Page 37 of Alien Barbarian's Little Human

Chloe is like a recurring dream I’ve never been able to quite remember. I feel as if I know her, but at the same time she’s a mystery to me.

Even if she were not my jalshagar, I think I would wish to pursue her. My primal urges have never been so visceral, so near and so raw.

“Don’t get me wrong,” she says. “You guys aren’t the perfect allies the IHC was hoping for. But just the symbolism of your signing a pact with the IHC should be enough to get the coalition to withdraw from your system.”

“Our political experts predict the exact opposite, Chloe. Any perceived alliance with one faction, even tangentially, will be seen as an exclusion of the other faction.”

Her sensual lips draw into a thin, tight line. She knows that I speak the truth, but she has her orders. She’s trying to do what she perceives is best for her people. I can respect that.

But I cannot allow the Ishani to be drawn into, and be corrupted by, this centuries war. We must remain separate and pure, no matter what the cost.

“All right,” she says at length, holding up her hand. “It’s obvious I’m not going to convince you in the next hour or so, and it’s getting late. Maybe we can pick this up tomorrow? After I’ve had some rest?”

“Of course, Chloe. Perhaps you would care to join me for brunch in the Ishani Botanical Garden?”

“You guys have Brunch?”

“It is said the Precursors originated it, like all good things.”

She groans.

“I like how you slipped that in there. Okay, fine. You can feed me, but I’m hoping when I wake up tomorrow this Jalshagar thing will have cleared up. Like a case of the flu.”

I can’t help but laugh. She gives me a strange look, and then I show her to the ambassador quarters located in an adjacent building. We take a long, thin glass tube bridge to the other side. Her vertigo amuses me.

“I guess if you can fly you don't see a need for opaque floors,” she grumbles as we make it to the other side.

“Do not worry, though it resembles your silicate glass, the bridge is many times stronger than starship hulls.”

“You’re talking reality, I’m talking perception.”

“Are they not one and the same?”

She snorts.

“They overlap. Is this me?”

“This is you.”

I gesture to the entrance arch of her quarters.

“You have three bedrooms, two lavatories, a sauna, and a fully automated kitchen with AI chef. The computer terminal in your office connects to the Ishani mainframe. There is no password, we share our knowledge with all.”

“You guys aren’t worried about hackers?”

“No, we are not. Is there anything I can do for you, Chloe?”

She swallows, blue eyes glowing in the half light of the hallway.

“No, I think I’m alright. Good night, Varona.”

“Good night, Chloe.”

Only when the door closes do I realize, I never told her my name.

CHAPTER 10

CHLOE

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