Spectators
© 2022 by Walter Reimer

Thumbnail art by  KittyDee


A kam managed to get himself free from the writhing mass of players and ran toward the goal, half-turned toward the crewmate with the ball and waving his arms and tail. “Gash! Gash! Gaoofsshhhff!” and he went down in mid-cry as a larger vir from the Bōank’s crew, charging in from the side with her shoulder down, caught him just below his ribs, lifted him off his feet, and drove him to the ground. He lay there, wheezing, as the game went on.

Varan and a few of her senior officers had politely demurred when the other cruiser’s crew had approached and proposed a game of wēarām. She had thought of joining her side, but seeing some of the hits being given and received made her regenerated knee joint ache in sympathy.

Fortunately there had only been a one-cycle time limit agreed upon. There were going be more than a few shlani needing to visit their ship’s respective surgeons.

“Zogat, Captain,” and Varan’s ears perked at the voice behind her.

“Zogat, Admiral,” and she started to scramble to her feet, but paused as Admiral k’Daridh gestured with her tail and her intact right hand. The vir sat down beside Varan and she asked, “How was your patrol, Ma’am?”

K’Daridh grimaced. “Very dull,” she said, her tail snaking up into her lap. She leaned forward to exchange greetings with the captain of the Gethrrit, seated on Varan’s opposite side, before adding for the benefit of both officers, “The Terrans didn’t want to come out to play.”

Hammer’s captain snorted. “No wēarām, then?”

“We offered a very generous match,” k’Daridh laughed. “As much time as they wanted, and a two-cruiser advantage.” Her tail made a dismissive gesture. “They weren’t interested in sports – of course, it might have been the battleship within our formation. We made no effort to hide our numbers.” She was watching the match as she spoke, and clenched her right hand as one of Varan’s crew got leveled by two opposing players. He got up limping, but trotted along after the rest of the players.

“So, everything is quiet,” Varan observed.

“Aka, yes, but we must not let our guard down again.” The admiral glanced at Varan. “Have you made more progress in the game?”

“No. I sent the module to Meredith, and she hasn’t sent it back yet.”

K’Daridh twisted in her seat, placing her right hand on Varan’s left thigh. “Are you interested in joining me in the game after lastmeal?”

Varan smiled and placed her hand on top of the admiral’s. “Of course, Vesan.”

Gethrrit ‘s crew beat the team from Bōank, three goals to two. Both teams limped off the field after receiving the plaudits from the watching members from both ships, along with the cruiser division’s admiral.