Bear followed me and my superiors into the ship at a leisurely dog trot.
The corridors were neat, like any Xittol ship, in stark contrast to their sloppy speech. The walls had clearly marked cabinets all over them: X.21,303. X.21,679. And all the cubbies held objects of increasing value to sell.
We found an area marked Medbay and entered. It was a small room. Xittol didn't like spending large amounts of money on something they don't often use. There, in the only bed was that Qu'naH, laying like he deserved someone's pity. He would never tell the story as I did. He would lie to get me trouble. But that is where this whole thing made no sense...I shouldn't be in trouble for killing my brother, much less injuring him to get my command back.
"Warrior. Let us begin. Name, rank, and position." Vekk prompted.
"Name: Fenebok. Rank: 4, Warrior. Position:....unknown." Fenebok answered.
Vekk looked at me, then Kikulon, and back to me. Kikulon just sat staring at Fenebok.
Supreme Admiral Vekk spoke up again, "Warrior Fenebok. Please, in your own words, describe the incident that left you so critically incapacitated."
Fenebok tried to sit up. Purposely, he yelped helplessly, and fell back down. He said, "It all started when the Kqorrians attacked. I told Vogefac we could defeat them easily, but he decided we should just turn back. As first officer, it was my duty to prevent Vogefac from doing anything dishonorable. So, I knocked him out and took command of the ship. You'll find the concussion on his right temporal lobe."
"LIAR!," I screamed, "LIAR!!! That was the concussion I got from your stupidity and war-mongering attitude! You worthless, honorless qu'n––"
"THAT'S QUITE ENOUGH Vogefac," Kikulon interrupted. I sat back, fuming visibly. That ungrateful pile of xa'leyr! I helped him achieve his present rank. I promoted him from rank 1, Cadet, to Warrior in ONE DAY. And he still lied to the most important person in the great Defense Force.
"As I was saying. You'll find the concussion on his right temporal lobe."
As the doctor scanned me, he continued, "Once he was out, I took command of the Serelav. For the glorious event ahead, I silently renamed it the Zetylon."
The doctor interrupted, saying, "It is true. He does have a concussion there. It appears to be not only kinetic damage, but literal, energy, like from a weapon. A Sol-claw for instance."
Neither Zekk or Kikulon seemed to find this odd. Fenebok continued.
"The battle was glorious!! The Kqorrian star-hawk went down like a Xenobulan Aac-ot Bird! Of course, it was still to late. In my brothers hesitation...the Zetylon had been severely damaged. So, when he came to, and resumed command we landed here. This bar. We had hoped to get repairs. But instead, Vogefac made me and a few cadets fix the ship back up. Vogefac went into the bar, and got some rev'maak ale and got drunk. He came back out and told us to stay on the ship while he took off. Obviously, I had to stop him. I jumped down and told him not to do it. But, as I said he was drunk. So he intended to do it anyway. I slapped him again. He said he was going to kill me. So, I knocked him out. Then, one of the officers alerted me to a Kqorrian presence somewhere in theAurkawzen sector, as you very precisely, intelligently predicted Prime Sovereign."
A Xittol shook it's head. For it seemed this Reptilinod was a firm believer in Xittol Rule of Obtainment #474: It never hurts to suck up to the boss. It was pitiful, however, for any Reptilinod to do that. Surely Vekk and Kikulon would see through his lies.
"I had to take command again, so I left for the Aurkawzen sector without Vogefac. After I finished with the Kqorrians, a Terran ship came out of Z-space. Captained by a particular John human, and Vogefac. The terran blasted a hole in my––Vogefac's ship and then boarded it. Vogefac grabbed a Sol-claw from the Armory, and the John Human had two particle beams, and a...pet of some kind. Surely it was dishonorable to rely on such a petty source of help, weak humans, I thought to myself. The incapacitated me, and brought the ship back. Vogefac called up a Xittoli freighter and arranged for my transport to Gogen II. Then, we encountered each other, and the rest you know." Fenebok finished.
I felt miserably idiotic. I had left details out of my recounting. How could I have been ignorant? Fenebok's story sounded more convincing than the truth, simply because he told a long detailed account.
{Ok, Bear. You should probably tell John what's happening.}
Wait...I knew there was a discrepancy in Fenebok's tale, but I couldn't quite place it...
