A feeling coiled in my stomach that I couldn’t identify; I wanted to protect her, but I didn’t know what to say.
“I know of a species you would find interesting,” NAID said.
“Do you?”
A projection of a man appeared next to her.
Unable to help it, I stood, pacing closer. “He’s human.” My hand lifted of its own volition, but my fingers slipped right through the image. The being was nothing more than light.
“No, he’s Amorian. They are the species whose DNA most resembles humans. Dr. Qinlin wants to study their medical texts in an effort to understand you.”
The Amorian looked human, though little black dots went in a V over his forehead, down his nose before reaching his lips. More dots were on each side of his mouth and down his chin.
“Do they differ from us besides the dots?” I asked.
“They have superior healing skills and faster reflexes. I also believe their hearing, sight, and strength might be a touch better than humans. Overall, they are very similar. But…” she trailed off, eyes twinkling.
“Fuck,” I yelped, scurrying back. The projection of the Amorian’s face split open at the dots, like something from a sci-fi horror movie, and revealed tentacles and fangs. My heart raced a million miles a minute. “I will never be able to unsee that.”
NAID burst into a fit of giggles, and the projection did it again.
“Fuck, NAID. Stop.”
She kept sniggering, but the image disappeared. “I couldn’t resist.”
Sitting back down on the rock-hard stool, I asked, “What species do you find most interesting?”
Her lips puckered. “That is an impossible decision, as each brings their unique biology and culture.”
“Then tell me about another. One that hopefully doesn’t rip their face open in a nightmare-inducing way.”
“Grimi have a unique reproduction system that requires a minimum of five people to reproduce,” she said.
“Really? How many kids do they have?”
“On average two per pregnancy, but they can have up to seven. Grimi highly value family and children. Most marriages consist of five to fifteen people.”
My mouth opened. “Group marriages?”
“Do you find it abhorrent?”
“Are they all adults and consenting?”
“Yes.”
“Then it doesn’t bother me.”
The conversation continued in the same way. NAID and I would talk about whatever we wanted; the scientists would mutter and whisper. After about an hour, Dr. Qinlin called it quits. I said goodbye to NAID, then went to meet Urgg and Wyn.
The crowd was oppressive, the air was stagnant, and the mass of people’s voices was an angry buzz. Gripping the touchstone for reassurance, I wound among the mass. I stared at the ground, my shoulders hunched to practically my ears. Peoplepressed around me, bumping into me and squishing me. Part of me wanted to hide in my apartment, but I forged on.
The second I entered Urgg’s bakery, I released a long breath. Thank God it was quiet here.
An unfamiliar barbarus stood behind the counter. They were as hulking as Urgg, but maybe a couple of inches taller. Their skin was deep brown, the same leather texture, and their black hair was contained in two long braids ending in gold rings. Swirling tattoos almost identical to Urgg’s covered their muscular arms, and a beaded armband clung to their bicep.
Wyn sat at a round metal table pressed in the corner. A pastry filled with a red jam leaked all over his lavender fingers. I squeezed between the waiting aliens, trembling, and headed in his direction.
“Seth,” he called in greeting. “Have one. Urgg gave them to me saying I was too short.”
