Page 26 of Whoops-A-Mate From Outer Space
I cocked my head to the side. “Yes. Why?”
His cheeks darkened slightly. “I have only heard human women in recordings from your world, and the… television… shows you have shown me. Never live.”
I laughed, understanding what he wanted. “Let me ask her permission. You’ll need to stay off camera and quiet, though.”
He nodded. “Of course.”
I turned back to the screen and unmuted my mic. “Sorry about that.”
She waved her hand just in frame. “No worries.”
“I have a question before we resume.”
“Shoot.”
“My colleague who came in would like to listen. He can’t be on camera or speak for security purposes, but he is somebody I trust to hear about your research. He understands if you’d prefer he leave.”
I caught Eashai’s nod out of the corner of my eye.
“He’ll understand, though, right?”
I smiled. “He’s extremely knowledgeable.”
She laughed. “Invisible advisor? I’m in.”
I glanced over as Eashai put his hand over his mouth to stifle a laugh.
Ashley and I spent the next several minutes discussing problems she’d encountered and my recommendations to resolve them. Then we moved on to her plans for the next week.
We were approaching the end of our planned session when Eashai got my attention. I muted the call while he asked me to explain Ashley’s project.
His eyes lit up as I talked, and his excitement was palpable as he suggested several things for her to look at—genes that I’d thought had nothing to do with her research. But I dutifully passed on his suggestions when we resumed the call.
Ashley seemed hesitant, but open to exploring Eashai’s suggestions. I could tell she had the same thoughts as I, that the genes seemed unrelated. But we both also knew that genetics were complicated.
We ended the call a few minutes later, and I turned off my computer so that I could return it to the information security team.
“You have to turn in your device after every use?” Eashai asked as we walked through the admin building.
I nodded, realized my glasses were still on the top of my head, paused, removed them, and tucked them into a pocket. Then we resumed walking. “They’ve put download restrictions on it to keep me from installing any location trackers. But they still insist on sweeping it for anything malicious and keeping it stored with them between uses.”
“That must be inconvenient.”
I snorted. “Just a little bit. But it’s the price of being here. Luckily, they haven’t insisted on sitting in on calls. My guess is there’s some sort of listening device in the room so that it’s not obvious that they’re making sure I don’t talk about anything I’m not supposed to.”
“I am sorry.”
I paused to glance over at him. “For what?”
He frowned. “You would not have to live under such restrictions if we were not here.”
I shrugged. “It is what it is.”
We left the admin building, and I was hit with hot humidity. Birds chirped in the tall trees, bugs sang all around, cadences rang across the field, and the sounds of heavy machinery from the builders filled the air.
“What was it you wanted to talk about?” I asked. “Did a pool table open up at an earlier time, or did you pick another show you wanted to watch?”
He chuckled. “Unfortunately, we are still on the schedule for a late time at the pool table. As to television, I do not wish to watch any more of your medical dramas. I am also not fond of… police procedurals?”
