Alien Interludes (26 page)

She laughed at his obvious pleasure and knelt to look him eye-to-eye. “Of course I did, Wayne. I spoke to you just last night on the vid.”

“You’re bigger than the other girls from Earth,” he said, his purple eyes wide. His coloring was pure Kalquorian, and his hair reached his shoulders. His features were finer than any Kalquorian Lindsey had ever met though, no doubt influenced by his pixyish mother.

“I am taler than your mother and grandmother Tara,” Lindsey acknowledged. She was shorter by far than her clanmates, but beyond the chestnut hair she shared with Tara and Jessica, she looked nothing like the other women of her family. She was larger boned, like her father, with her face rounder and stronger featured.

“You’re not as tal as Grandmother Doxin,” Wayne said, taking her measure.

Lindsey remembered Bevau was the only male member of the Imperial Clan to stil have a living mother. Native females were so incredibly scarce on Kalquor.

“And here is your niece,” a roling voice said. Lindsey looked up to see Bevau holding little Noele out to her.

Over a year old now, Noele was also bigger than the Earther norm. She strained Lindsey’s arms like a large toddler might, but the proud aunt was able to cradle her anyway. She looked into the child’s grape-hued eyes, marveling at the thick head of steel-colored hair. “Hi Noele. Remember me?”

“Aunt Lin-nee,” the child burbled.

Her four parents and Tara applauded. “Good girl!” Jessica congratulated the smiling tot. “We’ve been working on that for weeks,” she told Lindsey.

“What a wonderful gift,” Lindsey whispered with feeling. “Thank you.”

Apparently done with ‘Aunt Lin-nee’, Noele held her chubby arms out towards her clustered parents. It was smiling Egilka who accepted the invitation, plucking her from Lindsey’s arms as he let his guard down and gave her a wink. “Welcome home, my sister,” he said with a little bow.

Next Yuder came forward to stand at Tara’s side. “Welcome to Kalquor, Lindsey,” he intoned, his voice shivering deep. “I apologize on behalf of my clanmates for not coming to greet you.”

“Is Imperial Father Zarl not feeling wel?” Lindsey knew Yuder’s Dramok had major health issues.

“He tires easily and is in a great deal of pain much of the time. However, we do hope your clan wil join us for dinner later after you have had time to settle in.” After a quick look at Bacoj, who was the clan leader after al and chief decision maker, Lindsey passed along the answer his nod gave. “We would be honored, Imperial Father.” The greetings went on with people she’d already met via frequent communications, first during the year her clan had been on assignment on Earth then during the nine month trip to Kalquor. Lindsey greeted her clan’s parents, al eleven of them. Bacoj’s Dramok father had died when he was stil young, so his was the only incomplete parent clan. She found it amusing how much Vax and Japohn were like their mothers in looks and temperaments. Vax’s mother Udi was as sweet natured and gentle as her Imdiko son, with soft waves of hair and finer features than most Kalquorians. Japohn’s handsome mother Nenap, al six feet seven inches of Amazonian muscle with a head ful of long, spiraling curls, seemed to glower suspiciously at everyone. Had Lindsey not gotten to know Nenap over the long-distance coms, discovering she was just as fair minded and loyal as Lindsey’s Nobek mate, she would have been terribly intimidated by the Matara. However it was Nenap who eschewed the Kalquorian mother-daughter greeting of pressing cheek to cheek. Instead, she swept Lindsey off her feet for a delighted hug. To the amused group she loud proclaimed, “Forget Kalquorian custom! My daughter is finaly home!” Bacoj’s mother Felac, whom Lindsey suspected was of the jealous mom type, was more reserved. Her expression was friendly enough, but she lacked not only Nenap’s unbridled enthusiasm but also Udi’s quiet warmth. Attractive with almond-shaped eyes and generous lips, her long black hair arranged in a tidy updo, she gave Lindsey a sedate greeting, briefly pressing cheeks on one side then the other.

“I’m so glad you’re here,” Felac said. Then she turned back to Bacoj, stroking his hair and clinging tight to her only child. He looked a little embarrassed, but he put up with it with the patience Lindsey had grown used to.

As soon as the last greetings were exchanged, Jessica bounced impatiently. “Everyone to the Imperial quarters, please. We’ve set up a nice reception where we can al sit and catch up. Plenty of food and drink.”

That received approving sounds from everyone, and the group trooped to the transports. The transports were similar to elevators that not only went up and down, but from side to side to access the whole cliff in which the extended Royal Family resided. Lindsey had gotten used to them on board the ship that had brought her clan from Earth to Kalquor.

There was some confusion as to who would ride with whom. Bacoj, his handsome face wreathed in a smile, was the one to sort it out. “My clan wil separate and ride with their blood kin. After nine months of constant contact in our cramped quarters, I think we can stand being apart for the few seconds it wil take to reach the Imperial suite!” That earned laughter al around, especialy when Bevau said, “You have come to agree with the Earther saying, ‘absence makes the heart grow fonder?’” Bacoj caught Lindsey’s eye and gave her a wink. She grinned back, knowing ful wel neither of them nor Vax and Japohn would feel right until they were in each others’ presences again.

That feeling was verified when she, Jessica, and Tara were alone in the transport. As happy as she was to see her sister and mother again, Lindsey felt strangely alone without her clan.

Get used to it
, she advised herself.
At some point soon we’ll all be pursuing our careers, and that means leaving each other for hours at a time like we did on Earth
.

“I can’t believe you’re finaly here!” Jessica squealed. She hugged Lindsey again, even as the door opened to an empty room. “Here, step forward real quick.” Lindsey did so, facing another door. “Now what?”

“Just a sec. Scan and recognize Imperial Sister Lindsey, Matara of Clan Bacoj. Ful access approved.”

There was a beep. A robotic voice said, “Scan complete. Imperial Sister Matara Lindsey logged into system. Ful access granted.” The door slid open. Jessica pushed Lindsey forward into a large room. “There, now you can just walk on in anytime you wish to visit.”

“But cal first before dropping in,” Tara laughingly advised. “The emperors keep your sister … busy … when they’re home.”

“Like you’re one to talk, Mom!” Jessica said. To Lindsey she divulged, “That’s how I found out she was carrying on with Father Yuder. I didn’t see anything, but I heard plenty!”

“I didn’t need to know that,” Lindsey groaned. Sure, Tara looked beautiful and was by no means ready to be put out to pasture sexualy speaking, but thinking of her mother
that way
was not something Lindsey wanted to do.

She looked around the room, goggling at the finery that surrounded her. Had she not known she was in a cliff, she’d have thought she’d walked into a palace.

“The greeting room,” Jessica said. “For public functions, along with a big dining room. See? We’re ready for your reception.”

“Wow.” As the emperors, children, and Yuder arrived, she took a look around.

Light emitted from the ceiling, showing off golden beige wals and matching marble floor. Conversation areas made of oversized plush seating and polished tables were scattered throughout the large room.

There were dozens of platters of hors d’ oeuvres and glasses filed with a blue liquid. Lindsey couldn’t identify a single thing on the food trays. She found herself wishing for wings and beer.

A woven rug, its intricate design that of the Kalquorian seaside, looked too beautiful to be stepped on though al who were arriving did. A tapestry also depicting a seascape hung on one wal, and a painting hung on another. Lindsey gaped at the stunning landscape of mountains behind a rainbow-hued forest, the artwork so detailed she felt she might be able to step into it and explore.

“Is that an Amelia Ryan painting?” she asked. Lindsey had always appreciated art, and she’d enjoyed the vast library on the transport that had brought her from Earth to Kalquor. Artist Amelia Ryan was notable not just for her amazing paintings but because she was the first Earther Matara claimed by a Kalquorian clan.

“Beautiful, isn’t it? Wait until you see Clajak’s private art colection.”

The door opened behind them and Vax’s voice made Lindsey smile. She turned to see her Imdiko clanmate walk in with his parents. He beamed brightly at her before his eyes widened to see the grand greeting room.

Lindsey went to him. “You’l have to tel me what I want to eat,” she whispered to him, nodding at a nearby table with its offerings of edibles and drink.

The handsome Imdiko looked over the spread. “None of the green wrapped pastries. They’re filed with
bywes
, which you say tastes like rat turds.” Lindsey flushed to hear him repeat that in front of his parents, but he’d spoken in English, which none of them understood. “And the drink?” Vax smiled, more than a little deviously. “Leshela from Plasius, I think. Drink al of that you want.” She eyed her Imdiko suspiciously. “Wil it get me drunk?”

“Relaxed. No over hang.”

“You mean hangover?”

“Right. Here, alow me.” He fetched her a glass, as wel as one for his mother. “
Rik dug
.
Ino dug
,” he said to both, bowing.
Drink well. Live well
. His fathers Batris, Graler, and Ondej echoed his words, adding their own bows to the women before grabbing glasses for themselves.

Lindsey took a cautious sip, then a healthier swalow. Leshela was very good, like a smooth, buttery wine.

“Careful with that. You’l go through a bottle before you realize it, and it’l make you want to leave the reception early,” Jessica whispered in her ear. “Which may be what your Imdiko is hoping for.”

“What do you mean?” Lindsey whispered back. She was startled to see she’d drunk half the glass already.

“It’s got some aphrodisiacal properties. Not as heady as a Kalquorian’s bite, but it gets your motor running just the same.” Jessica tittered and wagged an admonishing finger at Vax. He grinned, completely unrepentant.

“I should have known,” Lindsey said, scowling at her naughty mate.

“Ah! Leshela,” Bacoj said happily, he and his parents joining the group. “Let me get you another glass, Lindsey.”

“Yep. That’s Kalquorian men for you,” Jessica snorted. She suddenly got squeaky-voiced excited. “Oh Bacoj, I have news for you! Someone wants to invest in your clan.” Lindsey’s Dramok blinked. “Invest in us, my empress? I don’t understand.”

“That’s right,” Clajak said, joining them. Lindsey shivered. His voice was honey-smooth, the kind of voice that could negotiate treaties, calm a fight, or talk a reluctant Earther into joining his clan. As he had her sister. “Councilmen Diltan and Acadi were very impressed with the remote search drones you invented. Word from Earth is your three prototypes have already discovered almost six hundred isolated Earther encampments, alowing us to save many lives. Diltan and Acadi want to finance the mass production of the drones and get them out there as fast as possible.”

“So the falout containments are stil holding? The rescue party’s got the extra time they were hoping for?” Lindsey felt a wash of relief.

“The estimate is now nine months before most of Earth is uninhabitable, with a few pockets of viable atmosphere, soil, and water for six months beyond that.” Clajak looked as relieved as Lindsey felt.

“Meanwhile, everyone is begging for those drones, and not just on Earth. They’re very excited about the uses in rescue, mining, and archeological applications.” Bacoj looked dazed. Japohn, who’d arrived in time to hear Clajak’s words, clapped his Dramok on the shoulder. “I told you everyone would be amazed by that thing.” The Nobek’s grin turned his fierce goateed face stunningly handsome as he told everyone, “You should see the other models he’s built of the vehicles he has planned. My Dramok is a briliant engineer.”

“Wel, Diltan and Acadi can’t wait to meet with you to discuss details,” Jessica said. “Tel them about Japohn’s training facility, Bevau.”

“My what?” It was Japohn’s turn to be surprised.

The gorgeous Nobek emperor grinned up at the young hulk. “That’s right. You’re abilities as a bounty hunter are wel known in law enforcement circles. Then there are the successes you had during the war getting behind enemy lines and securing important targets. In the last few months, you spearheaded rescue efforts on Earth. You’ve become something of a legend. A lot of us in military and security disciplines would like to see you instructing the Nobeks who are not wel suited to working in groups, men much like yourself. With the threat of the rebelion, we need individual fighters more than armies and troops.”

As Japohn struggled to digest this unforeseen development, Jessica turned to Vax. “And they want to finance your restaurant.” The Imdiko was wide eyed. “I don’t have a restaurant.”

“You should. You’ve learned Earth cooking pretty wel from what we’ve heard, and the Mataras here are dying for a taste of home. Plus I’ve heard your fusion of Earth and Kalquorian cuisines was a big hit with both races while you managed the kitchens near Atlanta. Several of the Earther colonies are now producing crops and raising animals indigenous to our world. You’d be the perfect person to head up a restaurant catering to those tastes.”

Clajak smirked. “Speaking of tastes, Dramok Acadi is practicaly salivating at the profits these ventures would give him as an investment partner. He doesn’t have the money to fund al three of you, but with Dramok Diltan’s partnership they can get everything up and running in a matter of months.”

The three men’s families were gasping and congratulating their sons’ good fortunes. It was Japohn’s cynical mind that kept the clan grounded however.

“These men would earn a great deal of the Imperial Clan’s goodwil by giving aid to their poorer relations, wouldn’t they?” Lindsey thought the emperors and her sister might take offense to his blunt question. Instead al four, including the reserved Egilka, laughed uproariously.