Hummers’ ramblings. Sometimes the pattern dissipates like mist and wind. Occasionally their minds march in lockstep and they all tell the same story, repeating their words over and over. We know then that they want us to listen.”
Arun shivered as his pictured the Hummers in their yellow tanks, screaming Arun’s name in unison.
“Human, your posture indicates inquiry. Did you want to ask questions?”
“Sir. Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.”
“You may ask only one more.”
“Sir. Who are the other humans the Night Hummers spoke of?”
Little Scar thought over the answer. “The one who maybe is to come and maybe is a misinterpretation has only the simplest description. No name, rank, scent, or title. All we know is that she is purple.” He laughed, the artificial sound accompanied by a bass rumble from the alien. “Purple!”
Little Scar found the whole idea hilarious but Arun felt something else flooding him with sparkling warmth: hope.
Instructor Nhlappo had described the entire Marine Corps presence on Tranquility as nothing more than a rounding error on a White Knight fleet strength report. What if humans were important after all? And not in the mega long-term species survival plan some veterans talked of – but right here and now.
And , thought Arun, Little Scar had referred to the purple human as a she…
The laughter coming through Little Scar’s speaker continued as he spoke. “I have seen pink and brown humans. Hrmph. Seen a few red ones too in battle – your species does bleed so energetically – but never a purple one.”
Little Scar cut the laughter. “Now we discuss your brother.” He brought out a mid-limb from where it had nestled in his deep chest hair, and pointed it up to the sky. “He’s out there.”
“Sir? You mean he’s out there in the galaxy?”
“Yes. No.” Little Scar thought it over. “He is in orbit. A lucky coincidence. I could let you meet if you would like.”
“Sir. I would like that, sir.”
Having written off the idea of family long ago, to meet a brother would be a curiosity. But it would also be fascinating to meet someone who had been out there, fighting between the stars.
“You would like,” said Little Scar. “I would not like. But I may enable this in any case.”
O-kay . That didn’t exactly make sense. When Little Scar made no sign that he was going to elaborate, Arun asked: “Sir, is there something I must do first?”
“Yes. The insect scribe in your tunnel encounter showed sexual interest in you…”
“Not really, sir,” Arun blurted out. When the officer didn’t react to his interruption, he added: “Sir. The creature was academically interested in my unfortunate physiological reaction to the combat drugs. That’s all, sir.”
Little Scar showed his teeth again. He was not happy.
“Sir. Sorry, sir,” Arun added quickly.
The Jotun allowed Arun’s discomfort to continue for a few more seconds before slowly lowering his lips over his fangs. “Only speak when spoken to, human.”
Was Arun supposed to acknowledge that? He decided to keep silent.
Little Scar sniffed at Arun, but then relaxed somewhat. “McEwan, you might dismiss your accomplishment, but such a display of sexual interest is unprecedented. These Trogs , as you call the hive creatures, run several mining operations here on Tranquility and on moons around the outer planets. They also service the cryogenic facilities, dig the network of defensive warrens, and form the bulk of the planetary defense force. The hive creatures are vital, yet we know very little about them. We need to aid each other to strengthen our defenses and add new contingency plans.”
The first question that instantly struck Arun was why had they felt the need to strengthen their defenses. To ask, though, would be madness. He reckoned he had pushed his freakish familiarity with the colonel as far as it would go.
But Arun wasn’t renowned for common sense.
“Sir. Permission to speak,
Arun shivered as his pictured the Hummers in their yellow tanks, screaming Arun’s name in unison.
“Human, your posture indicates inquiry. Did you want to ask questions?”
“Sir. Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.”
“You may ask only one more.”
“Sir. Who are the other humans the Night Hummers spoke of?”
Little Scar thought over the answer. “The one who maybe is to come and maybe is a misinterpretation has only the simplest description. No name, rank, scent, or title. All we know is that she is purple.” He laughed, the artificial sound accompanied by a bass rumble from the alien. “Purple!”
Little Scar found the whole idea hilarious but Arun felt something else flooding him with sparkling warmth: hope.
Instructor Nhlappo had described the entire Marine Corps presence on Tranquility as nothing more than a rounding error on a White Knight fleet strength report. What if humans were important after all? And not in the mega long-term species survival plan some veterans talked of – but right here and now.
And , thought Arun, Little Scar had referred to the purple human as a she…
The laughter coming through Little Scar’s speaker continued as he spoke. “I have seen pink and brown humans. Hrmph. Seen a few red ones too in battle – your species does bleed so energetically – but never a purple one.”
Little Scar cut the laughter. “Now we discuss your brother.” He brought out a mid-limb from where it had nestled in his deep chest hair, and pointed it up to the sky. “He’s out there.”
“Sir? You mean he’s out there in the galaxy?”
“Yes. No.” Little Scar thought it over. “He is in orbit. A lucky coincidence. I could let you meet if you would like.”
“Sir. I would like that, sir.”
Having written off the idea of family long ago, to meet a brother would be a curiosity. But it would also be fascinating to meet someone who had been out there, fighting between the stars.
“You would like,” said Little Scar. “I would not like. But I may enable this in any case.”
O-kay . That didn’t exactly make sense. When Little Scar made no sign that he was going to elaborate, Arun asked: “Sir, is there something I must do first?”
“Yes. The insect scribe in your tunnel encounter showed sexual interest in you…”
“Not really, sir,” Arun blurted out. When the officer didn’t react to his interruption, he added: “Sir. The creature was academically interested in my unfortunate physiological reaction to the combat drugs. That’s all, sir.”
Little Scar showed his teeth again. He was not happy.
“Sir. Sorry, sir,” Arun added quickly.
The Jotun allowed Arun’s discomfort to continue for a few more seconds before slowly lowering his lips over his fangs. “Only speak when spoken to, human.”
Was Arun supposed to acknowledge that? He decided to keep silent.
Little Scar sniffed at Arun, but then relaxed somewhat. “McEwan, you might dismiss your accomplishment, but such a display of sexual interest is unprecedented. These Trogs , as you call the hive creatures, run several mining operations here on Tranquility and on moons around the outer planets. They also service the cryogenic facilities, dig the network of defensive warrens, and form the bulk of the planetary defense force. The hive creatures are vital, yet we know very little about them. We need to aid each other to strengthen our defenses and add new contingency plans.”
The first question that instantly struck Arun was why had they felt the need to strengthen their defenses. To ask, though, would be madness. He reckoned he had pushed his freakish familiarity with the colonel as far as it would go.
But Arun wasn’t renowned for common sense.
“Sir. Permission to speak,
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