“I think it’s very strange that this spaceship is the absolute luxury cruiser and her technology is mind-bogglingly advanced by human standards, and yet it has buttons and a few screens and voice control instead of something more…I don’t know…sciency and efficient.”
Khar looked at her appraisingly. He seemed inclined to answer with his usual hum, but in the end the topic appeared to interest him.
“The IMPERIUM moves in technological cycles. It is not always the quickest innovation that becomes widespread. Some beings prefer physical touch over the fluidity of plasma screens. Herion perfected the balance, creating an inviting system while still enabling full thought control, if one possesses the device for that…which I see you do not. Why is that?”
Lily blushed, which reminded him of the red of a delightful but deadly spice that Divani youth sometimes enjoy for pranks.
“I’m fine with the translator…but the thought controller chip felt excessive. What about you, Khar? I don’t see any markings.”
With one sharp claw, Khar tapped the root of one of his horns, producing a faint metallic clink. Lily squinted, then did that strange human nodding of hers when she recognized the thread.
“I also only have the translator,” Khar confirmed.
After a brief silence, during which Khar contemplated ending the conversation, a sudden surge of words found their way out of his blasted mouth.
“You were right not to acquire that. They were advertised as safe. They are not.”
The way her clear, lightless, yet sparkling eyes locked onto his face was like a scorching mark he could not bear any further.
In a final act of desperation, he considered poison.
Despicable, craven, cowardly, but he could not bear the thought of being outdone by a small female.
She did not have to die. That would trigger an investigation and end badly for him.
But if she were incapacitated, he could claim honor forbade him to fight such a weak opponent and the whole business could be quietly forgotten.
Just a tiny dose.
A pinch of red harmun in her lunch.
Non-lethal, but for most species it caused vomiting and chrono-cycles of bed rest. Trivial.
As expected, Lily accepted the meal without suspicion.
Almost too easy.
“You brought me lunch? Thank you, Khar, that is so kind of you. You know, on Earth…”
She launched into a long explanation of Human food customs and traditions.
Khar did not hear a word.
He stared, unblinking, waiting for the first bite.
He would not let her eat much. He did not want real harm, only enough to make her unfit to fight.
One bite.
Two.
Three.
“Khar, this…”
She lifted a hand to her mouth and made a small sound. Like a cough, but tiny.
“It is pretty spicy. Do Divani like this? It is not bad, do not get me wrong. We have much hotter dishes on Earth, but I prefer only mildly spicy food. Hm. It is getting better. The first bite just surprised me.”
