Jerry tries to navigate back to the room where he left his companions, trying to rejoin them.
Ray scoffs aloud at Byron. "Didn't mean anything to you? Didn't mean-- That's what you said about me! And Steph! And the chick with the purple skin! AND, AND, AND!" Ray picks up a nearby salt shaker and tosses it at Byron. "You *%#^!" She spits at him (literally). "Leave the aslan alone, you &*#$ed dog! You're scaring her! Must be your ugly face!"
Unable to understand Anglic and not really very clear on human sexes, the two Aslan males see only violence occurring in their territory. They both roar and bare their razor-sharp dewclaws, a clear prelude to violence.
The young female speaks softly, a rough purr. Then she addresses Ray and Byron in barely accented Anglic. "You are his mate? And he has dishonored you? Your attitude is understandable. Aslan females do not retaliate in this way, and you have confused my cousins, who think you a male challenging for dominance. If you must combat your mate, please move outside."
Jerry joins the general hubbub a few moments later.
Elsewhere, Daneel and Steph slip out of the computer room.
Byron blinks and backs up saying, "Yeah...we can head outside to handle this..."
Jerry attempts to calm the situation, guessing that this was simply a distraction until his companions got carried away.
"Please excuse my companions - they are unfamiliar with your ways. They will go outside, as he says. Do you require that the rest of us also leave?"
"Whoa! I think you're right!" Ray tells the Aslan female. "Sorry to get your boys claws out. I'll beat my mate's @&& outside. Don't let them gut me on my way out."
Ray hurries outside after Byron calling him names as she slaps him repeatedly on the back.
"Oh, dang! And sorry about the mess!" she calls out over her shoulder to the Aslan. She then goes back to beating and cussing at her philandering mate.
Steph makes her way back to the waiting room, and does her best to pretend that this is fairly normal behavior for Byron and Ray.
Ray, Byron and Jerry head outside while Daneel and Steph return to the guest room. The Aslan males follow closely behind the combatants, while the females converse quietly behind them and then follow at a distance.
Byron heads outside and moves a distance from the house in the hopes that the guards will head back inside.
Daneel should we hang around or head out with the others? I don't want to be here if they discover their computers have been hacked. On the other hand I don't want to look guilty by leaving either." Steph sticks her head and the door to see what's going on in the hallway.
For the moment, Steph's hallway is clear.
"Hmmm. Let's wait here a bit. Hteleitoril thought they'd only be gone about an hour...so it shouldn't be much longer before they return." After a moment he adds, "I heard a fair amount of crashing about before, I hope they didn't get carried away."
"I will wait here for our companions - those too need time to calm down," says Jerry to the Aslan.
The diplomat lingers by the door, making quiet conversation with the guards.
Steph goes back into the room, and waits for Hteleitoril to call for them.
Taking her role very seriously, Ray continues to yell at Byron once they're outside, swatting him on the shoulder repeatedly.
A few minutes later, Hteleitoril and Ehfyohoikoaleai return from their walk. If the elder aslan is surprised to find much of his staff outside the house, he does not betray his feelings.
He bows to Hteleitoril and speaks in Trokh.
The two aslan embrace and then separate. Hteleitoril leads the way back to Nemesis. When you are out of earshot, he asks "Did you find anything?" It appears very important to him.
"We didn't have time to read anything, but I was able to crack his computer and copy his files. We'll see if we found what you need when we get back to the ship."
Hteleitoril grunts in either acceptance or approval and remains silent on the walk back to the ship.
Once more aboard Nemesis, your aslan passenger turns to Jerry. "Captain, I need to go to The World before we return to the Hierate. Can you set a course at your convenience? And I would like to know what is on that data Mr. Bailey discovered." With that, Hteleitoril retreats to his tiny cabin.
Jerry looks around at his companions.
"Byron, can you plot a course to the World? And Daneel, can start on deciphering the data," he asks his companions.
"Do we need to top up fuel before setting out?"
"Yes fuel, and getting some supplies wouldn't hurt. I can make arrangements for that. We should leave sooner rather than later though. Just in case they notice our visit to the computer room." Steph hits her console and starts looking for fresh vegetables, meat etc for the next leg of the journey.
"Yup, that's blow this joint."
"On it." Byron says as he sits and plots the next jump on the way to the World.
During the week-long voyage to The World, Daneel works on recovering Ehfyohoikoaleai's computer records.
The data found on Ehfyohoikoaleai’s computer is damning. His position as a clan official requires total loyalty, and as a friend of the clanlord he is also bound by personal ties. Correspondence in his files indicates increasing disaffection with his posting on Sink, until routine interclan messages – of a sort Ehfyohoikoaleai would normally send and receive – begin to contain undertones that he is open to a better offer.
This offer comes in a roundabout way from clan Htyowao, couched in vague terms referencing Aslan cultural heroes who faced difficult choices when their clanlord disrespected them or failed to reward loyalty. Then a sudden change takes place in the tone of communications. Ehfyohoikoaleai begins openly sending information on his clan’s ambitions and future projects. Among these is the failed Arunisiir takeover, which is the subject of a lengthy exchange regarding times, force strengths and projected routes to the target. It becomes obvious that Ehfyohoikoaleai provided clan Htyowao with information to derail the raid, and in return is promised high office and transfer to a posting more appropriate to his talents and service to his new clan.
Once Daneel has worked out the basic outline of what Hteleitoril's clansman has done, he loads everything onto a data pad and brings it to Hteleitoril's quarters. He knocks, and when the Aslan noble answers, he hods up the pad and says, "I'm done. It's all here - pretty much as you suspected. I...uh...haven't shared it with anyone else. I figure that's your call." Daneel hands the data pad to Hteleitoril.
The Aslan prince takes the data pad and looks it over. He sighs deeply, but Daneel believes that Hteleitoril is actually relieved to learn of the traitor, and that makes sense. Being betrayed at Arunisiir means that Hteleitoril didn't simply fail. A hero can fall victim to treachery whereas inadequacy is a poor legend to leave behind.
"Thank you. This will be dealt with in time. I will inform the clan authorities."
As you get closer to the borders of the hierate, Hteleitoril gets quieter and quieter, taking his meals in his cabin. He seems withdrawn and tense.
Byron sets up some training for the marines and light practices to keep them busy and active. He invites Hteleitoril to join if he wants some physical activity.
Hteleitoril politely declines and spends most of his week in his cabin.
______________________________________________________________________
The World is an airless rockball barely large enough to be called a planet. It is the mainworld, if that is the right title, of a system with two planetoid belts, three gas giants and four other terrestrial planets. The belts see a fair amount of belter and mining-company activity, but most operations are temporary. Aslan firms have a tendency to move into a section of a belt and run everyone else off, which makes this an unhealthy place to work. These miners and prospectors have nothing to do with the mainworld; the Aslan never visit it and non-Aslan do so only rarely.
The mainworld is uninhabited, but orbited by an ancient and highly decrepit space station known to both its inhabitants and few visitors as The World. There is a small ‘offworld’ community at The World’s starport area. Many of the residents are temporary, providing some technical function to The World’s leaders or training local technicians and engineers. Others are merchants who deal with the few ships that come through the port, and a few are just living there for a while before moving on. Some members of this community suspect the main population of The World is oppressed or otherwise disadvantaged but access is very difficult; most are willing to let their suspicions stay under their radar.
In recent years, a small contingent of Aslan personnel has been stationed at The World’s starport, providing security for the port. These personnel are provided by the Iuwoi clan, as part of a deal which was hoped would increase the clan’s influence. The hoped-for benefits never emerged, largely because an expected upswing in local trade simply failed to materialize, but a presence is maintained because a deal must be honored. The Aslan are bored and tend to over-react to any sort of trouble. The odd officially-sanctioned brawl relieves the tension for a time, but sooner or later the Aslan get too restless and do something that cannot be smoothed over by their superiors.
_______________________________________________________________
Nemesis slides out of J-Space like a shark sliding through calm waters, appearing suddenly only a few thousand kilometers from the large but decrepit space station.
A crisp female voice with an Aslan accent greets you. "Welcome to The World, gateway to the Aslan Hierate and the Outrim Void. Please come to heading 159.6 by 302.4 and slow to one-quarter G until you have the beam. You will be welcome at Docking Bay Delta. Please enjoy your stay."
For the first time in a week, Hteleitoril emerges from his cabin and stands beside Jerry's captain's chair. He seems somehow eager to get aboard. "I return in shame, Jerry. I don't expect you to understand this, but I bring dishonor to my people, whom I will meet here before I move on Tyokh and the journey's end. I would be honored to have you all join me as friends, but you must understand that there is some risk. Tempers will be high, and these are not unarmed servants as at Sink."
Steph makes the corrections to bring the ship into the dock as directed. "I'll go with you as friend Hteleitoril. If things do get heated, I'll stand with you, and do what I can whether that be a fight or a discussion."
She glances to Ray. "She'd prefer the fight."
Daneel nods, "Same here. But what exactly are you talking about doing?"
Steph makes the corrections to bring the ship into the dock as directed. "I'll go with you as friend Hteleitoril. If things do get heated, I'll stand with you, and do what I can whether that be a fight or a discussion."
She glances to Ray. "She'd prefer the fight."
"Fact," Ray remarks with a smirk.
Daneel nods, "Same here. But what exactly are you talking about doing?"
"Just meeting old friends," says the Aslan. "But you can never tell." Clearly, the betrayal of Ehfyohoikoaleai is on his mind.
Steph makes the corrections to bring the ship into the dock as directed. "I'll go with you as friend Hteleitoril. If things do get heated, I'll stand with you, and do what I can whether that be a fight or a discussion."
She glances to Ray. "She'd prefer the fight."
"Fact," Ray remarks with a smirk.
Hteleitoril nods his head in what passes for an Aslan smile. "Be cautious, my friends. Many Aslan are not used to humans and cannot tell the difference between male and female humans. If a male feels you have challenged him, you may be in a fight for your life. However, they will respect confidence and that you have in abundance."
_____________________________________________________________
Nemesis docks with The World, its dilapidated state made more apparent the closer you get. Several mechanics wait at the docking ring. "Maintenance and fueling services," says one youngish woman. "Best in the Sector!"
Jerry nods, forgetting that Aslan might not interpret it the same as humans.
"I could go with you, too. Perhaps diplomacy will work.
"Yes, of course. I want you all there. Let the... the, uh, technicians fix the ship. We will talk and tell tales of battle and glory!"
_________________________________________________________
You leave Nemesis in the capable hands of your mercenaries and the station techs and head on into The World.
The condition of the station is clearly precarious and yet it is vast. You wonder how much of it could be occupied. The "highport" area where offworlders are permitted is a tiny fraction of the whole. Yet the port is well-guarded by Aslan guards who erupt into terrifying roars when Hteleitoril appears. This frightening moment is soon explained when the Aslan bow deeply to Hteleitoril. Evidently, the roaring is a form of spontaneous approval, like humans clapping.
A guard, evidently an officer, speaks to him in Trokh.
The two Aslan embrace like old friends, clearly ignoring the difference in their ranks. Hteleitoril speaks in Anglic. "Ilaleifanlil, these are my companions. Please treat them well. This is Baron Jeremiah Xavier Jaramillo-Smith, Captain of Nemesis and these are his crew. Byron Hasperson, Stephanie Allison, Ray Vogel and Daneel Baley."
Ilaleifanlil nods and says in decent Anglic. "If you follow the Prince, then we are brothers. Welcome."
As you watch Hteleitoril greet the small throng of Aslan, you notice that the meetings are a mixture of joy and awkwardness. He was the leader of this group when they were very young, and set off to do great deeds. Now he is back, carrying only failure with him. He is more concerned about this than they are; most are just glad to see their childhood friend. A few leave, promising to prepare a celebration.
The group moves off the highport's concourse and into a nearby room reserved for diplomats and high-status travelers. There is a lone human woman tending bar who seems to take the sudden party in stride. Ilaleifanlil says something to Hteleitoril, who looks up at the doorway. All the Aslan freeze and this is clearly something important. In the doorway stands a female Aslan. It is difficult for a human to judge such things but you judge her to be around Hteleitoril's age. She wears the uniform of an officer of The World. She and Hteleitoril simply stare at each other for moments that seem to stretch on and on.
Hteleitoril goes to speak with her and they exchange a few tense words. Whatever he says, she clearly reacts badly. Her hands fly to her mouth and she visibly struggles to contain tears. Then, she turns on her heel and walks away, leaving the Aslan prince standing alone.
"Awkwaaaaaard," Ray remarks to her companions in a sing-song voice. Not wasting any time, she strides through the crowd to get to the bar.
"Give me something cheap," she tells the human bartender.
Steph watches the exchange between the first group and their friend carefully. It looks like it's going well, until the woman shows up. She watches that, and realizes there's a lot going on underneath.
She elbows Jerry to and nods her head in Hteleitoril's direction. "I think that might be heartbreak on her part. I'm not that close to him, want to check and see if he's all right. I hope he didn't do something stupid like reject her because he's his failure. That never works out well despite what the romance books would lead you to believe."
Byron joins Ray in getting a drink and then looks to find a seat near the door.
Daneel wanders through the crowd of Aslan, introducing himself and chatting as he moves from group to group. Though his path is aimless, He never strays too far from Hteleitoril.
Jerry stands where he was, watching the exchange between the Aslan female and Hteleitoril. He watches how Ilaleifanlil and the young Aslans respond after the female leaves the bar.
After recoling from Steph's elbow, Jerry dithers because he cannot decide between going to Hteleitoril and giving the man space.After a moment, he steels himself and approaches the man.
"Hteleitoril, would you join me at a table? And, can you recommend a drink that I should try?"
Hoping that the aslan will follow, Jerry walks towards a vacant table.
The bartender pours two drinks for Ray and Byron and they're exactly as orders - cheap. But they don't taste too bad and go well with some of the raw meats laying about on tiny trays.
Hteleitoril turns an unreadable gaze on Jerry, nods and follows him to a table. "Try the Ulokoifiael. It is made from a desert plant native to Tyokh. It is smooth but strong. Some like it flavored with sagaya, a bitter fruit."
"Thank you," replies Jerry. "I will try the Ulokoifiael."
If a server comes by, Jerry will order the recommended drink and whatever Hteleitoril wishes to drink. Once the drinks arrive, Jerry raises his glass and sniffs it.
"Ahh ... do I sip this to appreciate the flavour? Or am I supposed to drink it as quickly as possible?," he asks.
Once Hteleitoril responds, Jerry toasts the Aslan and tries the drink.
"What can we do to help you?"
"Ahh ... do I sip this to appreciate the flavour? Or am I supposed to drink it as quickly as possible?," he asks.
"It depends on your mood," the Aslan says about the drink. "Among the Aslan it is almost synonymous with bad decisions and poorly thought-out duels. But if you sip it, you will almost not even notice yourself slipping comfortably out of sobriety."
"What can we do to help you?"
Hteleitoril hefts his drink. "There is no help for me, Jerry. But there is still honor. Be my companions and stand by my side as I go home. That is all any Aslan can ask."
At this point, the uniformed female Aslan returns, drawing behind her a large box, which she brings directly to Hteleitoril. He sits stiffly as if he knows what is happening. The Aslan woman opens the case, revealing formal Aslan robes and regalia befitting the son of a clanlord.
Hteleitoril stands and grimly begins to don his regalia. The Aslan around him seem a curious mix of approval and sadness.
The woman turns to you, the human companions. "I am Elehasei. We are honored by your presence. You must come to the feast."
"Thanks, Elehasei. We're happy to come to a feast."
It's about as polite as you've ever seen Ray. Apparently, she's trying to be on good behaviour to score some free grub.
Jerry looks back and forth, regretting that he cannot speak Trokh. He leans over to whisper to Ray, "Ray, can you tell me what she asked?"