Page 6 of Instinct for Disaster

“Many species go completely mad. Your people were on the edge of it. It is good to see someone who came through it with only regrets.”

She inclined her head and looked at her tiny wine glass. She took the last sip and enjoyed it as a small cloud of contaminant left her system.

“So, you were really at the threshold?”

“Yes. Well, according to the doctor. He had never steered me wrong before, but he did keep trying to do a sensuality assessment on me.”

“What did you feel during that?”

“Cool ocean and bright sunlight.” She smiled. “And his frustration.”

The overseer laughed. “You felt amusement at his discomfort?”

“Yes. They kept trying to get me to register and never could manage it.”

He reached out and poured her tiny glass full again.

“What are we drinking?” She lifted the glass to examine the contents.

“It is a wine made from honey on Joraniec. A new family of your kind found that our ants made a form of honey, and this is the result. Only three bottles of this liqueur per year are possible right now, so they are mine to share as I like.”

She paused. “Thank you. This is a lot easier than sweating it out.”

“You are reducing your khimerion load?”

“I don’t want to die if I go near a repair unit. I need to get the radiation and metal out of my body so I can live the rest of my life calmly.”

“What if I told you that calm is the last thing your body needs?”

She lowered the wine glass. “I would say that it does not get a vote.”

He inclined his head and grinned. “You will do well on Joraniec. I look forward to welcoming you to the neighbourhood.”

“We arrive within the week?”

“Yes, I am regretting not making your acquaintance earlier, but it wasn’t until I noticed you analyzing your workout towel that you intrigued me. We will simply have to acquaint ourselves again once you have settled.”

She cocked her head. “Why?”

“You have the potential to be something most Hmrain will not see in their existence. I believe that you and I could be friends.”

Cass looked at the huge overseer. “Overseer Yasku, I believe I feel the same as long as immigration lets me in.”

Yasku nodded. “They will, or they will try breathing vacuum.”

She nodded. “Thank you.”

The meal was over, and that was that.

Chapter Two

Cass stood in line with the other passengers and walked to one of the immigration offices when called.

Medics were waiting, and while one did a sweep with their scanners, blood was extracted by the other. The immigration officer sat, and when the medics left, he verified her name and designation.

“Miner Cassandra, why did you choose Joraniec as your new home?”

“I know folks who began their bond here. It will relax me to be close to them.”

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