Page 18 of Desperate Measures

“Decades.” Feru’s answer reminded her of how slowly Kalquorians aged. He appeared to be in his thirties. Imon’s and Wovir’s features would have suited human men in their forties. Toni guessed they actually ranged between sixty and eighty. They weren’t even middle-aged for their species.

“I suppose you’d continue your psychology practice, Feru. What about you two? What would life following military service look like for you, Wovir?”

“I’m not too old to apply to join Kalquor’s Global Security force,” the Nobek answered offhandedly. “My service record as a member of my ship’s security would offer me an excellent chance of getting in.”

“You wouldn’t think a mere transport would find trouble, but we certainly have,” Imon declared. “Especially when we began shuttling Earthers from your original planet following our war. The first trip…wow.”

“Tragooms boarded the ship twice.” Wovir’s expression displayed a distant quiet pleasure, as if he recalled a particularly happy memory. “I fought in close quarters against them. Hand-to-hand at one point. That’s where this mark of honor came from.” He showed a jagged dark scar on the underside of his forearm. It ran from his wrist to his elbow. No doubt he’d been in danger of bleeding out from such a wound.

Toni had to restrain a chuckle trying to rise in the wake of her initial horror. Only a member of the warrior breed would be so delighted over near-death. “Impressive. I doubt you’d have trouble landing any job demanding battle skills.”

“Thank you.” He returned to his chops, radiating contentment.

Toni turned her gaze to Imon. “And you? What does a planet-bound career hold for you?”

The Dramok finished a sip of the beer he’d ordered. “I have a background in computer science and technology. I’d probably pursue programming.”

“So modest,” Feru snorted. “He owns patents on many of the latest upgrades to the fleet’s ships. Home and business A.I. interfaces? I doubt there’s a facility on Kalquor that doesn’t use tech Imon created.”

“It’s my hobby.”

“Some hobby,” Toni said. “Why are you slaving on a transport vehicle if you’re so talented?”

He grinned. “What better laboratory than a space vessel where I can try my ideas and get paid for goofing off? The fleet scores big whenever I come up with a new upgrade, so I’m allowed to experiment on portions of the transport’s system. It’s a win-win situation for both sides.”

“I’m surprised you aren’t running things.”

“They try to promote me routinely.”

“A million times,” Feru corrected, gazing at his clanmate proudly.

“I refuse since the duties of a first officer and above would interfere with the hours I devote to tinkering. It’s reaching the point where being a lieutenant commander is also interfering.”

“Is it why you’re thinking along the lines of leaving?”

“It plays a major part. Truth is, I’m bored. We all are. We joined the fleet to do something worthwhile and interesting.”

“And exciting. Things are picking up now, but once we hand the Darks their asses and send them packing to their own dimension? It’ll be a snooze fest again,” Wovir proclaimed.

“Kalquor might offer a bit of fun.” Imon leveled his charm at her. “The hope of attracting a female mate to our clan is a consideration. We’d probably have better luck if we could offer amenities beyond cramped ship’s quarters.”

She wagged a finger at him at the unsubtle hint, but curiosity prompted her to tease, “No one’s fallen hard enough for you to overlook that little detail, huh?”

“We came up on the lottery in the early days,” Feru said. “We had five opportunities to attract an Earther Matara. We used our chances to the utmost when it came to the women we met on their journey to Kalquor, and we thought we’d found the perfect lady…but we’d had no plans to leave the fleet at then. She wasn’t up for a life of touring military bases, so we lost our chance.”

“Even now, we’ve more or less given up on a female clanmate.” Imon’s smile didn’t falter, but there was a shadow of regret. “A clan ambivalent about its future isn’t a huge attraction.”

“Every time we’re ready to leave the fleet, something comes up,” Wovir added. “The allegations this hostile force the Darks has overcome the GC and has its sights set on the empire is such an emergency. We can’t turn from duty, even if it’s only to evacuate refugees and transport ground troops to battlegrounds.”

“So we’ll continue to enjoy the company of lovely Earthers such as yourself when possible.” Imon winked.

Toni arched a brow at him. “Don’t you dare tell me you have a girl in every port. I don’t want to hear I’m one of several.”

Feru laughed. “Hardly. Our last date was…ancestors, it might have been as long as a year ago.”

“No. It couldn’t be.” Imon’s brow furrowed as he calculated. “We took leave on Dantovon six months ago.”

“Paid Beonid companionship hardly counts as a real date,” Wovir polished off a glass of whiskey. He eyed Toni’s depleted wine glass and signaled the waiter for refills.

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