Chapter 195: (The War) (2/2)

The female Telkan turned, wiping her eyes. ”Come, loved ones, we need to go home.”

”Momma tired?” the podling asked.

”Momma's tired,” the female Telkan said. She looked at the male Telkan and patted the urn again. ”Thank you, again.”

”It was the least I could do. I'm sorry I wasn't there,” the male Telkan said.

”Everyone thought you were dead. We've all seen what you went through,” the female said, shaking her head. ”You gave much.”

”He gave all,” the male Telkan said.

”Home. Is raining. Podlings need warm,” the broodcarrier Elisha'anti said, her voice low and soft.

”Let's go,” the female Telkan agreed. She held her broodcarrier's hands, the large two year old podlings holding the broodcarrier's tail, and walked down the sidewalk to a waiting hovercar.

”Take care of yourself, my friend,” the Frestilik said, touching the male Telkan's shoulder.

”You too, my friend,” the male Telkan said, returning the gesture.

The Frestilik left, going out to a waiting taxi.

”Our old lives are now gone forever. I do not know if I am glad or not. It seems there should be a reminder of what we endured, what we have escaped from,” the Shavashan said softly.

”The Great Forge is reminder enough,” the male Telkan said, shuddering.

”Be well,” the Shavashan said. She nodded and moved away, looking into her nesting purse to check on her sleeping hatchlings.

The Ikeekik waited a moment, the looked at the Telkan male, who was staring at the building as if he could somehow divine its past and future by just staring. She shivered slightly, seeing the cybernetic eye, its frame black warsteel instead of the more common durachrome or prosthetic blending types.

”Is your mate and broodcarriers well?” the Ikeekik asked slowly.

”My mate is stressed, but that is to be expected,” the male Telkan said.

”I will go now. My chicks should be out of the rain,” the Ikeekik said.

”Be well, old friend,” the male Telkan said.

”This is the last time we see each other, isn't it?” the Ikeekik asked softly, their voice full of pain.

”Yes,” the male Telkan said.

”Please, do not lose the part of you that told quiet jokes on the bus ride home,” the Ikeekik said. ”Do not them take that last part of you as they took so much from all of us in that terrible place.”

”I will not,” the male Telkan said. ”Be well, old friend.”

The Ikeekik touched the male Telkan and left, opening an umbrella and hobbing down the street, leaving only the lean male Terran and the male Telkan.

”Come a long way since here, haven't you?” the male Terran asked.

”Yes,” the Telkan said. He gave a long sigh. ”Sometimes I just wonder...” he let his words trail off.

”Sometimes, so do I. I've been Space Force for centuries and sometimes I look back and wonder,” the Terran said. He touched the Telkan's shoulder. ”Just remember, there's no going back. Even if you wanted to, nothing goes backwards but C+ shells.”

The Telkan gave a very-humanesque snort of laughter. ”C+ shells, cures all your ills. Apply as directed.”

The lean Terran barked a laughed. ”You'll do fine, sir.”

”Thank you, Sergeant,” the Telkan said. ”You staying here or being deployed out? Heard the Second Wave is about to hit Lanaktallan Space.”

”That's just rumors, sir, you know that,” the Terran Sergeant grinned. ”I'm staying here. They want the Army to dig in on Telkan-1 and Telkan-2. I'm assigned here for another eight years anyway, they don't need me somewhere,” he looked up at the sky then back down at the Telkan. ”How about you, sir?”

The Telkan nodded. ”Pulling out soon.”

”Come home safe, son,” the only Sergeant who would call the Telkan that said. He touched the Telkan's shoulder. ”You want a ride back?”

The Telkan male shook his head. ”No. I'll ride the bus.”

”If you're sure, sir,” the Terran said, shrugging. He turned and left, leaving the male Telkan staring at where the new building was taking place.

”Worker Vuxten, you are fined one hour's pay for loitering,” the Telkan whispered to himself.

After a long moment he turned and left, walking quietly through the rain to the bus stop. He sat, staring at the damaged buildings that were still being repaired or, if they were too damaged or had too dark of a past, demolished. Several Telkan sat near him, and an Ikeekik with a clutch of tiny cheeplings in her nesting purse sat and kept glancing at him. She surreptitiously took a picture of the male Telkan with the cyber-eye with her phone, putting it up on her social media account.

The bus showed up and they all filed aboard. The male Telkan stared out the window as the bus slowly moved through the route, lost in thought, lost in painful memories of fear and pain.

At the gate to the Space Force Telkan Marine base the bus stopped and the male Telkan got off the bus, moving slowly and a little stiffly. The gate guards recognized him without even consulting their implants and saluted as he moved by. He just nodded, walking slowly up the street.

He looked at the buildings, at the two parks, at the swimming pool.

The pool is reserved for podlings... he thought to himself, his lips twisting in a wry expression. He shook his head.

When he reached the nice little house he slowly walked up the walk.

”Worker Vuxten, you are fined one hour's pay for tardiness,” he whispered to himself as he reached for the front door.

The door opened to reveal a female Telkan, white fur on her muzzle, around her eyes and ears.

The female Telkan hugged the male. ”Are you all right?” she asked softly into his ear.

”I will be,” the male said. ”Let's go inside. I want to be with you, our broodcarriers, and our podlings.”

The door closed behind them.

Inside the house, he sat down for the last dinner he'd have with his family until it was all over with. Afterwards he played with the podlings while his wife and broodcarriers sat on the couch, holding each other's hands and watching.

Much later his implant woke him. He got up carefully and quietly so as not to disturb his wife or his broodcarriers. He knew his wife was awake when he touched her shoulder and whispered ”I love you. All of you.” He got dressed, knowing she was staring at him though almost closed eyes, memorizing every bit of him.

He quietly went downstairs, picking up his gear, and walked out into the night.

Other Telkan were leaving their houses as he walked out to the sidewalk, heading for the Division muster point.

He was dressed in adaptive camouflage, his brimmed hat on his head, as he walked. Some Telkan waited until he passed, others hurried out of their homes as he walked down the sidewalk.

In a long streaming line the Telkan Marines of First Telkan Marine Division made their way to the muster point in the pre-dawn darkness.

The male Telkan made sure everyone was in place, checking with company commanders, brigade and regiment commanders. Afterwards he took his place, standing next to the Commanding Officer of his unit.

On his shoulder was the crossed rifles over upraised fist in the middle of a triangle.

At the order they all filed onto the dropships. Once seated, the dropships lifted up, vanishing into the night. Leaving behind all most of them had ever known. Leaving behind friends, family, children as the dropships made their way toward the massive combat ships waiting in orbit.

The Telkan were going to war.