A couple of days later, Zahra walked through the corridors of the ship with Logan and another man, Blake. Other members of their crew trailed a little further behind them through the corridor as they looked around the foreign ship.
"Still can't believe the Sri’thaens blew up the base." Blake shook his head. Most of them still found it hard to believe. No survivors had been found despite their new alien allies searching for several hours, combing the entire debris field, just in case. No survivors. All souls lost.
"Thankfully our new companions have agreed to take us to the next outpost." Zahra said, trying to find something cheerful for them. So many lives lost between their crew and that of the base. It wasn’t including any of the other colonies or ships that’d been lost to the Sri’thaen war.
"And like you said commander, maybe we can make some new allies." Logan said, ever hopeful. Maybe it was his age, but he seemed to be rebounding from the loss of so much life decently well. But Zahra was still ready in case he suddenly broke down.
"Depends if they want to join a war." Zahra knew the Kellians had only joined in because their queen was human. Otherwise, the Kellians would have stayed out of the war, despite being an ally.
"Maybe we can negotiate some assistance." Logan shrugged, “Even if they don’t want to assist fully, they might bewilling to share resources or technology. Or even provide our ships some safe space in which to retreat or stage from.”
"Again, depends if we have anything of interest for them." Zahra countered. “An ally would want something in return, and seeing how advanced they are, I don’t think we’d have much to offer them.”
Zahra looked over to one side of the hallway and saw a wall of glass. Approaching, she smiled when she noticed it was a training area inside the ship. "Who wants to do something other than wandering around the ship and talking?" Zahra asked, eager to burn off some energy and some pent-up emotions.
"I'd be up for some training." Logan nodded enthusiastically.
Blake nodded his head in agreement. "Might also give us a chance to see some of their weapons, like those plasma spears. I’d love to get my hands on them and see how they work."
"Don't find any trouble." Zahra leveled a stern gaze on the crewmembers that had followed her around the ship.
“If they tell me the weapons are off limits, I'll leave them alone." Blake held his hands up in the air.
As they entered the training area, she saw some of the aliens sparring in one section of the massive room. They shouldn't mind sharing… surely. If her people stayed off to one side, they shouldn’t interfere with any training the aliens were in the middle of practicing.
"Let's start out with some hand to hand combat. I don't want them thinking we're abnormally interested in their weapons." Zahra guided her people over to a section of the training area that was off in a corner.
"You and me then?" Logan assumed a fighting crouch as he faced Blake.
Zahra leaned back against the wall and watched her men begin to wrestle. Other members of the crew also stoodback to watch and comment on the fighting styles, sometimes yelling a bit of encouragement or advise.
Not only was this good practice for them, but it'd allow her crew to get out any pent-up energy. She'd been a little worried they might go a bit stir crazy and start some shit with their saviors. Especially, when it came to Blake. The man could be a bit quick to act or say things before truly thinking them over.
Her eyes slid over to where the aliens trained, and she spotted Khaazai. The male was hard to miss. He wore that same black skirt with blue trim. She wondered if it had its own name like the Scots of Earth had kilts. Khaazai moved with a grace she'd never have expected from his tall, massively built frame. It was almost like watching some form of dance as he ducked and lunged with his opponent. He wore no shirt today, leaving his torso bare for her perusal. And peruse she did.
"Commander."
"Huh?" Zahra turned to look back at her crew.
Delilah laughed when she looked over at the alien men fighting. "I think our commander was a bit distracted by the view." She winked at Logan as she slapped his back.
Zahra frowned but found herself unable to deny Delilah's comment. But seeing the sparkle in the other woman's eyes, Zahra would bet she wasn't the only one watching the show those alien men had been putting on. They moved faster than a human and the power of each blow could be felt across the room.
"Commander!" A deep voice called out from behind her from where the aliens had been fighting.
Zahra spun away from her crew and saw a wooden spear headed straight for her. Thankfully, it came at her length wise, and she grabbed it right out of the air. She looked it over, twisting it this way and that. Lightweight. She wondered if thistraining stick was supposed to simulate fighting with one of those plasma spears the aliens possessed.
"Dare to challenge me?"
Zahra looked up dumbly to find Khaazai standing nearby. He’d been the one to toss the wooden spear at her.
"Well, commander?" Delilah asked with a quirked eyebrow, and a glint in her eyes as her smile broadened.
"Can't let us down.” Logan chimed in. “Got to show them what we got.” He pumped a fist into the air.
"You two can't be serious." Zahra rolled her eyes. “I don’t stand a chance.”
"He asked you." Dahlia smiled sweetly as Zahra glanced back over at Khaazai. “Wouldn’t want to say no and risk insulting him.” She whispered lower just for Zahra’s ears.
