Old times

Posted on 02 Jan 2015 @ 2:10pm by Commander Allyndra illm Warraquim

3,213 words; about a 16 minute read

Mission: Episode 07 - Sojourn
Location: Rigel VII
Timeline: MD19 1500

ON:

Allyndra stepped out into the intense sunlight. Even though the dark glasses she wore everything seemed in sharp relief and the heat and humidity surrounded her. Already she could feel herself warming under the sun and the cloak she wore just made it that much faster.

The streets were a hustle and bustle of people most of whom were natives. There were of course a fair amount of off-worlders like herself and most of the Orion natives were used to them but a few glanced her way but there was nothing in her cloak and glasses to be remarked about than several other humanoids other that the metallic streaks in her hair that shone with an intense shine under the light.

Allyndra turned her steps toward the center of the town and one of the most important places, the slave market. There was of course the traditional battering here and it was a draw for many tourists.

The day was hot and after a point she found herself panting from the heat. Though Akkadian physiology was not homeothermic, one could still get overheated and perhaps more easily so. The cloak did not help especially as it was dark and heavy enough to conceal her wings. She was not sure exactly why she had decided to hide them here. Perhaps maybe because there were writings in the archives of people matching Orions indicating that they had raided at least a few of the failed colonies.

Of course most had been rescued. There was as far as Allyndra was aware not even now a ship that could do what a Fold ship could do. Still she was curious about the people, she knew that one reason for the old raids was the substances in the Akkadian bite. A hedonistic and sensual people the Orions and she could see how the flame of bite could arouse to heated passion these people.

Several vendors as she walked offered various delicacies, wares and vices but Allyndra did not swerve her steps but just periodically made a polite 'no thank you'. Finally she arrived at the market. She would be amoung only a handful of non-Orions to watch the proceedings. The market was inside a building that seemed to sport a cloth roof on it. As she stepped into the place even to her less sensitive nostrils the impact was almost palpable. A heady and euphoric feeling enveloped her and she could feel the thrill of excitement course through her. The buzz of the voices filled the air as well as the smell of drink, sweat and perfumes.
She could see the reason for the cloth roof, such an enclosed place otherwise would have trapped the heady mix even more so.

While the roof dimmed the light from outside only a bit, Allyndra found she needed to take off the dark glasses in order to see well. She moved to a gallery up and away from the main part but close enough to be able to see the proceedings. The seats were all wood and worn by many years of posteriors polishing them. She had to fuss a bit to get seated though, the cloak covering the wings and the wings themselves were difficult to get arranged. Finally she got settled and just in time before others began to fill in.

Across the way a older Orion woman who sat in a seat of prominence leaned forward. She had watched the foreigners come in and in her long practiced way had judged what each would fetch if they were on the block. Her family had been in this business for a long time. Her attention though was caught by the woman with the willowy figure. The dark glasses were not unusual but a cloak and in this heat she wondered, it did not make sense. She watched as the woman found a spot where no one else was at yet and fussed with the cloak. Small flashes caught the sunlight for a moment before the cloak concealed whatever was hidden. Miran was now very intrigued by this woman and now the glasses were off she could see glints as bits of sunlight reflected off the auction blocks as the cloth covering shifted in the breeze.
Could it be, Miran wondered, could it be one of those beings that she had read about from her families older and perhaps somewhat darker days.

Miran ignored all the rest of beings now filling the space her focus squarely on the woman across the way. She even paid scant attention to the offerings when the auction started and continued to watch the willowy woman across the way. The early morning auction was almost at an end and finally Miran made up her mind.
She waved one hand in a lanquid fashion and almost as if by magic Jorath appeared.
Miran glanced up at him and smiled, he was even amoungest Orion males a magnificent specimen. His head was smooth and his body rippled with muscles and he must have topped most other men by a good head and a half. Not only was he a wonderful physical specimen but he was loyal. Why wouldn't he, Miran dismissed the thought. His family was poor and on hard times and he had sold himself to help them. A service of ten years was almost up and yet Miran knew he had eyes on one of her younger daughters, a match even she favoured, though she would miss him in her own bed. His prospects had much improved, freedom now just a year away and entering into a house that was much richer than his old. He knew it and thus made sure every duty was fulfilled as best he could.

"Mistress," he said quietly but with a low rumble that Miran loved.

"See that woman there," Miran nodded with her chin, "the one in cloak. Invite her to come sit with me."

"Yes, and if she should refuse?" Jorath asked with his eyes fixed hard on the target.

"Insist, but politely mind you," Miran replied with her own implied tone.

Jorath bowed and disappeared right after a "Yes Mistress."

The morning auction was almost finished and Allyndra had watched the whole thing. There would be another in awhile but already many were departing before the afternoon one got underway to find food and drink. The auction house was more than warm and the day was definitely a hot one even by normal Rigel standards. Allyndra figured she should do the same and she had satisfied her curiosity about the place. Just as she stood and began to make her way to the aisle, a tall heavy muscled Orion male came to stand at the end. He barely had much more than a harness and a loin cloth over his body and his green skin had a slight sheen. He looked like some warrior almost out of a holo-novel and Allyndra could picture him in her mind's eye with a large bladed weapon. He had nothing like that but then he did the oddest, well at least to her mind, thing. He bowed with his palms pressed together in front of him like a depiction of an Earth style genie.

In a deep rumble but with the softest tone the man said, "My mistress invites you to her private box lady."

Allyndra was puzzled but she remembered seeing what looked like well appointed places across the main floor from her. "Thank you, but I think I am done for the day here."

He did not move. "It is a great honour and while you are not of the Ur'eon, it would be considered a slight to refuse." He raised his head slightly, "She would be displeased with me if I did not return with you."

Allynrda sighed. She had no other place she really needed to be and she did not want this man to be disciplined nor cause an incident so she finally made a small curtsey and said with almost a sigh, "Very well."

The man straightened and pivoted on one foot with a smooth practiced motion and with open palms moved both arms to indicate the direction. He waited until she had cleared the row and then began to walk toward the other end. Allyndra could not help but notice that while he lead he also put himself between her and the easiest path to the exit.

Though the distance was not long, Allyndra felt herself starting to pant, the heat was rising as the day went on. While her home world was warmer then the ship this place and environment was even more so.

Finally they arrived at the back of the main boxes and the man pulled the curtain to one and said a few words which Allyndra did not pick up nor understand. A woman's voice answered and again with that two handed gesture he bade her to enter.

Allyndra stepped into the box and a woman was sitting there. She had turned in the chair to observe and her eyes were sharp. Only the smallest of lines betrayed the fact that she had some age on her but otherwise her face and body were by female standards very pleasing. For a moment there was silence before the woman said, "Jorath, please fetch cold sweet tea for our guest." The man bowed and disappeared and then the woman again regarded Allyndra. "I am Miran. Forgive me but I could not help but notice you across the way. Please though have a seat."

Miran as the woman had named herself patted a seat in invite but the way and the tone of the voice indicated it was not really an offer but a request. Allyndra moved to take a seat and Miran again with the cool commanding voice said, "Take the cloak off, it is too hot here and besides I already know what it conceals."

Allyndra looked at the woman but she complied more because of the fact that it had become unbearable. Allyndra had just unfastened the cloak when another servant appeared out of the shadows of the box and took it form her in silence.

Miran regarded the woman. She had been correct, this was one of those, the eyes and the wings matched the description. Her eyes roamed quickly over and even if the rest of the tale was not true, a being like this would have fetched a princely sum.

"I am curious...?" Miran prompted for a name.

Allyndra made a small curtsey before taking a seat and replied, "Allyndra illm Waraquim, but Allyndra is fine."

Miran mouthed the words for a moment as though savouring the words on the tongue. "Allyndra, it is a pretty name. As I said, I am curious Allyndra. My family roots stretch back many generations and we have been in this business for a very long time. As a young woman I would read the family history and they mentioned at one time a people such as yours."

Allyndra had read her own people's archives and she knew that it had mentioned that some of the colonies had been raided. She decided that she would reveal that and played ignorant. "Really? As far as I know there has never been any Akkadians off planet until a generation back. You must be mistaken Lady Miran."

Miran tilted her head back and regarded the woman. She then smiled, it was a smile full of knowing and amusement. "You are good Allyndra, but not quite good enough. I have spent probably too many wasted hours in the gambling dens and even more in the slave houses. Your statement and your voice timbre do not match, I think you know more. However, let me ask you this.." Miran stopped as Jorath brought the tea and set it down. She then waved him back and he melted into the shadows in the back silent as a statue.

"According to the old records, these beings which had wings like yours and only amoung the woman, also fed on blood and in doing so produced what is described as the most potent aphrodisiac. " Miran leaned forward her eyes glittering in gold flashes and she continued, "they were considered extremely valuable. I think they were your people, and yet you say there is no record of such things?" Miran looked hard again at her guest and then shrugged. "Perhaps such encounters in the far past have been forgotten amoungest your people, they have amoung mine as well. Still I am curious Allyndra if at least part of the old tale is true."

Allyndra shook her head in the negative and stood. "If I think you are asking what I think you are asking, then the answer is no," Allyndra said as politely as she could and turned. The big male, Jorath stepped forward to block the way but Miran waved a hand again. "No, no she is a guest. A pity Allyndra for if it is true then much profit could be made. If you change your mind send word."

Allyndra said nothing but made a little curtsey and left. She hurried along the streets though as far as she could see no one followed her. After a point her mind turned to the implication that there was at least someone here that had knowledge of the old times. While a few on her world like she knew the truth of the matter, the vast majority did not know of the past. Such inquiries if they were pursued would be troubling. She stopped dead in her tracks as she went through that thought.

Slowly turning she headed back to the slave market. The journey back even though she went at a slower place than when she left seemed to go by much faster and she entered the place. Already a mostly new crowd was there and the call and cry of the various aspects of the slaves and calls from the boxes came periodically.

Allyndra turned from the general section toward the main boxes of the major houses and holders as she remembered but she got only a few feet before a couple of big male guards stepped forward.

"This area is restricted miss," the one on the right spoke gently but there was a firmness to the tone.

Allyndra nodded but said, "Is it possible to have a message sent to Miran?"

One looked at the other and nodded. "Yes, what is it?"

"Her previous guest has returned and wishes to discuss a...matter further."

The guard to the left turned quietly and disappeared for a moment. He returned shortly with the even bigger Jorath in tow. Jorath nodded and said something in the native language which Allyndra did not understand. The two guards stood to the side and Jorath without a word waved his hands in invite that she should precede him.

Allyndra picked her way through the darkened corridors but she remembered the design and found the correct box and entered.

Miran looked up as she entered and smiled. "Ah, you return have you reconsidered then?"

"In a way, yes," Allyndra replied.

Miran's gold eyes regarded her again with that appraising look and then invited Allyndra again to her previous seat.

"A way? Well," Miran continued with a smile, "you have some of the merchant in you. I am surprised but come let me hear in way what has changed your mind."

Allyndra took the offered seat. "I will admit I did not tell the truth that I had no idea what you were talking about. There are old records as well as to people matching the description of Orions coming to some of the colonies. I would imagine that it did not take long to learn about my people's peculiarities either."

Allyndra leaned forward slightly, "I am a physician aboard a Star Fleet vessel." She hoped that might put a dampner on whatever this woman had in mind especially if it involved her personally. The Orion did not even twitch though. "I know quite well how our bite can affect others. The medical knowledge is out there that certain complex peptides will induce euphoria as well as act as an aphrodisiac. However, Akkadia is a nearly closed world and thus I do not see what you hope to gain? There are not many of us off world, less than the fingers of one hand."

Miran pursed her lips. While she had not ever seen one of these creatures before she had assumed while rare they were more than that. It presented a problem.
"Why is that?" Mina asked.

"Planetary politics," Allyndra responded. There was not a lot of need to go into a long background.

Miran narrowed her eyes but decided that the woman before her was telling the truth. "The old history seems to indicate that was not the case at one time. Things changed then. I am curious as to why?"

The question was both one that Allyndra anticipated but also one that came perilously close to things that came to things that best be left alone. It seemed the best course was to play a little ignorant. "The Council decided that it was not in our best interest as to why that is something only they know."

Miran looked puzzled for a moment but then she decided she did not know these people or their politics and would have to take the statement at face value. "A pity, much profit could be made. Even if some entered into service for even a specified time." Miran nodded her chin toward the auction which she was not paying any attention to and continued, "These are seldom life time bindings. These days, mostly down on luck individuals or families rather than raids or conquests. As such it gives them time to earn a little while being sheltered. I am not saying it is an easy life but better than begging. Oh yes, there are some of my kind that still raid, but even here they are not welcome anymore. It brings hostility from others which these days we can ill afford. The same book that mentioned your kind also mentioned that those who raided ended up being destroyed and another was never conducted again against your people. It does not specifically say why but I can only imagine that whatever happened left a distinct impression."

Miran turned her attention back to Allyndra. "I must admit though I sometimes long for the old days when we were a little less civilized but freer."

Allyndra made a half-smile, "Sometimes I think the same." She kept her thoughts to herself though but while many mistakes had been made in the past, there were still marvels beyound measure that her people had achieved and then all but forgotten. The Council was slow and reluctant and in her opinion bound to much to the past. Perhaps, Allyndra speculated, if someone came like the Orions of old then the threat would be the imputes to move.

Miran lifted her glass and said, "To old times."

Allyndra's forgotten tea was still sitting there and she reached for it and then clinked it against the Orion's and added, "To Old Times."

RSS Feed