The Space Spinster (on HOLD)

Log 10. The Fallout

Time Stamp: 31st of the 3rd month, year 2696 CE, 21:13

Location Stamp: Space cruiseliner Solar Wind, home port Mars, owned by the Stellar Cruises Inc., in orbit around planet Jupiter, Solar System, Milky Way Galaxy

***

"This is a terrible misunderstanding, officer. A game that went wrong," Var'Rar said. He pointed at the five variels that security staff dragged out of the docked tender. "Please, release my crew."

"I'll do no such thing. They assaulted my staff with deadly force." Before Shameel's voice switched to the translated version, I caught the tremors of controlled anger. The expanding dark spots on his already flushed face told the same tale. My emotions tittered precariously at the brink of affection for my boss.

Var'Rar backed away a step. "Escort me to your Captain. I'll explain everything to your superiors once the Consulate links in from Mars. I'm expecting communication any minute now."

Shameel motioned a couple of our men forward. "Escort this esteemed sahib to the Diamond Lounge. Ensure that nobody bothers him. The rest of you, confine our other honored guests to the brig for their own safety."

Once Var'Rar, variel and the security details disappeared down the porthole, Shameel asked Lola, "Can you carry Gorelko to the infirmary?"

"Yes, Sir." Lola had unsealed the seams of my power suit during the altercation, so I fell into her embrace like a nut from its shell.

"Good." Shameel's approval, however curt, caused Lola's forearms to tremble. "I'll go see the Captain. I'll be damned if I let the sahib shift the blame on us the way they always do."

This was the way of things, the sahibs were always right, the lowly human staff was always wrong. "Sir, before you go... What happened to the variels' weapons?"

"Confiscated," Shameel replied and took off.

Maybe I should have thanked him, but to hell with that! I'd send him a recognition holocard later. Maybe some flowers from the hydroponics bay as well. Exposing Mikado came first. If the weapons were locked up, the rogue scientist wouldn't be able to eliminate the evidence of tampering with the good old bludgeons to turn them into nightmarish paralyzers. Or would he?

"How are you feeling?" Lola asked.

"Like a baby." To show what I meant, I held my heavy head up. Totally like a baby. "Did Var'Rar say the damage was temporary?"

"You'll be better soon," Lola promised. She gathered me closer to her fuzzy chest and made a beeline for the infirmary. A caterpillar line? I felt weightless, because of the mym's smooth gait.

"Lola, do you know what's up with Zan'Zar and Var'Rar?"

The twitching whiskers tickled my forehead. "The maturing cha'na migrate in shoals, separated according to their station. All of them are male, until Cupid shoots his arrow—"

"Lola, please... I had endured enough for one day."

"Sorry, sorry. Until they reach hormonal maturity. Subsequently, the adolescents will engage in the mating chases, until emotional maturity catches up."

"So much better than some cherub shooting arrows! So it was this hormone-fueled emotional chase?"

"Yes, only Zan'Zar and his suitor took it much farther than it is customary," Lola said.

"The suitor being Var'Rar?" The picture was much clearer now.

"Yes." A warm blue tear dropped on my face. The romantic tale obviously touched her gentle heart. Not mine.

"Basically, they're rich kids searching for love?"

"Very rich. Almost criminally so."

"And you know that... how?"

"Word gets around." The tech smiled mysteriously. If she bypassed the security protocols, she wasn't telling. Particularly in an unsecured location, with the comms on.

"How did you miss that there was a cha'na on that brig among the variel?"

Lola hung her head in shame. "His genetic signature was expertly masked."

"Mikado." I gritted my teeth. "Mikado found his funding to pay for the Galactic Network access fee. I hope he chokes on it!"