Chapter Text
Twitching trigger fingers were just part of the job after years of non-stop combat and especially right before teleportation. Who knows what would greet him the very second his pattern was rebuilt on the surface. The three dozen S'pht that joined him in the teleportation room weren't doing his anxiety any favors, either.
"Teleporting planet-side in three... two... at least try to enjoy yourself... one."
When the tingling sensation of teleportation left his body, Jack Brice was not greeted with the usual distant sounds of orbital bombardment or the furious screeches of Pfhor alerted to his presence. Opening his eyes, he was met with a peaceful teal sky broken up not by attack ships or billowing smoke, but by the occasional wispy blue cloud.
As far as the eye could see were bright green leafy plants of all shapes and sizes. Vast plains and dense forests. Actual, honest-to-god living plant life that didn't look too poisonous or carnivorous at first glance. He'd still give the more brightly colored ones a wide berth until he was given the all clear by the natives.
It was rare to see this much green outside an ancient sewage system in this part of the galaxy, and it was a welcome sight. The S'pht who lived here must have had their work cut out for them, but with help from the S'pht'Kr, they made quite a paradise.
"J'ack? Was there an error in the teleportation process?" A voice asked and he turned towards the group of S'pht that waited in anticipation. The group was growing bigger as one-by-one they were teleported down from the ship.
He inhaled sharply, the air carried a subtle yet pleasant scent of the alien plant life rather than the rot and sewage he had grown accustomed to. "No, everything's fine, just..." He exhaled slowly and stared into the familiar looking buildings in the middle distance. "Wasn't expecting this."
"Is there something wrong?" D'anr's gentle sounds were easy to pick out of the crowd.
He was rendered speechless and could only shake his head. There wasn't time to take in the sights back on their original homeworld, and even when Jack squeezed in a break while recharging his shields or waiting for Durandal to teleport him to the next would-be massacre, the sights he did take in were less than spectacular. What remained were long abandoned by ancient warring clans, half-destroyed by Pfhor bombardment or decayed thanks to a thousand years of radiation.
"Save the sightseeing for when we're out of the docks." Durandal's voice cut through from his helmet's headset. "One of the residents ahead will guide you to the city."
"Right." Jack held up the tail end of the crowd of S'pht all headed towards the buildings in the distance. Even if this was a leisure trip, it couldn't push down the safety protocols in his head and he watched his blind spots closely. "And you said all this only took them three years to make?" He asked quietly into his headset.
"They are rather handy, aren't they?" Durandal said with a chuckle. "Now, the Jjaro space station should get most of the credit, at least for the terraforming part. Shaved what must have been fifteen or so years of back-breaking work down to three."
Jack scoffed a little. "That station would've been nice to have on Tau Ceti. Took us almost ten years just to build a livable town."
Now, 'livable' was a strong word, what with dangerous wildlife right on the cusp of civilization and constant droughts forcing them to ration their crops several times a year.
"Well, we can reminisce on the good ol' days when the tour's over with."
Jack opened his mouth to challenge what part of the 'good ol' days' the AI was talking about, but he slammed into the back of one of his fellow crewmates. He whispered an apology and looked ahead, the entire group stopped dead. A resident S'pht was speaking, but Jack was so far down the line that his translator couldn't pick up their speech. He did pick out 'Citadel' and a few instances of 'Yrro', but not much of anything else while he tried to increase the translator's range.
He thought he would have ditched this piece of junk years ago. He had picked up Pfhoric rather quickly, verbally at least, he couldn't make heads or tails of their chicken-scratch. The S'pht language, however, was so hushed and slightly varied from one clan to another that his primitive human ears couldn't pick up many of its complexities.
"J'ack." A voice called out and he turned to the source. A purple cloaked S'pht politely pushed their way through the crowd to approach him. "There you are."
He gave them a big smile. "I thought you were working today?" He laughed, pressing his knuckles against the metal fist that appeared from their cloak. "You're not playing hooky, are you?"
F'tha gave out a cheerful trill. "No, no. R'ahl offered to cover my shift."
"Well, if anyone here deserves a day off, it's you." He returned to messing with his translator.
They let out a low hum. "I disagree, but thank you."
"Uh, excuse me, could you keep it down? I'm trying to listen to our lovely host here?" Durandal chimed in. "There'll be plenty of time for you two to flirt later."
Since there wasn't a camera to glare at, Jack instead gave the irritated look he was saving for Durandal towards F'tha and pressed his index and middle fingers of his free hand to the side of his helmet.
"Apologies, Durandal." F'tha said. "I was simply expressing my enthusiasm. I am very curious to see what this planet has to offer my people."
Jack finally got the translator's range right and stood on his tiptoes to see over the crowd. Who he had decided to call their "tour guide" was still speaking, holding one of their claws out to a large, dome-shaped structure.
"--libraries of ancient S'pht scripture from the Citadel of Antiquity. We were able to recreate it from archives recovered by J'ack and Durandal during their pursuit to crush the slavers. They are available for all those who wish to read them."
Jack heard a click in his helmet and Durandal's smug voice filtered through the single, crunchy speaker on the right side. "You're all welcome for it." He was so loud that Jack winced and ripped the helmet off his head. "I am pleased to see it be of good use."
"How very humble of you." Jack whispered sarcastically into his headset once he put it back on. That could have been spoken over the S'pht network like all of the construct's other announcements, but in typical Durandal fashion: when he was given center stage, he had to take it to the next level.
Durandal hissed right back. "Oh, hush. Just be happy they included you in their special thanks."
Jack cracked a smile. "Of course they did. I didn't see you bust your ass climbing that damn tower."
"And we have plenty of lodging for any newcomers that wish to stay here." The guide added and that got Jack's attention.
"I might have to take you up on that offer someday." He called out and some of the S'pht rumbled with laughter.
A scoff crackled from his headset. "Like you'd ever leave my side."
Jack turned his head to the sky, as if trying to shoot a smug look at the ship hundreds of thousands of miles above them. "I'm not gonna stay now, but I gotta think about my future, y'know? Retirement sounds better and better after every mission and this--" He spread his arms wide towards the lush land around him. "--beats the hell out of some run-down old-folk's home on Mars."
Durandal continued to taunt him. "You think you could afford a place here with your non-existent salary? I hope you've been saving up whatever cash you've picked off of dead Pfhor because I don't offer severance pay."
Jack's shoulders shook with laughter and the tour guide spoke up.
"Compensation is not necessary for J'ack nor you, Durandal, to reside here with us. Suitable accommodations are the least we can offer you after all you have done for us."
Jack gave them a warm smile while Durandal made an interested hum.
"Now that you mention it," The AI began and Jack knew by the sound of his voice he was getting greedy again. "I wouldn't mind stretching my legs a bit. How about you give me the grand tour of the city's core?"
The S'pht let out a pleasant trill. "I would be honored, Durandal."
"You can go do whatever humans do on vacation." Durandal told Jack. "I can't detect any tropical beaches or pools within a reasonable walking distance, so a dip in the nearby swamp's the next best thing." He gave a mocking bout of laughter. "Better yet, tag along with us to the city. I'm sure it has a water treatment plant if you're looking for something more familiar to swim in."
Jack rolled his eyes. "Screw that. I haven't had breakfast yet, I'm grabbing something to eat. Enjoy your boring computer tour."
"Just because something is far beyond your pitifully small brain's comprehension doesn't mean it's boring."
Jack hoped Durandal could see him, because he hunched his back forward in an over-the-top manner and scratched the top of his helmet. "Ugh. Jack brain hurt. Jack go get food." He grunted in a firm, deep voice.
"Now you're just embarrassing yourself." Durandal sighed playfully. "Stay out of trouble, don't talk to strangers, look both ways before crossing the street. I'll meet up with you later at the docks."
Jack gave the sky a thumbs up. "Alright, sounds good. See ya."
The communication feed with the Rozinante broke off with a click and Jack was finally left with his own thoughts. As well as more than a few S'pht from the ship, the few that didn't tag along with the planet's residents and Durandal for the tour. There was F'tha, of course, but he spotted both Sh'yal and D'anr in the small crowd. Hopefully they all weren't waiting for him to chaperone this trip.
"Well, guys, where are we all headed?" He started.
F'tha floated an inch closer to him. "I will remain with you."
"Was worried you wouldn't." He found Li'jue as the others started to disperse into the city. "How about you, Doc?"
"I must search for a location selling memorabilia." Their claws twitched from under their cloak. "Yn'nos asked me to purchase something for them in their absence."
The S'pht had gift shops? More importantly, Yn'nos collected stuff from gift shops?
"Alright." He nodded to them. "Good luck, get them something nice."
"That is the plan." They said as they headed into the city.
"May I remain with Friend J'ack?" A small voice asked from behind and he turned to see a small form move between Sh'yal and D'anr.
In just a span of six weeks, the ship's newest member, Vr'shi, went from indistinguishable fleshy speck in a giant test tube to a small, but very S'pht-shaped form. The transfer into their exoskeleton went off without a hitch and they were given a red cloak to wear, to match their parents'. They still had a little trouble maneuvering with their new body, which, according to Li'jue, was completely normal during the first few months of a S'pht's life.
Jack didn't know what weirded him out more, how quickly they aged or how they already had the mannerisms of an adult S'pht.
"No." Sh'yal said firmly. "We have already discussed this thoroughly on the ship, Vr'shi, please remain by our side at all times."
"Yes. You must introduce yourself to our clans." D'anr added. "Do not make any excuses."
Vr'shi spun around to look at Jack, their over-sized cloak fluttering out in all directions. "Please, Friend J'ack? May I remain with you?"
D'anr made an exhausted sort of sound that just made Jack feel sorry for them. Vacationing with kids was a universally stressful experience, it seemed. If they were lucky, the city provided whatever would be qualified as a daycare service so the two of them could have some quality alone time.
He wondered if all S'pht children possessed this much stubborn curiosity or if his and Durandal's bad habits had indeed rubbed off on them.
"I'm gonna side with your folks on this one, kiddo." Jack pulled a sad smile. "I think it'd be best if you stay with them for now. Next time, alright? Promise."
"I will assist you all that I can." They insisted, hovering closer to Jack. They ignored D'anr's outstretched hand and Sh'yal's insistence to return to their side.
Even with lack of facial features, the tone of their voice had Jack picturing the biggest puppy-dog eyes and a pouting lip. For a split second, he felt he was talking a human child out of a potential temper tantrum. "I'm sure you can, buddy, but--"
"Introducing yourself to your clan..." F'tha floated beside Jack. They then made an awkward noise and corrected themself. "Clans is a great honor. You may not have another time to do so in the near future, so take this time to be with the ones you are bonded with."
Vr'shi backed away slowly and D'anr rested their hand on their tiny shoulder plate. "Very well. I understand. I will see you when we return, Friend J'ack."
"You bet. Have fun, okay?" Jack said softly.
D'anr gave a thankful chirp to both of them. Jack returned it with a smile and waved the three of them off as they joined the others.
He released his held breath and looked at F'tha. "Thanks for the save. I was supposed to be their fun uncle, but I feel like their dad most of the time."
He didn't doubt Sh'yal and D'anr's parenting skills, but lately all Vr'shi wanted to do was to spend time with him. He didn't mind it a whole lot until it started to cut into his physical training. That was when their Uncle Durandal had enough and limited their contact to evenings.
"You display many parental attributes, J'ack." F'tha explained while the remaining S'pht broke off from the group and headed into several directions. "It is entirely possible that due to these attributes, they simply gravitate towards you."
Jack couldn't help but laugh. "Like what? Like how I can crack open a Pfhor's exoskeleton like a pinata? How is that a parental attribute?"
F'tha made a low rumbling noise, one that Jack had long since recognized as laughter. "Your methods may be unorthodox, but the reasons behind said methods are the same. Durandal and yourself are heroes amongst the S'pht. We see the both of you as a protective presence and understand that we are safe under your watch. If I had to assume, Vr'shi has heard of your exploits from Sh'yal and D'anr and simply wishes to see them for themself."
His smile sunk into a grimace. He decided it was best to ignore the chilling implications of shared parenthood with the mouthy AI. "No kid should have to see how we protect you guys. Let them enjoy a little innocence first before reality crashes into them at light-speed."
He sadly spoke from experience.
F'tha made a sound that was both calming and somber. "We S'pht are no strangers to combat and bloodshed. To learn at a young age is to learn from our ancestors."
That brought flashbacks of the terminals he came across while scaling the Citadel of Antiquity, how the ancient S'pht had waged war against one another before the Pfhor had found them. Violence was unfortunately etched into their very beings. Just another thing that he had in common with them.
It had gotten very quiet very quickly. Jack took a look around him, the small group of S'pht he had been left with weren't anywhere to be seen. "Looks like we got left behind."
F'tha looked around as well. "It seems so."
Jack pulled a mischievous smile and led F'tha in the opposite direction of the city. "Eh, screw the tour, let's see what this planet has to offer."
"Very well." F'tha followed him closely. "Should I inform Durandal of our departure?"
He looked at them from over his shoulder. "And have him third-wheeling us the whole time? Nah. Let him have his fun with the city's computers."
The two reached the end of the path by the docks and crossed into the grass. Jack's boots sunk into the damp earth while the ends of F'tha's purple cloak began to soak up moisture.
"So." Jack started, looking at the thick bluish-green grass at his feet. "Is this what Lh'owon looked like back in the day?"
"I do not know firsthand." F'tha said. "I gained sentience when the Pfhor still had us enslaved and I was not born on Lh'owon. But many elders and the S'pht'Kr had expressed feelings of nostalgia when we teleported down. So, in answer to your question: yes, I believe this is what our planet once looked like when Yrro still reigned."
"Gotta say, I'm kinda jealous." Jack smiled, watching the sunlight filter through thin, green leaves. "My home planet never looked this good. Just orange and brown as far as the eye could see. It didn't matter if you were outside for a minute or three hours, dust would find every single teeny tiny seam in your suit and stay in there for weeks. It was a bitch to get out. My mom got sick of cleaning them after a few years and just had me and my sis leave our suits at the front door so we wouldn't track dirt through the house."
F'tha hummed and turned to watch Jack as he spoke. He may have been complaining, but there was a hint of nostalgia in his voice. Not to mention the smile on his face that had yet to leave. In fact, it had only grown bigger.
"Tau Ceti was a little better, hell for starters it had native plant-life and surface water, but it was still a hassle to--"
Sloshing water caught his attention and his head snapped to the right. There was movement in the nearby swamp. An all-too-familiar grunt set his nerves on edge.
Sure enough, the green form of a F'lickta rose from the algae and slowly lumbered through the muck. It didn't seem to see the two of them standing not more than twenty feet away from it.
Immediately, Jack reached for his sidearm. This thing was too close to the city to be considered safe and he knew where there was one F'lickta, there was at least a dozen more hiding in the waters below.
He needed to take care of them before they became a serious threat to the S'pht living in the city's outer limits.
A metal arm reached out in front of him, blocking him from getting any closer. "No, J'ack." F'tha said firmly in a lowered voice. "Leave it be."
F'tha's movement and voice got its attention, but it only stopped to look at them. It didn't even raise a claw to throw a handful of sludge their way.
Jack's eyes kept darting between the F'lickta and F'tha's faceplate, hand still twitching against his holster. "It sees us, F'tha." He whispered through his clenched teeth. "It's close to the city, it's gonna--"
"And it will do no harm if we--" They floated backward very slowly, pushing Jack with them. "--leave its territory."
He stepped out of the muck and back onto the damp grass.
The F'lickta grunted again and Jack took hold of the grip of his gun, but it still did not approach. Instead, it turned away and dove into the murky water.
"Huh." Jack let go of his gun and let his tensed muscles relax. He looked down at his boots, he didn't even notice he had stepped into the water.
F'tha lowered their arm and turned to Jack. "The F'lickta were spared the destruction of Lh'owon just like us. They have as much right to live here as the S'pht." They kept moving up the path, keeping clear of the water's edge.
The F'lickta on Lh'owon didn't give Jack the best first impression. Those creatures were always riled up due to the Pfhor's constant breaching of their territory. Like any animal, it seemed that as long as you left them alone, the F'lickta would go about their day without causing any trouble.
Jack followed F'tha, being sure to follow their example and stayed on the grass.
The two continued their walk, catching up on the few days they had not been in contact and pointing out odd-looking flora. F'tha was so distracted by the sights and sounds of the wilderness that they didn't even notice they had left Jack behind until he called out for them to wait up.
"Are you tired? Should we wait here and rest?" They asked him and he shook his head.
"Nah, just hard to walk through all this mud, is all." He tried to find the driest soil to walk through so he wouldn't sink into it. His boots were going to need a good cleaning when he got back to the ship.
Jack spotted more F'lickta in the swamp below. The hill they had started to walk up had created a nice natural wall to keep them apart. He didn't know if they could see him, but if they could, they didn't seem to care. They just carried on their business, whatever that could be for a F'lickta.
A gentle, cool breeze blew by and though it carried the less-than-pleasant scent of the swamp, Jack supposed it could have been worse. "Do we have to go back to the ship?" He joked.
"The residents were kind enough to offer accommodations to our crew." F'tha carefully opened up their cloak to expose their exoskeleton to the soothing breeze. "It is a shame Durandal wants to leave by nightfall. I would have appreciated more time here."
Jack did try and ultimately fail at talking Durandal into letting them stay for a few days. He explained they were lucky to get one day and that was only because they were in the planet's sector anyway. "You know how he is, he's got things to do. Honestly, I think a little vacation is overdue by this point."
"I agree." They floated a little closer to him. "You have done so much for us these many years and have yet to be thanked properly for it."
He gave them a friendly nudge on the shoulder plate. "Don't worry about me, it's my job to help you guys. Durandal makes it sound like a thankless job, but it beats sitting around and looking over security footage all day." Or making one of a thousand rounds a night around an otherwise empty compound, or breaking up a pointlessly petty fight between colonists.
Yeah, he had to admit, he had it pretty good right now.
"But I wasn't kidding about staying here when Durandal has no more use for me." He laughed. "A guy could get used to a plaAAACE--"
As Jack took his next step forward, his boot stayed right where it was, ankle-deep in the thick mud. Momentum carried the rest of his body forward. He tumbled down the small hill--
"SHIT! FUCK! GODDAMN IT!"
--and landed face-first into the shore of the swamp.
As quick as they could, F'tha pulled his boot from the mud and floated down the hill to join him. "J'ack! Are you injured?"
"mmthrfkr!" His voice was muffled by sludge and muck.
They set down his boot and grabbed his shoulders to help him up. "Perhaps staying on the path would have been the smarter decision."
Jack got to his knees and spat out a mouthful of swamp water. "Ugh. Never mind. I'm staying on the ship for the rest of my life."
F'tha vibrated with laughter. "Do not worry, J'ack. I will not tell Durandal that you fell."
That was nice of them, the AI had more than enough ammunition to taunt him with already. He pulled off his helmet to drain out any water that seeped through and wiped the visor clean... or as clean as he could make it with his muddy clothes. He grumbled when he only made the mess worse.
"Here." F'tha lifted a clean edge of their cloak and wiped away most of the grime.
"Thanks, buddy." He ran his fingers through his hair to get some slime out before placing his helmet back on. F'tha then handed him his boot and he slipped it on.
An angry-sounding grunt called out from the water. A trio of F'lickta were glaring them down.
"Again?" Jack sighed and stood up. He tried to back away like F'tha had told him earlier, but as soon as he made a move, the three creatures roared and trudged after him. "Shit, shit, shit." He grabbed F'tha's arm to pull them out of both the F'lickta's reach and his gun's range.
The second he reached for his magnum, F'tha gave out a stern noise. "Please, J'ack, do not kill them."
He flinched and yanked his hand away from his holster, instead using it to point behind him.
"Get back up that hill!" He called out and body checked one of the F'lickta. Their teeth caught onto the sleeve of his bodysuit and tore away a piece of it. He pushed all of his weight into the creature and shoved it back into the water, when it didn't re-emerge, he turned around to join F'tha at the top of the hill.
The second F'lickta was faster and pulled back its clawed hand to slash diagonally down his back.
With a loud swear, Jack kicked it away, sending it back into the sludge. The last one reached out to grab his leg, but he was quick to pull it back and he turned around to face it properly.
His hand instinctively reached down for his gun again, but this time, he curled it into a fist. He slugged the F'lickta in the left side, just barely missing its teeth, and while it was busy recoiling from the blow, he scrambled to his feet and took off up the hill.
F'tha took his outstretched hand before he ended up slipping in the mud and falling down again. They pulled him back to the top of the hill.
The F'lickta bared its teeth at the two of them and let out one last threatening grunt before turning back towards the swamp and vanishing behind the trees.
Jack hissed through his teeth as he stood up straight. "Note to future self: Don't make your vacation home near this swamp. Or any swamp." He whined as he caught his breath. "Just live in the city."
F'tha reached out at Jack's torn bodysuit and the two deep claw marks raked across his back. A worried drone rattled their exoskeleton. "We need to return to the ship immediately. Your injuries are beyond what I can repair."
It hurt, yes, but was overall a non-issue. If anything, he was more pissed and embarrassed than hurt. He followed them back towards the docks. "Yeah, better get back before Durandal gets impatient and razes the place looking for us."
"Where in the hell were you two?" Durandal roared the second they got in range of his signal. "I've been trying to call you for almost an hour."
"Long story." Jack sighed, picking away at some dried swamp gunk on the edge of his visor.
"When I said you could swim in the swamp, I assumed you picked up on my sarcasm." There was a short pause, then Durandal continued, all of his previous anger was now gone from his voice. "What happened to you? Where'd you get those injuries? Did the Pfhor find this place?"
Jack held his hands out to no one in particular. "Whoa, whoa, whoa. Don't get your circuits in a wad, it was nothing like that. We're fine, just went off the beaten path and had a nice chat with the neighbors."
There was a staticky sigh. "I can't bring you anywhere, can I?" Durandal scolded. "I told you that you'd get lost if you broke off from the group."
Jack shook his head. "We didn't get lost, we just took a little walk--"
"Do I need to install trackers in your suit again?"
"No! We just--" Jack stamped his sludge-filled boot onto the concrete and grunted through his grit teeth. "Goddamn it, stop worrying about me, I'm a grown man!"
"Yes." Durandal huffed. "A grown man that doesn't listen to very simple instructions, so I'm sure you can understand why I'm worried. Also, just so you know..." He lowered his voice to a staged whisper. "I wasn't worried."
A cocky smile grew across Jack's face. "Sure fucking sounds like--"
Knowing that this squabble of theirs would last until lights-out if someone didn't step in, F'tha interrupted them. Seriously, the two of them were no better than a pair of new mates whose bonded connections had yet to solidify. "Durandal, please inform the residents of the city that while the F'lickta's habitat was disturbed, none of them were seriously harmed. J'ack simply defended both him and myself."
"Oh? That's a first. You're armed and everything." Durandal snickered and ignored the muttered insult he got in response. "Well, this sounds like a story I'd no doubt enjoy hearing in depth when you get back home. Got a teleport to sickbay warmed up, ready to get out of here?"
Jack turned his head and smiled. "Hang on. Give me, like, ten minutes."
Durandal groaned. "Any longer and those wounds will get infected."
"I'll live." Jack shrugged, smiling even wider as both Durandal and F'tha made their own brand of upset sounds.
"I agree with Durandal, J'ack, those wounds look serious." F'tha said and Jack nudged their side to get their attention and pointed ahead. "Oh." The rest of their speech was undetectable to Jack's translator, nothing more than sounds of amazed wonder.
The planet's sun had begun to set, creating an odd, yet beautiful mix of colors in the sky. The once blue clouds had a pink-orange gradient across them and the sky itself was a soft purple.
"Wow. That is..." Jack let out the rest of his breath in an impressed sigh. "Holy shit."
"Agreed." F'tha chirped.
"Ahh, mortals. Always so sentimental." Durandal teased.
There would be plenty of time to exchange barbs with Durandal when he was back home with nothing else to do, so Jack let any remaining smart remarks of his go uncontested and instead asked. "Did any of our crew decide to stay behind?" He tilted his head up skyward, as if directing his question to the massive starship above.
"Yes." Durandal answered. "Four."
That wasn't the answer he was expecting. "Only four? Seriously?" He was betting at least twenty.
"Don't worry, all of them had more than acceptable reasons to remain here." Durandal explained. "One's clan needed a new technician, one's mate convinced them to stay and the last never got to see Lh'owon in its prime and found it difficult to leave."
Jack looked out to the sunset once more. "Can't say I blame 'em. It's beautiful."
"Agreed." F'tha said again. "In fact, I find myself torn between staying here and remaining a part of the K'liah'Narhl's crew."
"Truly?" Durandal asked and Jack tore his gaze away from the horizon to shoot a worried look in the S'pht's direction.
"If you wanna stay, we won't stop you." Jack said, biting back the hesitation in his voice. "But I'll be sure to nag Durandal to stop by and visit every once in a while."
As if on cue, the AI grumbled. "Fine. But only when we're in the neighborhood. I have plans, you know, and impromptu visits with friends aren't anywhere in them."
F'tha trilled happily and continued. "Just standing here, I feel the repaired bonds of our once-broken clans, I feel connected to my ancestors. To breathe here is to understand unity."
Durandal hummed sagely while Jack wracked his memory for why that last part sounded so familiar.
"However, the bonds I have forged with the two of you, as well as the rest of our crew, are too strong to leave behind." They faced Jack and extended their clawed hand to him. "Besides, I am certain this is not the last time we will be here."
Jack let out a sigh of relief and took their hand in a firm grip.
"I'm certain of it, too, F'tha. Glad to keep you aboard." Even Durandal sounded mildly relieved at their announcement.
Jack then reached over his shoulder and winced in pain when he touched one of the claw marks on his back. Blood was on his fingertips when he brought his hand back. Alright, maybe they were right and he should get to sickbay. He wiped his fingers on his grimy bodysuit. "I thought this would be one of those rare planets I'd be able to leave completely unscathed, but guess that's just part of my job. It's nice. Most of it, anyway."
F'tha made a pleased sound as they turned back to look at the sunset. "I believe the S'pht'Kr have found a most suitable planet to call home."
"Let's just hope it stays that way." Durandal said.