“We have seen the ugly side of humanoids,” Janae said. “No species can claim they do not have that side of their people. On Trinity Alpha Prime, I saw it all. Regardless of the humanoid species, there were always those who were good, and those who were not.”
“We hope to be those who are good,” Khalzin said.
She smiled. “I think you are on your way.”
Her smile was warm, and if Stron wasn’t mistaken, she reached for him. For a second, anyway, but stopped herself, and put her hand back in her lap.
Adryel saw the gesture and raised her eyebrow.
Stron hated to say it, but he liked her distrust of everything. There was something appealing about the way she studied and questioned things.
“So, you two are getting along, then?” Adryel asked, touching Janae’s arm.
Janae nodded. “We are.”
The female beamed, and Khalzin saw her through one of the reflections in the vessel.
Stron was about to say something about them looking at each other with lovesick expressions, and he caught Adryel’s gaze.
She rolled her eyes, her gaze meeting his.
He smiled back, and for a brief beat, everyone was silent.
Stron shifted to a different topic than the brewing attraction on the vessel.
Partially because he wasn’t sure if he met Khalzin or his own growing interest in Adryel. “What happens to the rest of the volunteers from the program? If you are not chosen while here? Do you go home?”
“You mean before the ship got blown up?” Adryel asked, raising one of her eyebrows.
No one spoke. Guilt covered Khalzin’s face. Stron understood. While bringing the females to their world wasn’t his idea, he shared in the guilt. These females came here to find a home. Mates. A general sense of safety, and look at what has happened.
Kantenans were honorable. Strong. Trustable.
And the first humanoids that come to their world are bombed.
Adryel sighed and rolled her eyes. “Calm down. It's sarcasm, and it's my defense mechanism.”
“It was a joke?” Stron asked.
“A badly timed one, evidently,” Adryel said. “But yeah.”
“That will take some adjusting to,” Stron said. “Do you know the answer? Beyond your defenses?”
Adryel smiled. “I know that Kantenan was the first of two other stops the Galactic Alliance was going to be making on this run through the galaxy. Not sure where the other worlds were, but I knew that anyone who was not chosen here would be able to try again and attempt to find a mate.”
“Does that bother you? Parading for other humanoids to decide to select you?” Stron asked.
Adryel shrugged. “We are here by agreement, so we know what is expected. And there are rules, which is helpful. We have to do certain things, like study the cultures we are going to.”
“Is that taxing?” Khalzin asked. “Studying the different cultures and worlds?”
“Taxing, no. It just gives those of us who did actually study the worlds a bit more information about what we were going to see.” Adryel glanced at Janae before she spoke again. “Like, I know that tower over there is Rue Ve-Max, in honor of old Kantenan culture.”
“Well, you're not wrong,” Stron said. “But you're not quite accurate.”
Janae looked out the window.
“I didn't say I learned everything. Just an overview, really,” Adryel said.
