Chapter 5
FIVE
ZANDAOR EXLITH-ORVANIS-ORKITH
The alien across from me made my skin crawl.
It was too large, with too many spindly arms and legs, and though the majority of its bulbous lower body was hidden behind the desk, leaving the more humanoid-looking upper body visible, I still knew it was there.
The sheer size of it screamed predator. Creatures of that size had once existed on Oame, before my Oamelithica ancestors hunted them to extinction during the period of disconnection, when we unbalanced our natural environment, not understanding that we were all Oame, and Oame must be healthy for us to be healthy.
I didn't allow any of my discomfort at the appearance of the alien to show.
It had introduced itself as Va'lux Krel'Veth and was my assigned legal representative while on board. That didn't mean I was relaxed around it.
I didn't know how their legal system worked or what privileges or responsibilities came with it being my representative. I had one purpose in this journey, and it was to represent my species in the best light possible to maximize the chance of positive alliances.
I had been brought here after an extended period in the ship's medical facilities, as they attempted to find something to deal with the aroma I was producing.
To their credits, the medics didn't wish to experiment on me, something that was a genuine danger when dealing with unknown aliens.
Instead, a technological solution was decided upon, and I had been given a tan skin tight suit to wear that would neutralize my smell.
I wasn't required to wear it while on board, with the exception of the food areas, but it was made clear that might change if there were any complaints.
"Róisín ó Gallchobhair has provided her statement after being cleared as no longer being under your influence," Va'lux said. "For our records, would you say that your behavior in this manner is typical of your species?"
My answers here could have an impact on future relations. I needed to be as honest as possible, while still shining a positive light on my species.
"Any upstanding member of my species would behave similarly if provided similar rules and regulations before encountering a mate of another species," I said.
"If I had not been provided such guidelines, I would have taken Róisín's verbal agreement at face value and mated with her without hesitation. "
"Even knowing that her species didn't mate in that manner?" Va'lux said.
"I spent a short time in her company and have had no previous experience with her species," I said, careful with my words. "I still do not have a clear understanding of how her species goes about finding mates, so I cannot answer how I would react given that knowledge."
"Do you still wish to mate with Róisín ó Gallchobhair?" Va'lux asked.
"Yes," I said, then I amended my statement with the obvious. "If it is something that she also wishes."
"Róisín ó Gallchobhair wished us to convey information to you that she feels would impact that choice of yours, though before I do, I must be clear that her species' home planet was recently incorporated into the Norratar Empire, which has a significantly higher technological level.
The information she wishes to convey is based on her understanding of what medical technology is accessible to her, not based on the truth of it," Va'lux said.
"I understand," I said.
"Róisín ó Gallchobhair, in her words, not mine, wishes you to understand she is not at her breeding prime and is not the best choice for a mate that wants children," Va'lux said. "Do you still wish to mate with her?"
That statement confused me, both because mating didn't necessarily mean having children and building a family, and because she was an alien.
We couldn't breed anyway. Va'lux's previous statement made it sound like there might be an option for medical intervention, which I would do if that were Róisín's desire, but I would be happy either way, just to have found one to be Lithoame with me.
"Yes," I said. "Of course I still wish to mate with her."
"Finally, does your species have multiple mates or short-term mates?" Va'lux asked. "Will your attention to Róisín ó Gallchobhair be temporary or long-lasting?"
"Scent-bonded mating is for life," I said. "I will not join another in Lithoame."
"That is all we need to cover then," Va'lux said. "You may go."
"That is it?" I said. "I don't need to sign a mating contract?"
"Róisín ó Gallchobhair has signed what we need to establish her consent for your pheromonal influence," Va'lux said.
"We don't have enough information for your species to write up legal documentation to protect you, and you have established remarkable self-control, so we are trusting that you can deal with one human female on your own. "
It let out a small chittering sound.
"Where is she?" I asked.
"Enjoy your time on board," Va'lux said, still making that chittering sound as it lifted its huge body up on its legs and skittered out the door behind its desk.
I was out the door in seconds.
I had to find her.