Captain Hunt turned to his first officer.
“We have just received a video feed from Lieutenant Commander Stone. Apparently, the Ollustra have suffered for centuries and they been culled to the point of extinction.”
“This was from Stone?”
“Some. A good portion of this was told by an Ollustra.”
“They can speak?”
“Well, they can now.”
Hunt rubbed his face and when he spoke, there was a heaviness in his voice. “How is that going to make me feel better?”
Holts was silent. The captain was right. He sat down and looked at the planet on the holoscreen from across the captain's desk.
“I don't think anyone can truly appreciate the enormity of all of this unless they themselves are facing it. Honestly, hundreds of years ago we mined the Earth for all its resources, driven hundreds of species to extinction without a second's thought. And when activists told us to stop? We gave the same hollow arguments like culture, tradition, pride. Sound like something you've heard recently? Well, now we're the ones about to go away... the view from the other side of the table isn't so pretty is it?”
“Karma?”
“And regret. These are the words, commander, that are going to haunt us in these last days.”
…
“And now you have the memories and the knowledge of these merman?” asked DeSelle.
“Not all, just Squeak. Well, that's not his name, but yes. That's why I know it will work.”
“That would also mean that we have to leave Sparr behind on the planet,” B'loor finally said and stood up. “That is one thing I cannot allow.”
“You?” asked DeSelle.
“Look B'loor, I have been a soldier nearly all my life, and the last thing I would do is leave someone behind. But these are not ordinary circumstances. Sparr will die if we take him back to Starlight. I don't see us having many options now.”
“Doctor, certainly you would not agree to this.”
“Actually, I'd have to concur with Stone. I have to act in the best interest of my patient.”
“This is my doing, I should be the one responsible for Sparr.”
“We do not have a lot of time to debate this. The island I'm talking about is an hour away. Squeak is already on his way there. He will explain to his tribe about all this, but we need to hurry, Commander Holts says that Yusei extraction teams will come for us very soon.”
B'loor didn't say anything. With his strong arms he picked up Sparr and walked to the landing barge.
…
Squeak watched as the aliens-who-walk entered the cave. It must have been quite a task from them to hike their way down through the intricate passageways to the mouth of this half-submerged cave. Squeak knew that Stone's training would have made their descent easier, he also knew that having his memories made navigating through the rocks a lot simpler as well.
“This way!” said Squeak as soon as he heard the hi-pitched greeting from Stone. Although not perfect, that was all the human vocal cords could manage. Squeak smiled and his heart fluttered.
More mermen swam up to where Stone and his men stood, at the edge of the dark pool that flooded the rest of the cave. They pushed in front of them a floating granite that was just big enough for them to place Sparr on it. Sparr was drifting in and out of consciousness again. The relief he felt an hour ago had dissipated. Right now he felt as if there was being inside him eating him alive.
The mermen pushed the granite and Sparr deeper into the cave until they all disappeared into the shadows.
The men tried to follow but Squeak swam in front of them and held out his hands.
“You cannot go with him. These caves are sacred. We cannot allow too many visitors.”
“How will he breathe underwater?” asked DeSelle.
“Do not worry. We will care for him.”
“While I respect and appreciate what you are doing for Lieutenant Sparr, I will be going with him. I will be staying back,” said B'loor first to Squeak and then to the two men behind him.
Squeak looked at the T'aal and finally nodded. B'loor gave one fleeting look at his shipmates and jumped into the water.
“B'loor, are you sure about this?”
“I am doctor. I am.”
“Then you're gonna need this,” said Stone tossing him a backpack that had some basic equipment and rations.
“Thank you,” the T'aal said and proceeded to swim away without looking back.
“I guess it's our turn to leave,” said the doctor.
Stone wasn't listening. All the while his eyes were glued to Squeak. His heart ached and he could sense that the boy felt the same. He jumped into the water and pulled Squeak to him. At first they just stared at each without any words. Words weren't necessary for when they met and they were certainly useless now.
“I'll wait for you outside,” mumbled DeSelle and proceeded out.
Stone kissed the boy, forcefully and hard at first and Squeak reciprocated. Their lips softened and they tasted each others' breaths in a final lingering deep kiss. Stone knew that they may not meet again and this bond that they now share was about to be torn, no, ripped apart. Squeak wrapped his tail around the human and Stone tried desperately to remember the merman's scent by smelling his neck and shoulders.
…
“How long do you think this connection will last?” asked DeSelle softly as the landing barge left orbit. It wouldn't be long before they reached the ship. He could hear Nesper signaling Starlight to receive them in ten minutes.
Stone sat quietly looking out of the craft's window. DeSelle couldn't read his expression, but he knew the torment he must be going through right now. Stone's training taught him to suppress unnecessary emotions and always putting the mission ahead of everything else. And Stone was a good soldier. They even have a nickname for him but Stone couldn't remember what it was now.
“I don't know,” Stone said after a while. His voice no louder than a whisper. “I stopped being able to hear him after we took off.”
DeSelle squeezed his knee.
“Then maybe it's for the best. Think of how lucky you are having found each other and shared so much in such a short time.”
“I am the lucky one here. I'm sure I'll forget him over time. Not Squeak though.”
“How so?”
“For one thing doctor, the merman, they mate for life.”
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