When Ari slid in first, she sucked in a breath, examining him with her eyes wild. Just to make sure he was okay. No reason to linger on parts of him she enjoyed the most. No siree. Keeping it professional here.
Then the loud thumps of the lumbering giant when he came into the room made her take a step back. Holy goddess, he was big. Not necessarily tall, but stretched wide as all get-out. His humanoid form maintained proper proportions while striking an intimidating chord all the same. But when she checked his blocky face, she relaxed. The child-like eagerness when he looked back at her made her smile.
“Oh, pretty lady!” The creature trudged to her before dropping to his knees with his arms wide. “I like pretty lady.” He looked back at Ari. “Can I play?”
“No, As’ni.” Ari smiled. “She’s mine to play with. I promise we’ll find you something even better.”
Morgan shivered as thoughts of what playtime with Ari would entail. Sensual, enjoyable explorations for two consulting adults to enjoy. Not that she’d admit that to him. Crossing her arms, she gave her full attention to the crystal man.
The giant’s shoulders slumped and his lower lip pouted. “Okay, Ari friend. As’ni be good.” He stood and looked around, clapping his hands. The echo of his crystal palms hitting together made a unique musical timbre. Like something a caveman would do with two resounding rocks. “As’ni go over here.” The crystalline alien moved with an odd, clumsy grace, his multifaceted form glinting under the harsh overhead lights. He stopped in front of a sprawling heap of discarded tools, metals, and assorted junk. A collection of the ship’s many repairs and mishaps that hadn’t made it to the incinerator yet.
“Remember, As’ni,” Ari’s voice was smooth but firm. “Don’t go out of this room or the furries will find you. Okay?”
As’ni‘s bulky head nodded vigorously. “No leave. Stay with Ari.” The glint of the discarded metallic pile grabbed the creature’s attention.
It was then Morgan noticed the swinging object hanging from a protruding crystal at As’ni‘s waist. “Is that…” She moved toward the crystal man, but Ari stopped her with a firm-but-gentle grip on her upper arm.
She glanced at him.
“Yeah, I believe that’s the Talon thingy the Ozevroc are looking for.” He nodded to her multicorder. “Why don’t you scan it first, just to make sure.”
Heart pounding, Morgan aimed her handheld at the swinging device as As’ni moved from object to object. He’d pick one up, then discard it over his shoulder before moving to another. With his back to them, he sang a simple ditty and appeared absorbed in finding his new favorite toy.
Morgan hummed to herself, and it only took a moment to examine the readings before she decided. “Yes, that’s definitely the Talon of Ancients.” She pursed her lips. “But that gives us a bigger problem.”
Ari tilted his head. “How so?”
“How are we going to give it back to the Ozevroc without them blasting us into extinction because they think we stole it?”
“Well, first things first.” Ari studied As’ni. “We’ve got to get it away from him before we do anything else. Trust me”—he eyed the busy alien—“you don’t want him throwing a tantrum.” With his lips pressed into a thin line, he sauntered over to the crystal man and crouched next to him. “Have you found a new toy yet?” He gestured to the pile.
As’ni‘s glassy eyes flickered with interest as he studied the debris.
Morgan moved to stand next to Ari. Goddess, she sure hoped As’ni wouldn’t choose anything sharp or dangerous.
With an exclamation of joy, the crystal man reached out with surprising gentleness and plucked a small, twisted coil of metal from the pile. It was a simple thing, once part of some now-defunct mechanism, with an intricate spiral design that caught the light in a dozen different ways.
It reminded her of an old Slinky toy made popular several decades ago in the human world.
As’ni held it up, turning it slowly in his hand, the metal reflecting off his crystalline skin creating a dazzling display of colors. He seemed mesmerized by how the light played through the coil, creating shifting patterns on the walls. There was a childlike wonder in the way he examined it, as if he’d discovered something truly magical from a pile of junk.
Morgan exchanged a glance with Ari, who raised an eyebrow and shrugged. “Guess he’s into shiny, bouncy things,” he muttered with a note of unexpected softness in his tone.
She agreed. How interesting that the giant found one of the simplest of things in the pile to hold his attention.
“As’ni—“ Ari placed a hand on the creature’s shoulder. ”—is this what you want?”
As’ni‘s smile was wide as he nodded. “As’ni keep.”
“Okay, buddy.” He patted the purple crystalline shoulder. “But where are you going to keep it?” He pointed to the artifact dangling from his waist. “Looks like that would be the perfect place for it. Would you like to trade me so you can keep your new treasure with you?”
The alien’s nod turned vigorous. “Yes, yes! You keep.” He took the artifact off the hook at his side and handed it to Ari between his finger and thumb. “I no want now.” He dropped it, not even looking to see if Ari grabbed it or not.
When he did, Morgan breathed a sigh of relief.
“As’ni—“ Ari stood. ”—you stay here and play with your new toy. Morgan and I will be right over there.” He pointed to the workstation.
The creature nodded, singing to his new toy, and ignored them.
