The
Wayward Mate

Finding
One's True Self: Part 47

By
Xan Steel

As Julyna got back to Cargo Bay Three, she saw
Rubicant there talking with several of the female Derlenians that were a part
of the ship's crew. She heard him sharing his life growing up and why he ran
away, but she also heard him state that he never expected or wanted to be this
Progenitor and that all he wanted was a normal life. When he finished, they all
stood up and gave him a parting embrace as they now understood him as a person.
She walked into his little ship and sat down at the eating table to wait for
him as Iris was already there.

Once
Rubicant came in and sat down with them, she explained what she found out from
Captain Darrean about Altair, and that she tried to contact him. Only to find
out that it appeared to be true. Iris, while hurt by knowing this, wasn't as
upset as Julyna thought she might have been, and Rubicant was more indifferent.

Rubicant
spoke with a mixed tone. “I don't see him doing this willing, or maybe I should
say, that someone over him is forcing him to do this for reasons we don't know.
And while I can understand wanting to protect himself in this way, maybe it's
also to work behind the scenes to protect this ship too," he finished.

Once
repairs were complete and initial tests run to insure stability, Julyna thanked
Captain Zasher for their assistance in their repairs. He spoke one last time,
“Are you sure you wouldn't reconsider the exchange of ship design for the
weapons you need?"

“Sadly,
I'm afraid I can't do that," she replied.

Zasher
responded back to her with a gentle smile, “I understand your position, and
honestly I wouldn't either, but command wanted me to try one more time."

Julyna
gave a lighthearted laugh, “Oh of that I can understand. Sometimes their orders
lack understanding."

Zasher
give a hearty laugh, “Right?"

***

Meanwhile
back on Valdoro, Altair was reviewing his comm logs, and noticed three from
Julyna, one that was answered, one that never connected, and the third having
been blocked. Tini never told him about the first one, and wondered why, but he
never received the other ones. Which he should have being since the encryption
is meant to notify him immediately when she calls him. He reviewed the first
one and saw what had happened between them and knew the damage had been done.

Tini
walked in and saw him reviewing the log, “I'm sorry, I forgot to mention that Julyna
had called while you were sleeping a few days ago."

“Why
didn't you wake me?" he asked.

“You
told me that you didn't want to be disturbed," she replied.

“When
Julyna calls, I wanted you to wake me up. I told you that, as you knew she is
my First," Altair said his tone slightly rising.

Tini
suddenly realized what she had accidently done, “I'm sorry it slipped my mind."

Altair
looked at her, “I think deep inside you were hoping this would continue." He
felt her mind close to him with the last image of her protecting her younglings.
“I need to save this somehow, or at the very least explain things," he finished
tapping a few buttons on his computer, as the screen displayed a file being
transferred.

Tini
gone on the comm and contacted someone. They answered, “Ah Tini, it's been a
while. How can I help you?" he asked.

“Farcin,
I need you to help out Altair, He's going to need your fastest Shuttle," she urgently
explained.

“That's
a tall favor to ask of me Te'dar," he replied

“I
know, but I screwed up badly, and need to make amends," she replied.

She
watched him sigh openly before he spoke, “All right send him along, and I'll take
care of him." The comm closed out.

Altair
turned to her, “You didn't have to do that," he said in a quiet tone.

“No,
I did, because deep down you are right. I want us to continue, but not for my
sake, for my youngling's sake. This is going to hurt them a lot, but I can't
hold you to this if you can save your mateship." Tini paused as she watched him
pack a few things. “But, if they reject you, would you consider returning
here?" she asked.

He
turned to look at her and saw the seriousness of her question before speaking,
“I'll let you know either way." Then turned and left as she stood in the
doorway and watched him leave.

***

A
few days later while heading towards Dr. Graphra's station as distance distress
call came in. The distress call was coming from Altair. Static is heard throughout the message. “PLEASE *static* IF ANYONE *static* ON CALRON III. CAPITAL SHIP *static* CAN'T ESCAPE
*static mixed with explosion* BOMBING *static is heard before the comm cut out*!"
She sat there quietly contemplating. He had hurt her and severely damaged her
trust in him, by not telling her what he was doing back home. “Captain?!?"
First Officer Tygera exclaimed to her awaiting orders. Everyone was on edge.
Was Julyna going to allow him to die? Was she not going to try and patch things
up? She stood up and began to leave the bridge, “Captain please, give me
orders!" Tygera pleaded with her. She wanted them to patch things up because
she knew that he did bring joy into her life.

As
she got to the door, she reached out and strapped on inertial damping harness,
and turned back to look at her commander. “I believe your skills are mostly
tactical?" She nodded. “If you manage to beam him aboard. Make sure he's beamed
to the brig." She finished as she turned and left.

Tygera's
eyes lit up with excitement and happiness. She turned back around and hit the ship-wide
comm. “ATTENTION ALL HANDS! BATTLE STATIONS!" Everyone jumped into action on
the bridge. “Bringing weapons and shields online! Though missiles are limited."
Adreena said.

“Setting
sensors to maximum range and resolution. The database states that Calron III is
an uninhabited world." Zalina said.

Little
Miss Raybia was practically jumping up and down with excitement, “COMMANDER CAN
I?!?" She asked.

Tygera
looked at her for a moment, “You know what? Go for it!" she said.

Raybia
sqee'd in delight as she ran to the front of the bridge and activated the XZR
System. She activated the ship-wide comm, “Attention all hands. I'M GOING
MANUAL!" With that everyone everywhere on the ship grabbed an inertial damping
harness.

***

Rubicant
was still in medical while Samantha was running a few tests on him, with Iris beside
him. “What's happening?" He questioned.

“Julyna
mentioned that she is allowing Tygera to command the ship to attempt a rescue
of Altair, he's apparently close by and in danger." Iris said just as Raybia's
message came through. Samantha ran to her office and brought out two harnesses
for her and Iris and began strapping in Rubicant.

“Now
what's happening?" he asked.

“Raybia's
is been allowed to pilot the ship manually," Samantha answered.

Rubicant
closed his eyes and began to concentrate on Feros in Engineering. 'Feros, Feros
can you hear me?'

'Not
now Rube I'm in over my head.'

'I
just need to know if the stabilization tests passed on the EM-Drive.' Rubicant
said.

'Yes,
they came back all green, why?' Feros responded.

'Thanks!'
Rubicant reopened his eyes. “Computer!" It gave a sound acknowledging his
voice. “Active the EM Drive to full power and distribute the power evenly, also
allow commands from Captain Julyna and Commander Tygera. Confirm order
received."

“Order
received!" It then made a ship wide announcement. “Warning EM Drive active,
reaching full power in thirty seconds. Voice commands accepted from both
Captain Julyna, and Commander Tygera. Power distribution set to balance!"

Tygera
heard this on the bridge as Zalina spoke excitedly “Commander, power levels are
exceeding measurable levels. Computer is estimating maximum power output is
now, four hundred and twenty five percent!"

Tygera
spoke over ship wide comm. “Rubicant is this your doing?"

“Tygera,
I want to thank everyone for making me feel like I belong here. This is my gift
to you. Now let's bring home a wayward mate." He finished and Tygera thanked
him.

'Thank
you, Rubi.' Julyna said in a tearful tone mentally to him.

***

“Zalina
do we have a heading and a reading of what we are heading into?" Tygera
asked.

 
Zalina began looking over the information on her screen and reported that there was only one Capital Ship around Calron III for the moment. She sent the navigational information to Raybia, so she would be prepared. Tygera stated that she wanted this tight and fast with no extra time to battle the capital ship. Once Raybia head everything set,
she engaged the Jump Drive.

They appeared just at the edge of the Calron System,
as Raybia mapped out her path there, and told Zalina to keep an eye out for
Altair's life-sign, and to give her the information once she had it. Raybia
then set the engine to warp three and headed for Calron III and once they were
close, she shut down the warp drive and went to battle thrusters.

It didn't take long for the capital ship to notice
their approach to the planet as they began to target and fire on the Kestrel,
while Adreena targeted the incoming missile fire allowing Raybia a clear path.
Raybia pushed on past the capital ship, as Zalina sent her the information on
Altair's location. Raybia then did the unthinkable and entered the planet's
atmosphere at full speed.

***

Once they reached the location where Altair was, they
beamed him to the brig. Altair looked around and saw that he was in a ship's
brig. Thinking they had managed to capture him, he turned around and was
surprised to see Julyna. His heart leapt, and Julyna could feel it. She lowered
the security field as he came over to her with his arms open, only to be
slapped across his muzzle hard. He knew he deserved that and looked back at
her, and saw just how angry she was with him. He immediately sent her
everything that had happened, and what he had to do.

However, he could see her tears flow freely. Julyna
spoke in an angry tone. “Do you have any idea how much it hurt to find out
about this from someone else?"

Altair's tone was pleading, “I wanted to let you know,
believe me I wanted to inform you, but I was being watched by everything." He
could see her shaking visibly.

She spoke again in that same angry tone, “I should openly
ridicule you. Just to make you feel the pain I felt. I should." Julyna paused
for a second only to have Altair see her tears increase. “I, I should…" she
couldn't finish her thought.

Altair came over to her and pulled her into a tight
embrace as she pounded on his chest in defiance until she stopped and broke down
in his arms. Altair spoke softly, “I'm so sorry. Believe me, I never wanted any
of this to happen."

Julyna spoke in a somewhat muffled tone into his chest,
“Make me happy and resign."

He lifted her head to look him in the eyes as he
smiled at her, “I did that before I left Valdoro."