The V'Dan by Jean Johnson Page A

High Ambassador,” the admiral stated. “I am aware the accommodations of our quarantine sector are not exactly First Tier, but I hope they are adequate.”
    “Thank you. They are indeed adequate,” Jackie returned politely. She stifled the urge to suggest paintings on the walls and potted plants tucked into corners. As things stood, the paintings might be a good idea, but the potted plants would probably put out too many histamines via pollen and perfumes. “Thank you for being willing to accommodate so many of us at once.”
    “The life-support systems are managing adequately, without strain,” Admiral Tal’en-qua stated politely.
    “Behind her are News Collator Ar-med J’shouran, and his technician, Pel Sa-min,” Ksa’an introduced next. “They are attending mainly to record these events for posterity, though Honorable J’shouran will be asking a few questions. Is there any business which you wish to discuss with the Admiral Superior at this time, or with Honorable J’shouran?”
    Jackie glanced around her at her fellow Terrans before replying. She got a response to her silent inquiry, but not a verbal one. It was a telepathic one, and came with a polite mental knock and a physical flutter of Clees’ fingers. (
Any chance I could discuss technical aspects with their reporter crew?
)
    Smiling, Jackie faced forward. (
I’ll look into it.
) Out loud, she said, “Not at this moment, though our own News Collator would like some time at some point to discuss professional subjects with the Honorables J’shouran and Sa-min.”
    “Of course. A suitable session will be arranged for a later time,” Ksa’an promised.
    Li’eth had explained to Jackie when this meeting was first being arranged that introducing the familiar V’Dan first was away to give both sides a bit of time for studying each other’s unfamiliar biology . . . save that the Terrans were the same as V’Dan, more or less, so the Choya shouldn’t need quite as much time. Still, it was a courtesy to allow the Terrans to look their fill before introductions were made. With the initial greeting finished, the Imperial First Lord gestured at the Choya seated in the front row.
    “Grand High Ambassador Ja’ki Maq’en-zi, I present Ambassadorial Adjunct G’nneal, Forearm of Grand High Ambassador Terrlog.”
    (
What the . . . ? Forearm?
) Jackie wasn’t the only one to think it; Clees shared his own exclamation at the same moment.
    (
Sorry,
) Li’eth apologized quickly. Jackie quickly passed along his explanation when he continued, reassuring Clees as well. (
I forgot to explain that the Choya like to name themselves after important feats, functions, and features. Landscapes, body parts, deeds, that sort of thing. The Grand High Ambassador himself is called the Thumb of the Son of Cho—thumbs being very important body parts for most sentient species to possess. Even the K’Katta have their own version of thumbs, since a part of the definition of sentiency includes tool-wielding abilities.
)
    (
Right.
) She refocused her attention on the greeting the Choya was giving her. She had to concentrate to understand his accent, since he spoke with more liquid vowels and consonants than the firmer, more glottal-stop-riddled sounds the V’Dan tended to make. An idle corner of her mind pondered which Terran language V’Dan sounded like.
Possibly Urdu or Sanskrit, though there is some African interior influence, and a touch of . . . pay attention, Jackie.
    The Adjunct was asking her a question. “You arrre the same ssspecies as the F’Dann?”
    “As far as science and medicine can tell, yes,” she replied. “We, the
Terrans
, evolved on our world. We call our species
Human
, or
Humans
for the plural form. At some point, the V’Dan were removed from our mutual world and brought here. We have no record of their migration, however.”
    Adjunct G’nneal ruffled his double crests briefly, narrowing his eyes. The paired flaps of skin were