Page 7

Six weeks earlier

Invictus (Svesti space cruiser)

Eating his morning meal in the dining area, Grulen enjoyed his brellia , a pastry filled with ground maxiem meat— rumik .

Small bits of lobile with chopped spicy vegetables accompanied the brellia .

The warriors around him spoke excitedly about the human females who boarded from Earth yesterday.

Speculation about their species had been the main topic of conversation for lunars as the Invictus gathered data on the planet and the species from orbit.

Commander Durek negotiated for six human females to accompany them back to Costonia for a Choosing at the King’s Court.

Naroons. If there’s going to be a Choosing for breeding or troth contracts, then that means it will be nobles, not lowly warriors who have a chance for young with these females.

He looked up when Lieutenant Brauvix, a bridge communications officer, escorted them into the dining area.

He noted most seemed to be dressed in what he now knew to be pants called jeans and comfortable footwear and shirts.

Part of him was amazed at the variety of shapes and sizes of the females.

None of their skin tones were exactly the same and their hair and eyes were different.

I wonder if any would be interested in pleasure mating during the two lunars it will take us to return home.

When Brauvix left them to gather food, Grulen stood and put the remains of his meal in the recycler. When they sat in the Svesti-sized chairs and laughed with each other. He smiled in amusement. None of their feet can reach the floor. They’re so small.

“Females, may I introduce myself? My name is Grulen Jevax of House Midnar. Welcome aboard the Invictus . Your presence honors our warriors.”

“Oh, my,” said a female with darker skin and brown curly hair and eyes. “It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Jevax.” She pointed to herself and each of the other females as she spoke. “I’m Emmy Norton. This is Talia Sullivan, Rachel Llewellyn, Lin Chang, Natasha Petrov, and Ava Taylor.”

“Jevax,” Brauvix growled as he approached with a large tray of foods. “Do not bother the females.”

“Lieutenant Brauvix, I only introduced myself.” Grulen widened his brown eyes. “I was unaware that I should not do so.”

“Nothing untoward happened, Lieutenant. Mr. Jevax was just being friendly,” Lady Talia said. She was an older female with pale skin, reddish-brown hair and brown eyes. She appeared more rounded than Lady Emmy who seemed wired with energy.

Brauvix nodded. “There are many nuances to Svesti behavior, Ambassador. It would be best to limit your interactions with the crew until you have been briefed or received an educational pack via the med bay.” Ambassador? So she’s in charge?

“Hmmm,” said the tall blond female with blue eyes. “Interesting. Have we accidentally agreed to something by exchanging names?” That female has the alert readiness of a warrior about her.

“Hardly, Lady Rachel,” Grulen said. “I offer my services to teach any of you whatever you would like to know about Svesti males.” He spread his arms, palms open, and grinned widely.

Lady Rachel looked at Lady Talia. “Did he just…?”

“Certainly sounded like it, but then, who knows?” Lady Talia shrugged.

“Jevax, enough! Do you not have duties this morning?” Brauvix stared at the other male.

“I am on my way, Lieutenant. Females, it was a pleasure to meet you.” Grulen nodded and left, his tail swaying. He looked forward to learning more about the new females.

A couple days later, Grulen walked with Lady Rachel from the training area to the dining area. They saw the tiny one with short dark hair and eyes ahead of them in the corridor.

Lady Rachel called, “Lin. Wait up.”

Lady Lin pivoted and waited for them.

Grulen grinned.

“Good day, Lady Lin. May we escort you to the dining area?”

“Thank you, Jevax. Hi, Rachel.” Lady Lin gave them a small smile, but he scented her fear.

Grulen leveled a hard look at the other males. “Rovex, Sproid, Mantoor. You were not bothering Lady Lin, were you?”

Lerix Sproid met Grulen’s stare.

“We just wanted to talk to her.”

“About what?”

Klero Rovex growled. “None of your business.”

Grulen crossed his arms.

“Do not pester the females.” His nose twitched when Lady Lin’s scent became even more acrid.

“We just wanted to ask if her small stature was common on her planet for grown females,” Nerid Mantoor said placatingly. He nodded to Lady Lin. “Truly, we meant no harm.”

Lady Rachel looked at the males.

“There are grown females even shorter than Lin, while there are others taller than me. Human females are all sorts of shapes and sizes.”

Mantoor nodded. “Thank you.”

Lady Rachel’s eyes narrowed.

“Perhaps you should come to me if you have any questions in the future.”

“As you wish,” said Sproid, unsmiling. “Enjoy your midday meal.” He and his friends continued.

Grulen gestured to the women to precede him.

“After you, ladies. Let’s go see what culinary delights Previv has made for us this day.” He lowered his voice and tilted his head downward. “I’m sorry you were uncomfortable, Lady Lin.”

Lady Lin smiled and bobbed her head.

”I know I get frightened easily, Jevax. Unfortunately, I’m used to it.”

Grulen frowned and his tail began to move in agitation.

“A female should never feel scared.”

“Relax,” said Lady Rachel with a smile. “There’s no threat here.”

“Let’s just go eat, please,” said Lady Lin.

Once they got their food, Grulen left them to sit with other Svesti, while Ladies Lin and Rachel headed to the table where Ladies Ava and Emmy were sitting. The women exchanged greetings while getting situated.

After midday meal a couple days later, Grulen saw Ladies Talia and Emmy ahead of him in the corridor. His brow wrinkled when he realized they appeared inebriated. Concerned, he approached them.

“Ladies, are you okay?”

“No, we need to get to…” Lady Emmy looked at Lady Talia in confusion. “I forgot.”

“Doctor.” Lady Talia said. “My heart’s beating too fasht.”

“Your eyes look almost black and your skin is pale and wet.” Grulen put an arm around each female’s waist. “Hold on to me. I’ll get you to med bay.”

The humans clumsily wrapped their arms around his neck as he lifted them off the floor and began running to the healers.

“Gonna be shtick,” Lady Talia mumbled against his shoulder.

“Me, too.” Lady Emmy’s eyes closed and her head bounced as she lost consciousness.

“Oh, Goddess, stay with me, ladies,” Grulen said. Commander Durek strode toward them. Thank the Goddess.

“What is going on, Jevax?” Durek growled.

“I don’t know. I’m trying to get them to the med bay.”

“Vared.” Lady Talia reached for the commander . “I think Emmy pashed out.”

Durek grabbed her gently. “I’ll help. Let’s go, Jevax.”

Grulen couldn’t hear what she mumbled to the other male. Vared? She calls him by his first name?

They ran into the med bay.

“Rivezt!” the commander shouted. Lady Talia winced.

Rivezt and Lady Natasha rushed from the office. Lady Natasha spoke with Lady Talia as Durek settled the female on the bed. Grulen placed Lady Emmy on another med bed and Healer Rivezt began examining her.

Grulen said, “The ladies were stumbling in the corridor when I found them.”

Rivezt and Lady Natasha spoke quietly. She said, “We’ll need bloodwork, but it looks like they’ve been poisoned.”

“Poisoned? How?” Durek said as he held Lady Talia’s hand, and she closed her eyes.

“I don’t know. But from their symptoms and our examinations, they appear to have anticholinergic syndrome.

There’s a plant on Earth that can induce it.

It’s called belladonna or nightshade. Maybe there’s something onboard that has the same properties.

It’s rare. I wish I had access to the internet.

I would like to look up successful treatment strategies. ”

Rivezt said, “We do have a copy of Earth’s internet from when we left your world.”

Lady Natasha’s voice rose. “Really? Let me see.” She tapped hurriedly on the tablet. “Here. These are the active components and various treatments.”

“Let’s start with this one.” Rivezt pointed to something on the tablet. “As soon as we know the females are stable, I can cross check the plant’s components against Svesti flora and see if we have something similar.”

“How were they poisoned?” Durek growled.

“I don’t know,” Lady Natasha said. “As hard and as fast as they seem to be experiencing multiple symptoms would suggest they ingested it.”

“Jevax. Locate the other females and bring them here. They may have eaten the same thing.”

“As you will, Commander.”

Following Durek’s instructions, Grulen rushed to the aquiponics area.

“Lady Lin, are you alright?”

“Yes, Jevax. Why?” She stood from where she’d been kneeling.

“The Commander wishes all the human women to report to med bay.”

Lady Lin dusted off her knees and gathered her belongings.

“What’s wrong?”

“Something happened to Ladies Talia and Emmy. Both are very ill.” Grulen’s tail twitched.

“Not again. Let’s go.”

They stopped by the training area to get Lady Rachel. Then they found Lady Ava in the kitchen with Talen Previv, the head cook. When they arrived at the med bay, Durek and Tolvex were already there. Durek sent Grulen back to work.

Is some of our food toxic to humans? No Svesti would knowingly poison females, would they? Not after so many of ours died so painfully.

Present Day

April 15, 2037 (Earth calendar)

Invictus (Svesti space cruiser)