"Liquor."
She chuckled. "I was just thinking I needed a drink." She took a sip.
And almost spit it out. The taste burned her mouth. It was fiery and bitter with a sweet aftertaste. She didn't even think that could happen.
"What was that?" she asked as she wiped off her mouth.
"Liquor. Called Depth. It’s a miner’s drink."
"Tasted horrible."
He shrugged. "The most potent usually do. I assumed you needed something strong tonight."
She stared at the glass for a moment. "I suppose I do."
“You want to savor the smoothness on the backside. It eases the sharp initial taste.”
“Are you an expert in liquors?” she asked.
“Just Depth. One of those youth coming of age things as I mentioned before.”
“You did a tasting?”
“No. Just drank a lot of it when I was younger.”
She smiled. “How old are you? In standard years?”
“Thirty-two. In standard. You?”
“Twenty-six, standard. I think.”
He raised his eyebrow. “You don’t know?”
She shrugged. “Standard years are about the same as a solar year on Trinity Alpha Prime. There is only a few weeks’ difference. There, I’m twenty-six. Standard, I might be twenty-seven. Or twenty-five. I don’t care.”
He smirked. “Here, our years are longer, and when measured locally, I’m only twenty-seven.”
“This would be where one of us spouts off something like, ‘This is why a standard calendar should be used on every world so that these differences can be quantified.’” She made her voice sound deeper, and in her best imitation of the pompous politicians she heard all the time on her world. Or those who thought they were something and would rattle off decrees like they were the most brilliant people in the galaxy.
He laughed. “I have met those politicians before.”
“I’m sure.”
She was careful to take a tiny bit when she took another drink. It burned again, but not as fiercely as before. This time, when she was prepared, she did savor the flavor.
It seemed fitting after the last few hours. "Any word about the embassy and the accommodations for the rest of my people?"
"The embassy's residences are filled, including a full military compliment to protect them. The ones who could not stay there are here in this building, on the upper floors like us, in their apartments. We've secured the upper floors of this complex. No one goes in or out without authorization."
She nodded. "That's good."
He didn't have to say anything else.
She knew.
The risks were high that more would come and attack. They had to be cautious until all the Galactic Alliance people could be removed from Kantenan.
Or those who were responsible were caught.
