"Besides, I don't need your help. Surely, I can get out of here and go back home. I'm already home. This is just a coma or something, and I'll wake up in the hospital, and I'll be fine."
He paused.
Was she mental?
"Come this way," he said, walking her toward the more reputable commercial transports.
"Sure, why not?"
He shook his head. "You are quite unusual."
"This morning, I was getting ready for my boyfriend to come home. Then I found out he had another girlfriend, and I walked through a tunnel, and now I'm here. I'm pretty sure I'm either dead or in a hospital somewhere."
"What is a boyfriend? A mate?" The idea that someone already owned her angered him.
A great deal.
"In theory," she said. "But he proved to not be the faithful type."
"He should be dishonored."
"If I ever see him again, I will do that. With a great deal of flourish."
He took her down another walkway. As they wound through the crowds, they were given plenty of space.
"Interesting," she said.
"What is?"
"They part for you. Are you famous or something?"
"I am Xian."
"Is that supposed to mean something to me?"
He blinked. "Most are intimidated by the Xianan people."
"That's understandable," she said. “Are all of you giant purple Barneys?”
“What is a Barney?”
She chuckled. “A children’s toy, I guess. Mascot.”
“You compare me to a child’s toy?”
“He was a big purple dinosaur. He was nice. Made kids laugh and played with them.”
“I do not see the connection.”
The corridor started to narrow as more vendors hawked their wares near the transports, tempting travelers with impulse items. One leaned into her, almost touching her.
"Pretty necklace for a pretty Terran?"
She jumped and stepped closer to Phares, waving off the salesman.
Phares put his hand on her shoulder. Surprisingly, she didn't flinch away from him.
He guided her closer to him, and away from the vendors. He glared at the one who tried to touch her, and the male backed off.
