claws in, humans don’t like scars!”
Aru rolled over Chuck. “What do you think I am, an amatuer?” He chittered as Chuck struggled to right himself. “By Fyu’s whiskers, those forepaws are strong!”
Chuck continued complaining, but began to fight back in earnest. He easily broke out of Aru’s hold and turned around, preparing his own hold. Unfortunately for Chuck, what Aru lacked in forelimb strength, he made up for everywhere else.
Ronovin chittered in amusement. Everywhere, that was, except endurance. Aru was never quite able to hold a pin, and Chuck just kept going.
Aru was panting heavily. “Keeda’s balls Cousin, does he never tire?”
Ronovin grinned. “Oh he does, just not before you will.”
With one final lunge, Chuck wrapped his arms around the beast’s neck and layed back to the ground, leaving Aru’s limbs flailing in the air with no way to gain any traction.
With a disappointed sigh, Aru went limp. Chuck let him go. “He fights well.”
“Of course, I’ve been training him.” Ronovin grinned maliciously and turned his eyes to Chuck.
Chuck caught his gaze, eyes widening in concern. “Don’t you fucking dare!” He began backing away.
Ronovin ignored the protests, and began stalking his prey.
Chuck stopped and turned, resigned to his fate. Suddenly, he charged.
Ronovin, caught by surprise, was thrust to the ground. He struggled to break free, but Chuck rapidly moved him into the very pin he had just held Aru in. Without Aru’s strength, Ronovin stood no chance of escape, and quickly tapped out.
Aru stood by chittering mockingly as the two stood and dusted themselves off. “As always, Cousin, showing me how it’s done.”
“But I’ve beat him before!”
Chuck bared his teeth in an evil grin. “It seems the student has become the master.”
Ronovin dropped his ears in dismay.
“Oh come on, don’t be like that. You’ll beat me eventually.”
Ronovin sighed. “No, I don’t believe that I will.” He rose to his full height. “But I ain’t gonna stop trying.”
Chuck laughed. “That’s the spirit! Oooff…”
“Like I told ya, I ain’t stopping.” Ronovin sat, once again, in his happy place atop Chuck’s chest.
Aru cleared his throat. “We do have a bit of a schedule to keep here. I’m in no large rush, but this tank is needed for field exercises later this…” He looked at his datapad and sighed. “Morning… Ronovin, why did I let you talk me into this?”
“You know why.” Ronovin wore the slightest grin as he dismounted and helped Chuck back to his feet.
Aru merely grunted.
“C’mon, doesn’t it feel great to finally have that off your chest?”
“Yes.” Chuck and Aru said simultaneously.
Ronovin stood confused for a minute, glancing back and forth between the two others before putting a paw to his face. “Oh right, you can’t understand each other.”
“Just now figuring that out, Ronovin?” Chuck tapped his foot, with a wry smile. Mocking him… no, pretending to mock him. By Fyu’s whiskers, these human were confusing with their emotes!
“Alright, Highmountain, when did you figure that out?” Ronovin returned the mocking tone.
“As soon as Aru stepped out of the tank.” Chuck smiled. “I may not speak much Gaori, but it’s not hard to notice it being spoken.”
Right… “Aaaaanyways… Chuck, Aru here will tell you how this bad boy works!”
Chuck and Aru turned to each other and… Oh… oh no… he knew that look. With eyes and ears alone a plan was built. He failed to scramble away in time.
The two of them pinned him down quickly. Then it got worse. Aru sat on him, holding him down. Then, somehow through paw signals alone, he showed Chuck the worst places to scritch him. Sweet merciless Great Father Fyu save him! After several minutes of torture, Aru let him up, chittering in that deep Stoneback way. Chuck simply looked… happy. Huh.
After taking a few minute to calm himself down, Ronovin tried again. “Uh… Aru, would you lead the way?” He flinched slightly as Aru started towards him, but the beast quickly turned and moved towards the tank, chittering to himself.
Aru guided Chuck into the vehicle, following just behind. After a moment, he stuck his head out the door “You comin?”
“Oh, I’ve already seen the inside of one of those.”
Aru chittered. “What do you think I am? Some kind of amateur?” He beckoned Ronovin in. Hesitantly, Ronovin followed.
a short while later
Highways, Wi Kao, Gao
Stoneback Brother Aru
Oh Keeda’s hairy nutsack, Ronovin. Did he think he, Aru, would let him call in the biggest favor, and let it simply be a cub’s show and tell? No, this was going to be fun. He got the biggest, baddest tank he could get his hands on. Something that Ronovin’s guest wouldn’t be able to break.
Okay, that may have been a miscalculation, this human looks like he could break a lot. But too late for that now!
He pulled into one of the nearby Stoneback training yards and parked the tank well away from anything civilized. He turned to Ronovin. “Did ya at least bring a translator?”
Ronovin fidgeted with his paws. No go. Aru merely grunted in response. Well, okay then. He stepped out of the driver’s seat and tapped the human on the shoulders, gesturing to the chair. The human hesitated briefly, but sat down after a careful nuzzling. One by one, Aru pointed at a control, then moved it slightly, indicating its purpose by way of jerking the tank across the field. After he had shown the human the controls, he moved to the back and buckled himself in tight. Beginners always gave a bumpy ride.
The human shouted something inquizitive. Aru growled back “Sure, yeah, go!” while shrugging to Ronovoin.
Ronovin was looking uncharacteristically worried. “Cousin, are you afraid of this tank?” He asked, mockingly.
“No… I’m afraid of the human.”
“I thought you said he was safe!”
“…I think he defines ‘safe’ rather differently than I do. I was jerking around the shuttle like a madbeast, and he didn’t even notice!”
Aru’s ears flattened. “Aw Naxas dung, I didn’t turn the dampeners on.”
Suddenly they were jerked violently as the vehicle rapidly accelerated. Minute after minute of jerks left and right, forwards and back.
“Keeda damn, I just ate.” Aru sat, trying desperately to keep his lunch down.
That became increasingly difficult moments later, when the gravity shut off for just a moment.
“Were we airborne?!” Ronovin stuttered with notable panic in his voice.
Aru turned to him and nodded. “This is a hovertank.”
“You know what I meant!”
Aru gave a wry, but queasy, grin.
“Are we gonna make it?”
Aru tried to laugh, while still holding his breakfast down. This ended in a belch. “S’ok he shouldn’t be able to break it. It’s built well.”
“What about us?”
Aru fidgeted in his seat. “He probably won’t break me. You, on the other hand, may be just a bit too soft.”
Ronovin glared at him for a moment before another jerk broke his concentration.
The next several excruciating minutes passed as the two Gaoians were thrown in every direction. Including, somehow, up. Aru was happy to let that little mystery live on.
Eventually, mercifully, they came to a stop.
Chuck left his seat, beaming. He spoke excitedly for a moment, then quickly became apologetic when he saw the condition of his passengers.
Aru glanced at Ronovin. Ronovin sighed. “Yeah, we’re fine. Did you enjoy yourself?”
Chuck spoke rapidly while gesturing wildly.
Aru interjected. “Alright, we ain’t done yet. Gimme a few minutes.”
He hopped into the driver’s seat and drove them over to the target range. After then acclimating Chuck to the fire controls, he moved to the back.
Ronovin stared at him ears drooping in disappointment as the cabin began to shudder from the enormous firepower being unleashed. “You have never let me fire the main guns.”
Aru grinned. “You never asked.” It was always fun to see Ronovin speechless. “Don’t worry, I’ll take you out some other time, we’re running a bit short today.”
“I think I can buy you a few more minutes.” Ronovin pulled out his datapad and entered a few commands. “There, now you don’t have to drive us back.”
Aru perked his ears.
“I’m bringing the shuttle in.”
Aru chittered. “Which way is the shuttle coming in from?”
“Why?”
Aru grinned slyly. “I’ve got a few drones in the air as targets.”
Ronovin’s ears flattened in panic as he bolted towards the human.
Aru chittered happily. This was a very good day.
a short while later
Shuttlecraft, Wi Kao, Gao
Ronovin
He got to play with the guns! Who would have thought something so simple would be so… enlightening. Those targets were certainly enlightened afterwards. After quietly negotiating Aru’s silence, he and Chuck left the yard in the conveniently not-exploded shuttle.
Now, as dawn began to break, he had one more stop planned. One of the best new home-style restaurants in town sought favor with Whitecrest; Their new, expensive dining hall needed customers. A few vague promises reserved him a nice, quiet room, and a nice, quieter list of questions.
After they touched down on a ground level pad, they disembarked and headed towards the restaurant. Suddenly, Chuck stopped, eyes wide.
Ronovin poked his companion with his forepaw. “Uh… Chuck.”
“So… God damn adorable!” Chuck was nearly drooling.
Ronovin followed his gaze. There was a female with a pawful of cubs playing and rolling around a few hundred feet away. Ronovin quickly moved to block the view. He placed his hand wearily on his weapon. “Chuck, what are you doing?”
Ronovin was suddenly thwacked by realization as he glanced once more at the cubs over his shoulders. He chittered amusedly as he dropped his hand. That word again. ‘Adorable’. Chuck’s secret codeword that he used on the day he first met him. His chosen method of psychological warfare.
Ronovin had studied that secret art on Chuck’s tubes. Thousands of videos watched by millions. Direct narcotic effect from AV content alone! Victims of the attacks seemed to suffer from impaired speech and judgement, in addition to greatly increased reaction times with regards to any subject that was not involved in the ‘adorable’ class event. This drug was voluntarily imbibed by the humans, perhaps as a means of calming their nerves after a hard fight? Regardless, it seems that Chuck was among those susceptible to this class of attack. Perhaps this would be the weapon he could finally use to defeat Chuck. None of the tools he had available had worked; It made sense to use the human’s own weapons against him.
Thankfully, Ronovin had been diligent. After studying the effects of the attacks, he spent time browsing the tubes for methods of afflicting adorable. Conveniently, it seemed that Fyu had graced the Gaoians with all the tools needed to perform this dark art.
Still, he mustn’t be hasty. First, confirm diagnosis, next, choose the optimum point of vulnerability, finally, …no mercy. Let’s get started. “So Chuck, how are you feeling right now?”
Chuck ignored him, still staring intently at the cubs.
Ronovin was actually rather thankful that Chuck had missed that question. Keeda’s balls he had bolted up that delivery! He chittered softly and shook his head. It was probably best to continue this conversation inside. Now, how to bring Chuck back… He extended a single claw and gently ran it across Chuck’s neck.
Chuck’s attention snapped back to Ronovin. “What’s wrong with you?”
“I should ask you the same thing. Come, we don’t want to attract attention.” Ronovin chittered inaudibly.
Chuck took one more sad glance over his shoulder and let Ronovin lead him inside.
a short while later
Riverclaw Cafe, Wi Kao, Gao
Chuck
Ronovin had led him to a small, cheerfully decorated room in the back of the restaurant. Fake wooden flooring and sealed earthen walls were accented by soft green indirect lighting. He left Chuck alone for a few minutes while he put the order in.
Ronovin returned with a determined look on his face. “Chuck, I’m going to ask you a question, and I want you to answer it honestly.”
Chuck hardened himself. “Okay, shoot.”
Ronovin stopped for only a moment, considering Chuck’s response. He soon shook out his head and cleared his throat. “Do you… want to pet me?”
What.
The question was stated complete deadpan. No sarcasm, nothing.
“Uh…”
“It’s a simple question Chuck.”
“Yes, but… it has a complicated answer.”
“I don’t think so. If I asked you to come over here, right now, and pet me, would you enjoy it?”
Chuck hesitated, then dropped his head. “Yes.”
“I knew it!” Ronovin jumped out of his seat. “Question two, how does this video make you feel?” Ronovin pulled out his datapad and showed Chuck a video of several cubs flopping around and playing with each other.
Ronovin looked to Chuck for an answer, but Chuck was busy. Eventually, Ronovin stopped the video and put the pad away.
Chuck blinked. “What was the question?”
“You answered, don’t worry about it.”
“Oh, alright.” He sat silently for a few minutes. There was light, soothing music in the air. He sat and enjoyed the silence for a minute, before remembering that he was not alone.
The… experiences of Sennar and the other Gaoians still bothered him. “Ronovin. That training yesterday. That wasn’t a normal session.”
Ronovin stared at him. “No.” The Gaoian paused a moment longer. “You are concerned about the two Brothers from the range.” Sensing his question, he continued. “I’ve made it my business to know exactly what it is that you have been doing since you landed on Gao. But to answer that question… yes and no. The methods vary, but the intent, and the ferocity remains. We train the best. You can’t do that without sacrifice. Yesterday was a gentle, fun day. At least physically.”
A scratch on the door heralded the coming of breakfast. Ronovin ducked away to open the door and wheel in the cart. He chittered as he closed the door. “They think we have a dozen Officers in here. Let’s see what we have.”
What they had was a feast. Talamay, salads, nava, naxas, dumplings, sweetbread and more!
Chuck’s stomach growled in anticipation. “Oh wow, this is going to be the first real meal I’ve had since I’ve been up here.”
Ronovin glanced at the bill that came with the meal. “Don’t get used to it… Seriously that much for nava?” He sighed. “Enjoy this, we’ll bring back anything you don’t eat for the other cubs.” He began loading up his own plate.
Chuck, too, began to eat. “So, most of this stuff seems fairly easy to identify. But what is this nava? It tastes kinda like… seafood.”
“Oh that? It’s a big ol’ grub, about ye long.” Ronovin indicated a length about as long as his arm.
“…Huh.” He took another bite.
Ronovin stared at Chuck, intrigued. “I gotta say, it’s nice to see an alien enjoy the finer foods in life. Most of em won’t get near any of this stuff. You got anything like this on Earth?”
“Kinda? Most of this is fairly similar to food on Earth. Some foreign cuisine is more alien to my culture than most of this. But this nava… I suppose this somewhat resembles lobster. It’s not quite hearty or sweet enough though.”
Ronovin perked an ear. “Heartier and sweeter than nava? Keeda’s balls, I need to try some of that!”
Chuck laughed. “If you can find a way to get that from Earth, pick me up a bottle of Laphroaig, and maybe a bacon cheeseburger.”
“Laphroaig?”
“It’s a scotch whiskey. An alcoholic beverage like Talamay. Much deeper flavor though.”
“Interesting…”
Chuck put a sly grin on his face. “You’re not seriously considering a trip to Earth, are you?”
“Considering… that word does not translate well. I am not planning a trip to Earth, but I am… imagining one.”
They ate their meals in silence for a few minutes.
“I am looking forward to when Earth’s goods hit the market though. A shame that that is still likely centuries away.”
“That long, you think?”
“Yeah, you humans first put an object into orbit, what, seventy five years ago?”
“About sixty years.”
“Sixty Earth years.”
“Sure…”
“And how far do you think you are from your first space station?”
“Uh… about forty five Earth years ago.” Oooo, That was an impressive spit-take.
“Seriously?”
“…Yes?”
“Keeda’s balls, I may just have a chance to try lobster after all!”
Chuck chuckled.
“Anyways, I didn’t invite you here just for fun and games. There is some business I wish to discuss with you outside the ears of my clan.” Ronovin leveled a glare at Chuck. “I know that you talked to Thalias about those weapons. And, knowing who he is, he wants them from you.” He paused. “So do I.”
“Doesn’t Whitecrest already have access to them then?”
“Yes, no, maybe. I dunno. The politics around this place… no. I want to get them from the source. A deal between you, and me, and no one else.”
“What are you offering?”
Ronovin chittered. “You don’t know what you want.”
Chuck grew frustrated. “I’m starting to get a bit tired of being taken advantage of.”
“I’m not exaggerating. I guarantee if I asked you what you wanted, you would ask for something either way too big, or laughably small. You don’t know what you need. I don’t either for that matter.” Ronovin grinned mischievously. “Or am I wrong in my assumption that your trade deal for the ship was little more than ‘yeah, that one is fine’.” Seeing Chuck’s reaction, he continued. “Thought so.” He re-positioned himself. “What I’m offering it whatever you need, when you need it. Within reason of course. Quite a generous offer, if I do say so myself.”
Chuck considered a bit before speaking. “I think you may be a bit biased there.”
Ronovin grunted. “Maybe, but I’m part of the package deal, the whole part, in fact.”
Chuck cleared his throat. “Ok, what do you want from me?”
“Whatever you have.”
“…Really, nothing concrete?”
“That’s the beauty of ‘within reason’. It doesn’t have to be concrete. But, to answer your question, I’d like one each of your stunsticks and irritant canisters. I’d also like to borrow anything else that you have that I may find interesting for a little bit.”
“Okay, how would I guarantee that you hold up your end of the deal?”
“What? You mean a contract that says I’ll do something for you, at some point in the future? Yeah, I can do that.” Ronovin stared at Chuck. “You think I’m being sarcastic.” Ronovin sighed. “I’m not a Corti, Chuck. You don’t have to watch every word I say to try and find the hidden meaning. If I want something to stay hidden, it stays hidden. None of that kinda-sorta Naxas dung.” He stopped. “What about you, Chuck? Do you hide behind your words?”
Chuck hesitated. “When I need to.”
Ronovin grunted. “Do you feel the need to now? …Wait, no, Don’t answer that. No answer would be useful.” He stared Chuck up and down. Suddenly his ears perked up, and a mischievous grin appeared. “Chuck, back away from the table, I don’t want to wreck the furniture.”
Chuck began to protest but soon, resigned to his fate, backed away from the table. Ronovin ran at him, ducked down… then slid up against Chuck and began to nuzzle him. “Submit, Chuck. I have studied your methods. You cannot win this fight.”
“Are you… are you seriously trying to weaponize…”
“Yes. Don’t make me pull out the datapad again!”
Chuck sighed. Scritch, scritch, scritch. “Ronovin… just… why?”
“By. Any. Means. Necessary.”
“But…”
“You told me this yourself. The best plans work even better when the other guy knows the plan. Now, for my secret weapon. You can thank the tubes for this one.” Suddenly… puppy dog eyes. “So, Chuck, have you been deceiving the cute wittel puppy.”
Chuck shouted, exasperated. “That’s not fair!”
“All is fair in business and war.”
“What? No, that’s love and war!”
Ronovin tilted his head in confusion, though he carefully strained to maintain his cute demeanor. “This is business, Chuck, not love. Hmm… ‘love’ doesn’t seem to translate either well, it means two very different things. One of which is… unexpected, but fine, the other of which… I hope you mean the first one. You still haven’t answered my question.”
Chuck stood silent.
“Go on, give me a pet, you know you want to.” Ronovin spoke in a sing-song voice.
“Have you no shame?”
“Shame is for those who don’t care if they lose.” He began to gently nuzzle Chuck’s arm. “I fight to win.”
Chuck sighed and began to pet Ronovin.
Ronovin curled up against Chuck, staring at him as wide-eyed as he could. “So Chuck… “ He began to purr.
Chuck couldn’t take it anymore. “No! I can’t think of anything important that I kept from you!” He immediately calmed down, and happily continued the scritching.
Ronovin chittering softly. “I know. I needed to hear you say it.” The furball was clearly enjoying this too, even if he refused to admit it.
*… You’re going to keep doing this, aren’t you?”
Ronovin let loose a toothy grin. “Now why would tell you something as important as that. I think it’s best if you are stuck watching you back wherever you go, just waiting for me to pounce.”
Chuck blinked. “You are one cruel, sadistic man.”
“I learned from the best.” He chittered again, flipped himself over and moved back to the table. “But seriously, if you want a formal contract, we can get one written up.”
Chuck sighed. “No, that’s OK. I can’t think of any way to make the agreement enforceable anyways. Are you planning on building my stuff too?”
“Nah. I don’t want to bother with that. The two devices are for my own personal use, I gotta keep the arsenal full. The rest, well I just wanna know what I need to buy from ya, once you get set up. Hmm… Though I may make a copy for my own use if I see something I really need.”
“…What makes you think I plan to build these tools?”
“I’ve been watching you, remember, besides, you ain’t exactly keeping those plans a secret. Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of ya. If your stuff is good I wanna keep you improving it, if it’s not, who cares if I see it?”
With an argument like that, and after his deal with Thalias, it seemed he had little to lose. “Seems reasonable to me.”