The Amelioration Expedition
Chapter 27
Marlin and Rianne rode back to the camp in a separate shuttle than Donte. Marlin was silent a few minutes, trying to think of some way to lead into the situation with Donte and Rianne. It really wasn't any of her business, but the results of their discussion might affect her job. She finally looked up to see Rianne watching her.
"You're wondering what happened between Donte and me, but you're too polite to ask," Rianne said.
Marlin merely lifted her brows in invitation.
Rianne sighed. "He said we have never stopped being mates because I can't relieve him of his vows. Only he can do that and he chose not to."
Marlin smiled. "So you are back together. I'm glad to hear that." She hesitated, still not sure how their situation would affect her. "Do I still have someone to take care of Gezant?"
Rianne gave her a wide smile. "Yes. We have decided we want to work here on Opus for as long as we are wanted and needed."
Marlin let out her breath in a silent sigh of relief. "I'm glad to hear that."
Myrick flew the lead shuttle, Paden followed it and the others were behind them. As they approached the camp, Myrick suddenly spoke on the radio.
"Gevaar!"
The lead shuttle slowed and circled the camp.
"What is wrong?" Marlin asked Paden. She understood the word. Gevaar meant danger.
"I'm not sure," Paden said. "He wants us to stay back until he's determined if it is safe for us to land."
"Why is he speaking in that language?"
Paden looked at her. "It has to be in some language. More people speak the language of Bergen than any other language on Purlieu, so in our training, many of the call words are in that language." He paused. "He's signaling us to come in."
As their shuttle lowered to the landing site, it became obvious why Myrick had sounded an alarm. The camp was a wreck.
"Stay in the shuttle, Paden said. "Let the Premier Infantry secure the site before you get out."
Donte was the first person Marlin saw. He stood still for a few minutes before motioning to the others. The infantry troops spread out, checking tents – or what was left of them – and the main building. Finally, everyone was allowed to get out of the shuttles. Marlin walked around with Gezant in her arms, horrified at the sight.
The tent sides had been ripped and everything inside had been ransacked. The food inside the dining tent had been scattered – wasted.
Marlin followed Dr. Oriana to the building. Inside, tables had been turned over, bunks were ripped and food had been thrown around. Dr. Oriana disappeared into the lab and cried out. Marlin ran to the door. Everything had been smashed. A person wouldn't think they needed to lock their doors on a planet this primitive, but obviously they were wrong.
Marlin walked back outside and saw Donte squat, looking at something on the ground. Chandler joined him and Marlin caught part of their conversation as she stopped by them.
Chandler pointed to a footprint. "Look at this. It isn't the same as the ones at the dock. See how the great toe is separated from the others by a gap, but it isn't further down like the others? I think this is a more advanced species."
Donte frowned at the footprint. "I didn't notice her feet when she climbed the ladder." He shrugged. "I wouldn't have known what it meant if I had noticed."
Donte stood and looked around. "I should have left someone to watch the place."
Chandler studied Donte. "Do you think they waited around until they saw us leave?"
Donte shook his head. "They weren't here when we left."
"Why would they do this?" Marlin asked Donte.
He looked at her. "It looks like they were angry. It's possible that they didn't realize the things we built and left for them were a peace offering. They may have thought that we were trying to take over their…water hole."
Chandler smiled. "You may be right. It might be a territorial battle."
Donte groaned. "This is my fault."
Chandler looked at him. "Maybe, but nothing can be gained by assigning blame. The question now is; how do we respond?"
Donte shook his head. "We don't."
Chandler's brows shot up. "We let them get away with this?"
"No. We clean up and continue as if nothing happened. We simply don't leave it unattended. I offended them and they retaliated. This may be the end of it."
"And if they attack us again?" Chandler asked.
"They didn't attack us," Donte said. "They destroyed our camp." He shrugged, but if they attack us, we do to them what I did to the feline."
Dr. Oriana joined them and looked at Donte. "This is what happens when you start treating them like they are human. They don't understand. You have to let them know right away that you won't permit this kind of thing."
Chandler looked at Donte, the ghost of a smile on his lips. Marlin would like to see how Donte was going to respond to Dr. Oriana. All this time Dr. Oriana had been telling them how Donte was the most experienced in defense. Now she was telling him how to handle it.
Donte didn't say anything to Dr. Oriana. He simply turned and walked away. Dr. Oriana stared after him, clearly puzzled by his reaction.
Marlin had seen Donte do that several times. Donte was either angry or hurt. Donte would do what he felt needed to be done, with or without Dr. Oriana's consent. This was what Marlin had feared when Donte brought his troops to Opus. And yet, Donte wasn't the one who was advocating violence or force. Donte's reaction was defense. Was that because he felt that Oriel was the intruder, or was it because he felt that was the best way to handle the situation?
Dr. Oriana looked at Marlin. "Well, he's you're employee, not mine. She turned and stalked back to the building."
Chandler shook his head. "She's upset. All that equipment destroyed; all that work; and she was already behind with her work."
Marlin nodded. "I know, but taking revenge on the…whatever they are, isn't going to magically put all that stuff together. Whatever we do now, the colonists will have to deal with for years to come."
"So, what are you going to do?"
Marlin looked him in the eye. "I'm going to trust Donte to handle that situation. He's the one with the military experience. Meanwhile, I'm going to finish the dock."
Chandler watched Marlin walk away and join Donte. He didn't think Marlin's trust in Donte was misplaced. Donte had made a mistake. He knew that and was feeling guilty enough without having Dr. Oriana rub his nose in it. Chandler liked Donte, and he trusted him. Everything Donte had done so far had been for the benefit of the expedition. They need not be concerned about his loyalty. Donte didn't have to step forward to assist Marlin that fateful day. He didn't have to hang onto her hand so that she pulled him in, but he did. He could have eaten his share of the food, but instead he gave it to Marlin. Unless Chandler completely misjudged Donte, Dr. Oriana didn't need to worry about Donte making it clear to the primates that aggression wouldn't be tolerated.
No doubt, Marlin would support Donte up to the point that she thought it would hamper the colonization. Chandler thought she was doing the right thing by continuing.
Marlin caught up to Donte and looked up at his face. "She's distraught about the loss of equipment."
Donte stopped and looked down at her. "I know, and I'm sorry about that. She was right, in a way. I should have known better than to build something permanent in a place that may have been sacred to them. It could be that they even felt insulted that I thought they were incapable of doing the work themselves."
Marlin hadn't even thought of the fact that the place might be sacred to them. That might be why they left them there to die. If that was the case, it proved beyond a doubt that the primates were human. Only humans thought in terms of the supernatural. Animals didn't.
Donte shook his head. "I can't begin to tell you how sorry I am about this, but attacking them isn't going to resolve anything. I still want to contact them, but I'm not sure how to do it." He glanced around. "We can mend the tents and get new equipment for Dr. Oriana, but we can't replace lives. I am most concerned about the safety of everyone. I'm glad that we were all at the dock today."
Marlin glanced back at the rustic building of the base camp. "I wonder how she would feel about building a new lab at the station." She looked up at Donte. "Would that be possible?"
Donte nodded. "I wondered about that. It would accommodate more people – as you know – but it would also put us all together. I could put my troops on it immediately if Dr. Oriana approves."
"Maybe we could all talk…" Marlin began, but Donte shook his head.
"Give her time to get over the shock. Then I'll be glad to sit down and talk with all of you. Right now, she's looking for a target. I can't say I blame her for that, but it isn't productive."
Marlin could have called a meeting and requested him to attend, but to some extent, she agreed with him. Dr. Oriana had been assigned a tremendous responsibility and so far, she had been presented with one roadblock after another. She had to be feeling pretty desperate right now.
Gezant started to fuss and Marlin looked around for Rianne. She spotted her as she walked into the building. When Marlin turned back to Donte, he was watching her with a reflective expression. He held out his hands for Gezant and Marlin surrendered her.
Donte nodded at the building. "I imagine they could use your support right now."
"Thank you," she said, and turned toward the building.
Rianne surveyed the damage and looked up at Paden. "Why would they do this?
Paden sighed. "I have no idea, but I bet Donte does."
Rianne frowned. "Do you think he caused this?"
Paden looked at her. "Possibly – indirectly and accidentally, but it's possible. Whether he did or didn't, I'm sure he's blaming himself."
Dr. Oriana walked back to the building and Marlin followed Donte. Rianne looked up at Paden. "I'm going to see if Dr. Oriana is all right."
As she walked to the building, Paden joined Chandler. That put him closer to the building and in a good position to defend it if necessary. Rianne was certain Donte had assigned Paden to guard her - and Marlin. It was nice to have that protection again.
Dr. Oriana hadn't cried in years, but after she left Donte, she went to the lab and bawled. At the moment she felt old. She was hungry, exhausted and discouraged. They would have to clean up the mess before they could cook something to eat or even go to bed. Their food supply could be replaced, but there was nothing left that hadn't been spoiled. They should go back to the Spero for the night and worry about this in the morning.
Every time they seemed to be moving forward, something happened to set them back even further. The equipment could be replaced and her notes had not been destroyed. It could have been worse. The primates could have burned the place.
The cause of her tears was not solely frustration, but shame as well. She had blamed Donte and treated him as if he didn't know what he was doing. Hadn't he suffered enough since they came to Opus? In her frustration, she had lashed out at him. He was handy and unlikely to strike back. She didn't like herself for that. What he did might or might not have caused the primates to ransack their camp. Maybe the primates felt threatened by their presence.
They shouldn't have left the camp unguarded. That was her decision, not Donte's. His troops had taken a loss in their tents, equipment and food that couldn't be quickly replaced.
Glass crunched behind her and she whirled to face the intruder, her heart racing.
Rianne caught her breath. "I didn't mean to startle you. I should have said something. I wondered if you were all right." Noting the tears running down Dr. Oriana's face, she added. "No, you're not all right."
Dr. Oriana brushed the tears from her face with the back of her hand. "I'll be fine. It's just that…" She lifted her hands in surrender as she looked around the room. "All of it is destroyed – except my notes. I still have those."
Rianne walked to her and hugged her. "Do you have more equipment on the Spero?"
Dr. Oriana nodded. "Yes, there's nothing here that we couldn't replace tomorrow, but…what if they come back?"
Rianne patted her on the arm. "The Premier Infantry is here and Donte would sense them."
Dr. Oriana hugged Rianne. She was such a sweet woman. "I know that. I meant after we fix everything and restock it."
Rianne smiled. "I don't think Donte is going to leave it unattended again. I'm sure he's ready to kick himself in the backside for letting this happen."
Dr. Oriana moved away from Rianne and sighed. "Well, I gave him some help there. This isn't his fault."
Rianne didn't say anything. At the moment Dr. Oriana was glad Rianne hadn't been there to hear her outburst.
"I have an idea," Rianne said cheerfully. When Dr. Oriana turned to look at her, she smiled again. "Why don't you go back to the Spero and get a good night's rest, and bring the things you will need tomorrow? In the meantime, we'll clean this mess and put things in order so you can start fresh tomorrow."
"We should all go back to the Spero," Dr. Oriana said.
"The Premier Infantry can't, Donte won't leave them and I don't want to leave Donte. I doubt Marlin would want to go either."
Rianne was right about all that, but something else occurred to Dr. Oriana. "All the Oriel members could go back to the Spero for the night. That would allow the troops to sleep in the building until they can repair their tents. You and Donte could have your own room for the night."
Marlin came through the door. "I think that's an excellent idea. Rianne could use a night off and…well, she and Donte would finally have a little privacy." She looked uncertain. "But you have no food."
"There is food in the shuttle, along with the equipment. They would never leave all their livelihood in an unprotected tent.
Dr. Oriana nodded, lifting her hands, palms up, in surrender. "And there you have the results of a well-trained militia." She looked at Marlin. "Let's pick up what we need and get back to the Spero. I'm starving."
***
Donte was glad Dr. Oriana had decided to go back to the Spero for the night. She had been under a lot of stress for a long time and needed the rest.
They moved the remaining shuttles close to the building and brought some food into the building. Rianne cooked a meal while the others cleaned. They started in the lab and worked through the building, sweeping and disposing of everything that had been destroyed. Then they righted the bunks and put the sleeping rooms in order. Before they went to bed, the building looked clean and orderly. When Dr. Oriana and her group arrived the next day, they would be able to set up and start working.
Quade and Akira slept in one shuttle while Joep and Famke slept in the other. Gara slept in the lab and the rest of the troops slept in the men's room. Donte and Rianne had the women's room. They dragged the thin mattresses off two bunks and put them beside each other on the floor. It wasn't the most comfortable bed, but it was a lot better than the rocky floor of the cavern. It didn't take Rianne long to help him forget about that, though. They didn't get much sleep; partly because they spent so much time talking about their plans for the future as well as the situation with Opus.
Gerritt had Mai, and Donte had Rianne. They were both fortunate to have a good woman at their side who would support them. Gerritt probably already knew Mai needed his support as well. It had taken Donte thirty years to figure that out. Fortunately, he had a lot of years left to make up for his foolishness.
In the morning, they left the building clean and ready for the expedition members. Using patching materials, they repaired all the tents while Rianne cleaned their dining tent and cooked the morning meal. By the time the shuttle arrived from the Spero, everything was in order in their camp.
They had lost a day, but they had gained some vital information – or so they thought. The expedition team and Rianne were all working inside the building when Donte sensed the primates. He would have ordered everyone into the shuttles, but they would probably be caught in the open. They were safer where they were. Saar was working beside Donte, restacking rocks around the perimeter that had been disturbed by the primates. When he saw Donte stiffen and stand straight and alert. Saar drew his weapon.
Donte tapped his medallion. "We have two groups of primates approaching and they are moving fast. Everyone in the building stay there and close the doors and windows. He pointed right and left of him. Premier Infantry, I want you on both sides of me. Have your weapons ready."
He was silent for a few minutes, sensing. Then he told them what he knew. "The first group is frightened. I think they are running from the second group. I sense aggression from the second group."
Donte was beginning to have an idea what had happened, but there wasn't time to think hard on it. He looked at Saar. "Let the first group in. I think they are running to us for protection."
Saar looked at him and lifted a brow. "So you think the peace offering may have worked?"
Donte nodded. "Get ready."
He had barley issued the command before the first primate came into the clearing. It was the female they had seen in the cavern. Donte stepped to the side and motioned for her to come through.
The female lifted an arm and the other's cautiously followed her, watching Donte and Saar suspiciously. The other primates were all younger females and apparently too frightened to do anything else. Donte and Saar closed the gap and Donte spoke without turning.
"Paden, keep an eye on them."
"Yes Monomi," Paden answered instantly.
Donte backed up a little. "Give them room to come into the clearing and don't fire until I give the command."
The first primates burst into the clearing and skidded to a stop. They were all males and armed with spears. Two more male primates bumped into the first three before they could stop. They were also armed with spears. The first primate kept his attention on Donte. He eyed Donte from head to toe, before shifting his attention to Saar. One by one, he studied each member of the infantry.
Donte sensed when the primate's initial fear abated. He probably thought they were all unarmed. Gradually Donte sensed the aggression return. The man pointed at the females and said something. It wasn't necessary to know their language to understand that they wanted the females.
Donte shook his head. "No."
The primate lifted his spear in a threatening way and repeated his command.
Donte had his laser on stun and fired at a stick between them. The stick broke and flew into the air in separate pieces. Dust and smoke rose from the ground as the pieces fell. The leader jumped back and lowered his weapon. He studied Donte's hand before lifting a hostile gaze to Donte's eyes.
Donte had to admire his fortitude. He wasn't ready to back down.
The primate lifted his weapon again, his gaze traveling back and forth between Donte's eyes and the weapon. The way he disregarded the others made Donte think the primate probably believed Donte was the only threat.
The primate pointed at the females and his command was more forceful. When Donte didn't respond, he turned and spoke to the others. Donte sensed that some of the primates still in the forest were spreading out. He informed his group and their attention shifted to the trees.
The primate looked confused for a moment. He lifted his spear again, obviously ready to throw it at Donte.
Donte motioned with his hand and spoke in a firm voice. "Down." He pointed at the Spear.
The primate wouldn't know what he was saying but he would understand the intent – if not at first, then certainly by the second time he fired.
The primate didn't hesitate. He pulled his arm back to throw the spear and Donte fired again, this time at the primate's chest.
The primate dropped his spear and fell to the ground. He clutched his chest and groaned, his eyes imploring Donte not to do that again.
Donte looked at the two other visible primates. "Down," he said again and pointed at their spears. They dropped their spears. He pointed along the trees and motioned them to come forward. They slowly stepped from the trees; their spears ready.
Donte spoke to his men. "Set your lasers on stun."
The troops followed his instructions, one at a time so that the intruders were covered at all times. When the last one had complied, he gave them the next instruction.
"Do what I did and disarm them."
The troops didn't have to say it twice. All the primates dropped their spears. They understood now that they were not facing one threat. With their leader still on the ground moaning, they didn't know what to do. Donte was surprised that, when he fired the first time, they didn't all run. Even more surprising was their continued aggression. They obviously felt that the females were their territory. The females obviously felt otherwise.
Maybe this was the way primates mated, but he doubted it. "Chandler and Marlin," he said into his medallion. "Can you come out here? I don't know what to think about this situation."
Soft Science Fiction
