Page 14 of Sky Song
“You’re correct.”
“One! And you’re smearing my entire reputation.”
“What reputation?”
Terrance bristled like a poked hedgehog. Salty looked pleased at having one-upped him. Kim threw her a disgustedglance before turning her back on all of them. Definitely, their lab’s social dynamics merited improvement.
The door opened and Lyle strolled in, cool as a cucumber.
Salty dropped a vial and it crashed at her feet, splashing its unhealthy contents all over her unprotected shoes.
“An alien!” she squeaked, finger pointing at Lyle’s silver-clad form.
Kim jumped into a defensive stance and her hands made helpless gestures, like a religious fanatic groping for holy water and cross when confronted by a vampire.
Terrance’s face acquired a ruptured look.
“Lyle? What are you doing here?” Cricket fought to wipe the shock off her face.
Lyle looked directly at her - or so she surmised. Despite looking at specifically nothing, his blackest eyes took in everything.
“I went to use the bathroom and got lost.” He moved deeper into their space. “Is this where you work?”
Bathroom?“Yes, I… work here. It’s a long way from the conference room.”
“I must’ve taken a wrong turn.”
Cricket could detect no sarcasm in his voice.
“Don’t come any closer!” Kim grabbed the first thing she could get a hold of - a large bottle of a cell culture medium - and brandished it with threatening intent. Salty was shaking by the counter like a chihuahua in cold weather.
“Is this individual upset?” Lyle stopped and asked Cricket, his attention on Kim.
“What’s the creature saying?” Kim called in agitation. She was breathing fast, and a bright red flush tinted her cheeks.
Her own heartbeat still fast from surprise, Cricket looked at Kim. “Put the bottle down, Kim.” She kept her tone even.“He’s not going to eat you. He got lost on his way to the conference room.” To Lyle, she answered, “You startled her. They’ve never met members of other species.”
Lyle relaxed his stance and inclined his head. Performing the same ritual Cricket had during her introductions, he addressed her co-workers in Universal, gesticulating in line with the tradition.
“This is a universal greeting, in case you didn’t know,” Cricket said to her co-workers in lieu of a translation. “Nod or something. He is a Rix alien. His name’s Lyle, and he’s being friendly.”
“Friendly? It’s a human concept! Aliens don’t know what it means, you stupid woman.” Kim’s voice rose an octave. “He’s dangerous.”
“What’s dangerous is that stuff in the bottle you’re about to spill all over the specimens. Put it down, for Christ's sake. People need their lab results back.”
Kim shot Cricket a truly murderous look. “It’s your fault that he’s here. He followed you, and now we’re all doomed. Didn’t I tell you they exploit your every weakness?”
Cricket turned to Lyle, leaving Kim without a reply albeit still armed with a large open bottle of chemicals.
Lyle was waiting on an explanation. He was taller than her, but not by much, and looking him in the eye caused that odd warmth flutter inside her chest.
“This one’s name is Kim, and she has issues with alien people. I’m sorry she isn’t very welcoming.”
His dewy eyes twinkled. “I understand.” He didn’t, and he knew that she knew, and she smiled, notching another shared joke between them.
“Hey, Emma,” Terrance sidled closer, eyes alight. “Can I ask him something?”
“What do you want to ask?”
