Emerald Flight: “Star Wing” (continued)

Elizabeth watched as Lieutenant Hawkes approached the winged creature. Beside her, she heard the Captain take a deep breath, hold it. Hawkes continued to move slowly, his hands open and empty, but Elizabeth noticed that they never strayed too far from his weapon.

The winged alien continued to kneel before Hope. The tableau seemed almost surreal.

If she hadn’t torn the infirmary apart, along with the Chief and Hope, it might even be humorous. What is it with Hope anyway?

The crew’s experience with the Aerian Star Bloods told her how seriously they revered Hope and others of her kind. This being obviously felt the same way.

She must be Aerian too! But she’s not any type we’ve ever seen . . .

Subtle shifts in its posture told Elizabeth that the creature was aware of Hawkes’ presence. It did not rise, though, or even turn its head to observe his approach.

Sudden movement stirred the image on one corner of the screen. Elizabeth suspected that it was the result of movements from one of the Security officers. The angle of the feed prevented Elizabeth from seeing them, but she caught the occasional glimpse of what she thought might be an arm, leg, or head.

Hawkes continued to move in closer. He was, Elizabeth thought, still out of range of the being’s wings or talons.

But what about its energy weapon?

From what Elizabeth could tell, the alien being held nothing in its hands.

She must have dropped it when she picked up Hope?

Hawkes seemed to be saying something, but the resolution of the image was so poor that Elizabeth could not even begin to make out what words his lips and mouth might be forming. He paused now, clearly addressing the alien.

He thinks it will understand Fleet Standard?

Although she would not be terribly surprised to find out that she was wrong, Elizabeth did not believe that Hawkes spoke Aerian. She knew of almost no humans who could. Even the Captain, despite her apparently close relationship with Hope, and mysterious assignment last year on the Aerian homeworld, seemed to know no more than a dozen or so words and, according to comments made by Hope, pronounced none of them well.