Page 47 of Stranded with the Alien

“So the fruit’s safe to eat?” she asked.

“I hope so. I have consumed three already, may Ayanlesh protect me.”

She didn’t need any further persuasion. She bit deep into the jeweled flesh, exclaiming in delight as thick, sweet juice burst into her mouth.

“Oh. My. God. This is heaven!”

He watched her eat, noticing she’d donned his jacket as he’d suggested. It would carry her scent now, he realized ruefully. He’d be reminded of her whenever he wore it.

He tossed her two more fruits and she ate them so fast she got hiccups. He laughed and she stuck her tongue out at him, glad the awkward topic of taste-buds was forgotten.

“What else you got, snake-boy?”

“I caught this.”

He held up the fish. Or at least, something that looked like a fish at first glance. But on closer inspection she saw its fins were actually webbed feet.

“Eww. Looks like it missed a whole stage of evolution.”

“It will taste fine once seared. I hope.”

He drew his laser-blade and adjusted it to a needle-like width. Then he gutted the fish, expertly removing bones and skin. Making the blade wider, he cut it into thick slices.

“That thing’s really handy,” Kara said. “Like a high-tech Swiss army knife.”

“I was fortunate to still have it after I ejected. I lost my blaster.”

He pressed the flat of his blade to each wedge of flesh in turn, searing it until the top turned golden brown.

“Here. Try this.”

He handed her a piece and she took a bite. It was delicious.

“Like cod,” she said happily, reaching for more.

“To me it tastes likeshafon. A delicacy from our inland sea.”

“You have an inland sea on Vraxos?”

“Our capital city is built around it. It is one of our earliest civilizations.”

Kara tried to remember her alien geography lessons.

“Taa’riz, that’s its name, isn’t it? The biggest city in the Vraxian Empire?”

“Yes. And the capital of the United States of Earth is Delhi?”

He pronounced it Del-high and she corrected him.

“Delhi is our biggest city. That’s where our military headquarters are. But the World Presidency and the International Parliament are both based in Washington DC.”

She stopped, wondering if she was giving away sensitive information. Vahn didn’t appear to notice. He munched on another piece of fish thoughtfully.

“Your presidential system is interesting to me. A leader your people vote for. On Vraxos, we have aZhaal,an Emperor. The role is passed down from father to son and only three clans, known as theshintuclans, have ever had claim to the throne.”

“Father to son? What, girls don’t make the cut?”

Vahn shrugged.

---