Tatum's War

“Well, they are certainly a resilient race.”

Dr. Oullwyyng’s voice filtered in though Tatum’s hazy consciousness. Tatum blinked his eyes and the ceiling of the medical bay slowly came into focus. His head ached, like someone had punched him. His eyes quickly darted around the room looking for MeerRhonda. When her towering frame wasn’t in his field of vision, he relaxed.

“So, I’m not dead?” Tatum struggled to sit up. “That should make my Dad happy.” He pushed off his left arm and grunted in pain.

“Nasty dislocation. Not sure how you didn’t rip your arm off, still working on that one, but it’s safe to say, you will not be using that arm for a while.” Dr. Oullwyyng reach over and helped Tatum sit up.

“Don’t you have some quick way of healing it? I mean, you are an advanced culture.” Tatum mostly teased him out of jest, but he didn’t expect the sheepish look he received.

“Ah, well, yes, but that would require a bit more time with your physiology. Since you are the first Earther on board, I haven’t had much experience with your kind.” Dr. Oullwyyng leaned it. “I could request some alone time with you.”

Tatum couldn’t tell if he was joking or not. His large yellow eyes looked deadly serious, which made Tatum recoil from him. Quickly changing subjects, he asked about the other alien women.

“Iyara?”

“Is that her name? I didn’t have a chance to ask.” Tatum said.

“Well, you should have.” Her voice boomed behind him.

Tatum turned and looked at her, surprised. Her broken arm appeared fixed, the blood cleaned up from her face, but she winced a bit every time she turned her body.

“Sorry about the cable, I didn’t know what else to do.” He rotated his arm, which hurt.

Iyara stepped up to him. Her eyes peered deep into his, and the scent of honey tickled his nose. “You should have done what I told you to do!” Her lopsided smile appeared. “I’m glad you disobeyed my orders.”

She leaned in to kiss him, when a very abrupt cough interrupted her.

“Finished here?” MeerRhonda’s voice broke the moment.

Tatum didn’t even know he had closed his eyes until the interruption.

Iyara leaned back. “Well, maybe next time.” She ran her hand over his face, passed MeerRhonda with a crisp nod of her head, and left.

Tatum watched her go.

“Is he fit? Commodore Greystone wants to see him.” MeerRhonda asked, her voice stern.

Dr. Oullwyyng nodded. “As best as I can do right now. The sonic shower will also help, so take a nice long one when you can.”

“Hey, she was going to give me a kiss!” Tatum slid off the exam table. “For saving her life.”

MeerRhonda scoffed. “Your actions almost got her killed. Don’t confuse your luck for heroics.”

He stepped up, tilted his head back and stared into her hazel eyes. “You’re just jealous I didn’t save you.”

MeerRhonda laughed this time. Everyone around the medical bay stopped and stared.

“If I need saving by you, then I’m already dead. Besides, that would have been your first kiss anyway.”

“Would not have.” Tatum lowered his eyes, then, “You don’t have to be shy, just ask if you want to kiss me for saving the station.” Tatum fixed her with his gaze.

MeerRhonda dismissed the comment with a crisp turn, and left him looking at her retreating back.

Tatum knew it would have been his second kiss. His first was an awkward moment shared with Alexa. They had been sitting on the porch of his house talking about stuff like they always did. Then as the night wore on, they kept moving closer to each other until an awkward silence ensued after a heated discussion about the stars, and then it happened. He didn’t know why, but he just leaned in and kissed her. Neither of them said anything afterwards, and then, like nothing had happened, they began discussing the idea of aliens and alien abductions. Neither of them spoke about it later, nor did it happen again. Each had filed it away as something that happened, which was neither strange nor bad. It just happened.

Smiling, Tatum turned back to Dr. Oullwyyng who stared at him as if he were a crazy man. “Hey Doc, who saved us?”

“I’ve known Cadet MeerRhonda for a long time. And in that time, I’ve never seen her laugh once much less twice in one day. I fear for you my young Earther.”

“Naw, it’s just a gift. Anyway, I’d like to thank them for saving us. My little sister would have been devastated. And, I’d have to say, I’m glad I’m alive too.”

He pointed at MeerRhonda, who waited by the door. A smug smile upon her face. “Ms. Personality.”

Tatum groaned, he knew he’d never live this down.

Tatum walked silently behind MeerRhonda. Since leaving the medical ward, and after he had to thank MeerRhonda for saving him, he had reflected upon his decision to even jump into that room with Iyara. He never considered himself courageous or even slightly heroic. He just helped when he could, but to knowingly put his life on the line was way outside his thought process. He wondered what he was thinking to make him disregard his own safety and jump in the room.

They stopped in front of an elevator. The door slid open and they entered. The ride was smooth, and quick. Tatum could actually feel the gravity growing in strength. When the elevator stopped, they were in a corridor that was slightly more polished and shiny. But overall, it still wasn’t what he expected. Then again, none of what he’d seen had been anything like the movies. Following MeerRhonda down the corridor, they came to a set of double doors. She placed her hand on a small panel that glowed upon being touched and the door slid open. They walked into a larger office area, which had a great view of the rest of the station. He could now see they were on the furthest ring from the center. He caught sight of crews’ spacewalking further down and towards the center. He assumed that was where he blew out the wall. He smiled.

“Saved the station twice in one day. I’d say you’ve had a very exciting outing.” Commodore Greystone walked in from a side door, followed by Iyara and Samurai Zulutan.

“I guess. This is all new.” Tatum flushed under the Commodore’s gaze or was it Iyara’s.

“Sit.” Commodore Greystone motioned towards a table and some chairs.

Tatum sat down. Iyara sat across from him, Samurai Zulutan next to her, the Commodore at the front and MeerRhonda next to him.

Samurai Zulutan scowled at him, which he ignored. His eyes kept floating back to Iyara, who openly eyed him with the devouring stare of a woman knowing full well what she wanted. A little uncomfortable with Iyara’s predatory stare, his eyes shifted to MeerRhonda; her face kept a neutral poise, but her eyes were clearly annoyed.

“Very well. Again, I thank you for helping Buccaneer Iyara save the station. This isn’t normally what happens on this station, and I’m quite embarrassed that you have had to help at all. But, as the TWO would say, help should be graciously acknowledged.” Commodore Greystone bowed his head in respect.

Tatum awkwardly returned the nod. “I’m not much of a hero, Commodore…”

“You’re my hero.” Iyara purred.

MeerRhonda rolled her eyes, and Samurai Zulutan’s face turned to disgust.

“He almost destroyed the station, Commodore. I don’t believe acknowledgement of this Earther’s accomplishment should be overstated.” Zulutan commented. “He should have followed orders and jettisoned the section before it got to a critical point.”

Tatum frowned. “I wasn’t going to let her die!”

“Your duty was to the station. More lives could have been lost.”

“But they weren’t.” Tatum started to continue when Iyara cut him off.

“Don’t listen to him. We’re good.” Iyara winked at him.

Commodore Greystone raised his hand. “Enough. Things worked out, but I do have to acknowledge that you got lucky. It could have been worse.”

Tatum scowled, but deep down, he understood that it could have been worse. He did get lucky. “Agreed. Well, I’m just glad I could help. Who are the TWO?”

Samurai Zulutan’s face along with MeerRhonda and even Iyara face appeared reverent at the mention of the TWO.

Commodore Greystone coughed uncomfortably, “That is for a different time. I just wanted to thank you properly and tell you that MeerRhonda will begin your combat training.”

Tatum’s eyes widened in surprise. “Wait, what? Combat training?”

The Commodore nodded. “Yes. You’ll need to have some training before you go.”

“Go? When will that be?” Tatum asked.

“Not for several months…”

“Months?” Tatum asked astonished. “I can’t be gone for months. I’ve got school, my family.” Thinking of his family made him fall silent.

“Don’t worry. Random has taken care of that. But your schooling as I told you is here. And you have to admit, this is a very good education you’re getting.” Commodore Greystone smiled.

Tatum couldn’t help but smile back. He thought about his elementary school assignment what did you do over the summer, and chuckled. But thoughts of his family sobered him up. “But my dad, and sister. I don’t want them to worry.”

“We are going to set up several sessions for you to speak to them.” Zulutan explain. “It will be your job to convince them you are okay, while not giving away where you are and what you are doing.”

“That should be easy enough, I don’t know either of those.” Tatum sat back in disgust.

“I apologize, but your assignment here is very important. We can’t afford any security leaks.” Commodore Greystone said.

“And if I refuse?” Tatum suddenly announced.

The Commodore appeared unfazed. “Then you can go home.” He stated.

Tatum was surprised by his answer and a little let down. He wasn’t sure if he was speaking the truth, but he knew he’d never go home right now. Things were too interesting.

“I guess I’ll stay.” Tatum said. “Besides, I still need to put the Ice Cat in sickbay.”

MeerRhonda’s arm came up so fast that Tatum was on his back, in the chair, on the floor before he realized what had happened.

Samurai Zulutan’s face peered over the table at him. “I’d say you have some work to do.”

“Okay.” Commodore Greystone’s voice floated over the table. “I’ll leave you two to get started.”

Tatum struggled to his feet. His sternum felt like it had been crushed in. He winced in pain while breathing gingerly. Everyone had gone. MeerRhonda stood over him like a conqueror.

“I’m really getting tired of you hitting me.” Tatum hissed. “I am hurt you know.”

“Being hurt by me, will never stop. But I hope to stop other people from hitting you. Though, I have my doubts.” She told him.

Tatum snarled and rushed her. She easily avoided his clumsy assault, and when his head impacted the wall and just before he lost consciousness, he caught a glimpse of her shaking her head in disappointment.

He woke with a splitting headache. “God, I hate her.” He placed his feet upon the floor, walked slowly over to the bathroom, bumped his left shoulder, cried out in pain, and sat on the toilet. He breathed heavily trying to control the throbbing in his shoulder. He couldn’t decide which hurt worse, his shoulder, head, chest or ego. He felt miserable. Remembering Dr. Oullwyyng’s advice about the sonic shower, Tatum finished with the toilet, undressed and climbed into the sonic shower. He pushed some buttons, and when the vibrating warmth of sound and water hit his body, he immediately felt its soothing affect. He forced his mind to relax and lost himself in the shower.

The angry buzz of the door brought him out of his sleep. Sometime in his shower he had slid down the wall, and fallen asleep. He reached up and turned the shower off, and thanked the station for not running out of hot water. Making his way out of the shower, he put a towel around him, and walked to the door. An angry MeerRhonda stared down at him with eyes full of daggers.

“You are late!” She informed him.

Tatum turned and walked to the table and sat down. “For what?”

“Training started two standard hours ago.” She stepped into the room.

“Maybe you should have told me that before slamming my face into the wall.” He moved his jaw.

“That was your own fault. Don’t telegraph your move next time. And don’t be predictable.” She folded her arms across her chest, which fit neatly in between her two breast and her third. “I sent you the information on your flexipad.”

Tatum immediately gazed down at his arm, a red blinking dot appeared near his wrist. He pushed it and a message in a different language appeared. Tatum dropped his arm. “Can’t read whatever language this is in.” He snarled.

In a huff, MeerRhonda walked over, grabbed his arm, tapped some buttons and pushed his arm back down. He could now read the message.

“Do they educate children on your world?” She asked mockingly.

“I’m not a child. And yes.” He snarled. “Don’t you have someplace to be?”

“Unfortunately, I have to waste my time training a simpleton like you.” She informed him. “Now get ready and meet me at the training facility in ten standard minutes.” MeerRhonda crisply walked out of the room ignoring him.

He scowled at the door. “I don’t like her, Flexi.” He mumbled.

Flexi beeped.

He walked along the corridor following the little map Flexi had brought up. The gravity was getting noticeably less and he found himself every so often pushing off to hard and almost slamming his head into the ceiling. Curt nods and pleasant smiles greeted him as he passed various crewmembers. Tatum still had to shake his head at the different species that he saw, and his wonder never diminished as he tried to tie them into the movies. In the short time he had been here, clearly the imagination of Hollywood tended towards the grisly and hideous versus the more humanoid creatures that he had met. And he had to admit that some of them were quite attractive. Turning down one corridor, he came upon an alien that he hadn’t seen before. He, only because there weren’t any noticeable breasts, was facing a window watching. Clearly coming from a feline type of ancestor, the swept back ears were flat against his head, stripes, like those of a tiger, colored his skin, which like MeerRhonda’s appeared to be very short hair. His build was lean and muscular, and unlike any alien he had met so far, this one had a tail that whipped back and forth agitated. When Tatum got closer, he notice one of the Sciurus species just off to the side, holding what looked like a laser gun. His eyes were intently watching the feline man. Tatum nodded to the red face alien, who nodded back as he approached.

“You are their hope?” The Feline man’s voice was soft. Like a cat purring, it resonated from his lips with ease.

Tatum stopped. “What?”

The Feline man turned and faced him. Deep amber eyes scrutinized him with the precision of a predator. His face appeared even more feline with its small nose, almond eyes, and canine teeth that were drawn back in a snarl. Tatum had never felt uncomfortable around any of the species he’d met so far, but this one gave him the chills. Hollywood could never capture the intense hatred that seeped from this creature’s eyes nor the clenched jaw and facial muscles that twitched ever so slightly with measured constraint. Tatum felt that if the Sciurus wasn’t here, that this alien would kill him. Not to inject some parasite in him nor to eat his brain, or to kill him for some trophy like a lion or rhino, but simply for fun. Pure and simple fun. Tatum had a feeling that this alien viewed all other species just the same.

“Enough talk. Move on.” The Sciurus hissed.

The Feline man slowly turned his head without wasted movement, which made the Sciurus grip his gun a little tighter. This made a smile appear on the Feline man’s face.

He turned back to Tatum. “She’ll kill you.” He said before walking on by without looking at him.

Confused, Tatum watched the feline man go. “Whose she?!” Tatum shouted.

No answer came back as the Sciurus and feline man disappeared around a corner. When Tatum walked to the window the feline man had been looking through, MeerRhonda looked up at him from the floor below.

“I have no doubt.” He mumbled.