Page 42 of I Married A Lizardman

My blood boiled with barely repressed rage. How dare they send their puppet to threaten my mate and my people? They’d never sent a human before. I’d watched enough sexual videos with my Susan to know that David Lord matched the type of males human females were drawn to. The way he’d looked at and spoken to my mate made no mystery he was trying to seduce her. But she’d put him back in his place, claimed my name as hers, and clearly established she was mine. While pride swelled within me, fury almost superseded it.

Most off-worlder species considered us as inferior. They viewed us as primitive from both a societal and technological standpoint. The barely veiled condescension hidden behind obnoxious smiles made my claws itch with the need to lacerate their faces.

“No illegal business is being run here, and no defamatory or false claims were filed against your Conglomerate,” I said forcefully.

In this instant, I felt more grateful than ever that my mate and sister had thoroughly informed me of all the steps they had taken when filing against the Conglomerate. My Susan had further spent time with me going over the various laws protecting our people, and lands and all the recourses we could take against offenders.

In the past, it had been so overwhelming to navigate on our own. Even my mate had gotten some headaches sorting some of these things out. But she’d cleverly reached out to Kayog, who had put us in touch with a lawyer of the United Planets Organization to validate our assumptions.

“We are the native people of this planet,” I hissed at the man. “We do not need permission to run any kind of commerce on our lands. My Susan is Andturian through her marriage to me. But even without that, as long asweauthorize it, any business can operate on our lands. The rest ofyouare limited to the public market, the spaceport, or the resort shops.”

The human scoffed, as if I’d said something ludicrous. “Whoever gave you that silly idea?” he asked, casting a meaningful glance towards my mate. “That’s not how it works, Clan Leader,” the intruder continued, stating my title with an underlying hint of mockery. “All business is regulated under the same laws.”

“Alloff-worlderbusiness is regulated under Law E75 of the UPO Prime Act,” I retorted with disdain.

I made no effort to repress my smug smile when he failed to hide his initial shock before regaining his composure. My mate squeezing my hand with pride only pumped me up further. Knowledge was power. I hadn’t known these things before, which had allowed them to bully us. We’d tried to learn more but had always felt overwhelmed with the legal language in Universal and without the guidance of someone who knew more. In the less than two months she’d been with us, my Susan had made my knowledge and understanding grow by leaps and bounds, stopped me from feeling so helpless, and helped me gain the confidence to face the future in these changing times.

“You are forbidden from running businesses anywhere outside of the resorts and spaceport without the express consent of a native species,” I continued, my voice loud and clear for my people to hear as well. “And such businesses may not directly compete with native trade in a disloyal fashion. Your Conglomerate has deliberately misled tourists and customers with your fake and cheap replicas of our goods, and yet labeled them “Authentic, hand-made, Andturian” products in direct violation of Articles 4 through 12 of Law E75.”

“We did no such things!” Mr. Lord said, losing some of his confidence.

“You most certainly did,” my mate countered. “I saw it firsthand—and took pictures—in the souvenir shops at the spaceport. We also have countless testimonies from the residents of the Bosengi villages as well as from the tourist resorts. And it’s not just a complaint that was filed, we’re also suing for all those violations, disloyal competition, and exemplary damages.”

“You think throwing around a series of laws and articles are going to threaten us?” the human male said, going on the offensive. “You have no idea who you are going after. Our pockets are endless, yours not so much, little girl. Yourhusbandthere,” he said with contempt while glancing at me, “is on the verge of bankruptcy and of his people starving to death. Even if we let you have the exclusive market to sell your little trinkets, it will never be enough to feed five clans. You playing farm won’t help either. They are first and foremost carnivores. Hard to eat when there is no game to be found.”

“And you wouldn’t happen to have any idea what’s been driving away the herds, would you?” Susan snapped, glaring at the man.

“Why would I know anything about it? Do I look like a woodsman to you?” he said haughtily.

“We have always provided for our clans,” I snarled. “Even with the thinning herds, there are other ways for us to acquire meat.”

“You mean trading the credits you earn by selling trinkets?” the human said with a gleeful malice. “We set the prices for the imported meat being sold on this planet. Making enemies out of us isn’t very smart. You will want to think about that before your lawsuit goes to trial.”

“Is that a threat?” I asked menacingly.

“I’m merely stating facts. Do with them what you will,” he replied with a dismissive gesture. “We tried to be reasonable with you people, we made you generous offers and negotiated in good faith. In response, you are attacking us just so that you can hang on to the most fertile lands in the solar system. But why? You’re letting them go to waste while countless planets are struggling with hunger.”

“If interplanetary hunger and good faith negotiations had been your goal, you would have proposed alternatives, such as renting their lands for farming,” Susan interjected. “But you didn’t offer that because this is about fattening your wallets. Renting would subject you to too many ethical and best practice rules that would affect your bottom line. You’re like a swarm of locusts. You want to acquire these lands, exploit them until the soil and local environment is exhausted and ruined, and then you’ll move on to greener pastures. It’s not going to happen here.”

David Lord shook his head at my mate with disdain and then at me with pity. It took every ounce of my willpower not to beat him into a pulp.

“This woman will be your ruin,” he said with false empathy. “I tried to reason with you, but as you will clearly not budge, I have no choice but to proceed with the Board’s decision. As of this instant, the price offered by the Conglomerate for your lands has been reduced by 15%. And that price will continue to go down by 5% every week.”

“Spare yourself the trouble of revising it every week,” I said with contempt. “I’ve said no before, and that will never change. As for your lawsuit, bring it on. Our lawyer from the UPO is eagerly awaiting to have a conversation with yours. Now, get the fuck off my lands before I throw you out. And don’t ever show your face here again.”

The human’s face visibly grew paler. I’d never seen this on my mate. But considering the fearful expression that flashed over his features, I was glad my Susan had never blanched like this. Mr. Lord opened and closed his mouth a couple of times, as if trying to find a good, stinging reply but gave up. After one final glare at my mate, he turned on his heels, and hastily marched to his shuttle.

We stared at him until his shuttle took off and became a small dot on the horizon.

“You totally kicked ass,” my mate said, hugging me.

“Only thanks to you, my Susan,” I said, my heart swelling with the growing affection she stirred in me. “Without your guidance and insights, he might have fooled us.”

“He can’t harm us?” Kuani asked timidly behind us.

I turned around to look at my clan. The same uncertainty and worry could be read on all of their faces.

“No, he cannot,” I said reassuringly. “Those threats are meant to frighten us into submitting to their will. Everyone, gather at the Great Hall. Round up the ones still off on play day. We will tell you what my Susan, Luped, and I have been working on to put an end to the Conglomerate’s abuse.”

---