Chapter Twelve Corrina
I was wrong about Zann being bored. He seems to be quite amused examining each and every thing in my outer office, including but not limited to, my assistant.
Ensign Liu takes it surprisingly well, however.
I was impressed with Liu’s unflappability both in the interview and in reports from his prior superiors, but maintaining his focus and concentration while a two-meter tall alien stares down at him is quite impressive.
When Liu has been thoroughly examined from multiple angles, Zann moves on to the various objects and books lining the walls.
He picks each one up carefully, inspecting and examining it before gently putting it back in its place.
He is less interested in the books, though he flips through a handful before replacing them.
I chuckle to myself as Zann inspects a series of photos of base personnel, including several that include Curran and me.
There is something oddly endearing about the wonder and fascination in his face as he seems to recognize us.
I blink and shake my head. I must be overly tired if I’m finding Zann endearing.
I glance back at the reports on my screen.
This is the sixth or seventh time I’ve been through them, but I want to be sure that there is nothing the reviewing council can latch on to in terms of discrepancies or inconsistencies in the reports.
Every time I’ve found any potential issue, I’ve sent the report back to the author for clarification and confirmation.
Curran has been particularly vocal about the repeated revisions, though I know he takes this as seriously as I do.
Having a prisoner die in custody is a serious issue on its own.
Having a prisoner as connected and influential as Lianov die in custody, even if it wasn’t by IPC hands, is a nightmare of reports and explanations and accusations and second guessing.
But I am determined to prove that Lianov’s death, while regrettable from an official perspective, is a consequence of his own dangerous and unlawful behavior.
It helps my argument that among the prohibited items found on Lianov’s ship were a number of highly dangerous animal species and a handful of poisonous plants.
After all, those could have also caused Lianov’s death in different circumstances.
Besides, it’s the best argument I can make given the current situation.
Finally, I rub my eyes and glance back towards the outer office. Zann is sitting cross-legged in my doorway staring at me. “You are ready for my statement now?”
I nod. He stands, and I am reminded that he and his companions are still wandering around the base naked.
Not that he has any dangerously vulnerable exposed genitalia, I think with a small snicker, but there are general rules on the station about wearing at least some amount of clothing.
It might be a holdover from the historically human presence here, but being completely naked is going to make Zann, Krish, and Davix stand out even more than they already do.
“Liu,” I call as I stand up and make my way towards the door. Zann unfolds himself gracefully and steps aside. “Reach out to procurement and see if we can get some clothes for our guests.”
“On it, Commander,” Liu responds.
“Am I a guest who needs clothes?” Zann asks as he follows me to an interview room.
“It is customary for individuals on the station to wear clothing,” I say.
I gesture to a chair that is almost comically small for him and Zann sits warily.
I take a seat across the table from him.
“In a moment, I am going to start the video and voice recording. I may ask you some questions to clarify things, but mostly it will be best if you just tell me what happened on that ship in your own words when I ask you. Do you understand?”
Zann’s forehead crinkles, but he nods.
“Okay, here goes.” I initialize the recording and begin the introduction.
“This is Commander Corrina Hammish-Sun, Kapoor Base, Azuris Station. I am here with Zann, a haleen from the previously uncontacted planet Gyria. Zann, please tell me how you came to be on board the ship of Captain Lianov and what happened there.”
“I am Zann of the Broken Tooth Clan. I was hunting serrex with my brood brothers, when I heard Krish scream.” I listen as impassively as I can as Zann describes his capture, abuse, and torture.
It is somewhat gratifying to hear that his account mirrors Alek’s.
Alek had insisted that he was trapped in an impossible situation and trying to do his best. While I have my own opinions about what Alek could have done differently, at least he made some effort on behalf of Lianov’s captives.
I try to maintain a neutral expression as Zann describes the quick and brutal death visited upon Lianov.
While I would never officially condone murder, listening to a firsthand account of Lianov’s actions makes me feel like he got off easy with a quick death.
When Zann stops talking, I end the recording. “Corrina,” he says quietly. “I did not want this to be recorded for others to see and hear. But I feel this is my fault – that I should have somehow prevented what happened to my brood brothers.”
“No,” I say immediately and emphatically, grabbing one of Zann’s large hands without even thinking about it. “No. You are not responsible for any of this. Not at all.”
“If I had reached Krish sooner,” Zann begins.
“Then the outcome would almost certainly have been the same. And if you hadn’t gotten to Krish when you did, he might have been taken alone and that would have been much worse.
You are not responsible for any of this,” I repeat.
“This is Lianov’s doing. And if I can, I am going to make sure that anyone who ever helped him pays for this and every other horrible thing he has ever done.
” Zann glances down to where my hand is clutched around his and I release him self-consciously.
“I think I can understand how you are feeling,” I continue in a calmer voice, “When others look to you for leadership, it can be a heavy burden. And it can be hard not to blame yourself when things go wrong.”
I let out a heavy sigh as I think about my decision to hold off on taking Lianov’s ship until he was isolated.
It is hard not to think about the fact that I could have ended their suffering sooner, if I had only known.
Maybe that’s part of the reason I feel personally responsible for our haleen visitors.
But I made the best decision I could based on the information I had at the time, and now I have to live with that.
“But what happened to you?” I continue. “Only Lianov and his associates are to blame for that.” Zann nods solemnly. “I know I don’t know you well, but it’s clear that Krish and Davix respect you. And for what it’s worth, so do I.” Zann tilts his head to the side and looks at me curiously.
“Thank you,” he says finally. We sit in silence for a few more minutes before he speaks up again. “The recording is done? Krish and Davix will do the same thing tomorrow?”
“Yes, if they agree to it.”
“They will agree.” We both stand, and I move to open the interview room door. “Corrina,” Zann says. “I, we, are grateful that you and your people arrived. And that you did not attack us even after we killed the Lianov creature.”
“Me too,” I reply. “Even if it’s turning out to be a giant pain in my ass.”
“You are in pain?” Zann asks, leaning around me to stare pointedly at my backside.
“It’s just another figure of speech. An expression,” I assure him with an embarrassed laugh.
He follows me back out to my office where I notice a rectangular, yellow box on the corner.
I recognize the packaging as being from one of my favorite bakeries.
“Hey Liu, did you get me this?” I ask, holding up the box.
“Get you what?” he asks, glancing up from his desk. His face falls slightly. “You went to Delilah’s without me?” he asks.
I chuckle. “I didn’t go. This was just on my desk. I thought you went.”
Liu shakes his head. “You must have a secret admirer who dropped it off when I was in the head. I’m jealous.”
“Of the admirer or the cupcakes?” I ask, opening the box to see a collection of small frosted, sugary masterpieces.
“The cupcakes, obviously,” Liu responds.
“I’ll share with you,” I say, reaching into the box. I pick up a cupcake and bring it towards my mouth just as a large, green hand closes around my wrist firmly.
Zann leans forward and sniffs at the baked good and then wrinkles his nose. “You should not eat that,” he says sternly.
“Not a fan of sweets?” I ask.
“I enjoy sweet things. But that smells…wrong,” he replies. I stare at the cupcake in my hand and then glance towards Liu whose expression has turned grave.
“Maybe I’ll skip it then,” I say casually. Zann releases my wrist and I carefully place the cupcake back in the box and close the lid. “I should get some more work done anyway. Would you like an escort back to your quarters?” I ask Zann.
“Are you offering to be an escort or would you send me with someone else?”
“Someone else. I have something I need to do right now.”
“Then I will find my own way by scent and memory.”
As soon as Zann is out of sight, Liu is pulling a plastic bag out of his desk and carefully placing the entire box inside it. “I’ll need tox and anything else they can find out,” I say quietly.
Liu nods, his face pale. “Commander, I was only gone a couple of minutes. I didn’t see anyone. I didn’t even see the box when I got back.”
“Not your fault. Let’s just find out what is in those cupcakes and if we can figure out where they came from.”
I glance at my computer as I sink uneasily into my chair.
Curran will be in drills for another hour, and I don’t want to interrupt him until I know more.
But I have a feeling that my day would have gone very differently if Zann hadn’t been right next to me at that particular moment.
Depending on what the reports say, I might owe Zann a serious debt of gratitude.
It isn’t until hours later when I’m lying in bunk that it occurs to me to wonder if Zann’s answer about an escort would have been different if I’d said I’d go with him.