Hoxx

The arrival of Sola in Hoxx space was far less dramatic than Dustin had feared. As they slid back into real-space, a pair of stocky looking vessels had moved into flanking positions to escort them in to the inner system. While Emely negotiated the tricky business of getting them an audience with someone with enough authority to make a difference, Dustin glanced sideways at Meli.

“Their ships aren’t particularly… strong, are they? I mean, they clearly are aiming to look strong, and built like bruisers, but the sensors are only showing them as having a few of what I’d consider light arms, and their hull thickness is… just not there.” He commented, running his eyes again over the readout Sola had given him of the state of their escorts.

Meli nodded, gesturing to the planet below them. “That matches what our files tell us of the Hoxxian character. They are rugged, strong individuals - but they come from a low gravity planet. Honestly, their average individual has more of their body as muscle mass than an athletic human or Rabyth, but their muscles are significantly less dense, lack fibrous strength… Bleu could tell you more about it, husband, but the simple fact is they look a lot stronger than they are.”

Dustin nodded, drumming his fingers idly on the armrest of the captain’s chair in which he was currently sat. “And they’ll want us to do some form of athletics contest to show we’re worthy of their time? If they’re as weak as you say, that shouldn’t be too hard.”

As he spoke, Emely glanced up. “I’ve got us an audience with the planetary governor. Assuming that goes well, they’ll put in a word for us with whichever species we go to see next.” Seeing Dustin’s frown, she shrugged. “The Hoxx don’t really have a centralized government. They have a loose collective of planetary leaders, but above that they just bow to the Tho’uun rather than trying to have any species-wide government of their own. This is as good as we’re going to get from them.”

Some time later, Dustin gazed out of the window of the shuttle as they descended slowly through the atmosphere of the Hoxx world, his sole companion on this flight a junior crewman to act as a pilot at the Hoxx’s request. Beneath them, sunlight glittered off arches and rails alongside sandstone-coloured buildings standing out vibrantly against the green plant life that seemed to be everywhere outside. The Hoxx apparently were big believers in good urban design - their pathways and roads often being covered by elevated and arched railway and tram lines, that criss-crossed their cities and connected the various urban centres together.

The main shuttleport was right in the middle of the town, between a colosseum that wouldn’t have looked out of place in ancient Rome and a skyscraper that was covered in emblems - the seat of planetary government, Dustin assumed. As the shuttle made a gentle landing, he opened the door to find a greeting party already awaiting him.

Dustin’s first impression of the Hoxx was that they looked sturdy. The assistant and undersecretary to the governor who had come to greet him (along with a pair of guards carrying pulse carbines) stood somewhat shorter than Dustin, perhaps a half head shorter than Emely, although they would still have been taller than Naera had either of his women been allowed to make the trip with him. What the locals lacked in height, they made up for in broad shoulders, coupled with a lion-like mane that encircled a stout neck. The undersecretary held out a blocky three-digited hand to Dustin. “I understand this is the traditional Earth greeting,” the man said, smiling respectfully.

Shaking the offered hand, Dustin looked around. Normally, he’d have commented on how lovely the city looked - but Emely’s coaching on the ride to Hoxx space kicked in. “Lots of room to run around here,” he mused instead, adding “do you get many people climbing your office?”

The undersecretary gave a snort of laughter. “Not as many as I’d like. Most people here are too scared of seeming old fashioned by scrambling up buildings, so just stick to the training areas in the sports halls. It’s a shame. But, you’re not here to exchange pleasantries on the landing pad with an assistant. Please, come with me - the governor and his champion are waiting in the arena.”

Nodding, Dustin allowed himself to be led away from the tall spire with it’s many carved decorations and into the colosseum. It was cool inside, the high walls of stone largely unadorned as the Hoxx officials led them a winding dance through various different gyms and past a range of sports rooms, until at last they stepped through yet another door and out onto the wide sand and grass-covered innermost courtyard. Running tracks encircled the area, along with spaces for jumping and vaulting - not to mention a vast swimming pool, to Dustin’s surprise. He’d missed that on the flight in - presumably due to the cover over it to keep out dirt that was now being industriously hauled away by a groundskeeper.

In the middle of all the athletic arrangement, on a raised dais at the arena’s heart, there stood a desk and a pair of chairs. It was towards this dais that Dustin was led. On the far side of the desk, two Hoxx stood - one wearing a suit that strained over the muscles beneath, his mane the largest Dustin had seen so far, wild and unkempt. The other was female, and unlike the others was not dressed for an office. Bandages were tightly wrapped around her torso, presumably to keep her chest in place, while others were looped around her forearms. She looked ready for combat, compared to the others - except for her mane. There, vanity had clearly been given free reign - it was long, but unlike the others had been neatly combed, woven and plaited with a series of beads added to give a dash of colour to the otherwise plain amber strands.

“Ambassador Dustin of Earth? Planetary Governor Mael at your service. Your communications officer tells me your species are mighty warriors and strong athletes - and assures me that you are average for your kind? Before we talk politics, perhaps you would enjoy a test of skill against one of our champions - Yaerwen here is one of the best my world has produced.” The governor’s voice was jovial - but the look of interest Yaerwen flashed Dustin, her eyes narrowing as she took in his relative lack of muscle, was anything but.

Dustin nodded, drawing back the chair and sitting down. “A simple arm wrestle? Or would you rather we race? I’m happy with either - or both, Yaerwen,” he said - another bit of coaching from Emely coming into play.

The woman stepped forward, sinking into the chair opposite. “Bold moves for someone so skinny. If you can beat my arm, then maybe I’ll run a few laps around you for the governor’s amusement. I dunno why he feels he needs to put someone of my abilities up here - you look like a frail old man could push you over.” As she spoke, she rested her elbow on one of the pads on the table, the action causing a metal pole to rise up which she grasped with her other hand.

Trying not to grin given everything he’d been told by his crew about the Hoxx’s actual strength, Dustin mirrored her actions. “Governor? If you would be so kind as to judge the contest and indicate when we should start?” he said, reaching forward to grasp Yaerwen’s hand.

Fifteen seconds later, while sweat beaded Yaerwen’s forehead, Dustin carefully but firmly pressed the back of her hand against the tabletop. She wasn’t as weak as he’d expected - but neither was she as strong as she looked. He’d had to work his muscles to win, but the overall expectation that the Hoxx’s low-gravity origins had left them with bulky but weak muscles seemed to hold up. “So, a race next? Speed or endurance?” He asked, trying not to grin as the woman opposite massaged her forearm.

“Both. First to twenty laps.” She said, rising and making her way to where a start line was painted on the track, lifting her feet and stretching out her quads as she did so. Dustin gave a shrug and followed, settling into a loose stance while Yaerwen dropped into a runner’s crouch. Honestly, he felt like he was showing off by doing this - but she’d set a lap count that meant this would be an endurance race… and unlike the Hoxx, humans had evolved from endurance predators.

Sure enough, while she blazed ahead initially, around lap nine he caught up with her. Taking long loping strides that kept his speed high without costing him energy, he was largely coasting along. By lap fifteen she was flagging, her speed dropping. By lap eighteen, he’d lapped her twice. Finally, he leaned against the wall just past the finish line as she crossed, glanced at him and dropped to her knees panting. “Three… fuck, three whole laps… ahead… just what the fuck are you humans anyway?” She gasped out between breaths, sagging in exhaustion.

Dustin walked over and helped her to her feet, and then back over to where the governor and the others were waiting. As he crossed the arena, she leaned against him. “You’re an ambassador right? So you’re just… average for your species. Fucking hell,” she muttered.

Two hours of negotiations and refreshments later, Dustin was stood once more on the landing pad. Mael shook his hand. “Well done, ambassador. I’ve sent on my commendations on your species as you requested. In turn, I’ve also received a request I was wondering if you’d accept?” At Dustin’s raised eyebrow, Mael gestured to where Yaerwen was stood nearby. “My champion has asked permission to join your crew; I’ve agreed, provided you’re alright with it.”

Dustin paused. Emely had mentioned this might happen; the Hoxx were an odd bunch, but protocol for ambassadors was protocol. “I’d be delighted” he replied, unsure exactly what to do with the athletic woman but figuring he’d work that out later on. At a wave from Mael, Yaerwen hefted a pack from the floor and hurried across, ducking into the shuttle without a backwards glance. Dustin climbed in behind her, and a moment later they were airborne once more.

Sitting in a seat next to Dustin, Yaerwen glanced around the shuttlecraft. “This is pretty neat. Bit small to work out in, but I guess it is just a shuttle after all.” Turning to Dustin, she smiled at him - then her next words caused him to **** on the water he was drinking. “I’ve never lost before - not arm wrestling, not racing, not any athletic contest I’ve entered, did you know that? So you’re strong, fast, and have even more stamina than I do, mister ambassador. When do we fuck?”