Page 102 of Alien Haven

“It sounds like you got lucky,” Charity said.

“Definitely, though losing Amgar and Jesse…I’ve wondered if I’m cursed. At any rate, it makes me appreciate Groteg and Utber.” Sara shook her head, as if to dispel the subject from her mind as well as the conversation. “Speaking of men, what’s the scoop on the cutie who rode in on the shuttle with you? Dramok Ilid?”

“I wish I knew,” Charity sighed. “He’s so nice. He has this weird hint of tragedy too.”

“Weird? In what way?”

“I don’t know. Every now and then he looks haunted.” She snorted. “It’s probably a case of me being romantic and dramatic. I’m dying for a taste of passionate excitement, I guess. A riveting tale of the wounded soul aching to be healed.” Charity struck a theatrical pose, her hand to her brow.

Sara snickered. “You should have asked him.”

“I considered it, but it felt wrong to interrogate him for too many personal details since I’m hiding who I am.” Regret tugged at her anew.

“His parent clan seemed stable. They were protective of you.”

“Clan Codab are absolute sweethearts. My whole take on Ilid’s tale of some fascinating past woe is probably sheer fantasy. Seriously, how messed up is it to find the idea of a damaged man exciting?”

“No more messed up than a couple of teenage kids eloping the night of their high school graduation and running from home just because they were desperately bored and unhappy.” Sara sipped the last of her coffee and checked the time. “Goodness, I need to get a move on and do some work.”

Charity stood. “Point me to what you want done once you’ve armed yourself with all available patience.”

Sara laughed. “To the cellar then. We’ll bring up some potatoes and onions to prep for Utber. Then you can see your room and unpack.”

Charity was happy to follow her hostess. The worst of her angst at having to stay on Planet Farm Hell had disappeared, thanks to having Sara to talk to.

* * * *

“What’s this I hear about you taking in a human girl, Chief? I thought you specialized in troubled Nobeks.”

Groteg chuckled at the man who’d popped in his office. “Sara and Tori are sick of being outnumbered. They insisted we even the odds for a change.”

Martin Wilkes laughed. The assistant chief of security for the Earther side of Haven’s law enforcement force was a friendly guy, personable and easy to talk to. He was also as tall and muscled as a Kalquorian, six-foot-five of pure brawn at forty-two years of age. “I’m sure those ladies can hold their own, even when it comes to Nobeks. You don’t mind me nosing in, seeing as this new ward of yours is Earther?”

“Not at all. I had planned to send you a report detailing the particulars anyway. I waited until her actual arrival due to the Darks taking over the Galactic Council and the pandemics…”

“Yeah. She might have been refused entry.” Martin’s demeanor turned appropriately serious as he was reminded of the multiple areas of trouble befalling the galaxy as of late. “What’s the girl’s name?”

“Jennifer Seng. She was tossed out of college after damned near blowing up her professor…hell, most of the university’s chemistry lab too. It was the last in a series of escalating pranks to impress her peers.”

Martin stared in wide-eyed shock. “Why wasn’t she brought up on charges? Or was she, and this is what they decided on? Is it her first criminal offense?”

“She meant no real harm. Nonetheless, she’d been warned on multiple occasions to rein in her mischief. Her final antic made her family and the authorities decide she should face punishment. She’s never been on a farm before. The isolation is quite a shock.”

“She’s used to an urban setting, huh? Clubs instead of corrals?” Wilkes grinned.

“It’s a wakeup call. She’s in for quite a few surprises.”

“You’re in for it yourself, my friend. I have sisters, and you’ve never heard the intense distress of a teen or twenty-something when they can’t go out and have fun.”

The young woman Groteg was determined to fix in his head as “Jennifer” hadn’t struck him as particularly shallow. She was probably too worried about those eager to find her.

He wished he could bring Wilkes into his confidence as to his ward’s true identity. Unfortunately, the spy contingent of the fleet had warned only he, his clanmates, and the spy liaison present on Haven were to have the information.

“What was she studying in school?” Martin checked the time, indicating he had to stop indulging his curiosity and be somewhere soon.

“Astronomy. Smart girl, but a lot of growing up to do. Similar to the troubled Nobeks we get.” Groteg hit a button on his computer. “There you go. Full report straight to you and Chief Connelly.”

“Thanks. Hate to chat and run, but I have to give a speech at the local school on the advantages of staying on the straight and narrow. Universities don’t have an exclusive on pranksters.”

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