Page 94 of Kissed By the Alien
The faster I complete my latest assignment, the sooner I can return to Earth. I hope.
I cross the compound of Earth’s embassy on Zyan, which opened three months ago. The building displays typical zyanthan architecture, except for the stone wall the humans requested my people build around it. On Zyan, we use walls to pen in animals, not people.
The zyanthan guards stationed outside the gate let me enter without any questions the moment they see my warrior tattoos. It’s the human guards inside the gate who stop me.
“Name and reason for being here,” the male holding a datapad demands.
“Warrior Tannis. Ordered here by the ZDC to track a missing human.”
“The ambassador’s kid,” the second guard says. “Let him in, Sanchez.”
The second guard escorts me behind the embassy to the cluster of homes built for embassy staff and their families. The guard knocks on the door then steps back, taking up a position behind me.
The humans don’t fully trust zyanthans. Not even on our world.
A human woman opens the door. For a split second, I think it’s my Lexi, but then I realize my mind is playing cruel tricks on me, tormenting me for not preventing her from going with her father.
This female is older, has dark hair, and a straight shape. Nothing like my Lexi.
“Are you here to find our child?” she points to my tattoos. “They told me a warrior would come to take charge of the investigation. None of the guards here at the embassy know their way around Avan yet. Your capital is bigger than Los Angeles.”
“I’m Warrior Tannis.”
“I don’t care what your name is, Warrior. Just find my child!”
“And you are?”
“I’m the ambassador’s wife. I have three…I think the word you use is younglings.”
“You can speak English. I am fluent.”
“Ah, yes. Well, My children are a handful. The youngest is quite upset that we left Earth. He left all his friends and his girlfriend behind. My middle child is easy going. But it’s my eldest child that gives us the most trouble, always disregarding security protocols. I’m sure you can understand.”
I think of my Lexi, and how she routinely snuck away from her family home. If she hadn’t, I never would have met her.
“Younglings can be full of spirit, hard to contain.” I’m speaking of my sholani, except she is not a youngling. “Your youngling likely wandered off to explore. We’ve had no threats against any humans or this embassy and the Brotherhood on Zyan has been rather quiet of late.”
“Alex insisted on staying on Earth, but I would not allow my family to be split apart. My kids understand that. Nothing is more important than family, but I fear Alex will do something reckless, even try to return to Earth aboard some cargo ship.”
“I will find your youngling.”
She rifles through a pink shiny bag she carries that I’ve seen many women carry on Earth. A purse, Lexi called it.
“Oh, my, I thought I had a picture in here. Must be in my other bag.”
“I don’t need a picture. There aren’t that many humans on Zyan. A quick description will help, though.”
“Zander, get down here. The warrior in charge of the investigation is here. My husband named his first child after him.” She rolls her eyes. “Men do that a lot. Anyway, Alex is shorter than me. This high.” She holds her hand level with her chin. “With light hair, blue eyes.”
My sholani has blonde hair and stately curves. Not a manly figure like this female.
And my Lexi does not talk endlessly like this female.
“I will find the youngling,” I say, eager to leave and find the missing youngling so I may proceed to Earth.
The woman’s eyes narrow. “What are you wearing around your neck, Warrior?”
I slip the necklace under my shirt. My gift from my sholani is not this female’s business.
