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Loka tilted his head. “Who is John Conner?”
“Really? You’ve never seen the movies. We are going to have to have a movie marathon. Best franchise ever. Well, maybe not if you’re into Star Wars. Or are you more a Star Trek fan? I like both. Maybe Star Trek has the edge. It’s a bit truer to life.”
Loka rubbed a horn. “I know nothing about any of this. I know about your movies. I would be interested in watching one with you.”
Heather grinned. “It’s a date.”
Loka nodded. He wasn’t sure what he’d just agreed to. “Now, for your arms.” He grimaced as he saw deeper cuts on her wrists. His fingers went to a silver bracelet on Heather’s left wrist. “You collect trinkets?”
She raised her hand and jangled the charm bracelet. “Sort of. I got this from my mom when I was eighteen. Every year, she used to buy me a new charm. I have seven.”
“What are they?”
“Animals. Look, this is an elephant. This is a cat. I have a penguin as well.”
Loka examined the tiny silver creatures. “I am not familiar with these beasts. They are specific to Earth?”
“That’s right. There aren’t any elephants or penguins left anymore.”
“And cats?”
“Oh, there are millions of cats. Everybody loves cats.”
“To eat?”
“No! They’re pets, like Ernie.”
“They’re also cybernetic?”
“No. They’re domestic animals. You don’t have pets on your planet?”
“We have gomlets. They are small, round, and furry.”
“They sound cute.”
“Their fur is nutritious.”
Heather’s jaw dropped. “What?”
“You ball up their fur and suck it. It’s full of proteins and keratin. They are good to take on long journeys as both company and nourishment.”
“We have a different definition of pets, I think. I don’t ever want to eat a cat’s fur.”
“You might be surprised. Have you tried it?”
“No. I don’t think I ever will.” Heather inspected the wrist Loka had cleaned. “Thanks. That already feels better.”
“You put up a fight by the look of your injuries.”
“There was no way I was going to be shoved into space by those little suckers. Space travel is still new to me. Space travel without a space suit or ship would have been a first and, well, a last.”
Loka nodded, his stomach tensing at the thought of Heather being taken by space. It was a cruel way to die, but she would not have suffered long. “You have been on many space travels?”
“My flight from Earth to the space station was my first.”
“They picked a novice space adventurer to come here?” He didn’t hide his surprise.
“I wasn’t even a novice. I was a virgin.” Heather smiled. “I’m just great at matching people. I was known as the Queen of Weddings on Earth. I have this ability to see two people together and know they’re perfect for each other.”
