“But how…”
“They sent the Arroxan Prime government a bill,” Kellen said dryly. “In their language and currency.”
“A bill?” Riina’s voice definitely squeaked this time. “And how are they supposed to pay it?”
“If the news sources are correct,” Veirn said, “they already have taken payment. They also extracted some minerals while they were here.”
“Very valuable minerals,” Kellen said, “but their seismic problem is solved, so they seem to think it is worth it.”
Riina blinked, as she considered this information. “So we came to help with their Vorthari problem…”
“..these aliens solved it for us,” Tim confirmed.
“But,” Riina frowned in puzzlement, “how did they know to come? Who hired them?”
“According to sources inside the government,” Veirn said, “someone called Pollin Sollin sent them a message.”
There was a short silence, then Riina said, her tone almost hushed, “Do you think he knew what he was doing?”
“I’m going to go with…” Tim said, “not a clue.”
Rinna smiled at his use of the Earth term.
Another short silence ensued. Kellen cleared his throat.
“I could be wrong,” Kellen said, “but I think our first contact problem is also moot. Without our intervention, they have learned they are not alone in the universe.”
She exchanged a look with Tim that was decidedly rueful as she mentally checked that mission priority box off, too. It was hard not to feel like their dash to the rescue had been a little embarrassing.
The only thing left for them to do was to return their accidental guests to their planet. And find out what Dr. Walker wanted to do about his side chick.
Tim had a strange moment of disconnect as he took a seat in the small conference room of the Quendala. There was no Doc, General Halliwell, or the Maestra, of course. Instead, they had Dr. Walker, his side chick, Lira Taan, her father, Riina, and Captain Kellen.
“How are your people doing?” Kellen asked Dr. Taan.
“Truthfully?” Dr. Taan ran hands through his hair, causing some disruptions in its flatness. “They will be glad to get home. They are finding space travel…unsettling.”
Veirn had arranged for them to see streams of the various news broadcasts, so they all knew their planet was safe, and in some ways better off. They’d also seen reactions to the alien extraction event—as they were calling it.
Tim suspected that they were taking it as well as they were because there was no one to complain to about it. The aliens had come, extracted a threat they hadn’t known was there, and left with their seismic problem mostly solved.
All that was left for them was acceptance.
Dr. Taan’s lips twitched slightly before he added, “In other circumstances they might have had some exciting alien abduction stories to share, but it’s pretty clear that no one is going to care. Everyone has an alien story now. And to tell the truth, none of them ever included a space trip to, what did you call it, a junk yard in their expectations of alien contact.”
“It was more than they wanted,” Lira agreed.
“So basically,” Dr. Walker said, “your problems are all solved.”
Except for what to do about Dr. Walker, Tim thought. But it was Riina who put it into words.
“And what about you, Dr. Walker?”
Walker and Lira exchanged glances. Then he looked at Riina.
“I’d like to stay. They have a whole bunch of new geology for me to explore and map. And…” he looked at Lira, his gaze softening. “The fact that I’m an alien, well, even Drun doesn’t think it will matter. With the alien autopsy off the table…”
“Are you sure? We might not get back your way in your lifetime,” Riina said. “This is—or was—a quiet corner of the universe.”
