“For how many humans?”
“All of them.”
“One male watches all the humans. Impossible.”
I roll my eyes. “He’s not real. It’s a holiday. Anyways, he’s got a beard, and hands out presents. He’s very respected all across Earth.”
“Ah, like a warrior on Zyan. This Santa Claus… Are his claws larger than mine?”
My jaw drops open when claws extend from the warrior’s hands. “You have claws. Real claws.”
“Yes. Warrior claws. Not Santa claws.”
I put my hand on his and lightly touch the claws. They retract after I touch them, but I’m still holding his hand. “I… I never saw a person with claws.”
“May I have my hand back?”
I peer down, surprised to see I’m still holding him. He has nice hands, slightly callused, probably from tearing apart toys or whatever he normally does, but they’re unusually gentle for being so large and having claws that retract. “What if I say no?”
“Are you always so contrary?”
With a twirl, I release his hand and get my skirt to flare up just enough to tease him. It’s a move I’ve never used before. “I’m a gal on a mission, Warrior. And seeing as how I’m stuck with you, I’m going to put you to work.”
“I’m already working.”
“No, what you’re doing is being in the way.”
“GI6 assigned me?—”
I hold up my hand. “Never heard of them, not that it matters. Whoever sent you has no business here.”
“GI6 is a section within Galactic Intelligence. Our missions are not specific to any one region of space or issue. We tackle assignments not in others’ domain.”
“You’re presently inmydomain.”
“You are citizen of Earth, which has joined the Galactic Alliance, for its own preservation. Which means this planet, and you,areunder my domain.”
“Maybe I can’t force you to leave, but let’s get one thing straight. I won’t put up with you scaring off all the wonderful people donating their time and belongings to make this a wonderful Christmas for others. Or do your GI6 rules say you’re allowed to destroy all the hard work we put into helping our people survive?”
His horns curve back as he bows his head slightly. “Our goal is not to interfere but to protect. And you are right. I should blend in. What do you suggest?”
“If you want to go wherever you please as you look for those blasters, then dress like you belong here.” I tug at his leather vest. “This has to go, along with those pants and weapons.”
“You wish me to be naked?”
Oh, my, talk about a conundrum. Do I tell him the truth, or behave?
“I don’t share my wishes with people I don’t know.”
“You know me, female. We’ve been talking for several minutes.”
So literal. I’ll have to remember that. I rush back to the office and grab my canvas tote. “It appears I finally found me a Santa Claus.” I toss the Santa suit to him. “I’ve been holding onto this, too busy with wrapping gifts, to find a Santa. If you want to stay, you’ll be our Santa. Put on the suit and show me what you’ve got.”
“I’ve got four knives, one blaster, a wrist comm, horns, claws, and two cocks.”
“What?” I shake my head. “Never mind.” I’m hearing things. I thought he said two cocks. Must have been two clocks or watches. He speaks English fluently, but I can’t expect everything to translate perfectly from Zyanthan to English. “You can change over there.” I point to an area containing boxes of medical supplies waiting to ship out to the local hospitals.
As he walks over, I stretch my neck, trying to sneak a peek of the upper part of his pants. While everything looks normal, planting my eyes on this male is proving quite dangerous. I’m having trouble looking away… until he turns to me and nearly catches me gawking.
