Beyond The Glowing Whirlpool

Chapter 7: THE SHARD

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          Stacie aimlessly shuffled from table to table collecting dishes, very dazed from her encounter with a Satteran man. She couldn't get his piercing gaze out of her head as he said her name. And it sent chills through her body every time it echoed back in her mind with the starkness of his voice. She couldn't help but wonder with concern, what's going to happen now. As an earthling and a new recruit in the Atlantis, she felt she was out of line and acted inappropriately for her position. And especially before a Satteran. If her superiors hear about this, she'd be in huge trouble, if not kicked out of the "P.O." project. 

"Ugh... Me and my big mouth" She kept wincing, internally kicking herself in the gut. "Why couldn't I have just bit my tongue? How am I going to face them now? And what if captain finds out? I'll be lectured for sure! If... I'm lucky... That is..."

-Are you alright, Stacie? - A sudden voice behind her made her jump.

-Oh... Mr. Stephen! You startled me. - She said turning to face him - I didn't hear you come up.

-That's because I am a ninja! - He made a funny, clumsy strike gesture with his hands. - It's because you are very distracted. - He then gave her a more serious look.

Mr. Stephen Tatsuo was a fatherly looking, in his early fifties born in America Japanese man. He spoke with a very faint yet still noticeable Japanese accent, giving away his bond to his family background. He was an excellent chef, but cooking wasn't his actual profession. He was an engineer, and one of the original scientists, who discovered the stargate. Food was just a hobby for him ever since he was young, and he loved cooking for others, impressing them with most delicious flavors, and so he volunteered to be the chef for the crew stationed in Atlantis and has been running the dining hall ever since, along with his engineering duties.

-Are you feeling jumpy because you dared to level with a Satteran, or because that Satteran turned out to be a very attractive young man? - He winked at her teasingly.

-So, you heard everything then, haven't you... - Stacie dropped her burning with embarrassment face - Sigh... I know what you're going to say... I was being very foolish...

-Oh, don't be so hard on yourself. - He gently and fatherly lifted her face up. - You are honest and brave. And not willing to trample over your honor to grovel at someone else's feet. Those traits are very admirable in my culture. - He smiled making his eyes turn into two thin crescent moons. - I am sure that man felt that too. That is why he wanted you to know his name.

-You think? - She looked unsurely at him.

-Satterans are very proud. And they have the right to be because they are very powerful and influential. They are feared and respected by everyone in this entire part of the galaxy and beyond. Their fearsome reputation spreads far and wide.

-How is telling me that, meant to make me feel better, Mr. Stephen? - She returned with a worried look.

-Because those Satterans are also very civilized. They pride themselves in their superior diplomatic tactics. They are powerful but they do not abuse their power. I'd say they are actually very wise. The one thing they can't stand even more than someone being a weakling, it's when that weakling grovels at their feet. They respect integrity. Do not make a mistake of using conceitedness of one bitter man, to prejudge an entire nation based on that. Most do. And that's why they fear them. And I don't believe you are that type of person. - He winked at her.

-You seem to know so much about them, Mr. Stephen.

-You can learn quite a lot if you keep an open mind, child.