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“High Command has stepped in,” Emissary said, “no one on the crew can override the lockdown protocol at this point. We have as much time as the alien gives us.”
“Thuliak,” I said.
Weapons scoffed. “You get a two-minute head start and—
“Quiet,” Emissary said, “I sent her in there. What happened to her is my responsibility.”
With respect,” Weapons said, “all things being equal, I would have preferred that you sent me into there, and that I were the one sucking on that beautiful alien’s fingers.”
I laughed nervously.
“Iamjealous,” Weapons said, “I admit it. So when you negotiate with him, make sure that there are alien men like that waiting for Emissary Eve and me. That’s pretty much all I’ve got to say.”
Emissary took in a deep breath and sighed.
“Emissary Eve,” I said, “I think he likes it when I show that I have a spine…”
They both laughed at that.
“What I mean is,” I continued, “we can’t just think about ourselves, right? If we agree to go with him, what happens to Eden? I’ve seen enough to know that we couldn’t stop these aliens from doing whatever they wanted to us. He can control our technology with just his mind. I don’t know what kind of scale that ability works on, but possibly they would just take over our entire battle fleet—forcing us to surrender without any weapons even being fired.”
Emissary nodded, then spoke in a low whisper, “We need him to protect Eden. Whatever the cost. Find out what he wants, Airlock, and give him as little from us as you can get away with.”
“But get me an alien,” Weapons Sojourner said, “that’s all I’m in for right now.”
“What about the future of our planet?” Emissary asked.
Weapons shrugged. “We’re tainted. It’s not my planet anymore. Just get me an alien dick, Airlock.”
“Listen carefully,” Emissary said, “now that both of you are tainted, I can share classified information from High Command with you. This alien is a man, and I need you both to listen carefully, because men have specific weaknesses we need to be able to exploit.”
“Like what?” Weapons asked.
Emissary smiled at us. “Let’s start with the male ego.”
I went back to Thuliak, and as I approached him, the airlock opened up behind him. “We negotiate inside there,” he said, grinning.
The moment I stepped inside, it reminded me of our kiss. I had a feeling this was very intentional on his part. He wanted me off balance and confused while I negotiated for the future of our planet.
He shut the airlock and sealed it with his mind, then raised an eyebrow at me.
“We won’t go with you,” I said, “unless you guarantee the safety of Eden.”
“You think I can guarantee that?”
I shook my head. “I don’t know what a scion is in your culture, but it implies you’re at least in charge of something. I’m hoping you have enough power to keep us safe. If you’re not strong enough to—”
“I am strong enough. A scion is…do you have wolves on Eden?”
I nodded.
“The scion is the alpha of the pack,” Thuliak said. “Our kind cannot work together well enough to have a whole planet in harmony like yours, instead we exist as millions of packs spread throughout the galaxy. Each pack is lead by a scion, and each scion commands one ship and crew. It’s a big crew and a big pack—tens of thousands, but never more than that.”
“Alpha?” I asked, narrowing my eyes at him.
“You said you know wolves,” he said, “I’ve accessed the human archives from several worlds, all mention alpha males.”
“There are no males on Eden. Not even animals.”
