Page 10 of Her Alien Delegate
Vaquel played into the role by growling his protest and snapping his jaw like a wild animal.
The trill's scales folded over each other at his forehead in disgust. "I have heard the rumors of his rise to commission. He sliced through his own flesh to harm his opponent, uncaring of whether he died as long as he was victorious."
That wasn't exactly how it went, I thought with amusement. It was strange how quickly and how exaggerated the stories became in such a short time.
"The only reason I have not killed you already is because I'm not uncivilized like your kind. If being your hostage means I get to have my title without murdering you, then that is preferable.But I'm not opposed to using you as an example like I have my own brother," Vaquel warned with a cool viciousness.
"If I wanted you dead, we wouldn't be talking at all," the trill ignored the threat, but the flutter in his scales on his head spoke of being uncomfortable with holding Vaquel so close.
"You could kill us here, but then you'd be killing more than us, wouldn't you?" I reasoned without flustering. It was true, their poison was deadly, but I had a feeling it drew too much attention, even for the Blue District, to poison an entire street. Their poison wasn't exactly subtle when it sprayed out of their scales like a mist.
"If you try anything, then it won't really matter if I cause a scene. Better to kill you all," the trill warned. He motioned for us to follow him as he tugged Vaquel along, turning his back to me. I could end them here, but there was no telling if they had backup groups ready to take up where these two left off. It was better to make it to the Blue District underground first.
I whispered to the garrant, who had extremely good hearing, "Guess he doesn't really value your life much, and whatever reason you need Broma alive for would be gone."
Before I could say more, the garrant was already charging without much thought. His mind was obviously under stress and his health was in serious question. Two fists smashed on either side of the trill's head and I could feel the crunch of the skull before he used his other arms to squeeze Vaquel.
"Sleep now," he said while Vaquel's eyes rolled back. He didn't even attempt to use his ormete to free himself. He was allowing himself to be caught at whatever cost, even his life, to make sure that I could go free.
The trill was left behind, but I wasn't sure if that would kill it when I'd seen them come back from worse. They were extraordinarily resilient.
We made it to the Blue District without further incident, and I did not provoke the garrant again with his unstable nature.
"You will stay back there. You can hear that I will give the computer instructions to keep the commissioner isolated," he gritted out barely containing himself.
"Agreed." I stayed back while he purchased his rooms and gave the isolation command. Even the one who purchased the isolation wasn't allowed to undo it until the contract term was up, so Vaquel would be safe for two risings.
"Now, you will give yourself an isolation command," he ordered while he shoved Vaquel's body into the transfer container reserved for unconscious guests.
"Of course," I said with a nod. I purchased my own unit and gave it an isolation command for two days, but with the contingency that the isolation was simply to the Blue District facility, not my room. But as this was a district designed for illegal trade, it was easy to fool the garrant.
"Isolation request complete," the computer intoned, and the garrant grunted his approval without having full faculties to confirm what kind of isolation was requested. It was mostly for the garrant to know that I would have no way of following him or trying to get help to free Vaquel. It was also helpful that privacy was respected here, and my name was never used to inform the garrant of his mistake.
"Wait." His large arms, all four of them, flexed as he watched me. Assessing me with scrutiny, he added, "Confirm isolation time."
"Please confirm my isolation time," I commanded the computer.
"One rising has been requested; please confirm duration," it stated.
"That is not what we agreed to! Two risings! It must be—"
"Of course," I interrupted, but kept my tone neutral and updated my time, "Adjust to two risings," I told the computer.
"Two risings confirmed, please proceed to your quarters through the right hall entry. Welcome to the Blue District. Enjoy your stay."
"Your stay has been confirmed. Please proceed to the left hall entry," the computer informed the garrant of his own stay confirmation. Before he departed, he warned, "I would consider a longer stay if I were you, as I don't need you alive, and I will kill you if I see you again."
I nodded my understanding and replied with a smile, "My sentiments exactly. Not even your friends care if you live, but Idocare that you harmed him. If we meet again, I will kill you."
I didn't think Vaquel would grow on me so fast, but I didn't lie to the garrant. I would kill him if I saw him again for threatening those under my protection.
Walking down the hall of mostly rooms reserved for isolated chambers, it was an eerie feeling to not run into another guest of the Blue District while making my way to my room.
"Do you have no other guests on this floor?" I asked the computer running this establishment.
"Many are isolated on this floor, and the Blue District has many floors with two entrances to every room that connect to two different halls. I'm equipped to manage every guest according to their preferences for privacy. Many guests choose to wait until one of the two halls attached to their room is vacant before they depart, and there are separate floors for guests looking for experiences. Are you looking for company? We have the largest selection of species for various requests from scent stimulants to viewing rooms, or—"
"No, that will not be necessary. I'm waiting for a human mate."
