An Uncivil War

Table of Contents

An Uncivil War Ready

AN UNCIVIL WAR

AN ELISE T'HOOT GALACTIC ADVENTURE BOOK THREE

MARY ELLEN WALL

Flint Springs Publishing

Horse Branch. Kentucky

Copyright © 2019 by Mary Ellen Wall.

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Publisher’s Note: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination. Locales and public names are sometimes used for atmospheric purposes. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, or to businesses, companies, events, institutions, or locales is completely coincidental.

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Library of Congress Control Number: 2017912040

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An Uncivil War/ Mary Ellen Wall. -- 1st ed.

ISBN 978-1-9459370-5-7

To Mama, the best 'pick a dinner' gardener in the land

Laws are silent in the time of war.

―Cicero 106 – 43 BCE

one

LEELAA

LeeLaa curved her antennae back and confirmed her parents still slept. She considered hovering to leave no trace, but the expended energy so close would probably wakeTaaTaa. Out of duty, she left a disturbance in the sand as she went so her father could follow her trail to ease his mind if he did wake.

She loved him, and her mother Kreeek. Neither understood her. They remembered a distant homeland that was more foreign to her than this arid rock called Tenembras. Born on Van Damme, she'd never seen their 'home'.

Here Elise gave them work that would show the other Humans that they were good. She talked to LeeLaa as she would a smart adult, as if her opinions mattered.This planet with Elise felt like home. Was an emotional attachment to an alien as wrong as some others claimed? Even if she could learn so much?

As a compromise with her desire to think alone, she clearly wound her way along the wide, meandering incline past the other tunnels full of sleepers, up into Agricultural Dome 5. Enough duty. She hovered the rest of the way to her destination.

two

WHERE?

Dr. Cartier? This is Victor Calvac at the Seneca Land and Title Company. Is there an Elise t'Hoot there?

Good evening, sir. I'm sorry to say you've missed her, but I'd be more than happy to take a message.

Do you have a net address for her? She's not in the directory. I have four tracts for her to consider, opened up this evening; nothing for two weeks and blammo. Suppose that quake sped them up any?

Ha, ha, might have. You get much of a shake in town?

One of the ladies in here in the office sprung a shoulder when it startled her out of her chair - shouldn't a' been sleeping, know what I mean?

Ha, ha, ha, indeed I do. We were okay here, all built Martian-tough. Hey, why not send the files to me and I'll see she gets them, she might come by tonight, or tomorrow at the latest.

I guess that'll be all right, I mean, we know where you live, right?

Yep, right here in Ag Land. It's a tough job but somebody's gotta do it. He went over to the screen and poked it on. Hey, I got it!

Yeah, you're gonna be surprised, open it up, I mean it's not secret or anything. See?

Cartier was impressed, all right. Oh, my, that's a whopping big hunk of sand, there, right next to me but on the other side of the tracks. Nobody else is this far out, a neighbor would be nice.

It's that one, or maybe she'd like number two up near the Breaker. Depending on what she wants it for, it's close to the city.

Alain hazarded a guess, And in the path of the prevailing wind across the nuclear site.

Details. You heard they all scrammed like they ought to, right? I mean, those are great little dynamos they got.

Alain flipped to the next parcel. Oh my! This number three is huge!

Size of Texas and just as dusty, an hour away from the rail by fast rover, west southwest from you.

He flipped to the fourth one and scaled back until he could tell where it was. This last one, I've never been on that side of town.

The east side has several industrial sites already, and the main water plant is further out that way. Talk is of getting a spur or even a loop extension built out there, maybe coming off the water plant line but right from town would make more sense for growth. I heard that if they can get a manufacturer then for sure they'll do it, well one of it. Do you know what she's planning to use any of this for?

I could guess, but no sir, I don't really know. I think I'll put my two cents in for having a neighbor.

When he ended the call, he saw Thao a meter away, staring, apparently waiting. Thao, sir, I rarely see you out of the so special R&D Dome. Have you come to see how all these soybeans are doing? They'll be ready to harvest in a couple more days.

Thao bowed. I have a question about my research project, and hoped you'd help me. One of the study subjects is out and about.

Alain pulled his chin back, puzzled; the little man stayed aloof among the aliens. Shall I come over there with you? It's about time I got back to the office so I can go over the recent intruder reports with security, but I have a few seconds.

three

ADIOS

He could have gone on in, but didn't want to surprise her. He touched the visitor pad again.

Barto!Naomi placed her dainty hand across her pouty lips, her baby blue eyes wide. You were supposed to be gone two weeks!

He cupped his hand around the edge of the door. You going to let me in or not?

Sure, hon, I just wasn't expecting you. She wobbled with indecision, soon backing away from the door, hurriedly picking a blanket off the living room floor and tossing it into the bedroom.

Barto did not acknowledge her sexy smile, that little overbite that made people look twice and the guile that made them linger. He found his duffle and folded it down; stack of trousers, stack of shirts, undergarments, socks, slippers, sweats, his custom belt. He tossed his personal items on the clothes and then the uniform jumpsuits.

Dabbing at tearless eyes, using that sulking voice he'd learned so well, she said. Barto, heart o' gold, you're not going out again? You just now got home!

"No more games, puta. Don't call me." He yanked the drawcord on the duffle and hefted it.

San Luis, wait you one damn minute! You come in here high and mighty and make accusations when you've been out there with that soggy bitch the whole time! I've been waiting here worried sick, with that damn volcano raising havoc, getting fired and everything else and you were not here! I needed you!

In two quick steps he had her curves clad only in a loose pink and yellow flowery silk wrap backed up against the view screen. He didn't care how truly frightened she looked by then, nor how she'd allowed the wrap to come open. He pulled his phone from his pocket slowly, like a weapon. He thumbed it a few jabs, touched it to the screen's base and hit 'play'.

He walked out while the view from the overhead fan in the living room replayed a bearish dark-haired man pumping away energetically into a writhing Naomi, her hands fondling her own breasts and her heels on his shoulders, all at a deafening volume.

Four

INTENTIONS

How beautiful to see her in her flowing white and blue, barefoot, her sun-burnished brown hair brushed loose. To see her asleep and tension-free in his lounge chair quieted any internal opposition. Ricky had let her into his office suite to bathe and ran out to check on the ore load as he'd told Torbjorn he'd do. He nearly missed the QC who rushed to take his samples back to the lab.

They'd separated the ores into multiple ore carts according to element, loaded ready for the next step, once they figured out what that would be. The QC man said no one was familiar with getting ores in that state and some even complained it would be harder to alloy since they had no procedures for receiving metals so pure. Ricky told him he would leave all that up to the professionals. Proof of point, he noticed Wing over near the train directing them.

He let himself back in, checked that she still slept, and bathed. He scrubbed rigorously to shed a thick layer of scales and other grotty bits of the past. Seeing the mess swirl down the drain made him lighter, more alive. Toweled dry, he slumped with chagrin; so accustomed to being able to roam freely, he’d carried no clean clothes in there. Donning a terry robe and cinching the belt with a swift yank, he intended to walk quietly through the office and into the bedroom so he could put his pajamas and dressing robe on.

A tall man stood near her, looking down on her. Ricky knew instantly that wasn’t Barto, too thin. Should he have locked door? The sweaty reek made him think of the homeless wretches in town. Ricky would absolutely protect her, but needed to keep his head about it. Before he could step quietly back to the bath for his phone, the man turned.

I had no idea she was so young, Wing said softly. He came over to Ricky. She's gotta be the same age as my daughter.

What are you doing here? He felt quite put out for letting Wing scare him so much.

"I lived here for nine years, remember? I didn't take a house, I lived right here and was thinkin' on sleepin' in that there chair. He stepped over to the closet and pulled out a light blanket which he laid gently over her. He went behind the chair and slowly tugged the top of the chair's pillowy back down, automatically raising her feet and leveling the chair more like a cozy cot; he'd always enjoyed that chair. He went into the kitchenette around the corner and turned on a far light.

Ricky followed him. Wing, what are you doing here? If you want this place back, you can have it, but not tonight. He kept his voice low and knew Wing would as well. Was the man going to tell him that Marta was his lover, the one he'd mooned over?

Wing looked over to him solemnly. What are your plans for that little girl?

What about yours? You just spent over a week with her in the desert. He could not forget her kiss, not for a moment, not ever.

We was never alone, Bart was there. I bet you know Bart pretty well. Know what they did?

He's her bodyguard; I'd trust him with my wife. I mean life, I trust him without reservation.

Wing pulled out two kitchen chairs and they sat, knees nearly touching so they could speak softly. He's not her bodyguard, he's her hotdamned keeper! She's friendly to me like I'm a good ol' boy and Bart's her dearest brother one minute and the next I'm on my ass and Bart's got a concussion. What in the hell caused that?

I, I don't know. He searched back and found no clues, she'd always seemed so dogged and sincere, not violent. This wasn’t the direction he expected from Wing; less the disappoint lover and more the defending if perplexed father.

You got on the damn bus with everybody else. How come her and Bart's thick as ticks but you might as well be in Timbuktu? How come she could care less about women friends but gets along great with guys, buddy-buddy, nicknames and all? How come she gets these fits?

He remembered her quarrel with Naomi, her suspicion of Doc Trogden and Olivia and then of her comradeship with Alain, Thao, and of course Barto. He remembered their arguments well. I do not know!

You don't think her coming here and getting all purty and trusting you enough to go sound asleep in your chair means anything? I'd a been leapin' and yappin' like a rat dog after a hambone if she'd a given me half as much encouragement!

She must be tired; she looks done in. There's nothing unromantic about letting her clean up and rest and that's exactly what she asked for. You should wash up; it did a world of good for me.

You're skating all over the place cuz you don't like saying you don't know. What will you do if she has nightmares and starts thrashin' around? Bart would know, hell, even I would know. You don't think you have any responsibility to her by allowing her to think she's welcome here? Don't you think you should know something?

Know what? Elise rubbed her checks up and down in an effort to wake, even though the chapped skin hurt and needed more ointment. Hey, whoever dabbed that lotion on my face, thanks a bunch. I didn't mean to interrupt, guys, but I was wondering if I could ask a favor? Can one of you help me get back to Ag?

Ag, Ricky said.

Yeah, that bag Doc pitched me on the train had my clothes in it but no shoes, they might've fell out, I dunno. I don't want to ride the bus barefoot and I sure don't want those boots back on yet, the socks are crunchy.

You can stay here tonight. There's a little bedroom through the office, and I can bring you back some slippers on my way in tomorrow. Ricky spoke evenly, not begging, the sleeping elsewhere part aimed at Wing's sensibilities.

She seemed to consider, but said, I appreciate the offer, but I've had LeeLaa on my mind and really want to get back and make sure everything's okay.

Who's LeeLaa?

She smiled faintly. Daughter of the one you wanted dissect, if I remember correctly.

Ricky popped up and attempted to shove his hands into his jumpsuit pockets, succeeding in loosening his robe. He hurriedly repositioned it and pulled the belt tighter, embarrassed.

Bossman, Wing said, stifling a weary grin, you know she dowsed every place we mined, her and her prospectin' pendulum?

Ricky turned to her baffled, You dowse? That's questing, isn't it? I thought you were a scientist!

She got much more businesslike. Mr. Crannog, there's a bushel and a half you don't know about me and I've been discounted enough to last me a good while. You know guys, you both look really beat. I believe I will stick those boots back on; it won't be for that long. Do either of you know where the nearest bus stop for the southline is? Stupid question, sorry. She returned to the office.

Wing said, "I can take her, I'm dressed and time is of the essence, cause I predict she'll be out the door in a couple seconds. And next time I give you an opening for congratulating her, take it."

Ricky knotted his face up and worked that jaw a few times, along with flexing his fists. You may as well stay here yourself. I'll go. He walked resolutely into the dark office.

His tension melted away when he saw her. Hey, if it's okay I'll take you on down there.

She had the boots on and stood, favoring her right leg. Let me check the net, I don't mind the bus.

He walked into the bedroom and started dressing, door open. "Did you tell me