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Chapter Nine
“Something is terriblywrong with Solgre,” Phate said as he watched Solgre hunched over the parts spread across the kitchen table.
Solgre grumbled something under his breath but didn’t otherwise say anything or look Kien and Phate’s way. After his date with Tasha’s friend Nisha, Kien had come home upset, murmuring under his breath about disrespectful human females and plastered his ear to the wall that separated the two apartments.
Phate hadn’t asked him about his date. In truth, he’d been jealous that Kien had gotten the chance to date the female he’d desired while Phate was left to date females he’d no interest in. He’d kill to do all the things that Earth women preferred with Tasha.
Exchanging genetic data hadn’t been something he’d wanted to do with anyone until now. It wasn’t that he didn’t know the practice. Many other species did so as a form of intimacy. Thellians didn’t. Not because they didn’t desire the practice or felt it was beneath them. They were a species who valued science more than anything and swapping genetic data was a perfect way to get cloned.
Although it was illegal without permission, it didn’t mean if given a chance, a clone could be grown in someone’s lab and used for scientific purposes.
But with the idea of clones taken out of the equation on Earth—they didn’t have the technology for that—Phate thought he would rather enjoy the practice, but only with Tasha.
He’d seen people kissing on television and learned there were different types. Friends and family kissed each other on the cheeks. Lovers kissed each other on the lips, neck and other places. He wanted that. He wanted a lover’s kiss with Tasha.
“What does matching energy mean?” Kien asked, face still pressed against the wall.
“Kien, stop eavesdropping and pay attention to Solgre,” Phate said.
Kien frowned, but still didn’t turn toward Solgre. “I told her the truth! I needed to catalogue the different types of females in the vicinity so I could add them to my report.”
Phate sighed, realizing he wasn’t getting through to Kien. Not with Nisha on his mind anyway. “We have other pressing concerns,” Phate told Kien.
Phate’s gaze went back to Solgre. He was in the same spot he’d been in when Phate left for his date earlier, and the same spot he’d stayed in most days. With each passing day, Solgre’s appearance, attitude and demeanor took a downward turn.
Phate had to prompt him to shower and eat. His hair was unruly, his eyes were red and fine lines formed creases in his cheeks.
Kienhumphed. Attention still on the apartment wall. To make sure Solgre couldn’t hear their conversation, Phate walked over to Kien and leaned a shoulder against the wall to face him. “It’s rude to listen to their conversation.”
“They do it to us.”
Phate pulled his eyebrows together. “They do?”
“Yes, I saw Tasha listening just now. Were you and Solgre talking about anything that could’ve given our secrets away?”
Why would Tasha want to listen in on his conversation? Phate shook his head without thought. “When I returned home, I tried talking to Solgre, but he wouldn’t engage. He was too preoccupied. Besides, I only spoke in our language.”
“Good. We speak only our language while alone.”
The thought of Tasha eavesdropping perplexed him. Did she find him appealing as well? Dis she want to exchange genetic data with him? A grunting sound came from Solgre who’d stopped fiddling with the portable replicator pieces to rub his eyes.
Phate pushed thoughts of Tasha from his mind. He could think of her later, but for now, there was the growing issue with Solgre. “Kien, look at Solgre. Take a good look at him.”
Kien lifted his head to glance at their friend and leader. As if seeing Solgre’s state for the first time, Kien frowned and straightened. “Captain?”
Solgre didn’t look up. His mouth moved but no words came out. His full concentration was back on the work in front of him.
“He was like this when I left and the same when I came back hours ago.”
Kien started for Solgre and Phate followed.
“Captain,” Kien called again, concern lacing his voice.
When he didn’t respond, Phate moved a piece of the replicator. Solgre’s hand shot out and caught Phate’s.
At feeling how warm and clammy his Captain’s hand was, Phate’s mouth dropped open. “Solgre?”
He jerked his head up to glare his red eyes at Phate. “Don’t touch any of this,” he rasped.
