Dante ducked through the door, eager to get away from the audience that had surrounded the ship. The Kowri ships that had arrived lately must have brought a plethora of tourists who wanted to gawk at the alien outsiders. Dante hated how they stared at him, how whispers swelled as they passed. He preferred hiding in the dim interior of the pirate ship. How ironic that the place where he had once been kept as a slave was now his sanctuary.
Regi secured the exterior door before he turned to Vk. “Officer Vk, I would like an explanation for why you found it appropriate to leave your duty area against orders.” His voice had an artificial calm.
She stood straighter. “I apologize, sir. Exalted Gimi explained that if multiple members of the crew were found to be god-touched it would help your position in the council.”
“While I yield to exalted Gimi’s logic, that did not require you to leave your duty post without speaking to me. You were assigned to protect Dante.” His tone made Peaches chitter in complaint, and Dante ran his finger down her spines, soothing her.
“I understand sir, and I will accept any disciplinary measures. I assure you that I only hoped to improve our legal position, and since our radios do not work and the Kowri have declined to share their communications technology, I had no way to reach you. I used my best judgment, although thatjudgment is flawed.” Her nose was crumpled like old, used tissue.
Dante put a hand on Regi’s arm. “I was with you. She knew you wouldn't leave me undefended. She made Gimi promise not to leave my side for a moment until we found you. So I fully trust that she was careful with my security.”
Regi took a deep breath. “I understand that she did not physically place you in danger, but taking requests from individuals outside the chain of command is unacceptable.”
Vk’s nose trembled. “I understand, and I will be more cautious of our Kowri allies in the future.”
“Avoid following their orders, as well.”
Dante winced. He could see how hard those words hit Vk.
“Sir, I would never take orders from anyone other than you. You have said Gimi is our greatest ally, and she provided a logical argument that the amount of time that I spend with Dante would make me the one most likely to be noticed by your gods. It appeared I had nothing to lose in the attempt since, as she explains it, most Kowri are never noticed by your gods, and at worst, I would prove that I am average.”
“I cannot debate Gimi’s logic given that she is the exalted of Onidba. However, do not act without explicit permission from either the captain or myself.” Regi was almost growling.
“Yes sir, I acknowledge my error and will not repeat it. I will not file a response to your complaint.” Vk’s nose uncrumpled a little.
Regi huffed. “I am not going to file a formal complaint. These are unusual circumstances. I will not have your career impacted because you attempted to assist us in a difficult situation. Return to your internal audit of systems.”
“Yes sir.” Vk glanced toward Dante before she turned and hurried into the ship, catching herself on the wall when she lost her balance in the tilted corridor.
Dante’s stomach was knotted from the drama. “I was never in a moment of danger.”
“Which is why I will not file a formal complaint.” Now that Vk was gone, Regi started toward the ladder. “She does not deserve to have her career impacted by this situation, especially when Gimi took advantage of her desire to help.” He started up into the main ship.
“I'm not sure if it is taking advantage when Gimi is attempting to assist us. Unless you believe that she is someone else who is only pretending to be our friend.”
“Of course not. She has provided far too much assistance and been far too public in her support for me to have any doubts in her motives. However, Vk should not be making these decisions on her own. As evidenced by Alb a’Oba's betrayal, Kowri can lie.”
“Can’t everyone?”
Regi stepped off on the level where Dante had his quarters. He liked being separated from the living quarters where crew members haunted the corridor. “Some sapient species can only lie if they create a new reality within their own minds,” explained Regi. “I knew one such individual who endured significant pain to convince himself that his daughter had chosen to cut contact with him rather than remembering that she had died in an unfortunate dock incident. The Coalition reclassified him as unemployable due to mental illness because his species could not lie without such difficult and painful self-deceptions.”
“I don't know whether to envy his ability to erase painful memories or feel horrified. Still, I’m sure Vk is smart enough to be suspicious of anyone other than Gimi. Given that, you were a little harsh with her.” Dante passed Regi and pressed his hand against the entry pad for his quarters. Peaches was already trying to rappel down his shirt, and Dante slipped a palm under her, easing her to the floor of his quarters as soon as the doors slid open. She was getting fatter than ever, and she waddledas she headed over to her diminutive suitor. He snored in the corner until she pounced on him.
“I am harsh because I cannot have that behavior repeated.”
“Are you sure you're not in a bad mood because you're having to deal with your mother?” Dante asked.
For two or three seconds, Regi stood frozen in the doorway, every whisker still. Then he shook himself. “My mother's arrogance and refusal to acknowledge my legitimately held point of view is an issue which has existed for so long that it has become nothing more than one of the constants of the universe,” he said in a dismissive tone. “Given the stories you have told of your own father, I trust you understand.” He glanced over, and his demeanor shifted. “I apologize. I should not have said that. I know issues of personal comparisons are a minefield in intercultural communication.”
“They are?” Dante leaned against the wall since he had no furniture other than his bed. He should do something about that eventually, but the whole ship was parked at an angle that made chairs uncomfortable.
“Yes. Many species find the making of comparisons between the personal experiences of two different individuals insulting.”
“Not humans.”
Regi blew out a long breath. “I am very glad I did not cause offense.”
“Humans often compare their experiences. Although I suppose we do have some cultural expectations now that I think about it. Some people like to draw comparisons to suggest that people are similar because they have similar backgrounds and they will attempt to make experiences sound even more similar than they are.” Dante had noticed that with his sisters and their friends.
