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Mutual Problems

“I’ve given the news from Pascoforta to the A5 Sector Federation delegates. Now we just need to wait and dock at the station after we get permission.”

“Okay, thank you. I’m fortunate to have you with me, Capisa.”

Capisa turned his head away, out of embarrassment. “Is it?” He said.

“I normally don’t deal with Federation types, especially the Terrans.”

“Why? You’re a Terran yourself, right?”

“I am, but for every Terran, a Warrior is like a pardoned war criminal, all for the sake of their politics.”

Capisa wanted to ask about the reason, but he knew Dairyu had a better reason not to talk about it. He was a Terran, while Capisa was an Aquros, so he wouldn’t understand an alien’s conflict.

Two hours later, they went out from FTL speed. There were other spaceships waiting at the Federation Space Station, a cylindrical station divided into sectors. The station was half-finished, and it was always turning to create artificial gravity for those living within. It was of the Federation’s joint effort to make a design compatible with most aliens, and thus, it had many characteristics, yet the most prominent feature was the hollow cylindrical model with ports in the middle of it.

The Station sat inside a thick nebula to deter invasions, since sector A5 was a private sector intended only for Federation space, and consisted of a nebula cloud. Yet, the cloud was more dangerous since at that state, many spaceships clustered to the station, apparently trying to try their luck, or maybe just visiting, since it’s holiday season for the Aldoons.

“Damn, we can’t get any permission to get in with all these aliens,” said Capisa. “We just need to wait a while until we’re free.”

“We can wait.”

This short statement made Capisa surprised. “Wait? But, we were attacked by a fucking parasite! That sector might be having a problem and you tell us to wait?!”

“Relax, Capisa, we aren’t the first one to tell them about that problem. In fact, we were just in the wrong place and the wrong time, so don’t think about it.”

“But…”

“If we’re the only one to report to them about a potentially savage parasite alien, we’ll be branded as the cause of the disaster, and it won’t sit well with the Federation Council due to my status as an active Warrior. You got that?”

“I think…you got the point, but still…”

“Don’t worry, I’ll do the talking. That crazy flight of yours saved us so after I talk to them, let’s talk about it over a drink. Tabs on me.”

They got permission after waiting for another half an hour, which was fast enough. The autopilot directed them to a vacant port, where there were many other smaller ships around them, mostly small sector jumpers (small passenger spaceships for short travel between sectors. Only fitted with one charge of FTL for one jump). Capisa helped Dairyu to dock the ship, since the Orient Warrior was still exhausted after that feat back in Pascoforta. Because of that, Capisa took over as the ship’s pilot to greet the port crew.

When the Aquros went out to greet the ship’s crew, a dark-skinned human stood in front of the platform, crossing his hand in front of him. He was wearing an outfit that looked similar to Dairyu’s, but with a more humanoid model.

He moved closer to Capisa and said, “So you’re the captain of this ship? I thought it is Tsukasa’s ship.”

“He’s resting inside the ship,” said Capisa. “We’ve got a long day, human, so let him rest and let me do the paperwork.”

“From a job? Strange, he never got so exhausted after a job, and he never would dock to this Station. What happened?”

Capisa led the human into the spaceship and found Dairyu still sitting at the same place, relaxing for a while. He sensed both of their arrival, as he turned the chair to face behind.

From Capisa’s point of view, it was apparent that Dairyu had lost his usual energy to walk, and he was droopy, like someone who’s about to go to sleep. His maws were open, but it was because he was talking.

“So you’re in this station, Jack?”

“I’ve just been back from a job from the Federation when I saw your ship docked here. Do you have a particular reason why you look so exhausted? Did you get siphoned by a Sacorian?”

“I haven’t been to their system yet…. Anyway, I’ve got an urgent matter to talk about with the Council, though I don’t really have the will to do it right now, or to talk to them.”

“Still mad at them?”

“Give my regards to the Terran Counselor.”

Dairyu soon dozed off after talking like that. Maybe he really was pushing himself to save an Aquros, thought Capisa. Jack then put his hand on Capisa’s shoulder and said, “Follow me, Aquros.”

As they walked through the bustling trading port, Jack said, “I’m Jackson Agawe, one of the Terran Warriors.”

“A Warrior? But your eyes…”

“Don’t get too fixed with the eyes,” said Jackson while pointing to his eyes. “So you’ve never met a human Warrior before?”

“As far as I know, Ryu is the only Warrior I’ve ever met.”

“Yes, and he’s quite notorious or famous, depending on what perspective you see of Warriors. Many Terrans resented Warriors because of many reasons I don’t want to talk about, but many aliens feel safe when they are under one’s protection. Say, what did he do to be that exhausted? Dairyu is not known to be out of shape.”

“He…saved me from some aliens by using a weird thing. I don’t know what, but I felt a gush of wind went past me when he cut through a horde of them. Is that what I hear it is? A Terran magic?”

Jackson nodded. “So he’s out of shape. That explains things.”

“What do you mean?”

“Dairyu used a wind manipulation technique that’s a natural ability for his Orient subspecies. It may be hard to explain but, Dairyu actually used one technique that’s considered a low-level magic that doesn’t expend too much energy. You do know dragon warriors’ signature weapon, right?”

“The sword?”

“Wind has a cutting property if manipulated. Dairyu’s sword can easily augment any magic type that run through it, creating an impossibly sharp sword, or so it says. I’ve met many aliens using laser swords and telekinetic abilities to fight so Warriors are not the best bounty hunter out there.”

They both exchanged stories during the long walk to the council’s meeting room, which fascinated Capisa with each detail of Jackson and Dairyu’s adventures. From Jackson, Capisa could also glimpse into the lives of the Warriors and Terran culture that consisted of a mixed race assimilated culture, which wasn’t known for the young Aquros

After a while, they reached an elevator that led them up, to the highest floor where the council sat. Capisa was worried that he couldn’t convince the council for what happened, and his uneasiness was apparent to Jackson who was beside him. He smiled to him, giving him a pat on the head, while saying, “If Dairyu was to talk about the problem, no one will believe him, but you, young Aquros, might be able to talk sense to them.”

The elevator stopped just as a ‘ding’ sound was heard. When the doors slung open, Capisa was greeted with a vast room, filled with extraordinary flora alien to Capisa. There were many aliens wandering about the hall, with some Aqura using the same artificial aquatic environment technology walking around with formal suits, which made Capisa felt embarrassed for only wearing a suit that’s considered ‘casual’ to Aqura.

Jackson led him to another room at the end of the oval hall, where a partly transparent door stopped them. It opened as soon as Jackson pulled out an ID card and showed it to the sensors. Upon reaching the interior, the door behind snapped shut, and some sensors scanned them on all sides, concluding with “Welcome, Terran Warrior Jackson Agawe and Capisa S’hor. You’re inside Aquros Council Embassy. What appointment do you have in mind?”

“C’mon, kid, it’s time for you to talk. Though I’m eligible to be in any systems, this is still your embassy,” said Jackson while poking on Capisa.

“Uhmm…I want to address the council.”

“On what occasion?”

“On…the alien outbreak in Arron mining Colony, Planet Pascoforta.”

“Please wait a moment while we process your inquiry.”

There was a wait that made Capisa even more worried. What if the counselor didn’t want to talk about the problem? It would be bad for Pascoforta and those who died in the planet.

After around 15 minutes of waiting, the computer’s female voice addressed them.

“Ambassador Tarsha will see you both. Please step outside.”

After the door opened in front of them, they were greeted with a room that resembled a pressurized airlock, with a pond at one side of the room. Capisa knew it was actually a giant aquarium since Aqura were aquatic aliens, and this embassy had all the comfort he could get on the main planet. Capisa quickly jumped to the sea and deactivated his holo-suit, feeling the water went through his gills. It was refreshing for him to be back in the sea again.

Jackson jumped down, too, using the reverse function of Capisa’s virtual environment. They swam across the vast sea to a separated room, where both stopped in front of a desk at the bottom of the aquarium.

An elderly Aquros moved to the table. He was wearing a work dress that looked very expensive in Capisa’s eyes, which was natural, considering the Aquros’ status as an ambassador.

He moved to the seat behind the table and said, “Sorry to wait. I’ve been busy after a mass parasitic outbreak of the other’s colonies.”

“W-wait…so Pascoforta is not the only one?”

“So you want to give me a report about another colony, huh? This problem is getting out of hand. Now Pascoforta falls to them, too. Just what happened there, son, tell me.”

Capisa gave him the explanation of the events occurred in Pascoforta, occasionally blowing bubbles out of his gills out of terror. He gave the ambassador a detailed explanation to what happened there.

“Hmmm….” The ambassador swam around (Aqura were sharks, so they need to move around to think clearly), thinking hard. After a while, he swam near Capisa and said, “And this Dairyu…where is he?”

“He’s currently resting after the ordeal, ambassador,” said Jackson. “I can verify this story with Dairyu if you want…”

“There’s no need for that,” interrupted the ambassador. “If the Black Orient is involved, bad things happened. You know him better than other aliens, Warrior.”

“Black Orient?”

“Apparently you don’t know your companion’s popularity, Capisa S’hor, or your family’s,” said the ambassador. “I was once involved in your family business, and that’s why I’ve known your grandfather for a while in the past, but only for a while. As for Dairyu Tsukasa…being famous can be very hard for him to tolerate.”

“Excuse me, honored shark, but…what’s Ryu to the council? Why does he so resentful to Terra?”

“For the details, you must refer to the Black Orient himself, but to make it short, it has to do with the Systema War 11 years ago, yet again, that’s none of my business.”

“So, what are you going to do with this problem?”

“The Aldoons and the Terrans suffered similar problems. Pascoforta is not the first colony planet to fall to them. We lost contact to both Hawakos and Trunsil colony planets. The Terrans lost Kepler, and the Aldoons lost Alpha-15 and Rendhas.”

“Rendhas? But…I was there! It was ravaged by pirates, not parasitic aliens!”

“That is why we must form a new meeting between us to determine if this…thing is the cause of the intergalactic distress. If Dairyu Tsukasa is available, he must stand on the witness chair to elaborate the problem.”

“Why can’t I sit there?” asked Capisa.

“Because you’re not a Warrior, nor an As’karan, so you’re a regular citizen. In this matter, a regular citizen presenting the events will not be recorded as a legitimate report, as we’re dealing with an intergalactic problem and an Aquros would give a problem with the other races.”

When the Aquros ambassador left them, they silently returned to the pressurized airlock. Both Jackson and Capisa stayed silent until they went out of the office and into the oval room, greeted by the lush garden in front of them.

“So what does he mean by your family?” asked Jackson after they went inside the elevator.

“It’s nothing. In my native planet my family is the biggest trade name for multiple products, so no wonder if the ambassador would know my family name.”

“So you’re a rich shark?”

Capisa scoffed. “If I am that rich I wouldn’t be planet-trotting being a second rate trader. Nah, I don’t like luxurious life. My father always encourages me to be hard-working, so I’m working my tail off for my living. Being the seventh of twelve can be hard, but it pays off.”

They went back to Dairyu’s ship, where Capisa found out that the Orient draconian had woken up and preparing some foods. Jackson left them both while he did some of the paperwork for the ship. Dairyu gave Capisa the food he made, and while reluctant to accept a food, he eventually took the place and took a bite of the noodle Dairyu made. It tasted strong and otherworldly for his tongue, yet it wasn’t all that bad.

“So they wanted me to appeal before the court?” said Dairyu while putting the dishes into the sonic washers. Capisa just nodded while trying to avoid eye contact, which was noticed by the draconian. This prompted Dairyu to move closer and said, “I don’t blame you, Capisa. It’s always your responsibility to help others of your race. You’re supposed to be relieved that they actually hear what you give them.”

Capisa gave Dairyu a silent treatment. In his mind, he felt responsible for falling into a political problem, and drawing Dairyu in it. For no reason at all, he felt like he made so many mistakes that caused Dairyu’s current predicament. Unsure of what he would do next, he just sat there, watching the browned glass table through to the floor, spacing out….

He returned to reality when Dairyu gave a nice pat on his hairy head. Somehow, when he saw the draconian’s expression, he knew there was an alien who felt responsible for what he had done to make Capisa involved.

“Come on. Let’s go to the meeting, and then we’ll hit the bar. I think you need to let off some steam.”

The Aquros then smiled, knowing that despite of the concerns the Warrior might gave him, he was willing to cheer an unknown Aquros, regardless of what he was.