Adventures in Interstellar Diplomacy A { TEXT-DECORATION: none }

Title: Adventures in Intstellar Diplomacy

Author: Nes

Email: spitfireness@hotmail.com

Rating: R

Category: UC (Larek/Maria)

Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot...sigh.

Added note post season: I stopped watching "Off the Menu" after about twenty minutes. Screw that. I started writing this way before then anyhow -and I like my version better.

Brody stood in front of the little mirror he kept on his office door. Nervously he ran his hands through his unruly hair.

Offering his reflection a dapper look, he said, "Well, hullo there, cutie. Fancy meeting here...in my workplace after I offered your boss an extra twenty for you, specifically, to deliver my lunch."

Bubble slightly burst, he tried again. "Maria, how's the sandwich biz?"

Sighing, he ruffled his hair and said pathetically, "Heard any good abduction jokes lately?"

Finally he gave up and collapsed into his leather chair. "Get it together, mate. You're a grown man...and she's dreadfully underage."

One more year til she was eighteen. Less, actually. One hundred and twenty-seven days point five. It was circled in crisp red ink on all his calendars.

Not this his intentions were dishonorable. Not with a sweet girl like Maria. She was so understanding...

"Mr. Davis? Brody?"

He loved the way she said his name. He waited for her to say it again before he unlocked the door.

A vision. Perfect skin and all that fluffy blonde hair.

"Hiya, Brody."

He doubled over suddenly, in shock.

"You okay?" She dropped the sandwich in her haste. She liked Brody Davis, maybe not in a 'gimme a kiss, big boy' capacity, but that's what made it okay to like him. He was safe. A good guy.

"I require your car."

"What?" Okay, Maria thought. Cancel good guy. Reevaluation time: maybe he's Demanding, Insistent Guy.

"Your car," he said again. He stretched his arms out towards her, jerkily like a marionette.

"The Jetta? Hello, independently wealthy dude, you have your own?" She attempted to rap her knuckles on his head but his hand swiftly caught hers.

"Come on," he tugged her towards the stairs.

"I reiterate, if only for dramatic purposes: What?"

"I need you to drive."

"Okay, she thought about it for a minute. "You're right. We really need to get you to a hospital. I'll drive."

***

"Do you think it's something to do with the cancer?"

"No."

"None of my business. Right."

"Actually it just has nothing to do with the cancer," he said calmly. "And we're not going to the hospital."

Maria looked at Brody, nearly swerving off the road. "What is going on with you? Why are you being so weird?"

She looked at the way he was sitting, all stretched out like a big cat. His mouth was missing its easy, mile-wide grin.

"You're not Brody."

He smirked and panic flooded her.

"You've been abducted! I mean, I've been abducted. I mean, you abducted us!"

"Swift one, aren't you?"

Her panic was soon replaced by irritation, sarcasm she could handle.

"I'm not going anywhere with you." She scowled at the alien wearing Brody's face.

He moved quickly to trap her face between Brody's hands. No, not Brody's hands, Brody wouldn't hurt her like this. Slowly, he said, "I'm in a hurry and I can't drive. I'd have to release my control of the human and let his body take control."

"Go teleport yourself or something," she ground out as he squeezed tighter.

"If it's not you, it'll be some other unsuspecting-" he pointed out the window, "random person. Oh, look at that fellow! He doesn't look busy at all."

"Fine," Maria agreed. She relaxed her face muscles and muttered beneath her breath. "I bruise easy, you know."

He smirked again, "I'll keep that in mind."

Don't let him get to you, girl. Stay calm, think fast. How could she use this to her advantage? This was an alien, what could he give her?

Information.

Max would appreciate it, maybe it'd give him a few full nights of sleep. And it might prove to Tess, Michael, and Isabel that the humans were not only helpful but belonged in the inner pod circle. Maybe she could wrangle some stuff on the granolith...

Smiling with new determination, she asked, "So where are we going?"

"North Carolina."

"Okay, that's across state lines." She thought for a second, "Change of plans, then."

"No."

"Hey, I agreed to this so and it is my home turf, er, planet so listen before you veto. This is my mother's car. M-O-M. You might be willing to incur the wrath of Amy DeLuca, but I'm not. You have credit cards, right?" She was sure Brody wouldn't mind. Fairly sure.

He produced a battered brown wallet. "Discover, Mastercard, Visa, and some cash." He flashed a stack of twenty dollar bills.

""Wunderbar," Maria said dryly. She relaxed a little, she was good at making plans. "What we need to do is bring this car back to my house and then take a taxi. We'll rent a car -I'm thinking Porsche convertible- and drive to Albequerque. That's where the nearest airport is. We'll hop a plane and be in NC in less than two days. And that's with a very incredible margin of safety."

"That easy?"

"You've got the plastic, then it's that easy." She shrugged. "Hey, take the wheel for a minute."

"I don't drive. That's why I need you," he pointed out.

"Advanced species, my ass. Come on, just keep us straight for two seconds. It's not hard." She reached for her purse with both hands giving the alien no choice but to grip the wheel. "Good job."

"Thanks." He eyed her cell phone suspiciously, "What's that for?"

"I gotta get us tickets. Plus, I have to tell someone where I am," she added challengingly.

When he didn't say anything she began to press the numbers of Max's house. Please let me get an answering machine, she prayed. Yes! "Hey, girlfriend. FYI, I'm pulling a 285 South with your not-a-boss- to the home of the Tarheels. No worries. Cover for me. Love ya."

She looked at the passenger, "See, that wasn't painful. Now hand me one of those charge cards, will you?"

***

Maria pulled into her driveway and put on the parking brake. "I've got to pack and leave a note. You stay. No, wait someone might see you. Come on."

When they entered the small house, Maria tentatively called out, "Mom?"

There was no answer so Maria told the alien, "She's not here." She pointed to the couch, "Relax, I won't be ten minutes."

"Five, we're on a schedule."

She scowled at him, "Sure, sure."

***

Maria stared at her closet, "Now what does one wear when shuttling alien emissaries?" She stuffed in two pairs of jeans, her favorite red v-neck sweater, a blue tank top, and three random shirts. She added a black blouse and knee-length patterned purple skirt, just in case.

"Sensible shoes, sensible shoes," she muttered as she grabbed a pair of sneakers and black flats.

Shrugging out of her Crashdown uniform, she put on another pair of jeans, the sneakers, and a blue shirt that read, Space case. Her mom had made it.

Don't think about Mom right now. Think about information. I'm like a secret agent of something. Yeah, secret agent.

Next she tackled her socks, toothpaste, toothpaste, brush, sunglasses and makeup. "Okay, what's left? Ah, the unmentionables. Now what am sort of statement do I want to make? Please abduct me again? I really don't mind being here? Or please don't hurt me? None of the above. Efficient, independent, capable. That leaves out the thong."

***

"Stop getting antsy," Maria said.

"You've spent the last five minutes on the same sentence," he growled. "I'm beginning to wonder why I'm bothering with you."

"I'm trying to maintain the right balance of 'urgent but not that urgent' so my mom doesn't freak out."

"Why write a letter at all?"

"So we don't get stopped by the highway patrol that my mom will probably call out if I don't leave a note."

"That's good enough," he grabbed the letter from her hand and shoved her towards the door.

***

The shiny of driving a Porsche had gone off after half an hour. Maria turned off the radio, three hours of blasting music with no conversation was not her idea of fun. Even if this was a business arrangement and she was (just a little) scared, she was not about to be bored.

She looked at the alien in Brody's body through hooded eyes. That sort of naming just wouldn't do. "I'm Maria."

He grunted.

"Let's set up some ground rules. You need me. I can drive. As an added bonus, I'm willing to accommodate and otherwise assist you. Not many humans can offer you that. All I ask in return is some civility and a little bit of info."

"Info?"

"To help me and my friends."

"Your friends?"

"You mean you don't-," Maria paused. She'd assumed this guy knew of her friendship with the royal four. If he didn't, she'd rather he not find out. "Brody and the other abductees told me. We have a support group. Like the AA but without the alcohol or the addiction of the twelve steps-"

"Any other ground rules?"

"Wear your seatbelt."

He buckled it obediently. Apparently, he was going to cut down on the ultra violence and be mature. But just in case-

"I want a guarantee of safety."

"A what?"

"For both of us. I'll take you to North Carolina. I'll even stay awhile to make sure Brody gets back okay but there will no sucking of my brains, no laser rayguns, no Vulcan death grip."

"My word on it."

"Okay." That's one battle fought and won, she cheered inwardly. "Now what am I supposed to call you?"

"I am Larek of Sa-Larekon."

"Sa-Larekon?"

"My planet," he said.

"How eponymous of you."

"You're taking this all rather well."

"Old hat. I've been kidnapped for vehicular purposes by an alien befoe."

Larek arched a confused, then eloquent brow, "Ah, your support group."

"Yeah, so what's in Carolina? A friend?"

He seemed to wince, "Not a friend, but someone important."

***

She turned into the parking lot of the Motel 6, blinking her eyes.

"What's this?" Larek infused Brody's English accent with a gravelly purr that Maria wasn't in the mood to acknowledge.

"It's a place to sleep. I don't have whatever alien power is keeping you awake and looking vibrantly fresh."

"Snippy," he leapt over the side of the car, not bothering to unlock the door.

"Some of us aren't so athletic after five hours of driving." She groaned, "Some of us also need to pee."

"Here, let me get that for you," he grabbed her suitcase and followed her to the motel lobby.

She narrowed her eyes in suspicion. Why was he being polite?

***

"Two single rooms, please," she told the night manager.

"Actually, make it one double," Larek corrected.

Maria looked at him suspiciously but didn't say anything. "Hey, this is a business arrangement," she hissed as they walked to their room. "But it's not that kind of business."

"I'm just trying to keep an eye on you. I don't want you to change your mind in the middle of the night and find myself stranded."

"Don't you trust me?" She smiled teasingly.

Larek grabbed her wrist tight and twisted, "In a word, no. You're convenient, but don't make a mistake here "I'm not your precious Brody."

He released her wrist with a snap and she rubbed it, "I kinda got that."

Larek had already dumped her bag and turned on the television when she got to the room.

"TV, how...mundane, and so typically male," she muttered.

He grunted noncommitally, "One of the few endearing things about this planet."

"On the behalf of the Terran Hospitality Wagon, thanks." She unzipped her case, "I'll just go take a shower -unless of course, you think I'll flush myself down the toilet and leave you stranded."

Without looking up, he said, "When's our flight?"

"At seven tomorrow morning."

"Be back by then," he turned back to the screen.

She shook her head in bewilderment and closed the bathroom door, "I can only try."

***

She emerged, hair wet, in a oversized night-tee to find Brody still glued to the television.

"So, uh, there's only one bed. Which side do you want?"

He leered at her.

"You know, you have the most annoying facial expressions."

He smirked harder, "I don't need to sleep."

Maria sat on the bed thoughtfully, "But Brody does. He also needs to eat. He loses weight every time you abduct him. You should feed him, it's the least you could do."

"The least?"

"He's got a life, you know. A job, a daughter. You interfere with all that and you don't even say thank you. Would it be so hard to leave a Hallmark in his pocket?" She paused, "Not that they make cards for that."

"God, you just go on, don't you?" He rolled his eyes, "What sort of nutrients would you recommend then?"

Maria smiled satisfied, "Pizza, duh."

***

"So you can possess anyone's body, huh?" Maria murmured. "Then why not, say, Harrison Ford?"

Larek bit into his fifth steaming slice of pepperonni, onion, sausage, pineapple, and mushroom deep dish "Scheduling conflicts."

Maria laughed, "Maybe we should have got a second pie."

A shadow crossed Larek's face and he lay the slice down.

"What's the matter? Did you chew too fast? The cheese is really hot, but that's the best part-"

"I didn't take over this body to eat your Earthling pizza, I have things to do that don't include taking care of a weak human. Important things." His mouth set into a thin line of displeasure.

"Well, why don't you explain it to me instead of being Mr. Grumpy." She sat against a pillow. "You promised me info and maybe if I know the 411, we can cooperate better or whatever. Come on, tell me about ye olde homestead."

Larek sighed. "Sa-Larekon is only a small planet in my solar system. The smallest, actually, but we're the only ones with nemriaw."

"Nim-rye-ow?"

"It's a sort of a crystal. We use them in our ships to go faster than the speed of light."

"Oh, it makes you go zoom" she nodded in understanding, it was like dilithium from Star Trek or something.

"Anyhow, we're the only ones who can mine and process nemriaw so we're important and it keeps us safe, out of politics. Or it has, until lately."

A frown graced Maria's face, she didn't like the sound of this. "What changed?"

"Kivar," the word was laced with hate.

Maria hid a small gasp and tried to play dumb. "Kivar, what's that?"

"It's a who. And he wants to control the nemriaw"

"Okay, I'm guessing you couldn't just share then."

Larek stood abruptly, "That's enough for the night. I thought you were tired."

"I was, but now I'm in listening-mode. I've got a second wind -and it's sympathetic."

He moved towards the door, "I'm going for a walk. Go to sleep, Maria."

Larek sat on the hood of the Porsche convertible, laying back against the windshield. He looked at the strange five-fingered hands, turning them over.

'I will never get used to this,' he thought. How long had be at this business, possessing human bodies? How long had the war lasted?

He remembered Anna Salion, his disastrous first experience. The riotous twisting of entering a female body. He shook at the memory, the mistake had not been repeated.

Then came Brad Hatter. What had he been? An accountant? No matter. He'd died seven years ago. Gunshot wound in a mugging.

So needless. The body should've been good for twenty more years. Larek had to waste months searching for a suitable body.

Finally, Brody Davis. Larek pulled and knowledge easily from the human mind -he had a daughter, Sydney and once a wife. The abductions had driven him a little mad.

No matter, Larek cut off the stream of trivia. He had more important matters to concentrate upon.

He let himself think of the pressed snowfields and crystal pink crevasses of Sa-Larekon. The moon so blindingly bright...

Kivar's "diplomatic" ships surrounding Sa-Larekon in a neat ring, capturing all the nemriaw tankers...you couldn't see all that from the surface, of course. But you could never ignore it.

He snapped his teeth in anger. He could kill Kivar with a song in his heart.

But he wouldn't. Oh, smart Larek. So-clever Larek, caught in his own trap. When Antar had fallen, Larek had begun taking steps to protect his own planet. He divorced himself from all association from Zan -oh, it was bitter!- and sent emissaries to Kivar. Sa-Larekon transformed into the Nemriaw Mining Guild and cut itself from the rest of the system in everything but business transactions. They'd made themselves innocuous, but useful. Why bother conquering us? We already do all you wish.

But Larek had a deeper plan. Slowly, he had decreased the export of nemriaw until it had reached a trickle. Ten years ago FTL had become all but myth, the only ones with the ability left were Kivar and he didn't have enough in reserves to deploy a trash barge. Larek had been apologetic, the deposits were gone, he'd told them. The natural mountain growths kept ships from scanning for the true quantity of nemriaw available. Larek had stockpiled his own army of quick fliers and warships in preparation for the day when Kivar was weak enough to be defeated. And the day was closer everyday, with FTL eliminated, there was almost no commerce between the planets and an economic depression had settled firmly over the system, but most of all on Antar. Antar was a desert plan that produced luxury items like cactus wine-creme, ivory, and precious jewelry, but no food. That's why the ancestors had left Antar to colonize the system in the first place. This made the Antarians superior, we are the direct-line, the true-descendents, they claimed. Arrogance was moot now. The people of Antar were starving, angry, and letting Kivar know it. The people of Antar were starving, angry, and letting Kivar know it.

Larek smiled, the Antarians might just kill Kivar for him.

But somehow Kivar had found out. Maybe it'd been the training missions the fliers had taken on the surface. But they'd been so careful to stay undetected...and Khivar wasn't supposed to waste nemriaw on dectector-satellites...

No matter. Kivar had found them out. He'd sent a fleet -Larek apparently hadn't been the only one stockpiling- and a message. Larek was to report to Nicholas. Report! As if he was some lackling toady of Kivar's to order around. But Kivar held his people, his planet hostage and so Larek was on his way to Nicholas.

"Just like a lackling toady," Larek shook his head and frowned sadly. "And dragging a human in tow."

***

Maria switched off all the lights in the hotel room and shut the curtains. She moved to the bed and reached for the phone. She just sat for a moment. Her fingers dialed the number to Alex's by heart.

He answered before the first ring had finished.

"Whitman Residence!"

"Alex..."

"Where are you? I've been so worried. Are you okay?"

"Calm down, Alex. I'm in a hotel a little out of Albequerque."

"Do you want me to come get you?"

"No need to come galloping in on your shiny white steed. Thanks for caring, though."

"Maria..."

"Shh, and I'll tell you what's going on."

"Michael and Max are all set to tear the Musuem apart, looking for clues. They're more than willing to tear Brody apart."

"That's why I called you, sweet bud of mine. Now listen because I don't know when he'll be back. I'm not actually with Brody. I'm with Larek."

"Larek?"

"Yeah, Max met him in New York, it's a long story. Have Max explain, it'll give him something constructive to do. Anyhow he needs to get North Carolina and I kinda-sort volunteered to take him."

"You volunteered," Alex waited for a reasonable explanation with deadly calm.

"Well, maybe not so much in the strict Webster's definition of the word but you know how Max and Isabel and all don't really know much about their past lives? Well, Larek knew them so I figured I could get some useful information about Vilandra and everything. He's already mentioned Kivar. He's practically ready to spill his guts. We're like bosom buddies but with more personal space." Maria lowered her voice to a whisper, "I think I can get some information on the granolith."

"It's not worth it," he said hesitatingly. "Come back home."

"It is, too," she said. "And you know it."

"How much do you know about the guy, really, Maria? North Carolina, what could an alien want there? Maybe he's got a hidden agenda."

"Yeah, like he's going to take me to his home planet. I seriously doubt that. Besides, he doesn't know I know about him and Kivar. He doesn't even know I know Max. I need to know what he knows. But he doesn't know how much I know."

"It sounds all very complicated, Maria. You keep dropping the word 'know' and it's making me nervous."

"I'll use a new word," she assured him. "I'm totally under deep cover, though."

"Could you expain that? I'm feeling nervous again."

"He thinks I belong to an alien-abductee support group."

"That's just the stupidest-"

"Hey, we live in Roswell, don't we?"

Alex sighed deeply. "Are you sure about this?"

"The sure-est."

"Would this Larek hurt you?"

"Oh, he's very gentle. He wouldn't hurt me." Much, she amended to herself.

"Will you call me tomorrow? Everyday?"

"If you promise to keep Michael and Max in check."

"As much as I can."

"Then I'll call as often as I can."

"You better get to sleep, Maria. You've gotta stay on your toes."

"Too right," she agreed. "Sweet dreams, Alex."

"Be safe, Maria."

With a lighter heart, she hung up the phone and lay against her pillow. She drifted into a doze filled with visions of alien worlds and people, finally ending with her in Princess Leia's metal bikini.

'That's not a very good color on me,' she said right before falling into a deep sleep.

Her waking was sharp. The linen beneath her was worn and snagged and the light filtered through the window at the wrong angle. Not her bedroom. Too quiet. From the corner of her eye, she saw him -his head cocked to the right, but staring straight at her. Her eyes narrowed in concentration, disapproval? She made an involuntary cough in her throat, was surprised by how weak she sounded.

Swiftly she sat up, her feet bouncing on the carpeted floor. She met his eyes and announced, "I have to pee."

Larek straightened his head, but did not change his expression. "You tend to."

Head held high, she made her way to the bathroom. "Great way to start the day," she muttered under her breath.

While showering, she reviewed her last night's conversation with Alex. Ready to spill? That was laughably far from true. Wouldn't hurt her? Hadn't he already? She rubbed her wrist thoughtfully.

Now how can I work him? Obviously, he's not going to go for the friendly, sympathetic ear. And I can't very well sit under a blinding, bright light and pretend I'm Dick Tracy. I guess the original plan's best: be capable, clever, and accomplished. Maybe he'll start to trust me.

She snorted. Then she put thoughts of doubt away, she didn't need them to trip her up.

***

They waited in airport lounge, Maria reading a magazine from the gift shop. Larek only sprawled indolently, his stare scaring away children and businessmen. Maria wondered how he could stretch his body over the uncomfortable metal-frame seats.

Suddenly he rolled his neck and stared at her, "Entertain me."

She put the magazine down. "I am not your cruise director."

"Entertain me or I'll play with the children."

Her mind boggled and hid at what his idea of playing was. "We've got a deal against threats."

"I'm not threatening you; I'm threatening them."

She shook her head, "You're a real asshole."

"All part of my charm," he smiled disarmingly. "Now, entertain me."

"What do you want? A good game of twenty questions? Or maybe truth or dare?"

"Nothing so high maintenance. Talk to me."

He was staring at her again, it was unnerving. At least when she'd been driving, she could avoid it.

Talk, she could handle though. Maria DeLuca, living chatterbox. Professional mouth. Oh, wait that makes me sound like a whore. "My name is Maria DeLuca. I'm sixteen. I'm a waitress at the Crashdown. My hobbies are singing-"

"Oh, and what did you do on your summer vacation?" Larek asked with false brightness.

She glared at him. "You said talk, I talked."

"I also said entertain. Now tell me about your precious Brody."

"He's not my precious anything. And I would think you would know more about Brody than I could tell you."

"But I want your perspective. He's quite fond of you, you know."

"We're friends," she said flatly.

"Oh, but dear Brody just longs for more. He, as they say, has the hots for your sweet, tender, and moist underaged flesh."

"Don't make him sound so dirty!" She blushed as people turned to look. "And don't talk about me like I'm a cake."

"You're a delicious dish." Larek conspiratorially leaned towards her. "He is though, isn't he? Dirty? Do you know he pays extra for you to deliver his supper? Would you like to his know his exact, intimate thoughts?"

She glared fiercely at him. "Stop it. I won't hate him."

Larek rubbed his hands together in glee. Now this was frustration-relieving entertainment! "He likes to rehearse-"

"Rehearse!" The exclamation escaped her.

His face was malicious, triumphant. "Greetings, conversation, approaches come-ons ."

Maria colored.

"Northwest Airlines. Flight 2108-3A. All aisles."

"That's us," she said, standing and grabbing her bag.

Larek followed, silently, but with a knowing smile on his face.

***

Maria had plugged herself into her walkman almost immediately after boarding. She'd never actually been on an airplane before, but she was sure it would be fun. They'd managed to get window seats by themselves, too, so they weren't cramped. She sat beside the aisle though, and she began to notice one child pointing to Larek.

She removed her earphones and heard, "Mommy! That man looks like he's gonna cry."

A little girl appeared beside her. "Don't be scared. Looky, I've flown five times. I got wings." She brandished a gold pair of pilot's wings."

Maria looked at Larek for the first time. His face had gone white and taut. His hands gripped the armrest and he was looking straight-forward. Maria leaned over the empty seat between them.

"Are you going to be okay?"

He paused in his fright to give her a quick glare.

The little girl eeped and ran back to her mother.

"Now look what you've done," Maria said. She smiled, "You couldn't possibly be frightened of flying could you? Big, advanced space-traveling alien man that you are? All implacable resolve. Is all that resolve turning into trembling gelatin?"

"You little-"

"Oh, look at the sky!" She continued spitefully. "I've never been up so high. And the land looks so tiny. Imagine if we crashed right now. I'm not sure if the height would kill us or the fire? Do you know?" She turned wide, innocent eyes to Larek.

"It's your shoddy Earthling craftsmanship, I don't trust! What's this creation put together with? Cardboard and parcel string?"

"We can only hope," Maria smiled. He was really quite attractive when frightened out of his wits. Yes, this was definitely the way she liked him.

Larek groaned and Maria's smile widened as she handed him the vomit bag -not a moment too soon.

Round two, she thought. And the score is tied.

***

Last to leave the plane, Larek had sufficiently regained his color and peace of mind to give Maria a look. A cruel look that promised she would pay for his agonies and diminished dignity.

Unperturbed, Maria hopped up and spread her arms like plane wings. "Vroom," she hummed and "flew" all the way to the automobile rental office where Larek secured a station wagon. Quite a change from the Porsche, but it was the darkest-tint vehicle they had.

Maria's eyes had widened when Larek had made the one request. So he didn't want someone to see them? Huh.

She drove in silence towards the hotel she had chosen back in Roswell. Larek had showed no preference in that.

He had not said a word the entire drive and only stood behind her when she'd checked them in. She gave him his room key and led him to the elevator.

"Separate rooms this time," she explained. "But they have an adjoining door so don't freak on me."

She showed him how to use the card key and excused herself. "I'm going to take a shower. I guess you'll go do whatever you were in such a hurry to do."

Larek took the key out of her hand, entered, and locked his door behind him. Automatically he turned on the television, appreciating the white noise. He sat on the bed and put his head on his temples to clear his mind of the last of the airplane ride. It'd been years since he'd gotten on a plane, he'd always avoided it. But now he was in North Carolina. Where Nicholas was. Where Kivar had ordered him to be.

With a human. Why was she still here? Why did he allow her to stay? He'd used to her get here. Maybe he'd find further use for the girl. At least she was entertaining. He didn't think about his problems when he was baiting her. It had been a long time since he'd been free to banter with anyone. Since he'd found anyone whose mind wasn't so filled with nemriaw, survival, and power-seeking willing to banter with him.

Mind settled, he knocked on the adjoining door.

"Come in," the girl's sang out.

"You need to be more careful," Larek said. "I could have been anyone."

Maria sat down, toweling her hair dry. "No, from your tone, I don't think you mean anyone. I think you have a specific someone in mind. Who shouldn't I open the door to, Larek, and why?"

"Later," he shrugged. "You must be hungry. Let's go."

I guess he's feeling social, Maria thought. She grabbed her lip gloss and wallet, "Well, since you asked so graciously."

He bowed with court graces and extended his arm to her. She took it, mentally shrugging. He can be mean, then gentlemanly. He's an alien, I can't expect to understand him or predict what he'll do. At least I'll only have to deal with him a little longer. Until I find out about the granolith and get Brody back safely. I owe it to Sydney.

***

Larek took control once outside the hotel and the city. He steered her, seemingly haphazardly, from street to street. In fact, he was trying to tag and avoid anyone who might be associated to Nicholas and check out potential escape routes. For the latter, the rooms the girl had chosen shared a balcony. Beneath the balcony were hedges. Thorny, but manageable for landing in an emergency. For the former, he saw neither humans nor husks bearing the energy signature of his home system. He'd have to be careful with the girl. Too much time spent in his presence would mark her.

Finally he directed them into a local restaurant, filled with college students. He let the girl order for both of them, not averse to nourishing his human host at the moment. He had an odd presentiment and did not want to waste any of his own energy to support his host's.

Munching around a carrot stick, the girl spoke, "There's so much here. So much green. And the university looks huge. Did you see the fountains with magnolias floating in them?"

"You can play the tourist tomorrow," he said. He had a meeting and surely that would keep the girl out of trouble.

She quirked an eyebrow, "Oh? I have permission."

"Shop to your heart's overflowing joy. Take a school tour. I'll supply you with a card. I'm sure dear Brody won't mind."

She visibly flinched and declined. "The tour is a good idea, maybe I could come here for college," she said wistfully.

"Maybe," he said noncommittally when the waiter brought their food.

"What's on your calendar? Hot date?"

"As I said when we met, I have an important appointment to keep."

"Does it have to do with the nemriaw?"

"Everything has to do with nemriaw," he said a little bitterly. "Why? Will you miss me?"

"Desperately!"

They continued familiarly, frequently verbally clawing one another in a mutually satisfying fashion. When they had returned to their hotel, Maria felt a surprising compulsion not to part company. She was feeling a little lonely and was not quite ready to call Alex.

"Larek?"

He looked at her questioningly

"Want to come in?"

"A nightcap, you want," he leered. "Aren't we the forward one?"

"Shut up and get in." She pushed him inside. I got you here, as per our bargain. Now I want my information."

"You're darling when you act intimidating," he said. "Shall I get the clippers to declaw you?" He settled himself in a chair across from her. "Well, it's information you want. Let us begin at the beginning."

Maria held her clever remarks back as Larek closed his eyes. His voice was low but the shades of Brody's native accent hid the strong compulsion for Maria to listen, and remember.

"We came from Antar, once called Ahra An. Once called Paradiso, once called Heaven. Once called Home when the green wide sea met the mountains. We rose like the mountain and spread to all points of the land, overflowing with wisdom and magic. It was a good time, a resting time, a golden time.'

"This was the past," his voice became harsh. "The land changed. The mountain crumbled, the tree withered. None knows why. Perhaps it is the turn of the wheel, the cycle of the season. None cares. Those days are gone.'

His voice returned to gentle chanting. "We left Antar, spreading to other lands in search new Heaven. Venturing even beyond our sun, but always returning to Antar, where the granolith is. The granolith, last vestige of magic. Last vestige of belief. Some say it keeps us whole, some say it can revive the dead, and unweave the weft of time. It is the last vestige of memory.'

"It was the last vestige of memory. Until Zan, Last Lord, removed it under threat of Kivar, Un-King. Now it is lost. We have no memory. It is a dark time, a war time, a crying time. So shall be until the granolith is come back. Come back to Antar, once called Ahra An. Paradiso no more, Heaven lost."

Maria remembered to breath just before Larek opened his eyes. His eyes were more blue now.

"That's beautiful."

"It's bullshit," Larek scowled. "The granolith might be a real rock, but the stories are old. Fairytales."

"So no one believes in it?" She herself wanted to believe. Unicorns and gremlins had always intrigued her as a child.

"Oh, they believe. That's what makes it dangerous. No, it's dangerous without all that...crap. Even if the granolith could do those things, no one knows how to use it. The granolith is dangerous as a symbol. It's been used to confirm the lordship of Antar for generations. Without it, Kivar has no authority beyond force. Oh, he's the only one in control but it's a hard time for us politically. Right now, if Kivar can get the granolith, he can claim legitimate rule and all those superstitious morons on Antar will bow to him, even if they're starving. They'll think they're at least legitimately starving. What's more, the superstitious morons on the other planets will acknowledge his overlordship over the system." Larek gritted his teeth.

Pushing down feelings of betrayal for Max, she said, "Would that be so bad?"

"It's wrong," he snarled. "Zan was my friend!"

"Oh," she said.

"And, yes, he truly is a bad ruler. He cares nothing for his constituents or his planet. He cares only for himself to the point of idiocy, to the point of megalomania. He has no heirs. Nor is there any need for them. There won't be anything left of us to rule by the time he's dead. Nothing.'

"I won't that happen to Sa-Larekon."

Maria only nodded, wondering what Max would do with this information. He was gonna wig.

The gleam of smoldering anger and righteousness left Larek then. "That's enough bedtime stories for tonight. Lock your door." He left through their adjoining door and locked his own side.

Maria washed her face, trying to absorb the information. Larek was...his fanaticism scared her. It explained some things. Definitely. Shaking her head, she reached for the phone and the slight comfort of Alex's voice.

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