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“What?”

“Like a biography,” she said. “You could send it out to a few places that might have humans so, if they want to risk it, they could travel to the Talin Empire. You could include the stuff we didn’t expect, like how they don't raise their own kids and stuff.”

I nodded. “That’s not a bad idea. I could make a serial so every time I encounter a new misunderstanding I could add another chapter. What would I call it?”

She shrugged. “I don’t know, something catchy like Human Pets of Talin or something. That’s to the point and attention grabbing.”

I liked the idea. Right now I had at least five or six chapters worth of experiences, including explaining about all the sounds they made.

“If we ever meet other human pets, I could get their stories too,” I said. “I’m sure everyone has an interesting first-contact story.”

Cleo opened her mouth, but the room door slid open before she could say anything. Tolly, Narmuna, and Lexarit all rushed in, sounding excited rattles.

“We have something to show you!” Lexarit burst out, bending over to lift Cleo into his arms.

She made an uncomfortable face but covered it quickly with a smile. “What’s going on?”

“It’s a surprise,” Tolly said. He reached down to pick me up, but I scrambled to my feet before he could.

“Can I walk?”

He sounded a rumble of agreement. “Certainly. All the law keepers and the station director are waiting in the hall for us.”

“That’s not intimidating at all,” I muttered, letting Tolly herd me out of the room behind Lexarit with Cleo in his arms. She looked over Lexarit’s shoulder and gave me a questioning look. I shrugged my shoulders.

I couldn’t guess what was going on.

“Greetings humans,” Station Director Hestorum said after we’d all shuffled out of the suite door. All the law keepers were a distance down the hall, standing at attention. Were we going to attend a ceremony?

“Hello, Station Director Hestorum,” I said. This was only the second time I’d met her, but she was a powerful presence you didn’t forget quickly.

“It’s too bad Human Sloane remains fragile,” she said, then stared at Cleo. “You look uncomfortably round, Human Cleo.”

Cleo looked down at me, and I put an arm on her leg before answering the director. “She’s both uncomfortable and round. But she’s also beautiful.”

Hestorum sounded a rumble of agreement, dropping her attention to me. “Yes, she is a very pretty human. I’m sure her offspring will be equally as lovely. You look very nice today, Opal. It’s nice to see your mane loose, although it should be longer.”

I almost responded with how nice and pointy her quills were but clamped my jaw shut in time. I’d have to ask Tolly later if there was any kind of compliment I could give Talins in the future.

“Let’s proceed,” she said. “I don’t have much time. I have to inspect the new bot installation in bay four after this.”

She turned and led us to where all the law keepers were waiting. Half of them began walking when she was almost to them. The other half waited until we’d passed before moving. Their movements were a little stiff, and none of them looked at each other or the station director.

This felt strangely formal.

“We’re going to a good thing, right?” I whispered to Tolly. “I don’t want to witness a public execution or anything.”

He sounded a rumble of amusement. “We don’t do that, but why would you think it was a public execution?”

“All the law keepers are here,” I said. “Some of them should be on their rest period and not on duty. The fact that they’re all here makes me feel uneasy.”

“They all took turns helping build what we’re going to go see,” Tolly explained. “Many staff and residents of the station donated time, skill, materials, and wealth to create your surprise. I hope you can enjoy it.”

“No pressure though,” I said, completely mystified about what they might’ve built.

It took about twenty minutes to walk to a round, open area that went up about three stories. There was a large drape hanging from one balcony to another, hiding what was at the center of the circle.

We all stopped in front of the curtain. Looking up I could see that all the balcony walkways were full of Talins. They’d been quietly talking among themselves, but when we showed up everyone went quiet.