I look out of the large viewing window in the garden that we have been sent to, to wait for Jah-jahní to join us. It offers a beautiful view of the planet below; I've used this time to study the continental structure of the planet, and get an idea of the topography, and from this vantage point I can see a large continent, which means this station is in a geo synchronous orbit. I turn and see Mandy contemplating a strange tree that seems to move on it's own, and apparently it responds to touch by touching you back.
I walk up to Mandy who is just captivated by the tree. "It's fascinating isn't it Ant. It returns a gentle touch for a gentle touch." She keeps caressing it and getting a response. "I wonder what it's called?" She says aloud more to herself than to me.
"Jahal-tohnul." We both turn around and it's Jah-jahní, but she is dressed completely different. She's breathtakingly beautiful in the white silver gown she's wearing, that I had to catch myself and make sure my mouth is closed. "That's what we call it, the love tree." I turn to look at it and nod. "It's more like an animal than a plant, but we love them very much and protect them as well."
"Really..."Mandy says. "The name fits them well." I can hear the slight challenge in Mandy's voice; I avoid reacting to it, though I can tell that Jah-jahní detects the tone in her voice.
Jah-jahní smiles. "Yes, it does fit well, for it is with love that you attract affection." She walks past us and caresses the tree and it gently caresses her back. I inhale quietly I'm going to have to intercede here, to keep this from escalating.
"Jah-jahní, when will we head planet side?" Mandy looks at me, but I ignore her for the moment. "I'd like to visit some of the mountains I see from the window." Jah-jahní turns her attention to me and she has a knowing expression of my ploy, to divert her away from Many's goading. I want to keep the peace here.
"Of course, I will do my best to get you to go and explore where you will." She smiles at me and I can feel Mandy bristle, without me even having to look! "All of your crew will have the opportunity to eventually come down of course." She states.
I nod. "Thank you, I'm sure that they will be appreciative of the chance to come down here" I turn to Mandy who seems a little more controlled, at least for the time being. God almighty give me the strength to get through this in one piece. "Well, when shall we head down?"
"We will presently." She looks past my shoulder, so I turn and a tall male Mahjah-tu is walking towards us. He's dressed in an obviously black military uniform; his walk and military appearance are flawless, and he is moving with a purpose. As he closes in I see that his eyes are blue, and he has those striking features that most of the males have.
He stops about ten paces from Jah-jahní and bows deeply to her; It feels as if he were dealing with royalty. "Sah Jah-jahní et tau Sal Toha-manak zeh elaht tu." He speaks. At least that's what it sounds like to me, which left me in the dark. He extends his hand and presents her with a small crystal that she accepts.
She inclines her head. "Tehzau." She replies. The officer, which is what I think he, is bows once again then stands up straight as an arrow and makes a perfect about face and leaves the way he came. Jah-jahní reaches into belt and pulls out a small cylinder like device and slips the crystal into the opening that seems to be for the purpose of holding it. She depresses a small button and it activates producing a holló gram. It appears to be a written message in their language; she smiles and shuts it off. "It seems we have timed this perfectly." She says very cheerfully.
I glance at Mandy, who still seems to be a bit put off, but she looks at me equally confused.
"I'm sorry, but what has been timed right?" I inquire.
"It's the Fahtuha-nah, the Warriors trial." She says. "My sister is about to complete it." She looks down to the planet below and can see a swell of pride in her face. "Let's us depart, so we may be there to greet my sister." She turns and gestures for us to follow her; I look at Mandy who nods walking up beside me. I motion to the gunny that we're moving out, and the Marines fall in behind us. We move at a good pace as Jah-jahní guides through until we reach due landing bay.
We head right to her shuttle. It must be hers since the markings on it are the same, as the She came to the Helios with. The hatch is open and we follow her right in, where we are greeted by her EXO with the sour puss. "Sah Jah-jahní we are ready to depart, as as you give the order." He reports.
"She inclines her head. "The order is given." She turns to us. "Please sit." She motions to the chairs along the sides that face each other; it really is a true military transport. I look around and I notice that there are no seams; you can't see how it's put together. There's a slight hum and I sense that we are moving, and the hum gets slightly louder. I look forward to where the pilots sit and we are exiting the station; that's when I realize that there are no seat belts, so I grab on to what I can. Jah-jahní is sitting across from us and begins to giggle; I stare at her and realize that she is not floating off her chair. "Do not worry Captain this shuttle has gravity and dampening measures built into it." She says still amused at our reaction.
I look at the rest of my people and they were in the same frame of mind as me. I clear my throat. "Well you must understand, our shuttles are not so equipped, so this is a natural reaction."
Jah-jahní smiles and accepts my explanation for our undignified reaction. Her face becomes serious; I glance at Mandy and her face is anything but smiling. Jah-jahní stands and looks at all of us and bows deeply. "Please I beg for your forgiveness; this was very rude of me to have done this to you." She humbles herself and she is still bowed waiting for a response.
"It's fine Jah-jahní we accept your apology." I say to her. Jah-jahní straightens herself. I incline my head and she inclines hers in return.
"Like Hell I do!" Mandy says upset.
"Major!" I speak with authority.
She turns to me. " Maybe your ok with that, but I'm not!" She turns to Jah-jahní. "I feel humiliated for your enjoyment!" Mandy looks at the Marines. "What about them, I'm sure they felt embarrassed as well!"
"Major, you are an officer for the U.E.A., so where are your manners and your military protocol when somebody of rank from a different or foreign military organization apologizes for an error!" Mandy looks at me in surprise. "Commander Jah-jahní has done just that and as an officer in the U.E.A. we should—no, we must politely accept this apology!"
Mandy stares at me with her fists closed; then she turns back to Jah-jahní and looks at still fuming. "I accept your apology Commander." Mandy relaxes her fists and breaths deeply. "So tell me Commander what exactly is this warriors trial?" She asks still with a strained voice; this is going to a rough time down here.
Jah-jahní looks at her with a bit of a pained expression, but she nods her head. "Those who belong to the Warrior cast must go through the trial, to prove that they are worthy to be in this cast." She says.
Mandy and I look at each other. A cast system can be unfair and very restrictive to the people, though we can only imagine what it's like here. "Wait," Mandy starts. "You are part of the warrior cast aren't you?" Mandy asks.
"Yes I am."
"So your cast is the top one is isn't it?"
"True."
"I'm not surprised then at how you treat others."
I snap a look at Mandy. "I'm not trying to insult you, but you probably feel above most of your people." She continues. "You see in our world there have been these type of societies and they'd always been a bit unequal to those considered beneath the top." She finishes.
Jah-jahní tugs at her lower lip considering her response; I'm sure she wants to maintain a friendly relationship with us. "Well,"she begins. "Our society has functioned this way for a uncounted millenniums, and we are not unfair to those who do not belong to the warrior cast."
Mandy nods taking it all in, but what I didn't allow her to do before because I know her, she will do it this way. "Those in the other casts would be trapped in their place, without the hope of progressing, or even the chance to do more for their families." Jah-jahní tilts her head in thought and I can see that Mandy thinks she's won here.
Jah-jahní points a finger at Mandy. "Do not judge my people to be like yours; we have been a space fairing people for nearly four thousand years." She puts her hand down and locks eyes with Mandy and holds them. "When your people where still living in huts and hovels, even caves, we were building great cities and conquering our world." She still holds Mandy's gaze and can see beads of sweat forming on Mandy's forehead. "What you deem as improper and wrong has served my people for years with out count, which something your people cannot say."
"Jah-jahní, please." I plead with her. Jah-jahní blinks and Mandy is released from what ever hold was on her. I catch Mandy before she falls over her eyes are glazed over; Jah-jahní averts her eyes from me as I cradle Mandy in my arms. "Why!" Is all I can ask.
Jah-jahní's eyes are welling up with tears as she comes over to us. The Marines start to get up, but I get them to sit down with a look. She gently puts her two fingers on Mandy's forehead and strokes in a pattern; across then down the middle to the tip of her nose. She repeats it three or four times and Mandy's eyes clear up and she jumps a bit. She looks at me then she faces Jah-jahní. "Please forgive my rudeness; I should not have done that to you, it was wrong and I..."
Mandy puts her hand on Jah-jahní's shoulder. "It's alright it was just a shock and so much to see all at once." Mandy sits up. "It helped me to understand you."
I feel a bit left out with this exchange, as I'm sure the Marine are thinking the same as me. "It's ok Ant, I think that Jah-jahní and I have come to an understanding; isn't that right?" Mandy asks.
Jah-jahní smiles and nods in agreement.