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“Yeah, Ghar’s loss is our gain,” Quin says and adds, “Nilt, bring us drinks?”
“Sure.” Nilt goes to the replicator. “If they’re not intelligent enough to see Cinq had the best intentions, bik them.”
I appreciate their friendship. “Thanks, but don’t believe them. They just enjoy my underground lair.”
“You do have a great set up.” Quin says with a laugh as Nilt returns with a tray of various drinks. “Yeah, I get a little stir crazy during the colder weeks, but flying over a new world is the best.”
“Quin is how we know about the seas and the insects there,” I tell Jessica.
Nilt adds, “It’s also why we live here and not there. I’m not fond of bugs.”
The other two men and I lift our glasses in agreement before taking a drink. Jessica frowns at me. “How big are these insects anyway?”
A response from Aard on the pad distracts me. I open the message, saying, “Quin knows the most. I’ve only heard his description.” I focus on what Aard’s written me as Quin tells her more about what he’d found near the large sea.
I wondered when the empire would cut your access. You’re lucky they didn’t scramble your brains for what you did. He angers me with the observation because he’s right. I’ve heard about a possible Earther hiding on your planet but she never responded to their hails. We’ve been careful but you know the empire is aware you’re there. Your items are easily bought despite the conflict. I’ll send a reply when I’m in orbit.
“You look worried. Is everything okay?” Jessica asks me.
I glance up at her with a smile. “Yes. Aard’s able to bring everything we want.”
“Does he have an estimated time of arrival?” Nilt asks, draining his glass afterward.
“No,” I answer. “Said he’d message us when here.”
Quin snorts. “Knowing Aard, he could be here tomorrow or next week.”
I push the datapad to the center of the table. “Whenever he decides to greet us, I’ll share my datapad until then.”
“Ooo,” Jessica says, grabbing it first. “I’ll see if downloading is, oh, it is.” She begins tapping. “This is so cool. S’Tou really liked the romances, didn’t he?”
“Wait, what?” Nilt leans over to look. “Well, look at this. Our tall silent guy has a puffball for a heart.”
“It’s not porn?” Quin asks. “So weird.”
I laugh, because he’s not wrong. “He probably has the good stuff stored internally like everyone else does.”
“What?” Jessica says a little louder than her normal voice. She’s looking at all of us. “You all are sick. I’d never store that stuff in my system.”
“I don’t need my bionans to know you’re being a bit untruthful,” I tease.
She puts a hand to her chest. “Okay, first of all, I never had the chance to download porn. Second, I’m not filling my mind with smut.”
Nilt rolls his eyes. “Sure. I’m getting us meals while you all explain to her how organic memory works.”
“Organic memory?” she repeats, her face growing pinker. “I’m sure I’m not storing anything.”
Quin shakes his head and I just grin at her before saying, “We believe you.”
“Yeah, sorry Cinq wasn’t more memorable,” Quin adds.
I didn’t think Jessica could blush any redder, but there she is, practically visible from space. I put a hand on her back to give reassurance. “It’s okay, dearest. You can pretend I don’t take up every erotic space in your mind.” As Nilt serves our food, I tell her, “You’re a sweet, innocent little Earther caught up in a big bad galaxy.”
Quin rests his cheek in his hand, his elbow on the table. “I really need a mate.”
Jessica puts her hands on each side of her plate. “We are not talking about this any more because I’m hungry and my face hurts from embarrassment.”
I laugh and begin eating, enjoying Nilt’s version of chaka soup. He swaps out strips of meat for the noodles, making it nothing but chaka meat and broth. Good and better than Quin’s tough and grainy version. The other three talk between bites about nothing much. The weather, how soon Aard will get here, and even recent stories the men have watched.
