“Officer Vk,” Regi said.
She whirled around. “Security Chief Regi.” She sounded relieved, but a half second later, she stiffened.
“Security Officer Vk, explain why you abandoned your post,” Regi said, his voice low and dangerous. Dante winced in sympathy for his friend.
“Sir, I didn’t... I mean...” She fell silent and stood taller. “I apologize, sir.”
Gimi tilted her head to the side as she studied Regi. “I asked her to come with us,” she said. “There was some question as to the relationship your crew might have to the gods, and I asked her to assist us.”
“You have a question,” said Bekdi. “I do not. I know the gods will not turn their eyes toward outsiders.”
Gimi gave him an unimpressed look. “Do you know the direction every god might look?” Gimi asked.
“I know the gods do not see outsiders,” said Bekdi.
Gimi scoffed. “The Lady Divashi has taken note of Dante a’Divashi.”
Bekdi towered over most other Kowri, and even had a good few inches on Dante, so when he showed his teeth, he projected an impressive level of intimidation. “I have heard Regi a’Divashi speak of how Dante’s species does not exist in known space. Perhaps Dante a’Divashi is unique. We cannot judge other outsiders by how our gods react to this one.”
Gimi huffed. “I assume Dante would require at least one huuman parent who contributed to his existence.”
“Two, ma’a... excuse me,” he said, correcting himself before he could offend another exalted the way he had Regi’s mother. “Exalted, I apologize for the incorrect term of respect, but a human requires two individuals, one to contribute an egg and one with sperm in order to create a new human.”
She gave him a wicked smile. “Then logically, the existence of Dante a’Divashi implies the existence of at least two additional huumans, and the existence of his two progenitors implies four additional huumans existed to create them, although I suppose it is possible that pair bonding within a genetic line could allow for the existence of fewer individuals.”
It took a second for Dante to understand the translation. “Wait. Within a genetic line? Are you talking about my father being my uncle or something like that? No. No. Absolutely not!” Dante was ill at the thought.
Gimi nodded. “A cultural taboo against incest. Genetically wise.”
“We are off-track,” Bekdi said.
“I thought we were on-track in discussing whether Dante could be unique, and logic dictates he cannot. And if Divashi is capable of seeing Dante, she is capable of seeing other outsiders,” said Gimi.
“Other huumans perhaps, but they are not part of the Coalition of thieves,” Bekdi said.
Regi pushed forward, halving the distance between himself and Bekdi. “The Coalition’s history is old enough that no living member of the Coalition is guilty of the crimes that you continue to obsess over. They stole and the Empire killed those who were guilty. Both sides have their share of sins.”
“But our sins are forgiven by our gods who bless us and watch over us,” said Bekdi. The rhetoric sounded familiar, although Dante was used to a different god being referenced.
“Yet a god blesses and watches over an outsider.” Gimi was enjoying her verbal torture of Bekdi. If it weren’t for her fur, she would have made a proper Texas woman—all smiles and brittle politeness over verbal brutality. “And if Divashi can see one outsider, she can see others. And since all gods are equal in power if not interest, then all gods are capable of seeing all outsiders,” she finished with a smile.
Bekdi’s face was frozen in a grimace.
“None of this explains why we are gathered here,” Regi said, his voice low and controlled.
“Here is the location of the nearest scanner capable of checking whether a god has taken an interest in other members of your crew,” said Gimi.
Regi turned on Vk. “You abandoned your post for this?”
She stiffened, scanning the gathering crowd. Regi’s larger father had a hand on the smaller father’s shoulder; he was the peacekeeper in the family. Regi’s mother, on the other hand, had a calculating expression that made Dante nervous.
“Exalted Gimi requested my assistance, and given that Dante was with you, I had no assigned tasks at the time,” said Vk. She glanced toward Gimi.
“She does spend a lot of time with Dante a’Divashi. I thought if the goddess were going to notice someone, she would be an excellent candidate,” said Gimi. “If there is fault, it is mine.”
“I accept responsibility for my own actions, Gimi a’Onidba, although I appreciate your attempt to resolve this conflict.” Vk’s nose drew up, the skin crumpling in a way that broke Dante’s heart. He moved to her side in silent support.
Regi looked from one to another before he slouched, the starch vanishing from his spine. “If the goddess would notice anyone, she would notice Ter given how often she interferes with his engines; however, I suspect she sees him less than the engine she is so determined to break.”
