"You are late," said Christophe from the couch. "We believed you may have chickened out."
"Chicken?" Ashnahta tried the foreign word out.
"A small, flightless bird that...oh, never mind," Reginald said with a wave. "It's an expression that means you're scared. That's all."
He always offended Ashnahta. He didn't mean to. He just did not understand certain things about her culture. I saw Christophe cringe.
"I'm sorry we're late," I said quickly to smooth over the tension. "It's my fault. I had a long work out and needed a shower."
Reginald motioned us in. "No matter. I ran late on a conference myself. Come. The others are already waiting."
Ashnahta shot me an uncertain look.
It's okay. I promise. It didn't matter how annoyed with her I might have been. She was insecure. And that was a feeling she did not wear well.
Christophe frowned at me. More and more he was picking up on our inspeaking. I'm not sure if he knew what we were saying, but he always knew when we were doing it. He said nothing, though, and I think he probably assumed I was smoothing over Reginald's slight at Ashnahta's character.
We went to the pretty dining room filled with crystal. Everyone was already in there, even Marlon. And they were all waiting. I felt their eyes. Of the group in front of us, only Ralph had met Ashnahta. Jillian gasped out loud at the sight, but quickly covered with a pretend cough. Marlon openly stared, but gave her a cocky little wink that set my teeth on edge. Dr. Karl stood and bowed and then looked and then bowed again, unsure of what to do. Lynette just stared.
Reginald clapped his hands in the doorway behind us, making us all jump. "Great! Now that we're all here..." He called for the service to begin and motioned us to sit. He did not have us together. In fact, he placed me in the friendly zone next to himself and Christophe, and to my dismay, Ashnahta was all the way at the other end of the table next to Jillian and across from Lynette. Marlon was at the head of the table. At the time I thought it was odd, but it turns out he had a leg shackled and that was the only place to do it properly. "Reggie was just making a point," Ralph said later.
When I saw the seating plan, I tried to change it. "I think maybe I should trade places with..."
"Sit down, Jake," Reginald said, friendly, but firmly. Anger flared at him. He was trying to make this difficult. He was trying to push us, to push her. I sat down hard on my chair.
I'm right here. I don't know if she was open to me or not, but I kept projecting that, daring Christophe to tell me to stop. He quirked and eyebrow but said nothing.
"I'm sorry, dear, but I just have to tell you that I think your skin tone is simply amazing," Jillian gushed, breaking the silence.
"Thanks are given." I noticed Ashnahta was trying very hard to pronounce the words correctly. I smiled to myself. So it did matter what these people thought, in spite of what she'd been saying all week.
"It's just the most beautiful shade." Jillian shook her head, frowning. "I'm truly sorry. I had no idea of your coloring when I designed that uniform. I see it will not do, not at all. Yellow? My dear, please forgive that horrible choice."
Ralph snorted into his glass, and I bit my cheek to keep from laughing. Of all the crimes against common sense in the name of uniforms Jillian committed, it was the color yellow of Ashnahta's that she felt warranted an apology? I struggled to keep from laughing.
And then two things happened that did not make me want to laugh at all. Marlon blurted out, "My favorite color is yellow," and then Lynette kicked him under the table. I'm sure of it. And frankly, I wouldn't have minded a bit if her reasoning was the same as mine. I didn't like the way Marlon was looking at Ashnahta. Lynette? I got the distinct impression that she simply did not want anyone liking Ashnahta at all. I clenched my jaw.
"Relax, Jacob," said Christophe so quietly I'm not sure if he actually spoke the words out loud or not.
Marlon glared at Lynette. "What? It's true. You know I like yellow."
Ashnahta was assessing Marlon. I could almost feel her searching his mind. She gets a particular look on her face when she does that. Christophe noticed, and perhaps Ralph. I doubt the others picked it up. Her expression changed, just slightly, and I knew she was amused at something she found. It made my jaw tighten more.
"Blue, I think," said Jillian. "Do you normally dress in blue?"
Ashnahta turned to her and thought of her answer fully before she spoke. "How I dressed on Laak'sa is not to be considered. You have not the materials or the immodesty necessary."
Ralph gave a laugh at the answer. "You got that right! At least the immodesty part."
Jillian frowned. "I don't understand."
"Blue would be fine," I said a little more loudly than I meant. It was already going terribly. I glanced at Ralph's drink. He caught my look and shook his head with a mocking little smile.
"Blue is an acceptable coloring," confirmed Ashnahta. She was assessing Jillian then, but only gave her a cursory check. I knew what that meant. Jillian was written off as no one of importance to her. She turned then to Dr. Karl, but it was my mind she was searching for the right words. "The machine doctor told me of help from you for my itch. Thanks are given."
Dr. Karl beamed. "It was nothing at all. A little old fashioned aloe and a touch of monodisodium..." Ralph's groan cut the doctor off. He cleared his throat. "Yes, well, I won't bore you with the details. You are very welcome. I trust there are no side effects?"
Ashnahta turned to me. "No," I answered for her. "None." I explained to her what he meant. She agreed.
The food was served. I noticed that they took extra care to offer her only the foods I told them she liked. Christophe got my attention and brought up something Reginald wanted to talk about. I was wrapped up in that conversation for awhile, but then slowly began to feel an animosity prickle my senses. It was coming from the other end of the table. I glanced down. Lynette was not eating, and neither was Ashnahta. They were staring at each other.
Glaring, actually.
Marlon was babbling on and on, trying to gain Ashnahta's attentions. Jillian and Dr. Karl kept asking questions, or chatting. Lynette would answer, Ashnahta would answer. But neither would stop glaring at the other and answered in clipped tones with quick answers. I sighed.
My head began to throb. What's the problem?
I was a little surprised when she actually answered. I do not like this one.
Lynette's fine. She means well.
I should not like to continue to see her at my table.
It dawned on me then that Ashnahta actually felt threatened. I couldn't help the stunned amusement I felt.
You would laugh at this situation?
You have nothing to fear from Lynette.
Her eyes narrowed slightly. Of course I do not. She would be easy to break.
Lynette turned towards me so suddenly I felt as if she somehow knew what we were saying. "I haven't seen you much since we got back, Jake. We'll have to catch up soon."
She said it as if she hadn't been completely free to come see me any time she chose. I didn't know how to reply. "Uh, yeah. You can stop in anytime."
"I will. I'd love to fill you in on my latest project."
"Oh? What's that?"
"Didn't you hear? I'm getting one of the new Condors."
I heard someone drop a fork.
What is this new Condor? Ashnahta demanded.
A ship.
For jumps?
No. Galaxy explorations. Like ours was.
Tell your primary to give her one that jumps. Far away.
I ignored her rude comment. "No, I hadn't heard," I said out loud.
"Lynette," came Christophe's warning tone.
But it was Reginald who pressed the subject. "Yep. Our girl here is going to lead one of the first approved family missions."