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Unity

By Mantrid Brizon

Episode Fourteen: The Ties That Bind

“Ready for our first meeting?” Miss Ayanda asks her team, pacing back and forth before a long table.

“As ready as ever!” Sihl’Ahzen chirps.

“So, what’s the deal, Miss boss-lady Ayanda?” Stefan asks.

“Originally this was classified, though I don’t know why.” Miss Ayanda begins, turning on a holographic board. “As chief of security, yours truly commands the entirety of Unity’s police force and militia. Contrary to popular belief, I’m not capable of being in multiple places at once, nor can I juggle six hundred dedicated officers and four hundred reserve officers. The six of you will each be in charge of one hundred dedicated officers, while the four hundred reserves will fall under my jurisdiction. I’ll also be supervising all of you, making sure you and your hundred troops tow the line.” Miss Ayanda begins.

“Question!” Sihl’Ahzen raises her wing-like arm.

“Yes?”

“What are the reserves doing throughout a typical day?” She asks Miss Ayanda.

“Who knows. They have regular jobs; they’re only to be activated during emergencies.” Pressing a button, Miss Ayanda shows them a pie graph. “Anyway, as you can see, out of Unity’s six thousand crew, we’ll have a total of one thousand potential soldiers, with ten percent continuously active. I’m told that many crewmembers have personal blasters though, and there’s a large firing range in Pod Five for recreational use and civilian training but I digress! The Directors, in their infinite wisdom, have decided to give you all species-specific teams. From the report I read, they believe that it’ll improve your standing as authority figures, and enhance your ability to command, as you’ll be intimately familiar with the typical battle tactics of your own race’s military.”

“Makes sense.” Fizona nods.

“Kellan, Stefan and August, you three each have Solakus under your command. For some reason, they felt like using an ancient Earth phonetic alphabet system; your teams are titled ‘Alpha’, ‘Bravo’ and ‘Charlie’, respectively.” Miss Ayanda continues.

“Odd choice of titles.” August remarks.

“Nostalgia, perhaps?” She shrugs. “In any case, don’t worry about further segregation; by galactic standards the human and Voeldahn are technically one race, so all of your units will have both. Kellan, as the leader of Alpha team, your men and women are the primary police force.”

“Understood.” Kellan nods.

“Stefan’s Bravo team is primarily support for Alpha, and August’s team Charlie are riot suppression and typical security patrols. Sihl’Ahzen!”

“Yes?”

“As a former commando, your team is made up of Irakus commandos. I understand they’re fond of inter-ship combat, specializing in ship-boarding and anti-piracy tactics. That’s your forte, and ‘Echo’ team’s entire purpose. Of course, you’re also on call for any other major calamities we may find ourselves in, and on a regular day you’re guards for the high security areas, such as the labs in Pod One.”

“Yes, Miss Ayanda!” Sihl’Ahzel salutes with her featherlike fingers.

“Drayusa and Fizona...” Miss Ayanda tries not to glare at the black and purple Kanorakus. “Each of you will run the exclusively Kanorakus teams ‘Delta’ and ‘Foxtrot’ respectively. They’re our front-line troops, alongside the three Solakus teams. Specializing in high powered weapons and melee combat, your soldiers will swap duties as required. Sometimes guards, sometimes extra police, etcetera. Also, as the Kanorakus routinely clock superior response times, your two hundred make up nearly all of the pilots in Unity’s defense fleet.”

“Understood, Miss Ayanda.” Both women nod.

“Here’s a question for you.” Stefan suddenly raises his hand. “What the hell do the Dezonians do?”

“The Dezonians run every lab and workshop. This project is half theirs, and to my understanding, it was the Dezonians who pushed the hardest for it to even happen.” Miss Ayanda answers.

“Is that why we’re doing all of the heavy lifting and providing all of the security?” Drayusa asks.

“Yes.” Miss Ayanda nods. “That’s why we get the bitch work and the Dezonians don’t have to do a damn thing. Any more questions?!”

Everyone’s hand raises. After a meeting lasting several hours, Miss Ayanda dismisses her new lieutenants. Their duties understood and rosters in hand, they depart the ‘war room’, as Miss Ayanda calls the conference room in the security offices. Though most of their teams have yet to arrive, they have other things to attend to, first and foremost being the final installation and system checks of the internal security measures. Walking together they leave the offices, which are on tier one, the same tier containing the bridge. Boarding a tram, they head for the rear of the tier, rather than walk nearly a half-mile.

Their eyes scan the interior as they reach a residential area, gazing out of the windows of the electric train car. Set aside primarily for the principal staff, such as the designated captain, Unity’s council, the skilled personnel, and high-level security staff like themselves, tier one contains the more luxurious residences. The tram slows as it approaches a station, stopping and opening the sliding doors. They exit the car and walk down the steps of the tram station before approaching a multi-story building within the tier. Stefan stops, holding a hand over his brow as he gazes up at the structure’s peak.

As each tier is a little over one hundred meters high, there are many buildings within the ship that reach ten stories tall, and some that reach twenty stories. Unity is effectively a small city-state sealed within the metal hull panels of a high-tech ship. To continue the facade of a typical city, the ceiling contains many screens bearing images of an artificial sky and a glowing sun. These images are controlled by a program that follows the ship’s chronograph, set roughly for Earth time. Nonexistent clouds move realistically above them, even blocking the rays from the false orb.

The agent’s apartment building looms over them, as they stand and stare for a moment, joining Stefan in wonderment. Standing beside her lover, Drayusa watches with him, draping an arm over his shoulders. The pair have made their relationship public, as have Kellan and Sihl’Ahzen, and so they share large, luxury apartments with their respective partners.

“That sky is beautiful.” Sihl’Ahzen remarks in awe.

“I can’t even see the top floor!” Stefan comments.

“That’s because of the glare of the fake sun.” Drayusa teases him.

“You know what I mean... It’s strange to think that past that fake sky is nothing but empty space.” He says to her.

“That’s what was above Earth.” August retorts.

“True.” Stefan nods.

“Well, we’d better get to work. Let’s go babe.” Kellan says to Sihl’Ahzen.

“Come, my love.” Drayusa says to Stefan, kissing and nuzzling his cheek.

Entering the building and heading for their apartments, some of which share floors, they pass through a reception area. Their boots clicking on the synthetic marble panels, indistinguishable from the real thing. Metal walls are coated with onyx plates, giving the building an expensive and cultured appearance. Riding quietly in the elevator, August glances over to the couples who are so wrapped up in each other. Fizona, the odd girl out, turns her eyes to him, averting them as soon as his gaze meets hers. Each of the lieutenants departs at their respective floors, with Stefan and Drayusa sharing the same floor as August.

Walking down the hall with one-meter tall, cherry wood wainscoting, the upper halves of the walls painted a pastel red, the trio step carefully on expensive looking silver carpeting.

“Looks like this is us.” Stefan says, his hand stroking Drayusa’s soft, black and gold tipped bristles.

Without speaking a word, August continues on, alone. Finding his door, he presses his hand to the plate, the subtle and familiar whooshing easing his tension. He steps into his apartment for only the second time. The surprisingly large domicile is neatly decorated with his furniture, fleshed out with extras that were so generously provided to him by the project; those with little or “inadequate” furniture found their apartments already established and decorated for thm. He takes a seat on his new couch, covered in a velvety black fabric, offsetting the dark gray carpeting beneath it.

Sighing, he tilts his head back, staring at the white paint of his ceiling. Taking a few moments to soak in his unfamiliar surroundings, he looks toward the plate glass of his living room window. Setting the data drives that he received from Miss Ayanda on the glass top of a black metal framed table, which he will study later, he approaches the window, looking down at the void walkways below.

“Wow.” He murmurs.

A beeping catches his attention. Turning toward his front door, someone rings the bell from the hallway. Approaching the door and pressing a button, he activates a flat holographic image of the person standing outside. He jumps back at the sight of a jade green eye enveloping the entire screen. Moving away from the screen, a pink, feline nose covers it for a brief moment before pulling away and revealing a pleasant smile wrapping around a white furred snout.

“Hai! Lemme in!” Roku chirps.

Opening the door for his twin sister, she hops inside, the nearly thirty-year-old woman displaying the exuberance of a pre-teen girl.

“Isn’t this place great?! Is soooo cool!” She exclaims.

“Yeah, it’s... Something.” He replies, returning to the window.

“Where’s Draz?” She asks, looking around the living room.

“Oh, he’s with the other Skahlzunians people brought aboard. Some kind of natural preserve type deal.” He answers.

“He won’t be living here?” Roku cocks her head.

“I’ll get him after my shift.”

“Oh good. He’ll like that. So... How are you liking the place?” She asks as she stands beside him.

“Is it too late to go back to Earth?” He smirks.

“What’s wrong?! I thought you wanted this kind of adventure?!”

“I do... I think.” He answers quietly.

“Well, all I’ve wanted for nearly a decade is to be more than ‘Roku: daughter of the galaxy’s most famous and important explorers’ and this is my chance. Now I’m part of the galaxy’s most important project, and if you think about it, I’m in the top five most important people here, right up there with Ayanda.”

“That’s Miss Ayanda now.” August smirks.

“I keep forgetting. Good thing she’s always reminding me!”

“Yeah. Anyway, it’s just... It’s kind of creepy here.” He says.

His eyes scan the empty walkways below, suddenly seeing Stefan and Drayusa walking away from the apartment building. They’re the only two walking throughout their entire residential section.

“Oh... Well, it’ll look a lot less dead when the rest of the crew arrive.”

After a brief visit, Roku excuses herself to return to her office; she has her own team to debrief. Swiftly collecting a jacket, August leaves with his sister to carry out his assigned task. He escorts her to her office, seeing her team of two Voeldahn, one human, two Irakus and three Kanorakus, all of them female and all of them waiting for her. Taking a tram to a lower level, he then swaps trams, riding through the central stalk and toward the hangar bay at the opposite end of the craft. Walking the lonely halls of the silent ship, it’s as though he’s trapped inside of a massive, metallic tomb.

Nearing the flight control room, where he is scheduled to install and test drivers for various utilities in the hangar, he finds Stefan and Drayusa in the hallway. With arms wrapped around the other, they’re locked in a tight embrace. Drayusa’s long, tapering tail sways behind her as she nuzzles and licks his face, his hand reaching down and gripping her buttocks. Stopping in his tracks, the frustrated August grumbles to himself. Have they not heard his footsteps on the metal floor panels? Are they so entwined with one another?

“Ahem...” He clears his throat.

“Oh!” Drayusa quickly turns her head toward him.

“Shit! Er... Sorry, we were waiting for you and just... Uhm...”

“Save it.” August interjects. “We should get to work, and this isn’t even your sector.” He looks at Drayusa.

“Right... I’ll see you at home, my love.” Drayusa says, softly kissing Stefan’s cheek.

“Bye, babe. Don’t work too hard; you’ll need that energy for tonight.” Stefan replies.

“For what?” She asks innocently, cocking her head.

“Well, they gave us a new bed...” He winks.

“Ooohh...” She coos.

August rolls his eyes, standing only feet away from the couple. Sharing another kiss, she leaves the two men, heading for her own station where she has a small crew; she’s to oversee the installation of automated security turrets in the main hangar. Entering the flight control room, August and Stefan find two working terminals. The rest are currently deactivated and only the reserve lights are functional.

“Hey, I’m... Sorry you saw that. We didn’t know how long you would be and so we were talking and just got carried away.” Stefan apologizes.

“Forget it.” August sighs, inserting a small card into a reader.

Beginning their work, they install and test driver after driver. With each, another system is brought online. First the primary lights glow, then the other terminals. Hangar droids awaken, scurrying about the bay and the control room’s computers bring up the security features. They test the blast shield, lowering and lifting it, then make sure other security and safety features are functional. They do all of this without ever once speaking to each other. As they work, Stefan routinely checks his V.I. bracelet, looking at the chronograph over and over again.

“Have somewhere better to be?” August finally asks him, breaking the silence.

“That’s a dumb question.” Stefan chuckles.

“It’s that serious, huh?”

“I love her, man. I’ve never had a relationship like this, or been with someone I felt so... Connected with. It’s unreal. She’s really a great person.” Stefan gushes.

“Is she?” August suddenly retorts.

He stops typing, feeling a tinge of guilt. He’d promised her that he’d never reveal her betrayal to him. Miss Ayanda knows her secret, but she too was sworn to secrecy, doing so only because of her loyalty to August.

“What are you talking about?! She has the purest heart of anyone I've ever met. Sweet, gentle, caring, very affectionate and lovable, open-minded and accommodating, and so honest.” Stefan lauds Drayusa.

“That’s good. I’m happy for you.” August says softly.

“Thanks.”

“So, how serious is it?” August asks.

“We’ve talked about melding.”

“That sounds serious... What’s melding?”

Stefan turns in his chair, a little grin on his face as he looks at the curious August.

“Are you ready, Corova?” Sashuna asks, a little grin on her face.

“I’m ready... I’m ready... I’m not ready...” She answers.

“You’ll be alright.” Sashuna giggles.

“Forgive my nervousness but I’ve obviously never melded before.” Corova speaks under her breath.

“I’ve never known anyone who has.” Sashuna comments.

“You’re not helping.”

“It’s a big step, but you say you love him.”

“I do!” Corova insists.

“Then everything will be fine! Now shut up and get out there.” Sashuna insists.

Turning her ruby red eyes toward her former assistant, she can’t help but smile at the purple and gold Kanorakus woman. Over the past few days, Sashuna has adapted to their new situation, growing more assertive and revealing a rather amusing personality not dissimilar from her own. Nodding her head, Corova concedes and rises from her seat. Draiman and the entire Woods family wait for her within Lomboko’s library, the best decorated room aboard the ship. Escorting her former leader, now a friend, Sashuna stays by Corova’s side as they traverse the drab halls.

Reaching the library, the two raptor-like women find themselves standing before their hosts. James Woods and his wife Erica wear outfits of matching black and red. Erica’s elegant dress appears similar to that worn by Queen Elizabeth the First in her portrait, complete with a frilly Edwardian collar. Rubies hang from the collar, shifting as she waves Corova and Sashuna toward them. Beside her is Vivian, Draiman’s sister, and beside Vivian stand Sasha and Maximus, the seventeen-year-old twins and the youngest of the Woods’ children. James and Erica chose their names so that their initials would be ‘S&M’, as a joke, however, the pair live up to their perverse titles.

Wearing a black suit with a red silk shirt, Draiman stands before his family and an entourage of armed guards. Beside him is a sturdy glass table, acting as a makeshift altar. He smiles warmly at her as she approaches the makeshift altar, reaching out and taking hold of Draiman’s hands.

“Are you both ready?” Sashuna asks, leading the ceremony.

“Yes.” They answer in unison.

“You understand what will occur?” Sashuna asks Draiman.

“I do.” He nods.

“Then you may begin.”

“Okay... ... What do I do?” He asks.

“Rest your hands here.” Corova instructs.

Taking hold of his forearms, her hands slide toward his wrists as she turns them over, placing his palms against her head and just below her pointy, elf-like ears. Corova rests her clawed hands against his face, alongside his bottom jaw. Bowing her head, she closes her eyes. Following her lead, Draiman does the same, gently resting his forehead against hers. Standing in silence for several seconds, the Woods family lean closer. They curiously examine the statuesque couple, their eyes shifting beneath closed lids, which flutter rapidly. After a moment, the couple suddenly collapse, quickly caught by the waiting Sashuna.

“Assistance!” She calls out to nearby guards.

James himself approaches, taking his son into his arms as other guards join in to help.

“Keep their heads close.” Sashuna instructs.

Pulling the couple atop the table, they drag their limp bodies over the clear glass, keeping their foreheads pressed together as best they can. Resting them on their sides, Vivian and Erica place pillows below their heads and behind their backs to hold them in place. Stepping back, James scratches his beard, looking at the two atop the makeshift altar.

“Well... That was underwhelming!” James jovially exclaims.

“What were you expecting? For them to mate atop the table?” Sashuna retorts, her lips curled into a little grin.

“That certainly would’ve been more entertaining.” Sasha coos, her eyes looking over Corova and Draiman’s unconscious bodies.

“Agreed.” Maximus adds, taking hold of Sasha’s hand.

Erica and Vivian raise their brows, leaning away from the teenagers.

“What?” They both ask.

“Evil twins...” Vivian whispers to her mother.

Lying atop the table, Draiman sees a violet light surrounding him. Waves of crimson flow through it as he spins around in an otherwise dark void. Turning in full circles, Corova appears before him, her body nude and glistening in the light as though she were covered in a thin layer of oil. Turning her ruby eyes toward him, she pulls him in with a hypnotic gaze. He’s suddenly aware that he too is without clothes, stepping toward her. He feels nothing, nor does he have any senses beyond sight and sound. Is he even breathing oxygen?

“Where are we?” He asks.

“In the world of our minds. We are melding, and this is the first phase.” She replies.

“Oh... I knew that. I was testing you.” He smirks.

With a little giggle, she steps closer. Resting her hands on his shoulders, he now feels her flesh burning but he doesn’t pull away.

“I will now invite you; we’ll become one.” She says.

Draiman nods, following her lead. He’s read about the Kanorakus and knew that this was possible, but he had no idea how astounding the process could be. With a small gland inside of the brain of every female Kanorakus – the males do not have it – they have the unique ability to psychically link to another sentient being of their choice. This link can only be done to one person at a time, and will exist between the two parties so long as they are still alive; a meld cannot be undone. Corova offers this link, which will share all of her memories, thoughts and knowledge with him. In turn, she will see his entire life and they will have no secrets.

Wrapping her arms around him, they share an embrace. In the world constructed between their minds, the lovers kiss and their bodies burn. Soon, they are awash with images and sounds. Corova watches Draiman’s life, experiencing the bizarre yet loving relationship he has with his family. She feels her heart burning and her eyes watering as she relives Draiman’s memory of realizing the evils of their trade. A malfunctioning crate allowed a slave to awaken, the crying woman pleading for freedom from within her prison, and even offering him sex. Draiman refused, as cold as a stone, only to return to his quarters and collapse into tears, overcome by guilt.

Draiman sees Corova’s life, witnessing her loveless existence raised by a collective of women. Their casual and often sexual abuse of the males is appalling. Corova’s warm heart slowly turned cold, but the fire within it did not burn out; she’s always secretly doubted the validity of their cruel, matriarchal faith. He relives the moment when she realized her desire for him, from her perspective. Lying on her back in what would otherwise be a brutal rape, her face locked into a muzzle and arms and wrists bound, Draiman leans in. He kisses her snout and whispers an apology, which she didn’t believe until she saw shame in his eyes.

Feeling a surprising amount of warmth from her assailant, she found herself suddenly enjoying the situation, her feelings matching her carnal desires as he took her into his arms. Holding her almost lovingly as he lay over Corova, the twisted and deviant encounter bred a yearning for him. Within her formed a desire to see if he had more depth of character. Realizing that he was far more than anything she had been told a male could be, her feelings grew exponentially. Seeing his heart as it truly is, she knows that he feels the same, and she’s thankful for this moment; it actualizes their bond.

The lovers experience every aspect of the other’s lives, their thoughts and emotions colliding as their minds become one. Standing around the table and watching Draiman and Corova, who otherwise appear to be asleep and dreaming, James takes a deep breath and sighs, playfully snapping his ring adorned fingers.

“So! ... How long do we have to stand here and watch them sleep?!” James asks Sashuna.

“Honestly, I’m not sure why you are still here.” She replies.

“Oh...”

“Moral support, I suppose.” Erica casually answers.

“Quaint, but unnecessary.” Sashuna retorts.

“Well then... I’m going to have a drink!” James clasps his hands together. “Who wants a drink?!”

With the guards dismissed, Sashuna joins the Woods family for a drink, with the exception of the twins, who leave for their own room, which they’ve always insisted upon sharing. Opening their eyes, Draiman and Corova look at one another, now awakening in the physical world. Her lips curl into a pleased grin. Silently chuckling, he smiles at her, leaning in and kissing her lips. Her arms wrap around him, holding him tightly. Draiman nuzzles her cheek with his nose.

“I love you, Draiman.”

“I love you too, Corova.” He says into her ear.

Sitting upright, he looks back at her as she rests on a forearm, watching intently.

“This is a strange thing, isn’t it?” She asks, her lips never moving.

He’s certain that he heard her, but she hasn’t spoken. Mouth agape, he blinks and stares in shock.

“Do you hear me?” Her voice asks him.

Again, she never spoke aloud.

“How is she doing that?!” He thinks to himself.

“We’ve melded.” Corova’s voice answers him. “We now share a link unlike any other. So long as we are close enough and both still alive, we can speak with only our thoughts.”

Draiman is flabbergasted. This is an important piece of information that he’s never read about in his studies, yet as he thinks on it, he now remembers learning this from an elder female on Kanor; this is one of Corova’s memories, which he now possesses. More of her memories bubble to the surface as the meld takes hold. Similarly, Corova slowly remembers his past as well. Blown away, he thanks her for caring enough to share this with him, all without ever opening his mouth. Speaking with her thoughts, she reminds him that she’s never loved or trusted anyone as much as him. Rising from the altar, he holds out his hand to her.

“Hungry?” He asks telepathically.

“For what?” She responds, her ruby eyes narrowing and scanning his body.

“Food. We can have dessert later.” He replies.

Taking hold of his hand, she climbs from the altar and the pair leave the empty library. Joining their family for a late dinner, they are bombarded with questions. Having laid there for over an hour, all wonder what occurred.

“She’s literally inside my head, dad. I can hear her, and she can hear me.” Draiman explains to his father.

“And if we concentrate, we can see through each other’s eyes.” Corova adds.

“That’s intense!” James exclaims.

“Forgive me, but I thought you were having some kind of marriage ceremony. Something called ‘linking’?” Erica interjects.

“Oh, that’s a simple pledging ceremony with a vow and an exchange of symbolic gifts. The meld is deeper than that and so the linking ceremony is no longer required.” Corova answers.

“Usually melding happens second, if at all, but we’re just that cool.” Draiman adds.

“We’ll exchange the traditional symbolic jewelry to show our bond later.” Corova remarks.

“Nonsense! Marry my son, damnit!” James cheerfully exclaims.

“Alright, alright! Force me into it, why don’t you?” Corova laughs.

“If you’d made him wear a condom, we wouldn’t be in this mess.” James teases.

Abandoning their dinner, the Woods family reunite in the library, witnessing the simple linking ceremony. Exchanging the symbolic gifts which they’ve already prepared – a ring for Corova and a pendant for Draiman, fashioned out of a bundle of Corova’s longest bristles and pulled from the top of her head – they swear loyalty to one another to the point of death. They embrace and nuzzle each other, the traditional way that Kanorakus show affection for lovers.

“Boo! Where’s that sloppy kiss?!” James asks loudly, a hand cupped around his mouth.

“Shut up, dad!” Draiman barks at his father, who stands only feet away.

Turning back to his new wife, Draiman kisses Corova deeply, the family briefly witnessing their tongues caressing.

“Woo!” Erica cheers.

“That’s better! Now get out of here and go wear out that mattress!” James laughs.

Taking James’ advice, the couple hold hands as they leave the library and their gawking family, finally off to enjoy their dessert.