check on the girls before you return? Just to make sure they’re not sick or hurt?”
He nodded. “I will. If you can think of anything to make them feel better, let me know.”
“Marci will want her stuffed bear if she doesn’t already have it. It’s a toy that comforts her. She doesn’t sleep well without it.”
Simdow was pleased to be able to do something to make the fierce child who had confronted Miv feel better. Moreover, it would make Katherine feel better. “I will com the men on the colony and make sure she gets it.”
Katherine gave him a small but real smile that made his heart thump hard. “Thank you.”
Simdow and Miv took their leave, heading in the same direction for the ship’s transport system. The Dramok was startled when his clanmate suddenly spoke with feeling.
“I hope we can earn her trust.”
Simdow drew a deep breath. Miv was touched and already caring for Katherine to speak in such an open manner about his wishes, wishes that Simdow shared with all his being.
“We will do all it takes to make it so,” he assured his clanmate.
At the transports they went their separate ways, Simdow already counting down the seconds until he would see Katherine again.
* * * *
Katherine felt some relief when Simdow and Miv left her alone with the smallest and least threatening man of their group. She still shrank a little from Vadef when he left the desk to sit next to her. He settled on the edge of the bed close enough that she could feel his body heat. It made her feel squirmy and strange inside.
She peered up at him. He was the most beautiful of his clan, though all three men possessed arresting features. Katherine had seen the initial vids of Kalquorians before Earth’s propaganda machine had kicked in. The official vids shown to Earthers had altered the aliens’ looks, making them into demonic-seeming creatures. The makeup and computer generators had rendered the nearly Earther-identical Kalquorians into monstrous creatures fit for the deepest pit of Hell.
Having seen the earliest images of the would-be beasts from the Kalquorian Empire had been part of the reason Katherine had wanted to meet with them. They were so similar to her race. They looked like super-humans with their tall, muscled bodies. They hadn’t seemed malevolent at all. And if they didn’t follow her religion, what of it? Misguided didn’t mean wicked.
Vadef was regarding her as well, his expression so hopeful he almost resembled a young boy hoping for a special treat. His face was far too open and guileless to belong to someone evil. His smile was too sweet. How could he possibly be wicked?
“Your name is Va – Vadef, right?” She stumbled a little over the coarse syllables.
The Imdiko smiled bigger, as if delighted to hear her say his name. “Yes. What can I get for you, Matara? Some food? Something to drink perhaps?”
“Water?”
He was up in an instant, seeming happy that he could do something for her. He opened a door that suddenly appeared in the seamless wall and drew out a transparent pouch full of liquid. He opened it and brought it to her.
Katherine took a sip, then a bigger gulp. She hadn’t realized how thirsty she was. After a few more swallows, she finally lowered the pouch.
“Better?” Vadef asked.
“Much. Thank you.”
She took another sip and Vadef sat down next to her again. This time he sat so close that their bodies brushed lightly. Katherine froze.
Her stomach tumbled in a wash of warmth. A sense of dizziness overcame her, yet her whole body seemed extremely aware of its surroundings – especially of the man right next to her. Her heart pounded as a ticklish shiver ran up her spine.
Katherine wondered if she was getting sick. Her stomach often bothered her, but this was a different sensation from what she was used to. She definitely felt strange. Squirmy. Twisty. Hot.
Vadef shifted next
He nodded. “I will. If you can think of anything to make them feel better, let me know.”
“Marci will want her stuffed bear if she doesn’t already have it. It’s a toy that comforts her. She doesn’t sleep well without it.”
Simdow was pleased to be able to do something to make the fierce child who had confronted Miv feel better. Moreover, it would make Katherine feel better. “I will com the men on the colony and make sure she gets it.”
Katherine gave him a small but real smile that made his heart thump hard. “Thank you.”
Simdow and Miv took their leave, heading in the same direction for the ship’s transport system. The Dramok was startled when his clanmate suddenly spoke with feeling.
“I hope we can earn her trust.”
Simdow drew a deep breath. Miv was touched and already caring for Katherine to speak in such an open manner about his wishes, wishes that Simdow shared with all his being.
“We will do all it takes to make it so,” he assured his clanmate.
At the transports they went their separate ways, Simdow already counting down the seconds until he would see Katherine again.
* * * *
Katherine felt some relief when Simdow and Miv left her alone with the smallest and least threatening man of their group. She still shrank a little from Vadef when he left the desk to sit next to her. He settled on the edge of the bed close enough that she could feel his body heat. It made her feel squirmy and strange inside.
She peered up at him. He was the most beautiful of his clan, though all three men possessed arresting features. Katherine had seen the initial vids of Kalquorians before Earth’s propaganda machine had kicked in. The official vids shown to Earthers had altered the aliens’ looks, making them into demonic-seeming creatures. The makeup and computer generators had rendered the nearly Earther-identical Kalquorians into monstrous creatures fit for the deepest pit of Hell.
Having seen the earliest images of the would-be beasts from the Kalquorian Empire had been part of the reason Katherine had wanted to meet with them. They were so similar to her race. They looked like super-humans with their tall, muscled bodies. They hadn’t seemed malevolent at all. And if they didn’t follow her religion, what of it? Misguided didn’t mean wicked.
Vadef was regarding her as well, his expression so hopeful he almost resembled a young boy hoping for a special treat. His face was far too open and guileless to belong to someone evil. His smile was too sweet. How could he possibly be wicked?
“Your name is Va – Vadef, right?” She stumbled a little over the coarse syllables.
The Imdiko smiled bigger, as if delighted to hear her say his name. “Yes. What can I get for you, Matara? Some food? Something to drink perhaps?”
“Water?”
He was up in an instant, seeming happy that he could do something for her. He opened a door that suddenly appeared in the seamless wall and drew out a transparent pouch full of liquid. He opened it and brought it to her.
Katherine took a sip, then a bigger gulp. She hadn’t realized how thirsty she was. After a few more swallows, she finally lowered the pouch.
“Better?” Vadef asked.
“Much. Thank you.”
She took another sip and Vadef sat down next to her again. This time he sat so close that their bodies brushed lightly. Katherine froze.
Her stomach tumbled in a wash of warmth. A sense of dizziness overcame her, yet her whole body seemed extremely aware of its surroundings – especially of the man right next to her. Her heart pounded as a ticklish shiver ran up her spine.
Katherine wondered if she was getting sick. Her stomach often bothered her, but this was a different sensation from what she was used to. She definitely felt strange. Squirmy. Twisty. Hot.
Vadef shifted next
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