Shadows from the Badlands

Michael did eventually strip off most of his armor, but he had been left in a stunned stupor after the mental 'kiss' that by the time he had Dash'r had retreated to the other side of the hallway and was deep in meditation. He spent much of the rest of the evening cleaning his armor and weapons. He did what little maintenance possible with his armor, but eventually powered down most of the systems. Unless he found a compatible charging system he would only have a weeks power left at the minimum usage.

He did eventually fall asleep on the hardened floor. He left the bulk of his armor off, and used his pack to provide cushioning for his head. His dreams were once again filled with terror, the same images from the last few days playing over and over in his mind. He woke with a start several hours later, to find Dash'r still meditating. He lightly grabbed the Protoss' shoulder, needing the door open for his morning relief.

The Protoss woke without much difficulty, and both went outside. The night was still almost completely darkened, yet along the horizon light was beginning to show. When Michael returned from relieving himself, he asked Dash'r "What do you think? Another 30 minutes and it will be light enough to start out."

"I agree, with luck we will have reached one of the buildings by nightfall."

Michael stowed his gear and sat down to eat, leaving Dash'r standing in the door watching the sun rise. With his back turned away Michael was able to admire his form without embarrassment, and found himself wanting to be close with the Protoss again. The connection he felt yesterday was far more intimate then anything he had ever done before with a human, and doing so again now, while he was wearing much thinner clothes, he imagined that it would be far better. He worked up his courage, figuring the worst that was likely to happen would be a no, "Hey, uh, Dash'r, you know that thing we did yesterday? That was, uh, you know..."

He was cut off by the Protoss turning and walking back towards him. All that he said was, "Relax," before a hand was placed on his shoulder. Again the presence in his mind flared, and he was greeted with the purity of emotion and the sensations of the Protoss holding his shoulder. Buried under the curiosity, he felt desire and fear within the Protoss, and he allowed his own emotions to run free, letting the Protoss know that it was returned in full. He reached up with one of his own hands, slightly dizzy at the dual sensations, and rested it on the Protoss arm. The additional sensations were amplified, greater then the single act would be. They both felt the desire from each other to continue forward, to have more sensation and emotion.

It was Michael who prevented it, "As much as I could do this forever, and would love to take this further, we probably shouldn't Dash'r, at least not here."

Both felt the disappointment and desire in the other, yet the connection receded to the normal, minimal contact. Dash'rs voice was tinged with too many emotions to count when he responded, "Off course, but I would enjoy continuing further in the future, Michael."

He couldn't help smiling like a fool. Dash'r moved off, giving him room to reattach his armor and gather his supplies.

They traveled mostly in silence. While Michael wanted to continue asking about the Protoss he was traveling with, in particular whether or not he was equipped to have their budding romance move on to a more physical level, he couldn't seem to figure out how to ask without seeming crass. He decided eventually to just take what he could get, and hoped that in the study material Dash'r had referenced in the past would mean that at least one of them would not be surprised if they went further.

Michael continued having his com gear monitor the local human traffic. Every so often a term that he had his computer search for would come up, and the recorded conversation would play in his ear. He would relay the information that seemed useful and pertinent, such as the fact that there was still a small number of zerg on the planet, and that they had been behaving in an odd manner, subdued and only a minimal amount of aggression.

A common set of names came up with reference to both the zerg and the Protoss, Raynor of Kerrigan. Dash'r explained the little he knew, "Kerrigan was a vastly gifted human psionic, who was captured and infested by the zerg, the the last I had heard reference she was in control of the entire zerg swarm."

Michael looked startled at that, and promptly relayed the rest of the conversation that had come up in regards to them, "People are saying that this Raynor guy killed her, or saved her, no one has the whole story, would that explain the zerg here going dormant?"

"Yes, the zerg have suffered such a loss before, when the consciousness that controlled in, the Overmind, was slain. It took Kerrigan months to gain control of the remaining zerg, it is possible that whatever mind that was most developed will, in her absence, do the same. It is likely only a temporary reprieve."

It was nightfall before they reached the pylon that formed the up link for the robotic sentries on the planets. The conversation after the talk of Kerrigan and Zerg had been minimal, the occasional question about the intricacies of each others culture. When Dash'r had finished sending the message, he led them to a small structure nearby, the shining gold framework having been overgrown by plant life. It was a suitable shelter for them. Michael stripped off his armor, ready for the rest and relaxation after a full day of hiking through the wilderness.

"It will be several hours before a ship arrives, we merely need to wait here."

Michael looked uncomfortable for a moment, before he asked something that he had been dreading, "Are they OK with you bringing a human along?"

He could here the smile in the Protoss voice, "Yes, I have explained to them that you have been helpful, and while they were surprised I had come across one, my people have been working closely with a group of humans lately, we are being brought to a joint colony where they have been working together against the zerg."

Michael smiled, relieved, but still wondered about how their budding relationship, if it was even a relationship, would fare.

"Are we gonna have to hide, you know, that thing you do? I mean, I don't know how your people do it, but in all honesty, if you were human, this would be definite romance between us, and dammit I'm babbling again!"

He felt the connection briefly intensify, the equivalent to a chaste kiss, he figured, before Dash'r responded, "We will not have to hide from my own people, and in fact it would be extraordinarily difficult to, with yours, I believe we will just have to wait and see."

Michael grinned, and decided to introduce his companion to a human form of expressing emotion. He pulled Dash'r into and embrace, as they stood in the abandoned building, and held him close, resting his head on Dash'rs shoulder. Dash'r had momentarily stiffened, before relaxing into the embrace. The mental connection flared in intensity, and he could feel the sensation of the bodies in contact, and surprise at the close physical contact, something that Protoss appeared to not do very often. One of his questions about physical compatibility was answered as he felt Dash'r harden beneath his robe like garment it felt larger then he had thought it would, and Michael had a difficult time not grinding his own against Dash'rs own member.

They gradually separated before they could loose control, both knowing that they should take the time to do it properly, and not rush things. The connection diminished, but never faded entirely, and they relaxed onto the hard floor beneath them and slept side by side, both distantly aware of the feeling of the other at their side.