New readers will want to read
this fic before continuing.
~~~~
Alex, Beryl and Fireblade were awaiting my arrival at the airport. My two loroi comrades instantly sanzai'd to welcome me and ask if I was alright, Beryl in concern, Fireblade in her usual stoic manner which frankly appealed to me more at that instant. I returned their greetings.
"It's good to see you safe," Alex said, then wrapped me in an all too human hug. Though I knew he meant well and ordinarily would have weathered it as an inevitable human foible, I flinched and stiffened. He immediately let me go, sensing that something was wrong. Beryl nudged him aside and took my hand in a focused and private sanzai.
<What is wrong?>
<I was roughly treated by one of the kidnappers. By his manners I assume he was attempting to forcibly mate with me before he was interrupted by his commander.> I sent her the memory. She staggered back, but kept hold of my hand.
<This is-!>
<Unthinkable that a male would attempt it.> It was outside our comprehension. Amongst the local group, no alien species had any interest in breeding outside of their own, both Union and Hierarchy; every species was too different to even consider it. And not only was it unlikely a loroi male could overpower a female, their temperment utterly prevented it. It was wholly-
Alien.
Without meaning to, I glanced at Alex who still watched me with an expression of concern.
<NO!> This time I was the one shocked by her outburst. <HE WOULD NEVER, he is NOT like that- that male THING!> Beryl trembled in rage at the one who attacked me, but also from her refusal to allow me to even consider "her" Alex would ever do something like that. <Where is he?!>
I almost laughed at her overprotective nature towards both of us simultaneously; an angry Listel is akin to an offended Neridi, and about as frightening. <Well and truly dead. The Umiaks wanted to make sure no one was aware of their presence on Earth.>
<Good.> As she calmed down she tried to do the same to me. <Please, don't think of him that way, I can't stand the thought of that idea being in your head. Not about him...> Her plaintive feelings lowered her defenses for a moment as she thought of Alex, and being a skilled Mizol I snuck a quick peek before she yanked her hand back and turned her face away as a dark blush swept over it.
I couldn't resist. <My, that sand must have been tricky to wash off.>
Beryl's face turned an even deeper shade of blue. I turned my knowing smile to Alex, who rewarded me with a wonderful florid display in turn when he realized the cause of Beryl's reaction. With the two of them distracted from my problem, I turned to Fireblade.
"Now that we've suitably embarrassed the listel and 'her' human," an even deeper blush, for both, as Fireblade tried and failed to hide a smile, "let's be off?"
~~~~
Wordless, but intentions clear, the gnarled human hands reached at me, pulling at my armor, ripping it apart. I looked up at Alex's face as he leered down at me.
I sat up. The cooling unit in the window hummed. Saki's fingers occassionally tapping at her communications device in the other bed next to mine told me I was guarded. This couldn't go on, I wouldn't let it. One occurance, and not even carried through. At this point I'd met and worked with dozens of human males, all of whom had shown me nothing but the utmost and often exceeding the necessary respect. I got out of bed and headed to the room of the only people I knew who could help and might understand.
"Tempo?" Miranda said with bleary eyes. I sighed and reminded myself that humans needed far more sleep than loroi.
~+~+~+~+~
"I am confused by the feelings, something like this happening to a Loroi is unthinkable," I said as I paced. "It simply doesn't exist."
"Tempo, it's only..." Sarah began.
"Human?" I gave her what I hoped was an understanding half smile.
"Sorry." She shook her head. "It's just... my god, do you know how long humans imagined meeting aliens, and now we have, and men have already gone and fucked it up."
I sat down again, and patted her hand in what I hoped was the correct gesture. "Don't be so hard on their half of the species. I know the vast majority of human males would never stoop to such acts. I think I understand my feelings a little more now. Not to mention the bravery in telling me your own... Miranda; it distresses me to learn that that so many human women have suffered experiences like mine."
Thanking them, I left, and began to head back to my room before an idea came to me. Rather than returning to my quarters, I made my way to Listel Beryl's while I let her know I was coming via sanzai. Outside her door I waited as she scrambled to make herself presentable.
The door opened. <Tempo?> Beryl, wrapped in a sheet, looked at me confused. <It is late. Alex is sleeping.>
<Oh, so you do eventually let him rest.>
The only downside of my newfound personal game of *Making The Listel Blush* was it being as easy as spearing fish in a drinking glass.
<If he's asleep, that is better.> I entered the room, then sniffed and sighed. <Although that smell might be distracting.>
I scored another point in *Making The Listel Blush*.
<Wait! What are you doing?!> Beryl gawked at me as I climbed into the bed where Alex snored.
<Listel, being in fear of human males is detrimental to my job, and I am trying to not be.>
<Doing THAT is a rather extreme solution!>
Oh for all the stars... I rolled my eyes. <Tozet. I am not going to try to mate with Ensign Jardin. He has made it clear and given my solid understanding of human pairbonding he is not interested in me in that way, and instead is woefully and madly in love with you, and you alone. Were he a loroi male, we would have to remove him from the mating pool for possessing such a defective genetic trait.>
Her expression wavered, and I couldn't resist. <Besides, he looks tired and I wouldn't want to overexert him with the both of us at once. Now, rather than be surprised, does he have undergarments on, or is he as naked as you are under that sheet? Never mind, I'm too tired to care.> As I lifted the sheet I raised my eyebrows. <Oh. Impressive.>
Another point.
~~~~
"Morning!" Major Hogan said as I entered his office. A debriefing regarding my incident was clearly warranted as I had important data regarding the dispensation of the Umiak bodies to give him, and I had made sure to visit him first thing. His mock sternness mixed with barely concealed amusement, however, led me to notice he had one of the rumor mill news sites open on his tablet.
"Now I'm not going to criticize," he began, "because Loroi culture is not Human culture. We are different. Period. But. Nonetheless. You're gonna put that poor boy in an early grave."
I tried to discern the expression, then as a smile grew over his face, I realized his meaning and without waiting for his invitation I swung the tablet around to read it.
WILD HOTEL
ALIEN THREESOME
One Blue Skinned
Beauty Isn't Enough
For Ensign Alex
Could Hot New
First Interstellar
Supermodel Fire Be
His Next Conquest?
Accompanied by photos of our suite almost certainly in violation of any possible regulations or laws regarding privacy, and various shots of Fireblade including one taken when she had changed into her swimsuit at her first session, albeit with pixelation of the private areas of her body. Also her breasts as well, for some odd reason. Unfortunately, one of the images had Ensign Jardin in the background catching an eyeful of her and not exactly trying to look away. In the images of the hotel room nothing could be seen of Beryl, Alexander, and I apart from several lumps under a sheet, all obviously asleep, but the article was intended to fire the reader's imagination, not provide the facts.
"None of this is true, of course," I said as I turned the pad back to him. "Are there laws regarding false information in the press? Let alone the invasion of privacy."
"Sure, but my guess is they're betting the Loroi aren't exactly interested in wasting time filing a libel suit against a minor news outlet a couple hundred light years away, and they'll only get a slap on the wrist for the peeping since they'll foist that off on the freelance paparazzi who took them."
I sighed. "You are correct. It is very unlikely. Would you have the address of this organization regardless?"
"It's public record, they'd be required. Gotta know where to send the hate mail and crank letters."
I put the odd phrasing aside to question another time. "I am more concern how Teidar Fireblade might react to the insinuation she is romantically involved with Ensign Jardin."
Major Hogan sucked through his teeth, a wonderfully strange human physical expression which denoted a wide variety of intent. "Hmm. Yep. That'd be a good idea."
At that moment Ensign Miranda poked her head through the doorway. "Sir, we might have a situation at a news group regarding-"
He sighed. "Lemme guess, Hotofftheweb dot sol?"
"Yes, sir,"
"Must have been about that party you and Beryl had with Jardin, eh?" he said with a wink at me, a little joke at my expense which I had become accustomed amongst humans, their jovial insults to one another a relief valve between friends rather than scoring points it seemed.
"No. Sir." Miranda's voice dripped with ice colder than the Tunguska forest, and I realized I needed to explain to Major Hogan just why I had snuck under the covers with my subordinate and her paramour very soon. "Apparently the police were called when Teidar Fireblade's-" she raised an eyebrow, "..'agent' started trouble in their lobby."
"Well, we better get over there and deal with this," he said, grasping at the out from the unexpectedly chilly conversation.
"There is something else I need to discuss with you regarding the incident," I said as we made our way to the ground vehicle storage yard.
~~~~
"...And you're sure that sonuvabitch is dead?" he growled as we exited the vehicle. Fireblade led, moving a pair of clerks out of our way as we crossed the atrium.
"We made a sweep of the encampment when we buried them. Every human was accounted for, and no tracks were found," I said as we walked up the stairs.
He sighed. "I apologize in the strongest possible terms, and with my full regret that my words could have been harmful," he said, and continued in a strict, formal tone. "I recognize that at times our rapport is a little too friendly, and will make attempts in the future to rectify that attitude." He switched to a voice more in line with his natural one, "I definitely don't want to damage our friendship, either in regards to our governments or individually. I like working with you, ma'am."
"Your apology is accepted, though given the fact you had no idea of my experience, I certainly don't believe you meant to say anything offensive, Major." I smiled at him. He sighed and nodded.
"Just being careful," he said. "Still getting used to the whole, 'alien coworker' thing, you know?"
As the elevator doors opened, loud shouting took hold of the air. "..And if you ever have her name on the cover of your shitwipe rag again, I'll have your goddamn J-license revoked!" Greg, held back by a security guard, was jabbing his finger towards a man in a suit standing behind several others and holding his jaw. The area around one of the man's eyes was beginning to swell up. Greg noticed us, and nodded, then turned back and seemed to about to start yelling again when he realized Fireblade was with us. He shook off the guard and made his way over.
"Look, it's not a big deal, this asshole is trashing her- my client's name, and I'm not gonna put up with that," he said. I held up a hand.
"As far as I know, criminal acts such as false statements and other such civil issues are dealt with via the legal system, are they not?" I said. "Not by fist fights in the public commons?"
Fireblade regarded him sternly, her eyes not wavering from his. He nodded as a contrite look began to color his face. I turned back to the staff of the news group. Some were already pointing recording devices towards us, and I sanzai'd Fireblade to allow them for the moment.
"And this situation will be resolved. As it regards individuals with diplomatic status, it is a very serious matter," I began, then locked onto the eyes of who I assumed to be the news agency's authority figure, "especially since it involves the breach of privacy on what amounts to embassy grounds, and therefor could be construed to be an act of trespass on Loroi soil, an offense in which all cases has resulted in severe repercussions for the parties involved." My words were having the desired effect, as the previous smug expression of several of the news agency's staff quickly faded. Loroi history made for a convenient hollow threat. "There will be no further attempts to release imagery of our personnel obtained covertly, or it will be regarded as such."
"Now, Mr. Morris. Are you satisfied with these statements?" I turned to him. He straightened his tie, and did his best to appear calm.
"Yes, Mizol Parat Sedel."
I raised an eyebrow. Very good. I wondered where he got my full title from, but remembered I had been in the news rather often recently. He had the makings of a good Listel, perhaps.
"Then this matter is closed," I said. Major Hogan nodded in agreement, and turned to leave while I followed. Greg hesitated, then approached Fireblade as she was about to join us.
"Look, um, Fire, I'm sorry I-" he got out before she slapped him across the face so hard he stumbled to the side. She whipped her head around to me, then back to him.
"Gregory Morris," I relayed to him from her sanzai, "I am Teidar Pallan Leinnol. My name is Fireblade, an Unsheathed, a ranking officer of a caste of Loroi warriors unparalleled across hundreds of star systems. I am not..." I hesitated and hoped Listel Beryl wouldn't somehow hear the rest and think it directed at her, "not... some leg spreader who will... jump on the first handsome alien male who fills my ears with pretty lies. I neither desire nor need your protection of my honor. Are my words understood?"
Through this he managed to look her in the eyes, rather than at my voice. "Yes," he said. She nodded stiffly, then immediately turned away, though not before pyrokinetically lancing the recording devices of several members of the agency hoping to record my, or more accurately, her, speech. Greg followed us to the elevator and joined us as it headed down, taking the wall opposite Fireblade. He looked rather charinged.
Being the nearest, I leaned closer to him. "Gregory?"
"Yes?" he looked up, with his face somewhat like that of a Neridi denied a trade route.
Lowering my voice, "She did physically touch you, you know."
"I noticed," he said as he rubbed Fireblade's handprint. A few solons later his brow furrowed and he turned to me, "Wait. Don't the Loroi have a taboo about-"
The elevator came to a halt. "Good day, Gregory Morris," I said. Fireblade very pointedly did not look at him when she exited, and unless my vision was failing I was almost certain she had a slight bluing at the tips of her ears. One side of his mouth began to slide upwards.
"You're a braver man than me, son," Major Hogan said to him in a whisper I heard but hoped Fireblade was far enough away to miss.
TBC
~~~~
"What exactly does this 'marriage' entail?" I said and crossed my arms.
"It's a formal establishment of pair-bonding," Alex said. Beryl sat next to him on the couch across from me, visibly nervous. "I- it, um, I realize it's foreign to Loroi, but it's, well, to most human cultures it's the closest form a relationship can take, exchanged vows of companionship officiated by a religious or secular authority figure before family and friends."
"With mating exclusivity between the participants, as I am to understand it?" I raised an eyebrow at Listel Beryl. <This is quite a step to take for cultural research.>
Apparently Beryl had matured over the last few months, and didn't react to the comment. <Is it not the case that attachment is discouraged only because we have so few males?> she replied. <Alex is completely outside of that issue.>
I sighed. <Yes, you are right, of course. I am still rather surprised by all this.>
~~~~
"Alex, I would like to speak with Listel Beryl alone," I said.
Ever respectful and courteous, he nodded and stood, brushing Beryl's shoulder with his fingertips as he left. Surprised, she reached up to touch his reassuring hand, but he had already moved on. Still new to the endless variety of human physical contact between friends and lovers.
The door shut behind him. I struck hard and fast. <And how will his hand feel a hundred years from now?>
<What?> She blinked.
<Don't play ignorant, listel,> I continued, <You will outlive him by centuries. Are you prepared for that?> I even prodded her chest a little with sanzai.
She flinched. <I->
I stood and walked closer to her. <This is attachment. By every standard of Loroi society, by our laws both cultural and written, you are trangressing mores that have been held for millenia.> Leaning down I brought my face close to hers. She drew back, her eyes trembling a little. <How does that view of this make you feel, listel?>
<We...> She turned away.
I turned her chin back to me.
<...I know. But-but it's different from that,> she sent in sanzai so soft as to be inadvertent thoughts. <He... I don't want to possess him. I want to be *with* him. Together. Like humans do.>
<Beryl, you should be aware that despite my misgivings as your commanding officer, as a mentor, and, I would hope, as your friend, you have my full support.> I said as I stepped back and allowed a small pitying smile to return. <But others will only see a girl barely out of her diral falling into grabby lust for some male-looking alien, handsome though he may be. You will not be the first. We are not so cast in stone that no one has ever felt the way you have before.>
She scowled at me. Finally, some defiance.
<Oh, don't look at me that way, do you really think you are the only young loroi who has played this game?> I sighed. <All right, so it is a
little different. I very much doubt anyone has ever harbored these feelings for a Delrias. I apologize for poking you, alright? I just want to impress upon you the seriousness of this.>
She nodded as she became a little less forlorn. <I know how it is, and how it seems to others. But humans at least->
I failed to withhold a smirk. <Most human males are smitten with us to the extent that I could point to them as a warning against attachment.>
<I
meant,> she continued with a pout, <almost all humans see close pairbonding as natural, common, not something to be discouraged. And even though I'm not human they still understand our... this.>
I said nothing, but held up a datapad. On the screen was one of the more lurid news agencies in the Union, with the latest update on my pair of "star crossed lovers". Beryl's mouth fell open.
<Wha-w-what is that?!> she stammered and snatched the pad out of my hands.
<You weren't aware of the notoriety of your and Alexander's relationship in the Union?> I said as I raised an eyebrow in honest surprise. I knew she was a little naive but this was a shock.
<I-on Earth, yes, but-oh the stars that's the biggest agency on Deinar-OhnotheEmperorisgonna-> she said as she began to pace back and forth flicking through the stories.
<You seriously didn't know.> I slapped my forehead.
<I'm a listel, I don't read this gossip newsfeed crap!> she snapped. <I saw the human news every so often, so I knew about that bit about you in our room and the innuendo about Alex and Fireblade, but I just assumed it was the human propensity for fiction bleeding into their news so I never thought anything of it!>
<Well, at least the images of you two rolling around on the beach were censored->
<THE WHAT?!>
I sadly realized I would have to give up my little game of Making the Listel Blush because I would never be able to top this one.
~~~~
Amongst other Loroi in the cafeteria, Beryl, Talon, and Spiral grabbed some trays of food for lunch. I had already sat down at a free table by the window which allowed us a view of New York City, the bustle and grime and humanitii flowing by chaotic but silent behind the glass. As Beryl cracked the legs of a "crab", Talon licked her lips at the pile of "donuts" on her plate, a sweet confection altered by the subsitution of misesa for wheat. I had already eaten, but couldn't resist one when she offered; Major Hogan had addicted me to the damned things.
<You are going to get so fat,> Spiral said. She snapped up some grilled mushrooms, milder versions of the fungi of Perrein though still tasty, and one of the few foods humans and Loroi could share.
<Bite me, seedhead,> Talon said as she closed her eyes in satisfaction as the cloying sweetness filled her mouth. <Besides, I could use some curves if I wanna compete with human females.>
<They are considered desserts, you know,> I said. <Not an entree?>
<I don't have them every meal,> Talon said as she stuck her tongue out. <Besides, I'm celebrating our little listel's impending pairbonding ceremony.> Beryl snorted and rolled her eyes.
<So will you stay on Earth?> Spiral asked.
<Alex is deciding his options, and he feels he may be able to get a position on the surface,> Beryl said. <Were he to recieve another berth, it would be more difficult if not outright impossible for me to stay with him, but given his status it is probable he'll be able to get a diplomatic posting. Mizol Tempo says she will try to help as well.> She smiled at me, and I nodded.
Spiral shook her head. <You know, there's probably easier ways to go about it if you are this desperate for frequent rutting.> Talon snorted.
<Ha, ha.> Beryl replied. <You know Alex as well as I, and that he is far more to me than that. Besides, neither of you complained that ni- Um.>
Talon choked on a mouthful of donut while Spiral suddenly found her meal fascinating.
<Your secret is safe with me,> I said as I stood to get a drink while the trio avoided my eyes. <I'll be right back.>
After I stepped away the three of them laughed together. Talon wiped her lips and leaned back. <I think I could get used to living here, to be honest.> She winked out the window at a passing teenage boy who had slowed down to take in the roomful of Loroi.
Spiral cleaned her plate. <I can definitely get used to this food, did you know there's over two hundred varieties of restaurants in this city?>
<Now who's going to get fat,> Talon said.
<It is a little abnormal, most populations centers are far less varied,> Beryl said. <Still, I am looking forward to seeing as many as I can, hopefully.> She looked out the window.
<Leg spreading freak.>
It was almost unintelligeble, but intentionally broadcasted rather than directed. Sanzai in the restaurant trailed off. At a table of three teidars next to them, one in particular side-eyed Beryl with a look of disgust.
<You have a problem?> Talon said as she stood.
<I was merely speaking with my friends, tennoin,> the teidar replied. Her two friends let smug grins creep onto their faces.
<That's tennoin arrir, tonzadi,> Talon said as she narrowed her eyes.
<What of it?> the teidar replied as she also rose to her feet, and looked down her nose at her. Though a little shorter than Fireblade, she still outmassed the lithe pilot.
<I think you should show respect and apologize to your superior, teidar,> Talon said, holding her ground as she crossed her arms and scowled.
The teidar snorted, and barely turned her head towards Beryl. <I'm sorry you're a xenophilic slut making a mockery of our race.> Before Talon could reach her the teidar shoved her back with sanzai. Spiral caught her as she stumbled. The teidar smirked and turned to sit back down.
Instead of making it to her seat, however, without warning she flew across the room and slammed into a cart of dish tubs, crashing to the ground in a tangled heap of dirty plates and soiled napkins.
Fireblade looked down at her. <Did you just assault a superior officer, tonzadi?> she said.
Recognition filled the low-ranked teidar's eyes. Sprawled on the floor, her armor covered in bits of food and various liquids, her face paled.
<In front of multiple witnesses, as well as three associates of said officer,> Fireblade continued. <As I see it there is no need for a court martial. By the authority invested in me by rank and law I revoke your caste status. Since we have no use for civilians on Earth at this time, you will be remanded into custody until you can be returned to Union space.>
Shocked into action the teidar scrambled to her feet. <In defense of that?! You're no better than her!>
<You may contest it by duel if you wish,> Fireblade said. She tightened a clenched fist and her knuckles cracked.
<That will not be necessary,> I said as I approached to defuse and conclude the scene. <I observed this incident as well, and I second Teidar Pallan Fireblade's decision. See to your quarters and pack your things, girl.> I nodded at one of the teidars on guard duty, who saluted and grasped the offender by her arm, and led her away.
Fireblade sighed. <We are not getting the best and brightest here, are we?>
I couldn't disagree. Despite how I personally felt about the importance of Human-Loroi diplomacy, the Union had continued its general wartime policy of sending less qualified soldiers to softer, non-combat postings. While I couldn't fault the chain of command for doing so, sometimes the diral shirkers and supply warehouse chair warmers got on my nerves. I turned to say so to Fireblade, but she had already moved away to emphasize that caste expulsion was an illness which could be contagious to the former teidar's two friends, who stood at rigid attention before her.
~
<Parat Tempo, I have made a mistake.>
I looked up to see Listel Beryl with eyes bruised from wiped tears.
<And what is that, listel?> I said. Out of pity and respect, I knew I would need to tread lightly. I glanced back at my office mate. "Major...?"
"I'll be in the breakroom if you need me, Temp," he said with a kind smile towards us both.
<..This relationship I am pursuing with Alex->
<It is your choice. And his.> I crossed my arms. <No one else has any say over it. We are not a race of communal insects lacking all individuality. Humans are much the same.>
~~~~
"We have a problem," Major Hogan said. Rather than his typical hidden smile hiding a joke when he used that phrase, he shoved a datapad in front of me. A familiar face appeared on it, grey and blurry in cheap CCTV footage. In it the teidar Fireblade had reprimanded knocked down her escort and jumped off a bridge into a river to escape.
<That pre-diral fool!> I sanzai-ed loud enough to startle Clearbreeze and Stonebrook, the latter dropping her coffee in shock. As she left the room to grab some cleaning supplies, and possibly avoid my unexpected wrath, Clearbreeze looked towards me.
<What happened?> she asked.
"Aloud," I snapped, without deciding whether or not this was an embarrassment to the Union, although I still sent her the details in sanzai.
"Sorry, ma'am," she said. Her eyes snapped open as she realized the seriousness of the issue.
"What are her capabilities?" the major said.
I hesitated. Teidar skills were still heavily restricted information, and specifics about an individual even more so. "She can probably knock a heavy steel door open, and she can't be held with typical restraints." All true enough. By her records she wasn't a particularly adept psychokinetic, the only saving grace in this mess. I could play her up to be more dangerous than she actually was, and still not make the humans too nervous about her.
"Got it, we'll toss her in a bank vault if we catch her before you do," he said. "Let's move." I nodded.
"Clearbreeze, to me," I said.
"Mam'am!" she said as she grabbed her pistol harness and quickly strapped it on as she followed the major and I to the roof. A helicopter was already stirring up a hurricane of wind, and I thanked the stars I hadn't left my hair down as I had been tempted to this morning. As we boarded I realized what the speed at which the major had assessed and reacted to this incident meant. I rigged the microphone and tapped his shoulder, then my headset.
"Yes?" he said, his face as straight as possible. We had been working together long enough that I was fairly certain he already suspected the incoming line of questioning.
"It normally takes awhile to prepare a craft like this," I said.
"Don't beat around the bush," he said in a tone harsher than he had ever used towards me before.
"Sorry, mizol habit," I replied. "How long have contingencies been in place?"
"Since Ensign Jardin debriefed with the TCA," he said. "Though in truth we had prepared for..." he hesistated, for much the same reasons I had when divulging the fugitive's sanzai levels I assumed, "..against infiltration or subversive activities. Not chasing down a deserter."
"Stupid, stupid girl," I snarled. "I can assure you, these will be her last moments on Earth."
"Whoa, whoa," he said. "Ah, as it stands she is a fugitive, but given the low level of her crimes I cannot-"
"Sorry, word choice," I said. "No, despite how furious Fireblade is, this is not war and... summary... discipline... is not in the cards for her. Though she has now made her future on Deiner very unpleasant."
However, though our reponse was fast, no trace of her could be found in the nearby neighborhoods. To her credit despite her limited abilities she apparently managed a strong lotai, and couldn't be sensed. Loroi troops with diplomaticly sub-lethal weapons stood ready to comb the streets and alleys in addition to the dozens of local human police officers, and even a squad of TCA Marines had joined the search. I quickly took command as I arrived, defering the teidar squad to Fireblade already onsite. Breaking with usual standards I directed the rest of the Loroi to divide up amongst the humans, and instructed them to provide specific, though selective, informational support.
"How long can she hold up her lotai?" the major asked, guileless in the heat of the moment.
"I cannot say," I replied and held up my hand to stave off his immediate protest. "It differs between loroi. I do not know exactly how well this individual has exerted herself in training, nor how the stress of this situation is affecting her."
<A few hours, half a local day at most,> Fireblade, some ways off, replied to my simultaneous query. <As we discussed before, not the best and brightest. Imbecile! We have authority to enter in pursuit! I don't care if they complain, kick their door in if you have to! Sorry. Ours are not-> I could almost feel her teeth grinding, <-the best or brightest either, however.>
<Teidar, use discretion, I would prefer not to aggravate more humans than needed in this action,> I said as more people begin to trickle into view out of growing curiosity and not all of them entirely pleased by the sudden masses of uniformed personnel on their street.
A snarled retort of affirmation in sanzai, not exactly disrespectful, but harsher than usual. As I considered options my datapad buzzed.
"Yes?"
"Mizol Tempo? It's Gregory."
I pinched the brow of my nose. "I do not have time for-"
"I know, some shit's going down in Brooklyn, it's already on some of the newsfeeds. All I really know is all of a sudden Fire tore out of her photoshoot and-"
"Mr. Morris, Teidar Fireblade is an active duty teidar and that mission takes precedence-" I began, becoming more annoyed by the solon.
"I-I just want to know if she's in danger," he interrupted again, and I finally recognized his voice as more plaintive than anything else.
I sighed. "No, Mr. Morris, Fireblade is not in any danger here." Something small, furry, and filthy ran by my shoe dangling a crust of food in its mouth. "Though she may want to take a shower when she finishes. You can help her with that."
"Oh. Uh. Yeah, for sure. Ah, I mean, I'll just-" he stammered and closed the connection.
Happily, I had found a new target in my blushing game.
~~~~
<I am not interested in him that way, if that is what you are implying,> Fireblade said, then frowned. <...Stop that!>
I shot her a few more detailed albeit ficticious images of Greg in various states of undress before she raised a lotai and put an end to my fun.
<Even if I was,> she continued, <I am neither interested in the kind of relationship he may want...> She hesitated.
<I understand.> I said.
<Not as well as I do,> she replied. <Frankly, the intensity of human pairbonding is... disturbing. While a listel may find it intriguing, I am less adventurous in that way.> She stood, and as she left the room her hand slid beneath her hair to touch the scar that remained on her scalp.
Too far. I knew I would need to apologize to her in some small way, though I doubted she was truly angry at me. Perhaps even a close sanzai session together discussing it.
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Deleted some unnecessary negativity. I'll fix this up later.