“I wish we had some weapons right about now,” I muttered.
“Me too,” he replied grimly. “If they’d survived the crash, they’d be in our hands right now.”
The hatch swung open with a grinding protest of hinges, and cold air rushed into the chamber along with a small gust of the acrid-smelling atmosphere outside. For a moment, all I could see were dark silhouettes against the gray morning light. Then they stepped inside, and I got my first clear look at our uninvited visitors.
There were six of them, tall and imposing in heavy cloaks that obscured their forms. They wore full face masks that looked like some kind of breathing apparatus, with tubes and filters that suggested the outside air was as poisonous to them as it was to us. They moved with military precision, spreading out to cover the room’s exits in a combat-type of formation.
I peered around Torven’s shoulder. My curiosity warred with very real fear. They were humanoid, that much was clear, but their bulk suggested they were larger and more heavily built than either humans or Destrans. The way they held themselves, the coordination of their movements—these weren’t random scavengers or desperate survivors. This was an organized force with clear objectives. If they were here to kill us, we were fucked.
The figure in the lead stepped forward and slowly reachedup to pull back his hood. While the rest of his party stood still and covered in their garments, his movements were deliberate and nonthreatening. Calm, even, like this was just another day for him. I could feel Torven’s muscles coiled tight with readiness to fight if this went bad.
The leader then removed the breathing mask to reveal features that made me gasp in recognition. He was definitely humanoid, with all the facial features that Destrans and humans had in common. The bone structure was similar, but everything was more robust. His skin was thicker and more weathered than a Destran’s, with a texture that reminded me of leather. Most striking were his eyes, which shifted from pale blue to vivid green as I watched. His age was anyone’s guess, but judging by the quiet confidence and clear control he had, I guessed he was an older, more seasoned leader.
Torven’s body remained rigid and ready. “Who are you?”
The male didn’t reply, but continued his careful reveal, pushing back his cloak to show clothing that looked handmade but well-fitted and sophisticated.
When he finally spoke, his voice was deep and gravelly, but the words that emerged made my heart race with excitement. “I am called Vikkat. Leader of this search party.” His pronunciation was careful, the syntax slightly off but understandable. “It is helpful that we can speak with each other.”
The language was definitely related to Destran. Similar root words, comparable grammatical structures, but simplified somehow. Like hearing an ancient dialect of a modern tongue. This was one of the more surreal experiences of my life. Whowerethese people?
Torven slowly lowered his makeshift weapon, though he didn’t relax his defensive posture. “You understand us?”
Vikkat nodded. “We detected ship crash. Then heard transmission intercept. Came to investigate.”
“I’m Captain Torven Korvath of the Destran transport ship Teg-2991B,” Torven said. “We came on a research mission. We mean you no harm.”
Vikkat’s gaze shifted to the scrap metal in Torven’s hand. “Then drop metal.” He spread his arms. “We aim no weapons at you.”
“There’sno waythey came here unarmed,” he muttered to me. “I guarantee they have blasters or something under those cloaks.”
“Do what he says,” I whispered back. “They seem peaceful. Don’t provoke them.”
I felt, more than saw, Vikkat’s gaze shift from Torven to me, and when I stepped to the side of Torven, I saw curiosity light in Vikkat’s shifting eyes. “You are not of same people. Different origins.”
My scientific excitement overrode my caution. This was a first-contact situation, possibly with a lost branch of Destran evolution, and I was not going to miss the opportunity to learn everything I could.
“I’m human,” I said. “My name is Zara, a female from the planet Earth. We’re here on a mission to see if this planet is the original home world of the Destran people.” I gestured to Torven, almost like showing off a new transport vehicle at a show. It wasn’t the effect I was going for, but I barreled on. “I can’t help but notice the linguistic similarities, the physiologicalmarkers that make it very likely that your two species are at least distantly related—this is incredible!”
Vikkat blinked. His expression shifted to something that might have been amusement. “Female speaks with much energy. You know of us, the D’tran people?”
“That’s what your species is called?” Oh,nowwe were getting somewhere. “I’m not a phylogenist, rather my specialty is in atmospheric science, but I’m aware of theories about divergent evolution among Destran populations,” I said, my words tumbling over each other in my excitement. “But I never imagined we’d encounter evidence of—”
“Rivers,” Torven said. “Stop.”
But Vikkat seemed more interested than offended, though he shook his head. Holding up a hand, he said, “Too fast. Many words.” But then he stepped closer and studied both of us with clear fascination. When his gaze fell on Torven’s neck, something changed in his expression.
“You bearsarak-tamarkings,” he said, pointing to the mating marks. “Traveler signs. One who changes path. Journeys long before coming home to nest with mate.”
My mouth fell open. “You can read them? The marks?”
In response, he pulled up one long sleeve. Intricate markings covered his inner forearm with patterns similar to Torven’s mating marks, but far more extensive. “All D’tran read the old language. Yours is clear.” His brow furrowed. “Looks new.”
“It is new,” Torven said with a rough voice. “For a Destran, these marks only appear when we come in contact with our true mate.”
Vikkat nodded in my direction. “This female yours?”
Torven nodded. “Mine.”
