Discovery by T M Roy

exotic spice.
    Stop that! Ken thought to his errant member as he felt himself start to get hard again.
    He let his other arm creep around her until both encircled her slender waist. If anything, Povre burrowed closer. Her wiry arms locked behind Kent’s back.
    He swallowed. He had the wildest urge to kiss her silly. To strip her from that dark gunmetal blue jumpsuit and—
    Hold it, Kent. She’s smart, she’s pretty, but she’s an alien! Alien as in…not human.
    “We’d better get moving,” he said gruffly after clearing his throat. “It’s a long walk.”
    ~~
    Not looking at him, Povre backed away and picked up her empty pack. In it went the water container, the cooking gear, and anything he’d not yet replaced in his pack.
    Chagrin flooded her and she was glad packing up gave her the excuse to keep her telltale face averted. What is it about him that attracts me so? That makes me behave like this? Want to touch him all the time? Why do I persist?
    He isn’t even my species.
    So? another part of herself argued back. I have close friends in four different species and five genders. Why should his be different?
    But it was different. She didn’t want to touch her other friends all the time, or be with them all the time, or think about them the way her thoughts were taking with K’nt.
    “Povre,” she heard him say. A huge sigh followed when she refused to look up. More words in his language, the delivery a bit halting; the tone apologetic, regretful. After only a minute, he let out another sigh and fell silent.
    She kept her gaze on the ground and didn’t bother to try translating his meaning. What would be the point? So that he could tell her to stay away from him? To leave him alone and stop touching him? She must remember to keep her distance, be respectful, obey his directions. She had to rely on his good graces. After all, she’d put herself in his custody. She needed to remember she was the alien here.
    The one who didn’t belong.
    When the native finally turned to limp along the river trail, she limped after him.

H IGH ABOUT THE GREEN AND blue planet, hidden behind an artificial satellite and sophisticated—to that planet’s technology—screens, the sleek ship orbited, keeping pace with the communications array that helped hide it from visual means.
    “You left Dr. Povresle behind?” repeated the ship’s captain in disbelief.
    Eyeing the squat pink Kemmerian, H’renzek let out a breath of disgust.
    “Look, Captain, you know the rules as well as I do. Matter of fact you repeated them word-for-line before our landing craft left. Povre left the camp. She was told to stay with the equipment and wait until we returned with the others who would serve on the rotation.”
    “But she—”
    H’renzek’s hands went to his hair, fingers clenched tight in the strands. Furious heat flooded his body. What was wrong with his shipmates? Did they forget he was responsible for everyone on the Exploration team, and not just Povre? “I was following operational procedure, Captain. Do you think I feel happy about possibly sacrificing Povre to those below?”
    He didn’t have to look beyond the captain or her executive officer to know that others were also taken aback by his display of temper. “I love Povre,” said H’renzek in a calmer tone. “But I had to ensure the safety of the others. The rules say to clear out and then consider alternatives. That’s what I’m doing. Considering alternatives.” His anger faded into honest appeal and concern.
    The Kemmerian captain’s eyestalks bobbed and swiveled around the control area. One of her five grasping tentacles thumped in agitation against the side of her seat.
    Goddess, please help me stay calm, H’renzek prayed.
    “We’ll wait on recovery,” said the captain finally. “Our other mission assignments should proceed as planned. We’ll monitor the transmissions carefully. If we see any indication Dr. Povresle remains undiscovered, then we’ll search