Page 62 of Experimental Voyage
I loved the animals, and I would have an entire herd of them if given a chance.
Of course, with Plague being as she was, my ten new death horses would end up going to my future clan, and I’d hope I could raise up a little filly to join Plague’s herd. I doubted she’d accept an adult—but perhaps she would tolerate fillies that I could breed with Pestilence.
I would be inconsolable without death horses in my life.
“Excellent.” The Veloc exchanged looks, and they hooted and otherwise called to each other. While I had a long way to go speaking their language, especially without the assistance of my chips, I understood enough of the conversation to learn they were uncertain if they could transport my animals without difficulties.
“Plague and Pestilence are training for space travel. They can use standard quarters for a stall, and they will use a waste bin when provided with one. They have some etiquette issues we’re working on, but it’s hard to teach them those when we aren’t in space. They understand how to stall themselves in quarters, as that was a basic requirement. If you have a stall setup, they will ride in the cargo bay for landing and takeoff as long as they can roam the ship later. They’re quite intelligent.”
They had failed a few tests for having full sentience, but they had passed enough of them that they enjoyed special protections. Their home world would enter a protectorate, although I had no idea which race would oversee it. As I had been the one to discover their intellect, I would retain my claim rights, something Viva had arranged.
She felt if I worked with the animals, they would have the best chance of survival and a good life on any world suitable for their life.
As I would do far more than fly across the entire universe and pick fights with Veloc to keep Plague and Pestilence, I figured the woman had the right idea.
“I am Xaltri. My brother is Geltri. We belong to the Sun Feet.” The pair showed off their plumage.
One day, I might understand why Veloc siblings had similar names. “Yulgali and Fogali suggested the feet, tails, and hands fight over me, because I am more inclined to correct Veloc with wholesome levels of violence.” I hesitated, shrugged, and added, “And steal their baubles should they fail to defend themselves properly.”
“We have seen videos of your theft. It was a thing of beauty, especially as you growled and hissed at the interloping Veloc attempting to bar you from your prize. If you wish for us to showcase our prowess for you to be adopted, this is something we will do with much glee. Your spirit is a little bright for thecrests and other similar clans. Although should your romancing of the Emerald Cresthomo sapiensgo well, you will delight your adopting clan, for Emerald Crest hatchlings are quite desirable. They have excellent coloration, temperament, and enjoyment of life—and members of my clan and similar appreciate that. All clans will end up attempting to display suitable prowess for your approval.”
I patted Plague’s neck and freed her from her hackamore so she could play with the Veloc. “Being friendly with my death horses is a requirement, and she loves to engage Veloc in her game.”
Both Veloc hooted their laughter, and without any further encouragement, they stalked towards Plague, who pranced in place and waited for them to engage.
It would take them a while to get on her back, as she was swift, agile, and determined to win. I went to Pestilence, dug through the saddlebag for their curry comb, and went to work rewarding the stallion for his good behavior.
Pestilence loved the brush, and he would stand still for hours and enjoy every stroke.
Sure enough, Plague played her little heart out, exhausting herself to the point that Xaltri, whom I identified solely by size, managed to scramble onto her back. He immediately praised her and petted her neck, careful of his claws. His coos won him her appreciation, and she turned her head to cuddle with the feathered murder machine.
With the game finished, I put her hackamore back on, made sure to praise her again, and decided I would walk so we wouldn’t tire her out further. Once on the ship and she had her quarters, I expected she’d conk out, lying on the floor so she’d be secure enough for takeoff.
Training them to lie down for takeoff had cost me my sanity, but upon hearing ‘takeoff positions,’ they would drop to the floor and wait until the all clear was given to stand back up.
“So, about a ship getting out of here,” I prompted, standing between my animals and giving them plenty of slack on their lines so they could sniff at the plants and otherwise satisfy their curiosity. It meant I’d have to wait for them here and there, but tired death horses would not cause a fuss during the boarding process.
I hoped.
“There might be a ship capable of taking you off world from here, but the pilot is rather cantankerous.”
I narrowed my eyes. While Viva could be cantankerous when things went wrong, there was only one pilot I could think of matching such a description with any association with the Veloc: Waldren.
“Waldren’s here?”
The Veloc hooted their amusement, and after a few moments, Xaltri bobbed his head. “His ship underwent some refittings, and the parts he needed were here. They are being installed, but he is having some trouble with his shiftgems. Likely a mounting bracket issue.”
Mounting brackets would ultimately be the leading cause of mechanics losing their tenuous grip on sanity. “His ship is broken, he’s stuck in the spaceport, and he has to get a specialized mechanic?”
“You are qualified to do the work. We have seen your certifications. You have natural aptitude and drive. We were unawarehomo sapienscould learn with the rapidity you have, but it will be good for young Waldren to be partnered with someone who will always challenge him.”
“To be fair, I spent a decade at a school that taught me all the foundations. I just managed to apply the foundations in a swift fashion.”
In reality, I suspected my old school had been slow to release us from their educational crutches to squeeze every last credit they could out of us. That reality had pained me, but I accepted what I couldn’t change—and their methods had resulted in my rapid graduation from numerous certification courses.
Then, having learned about the Veloc, I eyed both of them in open suspicion. “You didn’t break his ship on purpose, did you?”
“I wouldn’t call itbreaking. I would call it the clever replacement of key components in such a way someone lacking in certification will not be readily able to handle,” Geltri informed me in a solemn tone. “And as this world boasts the best certified mechanics for these sorts of systems, it forced him to limp his ship here.”
