The director crossed her arms over her chest and frowned. “Leigh, be reasonable. You can’t just up and leave everything to follow T’raat across the country. What if his people send him home? What will you do then?”
“Then I guess I’m going to Xalan.”
Harrison’s face reddened, and when he spoke, his words were laced with venom. “No daughter of mine is going to leavethis planet! I’ve tolerated this crush of yours long enough, but you’re taking it too far. It’s high time I put my foot down.”
A thousand different meanings swam through my head as I tried to sort his intent from his words. Crush meant something different in this context, as did putting his foot down. He did not intend the literal meanings of these words and phrases, so it took my nanites longer to derive his true meaning. Once I finally understood, my own ire grew. I scowled at Harrison and stepped between him and Leigh. “She is an adult by your planet’s account. Your wants do not matter anymore, Harrison.”
He stammered and sputtered, but I did not give him time to retort.
“You may have tired of her ‘crush,’ but I tire of your meddling in her life. Neither you nor Director Ann have any say in her choices now. If she wishes to join me, whether it be here on Earth or back on Xalan, that is up to Leigh.”
Harrison moved towards me with his hands curled into fists, but Director Ann stopped him with a hand on his shoulder. “He’s got a point, Harry. We’ve forgotten that Leigh’s grown up now.”
“She’s still my daughter!”
“Youradultdaughter, Harry.” Director Ann turned to me, and her expression softened. “But you realize that, don’t you, T’raat? You’ve seen her as an adult from the start.”
I nodded. “Yes. She is grown by Earth standards.”
“Well, this just got a whole lot more complicated, then.” The director sighed. “I’ve been ordered to bring you back to the intake center, so the Xalanites can send emissaries to convince you to come home. Your king wants his pilot back, but I guess now we’ve got to consider Leigh in the grand scheme of things. That means arranging extra security for her, another cabin at the center … This bureaucratic nightmare is only beginning.”
“Why do I need my own cabin?” Leigh asked. She put her hands on her round hips. “I’m perfectly capable of sharing with T’raat.”
“Yes. And I am all the security she needs,” I assured. “I will not allow harm to come to her.”
“I don’t doubt that, T’raat, but it’s policy. We’ve got to consider Leigh’s wishes in this, yes, but we also have to follow protocol. That dictates guards for both of you, and separate lodgings … for now, at least. I made that mistake once before, and it ended with the first human-Xalanite hybrid pregnancy. I’m still catching flack for that.”
I paused. “A pregnancy is a good thing, yes? New life.”
Director Ann pinched the bridge of her nose. “Our two species weren’t ready for that yet. We don’t even know if it’s viable. It could result in heartache for everyone involved.”
Leigh blanched and wavered on her feet. I put a hand on her back to steady her. “Our child will be viable. I am certain.” I frowned at the director. “You should not frighten her with suppositions. There is no reason to doubt our species’ compatibility. Xalanite physiology does not often allow attraction where there is not compatibility. If you would consult a Xalanite physician, you would know this.”
“She’s still my niece. I’d be a terrible aunt if I didn’t prepare her for the possibility.”
“This is too much.” Harrison threw his hands in the air and stormed off, muttering about pregnancies and bonds in a scathing tone.
“Dad, wait—” Leigh reached for him, but he moved too fast to be caught. The AARO agents accompanying us let him pass without interfering, their faces running the gamut of expressions from shock to discomfort to sympathy. None had spoken during the exchange, though I noted that at least one agent seemed particularly disturbed by it all. She was young, somewherebetween Ann and Leigh’s ages by the look of her, with short red hair and green eyes. I vowed to get her separated from the others to question her on it, as she seemed most likely to talk.
Leigh’s eyes became wet, and moisture dripped from them. “He didn’t even say goodbye …”
Chapter 11
Leigh
T’raat held me close on the car ride from the farm, muttering soothing words that I didn’t even register. He could’ve been speaking Xalanite for all I knew.
We rode in the front car of the caravan with Aunt Ann and a short human agent. Timber something. The agent kept glancing back at T’raat and me with a weird, almost sad expression on her face, but she didn’t say anything. I noticed a sparkling metal ring on her left ring finger, a strange substance that didn’t look like any Earth metal I’d ever seen, all iridescent and faceted in a way that caught every glint of light. Agent Timber kept touching the ring, as though it brought her comfort.
Since I apparently couldn’t be trusted alone with T’raat, Agent Timber served as my guard when we stopped for a bathroom break at a deserted rest area. Aunt Ann led T’raat to the men’s room while Timber guided me to the ladies’ room,standing outside my stall while I did my business. It was awkward, but at least she let me shut the door.
Her ring flashed in the fluorescent lights as I washed my hands, and I took the chance on trying to get her to talk a bit.
“Your ring … It’s Xalanite, isn’t it?”
She gave me a sad smile. “Yeah. Nothing gets past you, huh?”
“He’s not here with the rest of you though. Did Aunt Ann make him stay behind at the intake center?"
