Affiliations, Aliens, and Other Profitable Pursuits

by Lyn Gala

  That made sense. Ondry would very much dislike being cut off from a steady source of facts, so he declined the offer to close the area. Now Ondry wished for more quiet and fewer individuals. Crowds disappeared into buildings, and then more humans swarmed out, pushing closer until Ondry came near. It was as if Ondry passed some invisible barrier to their comfort. Then they would stumble back out of his way.

  “Why do they retreat?” Ondry asked. He was careful to move slowly and not alarm them, but he was clearly failing. And despite the fear of the humans closest to Ondry, others farther back continued to push toward them. It was bewildering.

  “Rownt do not follow the rules for human aesthetics,” Liam said.

  That surprised Ondry. He found humans rather attractive, even if the unfortunate coloring of the lighter ones made them appear angry all the time. They were nicely symmetrical. Ondry was particularly fond of Liam’s hair. And Ondry knew Liam took pleasure in seeing him, which implied Ondry pleased Liam’s aesthetic sense. “Why do you not share their opinion?”

  “That’s not an easy answer.” Liam grew quiet for a time. “I think some of it is that I had seen so many pictures of Rownt that your features didn’t surprise me anymore. Some of their reaction is shock,” he said as he looked at the crowd. “Humans are uncomfortable around the unknown, but they are also drawn to it. They are feeling both those emotions, and it is difficult for them.”

  Ondry didn’t have time to respond because the flying camera came toward him so fast that he couldn’t control his instinctive reaction. He bared his teeth and grabbed Liam, pushing Liam behind his body. The camera’s tiny motor gave a high-pitched whine, and then it hit the hand Ondry had thrown up. Immediately, humans rushed around Ondry. A soldier fired something that shrieked, and the flying camera clattered to the ground as humans pushed and shoved to get away. Ondry pulled Liam close and watched the chaos with growing alarm.

  “It’s okay. It’s fine,” Liam said. He rested his hand on Ondry’s fora without stroking it. “Making contact is illegal, so the information gatherers who made the camera come too close are in trouble. It’s okay.”

  Sure enough, two of the guards seemed to have singled out one of those Liam had called press and had taken him by the arm. The circle of space around them had increased now, and Ondry could smell the stress from those humans who did remain to watch.

  “Your teeth scared them,” Liam said in a near whisper. “You have many traits we associate with nonpredators, so they saw you as nonthreatening until they saw your fangs. Your instinctive reaction and your teeth frightened them.”

  The warmth of Liam’s hand against his fora calmed Ondry, and he relaxed his hold on his palteia. Human authorities were handling this, and there was no danger here. Ondry could tell that by the hints of amusement Liam showed. He was enjoying watching the government authorities enforce rules on the information authorities.

  Ondry let Liam out of his arms, only keeping a hand on his shoulder as he watched the humans. The high-ranked government guard came back from threatening the one who had controlled the flying camera.

  “I am sorry. We’ve ordered them to shut down all cameras for now. If you want to press charges, I’ll take that one into custody.”

  Ondry looked down at Liam. He did not understand issues of human punishment well enough to navigate this question. Liam glanced up at Ondry before he turned back to the government official. “This is a matter between governments. Let your bosses call up the Grandmothers on the ship and offer their apologies.”

  The officer nodded. “Okay. I’ll report his name up the chain of command and let them take it up with the big guy’s bosses.” The guard looked at Ondry for a moment as though expecting him to object. Ondry gazed back. After a second, the guard turned and headed back toward the information authorities.

  “They’re in trouble,” Liam said softly. “Their bosses are going to be pissed they got banned from covering us. I mean, a new alien species coming to Earth-controlled space is a big deal. You guys know a lot of aliens, but we have only made contact with Anla and Rownt, and the Rownt are the first ones to actually come to our space.”

  “Why would they all be banned?” Ondry asked. He could understand why the one who had committed the offense would lose rank and be driven away, but it seemed unfair to drive all the others away. It seemed almost Anla-like to treat the entire group as one individual.

  Liam started walking again, and Ondry stayed even closer.

  “It’s a peer-pressure thing. If all of them get banned for upsetting us, then they have a reason to try to enforce the rules on the others so they aren’t punished. That was out of line, and the other reporters should have told that reporter to pull back.”

  That made very little sense to Ondry, but they were on a human world, and he had to adjust to human ways of thinking.

  “Look, there’s the park,” Liam said, pointing to the trees visible above the crowds now that they had turned the corner.

  Ondry had already spotted the greenery. The smell of plants, even alien ones from Earth, soothed his nerves. Perhaps that shouldn’t be surprising. The Grandmothers said humans and Rownt shared more physiology than any other two species. Liam could safely eat over half the foodstuffs on Prarownt, and Ondry could eat most Earth crops, although the Grandmothers studying the sample foods did worry about long-term dangers of some of the alien compounds. Earth food was more acidic than Rownt digestive systems preferred.

  This park surprised Ondry though. As they walked closer, Ondry could see the lush vegetation. From the ship, this planet appeared dry and the town located far from plentiful water sources, but here the plants were as thick as in Uvt, where two rivers met and then ran into the sea. Trees blocked the harsh midday sun, and various flowers in a stunning array of colors lined the walks. The symmetry of the space and the decorative statues reminded Ondry of a temple. People had paid to create a beautiful shared area in the center of such crowded space.

  The stress and hunting urge eased as Ondry entered the green park, his hand still on Liam’s shoulder. A crowd of people followed, but the government guards prevented them from entering. While benches lined the walks, Liam led them to a hill with a tall, drooping tree that smelled of fresh dirt. Considering how small the benches were, Ondry was relieved when Liam chose to sit on the mossy ground. Ondry sat next to his palteia and relaxed against the tree. He expected Liam would lean into him, but Liam sat near Ondry’s knee and looked around. For a time it seemed the human crowds planned to stay and watch from the edges of the space, but the government guards walked along the edges, urging people away. That left only the people who had been in the park when Ondry and Liam had arrived. Ondry noted the government guards did not attempt to move them.

  Ondry got Liam’s attention by touching his hand. “How much of the day do you spend trying to understand Rownt and how they act?”

  Liam laughed. It was a full and joyous sound, and Ondry smiled in response. “When I first got to Prarownt, all the time. I was constantly trying to figure out what Rownt were doing or saying, and I only understood about half the words. I’m surprised I could get through a trade. When I was studying the language, I thought I was so good, and then I got to Prarownt, and I didn’t understand anything. I didn’t know you were courting me for years, so that should tell you something about how clueless I was.” Liam shook his head, but his expression carried fondness.

  “It would not have been proper to openly teach you to steal the meat from my plate. You were not mine to tend.”

  Liam curled his fingers around Ondry’s wrist. “You tended me anyway, ever since the first day when I sold you those worthless brass bowls.”

  “I did a fair trade on those.”

  “Good, because I couldn’t sell them to anyone. If they’d been filled with coins, I couldn’t have sold them for a single piece of tuthaha.”

  “You were not that foolish.”

  Liam gave him a look that questioned Ondry’s truthfulness. “Yes, I wa
s.”

  “You learned.”

  “Yes, I did.”

  And for a time, Ondry contented himself to watch the humans in the park. The guards ensured all the followers had left before the one with rank came walking over to them. Ondry would have stood to meet this near stranger, but Liam didn’t get up so Ondry didn’t either. The guard stopped a good distance away, which made remaining sitting somewhat more acceptable.

  “My supervisor sends his apologies for the problem with the camera drone. People are showing a little more interest than we expected. We were wondering if you would mind waiting here and letting us bring your trading partners to you. We could call them for you, explain the situation.” The soldier sounded hopeful.

  Liam looked to Ondry. “Do you mind if we move the meeting place? We wouldn’t have as much privacy here.” He shrugged. “Or any privacy.”

  “Do we need privacy?” Ondry knew humans often made trades and then hid the details in order to claim their trade goods were worth more or to charge more later. It was a wise action, and that was the very reason inexperienced traders used the trading squares where everyone could watch and speaking was forbidden. Only the most experienced traded in private where one could prove one’s ignorance far too easily.

  Liam turned to the guard. “That would be fine. We can wait here.”

  The human appeared relieved. “I’ll make the calls. Thank you.” With that, he turned and hurried off.

  “Why would they have misjudged their own people’s reactions?”

  Liam leaned against Ondry’s knee. “Humans don’t always understand humans. Do you always understand Rownt?”

  “Much of the time, I do. Even when I disagree, I see their logic. I disagree with the Grandmothers taking you to human meetings, but I understand that I cannot continue to shelter you.”

  “I love that you want to shelter me, and she was wrong to criticize you for keeping me close. She doesn’t know me. Even the Janatjanay Grandmothers never commented, and they were the ones who saw what I was like with other humans.”

  Ondry didn’t answer, but he thought of the human with the blue hair. She clearly felt a need to express her own strength, so humans shared that Rownt trait. Eventually Liam might grow to feel disrespected, and that would cause him harm. Ondry trusted Liam to handle trades on his own, but he was not so busy that dividing their efforts would have increased his profits. Not significantly. But tending Liam was a profit as well, and Ondry vowed to take more time to ensure Liam could have his own opportunities to steal some meat.

  “What are they doing?” Ondry asked as he watched a pair of humans press their faces together oddly.

  “Um…kissing.” Liam used a human word, and Ondry waited for the explanation since the word meant nothing to him. Liam required a lot of time before he answered. “Two individuals press their lips together. Humans have a lot of nerve endings in their lips, so that’s sensitive skin.”

  “I believe many species have responsive areas around mouths. When eating, poisons are sometimes ingested. Highly receptive nerve structures around the mouth can prevent that.” Ondry had found the comparative biology information in the database quite interesting. Logic demanded biology have some similarities between species. Even the Imshee and Ko-tekteta shared some traits with Rownt. “Why do they kiss?”

  “It’s a ritual to show affection,” Liam said.

  “Is this a ritual I should use with you to show my fondness?” Ondry asked. He had the uncomfortable feeling he had failed Liam in more ways than he had understood.

  Liam turned an alarming shade of red. “No, that’s not necessary.”

  “Not necessary” implied Liam could live without it, but Ondry did not wish for him to live without his own rituals. “I would like to try this,” Ondry said. He leaned closer.

  Liam scooted back. “Now would not be a good time.”

  Ondry wrapped his tail around Liam’s thigh. “Why not?”

  “Kissing is private.”

  “They do it openly.” Ondry looked over. The humans had ended their facial contact, but they were leaning into each other, talking and staring at Ondry. The staring made Ondry uncomfortable, but he reminded himself that humans had no obligation to act according to Rownt social rules.

  “It’s different with us. It would make people uncomfortable.”

  “Why?”

  Liam opened his mouth and then closed it again. While Liam’s distress bothered Ondry, he felt it important to understand the significance, and the human database Diallo had provided often confused issues when it came to interpersonal relationships. “Those two are normal. People expect two humans to be together. But the sort of kissing they’re doing implies they are sexually interested in each other, and if we signal an interest in activities that approximate sexual behaviors, others will be uncomfortable seeing it,” Liam explained.

  “Why?”

  “They just will. Humans don’t like to see uncomfortable things.”

  Ondry did not understand why Liam’s nonreproductive copulation was of interest to anyone else, but he could smell Liam’s distress, so he kept his thoughts to himself. They remained silent for some time, and Ondry studied the humans. Ondry was proud of his understanding of human language and culture, but standing on a human world, he began to wonder if he had any right to that pride. Clearly there were issues Liam was not discussing.

  “Look,” Liam said, pointing toward the edge of the park where a van had pulled up. A man stood beside the open door. “That’s Andwin Johhut, the chief purchasing officer for SafeWinds electronics. It’s time to start trading.” Liam smiled, and some of Ondry’s stress eased as he focused on this new trading partner. He knew how to trade. The rules of politeness might change, but as his own mother had told people, Ondry had traded while still in his egg. These humans were going to pay top prices for his metals, and he would bring himself and the mines he represented honor. The rest he would figure out later.

  Chapter Six

  Liam stretched. Morning always came too soon for him, but no matter how early he woke, Ondry was always waiting and watching. Their sleep schedules didn’t match up. However, Ondry never woke him. Instead he waited. So Liam closed his eyes again and enjoyed a few more moments of quiet.

  “You feign sleep,” Ondry finally said.

  “I do,” Liam agreed. He arched his back. When they’d left the Calti and joined one of her battleship-sized shuttles, Liam had expected some discomfort. Normally when ships landed, the angle of living quarters was slightly off, so the crew slept pressed up against the edge guard. That was true on every other ship Liam had traveled on. Ondry’s quarters were just as perpendicular on the ground as they were when the ship was flying. It was a luxury Liam had never enjoyed on a human ship.

  “We are in private,” Ondry said.

  Liam opened his eyes. “Yes, we are.”

  Ondry drifted closer until Liam was nearly cross-eyed watching him, and only then did he realize what Ondry wanted. Ondry pressed his lips against Liam’s. For a moment, they were locked in place. Then instinct took over. Liam parted his lips and explored the unfamiliar shape of Ondry’s mouth. His eyes closed, and he slid his hand around the back of Ondry’s neck.

  Ondry curled his tail around Liam’s leg and then used his arm to pull Liam close to his chest. Following Liam’s lead, Ondry parted his lips. Liam felt the tentative flicker of Ondry’s tongue against Liam’s lip. A little frisson traveled up Liam’s spine, and while he was still lost in that feeling, Ondry slipped his slick tail inside Liam. Ondry had covert lube maneuvers down to an art.

  Liam ended the kiss with a shout.

  “I like this kissing,” Ondry said. “It is like the fora, only a feeling we can share.”

  Liam gripped Ondry’s shoulders and panted because Ondry had taken advantage of the kiss’s distraction to press the end of his tail against Liam’s prostate. Liam’s cock was currently so hard that he was seeing little spots.

  “It’s intimate,” Ondry sai
d, and then he leaned closer for another kiss. His tail eased off Liam’s prostate, and Liam sighed into their kiss. Ondry’s lips were thinner than a human’s, but they were much more pliant. When Ondry started slowly thrusting into him, Liam spread his legs and rested his palm against Ondry’s fora. He knew Ondry didn’t want it stroked in the morning because it made him lethargic, but he seemed to enjoy soaking up Liam’s heat.

  When Ondry pulled back, Liam said, “Yes, it is. Parents will kiss their children on the cheek, but lip-to-lip touching is very intimate.”

  “Something to share with just a palteia then.”

  “Or a lover, if you’re human.”

  “Humans link love to sexual copulation, which seems illogical,” Ondry said. “We are not sexually compatible, but I do love you, so is that enough to classify us as lovers?”

  Liam smiled. “The fact that we love each other makes it enough.” He might have said more, only then Ondry pressed his lips against Liam’s again. Between the tender kiss and hard thrusts of Ondry’s tail, it wasn’t long before Liam could only moan and squirm, his body no longer his to control.

  After a time, Ondry began to gently stroke Liam’s hard cock and tease his balls. Liam jerked, his muscles stiff with the need to come, but Ondry had become an expert at keeping Liam in this place where his brain didn’t function, where he ached for touch and couldn’t think about anything else.

  For one glorious moment, nothing mattered except Ondry and the growing heat between them. Ondry sniffed at Liam’s neck, and Liam turned his head away so he’d have better access. Then Ondry tightened his grip around Liam’s cock and Liam came. Liam clung to Ondry and thrust aggressively, although with Ondry’s weight holding him down, he couldn’t go anywhere. Spurts of cum splattered against his stomach and chest and over Ondry’s arm. For a long time after that, Liam could only lie in the nest and pant as Ondry stroked him gently.

  “You broke me,” Liam complained softly.

  “I would regret such an action, but you have claimed to be broken many times, and as of yet, you have not shown any signs of wear.” Ondry licked the spot under Liam’s ear. “You smell quite happy.”