by Lucy Snow
My mouth dropped open. “An art? It is just food. You eat it and you move on. It is nothing more than fuel.”
Melissa sighed and shook her head. “Not to us, it’s not. But that’s a long story for another time. To answer your question more directly, sometimes we add things to our meals not for the flavor or the nutrition they add, but for the texture they bring to the meal.”
I thought about this. “That seems…highly inefficient. What happens when battle comes?”
Melissa blinked. “Humans typically don’t fight during mealtimes, Ark.”
I shook my head, taking a bite of the sausage, and enjoying the flavor inside immensely. “We have learned that attacking during a meal is a very good way of getting the upper hand.”
“That’s what everything’s about with you Kreossians, isn’t it? Getting the upper hand, getting the advantage, attacking when you can. Don’t you ever, you know…not fight?”
I furrowed my brow, taking another bite while I chose my words carefully. “The galaxy is not a welcoming place, Melissa Crane of Earth. It is cold and unfeeling, and it will swallow you whole without a second thought. My people have found that constant vigilance is nothing short of necessary.”
“That seems like a really sad way to live.”
“Without arguing the truth of what you say, I will suggest that even if you are right, it is better than being dead.”
The conversation slowed down after that, and I focused on my food. The smells and tastes of this relatively simple meal assaulted me at every single turn and I found myself looking forward to trying more Earth food.
Melissa glanced up at the chronometer on the wall every few minutes, and when it hit 6am Earth time, she pushed her plate toward the center of the table and looked around. “I have to go attend to Ambassador Fuller.”
I nodded. “Admiral Kaalax will expect me soon as well.” I had just finished eating my own meal.
Melissa smiled as she stood up. “What did you think of the farmer’s breakfast?”
I stood up as well. “Your farmers must be great warriors.”
Melissa laughed. “Not quite warriors, but close.” She blinked just one of her eyes at me.
“That is the second time you’ve made that gesture, Melissa Crane of Earth. What does it mean?”
“Oh! Winking?” She flushed red with embarrassment. “It’s, uh, it’s a sign of affection on Earth.”
This pleased me greatly, despite the inner turmoil I went through each time I was in her presence, and again this morning when I tried to comprehend how this frail creature could be my mate.
I tried to replicate the gesture back at her, but despite my great control over my body, I was unable to do so, and Melissa shook her head, again fighting back the laughter. “It takes a little bit of practice, Ark,” she whispered, then took her plate to the recycling bin.
I followed quickly after, watching the curves of her body just under the tight uniform. She made me hard, this woman, and my body desired her greatly, such as I had never felt for another woman, despite how the rest of me may think or resist.
“Then I shall practice it at every opportunity.”
“Just make sure you’re not winking at Admiral Kaalax or Ambassador Fuller. Or any other girls you might meet, OK?”
“That would be difficult. You are the only woman on this station.” I stood up straighter and lowered my voice. “Unless you have smuggled someone aboard the station without us knowing. Is that it?”
Melissa held up her hands. “No, no, nothing of the sort. It was a joke, really, it was.”
I was still suspicious. “I will be on the lookout for other women all the same.”
Melissa sighed as she headed toward the door that led to Ambassador Fuller’s quarters. “You really know how to make a girl feel special, Ark.”
“I do not understand.”
“You’re supposed to say that I’m the only girl you’d ever dream of winking at.”
“I have not yet met all the women in the galaxy, Melissa Crane of Earth, so I cannot say that in good conscience.”
Melissa sighed again. “You’re hopeless, Ark. A lost cause.”
I nodded. “I have said the same thing to Admiral Kaalax about Earth.” I saw Melissa grimace. “But,” I added quickly, “I am beginning to change my mind on that.”
Melissa thought about that for a second before she nodded, a small smile creasing its way across her face. “I’ll see you later.”
And then I was alone in the dining room. I finished recycling my plate and went back to my quarters.
This woman intrigued me. There was far more to her than I had initially thought, and now my desire to have this mission end quickly was quickly being replaced by a desire to have it go longer just so I would be able to spend more time with her.
Shortly thereafter it was time for me to met with Admiral Kaalax. I stood in front of the door to his quarters and buzzed in, entering when the door slid open.
Kaalax was halfway dressed, pulling his undershirt over his large body, and just before the fabric covered him and molded itself to his strong shape I caught a glimpse of the legendary scars that ran all over his body, and I was once again reminded that I had the privilege of being the personal aid to one of the most celebrated commanders in Kreossian history.
Each of those scars told the story of a campaign, a hard won battle that furthered the interests of the empire and further lit the way for more conquest, pushing back the darkness of the galaxy.
Kaalax didn’t talk much about old campaigns and I had learned not to ask. When he wanted to, though, he would tell such stories that I couldn’t help but believe all of them, no matter how fantastic.
We didn’t speak that morning; the Admiral seemed pensive and deep in his thoughts and I went about my appointed tasks to help him get ready without comment. Today was the formal part of the conference - Admiral Kaalax would explain to Ambassador Fuller what the Kreossian Empire was offering by sponsoring Earth to join the Commonwealth, and the privileges and responsibilities that would entail.
And then Kaalax would formally invite Earth to join us, and presumably Fuller would accept on behalf of his people. We’d open formal talks to begin integration of Earth into the Commonwealth, and the Admiral and I would soon be back on our way to Kreossian space.
Of course, the sooner this conference ended the sooner I’d have to say goodbye to Melissa. Already the thought of putting light years between us was less than appealing thought, but I had no choice. The empire would send me where it wanted, and as a faithful warrior I would go.
When Admiral Kaalax was ready, we walked out of his quarters and to the formal negotiation room just off the dining room, where Kaalax and Fuller had enjoyed their dinner together a few hours earlier.
We sat down on in our seats just as Ambassador Fuller and Melissa entered the room, both wearing the formal robes prescribed in the instructions we had sent over. This was a very high brow affair, these induction discussions and ceremonies, and even if I had little use for their results, I could appreciate the pageantry of it all.
Admiral Kaalax stood up and began his well-rehearsed speech, giving Melissa and Fuller a brief history of the galaxy as we knew it, and how the Kreossian empire came to be. He left out a lot of the sordid details, but I could see that both Melissa and Fuller were fascinated, and I was more than a little proud that Melissa in particular was so interested.
After that the Admiral began to talk about the Commonwealth, how it was a conglomeration of many different smaller empires and groups of planets and species, all working together for the common good of all. He mentioned in particular that the Kreossian Empire retained its status and autonomy yet still worked within the bounds of the Commonwealth, just all the other members did.
Then the Admiral began to speak of why Earth should accept the invitation to join the Commonwealth under sponsorship from the Kreossians. He outlined the trade and research benefits as well as the obligation to render aid and a
ssistance where possible and reasonable to other members.
Finally, after an hour or so, the Admiral formally invited Earth to join the Commonwealth. Ambassador Fuller stood up reverently at first and walked toward the Admiral as we all stood up, Fuller’s hand outstretched.
Admiral Kaalax reached out to take it as Fuller’s mouth opened, a smile on his face.
And then time stopped.
The Admiral and I recognized it immediately and in front of me I saw Kaalax stiffen just as I felt myself unconsciously adopt a defensive posture, but we were too late.
I wrenched my eyes closed as the explosion of light bloomed in my face, and I heard Melissa start to scream as I dove toward her. Kaalax fell to my right and toward me, narrowly missing me as I jumped out of the way.
I dove over the table and within a second I was in front of Melissa. I could tell the blast had finished and I opened my eyes to survey the damage.
Ambassador Fuller lay in a crumpled and charred heap, not moving. He was clearly dead. I turned to where I had seen Kaalax land. I could see that he was still breathing, which was a good sign.
The wall behind where Fuller had stood was clearly the focal point of the blast. I could see the waves of forced radiating outward from where the charge must have been set.
I looked down at Melissa, behind me. She was in shock. “Are you alright?” I whispered, looking around and seeing no visible signs of trauma besides some surface level cuts and bruises.
“Ye-yes,” she whimpered, and accepted the hand I held out, standing up slowly and shakily at first. “Ambassador!” She called out when she saw Fuller’s body, and she pulled her hand from mine and jumped toward him, pushing overturned furniture out of the way in her efforts to reach him.
“Melissa, No!” I shouted, but it was too late. She didn’t see it in time, but I did.
The second blast went off a moment later, and in my desperation to save Melissa Crane of Earth, my future mate, I did the only thing that I could.
I shifted into my natural form. My wings came out, quickly as if they’d been bound together. The scales on my skin showed themselves, and the lines that criss-crossed all over me glowed green.
I rolled over the table and as the waves of the blast burst toward Melissa and the fallen Ambassador, I turned and extended my left wing, covering them both and pulling them into me as the flame pressed against my back and wings.
It was hot, searingly hot, but I knew that in my natural dragon form I would not burn, despite the pain. The flames licked around the edges of my wings, and Melissa scrambled closer to me, before she looked up at my wings themselves, her mouth dropping open, her hands still on Fuller’s body.
“Are you alright?” I asked, my voice even lower in this form.
“I-I’m alright.” She gasped. “What…are you?”
“I am Kreossian.”
“I can see that.”
“Fuller. How is he?”
Melissa snapped to attention and focused on Fuller instead of me, for a few moments till she looked back up, tears welling in her eyes. “He’s…he’s gone.”
I sighed, knowing it to be true even before I had asked. The flames had died down by now, but I knew there were more pressing matters ahead. The warning sirens going off throughout the station meant that the blast had compromised the station’s structural integrity.
That meant we needed to leave. Now.
“Leave him,” I urged her, and stepped toward Kaalax’ prone body. I could see that under the distress of the blasts, he had reverted to his natural form to protect himself. Good. “We must get out of here, Melissa.”
“I can’t just leave him behind!” she shouted at me last I walked toward Kaalax.
“As you said, he is gone. If we do not leave now, we will be as well.” I raised my hand and waved it around. “The station is collapsing. We need to get Admiral Kaalax to our shuttle immediately and get far enough away before it explodes.”
Melissa turned back to her mentor and cried. I knew she was going through something traumatic, but we didn’t have any time to waste. I picked up Kaalax as gingerly as I could and slung him over my back, grunting under his weight. Smoke poured out of heretofore unseen vents, and I knew we had only a handful of minutes before the station disintegrated around us.
These stations were built for negotiations and formal ceremonies, not to withstand obvious sabotage. This couldn’t have just been an accident. No, someone was behind this, and I would find out who it was as soon as I could get Melissa and Admiral Kaalax to safety.
And that meant off this station. Now. I carried Kaalax toward Melissa, still beside Fuller. Rather than talk her into acting, I reached down with my free hand while steading Kaalax with the other and pulled her to her feet. In a daze, still looking back at Fuller, I dragged her out of the conference room and back to the dining room.
I saw a panel in the room reading out the cascading systems failures as they occurred, and our time grew shorter and shorter. I ran as fast as I could, carrying the Admiral and pulling Melissa long down the corridor toward the airlocks and the waiting shuttle while sirens blared and klaxon lights made it difficult to see, especially with all the smoke venting into the living areas.
Luckily I had set our shuttle to prepare itself for departure in advance, and it was ready to go as soon as we could climb in. I left Admiral Kaalax on the floor just beyond the airlock inside, looking at Melissa and pointing to him. “Take care of him,” I growled, and she nodded in response, still saying nothing.
I charged ahead into the cockpit and jumped into the pilot’s chair, telling the ship to initiate emergency separation and maximum thrust as soon as possible. The shuttle, tuned and waiting for my command, instantly sprang into action, and within 5 seconds we were disconnected from the collapsing station and turning toward a safe escape vector.
We weren’t going fast enough, so in frustration I pounded on the panel and the shuttle leapt forward in response.
It was enough to keep us alive, but not enough to keep us in one piece.
The station exploded and we were caught in the blast radius. The shuttle shook and I hoped it would stay together as we were propelled forward as the station’s destructive wake fried all the panel systems and made me lose all control of the ship.
After a few seconds, seconds that included mostly screaming on Melissa’s part and grim determination and fighting with the broken controls on my part, the blast wave passed us by and we were left without power, drifting along in the same direction we’d been going when we had been hit by debris.
I let out a long breath, happy that we were still alive, even for a few minutes more. Melissa had stopped screaming as well. I looked around as the panels around me came slowly back to life, flickering back on as they ran their diagnostics.
The results were not good, to say the least. We did not have warp drive and the communications array was totally fried. We could not talk to anyone and we were not going anywhere fast.
“But at least we’re alive, right?” Melissa’s voice came from behind me. I turned and saw her standing just behind my chair, leaning over it and surveying the panels. I must have looked surprised. “Oh, I can’t read any of this stuff,” she said, gesturing toward the panels. “But it’s not hard to tell that they’re not giving you good news.”
“No, they are not.”
“What’s the damage? Give it to me straight.”
“Propulsion and communications. Both are out of commission given our power reserves.”