The father of our Qel stands. “Welcome to our home, Mr. Xar. I’m supposed to touch my nose or something like that, right?”
“That is not necessary. Please call me T’Kan.”
He smiles the lines around his eyes crinkling his welcome. “And you can call me Joel.”
“Take that empty seat across from Zinnia,” Glo’ria says behind me.
I do as she instructs, but when I settle in the little red seat, Zin’nia makes a curious gesture with her eyes. They seem to roll as she turns her head away to look in another direction. I’m still not familiar with this expression, but I suspect she is not pleased with my presence. However, my mood stays light throughout dinner.
I was raised in the most opulent of settings. My family lines are among the wealthiest in all of Xalthuria. However, nothing I have ever experienced compares with the humble meal I share with Zin’nia and the Qel’s parents that eve—after an impromptu lesson from Joel as to how to use a small metal tool called a fork.
“This rice and beans is very good, Glo’ria. There is nothing quite like it where I am from.”
The Qel’s mother smiles. “Thank you. It’s an old planet recipe.”
Zin’nia makes a snorting sound and does the eye rolling gesture again. The Qel’s parents ask me several questions about life on Xalthuria and I answer them to the best of my ability. I also explain to them about my many plans for New Terrhan, including building more housing, and setting up a planet wide holosystem, which would run on photonic energy. But when Glo’ria rises to fetches more slices of the frosted bread they call cake, my eyes come back to Zin’nia and the Xalling they call Ste’vie.
Ste’vie N’Vaise…I smile at the idea of her full name.
And to my great surprise, she smiles back at me from across the table, throwing her arms and making all manners of sound.
“Would you like to hold her?” Glo’ria asks, returning to the table with the frosted bread.
Zin’nia’s hold tightens on Ste’vie who lets out a little squeak.
“No,” I answer, both my chest and my ridges tightening. “That is not necessary.”
I have read about the hu’man mother’s sense of protectiveness in regards to their offspring. Our Qel spoke of it much while advocating for visiting rights for the hu’man birth mothers who had male Xallings taken away from them. Also, I have heard that due to their gestation time of a mere nine months, the hybrid Xallings are fragile. It is for the best that I do not attempt to handle Ste’vie.
But for some reason, her mother’s reluctance to let me hold our babe causes a painful ache in my chest.
Silence falls over the table and I notice they are also using the strange forks on the frosted bread. But not quite in the same way as we ate the rice. Following Joel’s example, I sliced into the spongy bread with the side of my fork.
While we eat, Joel asks, “So how long will you be on New Terrhan? Will you leave after the improvements are made? Get back to being a general?”
I notice Zin’nia stiffen, but I pretend I do not as I answer, “No. Though I have retained my title, a new Xar has been named to my position as head of the Xalthurian forces. This is a permanent appointment for me.”
“Permanent?” Zin’nia speaks for the first time since I’ve entered the dwelling. “So you’re just going to stay here forever, living on that ship?”
“Yes, I will stay here forever, save for quarterly trips back to Xalthuria,” I answer. “But I have plans to build a Kel Regent palace as I still require a male heir.”
This time Zin’nia does not respond. Only looks down at Ste’vie, her expression stricken.
“So, you’re here to stay for good? How does your family back home feel about that?” Glo’ria asks.
“My parents died when I was younger, and I have very few family members left. Sadly, my cousin A’Ry…or N’Maryah as you call her was not the only person in my line who was charged with treason against our Kel and Qel.” I quickly relay to them the story of my uncle.
“So you’re like N’Maryah. You were banished here? Did you try to hurt our Kira, too?” Glo’ria asks, her voice rising in a tonal way I think means alarm.
“No, I had nothing to do with any of the treasons against our Qel. And I offer you formal apology for both my uncle’s and my cousin’s actions. But I was not banished here. I requested the position.”
Zin’nia once more speaks up, shaking her head. “Why would you do that? Why would you ask for this position knowing that it’s permanent? Wouldn’t you rather be on Xalthuria with all your big houses and flying cars and fancy appliances?”
“There is no where I would rather be.” I hold her gaze. “Also, we have brought many of these appliances with us on the ship. When we establish a photon energy field for the planet, they will run here, just as well as they do on Xalthuria.”
Zin’nia stares at me, her expression thunderous.
“Well,” Glo’ria intervenes, “Zin’nia also lost her parents and we’ve basically adopted her as our own. She calls us Mom and Dad now. We would love it if you did the same. Right Joel?” She looks to her husband for approval.
Joel nods vigorously. “You know what, son, keep doing my fieldwork, and you can call us whatever you want.”
“You are very generous,” I say with a press of my hand to the top of my ridges. “I would like that…Mom and Dad.”
Glo’ria beams but Zin’nia frowns and says, “I just don’t understand why you would change your life so drastically. Are you trying to prove some kind of point?”
I receive a message on my databoard, interrupting any reply I might have made. My ridges flatten when I see what it says.
Then I lock eyes with Zin’nia. “You will return to my ship. Now. Your Xar demands it.”
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Zinnia
“You will return to my ship. Now. Your Xar demands it.”
The amiable mood completely disappears, as I inwardly kick myself. I should have known that perfect dinner guest stuff was just an act.
Look at him now. All the way back in overlord mode, he stands up on the other side of the table. Waiting for me to jump, because he’s given me an order.
I pull Stevie closer. Think about saying no.
But then he says, “Time is of the essence, and I would prefer not to compel you in front of Mom and Dad.”
I’m pretty sure Kira’s parents are regretting their “call us Mom and Dad” invitation as T’Kan death marches me back to his ship.
Okay, it’s not exactly a death march, I guess. More like T’Kan walking beside me, while I shuffle as slowly as I can, putting off the inevitable.
“You will walk faster,” he commands.
“I thought you didn’t mind me being slow. Isn’t that what you told me back when you wanted to keep me crippled and helpless forever?”
His ridges flatten. “I had no plans to keep you in that cabin forever,” he continues. “Just as long as it took.”
“As long as it took for what? The Stockholm Syndrome to fully set in?”
He turns his head toward me, eyes flashing impatiently. “I do not know this syndrome of which you speak, but no, that is not what I was waiting for from you. And as for your leg, I never thought of you as crippled. Your leg was your scar. Part of you and a testament to your strength. Even if I had possessed a medical unit, it would not have occurred to me to fix it. One does not fix ‘treasure.’”
I stare at him.
I don’t want this. I’m only agreeing to this because his current streak of alien generosity is apparently dependent on me spreading my now perfect legs. But my heart kicks in my chest at his words. At the thought that someone would have wanted me, not despite my deformity but bad leg and all.
“We are here,” he says, before I can fully process that revelation.
Yes, we are here, I realize looking away from him to the Xalthurian ship. And that’s enough to kill the warm emotions that were beginning to swirl around my chest.
There’s no circular room on this much larger Xalthurian ship, and there are three hallways instead of two.
The guard took me down the right one when he escorted me to T’Kan’s throne room last time. But this time, T’Kan charges right down the middle. Leaving me to follow and wonder what I’ll do if the place he’s taking me to turns out to be his private quarters—
“My private quarters,” he says, stopping in front of a doorway with an especially sparkly and raised diamond insignia on it. “This is where I will live until the Kel Regent palace is built, and then it will be converted into an office.”
He palms the door and it slides open.
Like a vampire beckoning me into his space.
For my people, I remind myself. I’m doing this for Stevie and my parents and all the other New Terrhans who will benefit from all the technological advances, the Xals could bring to our planet.
I step in and take a deep breath to center myself as I look around his sumptuous digs.
Wow, this room is at least five times bigger than the cabin we shared with floors painted the same chrome silver as his uniform. There’s a long table, I can only assume it’s used for business, and a much smaller one, most likely for food. There’s a couple of couches for sitting, and yep, a huge sleeping mat area, where I’ll be expected to pay for all these good deeds he’s been doing for our community. And beyond that area, there’s a wall to wall screen with Kira peering out.
I should just get this over with, I decide. Go to the mats, get on my hands and knees and close my eyes. No kissing. No talking. I can’t afford to let my heart get caught up again—wait an old planet minute. Was that Kira?
I whip back around and see that yes, yes, it’s my best friend staring back at me from the wall screen, I’d been too anxious to fully process before.
“Hey Zin,” she says with a wry smile. “Happy Birthday.”
I rush over to the screen, my heart bursting at the unexpected sight of her. “Kira? Is that really you?”
“Yes!” she answers. “It’s so good to see you, Zin, even from, like, a billion miles away.”
“This planet is only twenty-six million miles away from Xalthuria,” T’Kan says, coming to stand stiffly beside me.
“Thank you for reminding me how much you Xals love your exact numbers,” Kira answers with an irritated look. “But I think I’ve had enough Xalthurian for today. Can I have a moment alone with my best friend?”
A tense beat. Then T’Kan touches his nose ridges and says, “Of course, my Qel.”
I wait until the doors slide close behind him before saying, “I don’t think I’ll ever get used to all the Xals doing whatever you say.”
Kira scoffs. “I wish that was true all the time. It would have helped today. But you are the very best end to a bad day. I’m so glad the techs got T’Kan’s wall screen working in time for me to wish you happy birthday.”
“Me too!”
“Speaking of T’Kan, he said there were some things you wanted to talk with me about. Things you couldn’t discuss with him?”
“Yes…yes there was,” I say, stunned that T’Kan had not only listened to my request to talk to Kira, but had also gone out of his way to grant it.
I open my mouth to tell her all about Dan, taking over as the settlement’s leader, but then I notice her puffy eyes and haggard expression. She looks years older than when I saw her back in First December. “Have you been crying?” I ask.
“Yes, but don’t worry about me. I want to hear all about you.”
“No, why were you crying?” I demand, alarmed. Kira had been so happy the last time I saw her. “Are you alright? Is the baby?”
“Telly and me are fine,” she insists. “Seriously, it’s your birthday. Let’s talk about you.”
“Tell me what’s going on, Kira,” I insist right on back.
“You always care way more about other people than about yourself. You’ve got to stop that.” Kira shakes her head, but then gives in with a shoulder slump similar to her dad’s.
“We got intel that the Kaidorians recently launched a fleet of ships, and it looks like their headed to the old planet. D’Rek and I put forth a measure to try to intercept the Kaidorian ships this morning, but the council shot it down. They said we were already expending too many resources on New Terrhan. But that’s just politics. The new Head of Council is this really loathsome anti-human asshole named L’Gon who’s mad because D’Rek punished his cousin—”
She cuts off with a helpless shake of her head. “You know what, it doesn’t matter why he’s pissed off. The point is the Kaidorians are going to attack the old planet and there’s nothing I can do to stop it. I feel like such a failure.”
My own eyes sting with tears when she begins to cry. “Kira you’re not a failure, you’re not. You’re doing a better job than most people would under the circumstances. And from what I can tell, nobody got punched in the throat, so you’ve obviously stepped up your diplomacy skills.”
Kira lets out a watery laugh. “True that. I’ve come a long way.”
“You have,” I assure her. “You’ve got to give yourself credit for your wins, and don’t beat yourself up for the things that you can’t accomplish.”
Kira sniffs. “I’ll try…it’s hard though. It’s been close to a century since the colony ship left the old planet. There’s way more of us there, than there are of the Kaidorians. And maybe they’re much more advanced now, but maybe they’re worse—I mean things we’re pretty bad when our parents boarded that colony ship…”
We sink into a contemplative silence, as we consider the old planet’s chances of defending themselves against the savage warrior race determined to acquire humans as their breeding slaves.
“You have a lot on your plate right now,” I quietly conclude.
“I do,” she answers with an exhausted smile. “But that doesn’t mean I’m not here for you. If T’Kan can’t handle whatever it is you want to talk with me about, then I will. And if it’s T’Kan making your life miserable, I’ll handle him. I promise. You’re my best friend, and I’m not going to fail you again. So what is it? Tell me.”
I think about the list of problems I was preparing to download on her at the beginning of this conversation and inwardly grimace. It’s obvious that Kira’s still carrying around a lot of guilt about what happened to me on Xalthuria…along with the million other things she had going on as the new queen of the Xalthurians.
“It’s nothing, really,” I answer, faking a smile. “I just wanted to talk to you. Make sure you were okay after the birth.”
Kira’s face lights up and her shoulders sag with relief, making me even more certain I did the right thing in not inundating her with more problems. “Oh, the birth went wonderfully. And Telly is just perfect—he’s got this big huge name, but I just call him Telly—it drives D’Rek crazy. Anyway, he’s sleeping right now, but let’s arrange a dinner call for next week so our babies can meet each other. Maybe you can bring my parents, too. What’d you name her? Stevie or Christine?”
“Stevie,” I answer with a laugh.
“I knew it!” she says, clapping her hands. “I can’t wait to meet her!”
“Oh, and I’m living with your parents now…”
Instead of complaining about Dan, I spend the next few minutes updating Kira on all the good things happening on Xalthuria. Including T’Kan and his crew taking on the fieldwork and his plans to build more housing.
“Wow, I had my doubts, but it sounds like T’Kan is doing good work down there.”
“He is,” I admit, deciding not to tell her what it’s going to cost me.
We talk for a few more moments, but Kira looks so tired, I make her get off with promises of a dinner call next week with Stevie, Telly, and her parents.
Soon after the screen blinks to black, I hear the swoosh of the doors sliding open behind me.
Then a voice say
s, “Turn around.”
He’s clicking and hissing in Xalthurian now, as opposed to speaking his smoky version of my language. But I know who it is. Of course I do.
Clamping my lips, I resolve myself to what I’m going to have to do to keep my people in T’Kan’s good graces.
“Okay,” I say, turning around. “I’m ready to…”
The rest of my surrendering sentence fades away when I see whose standing beside him.
“Baby!” I cry, rushing forward.
My razor cat answers with an excited, “Rowr!” and also rushes forward. She places her large paws on my shoulders and nuzzles her flat face against mine, just like she used to when she was a baby. But she’s not a baby anymore I realize as we exchange the big cat version of a hug. On her hind legs, she stands even taller than me.
“Thank you,” I find myself saying to the large golden Xal after we’re done with our happy reunion and Baby takes her usual position at my flank, like we’ve only been apart for hours not months. “Thank you for getting Kira on your screen and for reuniting me with Baby. I’m…I’m…”
I’m not nearly as upset about having to sleep with you as I was when you walked me to your ship.
T’Kan presses a hand to the top of his ridges. “There is no gratitude required. I am glad you could talk with our Qel and that you are reunited with your pet. I shall now return you to the home of our Qel’s parents now.”
“N-now?” I repeat. “You want to take me home now?”
I don’t understand his decision…or the disappointment hitting my stomach. Had a part of me actually been looking forward to having to hook up with the big golden Xal who’d stolen me?
“Yes, now,” he answers with a frown. “I remain unversed in human tone, but your facial expression strikes me as surprised. Why is this?”
“Doing the field work…the house and holo stuff you were talking about to Mom and Dad…getting Kira on the screen…reuniting me with Baby….I thought this was all part of your agenda.”
His To Steal Page 19
