Page 13 of Indentured Companion
“Is everything alright?” Xeya asks, and I nod that it is. I lower to sit in the chair beside Valerie, cross one leg over the other, and lower my left arm around her shoulders. I lean closer to whisper through my veil near her ear.
“I didn’t know we were going to be exposed like this. I’ve requested a shrug or coat for you. In the meant time, I’d order a hot drink.” I rub her arm and she smiles up at me.
“Already ahead of you.”
“Not coffee, though?” I worry for a moment. The last thing I need is for her to taste bitter and make me nauseous.
“No.” She rolls her eyes at me. “Hot chocolate. With marshmallows.” I smile. I can deal with the extra sugar.
“I’ve ordered a cappuccino.” Xeya offers to the conversation, drawing our attention to her. “What would you…” Her mouth hangs open for a minute, before she realises she was about to ask a Korvis would they would like todrink, and flusters. “I mean…erm…”
“I am quite fine, thank you.” I politely reply, and beside me Valerie is chewing her lips not to laugh. “So Miss Xeya? Shall we begin?”
“Yes, we shall.” She answers gratefully and flexes her frills. She sits back in her chair, places a recording orb in the middle of the table, and holds her clipboard ready. “For the record, this is an exclusive interview by reporter Xeya Jun’up’olo of the Galactic Herald, with The Dynast of the Korvian Hive, and his feeding companion, Valerie Stone.” She tensed beside me and threw me a concerned look. It seems she thought she would just sit there during this interview, and not participate. I would have preferred that as well, but suspected that she would be questioned as well. After all? The Theskian empire will likely be curious about her thoughts on being my feeding companion. Possibly more so than anything I have to say. “Do you consent to proceed with the interview, whilst being recorded, to ensure the record is correct?”
“I do.” I answer, and then look down at Valerie. I worry she will not give consent. It would look suspicious if she declined. Like she either had something to hide, or was afraid to speak freely. I nod to her with encouragement, and she grumbles something under her breath.
“…fine…yes I give consent.”
I rub her arm, hoping she feels warmth and my approval, and look at Xeya to proceed. The pink Sacron smiles and holds her clipboard like she’s anxious she’ll forget one of her questions. I start to suspect she isn’t the mostseasonedof reporters the Galactic Herald has. Perhaps she was the one who drew the short straw? Or one of the few willing to interview me?
“Great. Let’s begin. Dynast?” I nod. “You are the first Korvian in Theskian space for a century.” She’s reading from her clipboard and not making any attempt at eye contact. “I think one of the first things our readers would like to know, is why now? Why has the Hive reached out to rejoin the empire after a century of isolation?” Isolation she says? More like exile.
“Time, is in fact, the answer to that question. Enough time has passed that the Hive is optimistic that rekindling an old friendship with the empire will be successful. We have much to offer in advanced technology, especially in the medical field. We are more than willing to share these advancements with the empire.”
“In exchange for feeding companions?” Xeya nodded at Valerie.
“Willing feeding companions, who know exactly what kind of symbiotic relationship they are entering into, yes.” I see out of the corner of my lilac eyes a smirk on Valerie’s face. “We wish to have a strong relationship with the Theskian Empire. Re-establish trade routes and the sharing of knowledge with one another. One day, we should like to be full members again.”
“Is that why you’re here on the Starbase? To petition for membership to the Theskian council?”
“One day that will be my purpose, I hope.” I chuckle suavely and rub Valerie’s arm. “For now, I simply wish to establish a meaningful dialogue between the Hive and the Empire. I wish to show that my people are not as we are wrongfully portrayed in popular culture. It was a minority of Korvians who caused the rift to form between our people, and the majority of us even a century ago, were horrified by their behaviour. Yet, we’ve all been given the same treatment.”
“You are referring to the war that led to the Hive being forced back to their native quadrant, their feedingcompanionsreleased, and the Korvians being denied access to Theskian territories.”
“Yes. I am.” I nod firmly. “The actions of thatonetribe of Korvians was abhorrent, and they deserved the punishment they received. Both by the empire, and by the Hive once the Theskians left our space. That tribe no longer exists, but the rest of us do.”
“Since you’ve brought it up?” Xeya clears her throat and her gaze is wary. She’s clearly about to ask me something she thinks will risk angering me. “What makes you and your peopledifferentfrom the Korvians that used to kidnap and drain Theskian species to death?” Beside me Valerie tenses, but I don’t hesitate. I chuckle and press my right hand to my chest.
“Like I have already said, a minority of our people behaved atrociously, and deserved the fate that befell them. Thevastmajority of the Korvians, myself included, revere our feeding companions. It is a privilege and an honour to have a feeding companion. We put our lives in their hands, and owe our continued existence to them. We share our lives with them. Not just physically, but emotionally as well. We live together. We work together.” I gesture between myself and Valerie. “There is a reason we use the term feedingcompanion.Miss Stone is my companion in every way. I care deeply for her wellbeing, and consider her my friend. With time, she will become my truest friend, as she will know me better than anyone else. As I will know her the best as well.” I turn to look down at Valerie, and my lilac eyes lock onto her wide brown ones. “Our bond is new, but it is already blossoming into a deep connection that I shall never take for granted. I trust her with my life, and the future of my people.”
“That’s a profound answer.” Xeya comments, and reaches over to tap the recording orb to pause it. I wonder why, but then a quivering waiter walks over with a tray in his hands and some black fabric slung over his left arm.
“One cappuccino.” He places it down before Xeya. “One hot chocolate.” He walks around the table to avoid me, and places the tall mug, brimming with fluffy marshmallows, in front of Valerie. “A-and a shrug?”
“Ah, perfect, thank you.” I nod firmly and prompt him to hand it to me, but instead he gives it to Valerie.
“H-here, ma’am.” Xeya watches this exchange with keen eyes, but I pay the slight no heed. Valerie however? Ah…no such luck there. She glares up at the waiter and yanks the shrug from him.
“Is there a reason you gave that to me and not the Dynast?”
“W-well it’s for you, right? He asked me to buy it for you, so-”
“It’s alright.” I chuckle and try to smooth things over. “All that matters is that you are warm now.” Valerie looks like she’d begin growling at the waiter any moment, so he backs off. I chuckle and coax her to stop glaring at the poor boy, by wrapping her up in the black shrug. “We’ll make sure to come prepared with a coat or such for any future outings like this one.” She huffs and turns to look up at my lilac eyes.
“He was an asshole.”
“Miss Stone, he is entitled to feel comfortable.” I tuck her in and coax her hands to palm on the warm mug of hot chocolate. Unbeknownst to us, Xeya has reached over and tapped the recording orb again. “Is that better?”
