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Negal ushered his hover-powered sales bin into his quarters aboard the cargo carrier he’d called home for the past fourteen years.The bin was far lighter than when he’d left.He’d set up a small sales booth alongside several Coydidak artisans in a square in the underground marketplace.He probably could have carried the bin rather than let it propel under his guiding hand, but the few remaining pieces of Signis’ sculptures were safer floating a few inches from the ground.
He beamed at the draped surroundings of his clan’s home and the man sitting on the richly upholstered lounger in the middle of the living space.“Where’s our Nobek, Rorix?He had a profitable day.”
“You mean the Coydidak had a profitable day.Which I’m glad to hear.”
The Coydidak culture relied on communal finances, which Negal was in charge of overseeing.All members contributed as much as they could to the support of the people.Each member kept ten percent of the credits they earned for personal use, so they’d all become experts at trading, selling, and hustling whatever their individual gifts pointed them toward.
Negal’s contributions came from marketing his Nobek’s talent for carving stone into objects of beauty.He took ten percent of the sales he made on Signis’ behalf.Adding Signis’ ten percent, they were able to treat themselves not opulently, but decently.Negal was as savvy a negotiator as a promoter of his clanmate’s artwork, so the fine furnishings in their quarters came from a combination of their personal funds and the Imdiko’s talent to score a good deal on used pieces.Rorix’s ability to refinish and repair enhanced their home and increased their funds when he had time to work on pieces Negal could also peddle.
The Dramok lifted his attention from his handheld to smile a welcome.“Signis went to find a fight ring to vent his frustrations.”
“Interviews didn’t go well?”
Rorix shrugged.“The applicants for the bridge positions were okay.One or two, more than okay.I hired the short-distance and onboard com officer on the spot.He’s a former spyship com officer named Veko.A Nobek but pretty laid back for his breed.”He hesitated and added, “He successfully worked with and trained an Earther female as com officer backup during his last assignment.”
“Sounds like you’re giving Matara Laughter Lorenz a real chance at the long-distance com job.”Negal grinned in delight at the idea of daily encountering the brainy beauty and her insanely gorgeous body.
Rorix’s warmth fled for a warning glare.“Your infatuation is no basis for hiring her for such an important position.”
Negal snorted and shoved the bin against the wall.He tapped the controls, allowing it to settle on the plush wine-colored carpet he’d gotten at half price and installed for free.“If it’s such an important position, then you have to bring her on.I assume you spoke to no one who was even remotely close to possessing her qualifications.”
“They can learn.”
“Rorix, she designed the system.You can’t refuse to hire her for the sole reason you and Signis don’t want an Earther on your bridge crew.”
His Dramok scowled, his gaze drifting to the three holographic documents hovering in a line above his handheld.No doubt they were the resumes of those who’d applied for the job.
Negal walked around the table between them, a gleaming Joshadan handmade piece restored by the clan leader.He sat next to him.“Signis knows she’s the only real choice too, which is why he’s looking for a fight.Rorix, he’ll get over it.”
“I’m not so sure.After those Earthers ambushed him on Dantovon—”
“Laughter Lorenz doesn’t strike me as the type to jump a Nobek twice her size.She isn’t homeless, starving, and desperate.If Signis were honest, he’d admit it was the reason those Earthers went after him.They wanted his stuff, not necessarily to do him serious harm.”
“It wasn’t the only time he’s encountered Earthers with bad intentions.”
“So he was insulted by those Earthtique types a few times.We’ve all been there.”Negal looked Rorix in the eye.“What our fellow Kalquorians did to him, to you, and to me was much worse.We haven’t sworn off our people because of it.”
“It’s different when it’s your own,” Rorix insisted.
“How?”
“I’m not a philosopher, damn it.”There was no heat in his tone, however.Merely an exasperated acceptance of the inevitable.
It was good enough for Negal.He wondered how he could attract the Lorenz woman for a night of fun once they took off on the expedition.
* * * *
“Matara Lorenz.”
The gruff voice issuing from Laughter’s com sped her heart.She sat on the lounger in the sitting area of her impersonal rented room and readied herself to shout at Rorix.
“Yes?”Her tone managed evenness.For now.
“Congratulations.You’ve been selected for the exploration mission as the Coydidak’s long-distance com officer.You’ll serve aboard the flagship of the convoy, EC-1122, as an officer of my bridge crew.”
