Chapter 22
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
We returned to the leader’s room a little while later.
I didn’t know really what I could do aside from answering more questions, but I did have ideas on who we could call instead.
I was a staff sergeant. There were people far better qualified to deal with the government itself.
And most of them were on the ships. If we could get them to talk to us, maybe they could make headway with the government issue.
Aster was in a better mood after last night, his smile back, but his face fell immediately when he came into the room and all eyes swung to us.
He scowled at his brothers, one tentacle gripping my wrist tightly.
I wouldn’t admit out loud how much I enjoyed the possessiveness, but internally I preened.
If the circumstances were different, I might be willing to try for a relationship with Aster.
I liked how attentive he was and how he made me feel.
Like I was someone important, despite my rank and position stating otherwise.
Pushing that thought aside, I led him over to the table where the group sat.
There was a hologram of the planet, maybe about the size of a basketball, spinning in the middle, and each of them had a tablet.
They’d obviously been working, but they greeted me with smiles and set it aside for a moment to say their good mornings.
“Enzo! We are happy for you to join us again,” Voo said with a sly smile. “Our little brother is selfish with you. I would have liked to join you for breakfast, too. Where was my invite?”
“I, uh…” I wasn’t sure it was a good idea to mention to Aster’s leaders that he spent the night with me.
We were supposed to be fixing things with the humans.
If they thought Aster was compromised, they might take issue and force him to go back home.
The idea of that was… yeah, no. That wasn’t going to happen. I wouldn’t let it.
“Ignore him,” Ian said without looking up from his tablet. “He is being petulant because he has not found a—” he said a word my translator didn’t quite know how to translate—“of his own yet.”
Aster stiffened beside me, and when I shot him a questioning look, he forced a pained smile.
“It is best to ignore Voo unless it is work-related. He says things that are only meant to cause trouble.” He shot a warning look first at Voo, then the rest of his brothers.
“We have important things to discuss, do we not?”
“We are waiting on Crow. Are you saying it is not important to discuss–”
Aster cut his brother off by lashing out with one of his tentacles.
He slapped his brother on the back of the head, a lot like my mom would do to me when she was irritated with me.
I bit back a laugh, watching with amusement as the alien brothers tried to hit each other a lot like human siblings would.
Before things could get too rough, a door slid open and Crow stepped in, followed by a group of aliens who were definitely not Krezikian.
One was tall and willowy, with a rounded head and four eyes, two in the regular spot and two farther out.
No passing as a human for him. Another was much shorter, maybe three feet tall, wearing a suit that looked similar to a human business suit.
It was furry, unlike the first one or the Krezikians, and the fur was dark blue.
The third looked like an alligator that stood on its hind legs, with a full-blown armored chest piece with spikes on the shoulder.
And the last, I couldn’t get a good look at.
Whoever they were, they wore full armor, including a headpiece that masked them completely.
Swallowing hard, I stood when everyone else did, eyeing the aliens uneasily. The Krezikians proved over the last week to be pretty pacifistic and harmless unless their lives were threatened. Somehow, I got the feeling these newcomers didn’t abide by the same lifestyle.
“Ah, Enzo. You have arrived. Good. I would like to introduce you to the Intergalactic Delegation of Interspecies Communication. They are usually the first point of contact when a planet reaches the potential for true space travel.”
I learned from the last time not to offer my hand.
I followed Aster’s lead instead. He put one fist on his chest and bowed slightly at the waist. Doing the same, I held my breath, hoping someone would explain things to me sometime soon.
I wasn’t expecting a new group of aliens to deal with, and I didn’t know what their purpose was or what was going to happen to me.
“We are making him uneasy,” one of the delegates commented. I wasn’t sure which one. I didn’t know when I should straighten again.
“You always make people uneasy,” a gravelly voice commented. “You look like you’re going to tear him to pieces.”
“Gentlemen,” Crow chided, though it almost sounded like he was amused. “Be kind. The humans were not ready for our arrival. He has every right to be nervous. Enzo, please stand. I asked the delegation here to help. They mean no harm.”
Straightening, I glanced between Crow and his new friends. Their expressions didn’t come off as aggressive, but most of them were way bigger than me, and the alligator-looking one looked like he could bite my head off with a quick snap of his massive jaw.
“Perhaps introductions will help,” the willowy one suggested.
“I am Gruudi, a delegate from the Rirnon Galaxy. I assist in medical knowledge sharing.” He gestured to the alligator-looking guy.
“This is Mezar. His people are the most technologically advanced in all known galaxies.” Next, he gestured to the little one.
“Chaerin is of the Crin species. They control trade across the galaxies to ensure fairness and equality.” Finally, he looked at the tall warrior next to him.
“And this is Rilphaer. His people are responsible for heading the security of the alliance of planets.”
He turned his kind smile to me. “And you are Enzo Rozzee. Human delegate of Earth. I am told your people clasp hands in greeting.” He thrust his hand out toward me, which was easily long enough to cover my entire arm if he wanted.
He used the tips of his fingers to shake my hand instead. “A pleasure to meet you.”
“I, uh… It’s nice to meet you too, but I’m not a delegate or anything. I’m just helping out.”
Gruudi didn’t have eyebrows, or any hair for that matter, but little ridges above his eyes that he raised in question when he looked at Crow.
“It is true that Enzo was originally tasked as a human liaison to his people on board the ships,” Crow agreed with a nod.
“His job was supposed to be temporary. However, as he has now spoken to the entire planet about us, we feel it is important to keep him as human delegate because the humans will recognize his face.”
My brain stalled out, and my face kind of took on the surprised Pikachu meme face. I pointed at myself, wide-eyed. “Wait. Me?”
No one told me this. I shot an accusing look at Aster, but he seemed just as surprised as I did.
A lot happier about it, but still surprised.
I leaned in closer to him, muttering under my breath.
“I was actually going to suggest talking to more qualified people during the meeting. I’m not an expert by any means.
Even intel officers would have more information than me.
Wouldn’t it be better to assign someone with more knowledge and power? I’m just a maintainer.”
I thought I was quiet enough not to be overheard while the other aliens spoke to each other, but apparently not.
Rilphaer turned to look at me, his voice rough like he swallowed gravel on the regular.
“It is good that you are comfortable seeking more information from qualified individuals. We are not asking for you to make all decisions for your people. Only that you are the one to communicate with them until such a time that they are ready to speak with us directly. Your leaders are more subdued after your message, but still apprehensive in speaking with the Krezikian delegates.”
Ian spoke up from his place at the table. “Do you recognize this person?”
He turned his tablet around to show me a picture of the current White House press secretary. When I nodded, he gestured to her photo.
“Think of it like that. You will share information with the humans as a whole after meeting with your leaders. You will also serve as a buffer for your leaders and ours during our discussions, as you better understand our purpose than they do. You won’t be making any big decisions yourself.”
That made me feel a little better. I didn’t want to be responsible for the human race as a whole.
I still didn’t feel qualified to be the go between, but at this point, we needed another option.
Any other option. The world leaders weren’t doing anything and those on the surface were only causing trouble.
Someone had to step up and get people to communicate.
It’d be a little like when I would get between my mom and my sister when they were fighting. Sort of. Okay, I was making shit up, but I was trying to put it in a way that made me feel less like an imposter.
“Why me?” I had to ask. “Aside from working as the human liaison on Aster’s ship, I haven’t really done anything to earn that kind of position.”
“For one thing, you are the first one to hear our allies out,” Mezar pointed out. “Lord KГ?dit??? told us that you have been a great asset as well, keeping the humans happy on the ships while they work toward fixing the planet.”
“You also have a connection to both parties,” Gruudi added. “You are human, but also mates with–”
Aster made a shrill panicked sound, waving his hands hurriedly to stop them, but it was too late. I heard them just fine.
“Mates?”
Gruudi frowned at Aster, then tipped his head at me. “Are humans unaware when they find their mates? I will need to do research on this. While different species have their own awareness, there is always a way. Did you not feel any different after meeting ???t?rv??t?”
It felt a little like I was shoved off a cliff, and I was free falling. Me and Aster? Mates? Since when? How did they know? Why the hell didn’t I know?
What would my mother think?
Probably not important. Stop it, Enzo.
Turning slowly to look at my companion, I took in his expression. His eyes were wide with panic and fear, his mouth opening and closing like he couldn’t work out what to say.
“Did you know?” I asked him.
He made a croaked sound, still gaping like a fish.
Crow stepped in, nudging us both away from the group. “Perhaps this is best discussed in private. We will go over the information you gave us the night prior with the delegation, and you can speak with us when you’re through. Use my office.”
I felt a little like I was having an out of body experience.
I saw myself following Aster into the room Crow had disappeared into the other night, but I wasn’t fully present.
I didn’t take in the room or the view out the window.
I barely heard a word being spoken around me as my heart thundered in my ears.
My abductor thought I was his mate?
What did I even do with that information?