Alien Salvation by Tracy St.John

very generous men, giving more
than expected.” Lindsey turned an enchanting shade of pink. “I
mean, just look how Vax cooked us an actual meal. Mass murderers
don’t treat their victims so well.”

    Tara came back to the rooftop, her arms
cradling round discs decorated with pictures of purple flowers.
Silver-colored rounded and pronged utensils rattled on top of the
discs. She sat down on the ground next to the food container and
handed each person one of each. “So much terrible loss, but that is
the nature of our suffering. Sit everyone. Let’s eat.”
    They sat in a circle with the food
container in the middle. Vax opened it, and the Earthers inhaled
the aroma that wafted from the dishes inside. Naked eagerness
suffused their faces. Vax took the round platters from Tara and
dished out the meal.
    Tara’s voice was whisper-thin. “What
have you brought us?”
    “Roasted ronka, Matara Tara. Boiled
gusasp in wedi herbs.” He served everyone quickly, heaping the
Earther’s plates high with chunks of meat and seasoned
vegetables.
    It hurt Bacoj’s heart to see how
Lindsey and her parents shook with suppressed excitement to be fed.
The effort to eat like civilized people instead of shoveling huge
mouthfuls down their throats was obvious. He exchanged a look with
Vax, noting the unnatural brightness in the Imdiko’s eyes. Vax
blinked hard, refusing to humiliate the Earthers by weeping for
their deprivation. Even Japohn looked upset, holding his hand up
when Vax filled his plate only halfway to indicate the bulk of the
food should be saved for Lindsey’s family.
    Aaron’s voice was garbled as he spoke
around a mouthful of ronka meat, his hand held over his lips. “This
is delicious. Thank you so much for sharing with us.” Whatever
trepidations he felt had disappeared from his voice for the
moment.
    Bacoj relished the rich, juicy result
of his clanmate’s efforts. “Vax cooks. Cooks well to feed large
Kalquorian crew.”
    Lindsey asked, “That’s your assignment
here on Earth?” She speared a blade of gusasp with her pronged
utensil and closed her eyes in undisguised ecstasy as she
chewed.
    Vax nodded. “Assign cook for
containment force.”
    Lindsey opened her eyes to stare at
Bacoj. “So you’ve mentioned rescue parties, containment forces, and
now a search party. What’s being searched for?”
    Bacoj swallowed before he answered.
“Empress Jessica family.”
    Japohn added, “They live near before
war. Must find for her.”
    The Earthers paused in their eating,
giving their rapt attention. Tara’s expression in particular was
eager. “Tell us about Empress Jessica. Is she treated well by your
emperors?”
    Bacoj blinked his surprise at the
question. “She Empress. She Kalquor leader. All treat well.” He
mused for a moment, while he considered how to inform them of the
Empress’ importance to his people. “She give Empire prince and
princess,” he said finally.
    His statement elicited wide-eyed stares
from all three Earthers. Tara choked out, “She’s had
children?”

    It had been Jessica’s clanning to the
Imperial Clan that had given Earth the reason to finally declare
war. No doubt her producing heirs would infuriate those who still
took offense to the mixing of the two races. Bacoj kept his tone
carefully neutral. “Boy name Wayne. Princess name
Noelle.”
    Aaron suddenly ducked his head, and
Lindsey’s lower lip trembled. Tara’s face beamed with delight, much
to Bacoj’s surprise.
    “That’s wonderful!” the elder female
enthused. “Is she happy with her life there?”
    Bacoj tried to fathom their responses
to no avail. Well, at least they didn’t seem to be upset at the
combination of Kalquorian and Earther DNA. “I no meet Empress. I
hope she happy.”
    Japohn tried to be helpful. “She like
yell at council much. Think she be like Nobek. Enjoy fight for fair
causes. She good leader.”
    Tara glowed with what looked like
pride. “For some, fighting for a good cause is