Chapter 3
ELENA
Trembling with anger, I watched Ardruc stalk back across the roof until the lift doors closed, cutting him off from my sight.
“What the hells is his problem?” I muttered to Forux.
As the lift descended to the station’s main level, Forux circled my boots in agitation. My little arval’s tails were fanned out, he’d flattened his ears, and he was growling. I hadn’t seen him so angry in—well, ever.
“I wasn’t expecting him to be joyful about my arrival, but trying to get me to turn right around and leave?
” I fumed. “And he basically called me a tourist who needs babysitting? If he even glanced at the file I submitted to the Ministry, he should know I’m every bit as qualified to be here as he is. ”
Despite my exhaustion from the long journey from Aloris and nervousness about meeting the Nyvoran committee that supervised Hyderia’s research stations, I’d been so happy to arrive on this beautiful planet after so many years fantasizing about living here.
From the moment the Nyvoran transport descended through the clouds and I got my first look at Hyderia’s forests, mountains, and seas, my heart had pounded so hard that if it had burst out of my chest, I wouldn’t have been the least surprised.
And when I’d stepped out of the transport, my first deep breath of Hyderian air had filled my heart, body, and soul with joy.
The air was clean, the scents of the forest sweet and rich, and the sunshine warm and welcoming.
The view from the roof alone had nearly left me speechless with awe.
Even Ardruc’s grim expression when the transport door opened hadn’t detracted from my happiness.
Maybe I’d allowed myself a few moments at the top of the ramp to notice how gorgeous he was, and how tall, and the textures of his scaly red and orange skin, and how brightly the feathers on his wings shimmered in the sunlight.
Even under a lab coat, his broad shoulders looked even better than they had in his introductory message. And that tail…
All things I shouldn’t notice about a director of research, but I had anyway—at least until I started down the ramp and put them aside. Ardruc might be a beautiful dragon man, but he was the DR, and a notoriously difficult one to work with at that.
Walking up to him felt like approaching the base of a cliff, except a cliff face was more expressive.
I’d worked with Fortusians before, as well as other species who were larger than humans, so his size didn’t intimidate me. Neither did his golden stare or the way he studied me as if I were a specimen needing to be categorized and stripped of all my secrets.
I’d prepared for a frosty reception. His introductory message had been terse at best. According to the rumor mill within academic circles, he wasn’t a cheerful person, or even particularly friendly, and he had a habit of being condescending.
Clashes with colleagues had led to frequent relocations before he’d come to Nova Cal two years ago.
The station’s isolation seemed to suit him, as he had no colleagues to alienate.
He was rather notorious for the number of lab assistants who’d come and gone during that time.
His current assistant, Dr. Rg, had lasted the longest at five months and counting.
Still, I’d hoped I could forge some kind of congenial working relationship—especially since there were only three of us at the station. I’d even greeted him with a Fortusian bow, having practiced during my trip.
Instead of appreciating my friendly gesture, he’d recoiled like I was a diseased, slime-covered Aphrasian eel, and my hopes of a convivial workplace all but evaporated in a blink.
After that, I couldn’t get into the lift and away from him fast enough. Judging by how briskly he walked back toward the roof hatch, the feeling had been mutual.
I adjusted the straps of my heavy backpack and made a face. At least he hadn’t tried to share the lift with us.
The lift doors opened, revealing an empty, silent hallway lined with doors leading to several laboratories.
As I wheeled my crates out into the hallway, a door slid aside down the hall and Ardruc emerged. According to the station schematics I’d studied, that door led to a stairway that accessed the roof.
This long corridor also housed the station’s medical bay and labs designed for a variety of uses.
The other two sections of the T-shaped station were the residential wing, with apartments, a shared kitchen and hydroponic greenhouse, and recreational area, and another research wing where the station’s enormous imaging lab was located.
Ardruc strode toward me, his face an expressionless mask and eyes glowing golden. Well, I’d take indifference over open derision. Maybe he’d warm up to me in time.
Or maybe we’d just ignore each other and focus on our own work.
“Your lab is at the end of this hallway,” he said, his tone flat. He gestured over his shoulder. “Lab Three should be more than sufficient for your work. My assistant works in Lab Two.”
My eyes narrowed. Lab Three was the smallest of the labs—less than half the size of Lab One, where I assumed Ardruc worked. I’d also assumed his assistant worked in the same lab and I would be assigned Lab Two. Apparently not.
“As for your quarters,” he continued as he passed by, “they are this way.”
He smelled smoky, which wasn’t unexpected given his dragon DNA. He also smelled of ozone and something else I couldn’t quite place but that reminded me of sun-warmed grass.
With a growling Forux at my side, I followed Ardruc to the end of the corridor and turned right.
He stopped at the first door on the left. “Apartment four will be yours. I live in Unit One at the end of this corridor. My assistant, Dr. Rg, occupies Unit Two. The third unit is reserved for representatives from the Ministry and other short-term visitors.”
I flexed my hand at my side and didn’t reply at first. According to the station’s schematics, Apartment Four was a fraction of the size of the other apartments—a single living area with a bed nook and a small bathroom.
I didn’t have much in the way of belongings, as evidenced by the two crates and my backpack, and maybe that had factored into Ardruc’s decision to give me this apartment. Or maybe I would have ended up in the smallest quarters on the station regardless.
The smallest, least-well equipped lab and an apartment so tiny it made my economical berth aboard the cruiser to Nyvor seem luxurious by comparison.
At least I’d chosen a small cabin on the cruiser rather than waste valuable funding on a larger suite.
I apparently did not get a say in where I’d live at Nova Cal.
I’d worked in smaller labs, though, and slept in far less hospitable accommodations.
And by all the gods above and below, I was on Hyderia.
I’d sleep outside under a tree and conduct my research in a secondhand portable lab pod if that was what it took.
Being here was a dream come true. Not even the galaxy’s least friendly DR could detract from that.
“Thank you,” I said finally. “I’m sure this will be sufficient for my needs.”
Ardruc’s nostrils flared. He puffed little wisps of smoke from his nose, took several steps back, and coiled his tail around his right calf. “Good,” he grated.
Did my scent offend him? Surely not. But the way he’d recoiled when I walked up to him…
was that because of how I smelled? That didn’t make much sense, but I didn’t have a better explanation.
And even if he didn’t like my scent, I’d think he would be better at hiding that just out of professionalism or simple good manners.
Then again, good manners didn’t seem to be one of his top skills.
I took a step back and pretended I’d just wanted to lean against the wall.
His golden gaze bored into me. “Are you certain you can move your equipment from the roof to your lab without assistance?”
“As long as there’s an antigrav sled I can use, I’ll be fine.” I tried to sound cheerful when I added, “I spend a lot of time in the field, so I’m used to being self-sufficient.”
“You will find antigrav sleds in storage room 1C,” he said, his voice brusque.
“At your earliest opportunity, please study Nova Cal’s lab procedures, including my policies on resource management, reporting schedules, data organization, specimen collection and storage, and field research.
” His gaze raked me from head to toe. “And requirements for appropriate lab attire.”
I’d skimmed the station’s lengthy and extremely detailed procedures during my journey and planned to read them more thoroughly tonight before bed. Everything I’d seen during my quick review had seemed fairly standard, but I’d apparently missed something.
My eyebrows shot up. “There’s a dress code?”
“Indeed.” He folded his hands behind his back and raised his chin, assuming a haughty pose that immediately got my hackles up.
“Nova Cal is an isolated facility, so visiting researchers may be tempted to become lax in following procedures and maintaining appropriate levels of professionalism. I have found requiring professional attire, including the use of lab coats during working hours, helpful in ensuring optimal performance and adherence to all policies.”
Ensuring optimal performance and adherence to all policies? Was he quoting from the procedures, or did he actually talk like this? I was betting on the latter.
I might have met a stuffier, more officious, and more pedantic director of research or lab supervisor during my studies and academic career…but for the life of me, I couldn’t think of one.
Still, I hadn’t given up on easing the tension. “That sounds very logical.” I smiled up at him. “I generally make it my practice to adhere to all policies and procedures wherever I work, even dress codes.”
His brows drew together. “I would hope so, Dr. Regis. Policies and procedures exist for a reason.”