Page 99 of Malliko
“Mysterious?” Malliko raised a brow while I asked Lios as we left the meeting room, “You’re an Ugon, right?”
“Yes.”
“I’m trying to learn about the different types of humanoid aliens. Am I right that you’re especially gifted with mental powers? And that the way to recognize an Ugon would be the size of their ears?”
He smiled at me. “Our ears are larger than most.”
Studying them, I said, “I can see that but it’s nothing extreme.”
That made his smile falter.
“I’m sorry. Did I say something wrong?”
Malliko chuckled. “Ugons are very proud of their ears. They think they’re the superior race of descendants.”
“Why wouldn’t we be proud? Need I remind you that surgeons across the Universe are helping other species imitate Ugon ears,” Lios pointed out. “Everyone wishes they had our features and mind powers.”
I stopped and stared at Lios. “You have ego too?”
“Noooo.” He looked offended.
“You must have!” I exclaimed. “How else could you be so proud and boastful? You sound exactly like someone with a huge ego.”
Lios shook his head and walked on. “We Ugons are wise and kind, but also well aware of our status in the Universe.”
Walking along a glass wall that showed the vast space outside, I dared ask another stupid question. “What is the name of the solar system that Earth is in?”
“In your language or ours?” Lios asked.
“In my language.”
He took a second as he said, “Let me look it up. The Solar System is named after your sun. It’s the gravitationally bound system of the Sun and the objects that orbit it, which include Earth.”
“Okay, but then what solar system are your planets in?”
“There’s only one Solar System, Clara. All other star systems in your language would be referred to as stellar systems and there are billions. Humans don’t have a name for the parts of the Universe where we come from.”
“Oh, okay.” It was clear how clueless I was, and I didn’t want to expose more of my evident lack of knowledge. “It must be easy to have access to a database with all the answers,” I said in my defense.
Malliko placed a hand around my shoulder and pulled me closer. “Never stop asking questions. We are as curious about your world as you are about ours.”
His words touched me and leaning my head back, I smiled up at him. A moment later, we walked back into the entertainment room and learned something deeply disturbing.
CHAPTER 31
Potential Crime
Malliko
Clara and I had barely stepped foot back into the entertainment room when Zobran and Nerix spotted us. Without a moment's hesitation, they rushed over, their faces etched with urgency. "How did the interview go?”
“The committee will debate and deliver their decision soon,” I answered.
“How soon? Today, tomorrow? What does soon mean?” Nerix said in his usually grumpy style.
“We need to talk," Zobran said and pulled us to the side. "As I said, Nerix has been chatting with a woman on Earth.”
“Her name is Jade,” Nerix added while Zobran continued talking at a fast pace, saying, “She claims she's been kidnapped by aliens multiple times and had babies stolen from her."
