Page 3 of Alien Abduction for Professionals
The blob's expression didn't change - because it didn't have an expression in the first place - but its red faded into a dark orange.
"Full biosignature required. Please press against the walls and stay still until I tell you to move."
This was becoming stranger and stranger. Not how I'd imagined a shopping trip to the space station. It didn't bode well for the rest of our time here.
"Stand against the wall," Xil told me. "It's painless, just a quick scan to confirm that we're the species we say we are."
"How could we pretend to be another species?" I asked and stepped back until my bum hit the cold elevator wall.
"There are ways. Not that I'm familiar with any of them, of course." Xil gave me a wink.
The elevator began to shake slightly, and I was glad I was pressed against the wall for support. My skin tingled, and a shiver ran down my back.
"Scan complete. Three Kardarians, one human. Interspecies sexual contact confirmed."
"Why do they need to know that?" I whispered, a blush heating my cheeks.
"What is your relationship with these males?" the cube asked me, flashing an alarming red. "Mate, slave, partner, adopted sibling, teacher, student, breeder, nurse, pet-"
"Mate," I interrupted it before it could go any further. "I'm their mate."
It felt good to say that.
The alien stopped flashing and returned to a calming yellow. "Truth verified. Please note that slavery is forbidden on Kitt-Y-6. Should your relationship status change, please notify one of the attendants. Transporting you to shopping platform three. Have a pleasant time."
Matar
Islammed my tail against the elevator when we exited. That klatting thing had spoiled the beginning of our excursion. Trish seemed a little downcast, but her expression brightened as soon as she took in our surroundings. It had been a good choice to start with platform three. This was the place where merchants from all across the galaxy came to show off their bestselling wares. The other shopping platforms were more specific, while this was a treasure finder's paradise. There was everything from food to clothing to technology.
"This is amazing," Trish gasped. I had to smile at seeing her so stunned. I remembered my first visit to Kitt-Y-6. It was unlike any other space station. Others were more strict with what could be sold, while here the only rule was no slaves and no weapons. Of course, some merchants would sell you guns and ammunitions if you had the right passwords, but as long as no violence erupted on the station, the officials turned a blind eye.
"What smells so delicious?" our human asked and wrinkled her adorable nose.
"About a hundred different dishes," Havel laughed. "You'll have to be more specific."
"Let's have a wander," I suggested. "When you see or smell something interesting, we'll stop to take a closer look. The only thing we really need is some more clothes for you, but I assume we'll end up with bags full of other stuff."
Xil, Havel and I had listened to a lesson by Professor Katila on shopping with females. It had been an eye-opener. I had no idea females were this obsessed with acquiring new possessions. Katila had given us some pointers on how to resist, but I knew I couldn't resist whenever Trish fluttered her eyelashes and looked at me with a pleading expression that promised I'd be rewarded for giving in. We'd need to stock up on some of her favourite foods and treats, or I wouldn't get to see that lash-fluttering as often. She had a strange taste and liked dishes I wouldn't have touched even if someone paid me to eat them, but after all, she was a different species.
"What's that?" Trish asked and hurried towards a garishly purple stall. "Are those earrings?"
"Translators," the shop owner replied with a charming smile that made me want to punch him. "Not all people want theirs implanted or some kind of ugly device. This is the most fashionable way to show that you're open to other cultures and willing to talk to them."
"That makes no sense," Xil grumbled. "You could easily lose them and then you're stuck without a translator. No, implants are the way to go."
"Look, over there," I said quickly and pointed at another stall. "I think they have piki cakes."
"Pikis!" Havel roared and ran there as if he was starving.
Just like I'd hoped, Trish forgot all about the weird translator jewellery and followed Havel to the food stall. The owner, a massive Intaran female with enough body fat to last her through several famines, wasn't as charming as the other seller. She simply looked at us as if she knew she had no need of charm and sales pitches. Everyone loved piki cakes. I didn't know how it was possible, but almost every species in the galaxy enjoyed these small, moist cakes. The recipe was closely guarded, and I'd never met a piki seller who'd even say if there was meat, plants or something else entirely in them. Not that it mattered.
"Fifty cakes, please," Havel ordered.
The Intaran's expression changed to something more pleasant, while Xil scowled at Havel. Fifty cakes were excessive and would swallow a large part of our budget. Professor Katila had warned us that we'd have to adjust our budget when shopping with a female, but this wasn't Trish ordering an extortionate amount of cakes.
"Where shall I deliver them to?" she asked. "It'll take me a while to wrap them all."
Havel pressed his communicator against the receiver on her table to transmit our parking spot data. "Give us four to go, the rest can be delivered. No need to hurry, we'll be here for a while."
