charge. “Do you want to remove those veils?”
Alhuradia sighed. “I can’t, but if you could fold them off my face, that would be nice.”
Laser lifted and folded layer after layer until the tired young woman’s face and simple toga-styled dress was exposed.
“I am sorry that whatever you felt made you flinch.”
Laser stood near her guest until Alhuradia motioned for her to sit.
“I apologise for my flinch. My talent is to take in the most memorable moment of someone’s life and hold it to myself. Your recent trauma is very much in your mind, and I felt the pain and panic.”
Laser made a face. “Apologies. I was unaware of your talent or the custom.”
“It is unique to my family, but we came up in the roster and I will do what I can to keep the peace.”
“Have you met your husband?”
The bride looked at her like she was stupid. “Of course not. Our kind no longer mix. I have spoken to him on the com though. Sobax is a good sort, and we will get along well.”
Sting says to tell you that we will be at our destination in four hours.
“Can I get you something to eat or drink?”
The bride smiled. “You really don’t know what the protocol is, do you? No. I cannot eat or drink until I arrive at my new home. It is unpleasant considering I was not allowed to eat after sunset last night.”
“Why not?”
“A weak and hungry bride won’t usually run. I believe that is the reason.”
Laser made a face. “Well, I guess that leaves vids.”
“Is there one of your species? I am interested in others of your kind. You have a strangely organised mind. Highly intelligent but you wear your pain as part of your personality.”
“It isn’t that painful.” Laser blushed and quickly pulled up the first Champions vid, taking the broad spectrum of the first five women to be considered prime examples of their occupations.
Alhuradia watched the vid intently and blushed at certain points.
Laser sat with her, and after the Terrans, they moved on to the Guardians. When Stinger gave her the notice that they were docking with the Metskiat station, Laser waited until she felt the docking click before standing up and dropping the veils over Alhuradia’s face.
“We have arrived.”
A chuckle came from the bride. “You kept me occupied. Well done.”
“One does what one can.”
When the young woman got to her feet, Laser tidied the folds of the veils and asked, “Can you see where you are going under that?”
“Yes. The veils are woven to be thinner in the centre. It is like walking through a rainbow fog.”
Sting came down the stairs and nodded. “Ready. They are waiting in the customs area.”
The bride shivered. “This is the part I have not been looking forward to. I apologise for any discomfort this may cause you, Laser.”
“I am ready for it. Shall we?”
Alhuradia’s body tensed, but she moved toward the hatch.
Laser and Sting followed.
The hallways were empty of all personnel as their party moved toward the customs area. The bride straightened her shoulders and entered the room when two of the huge Metskiat held the door open for her.
A woman with chestnut brown skin stepped forward. “Why do you come before us daughter?”
“To repay for what was taken, to mix my blood with yours, to bring a brighter future.” Alhuradia knelt.
“All worthy goals. Now, why do you stand before me?”
“I was raised to become Metskiat. I hold nothing else in my heart but to live and grow on your world.”
Laser watched as Sting stepped forward for the next question.
The matriarch looked him over. “Has she been touched since she left her world?”
Laser stepped forward. “I touched her when I escorted her down the halls.”
The matriarch focussed on her. “Did you now? Come here, creature.”
Laser did not like being called a creature, but she stepped forward and faced the matriarch in front of those assembled.
“Touch me as you touched her.” The matriarch was staring with narrowed
Alhuradia sighed. “I can’t, but if you could fold them off my face, that would be nice.”
Laser lifted and folded layer after layer until the tired young woman’s face and simple toga-styled dress was exposed.
“I am sorry that whatever you felt made you flinch.”
Laser stood near her guest until Alhuradia motioned for her to sit.
“I apologise for my flinch. My talent is to take in the most memorable moment of someone’s life and hold it to myself. Your recent trauma is very much in your mind, and I felt the pain and panic.”
Laser made a face. “Apologies. I was unaware of your talent or the custom.”
“It is unique to my family, but we came up in the roster and I will do what I can to keep the peace.”
“Have you met your husband?”
The bride looked at her like she was stupid. “Of course not. Our kind no longer mix. I have spoken to him on the com though. Sobax is a good sort, and we will get along well.”
Sting says to tell you that we will be at our destination in four hours.
“Can I get you something to eat or drink?”
The bride smiled. “You really don’t know what the protocol is, do you? No. I cannot eat or drink until I arrive at my new home. It is unpleasant considering I was not allowed to eat after sunset last night.”
“Why not?”
“A weak and hungry bride won’t usually run. I believe that is the reason.”
Laser made a face. “Well, I guess that leaves vids.”
“Is there one of your species? I am interested in others of your kind. You have a strangely organised mind. Highly intelligent but you wear your pain as part of your personality.”
“It isn’t that painful.” Laser blushed and quickly pulled up the first Champions vid, taking the broad spectrum of the first five women to be considered prime examples of their occupations.
Alhuradia watched the vid intently and blushed at certain points.
Laser sat with her, and after the Terrans, they moved on to the Guardians. When Stinger gave her the notice that they were docking with the Metskiat station, Laser waited until she felt the docking click before standing up and dropping the veils over Alhuradia’s face.
“We have arrived.”
A chuckle came from the bride. “You kept me occupied. Well done.”
“One does what one can.”
When the young woman got to her feet, Laser tidied the folds of the veils and asked, “Can you see where you are going under that?”
“Yes. The veils are woven to be thinner in the centre. It is like walking through a rainbow fog.”
Sting came down the stairs and nodded. “Ready. They are waiting in the customs area.”
The bride shivered. “This is the part I have not been looking forward to. I apologise for any discomfort this may cause you, Laser.”
“I am ready for it. Shall we?”
Alhuradia’s body tensed, but she moved toward the hatch.
Laser and Sting followed.
The hallways were empty of all personnel as their party moved toward the customs area. The bride straightened her shoulders and entered the room when two of the huge Metskiat held the door open for her.
A woman with chestnut brown skin stepped forward. “Why do you come before us daughter?”
“To repay for what was taken, to mix my blood with yours, to bring a brighter future.” Alhuradia knelt.
“All worthy goals. Now, why do you stand before me?”
“I was raised to become Metskiat. I hold nothing else in my heart but to live and grow on your world.”
Laser watched as Sting stepped forward for the next question.
The matriarch looked him over. “Has she been touched since she left her world?”
Laser stepped forward. “I touched her when I escorted her down the halls.”
The matriarch focussed on her. “Did you now? Come here, creature.”
Laser did not like being called a creature, but she stepped forward and faced the matriarch in front of those assembled.
“Touch me as you touched her.” The matriarch was staring with narrowed
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