The Weaving Force; Chapter 3 (Patreon)

Chapter 3:

They were, in fact, taken to their leader.

Or at least Vicky assumed the great big guy with the fancy hat was their leader.

Fancy hats always meant leaders.

The big bear man was… well… big. And probably very old since his fur was already graying if not white. He roared, growled, and chuffed at them, seemingly trying to communicate.

“I don’t understand,” she enunciated clearly, trying to smile despite the relative tension of the situation.

The bear man chuffed again, his meaty paw reaching out to pat her on the shoulder. The first blow made her forcefield flicker off for a second. These bear things were pretty strong.

The big guy growled and chuffed something at another of the bear people behind her who shuffled out of the tree house hut thing.

Vicky turned to an unimpressed looking Taylor with a beatific smile on her face.

“Whelp!” She  grinned. “Either he sent him to go get the translator or maybe the spices to boil us all in tonight’s soup; one or the other.”

Taylor, once again, did not look impressed.

Tough crowd.

The bear man roared something, shaking his head and for a moment Vicky wondered if he understood her joke.

Then, the bear guy that left came back, this time with a… robot?

That’s what it looked like… a fully formed robot. With metal legs and arms. Its head/face was blank with just a screen for a face but that’s what she was looking at.

She looked to Taylor, but the bug girl looked just as dumbfounded as Vicky felt.

The Robot thing was set down on the floor, slumping forward.

The big bear man roared something.

The Robot did not move.

Another roar.

…

Nothing.

“Maybe it's broken?” she whispered out of the corner of her mouth to Taylor, who shrugged.

The big ol’ bear gave the bot a mighty wallop with his furry paw, the sound echoing with the metal clang!

And the bot booted up to life.

She smiled. “Guess engineering is the same no matter what planet you go to!” she laughed.

The machine’s face sparked and whirred before coming to life, a pixelated set of eyes and a mouth finding her.

“Oh… Hello,” the machine spoke, its voice warbling to life with a staticky crackle before stabilizing. “I am DX-four-oh-four. Designated Translation Protocol Droid for the Karrashkirt tribe of the Wookie people and their leader: Chieftain Attichitcuk.”

The droid turned its head, seemingly taking in the room, then looked back at Vicky and Taylor. “I see you’re already acquainted.”

Vicky felt her eyes going wide. All but popping out of her skull.

“Wait! Wait! Hold the phone!” She screamed. “You- W- You speak english?”

“I am well versed in over three thousand forms of communication spoken throughout the galaxy.” The droid offered an affirming bow, seemingly proud of the fact. “I assure you, I do speak Galactic Basic, and can guide your negotiations with the Wookie peoples efficiently. Not many understand the Wookie tongue, which is why this unit was provided by the republic to facilitate off-worlder communications.

Vicky felt… faint, her head spinning.

“I think I need to sit down-”

“You are sitting down, Miss.”

Oh… so she was.

She turned, looking to Taylor, who’s features showed her own shade of concern even with her silence.

“Did I just hear the robot right?” she asked, semi rhetorically. “That he speaks three thousand languages spoken across the galaxy!?”

Taylor nodded.

Vicky breathed…

It didn’t make it better.

“Ok… Ok. So…we’re on an alien world-”

“Correction.” The machine cut in. “The Wookie homeworld of -Kashyyyk- has been charted and cataloged in the republic database for thousands of years. And has existed as part of the galactic community for just as long. There is very little that would classify it as ‘alien.’

Vicky stared at the bot…

She turned to Taylor.

The dark haired girl looked pained, then turned her head away.

She opened her mouth. And even just mouthing the lone word seemed to cause her pain.

“Home”

Vicky’s took a moment to gather what Taylor meant before her eyes widened, realization dawning over her.

“Ok. Look, robot!”

“Droid, Miss-”

“Droid!” She stood looming over the slightly shorter machine. “We’re not from round here; that’s obvious. Me and Tay woke up on the forest floor and need to get back home. So tell Mr. Wookie man-”

“Chieftain Attichitcuk” The Droid corrected again.

Said Chieftain barked something.

“And he says he can understand you quite well and would appreciate it if you looked at him when speaking.”

Obligingly she rounded on the very big bear man, utterly fearless.

“We need a ride home!” She threw her hands outward. “Like… we’re really really not from around here. We don’t even have space travel unlocked yet so please get us a ship and maybe drop us off and we’ll be out of your hair in no time.”

The Chieftain tilted his head huffing something.

“Chieftain Attichitcuk remarks that he has never met any humans who claim to not have space travel.”

Vicky turned, staring at the thing.

“Alright. Your translator thing must be busted. Humans can’t get out into space even on the other Earths!” She knew that for a fact. Many had checked to try and escape the Endbringers when Earth Aleph became known to Earth Bet.

Another series of barks.

“Chieftain Attichitcuk wonders if you hit your head on one of the trees while flying…” More growls. “He would also like to know exactly how you were, in fact, flying.” This time the droid turned towards the Wookie, warbling something in electric staticky growls, that the chief responded to. “I asked him to clarify since humans cannot fly. He insists he said what he meant.”

“I’m special.” She  groused. “Look. I… don’t know what we’re doing here and I’m pretty sure we must be breaking several thousand laws not even invented yet, but please tell me the chief here can get us back home.”

Attichitcuk’s head bobbed, neither nodding nor denying.

“The chieftain-” the droid began. “-does not have any vessels capable of transporting you off world. He is however able to contact those who might have such transport and help those who are considered ‘special.’

“Grea-”

Tay’s hand clamped on Vicky’s wrist like a vice.

The Dallon girl turned, blinking as Tay stared at her with a palpable concern decorating her eyes.

Taylor shook her head.

Vicky frowned.

“It’s not like we have much of a choice, Tay. And he hasn’t cooked us or had our heads shrunk so… we’re doing ok so far.”

A roar.

“The Chieftain would like to inform you that he is, in fact, a vegetarian.”

Vicky winced. “I am the worst diplomat ever…” She hissed to herself under her breath.

She heard Attichitcuk chuckling. Or at least… assumed that sound was a chuckle… hoped it was… either that or he was coughing up a hairball.

The Droid spoke again. “In the meanwhile, the Chieftain will have the guest hut prepared for you and your acquaintance; and invites you to tonight’s dinner.” A pause. “Also this one is your designated liaison during your stay with the Wookie people.”

Vicky offered Tay a hesitant, reassuring smile, as if to affirm the point that they weren’t quite doing so bad.

Taylor didn’t look very at ease, but she released Vicky’s wrist.

Vicky patted her hand and turned back to the chieftain and droid.

“That sounds great! Thanks!”

(X)(X)(X)

Their ‘hut’ was… large.

Very large.

Vicky shouldn’t be surprised. Wookies (She learned a new word, Yay!) were a large people. None of them were any less than eight feet and a huge one she’d seen decked out in what she assumed were weapons seemed to be almost twelve feet tall.

But still, the word ‘hut’ didn’t exactly bring about the ‘vision’ of a large place.

This ‘hut’ was different.

It had beautiful rugs of some material she’d never seen before; they had beds of furs and thick heavy blankets that were almost plush. Drapes were strewn about the insides for decor, reds and greens and yellows, giving it a very warm feel.

And it had running water.

The bear people had running water. And soap!

Soap!

She loved them!

The translator droid was very specific about how Wookies had a fairly high level of hygiene standards. Fur got messy and smelly if left unwashed

Only downside was the water was fairly cold. Wookies liked it cold. Again- fur. But hey. Soap and running water. This place was the four seasons as far as she was concerned.

Stepping out of the shower feeling clean and refreshed Vicky let out a contented sigh as she flopped down on the bed.

“I have no idea what this stuff is made out of but we gotta get Wookies to open up a shop back on earth!” She said, toweling her hair dry… well… It functioned like a towel. It was actually a giant spongy leaf, or so the droid explained.

Her comment was referring to the clothes they’d given her. It was a simple design similar to a greek chemise in orange red colors, and deep yellows. It was the fabric she referred to, which felt as smooth as silk but heavy and warm like wool. It would be a wonder back home in the colder months.

Yes the Wookies could definitely open a shop.

Taylor offered her something akin to a smile. If a face could approximate a shrug with a smile, that was the expression right there.

Vicky’s own expression twisted with an impatient huff. “Maybe if you got out of that suit you’ll see what I mean. It’s silky smooth. Feels nice.”

Taylor’s eyebrow rose, unimpressed.

“What?” She huffed. “Everyone loves the feel of silk on their skin.”

Now Tay’s expression was interesting. Somehow managing to be both amused and unimpressed.

Vicky glared…

Then Tay raised her arm, the other hand fingering the fabric of her sleeve.

It took Vicky a second… then she facepalmed.

“Batting a hundred on the foot in my mouth contest today aren’t I?” She muttered.

Taylor’s smug little smirk said it all.

“What are you doing anyway?” Vicky asked, trying to change the subject. “Shower’s free.”

In response Taylor tapped her ear.

“Uhhh… Listening?” She guessed.

A nod.

“To wha- Wait.” She paused. “You can hear through your bugs?”

Another nod.

“Of course you can… you can talk through them; why couldn’t you hear through them?” Then her face scrunched up. “But you can’t understand the language?”

Taylor shrugged then mimed sleeping and someone… slitting their throats…

“Paranoid much!?” She screamed..

Another unfathomably unimpressed shrug.

Vicky rolled her eyes, stepping closer to grab the surprised bug girl by the arm and pulling her to her feet. “No one poisoned the shower. So go. Take a bath without bugs crawling all over you, and let’s go to sleep. We still have to figure out how the hell we’re getting home from this place.”

Shoving some of the Wookie clothes into Taylor’s chest Vicky bodily turned the girl around and shoved her towards the bathroom, her Brute rating making it impossible to resist the physical manhandling.

Taylor shot her an irritated look. Vicky answered back with a winning smile as she shut the door.

…

Ok. On to the next crisis.

“Do they have any kind of TV… Or internet!? Maybe we can see what other aliens look like!”

(X)(X)(X)

They in fact did not have a TV…

Nor did they have internet. At least not on this planet.

The Wookies lived simple lives. And what little they had in terms of ‘modern amenities’ (besides their weaponry) was reserved for the offworlders who occasionally came to Kashyyyk.

Made sense.

After all, why would the twelve foot tall Wookie have dresses in proper sizes for a relatively average tall blonde from earth… or clothes at all come to think of it. They didn’t seem big on clothing around here.

It was the fur… again.

But still, that was ok for now. She was tired. So was Taylor. So, after showering and changing, they went to bed in their separate little rooms, warmed by the outside fires and listening to the crickets and insects of Kashyyyk chirping and singing their lullaby tunes.

It was fine. It was ok. It wasn’t home. But they’d be alright.

But still that presented her with another problem the next morning.

“I’m bored!”

Taylor, with a tablet the droid had provided for her, pursed her lips before she typed something out.

Strangely “Galactic Basic” sounded like English easily enough; but the writing was… very off. Right now they were making due with *similarly shaped* letters to write. It was probably complete gibberish to a native speaker but for their purposes of letting Tay ‘talk’ well, it was fine…

‘Go out and see the sights.’

Taylor’s face was completely blank, almost unnervingly so.

That was ‘usual’ for her, Vicky noticed. Sometimes she was expressive, then others she just became a flat wall. No rhyme or reason for it but it happened.

Either way, in moments like this, it made it very hard to tell if she was joking or serious.

Still even without the expression Vicky could see dark circles under Taylor’s eyes, not helped by the paleness of her skin.

“How much did you sleep last night?”

For a second Taylor averted her eyes. Her gaze far away. Then she shrugged.

Not much then…

Oh well.

Whatever was bugging Tay, she’d deal with it, or she’d tell Vicky if she wanted to. They were stuck here, working together, but she wasn’t sure if that made them friends…

Time to change the subject.

“Like… I don’t understand what’s going on!” She groaned. “What if I like… pick a fruit and end up causing an inter-planet incident”

Now there was an expression- one that Vicky was becoming increasingly familiar with.

More typing.

“You implied the chieftain was going to eat you last night. And now you’re worried?”

She winced, “That was… a cultural misstep.”

“Misstepped your boot into your mouth you mean.”

“Shut up!” She huffed. “Fine! I’ll go out--” Then she pointed. “But you’re coming with!”

The deer in the headlights look was utterly priceless.

(X)(X)(X)

The Wookie tree house village was large. Very large. Not quite a “city” to be sure but still much bigger than anything atop a tree had any right to be.

It had fifteen different “centers” Vicky learned, situated atop the boughs of Wroshyr Trees. Each tree housing a town “center” connected by large, sturdy bridges. Shielded above from the harsh sun by the thick canopy of leaves and shielded below by giant networks of constructed thorn fences.

In the sunlight; the village was a beautiful thing. Simple, true, but still very pretty. Some of the Wookies looked at them with curiosity. Others paid them no mind at all. Like they were used to human visitors.

That… worried her wasn’t the right word. She wasn’t sure what the right word was but it made her hairs stand up straight along her arms.

How was there a whole galaxy already populated by humans to the point that they were commonplace?

Was this another earth like earth aleph? Is this what could have been their species without Endbringers. It was strange.

Beyond strange.

They didn’t understand a word of what the Wookies chuffed, huffed, growled and roared. But they seemed friendly enough. Offering them fruits, water canteens. The small Wookies, who had to be kids, or maybe teens tried to cajole them into playing.

Taylor didn’t but Vicky was willing, throwing some Wookie kids on her shoulders to float around.

They squealed and roared and their parents (she assumed) pointed and gasped, but no one tried to stop her soooo… Great diplomatic overtures made!

Taylor sat quietly on the equivalent of a bench. Or at least, for Wookies, it was a bench. It looked like Tay was sitting on a table.

Some of the cubs went up to her, pointing towards Vicky as if asking Tay if she could take them flying too.

Without a word, Taylor shook her head, the cubs soon got the hint and gathered more and more around Vicky’s little flying service for their turns.

The adult Wookies seemed to take the whole flying thing in remarkable stride, truth be told. Sure they gasped and gawped but after a little bit shrugged and moved on with their day, casting only the occasional side eyed glance their way.

Maybe some people flying was an old hat to them? For all she knew they had magic space wizards or something.

(X)(X)(X)

“Hey look!” Vicky smiled, “I’ve got a fan!”

Taylor offered her a sardonic little smile.

Vicky’s “fan” such as it was- was a little Wookie cub.

The little sweetie pie was hanging off her neck like a Koala limpet- his mother hovered nearby. She looked amused at the spectacle- at least if Vicky was judging Wookie facial expressions right.

She was getting a bit of practice on that front.

“So what are you up to?’ She asked. “Still listening to everything?’

Taylor’s expression shifted, losing the amusement with an irritated glance. The sudden shift in mood took her off guard, and she actually found herself stepping back.

When she saw Taylor casting an eye towards the Wookies around them she realized what exactly had pissed her off.

She wants to keep her power a secret…

That… made sense- considering that Tay thought they might get murdered in their sleep.

Still paranoid as all shit but in her mind it made sense to keep it a secret.

Vicky offered a semi apologetic shrug. Then, changed the subject she seemed to be doing that often recently. “So what do you think Tay!?” She smiled, hefting up the little fuzzy cub. “Isn’t he the cutest thing you ever saw!”

The villain rolled her eyes.

Vicky stuck her tongue out at her. “You’re just jealous because he likes me more. He is the cutest and he’s gonna grow up to be big and strong. Yes you are. Oh yes you are!”

D4, dutifully standing by the sidelines cut in. “The cub you are holding, Miss, is, in fact, a female…”

Vicky might perhaps some day convince herself that she did not, in fact, die of mortification as she heard the cub’s mother laughing beside her. Or growling; one of the two.