Descend- Seeing Stars by Sean Oswald (the ebook reader .TXT) 📕

      “I have only just now learned it. I apologize if I sound odd. It was necessary for me to alter my mouth to be able to speak it properly.”

      “That is an impressive ability, but it is apparently the least of what you can do. I must say that from what I was told about the Forlorn, I did not expect you to stop and speak to us. However, never let it be said that Jad-bal-ja is not strong enough to speak with a foe,” the golden maned Leon growled back.

      “You have been mis-informed then. We are not Forlorn. We are the enemies of the Forlorn and have only recently left a vessel like this leviathan where your people are housed. I presume that the A’snkarnt brought you here from your world and were experimenting upon you to teach you how to fight the Forlorn,” Jay replied.

      Again there was confusion, but the creature again responded, “If what you say is true then why are there no A’snkarnt with you? And why do some of your females have those metallic bodies?”

      Jay looked around at his people. All of them have the B.O.B. armor on but must have some type of upgraded tech attached to their armor and some of Miguel’s people were in small personal mechas. He yelled at them to get out of the armor.

      “Those are not cybernetic implants like the Forlorn use. We are entirely organic creatures just as you are. These things are like the armor and weapons that your people use.” The demonstration proved Jay’s words to be true.

      “What is it that you seek then?”

“One of my children was taken by an A’snkarnt who was supposed to be our friend. I want my son back and I want an explanation for this from the being in question. Besides that, I want the A’snkarnt to answer for what they have done to my people. They have destroyed our home world and now all that remains of my race is here. They sought to make us a weapon to fight the Forlorn and I would hold them accountable for that,” Jay answered.

      “And are you enemies of the A’snkarnt or the Forlorn?” The elder asked.

      “Both. We will never trust the A’snkarnt, but I might be persuaded to leave them in peace if they will leave my people to be. From what I have seen the Forlorn must be exterminated, so in that much at least the A’snkarnt were correct. There is no bargaining with them.

      “Now though the question remains. Do you speak on behalf of your people and if so, are you willing to negotiate with us?”

      “You did not look like any of the other Forlorn that I have seen, although I was told that they can take other forms. I am inclined to accept that you are not Forlorn. And a male must do what is necessary to protect his females and cubs, but you or your women have killed many of my people today.

      I am but one member of the council of elders. They may not be willing to speak with you, but I will suggest it. In the meantime, you may have to think of what you can offer in recompense for nearly a thousand lives.”

The elder was cut off by one of his females who came up to him. She was wearing the same robes that covered most of her frame down to her knees but looked like they would still have allowed her to spring into action. She differed from the other females in that around her neck was a necklace that appeared to be made of some type of red crystal.

      That necklace was now glowing. Jay was fairly sure it hadn’t been glowing when they arrived. He focused on his Precognition but there was no danger warning coming. Either the necklace represented an attack, and it was no threat to them because of his dome, or it wasn’t an attack.

The elder nearly backhanded her at first when she came up to him until she held her palm upturned, and a small red flame appeared in it. That seemed to get his attention. A flurry of communication started and three of the other Leon women pulled out various objects from their robes. Each had a brilliant crystal on it, whether green, blue, or purple and all were glowing.

      The Leon elder turned back to them. Jay didn’t know how to read the man’s body language but if he had been a human, Jay would have thought it displayed uncertainty. “Very well, I will meet with the council and if it pleases the Source, we shall meet upon this plain with you at first light tomorrow. But you must agree to keep all of your females on our ship.”

      “I will agree to that except that four of them at a time will stand guard immediately outside of the ship. And you must have your people stay at least a mile back from the ship, “Jay replied.

      “So it shall be,” Jad-bal-ja said. Then without waiting any further he turned and left followed by his females although the ones with the crystals kept staring back at Jay.

      He didn’t know what that was all about, but it was definitely going to be something to think about later. Now though he had some wives to spank. Well, not literally, or most likely not literally, but he definitely was going to give them a piece of his mind.

Chapter 18- Jay Gets Angry

      The cat people began to slowly withdraw while Jay started guiding his group back. He made sure to keep the dome up even as he shrunk it to channel it