Chapter 6 #2
The humidity was high enough for beads of water to cling to my scales, and the temperature was pleasantly warm. All of the visitors kept their voices low as they walked through the garden, respecting the reverence of this place.
I led Noxlyn to a corner on the second floor, near one of the vine-wrapped banisters where I’d agreed to meet Camden.
When I rounded a curve, I spotted him with ease.
Camden had his elbows on the railing and his eyes on the plants.
His golden waves fell around his face, and his muscular body was tense.
A forlorn air hung around him that felt intrusive to break.
He’d asked me to come, but it felt as if I was intruding on something private, something he wouldn’t wish me, or anyone, to see.
Noxlyn apparently had no such issue. He strode forward, and Camden straightened, his eyes flicking over Noxlyn with polite interest before moving to me and brightening.
“Wyn,” he said, waving energetically.
“Greetings, Camden. This is Noxlyn. I didn’t think you would mind meeting him. He’s studying human culture, and I thought you would be the perfect human to assist.”
Camden’s cheeks turned a deep red—blushing, the humans called it.
I was familiar with this particular phenomenon because Seth did it frequently—and I ignored it.
Camden was allowed to have some sort of affection for me, but I wouldn’t return it, nor would I engage in something physical with him.
He didn’t appear to be the type who liked casual sex, which was all I wanted.
Even if he was okay with being fuck friends…
I feared it would be taking advantage of him.
Sadness clung to him. He needed something I would never be able to give.
Noxlyn took a seat and pulled out his screen without any hesitation. “Can I ask you some questions?”
Camden blinked. “Sure. Any friend of Wyn’s is a friend of mine.”
“Wyn and I are not friends,” Noxlyn commented. “We met not long ago. I cut his hand with one of my talons.”
“Are you alright?” Camden asked, his eyes going wide. He lifted a hand like he intended to touch me, but he pulled back at the last moment, resting a fist on his thigh.
“I’m fine.” I took a seat near Noxlyn, who waited patiently to ask his questions.
Camden slumped to the ground. “Good.” He turned toward Noxlyn and asked, voice deep, “Why did you hurt Wyn?”
Why was everyone so protective of me? I was small for a drakcol, but I could defend myself when needed. I was very skilled. I didn’t need or want anyone to protect me.
“It was an accident. May I ask some questions now? Studying human culture is rather complex.”
He gaped at Noxlyn’s abruptness, then chuckled. “I imagine so. Humanity is a mix of many cultures, ethnicities, and languages. I don’t know if you can refine us down to something simple. Even we humans haven’t defined ourselves yet.”
“I am going to try.”
“I wish you well.”
“So,” Noxlyn said, “you will assist me?”
Camden glanced at me, and I gave him an encouraging smile.
I truly wanted this to work. For some reason, I had this overwhelming urge to put the two of them together.
Both of them seemed so lonely, and a friendship between them would help them both, and for some reason I cared.
Normally, I wasn’t invested in people who I wasn’t close with, but I was changing, I supposed, since becoming close to Seth, Urgg, and Edith.
Camden bobbed his head, and Noxlyn blinked. Clearly he hadn’t been studying humans too hard, if he didn’t know what that movement meant. In his defense, nodding did take some getting used to. To my eyes it looked like Camden was conceding to my or Noxlyn’s dominance, but rather he was agreeing.
“He’s saying yes,” I told Noxlyn.
“Excellent. Explain your movement just now in great detail, and does it change meaning with smaller or bigger movements or whom you are making that movement to?” Noxlyn had his screen out and his eyes locked on Camden.
Camden blinked, but he began to talk, not thrown off by Noxlyn’s abruptness or the in-depth questions.
I fought a smile. This was going to work out well. I was sure of it.
I stood quietly once Camden began asking his own questions about soul types.
He had to be aware of soul types in general, as he’d been tested when he arrived.
He was a creative soul. Thankfully, Noxlyn was more than equipped to inform him about warrior, spiritual, seeker, and creator souls.
Also, I was starving, but I didn’t want to bother either of them, as both had seemed completely engrossed.
As I snuck away from the pair, I shook my head in amusement.
Noxlyn had some odd ideas about humanity, something about humans being root vegetables, spicy ones at that, and Camden had more than enjoyed correcting him.
At one point, Camden had been bent over, laughing hysterically.
He hadn’t been able to even get a single word out.
I’d almost feared he’d asphyxiate, but he’d rallied and collected himself after a few moments.
I started to head toward Mistress Kel’yeena’s shop when I paused at the shrine filled with cats. Most were sleeping in various places as a cat priestess took care of all of their needs. Some were playing, batting at the robotic fish in the pond. And one was being thoroughly groomed by a drakcol.
I wanted one so badly, but not yet. Soon.
In a few cycles, I’d have saved up enough to purchase one, as well as the seniority to be able to travel with the cat as required.
I smiled at a gray cat batting a ball. The little god was so cute.
I looked at the ground as thoughts of Cincin flashed through my mind.
While I’d have to spend more time with Monqilcolnen than I wanted, I would get to spend almost every day with a cat.
That fact might make dealing with the commander worth it.
Changing directions, I got a meal that could travel and headed back up the lift. I paused beside a terminal on deck two. I logged into my system, which was attached to Kalvoxrencol’s, though I didn’t have access to his primary system—that was far too personal—and asked, “Edith?”
“Yes, Lieutenant Wyn?”
I smiled at the human head that appeared on the monitor.
She was blue in color like a traditional NAID was, but instead of the plain silhouette, she was an older human with a tower of curls piled on her head, her skin so wrinkly it was hard to find a smooth part, and her thin lips were almost always curled into a smile.
“Have you tapped into the systems on the Admiral Ven?”
“You know I’m not supposed to,” she commented, her eyes flicking back and forth, refusing to meet my gaze.
What she was supposed to do and what she actually did were two very different things.
Edith had wanted to be uploaded to the Admiral Ven once again because she disliked the idea of being separated from Seth and his kit for almost two years, so I highly doubted she’d remain passive for the entire journey.
“Edith,” I said, drawing out her name.
“Yes. I have. I need to watch Bob and Seth at all times. And I was bored here. All alone.”
A squeak escaped my lips, but I clamped my mouth closed. I glanced around the corridor, but thankfully, we were alone. If Captain Talvax found out and also became aware I knew Edith was breaking the rules, I would get in trouble.
“No one will know unless you or Seth tell someone,” she remarked, grinning.
Of course Seth knew, and of course he hadn’t told anyone. They were always co-conspirators.
I took a deep breath. “Is Commander Monqilcolnen in his office?”
“No, he’s on duty in Command right now. Why?
You don’t intend to harm him, do you? Edith Smith says, ‘Violence is never the answer unless you are defending your life or the life of another.’ Assassinating him because he keeps telling a story you don’t like doesn’t count, I don’t believe.
I would have to ask Seth to be certain. Perhaps violence in lieu of embarrassment is acceptable. ”
My mouth dropped open. “Of course I don’t intend him harm, Edith. I might not care for the commander, but I wouldn’t hurt him.” I might vomit on him, I thought, but I would never hurt him.
“Then why?”
“I want to see Cincin, his cat.”
She grinned. “Cincin is in his office.”
I gave her a quick smile before saying goodbye and rushing down the corridor.
Looking around again to confirm no one was around, I pressed my hand to the panel.
Right when I was about to ask Edith for assistance, the door slid open.
I paused, tail thrashing. Monqilcolnen had to have added me to his security, which I hadn’t expected.
However, I wasn’t about to reject this gift.
Cincin looked up from the white fluffy bed next to the artificial tree. She meowed in welcome, winding around my legs. I stroked her as I sat on the ground. Cincin immediately planted her furry behind on my lap and demanded pets like the goddess she was.
I frowned at her fuzzy head; she didn’t even flick her ears.
Rather, she started purring and kneading my thigh.
I was now stuck. I generally tried not to put myself in this position, but there was nothing for it now.
According to the cultural law of Earth, I had to remain in place until Cincin moved.
I opened my travel container and ripped off a piece of flatbread before scooping up some Talvian grain. The purple grains clung to the bread and were covered in a light sauce that had a tangy, sweet taste.
Alternating between eating and petting the fluffy cat, I looked around the office, my eyes landing on the trinkets.
The built-in shelf was full of all different things; some I recognized, others not so much.
The orange leaf in a clear stasis chamber was from Lidaysia.
The sidlis valued leaves, and they were their on-planet currency as well as Coalition units.
The glowing pink stone was from Luxmanioa.
I’d never been but had seen images of the lush planet, full of stones that glowed with different harmonies.
My fingers sank into Cincin’s fur, and she purred even louder.
I leaned back, my eyes wandering over Monqilcolnen’s treasures.
Some were valuable, but most seemed like trinkets he’d randomly picked up, like that stylus.
It wasn’t even a nice one. It looked like a basic student one, like the ones the academy handed out.
Perhaps he’d saved it from his school years.
Cincin meowed when I stopped petting her.
“My apologies,” I told her.
She gave me a golden-eyed glare, though when I started petting her once again, she resumed her previous position.
My eyes closed as her calming purr sank into me.
Seth often talked about how Lucy relaxed him, and it was something I agreed with.
I didn’t love to be touched outside of fucking, but sometimes I got lonely for a friend or companion.
A furry cat to snuggle with would fulfill that need, and it would just be fun to play with one.
I settled more firmly against the cat tree. I would stay for a few more minutes or at least until Cincin moved. Just a few more minutes.