Chapter Five
Yvari looked like a mother who was about to lay down a curfew; her husband looked like he was making an effort to keep a serious face. Hazor nodded politely. “Mother, Father, I didn’t see you land.”
Yvari looked at him. “You were busy with this creature.”
All plans to be polite to the world’s sovereign went out the window.
She turned her back and walked into the stall.
There was a sharp inhale as she walked away from the active overseer of Siloven. She got back to work, cleaning and prepping.
Hazor opened the door to the stall and said, “Why did you do that?”
She spoke in manual and Vecchin as she did when she was irritated. “This creature has work to do. I was neither within twenty feet of the acting overseer, nor had been addressed by her. I was within my rights to continue my day.”
He blinked. “You know that?”
“I know many things. Even creatures are entitled to education on Siloven.”
He leaned back. “Right. This is awkward.”
“Well, I have a job to do. There is one more surge, and then I can clear up and go home. Do some laundry.”
“And go for assessment?”
She looked at him sarcastically. “I am not going anywhere near your enhanced unit if that is the face of your family on first introduction.”
“She just hates travelling.”
The door opened wider, and the woman with the silvery skin, green hair, and dark eyes looked at her.
“No, I don’t. I just don’t like unknown creatures who make a move on my son.
It is bad enough that Mekked fell for one of your kind, and yes, I know that his son has wing buds, but that is one generation removed from Hazor and Hazda.
There is no reason for them to seek another Terran out.
We have one in the family. It’s enough.”
Hazor looked at her, and his skin blazed with silver fire.
His mother stepped back. “Hazor, what the hell is that?”
“A new evolution.”
Yvari winced. “Why? How?”
Hazor pointed at Cloudy. “I followed what Mekked said, and I kissed her.”
Yvari jolted. “What?”
“Kiss. Met her mouth with mine. Humans are very responsive to it.”
Cloudy ignored them and the blush, and she kept working.
Sunny took the first order for here and home. He ignored what was going on, which for him was a Herculean feat.
Yvari frowned. “What are you serving?”
“Meat and vegetables cooked on high heat, drizzled in sauce, and served with akko.”
Hazor smiled. “We will take three.”
“Fine, you are paying for two. You eat free, but your mother and father have to pay.”
There was a snort of laughter out of her sight.
Yvari looked stunned. “But I am the overseer.”
“The only exceptions are guardians. We have it on a plaque.” She shrugged. “Us simple creatures need simple rules.”
Yvari jolted. “I... how much?”
“Ten credits per serving. One extra for extra akko.”
“Why would anyone want extra?”
Cloudy shrugged. “People are weird.”
“Fine. Just a regular serving for me and Mathon.”
Cloudy nodded. “Coming up.”
She headed toward the grill and said, “Take the payment.”
She tossed the veg and meat, glazed them with a light sauce, and boxed them efficiently with the standard size of akko. She handed the boxes over, and Sunny looked uncomfortable.
Hazor got the packs and walked to the table. His mother and father sat with him. The other guardians were snickering at a distance.
Yvari opened the box, sniffed the food, took a bite of the mixed meat and veg, and then she warily nibbled at some akko. Her brows lifted, and the shreds were gone before the hot portion of her food.
Cloudy smiled, kept chatting, and kept the orders going for her regulars. The packs started to leave in stacks, and Sunny was sweating. Cloudy asked, “Do you need to switch?”
“No, but how are you so calm?”
“The adaptation helps me regulate my pulse.”
Hazor’s father walked up with a grin. “How much for just a container of akko?”
“Five credits.”
He scanned the plate.
She filled a container with akko, and off he went. His wife saw the open box and tried to fork some, but he moved the box. Cloudy smiled. He held a forkful for her, and she muttered something about ruling the damned planet.
Cloudy smiled, and they kept working through the rush and then cleanup. The guardians and the acting overseer were waiting for her. She looked past them and saw someone else. “’Scuse me a minute, Sunny.”
She dried her hands and walked out of the stall, toward the black vehicle and the seven-armed men coming toward her. She was twenty feet away when she called out. “Hello, stranger.”
“Are you the human partnered with Emgoth?”
“I am.”
“We want your business.”
“As a franchise?”
“No, we like the location.”
She manifested two speed-firing crossbows and began firing. When they were on the ground twitching, she daintily pressed the beacon.
Hazor was next to her a second later. “Really?”
She grinned and held one crossbow out, pulled the trigger, and shot their vehicle. It exploded. “I needed to make a point.”
Yvari was there in a moment. “What was that?”
She shrugged. “Creature stuff. It came with the gills.”
“No, it didn’t. You had that on Earth.”
“Shut up, Sunny.”
Yvari looked at him. “You know her?”
“I am her younger brother, Overseer. She had the energy strike power in a lesser form when we were still on Earth. She could stun with a touch or spark a fire.”
Cloudy crossed her arms. “Squealer.”
Yvari stared at her. “Why didn’t you disclose this on arrival?”
“I didn’t have this on arrival. I got it after I had my appearance blended to make me look more like sea Vecchin.”
“And you are bond-locked.”
“Yes. I like it here and have no intention of leaving Siloven. This job is enough for me. I have an apartment, family, friends. Why would I want to leave?”
“What if Hazor leaves?”
“We are currently just acquaintances. If he leaves, I will get him a nice cake or something.”
“You think he will continue to act as guardian here?”
“Not my business. I am content to create unexpected akko addicts. It is full of vitamins and minerals and doesn’t get nearly enough attention.”
“What the hell do you put on it? It’s amazing.”
“Two different fruits, some oil, and wishful thinking. The acids soften the akko and give it the texture that is reminiscent of exotic seaweed.”
Yvari nodded. “Yes! That’s it.”
Cloudy nodded. “I did the research on what was palatable, what woke the senses. Did some experimentation on my parents’ coworkers and then brought the menu to Emgoth. We began working together. He made me a partner, and our profits are reliable.”
Peacekeepers arrived and arrested the unconscious men before slapping them awake.
Yvari blinked. “How did they know they weren’t dead?”
“Uh... practice?”
“You do this sort of thing often?”
“Often enough. In a living being, my bolts just short out the nervous system for a while.” She shrugged.
Hazor and the others were helping the peacekeepers wrap the thugs up.
“You think this is over?”
“No. I still have to chat with their boss. That will be interesting but should be final.”
Yvari looked at her, and her eyes widened. “You have a beacon?”
“Yes, Hazor insisted on it. I had no idea it was a recorder as well as biometrics, location, and temperature sensors.”
“You know all of its capabilities?”
“Yes. I figured it out from hints Hazor gave me.”
“Hints?”
“He showed up after I went into the bay to do some maintenance.”
Yvari nodded. “Good hint. I also would like to apologize for referring to you as a creature. I wasn’t quite sure what you were.”
“I am a human who had themselves altered to fit in with the local population. I had intended to stay. Should I rethink my plans?”
Yvari blinked. “No. Please no. You have done what we hoped more of your kind would do.”
“They don’t know the program exists. It isn’t inexpensive. If it weren’t for my family working at the assessment centre, I wouldn’t have known about it either.”
“Then, is there a way to make it more well known?” Yvari asked earnestly.
“Sure. I suppose I could appear at the next Landing Day.”
The Hmrain descendant said, “What?”
“The anniversary of the day we arrived here. All five hundred of us. We were all settled here in the city, out of the way. We file for permits and do a street party in the largest park we can find.”
Mathon asked, “Is there dancing?”
Cloudy jumped a little and said warily. “Singing, dancing, videos that were saved from our entry to the Education Station. Also, as many different foods from home that we can replicate.”
Yvari mumbled, “How did I not know about this?”
“You collected us the same way other Hmrain have and tucked us away so we wouldn’t interfere with local life. We have made a life of our own on a world we are getting used to. The parties remind us of why we are here and why we can never go back.”
Yvari paused. “I see. Why am I not invited?”
Mathon said, “You have been, my love. You haven’t wanted to travel to this continent.”
Yvari growled. “Thank you, dearest.”
Mathon grinned. “No trouble, love.”
Cloudy sighed. “Madam acting overseer, why are you trying to be insulted?”
“Because I am actually beginning to admire you, and that is an awkward turn of events. I don’t understand the Hmrain rush to try your people on for size.”
Cloudy nodded. “Because our brains put out enough power to light you up, and it is something that appears to be enjoyable on both sides. Mind you, I wouldn’t know.”
Hazor looked over at her and smirked then returned back to talking to the peacekeepers.
Yvari sighed. “I had hoped he would be older before he wanted a companion.”
“How old is he?”
“Seventy-four. Just a little younger than my brother.”
“Oh. Well, he has quite the lifespan compared to me. That is about how many years I have left. If we do end up together, you won’t have to deal with me for long.
” It seemed strange to comfort Yvari, but she got the impulse to ease the woman’s fear of the future.
“He can find someone else soon enough, by your standards.”
Mathon murmured, “Not as soon as you would think if you became a consort.”
“Lady Yvari simply stated companion. That is a revocable position.”