Page 3 of Lashe
Ididfind her city interesting. It was very lively with a shocking number of buildings stretching far into the sky. Transports buzzed through the air like a massive swarm of insects. On the ground, it was also busy with people and aliens from many planets moving about the streets. Buildings were so large and tall that a daylight simulator system had been created throughout the ground level so that the entire world down there did not live in shadow.
But Anna lived in one of the tall buildings where sunlight shone through her many windows. The transport docked and locked onto the port and the ship decompressed. The hatch opened, awaiting the arrival of the ambassador. I took in the light, perfume scent from Anna’s apartment.Get used to it, I told myself. It would fill my senses for the duration of this trip.
I sat back in my operator’s seat and waited. I was early. The light was new and fresh as it cut through the cool December morning. I watched as a small, one-person transport flew erratically, awfully close, and barely missed the ship, and caught a glimpse of the terrified, wide-eyed pilot who looked as if he had just received his license the day before and was still unsure of the controls.
“The ambassador is almost ready,” said Stelis. “We will depart ahead of schedule.”
“I will adjust our flight path,” I said, moving back to the navigation controls. “To make sure we do not interfere with any other spacecraft. Is there anything I need to know about this mission?” I asked.
“It is not a mission,” Stelis replied. “It is a vacation.”
“I thought the ambassador was spending vacation with the man she has been seeing.”
“The relationship was terminated. Ambassador Abel has instead decided to spend her time off on the Solas, at the invitation of Lady Sibyl.”
Well, that was a new development. “Duration?”
“Two Earth weeks.”
Ah, that would give me plenty of time to enjoy the pleasures of my home Sola. Delicious food, freshlami—the precious liquid produced by the Solas that gave strength and nutrition to Destrans. I missed the delicious nourishment, which I only had in small quantities now, bottled up and sent to me via transport if I could not make it back to Destra in time to refill my own containers. To some species,lamiwas a drug, which was what caused the attacks on my people. To others, it served as a life-saving medicine. Either way,lamiwas in high demand. One of Anna’s duties was to vet the intentions of any who inquired about purchasing some. It was highly controlled—for good reason.
“Lashe?” I heard Anna’s voice call to me from inside her apartment.
“The ambassador requests your assistance,” said Stelis.
“I can hear her,” I said, mildly, as I rose from my seat. I crossed through the shuttle and ducked my head to enter the female’s living space.
I had never been inside her home before. Here, her delicate scent was stronger. It hit hard, causing the colors on my skin to change. I closed my eyes to fortify myself, to ignore the strong reaction I always felt in this female’s presence.
“I need a hand with something,” I heard her say.
“I am coming.” I took in the kitchen, following the sound of her voice through the rooms. Things were put away, but not meticulously. Her glasses were mismatched. A stack of data sheets sat in a haphazard pile on the corner of her counter. A pair of slippers sat directly under a kitchen stool, precisely where they had been abandoned.
“How can I help you?” I called, then, “Where are you?”
“Oh, in here,” she replied, sounding out of breath. “In my bedroom.”
I flicked my gaze skyward before continuing on towards the room I would give anything to be in with her, under different circumstances. I found the room down a short hallway and saw her sitting on the lid of a large rectangular container, which would not close.
Her soft red hair was not quite as molded into sleekness as it usually was. I knew it was curly, and no amount of manipulation could completely remove the determined wave in her hair. Her cheeks were flushed with exertion, highlighting a gentle sprinkle of freckles over her nose and cheeks. She had bright blue eyes, a pert nose, and a mouth that made me hard just looking at it. Her lips could thin to an angry line when she was displeased, or be lush and full and sensual when she smiled. I did not see her smile often enough.
But she did now. She looked up at me as if I were a hero there to save her and I couldn’t miss the extra brightness in her eyes. “I can’t get this damn thing closed. Can you sit on it?”
“Yes.” It was bigger than all of her normal luggage and overstuffed. Brightly wrapped things peeked out from under the lid. “What is in this container?”
“Gifts.” She blew some hair out of her eyes. “I had some fun last night and bought Christmas presents for my human friends on Destra. This is the biggest transport crate I have and it’s too small.”
I waved a hand at her. “Get off of it, please.”
She hopped off the crate. “I just don’t know if you can—”
I waited until she was clear, so I didn’t accidentally touch her, and placed a hand on top of the lid. With a quick press, it snapped into place and locked.
“Oh.” Her cheeks reddened even more. “I should’ve known that would be easy for you. Can you carry it?”
“Where is your luggage?” I asked, ignoring her question. Of course, I could carry it. “I don’t see your travel bag.”
“Oh, yes.” She seemed a little flustered. “I have it over here. I’ll carry it.”