Page 18 of Across The Stars
“And why didn’t we get this information sooner?”
“There was no need. Xeron metal isn’t easy to procure since they farmed their home world. After all this time, they may have found another sufficient source. Trading stations provide it at high costs, but many gek’tal are pirates. They would have found a way to get their hands on it.”
“You’ve mentioned these deep space stations before and I still stand by my request to get my people to some of them. We’re still strangers here and if this relationship is going to work, we need to have the facts and the know-how to navigate the galaxy and deal with its dangers.”
“I understand, mayor, but deep space stations are not safe environments. Simply sending humans could result in a number of ugly outcomes. Earth has its laws. Space stations have theirs and without becoming official with the galactic federation, those laws don’t apply to you. In fact, they barely apply to anyone on deep space stations.”
“But it’s open for discussion. That’s the only assurance I need.”
I slowly nodded, trying my best to find a middle ground.
The mayor took another deep breath and leaned back in his chair. “I’m very aware of our dependent relationship, captain. We need syfer and you need our particular genetic resources and our military. It’s only fitting we step up when things begin to get heated. I’ll take those alterations. I do expectthe valerian council to consider increasing security on cargo roots. If your transport was attacked, what’s keeping the gek’tal from attacking syfer shipments? If we want to continue this relationship, you will need to convince us there’s a reason.”
I didn’t like the mayor’s tone and if he could see past my visor, he’d see the suspicious look on my face. But despite that, I nodded. We needed each other, whether we liked it or not.
“We have a shipment of syfer ready now,” I said. “With the loss of one of our cargo ships, we’ll be short-handed until we finish investigating and scavenging the debris. It will be a week or two before we can do the exchange.”
“Understandable. We’ll be sure to have enough of our own to aid in the exchange when you’re ready.”
“And what of the progress on your end? As you might expect, losing so much research makes us a little anxious for new developments.”
“We have two viable specimens that came in with the passenger ship today,” the woman said, dragging her finger over her digital pad in clipped motions. “They both tested very well. We’ll have them delivered to you during the exchange.”
There wasn’t much discussion after that. I wasn’t fond of talking to humans, but it was a job that only I and a handful of others could stomach. I’d gotten used to their presence, for the most part. Once I was done speaking with mayor Blaine and his geneticist, Salukh and I were escorted out.
“Hey,” Salukh said in our native tongue. “Ask about the cold dessert thing.”
“No,” I said sternly.
“We just saved their asses. We should get a cold dessert.”
“Another time.”
“Sjak,” Salukh cursed under his breath.
“We’ll have to help with the sypher shipment later now that we’re down a scout ship. You can ask for your cold dessert then.”
As we made our way back to the docs, I found my eyes wandering from the immediate path. We didn’t pass too many people in the private passages, but I couldn’t help glancing at the ones we did pass looking for a specific face. I didn’t really want to be searching, but I was and when I realized what I was doing, I felt my skin tingle again. I took deep breaths, which Salukh could hear through our com-link, I was sure. I cursed to myself when he bumped my shoulder.
“Are you thinking about it?” he asked.
“About what?”
“The surge. You’re not curious? Surges are rare and that was definitely a surge.”
“It wasn’t a surge. Leave it be.”
“I saw it. It was that one with the blue hair, wasn’t it? The one that bumped you. How’d it feel? I’ve only heard of them. I’ve never felt one, obviously. Did your cock stiffen?” He looked down at my crotch. “I can’t tell with these suits holding everything in so tight. Is it bigger?”
I hissed and shook my head with exasperation. “Last time I punched you, I broke your crown. Don’t make me do it again.”
“Violent tendencies. A side effect of a surge going unanswered.”
“It’s only been an hour.”
“So, you admit it was a surge.”
“No. Stop talking.”
