Page 30 of Agrippa's Acceptance

“It is the Tunrian home world and I am not your mate,” Amelagar bit out.

“You will obey orders marine,” Colonel Farnham snapped in a voice that would get anyone in line.

“How long will I be away from my human,” Anatu asked sullenly from the bridge and the marines rolled their eyes.

“The mission will be at least ten years longer,” Agrippa said gently. It may take longer, but the speed at which their ship moved shaved of years of any journey. She planned to refine it during their journey so that it shaved off months, maybe years.

Chapter Twenty-Two

“Can this ship make it to Tunria?” The colonel asked Amelagar.

“Yes, but even with the cloaking device it might be impossible to get to the surface and the clone temples.”

“And we have to find a way to warn earth what’s coming at them.”

Colonel Farnham frowned. “We take one of their ships and we go and bomb those clone temples back to hell.”

“This ship cannot fall into their hands if we are captured,” Amelagar said.

Agrippa didn’t know why he wanted to send the clone temples to another place, she didn’t think they had the tech to do that, but she was beginning to think her brave cyborg could do anything.

Anatu made a strange sound and all of them surged upright. Anatu looked over her shoulder at them, her eyes enormous. “The ship is talking to me.”

They all rushed back to the bridge. The space was too small for everyone to crowd around Anatu so they took their seats. Amelagar held Agrippa back until the marines were seated. “What is it saying?”

“It says it likes us. We painted his name on the ship which he calls as his body. Now it will help us with our mission.” She frowned and looked up at them. Looking bewildered. “He said if we tell him a story he will help us take one of the clone ships for our mission.”

Everyone looked confused, but Agrippa remembered little Tansyn telling her ship liked stories. Why wouldn’t this ship like stories also. She cleared her throat. “I know a story I think it might like.”

Amelagar nodded. “Go ahead.”

“A long time ago a young male fell in love with a female. They were different and therefore could not be together. That was a time lost in myth, before Tunrian had ryhov. They pined for each other and would have died if the goddess did not take pity on them. She gave them ryhov, but split it in two, which reflected the souls she put into their new synchronised bodies and thereafter all their descendants had ryhov.”

The marines muttered among themselves, clearly not impressed with her story telling skills but she didn’t care. They needed the help of the ship.

Anatu’s tablet lighted up again. “The ship says it prefers stories about wolves.”

“Wolves?” They exchanged baffled glances.

Anatu looked thoughtful. “I believe the human child told the Rising Sun stories about wolves.”

The Tunrians glanced at the marines.

“Sergeant Bjorn, tell the story of the three little pigs,” Colonel Farnham barked.

Sergeant Bjorn looked ready to commit murder, but he told his horrific story through gritted teeth.

“You tell this to children?” It was a miracle human children grew up to be normal.

“Human children love that story.”

“So does this ship,” Anatu said. “It will help us take one of the clone ships.”

“Just like that,” sergeant Scott muttered.

“How?” Colonel Farnham was clearly sceptical.

Anatu looked at her tablet. He says with stories.”

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