Shoshone Station: The Galactic Consortium season 2

Episode Five: Adam #4

"Is something wrong?" Jack asked.

Zeta shook her head. "It's nothing."

Jack wasn't normally one to pry, but he had a suspicion about what was wrong, and it was his fault, sort of. "You can tell me," he assured her.

There was a buzz and a holographic notice that he had a "courtesy" message. He ignored it. Now that the station was open to the public, these were a constant interruption. There was no end to the number of people who thought they could simply show up on the station and then message the State Department about whatever minor matter they wanted dealt with, matters they would often not have bothered to call or email about on the surface.

"Coffee or tea?" he asked as he rose and went to the drink dispenser to one side of the conference room. This was the US State Department office, and they were currently waiting to field the tenth or twelfth argument between some fast-food company and the local healer's council.

The company kept sending corporate representatives to argue that most of their ingredients were prepared and prepackaged. It was "burdensome" for them to have to prepare separate supplies for the station, and they should be given an exception from some of the import restrictions.

The healers, for their part, would once again explain that certain preservatives used were unhealthy to the human body, and they had a duty to protect the health of station residents by banning them. They had little clue why it being a burden on the business mattered in the slightest. And I thought diplomacy with an alien culture would be exciting.

"Tea," Zeta said. "It's just . . . Maka."

"Maka? What about him?" Jack asked, hoping his voice was innocent.

"He had to go back to Shin. Suddenly. Said he's going to very busy with this new project they want him to do." Zeta accepted the tea. "He said it wouldn't be fair to me—to continue our relationship. He has no idea when or even if he'll make it back to the station, and he said I deserve better."

"I agree; you do."

Zeta gave him a hopeful look.

Not wanting to raise those hopes too high, he placed a hand on hers. "As a friend, I think you deserve a lot better than him. He's . . . slick. Does that translate?"

She shook her head.

"Everything is a deal to him. He's only interested in himself."

She nodded. "And I was a deal as well. So I've feared. My connections, my name, meant more than myself."

"In my culture, women often console themselves by eating ice cream and watching romantic movies," Jack joked.

"I've tried ice cream. Too sweet. I think I would have to slowly adjust to how much sugar you guys eat in order to appreciate it. It doesn't matter. I expected it would end something like this anyway."

That made Jack sad. "Why?"

"It's just me. I don't know what I expected with a guy like that. I'm not really equipped to be with someone in that way." She pinked slightly. "Not emotionally or . . ."

Jack just stared at her, not following.

"I prefer my plate-books. It's easier that way."

"The Chiya-batu?"

She nodded. And then, "You don't know, do you?"

"Haven't a clue," he admitted.

"They are romance stories, but not sexual. That's why so many think they are just for kids, for girls who haven't matured yet. But a few don't ever develop those sorts of feelings, sexual ones. For me, it's in part because of who I am."

"Being a Squid?"

"Yes, well . . . the combining of genes. I have a C'thon reproductive system, not human. A healer once told me she thought she knew a way to correct that, to change things. Honestly, it freaked me out. The thought of being like a human woman, getting pregnant. I never went back." She looked freaked out, so much that Jack had to bite back a laugh.

"So you can't . . .?"

"And don't really want to. I'm happy with the way I am. It's just, sometimes I want someone to be there, you know? To give me attention. Or maybe even to cuddle or something. But it's not worth it."

"Why not? If they understand, I mean."

"Because they'll want more, mark my words. Guys like Maka. They always want more eventually. Then we will fight." She sighed and drained her tea. "So maybe it was just as well that he had to leave now. Saved that fight. And our guests will arrive soon. Thank you for listening. I am sorry if . . . if it was too private."

"I asked," Jack reminded her. "And I am glad to be there for you, as a friend."