Page 29 of Eat My Moon Dust
So that’s what I’d give her. Be a good team player, take my kids to the playfield, meet some humans, go on some dates, maybe volunteer at the school pod… A good baan would do that, right?
Whatever it took.
Aavar touched down inside the hangar in his usual spot. He was flying light this time, the engines jettisoning heat for only a few seconds before they purred quietly and the ramp opened. Bajora waved at Aavar through the shelves, but I was focused on my last curly cue before lunch, completely ignoring the usual chaos that accompanied an Aavar-Bree reunion after one of his weekend flights.
Shewasbeing louder than usual though. And getting closer.
“Yeah! So this is the engineering lounge!” she practically bellowed. “After you, Ambassador Zufi!”
My eyes widened, catching on Bajora’s shocked face.
No…
“Thank you, dear. You don’t need to yell though,” Zufi said, his syrupy tone slightly strained.
“What?!” Bree yelled, cupping her ear. She made a face behind the ambassador’s shoulder at us, hands flailing. She mouthed,What the fuck,and even though my linguitor couldn’t lipread, I recognized it anyway. It was one of my junior mechanic’s favorite phrases.
“Ambassador Zufi!” Bajora said, wiping off his hands and setting aside his tools with a diplomatic smile. “I thought you weren’t due for a few more days.”
The politician scanned the lounge with a satisfied smirk, tendrils completely at ease. “Yes, well, I was able to clear my schedule. I figured I should make the time, get to know Renata now that the humans have settled in, and check in on my delegates…” His attention landed on me. “And their progress. Don’t you agree, CE Fareshi?”
“Of course.” I turned away, diligently and carefully turning off my soldering arm and the heated wand I was using to blow the bulbs into shape. I needed my heart to stop racing, the tension to ease out of my mane, and for Zufi’s attention to drift somewhere else.Anywhereelse.
I was so fucked.
Bree cleared her throat and bellowed right in Zufi’s ear. “If you’ll follow me, ambassador, I’ll show you our plasma discharge barrels.”
Zufi winced and she blinked innocently, lowering her voice just a tad. “Sorry. Hard of hearing after losing my eyes.”
“Wha–”
“Come on, sir!” Bree jumped on the moment of confusion and pushed the ambassador towards the row of lockers. She came up short though, reaching out to grab Tinsley as she rounded the corner, her strange felt holiday crown of antlers jingling in surprise. “Damn, sorry!”
Tinsley touched her holiday crown to make sure it was still intact. “Oop, my bad!”
“I don’t think we’ve had the pleasure of meeting. I’m Ambassador Jurek Zufi. You’re welcome to call me Jurek.”
My tendrils shrank up and I held my breath. Tinsley was an unpredictable glitter bomb of cheer and spite. She waved to him with a little dip of her head, hugging a pile of scribbly plas to her chest. Her holiday plans, no doubt.
“Ohh,you’rethe ambassador! It’ssonice to meet you. I’m Tinsley Adams. Human resident, obviously.”
I squinted at the tiny woman’s tone of voice. It was far too syrupy, and the smile that reached her eyes was pinched and unwelcoming in the most welcoming way possible. What was she doing?
“A pleasure to meet you, Ms Adams–”
“I prefer Tinsley.”
“Ms Tinsley,” Zufi corrected himself, flashing his triple canines with amusement. “I won’t delay you any further from speaking with the engineers. Bree, shall we–”
“Oh, I’m not here for a work order,” Tinsley interrupted him again. She bit her lip and rocked up on the balls of her feet with excitement, hugging all those scribbly plans a little tighter to her chest.
That’s when I saw it.
Not her usual brand of festive excitement…
Butmischief.
“Oh no,” I murmured under my breath.
