Page 82 of Meteor Storm

Yuros gave the women a traditional greeting before bowing his head in respect.

“Inquisitor Naan,” he said. “Kora.” He stepped aside, presenting Penny and me.”

Quickly, Penny pulled her hand from mine like it was against the rules to touch me. And, in a way, it was. I locked my hands loosely behind my back, taking a soldier’s stance, feet slightly apart as I straightened. Penny cleared her throat and emulated me, standing as a soldier would herself.

Naan and Kora turned to look at us, their fully black eyes taking us both in thoroughly.

“Thilar Tuross,” Naan spoke, swiping a hand across the air.

On her middle finger was a thick, silver ring from which holograms sprung forth in an array of informational files, images, and records, all pertaining to me, the Haak, Mekah Prime, and the battle in Ursa. I could also see glimpses of early records. My pedigree. My birthplace. My training records and achievements. Everything. She removed the ring from her finger and placed it on the table, leaving the holograms stagnant.

“We have taken much time to study your records,” Kora added, looking over the same holograms. “And Yuros’ reports and observations.”

“You show signs of independent thought and self-appointed objectives,” Naan said.

I could see Yuros lift his chin at that, but we’d both been expecting it to come up. My surrender to my personal vendettas. My use of skills in conflicts that were not contractually mine to get involved in. Naan and Kora wasted no time getting down to business.

I took a deep breath, prepared to be scrutinized and peeled apart like any soldier would have been in my situation. It was routine to be judged. Measured. Weighed.

Beside me, Penny’s heartrate was picking up a little. I could tell she was uncomfortable with the fact that she could not understand the conversation, but I was not cleared to translate or permitted to speak yet, so I remained silent. Waiting.

Then their eyes shifted toward her and both of us stiffened.

Them meeting us as a pair rather than as a full council was a courtesy, likely to keep Penny from feeling overwhelmed or threatened. Were it just me, I was certain I’d have been met with at least twelve clerics ready to hammer me with questions, but they understood Penny was not one of us. She was new to our traditions. New to the galaxy as a whole. Like she was a nervous animal, they gave her space.

“Let us begin again,” Naan said, her voice melodic and aged.

“We are not used to this kind of meeting,” Kora joined. “Thank you for bringing the human.”

“What is her name?”

“Penelope,” I answered.

Penny glanced at me when she heard her name, but otherwise remained still, staring back at the clerics with curiosity and caution in equal parts.

“She’s smaller than I imagined humans to be,” Kora spoke.

“Were monrians not smaller once?” Naan grinned. “Give the humans time.”

Kora cocked her head, using her own holo-ring to bring up a hundred holographic images of Penny beside my own. Her medical scans. Her alphabet and Earthly languages. Even her Nexus files; ones I’d only seen when I skimmed the contents of her wrist cuff. I furrowed my brows, wondering how Kora had gotten such detailed records.

“The valerian general was so kind as to provide official records from the Nexus,” Kora clarified. “And we met briefly with his mate. They seem… compatible. We, of course, wanted to gather as much information as we could considering this one has been spending time under your care.” She swiped through the images, looking over things with incredible speed. “And she’s infertile? Unable to reproduce? Even with her own kind?”

“That is accurate,” I said.

Beside me, Penny took in a deep breath, aware that she was being gawked at and questioned. I could tell by her demeanor that she didn’t like that she was being talked about.

“She’s nervous,” Naan said.

“Her ship was attacked by gek’tal. She awoke on Mekah Prime, after having no previous knowledge or awareness of the other species on that asteroid,” I explained. “This is all very new to her.”

“For such a primitive species, I am surprised she’s handled it so well thus far. What are her skills? Her distinguishing traits? What sets her apart?”

“She’s resourceful. Determined. Adaptable. Her physical strength is adjustable. Her species learns slowly but consistently. She has an extremely sensitive emotional capacity. Well developed observational skills. Self-awareness. Loose ties to religious practices and beliefs. I believe her species has much to offer. They’re an obvious strain from the creator at a much less advanced stage of development, but with vast potential.” I glanced down at her. “I think, despite their infancy, they will play a significant role in the era to come.”

Naan’s eyes moved from me to Penny several times and narrowed as she took in a long whiff of the air.

“You speak of her with a level of respect I would not have expected from someone so far removed from their species.”