Page 57 of Zalis
“A drone which I modified.”
The drone drifted up into the tree branches. The wings flashed in shimmering colors against the leaves.
“What features does it have? I bet it shoots lasers out its eyes,” she said. The look he gave her, like he wasn’t sure if she was serious or teasing. He had a hard time telling the difference. He told her that. Right, right. She added, “I’m teasing, but I am curious what it does.”
“Surveillance and tracking. It is a standard function.” Zalis held out his hand and the drone landed gracefully on a finger.
Gemma leaned in to inspect. “It looks like a dragonfly.”
“Yes, exactly. I saw one on Earth. It was fascinating. They can fly in multiple directions, up and down, back and forth, and even hover,” he said, excitement in his voice. “You asked me what I enjoy. I enjoy crafting these.”
“You made a drone look like a dragonfly.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
He blinked, as if that question had never occurred to him. “There is no regulation that states a drone must be devoid of color.”
When he lifted his hand, the dragonfly took off. It shimmered the dim light of the garden, catching the glow from floating orbs, like it was designed to reflect back the most stunning aspects of the garden.
She liked it.
“It’s very whimsical,” she said.
“The universe could do with more whimsy.” He sat stiffly, more than the uncomfortable suit could explain.
He’s nervous.He probably hadn’t shared his secret mecha -dragonfly project with anyone before and waited for approval or mockery.
She would never mock him.
“The world needs more whimsy,” she agreed.
ZALIS
The improbable occurred.
Constable Pama had apprehended Gemma’s traffickers.
Gemma shared the news over the evening meal, excitement vibrating through her body. “I can’t believe that snotty cop caught them.”
“Excellent. They have suspects in custody. All that is required of you is to return to Tholla for a formal identification,” Zalis said.
Her excitement waned. “I don’t want to go back there. Ever. Can’t I do the ID over the network?”
“Your reluctance is understandable, but you cannot. Tholla law requires that such an identification be done in person as there is a chance of data manipulated over the communication network,” he said, consuming the last morsel on his plate.
Gemma had prepared an Earth egg-based dish called omelets. It was rich and buttery, with bits of vegetables and meat. While Zalis appreciated all the food she prepared, he did not want her to feel obligated. She explained that a decimal error left herwith too many eggs and did not want to waste them, which was foolish. The excess could be recycled. Matter was matter.
With her fork, Gemma pushed around the half-eaten omelet.
“Is the meal not to your liking? I can fetch a hot meal from the cafeteria,” Zalis offered.
“The food’s fine. The eggs are a bit rubbery but it’s nothing sriracha can’t fix.” Despite her words, she moved the plate away.
“The eggs are perfect.” He did enjoy the spicy rooster sauce, which was made of chili peppers and not poultry of any kind. The bottle’s packaging was deceptive. “Tell me why your mood has shifted.”
She huffed, folding her arms over her chest. “I can’t go for the ID, obviously, because of the travel ban, and those goons are going to get away with it. So yeah, I’m a little bummed.”
