Chapter 53: An Ying Zhi Ren
Sha Shou’s words had me paused for a second. "But I thought that Earth, and therefore humans, hadn’t been exposed to this section of the galaxy," I said in confusion. "And what does that have to do with sexual compatibility?"
"I’ve been doing a bit of research," explained Sha Shou with a smug tone in her voice. "And while humans are not mentioned by name, nor is your planet, the Thuzirusians have sent out a notice that they have found a bipedal species that is sexually compatible with over 95% of the other species found within the universe."
"I am almost scared to ask what you mean by that," I said with a sigh, realizing that I might not want to make a deal with the Thuzirusians after all.
"I mean, that humans, and I am making an inference here, are able to procreate with any other specie. Isn’t that fantastic?"
Clearly my helmet and I had different definitions of what fantastic meant.
"Then why are humans still hush-hush?" I asked as I saw the docking bay that I could only assume we were going to. I couldn’t make out what the outside said, but it was an empty bay and we were heading straight for it. Sometimes I am smart like that.
"The Thuzirusians probably didn’t want to release the information to anyone for fear that other, desperate species would bypass them and go straight to the planet to find a mate," said Sha Shou. I readjusted my crown and veil, wanting to make triple sure that nothing was out of place that could expose me as a human. The last thing I needed was to be used as a breeder. There were 10 other human females all within the Alliance that I could throw under that particular bus.
"Can’t have that, now, can we?" I asked sarcastically as I stood up and adjusted my skirt, boots, and pants. Seeing that everything was in place, I walked out of the ship like I owned the place.
Fake it until you make it.
"Well, it would be bad for business," said my helmet very pragmatically. "You will want to go straight. I will tell you when to turn," continued Sha Shou, getting down to business. I had no idea what I was in for, but I needed to look like I knew what I was doing or else I would have my weapons stolen or worse.
And apparently, worse was sexual compatibility for 95% of the species here. Maybe even more. I wasn’t sure.
"Understood," I said as my heels clicked down the dingy hallway of the landing station. I guess the person that I am to meet wanted to remain hidden from just about everyone, and this was the best place to do it.
The walls of the hallway were the same greyish-black as the planet that I saw from space. However, being from Earth, I couldn’t be entirely sure that the color was intentional or if it was just the result of never being cleaned. Either way, I wasn’t touching it.
A rat-like creature scurried across the hall, coming to a quick stop to study me before it continued on its way. "That would be a vasfuggony," said Sha Shou speaking up when I stopped walking. "A harmless creature that lives in colonies. Prolificate breeders, there can be hundreds of offspring to every mated pair."
"Yeah, we call those rats. And the only good rat is a dead rat," I continued, trying to supress my shudder. I was not a fan of rodents. Splinter aside. But even then, if I saw Splinter in person, I don’t think that I would find quite him as cute. In have a 4-foot rat that could talk might star in my nightmares for a long time to come.
Look at me getting all these human emotions!
"Understood," hummed Sha Shou and I was worried about just what she understood. "Kill vasfuggony on sight."
"No," I said with a sigh, wanting to rub my forehead in frustration but understanding that it would completely go against the look that I was going for with this outfit. "You will leave them alone unless they somehow manage to get on our ship. Then kill them."
"Understood," said Sha Shou again, this time causing a tick to form in my right eye. I sighed again and was about to ask what I was sure to be a stupid question when Sha Shou interrupted. "Turn left, then go straight 500 Earth meters."
I turned left where my human-like GPS told me to, and then continued straight. "The lounge where you will be meeting your buyer will be on your right in approximately 400 meters."
"Understood." Now it was my turn to utter that statement. I strolled forward with far more confidence than I felt until Sha Shou told me to stop.
I looked up at the doors with a simple sign with what appeared to be random markings across it. "This is the place," said Sha Shou with a smile. Or at least I was pretty sure she would be smiling if she had a face.
"Are you sure?" I asked. It looked extremely dingy and there was nothing else around it. Jun Li had assured me that this lounge was one of the busiest on the entire planet. Instead, it seemed like it was a serial killer’s playground.
And I could speak from experience when it came to that.
"Yes," confirmed Sha Shou. "Star’s shine, right there on the banner."
Well, at least one of us could read it, I guess. I placed my hand on the door, only to have it quickly opened from the inside.
"Name?" came the command and I had to look way up at the male in front of me. He had to be at least 9 feet tall if he was an inch.
"None of your damn business," I snarled at him. He might be big, but the bigger they were, the harder they fell as far as I was concerned.
"You want inside, you need a name," replied the bouncer, clearly not that intimidated by me.
I thought quickly. "An Ying Zhi Ren."
