Star of Sound

Chapter 17

A PART OF me is beyond fear and caring as Nari accompanies me to a meeting room in the Assembly to that interview with the a major Heelith news network. It's official name is Heelith Homeworld Network News or HHNN. It's the equivalent to our HUHN, the Human Unity Headline News. Had somebody told me a few weeks ago I'd be on HUHN, I'd have pissed my pants. Now, I don't give a damn. All the Heelith viewers saw me, guts spilled out, a hundred times already.

"The reporter is called Fassa," Nari says as we walk along. "She's one of the most famous and popular reporters the Heelith have. Since the shooting, she has reported about you and humans in general in a very positive way, which is a new development. In the past she was more negative. So try to be nice to her."

"Okay, I'll try."

We enter a meeting room and one of Kinlan's units is there, plus a few guards and what must be Fassa. She wears a fancy, multicolored gown and a cap of the same design crowns her head. It looks ridiculous to me, but who am I to judge Heelith fashion.

After a long round of introductions and gratitude for my time, Fassa puts a small cube onto the table between us. I sit opposite her on a human chair. Nari and Kinlan wait out of the range of the camera.

"Will we be broadcasting live?" I ask Fassa.

"No, don't worry," she says. Her voice is the sexiest and most enticing voice I have yet heard from a Heelith. I'm sure that helped her become a top reporter at HHNN.

"I do worry that this is not live. What guarantee do I have that you won't creatively edit my answers before you broadcast this interview?"

"Oh, I promise you, Jaiah, that this interview will not be modified to your disadvantage in any way."

I look for confirmation at Nari and she nods.

"All right, I take your word for it."

I don't trust this Rel one bit, there is cunning and deception hidden behind the silky tone, but what choice do I have?

She switches on the cube and starts.

"My guest today requires no introduction. How are you, Jaiah? Are you still suffering from your injuries?"

I'm surprised that there indeed is no introduction. Just how much have I been in the news the past few weeks?

"I'm mostly healed, thank you, not yet a hundred percent, let's say ninety percent. I'm still taking the occasional pain killer."

"I hope you'll be at a hundred percent again soon, Jaiah. Our viewers are very keen to take a closer look at Flinx. Is that possible?"

"Sure." I fish Flinx's box out of the bag.

"Oh, that's a beautiful crystal box."

"President Saros was so kind to give it to me at our first meeting."

"Oh really, wonderful."

I don't like her; her tone is too artificial. She may have reported in our favor recently, but there's a subtle nuance of disgust, that she has to be in the same room with a lower life form.

I open the box and expose Flinx.

"Oh, what an incredible sight! Thank you, Jaiah."

She's disgusted by the sight. She gently picks up her recording cube and brings it in for a close-up.

"Flinx sounds like any other crystal that is not in bonding with me," Fassa addresses her camera, not me.

She gently places the cube back on the table. I'm not sure whether the camera angle covers both Flinx and me, or only me. I'm surprised that she doesn't want to touch Flinx. All other Heelith who see Flinx for the first time antennae him, without exception. My suspicions about her soar.