The Captain's Heart CH 110

Gralgiran took the brush out of his mouth. “And that’s all you have planned for our time at the station?” As had become their habits, he

Gralgiran took the brush out of his mouth. “And that’s all you have planned for our time at the station?” As had become their habits, he and Jeremy were talking while getting ready for their work. He returned to brushing his teeth.

“I don’t know what else there is for me to do. Bob’s going to be busy with Federation people. Thuruk and the others are going to watch a game. And beyond looking for some ingredients that I can substitute for one the ship doesn’t have, it isn’t like stations are vacation spots for me.”

“There should be some Earthers there.”

“Who might be there waiting for me. To take me back.”

“Is that what the programming is telling you?”

“No, it’s been quiet for a while. It’s me not believing the human government has given up repatriating me. And I’m told that sneaking agents among enemies is a popular tactic with all species.”

“You’ve been talking with someone from Covert Ops.”

“Investigation, actually. Jurani said it’s something they’ve had to deal with anytime they’re vetting people coming on the ship. The chance one of them might be from the people who don’t particularly like you.”

“That hasn’t happened.”

“But it’s a possibility they need to be aware of. And definitely something I’m not putting past the human government to do.”

“How about the Earthers you met before?”

“Different station, and while I’m confident they aren’t plants, I still wouldn’t meet with them alone this time. Anyway, I need to head to work. It’s still three days to the station, and that means the Engineer’s still having me sit and go over reports from Repairs. I think he’s realized I was enjoying the work he was sending me to do, and now picked something new to torture me with.”

“Alix wouldn’t do that.”

“I’ll take your word for it. Have a good shift.”

“You too, Jeremy.”

*

“This is your captain.” He looked at everyone by the ship’s exit, other than the Earther. They were still looking at it, instead of him. His announcements were routine by now, even if they were needed. “As a reminder, we will be at Ashgoran station for three days. Those of you with business there, ensure it is concluded six hours before departure so your deliveries can be accepted in time. Those of you playing tourists, remember, this isn’t Kelsirian territory. We are guests and visitors. Treat our hosts and other visitors there with respect. Avoid legal trouble as that can keep you here past our departure time and convincing Federation Adjudicators their decisions will be respected at a distance isn’t something I can promise will happen. Otherwise, enjoy your time here.”

With his disconnection, the doors opened.

“Kinda feel like I want to mix in with them and sneak out unnoticed,” the Earther said.

“Unnoticed now simply means station security will find you later and force you to meet with the representative. It’s just a formality.”

“Feels like if that were true, you wouldn’t stick by me.”

“You’re on my ship. That means I’m responsible. And I figure having me there means they’ll have to be nicer to you than they might feel the need to for someone from an outsider species.”

“I thought the Federation respected everyone.”

“The Federation does. The people enforcing its rules can still be prejudiced. My presence simply means that if one of them has been assigned to you, they won’t be able to let their prejudice override their decisions.” As the crowd lightened, he stepped in with them, and the Earther kept with him. “Can I ask for a favor?”

“After everything you did, you’re allowed.”

“When you’re done with your meeting, try to meet up with Jeremy. I feel like he’s isolating himself from everyone that isn’t one on my crew because of what happened to him. Stations like this should be places he can get away and meet new people.”

“Sure, if you haven’t already left by the time they clear me to move about, I’ll make sure to draw him out and show him all the fun there is to be had here.”

The sarcasm was thick, but Gralgiran didn’t comment.

Once on the station proper, he stepped out of the crowd heading for the lifts.

The Earther let out a low whistle. “And I thought you guys were imposing.”

On the other side of the people leaving the ship, a Kersosteran in Federation uniform waited, looking them over.

“She’ll be who you need to speak with.”

“She?” Another low whistle.

They made their way through the crowd, and she noticed the Earther, then him. She looked at her tablet, then put it away.

“Kelsirian Captain Gralgiran sel Helrarvnir. Refugee Bob. Welcome to Ashgoran station. You can address me as Facilitator Rishtorak Dromnime.”

“Question,” the Earther stated.

“You can ask.”

“Is the rank and long name thing something everyone in the Federation does? Cause I’m going to start feeling mightily inadequate with just Bob as my name.”

“The nomenclature is to show respect for the specie I am interacting with.” The Kersosteran nodded to Gralgiran.

“So you don’t expect me to do the same?”

“My understanding is that Earthers prefer the use of whole names when interacting with others.”

The Earther snorted. “Who told you that?”

“The files on social interactions we were provided with as part of Earthers being shepherded within the Federation.”

“Did you guys write up those?” he asked Gralgiran.

“I expect they would have been provided by your government. I’m not sure how the process goes.”

“Well, they weren’t covering people like me. Us, little folks, are fine with just having a name used. I’m Bob.” He offered his hand.

She offered hers and the Earther didn’t flinch when the thick claws touched his skin as part of the hand closing around his and giving one shake. Kersosteran’s claws were blunt, unless they were going into battle, but they were still large and dangerous looking.

The Earther chuckled. “I’m guessing handshakes are something else you just read about.”

“Did I perform the greetings wrong?”

“Not really, but you clearly lack experience doing them. We can work on that later.”

“Thank you. As facilitator, my role asks that I interact properly with other species. Once we are done entering you within the Federation citizen database, I will be pleased to take in instructions. If you will follow me, my office is one level up.”

The Earther held Gralgiran back until a dozen steps separated them, then whispered. “Do these people are as open as yours to getting friendly with someone from a different species?”

“They are called Kersosteran,” he replied with a chuckle. “And I don’t know. That is one aspect of interspecies relationship I’ve never had an interest in.”

“Kersosteran,” the Earther slowly repeated. “I guess I’ll just have to ask her directly.”

*

Gralgiran shook his head in amusement as he left the office. It had been clear from the start the Earther didn’t need his protection from potential prejudice, but watching him interact with the Kersosteran had been amusing. He’d heard about the male’s friendliness on his ship. Initially, because he’d asked a pack to keep an eye on him after what the inebriated ones had almost done. And once he’d been confident there were no held grudges, stories would still reach him since, as the only Earther others could interact with, his exploits had spread.

He hoped the Earther’s forwardness didn’t land him in trouble.

He stopped by an eatery for a bowl of meat and a spicy sauce to snack on for the rest of the walk back, and was done by the time he reach his ship’s access. A male stood by it and smiled on seeing him.

“Quer?” he hugged him. “What are you doing here?” They rubbed muzzle.

“Hoping to convince the ship’s captain to grant a civilian heading home passage.”

He narrowed his eyes. “You, a civilian? Why give up being an ambassador?”

“I miss home. The sky, the soil to sink my claws in. My mates. I’ve been away for years and the point was made the last time I spoke to them, when my daughter claimed not to know who I was.”

Gralgiran laughed. “You are always welcome on my ship, but it won’t be a short trip.”

“You aren’t planning on heading there anytime soon. I’m aware, but I’m sure the company will make up for it, and, should my mates escalate to threats of declaring me dead, I can then find a ship heading there more directly.” Querik searched his face. “How are you doing, Gral?”

“I’m good. Me and Jer speak daily, sometimes multiple times a day.”

“Have you tried seeing him?”

He shook his head. The absence no longer hurt as it used to. The progress promised a reunion. “It’ll happen once he’s ready. Until then, what we have is enough.”

“How is keeping yourself for him going?”

“Toom still doesn’t like it, but he’s the only one. The others accept it.”

“There’s more to that than you’re saying.”

He chuckled. He’d forgotten what it was like to have a conversation with a mentalist. “Toom’s directing his anger at Jer, but he hasn’t done anything about it beyond glaring. Jer’s noticed, but he isn’t doing anything about it, either.”

“Aren’t you concerned one of them might escalate?”

“If Jer had thoughts of doing something, the Psychologist would have informed me.”

“And your friend?”

“Toom isn’t the combative type. He’s hurt because his hopes for us have been dashed, but in time he’ll accept it.”

“Hopes?”

“Mates. He’s hoped for a while now that I’d chose him to start a family with.”

“And it was never going to happen?”

Gralgiran laughed. “Until Jer, the Bane was all the family I needed.”

“And now?”

“Jer is who I want.”

“And you don’t think he’ll ever be comfortable with a family the way we build them?”

He sighed. “What are you after, Quer?”

His friend chuckled. “You and him, happy. Maybe trying to negotiate truces between warring parties.”

“I thought you were a civilian now.”

“It’s going to be some time before I stop thinking like an ambassador.” He pressed against Gralgiran. “But your family’s happiness is all I’m after, Gral. Whatever form that takes for the two of you.”

He placed an arm over his friend’s shoulders. “Thank you. How about I see to your lodgings?”

“In the civilian section, please. I am tired of ambassadorial apartments when it’s only ever me and a few friends in it.”

“A singles apartment, then? Something nice and cozy, so that when you see your mates again, taking them all to bed will feel like you have all the space Kelser has to offer?”

“We aren’t going to bother with a bed when I see them again. There’s a field behind our house. I will have all the space Kelser has to offer.”

Outline section 

No Outline

Addition 

Gralgiran chapter, they’ve reached the station, Bob is leaving, Querik is boarding.

The main things I wanted to do here was show Bob being made part of the federation and that Querik was returning to the ship.

Otherwise, my hope is for Gral and Jeremy’s comversation to have a level of comfortness that explains why the progress toward being together again has ‘stalled’.