Page 18 of Chieftain
Being aboard the Bardaga, Orzon was well-versed in human customs. He gently took her hand, shaking it as was the human way of greeting.
"It is my pleasure to greet you, human Emmy. I will be proud to see to your care."
"Thank you." Emmy's smile broadened, and I watched infatuation settle over Orzon like a blanket. A wild surge of aggravation flashed through me, and I shooed the Framaddi back to his duties while placing a selection of bread, meat, and fruit on Emmy’s plate.
Our daily calories were built from proteins and simple carbs that we could adjust for texture and taste. On special occasions like this, when we had humans or other guests on board, Orzon displayed his culinary skills using various foods we procured from different venues. While she eyed some of the selections warily, Emmy's appetite proved decent.
"Do we have a report on the trackers?" I asked after a sip of valat, the wine made from the fruit of the vaya tree native to my planet.
“We do.” Jutuk wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. His eyes darted to the human at my side, and the corner of his mouth twitched. I felt myself stiffen with ire, despite knowing my navigator's interest to be innocent enough. Although not the first human on the Bardaga, Emmy was the first human brought into discussions with my council. I knew my men wondered why. "From the trajectory of the trackers, we've been able to pinpoint the most likely destination of each skiff—the Lacaille space station, the Gilese moons, Erdani, and Proxima systems. I've contacted Vaktaire ships near those sectors to keep watch."
The sigh of relief escaping Emmy's lips meant everything to me—though I didn't know why.
“While we waited to intercept the pod, I contacted the superintendent on Tau Ceti," Charick said, leveling his gaze atme, then nodding to Emmy. "They are sending transport for the human to join them."
“Well, they can just turn that transport the hell around!”
Small, soft, fragile Emmy was gone, and a force of nature stood in her place. Her tiny fists were clenched at her sides, and her eyes blazed as she glared at Charick.
"I beg your pardon?" my Sage stuttered. The shock washing over his features was laughable, as proved by Daicon's deep chuckle.
"I'm not going to Tarzan or anywhere else until my friends are found," Emmy announced with a stomp of her foot against the floor.
“Tarzan?” Charick echoed, stupefied.
"Wherever the hell you're trying to send me," Emmy growled, dismissing the idea with a wave of her hand. "I won't go anywhere before I find my friends."
I felt more than heard the rumble of laughter build through my council members. My short grunt and irritated scowl ended any expressions of amusement. Emmy's anger and determination should be respected, not mocked, despite her scowl being far more adorable than threatening.
"Humans do not belong on a Vaktaire battle cruiser." Charick dismissed her with a flick of his long fingers.
“There’s a first time for everything," Emmy snorted, glaring at me. "You said you would help me find my friends. You promised."
Her eyes froze me in place. I was Khaion, Chieftain of the Vaktaire battleship Bardaga, a decorated warrior of many battles. I fought against the worst creatures in the galaxy. Ifeared nothing... except disappointing the tiny human staring at me.
“I did promise you.” I reached out, covering one of her hands with my own before facing the council. "Emmy will remain onboard the Bardaga until we recover her friends. They will go to Tau Ceti together.”
"You have got to be kidding." Charick's fist hit the tabletop with a thud. "A battlecruiser is no place for a human."
“Oh, I don't know," Daicon drawled. His chair squeaked in protest as his massive frame leaned back from the table. He gave Emmy a dazzling smile. “She might liven the place up a bit.”
Tarook looked up from his glass of Venusian ale with a snort. “It will be nice having something pretty to look at instead of your ugly faces.”
"I will like having a new friend on board," Orzon gave her a shy smile. The way Emmy returned the gesture had him beaming.
“It is against Alliance law to keep a liberated human,” Charick hovered a finger in Emmy’s direction, then dropped it suddenly as though realizing he might be in danger of her biting it off.
“So, it’s okay for a bunch of slavers to carry humans to the far corners of space, but I can’t ride around for a while with the good guys while we look for my friends?" the tiny human challenged. I looked down at my ale cup to keep from laughing at the expression on my Sage's face.
“She’s got a point,” Jutuk agreed, drawing a low growl of anger from Charick.
“Where do we go first?” Emmy turned to me, her eyes bright green and sparkling.
"What do you mean?" My voice was huskier than usual, something I knew wouldn't go unnoticed by my Sage.
Emmy lifted a slender hand and pointed toward my navigator. "Well, Jutuk said, the trackers showed you where my friends are headed. Who do we go get first?"
My eyes rolled at the preening my navigator did at her mention of his name.
