“We’ll be finding out,” Mossy said. Clearly the Turleens liked the Themnir, because I could tell Mossy wasn’t happy with our reactions. Time to cowgirl up and take one for the team.
“I’m sure they’re lovely people. And, frankly, they’re not firing at us. I don’t even see where weapons would be on their ship. They look kind of . . . fragile, really. It’s clear why they were coming for protection.” And, frankly, if the Aicirtap were giant beetles of some kind, then the Themnir would look like a delicious delicacy to them. All soft squishy bits, not even a shell to have to crack.
The cutter was moving carefully into position so that the ramp from the Roving Planet would be able to sit on the bow. It would be bumpy, but the Themnir would be able to exit their ship and come onto the Hamilton.
Eventually, at any rate. The Hamilton got into place with the ramp tied to it, and the line of Themnir were still making their way down said ramp. Couldn’t tell if they were that slow naturally, if they were being really hella careful so as not to fall into the ocean, or if this was some weird kind of official greeting that took forever, but was really hoping it was one of the latter two options.
“We’re not sure if the Themnir fear our reactions,” Oliver, echoing my thoughts, said in a hushed voice, “or are merely being cautious so as to not fall into the salt water. Ah, ocean.”
Yeah, slugs were harmed badly by salt. Had a feeling this race wasn’t going to be settled in Utah. Unless, you know, we were going to treat them like we’d treated the Native Americans. Made a firm decision that we would not. Made a mental note that, when Jeff had a spare second, he needed to focus on fixing what we could of what humanity’s forebears had done to said Native Americans. Perhaps we’d try that next week, once our little alien immigration and invasion problem was solved.
Jeff and Muddy were having a conversation that wasn’t being broadcast. Muddy nodded, then he altered into his dirigible form, flew to the first of the exiting Themnir, all of whom were still slowly moving down the ramp, changed back, and spoke to the Lead Themnir. Said Themnir nodded its head, or the top part of its body, or however they chose to describe where they had two antennae sticking up.
“The Lieutenant General of the Turleen Air Force has just consulted with the President and is now acting as emissary to the Themnir,” Oliver shared.
“Really, that’s Muddy’s title?” I asked Mossy.
“As you would understand it, yes.”
“You and Dew have equally impressive titles, don’t you?”
Mossy managed a tight smile. “Every Turleen here has what, to a human, would be an impressive title. We do understand how you work—probably more than you think we do.”
“Oh, no. I’m getting the really clear idea that the Turleens know a lot about everyone. You have one of the most impressive spy networks I’ve ever encountered, and I totally mean that as a compliment.” Clearly Chuckie and Serene were going to want to have a private sit-down with our Turleen Contingent and get some awesome tips and training ideas.
“Thank you. I think.”
Would have said something, but we had action on the screen again. Muddy turned and nodded to Jeff. Who leaped up onto the ramp and strode up the walkway.
“What is he doing?” Vance asked, for the room, presumably. I certainly wanted to know.
Jeff joined Muddy and the Lead Themnir. There was a conversation. The Themnir bowed to Jeff. Jeff bowed back. More conversation. Then Jeff shook the Themnir’s hands in a sort of joint double handclasp. More conversation. Then Jeff did something no one saw coming.
He put his arms around the Themnir and did the French version greeting, where you kiss each other on each cheek. And they both did the cheek-kissing thing.
My first reaction was a form of revulsion and the desire to say that lips that had touched slug slime would never touch mine. Shoved that one away fast, because not only was there no way in the world I wasn’t going to kiss Jeff again, but it was a xenophobic reaction and I wasn’t proud of it and I didn’t want to keep it around.
My second reaction, though, was pride. My husband had just greeted an alien that was, at first blush, repulsive to his entire world, and he’d greeted that alien as a beloved and honored friend.
“I see why your Emperor chose your husband as King Regent,” Raheem said quietly. “He is an impressive man.”
“Yes, he is, isn’t he?”
Jeff turned, smiled, and waved to the camera. He didn’t look slimy, which was a relief on any number of levels. No, what he looked was, for want of a better term, Kennedy-esque. As if, finally, the President was someone you could once again not only respect and admire, but who was going to give you hope, hope that he’d lead you toward being the best you could be.
“President Martini has greeted the Themnir as welcomed guests,” Oliver shared. “And our new lives as a planet joining the Greater Galactic Community begin.”
Jeff had Muddy and the Themnir wave, too. Muddy waved normally. The Themnir waved with their arms and their antennae. Focused on the way Disney would draw them. In other words, I looked for the cute and cuddly. It was hard to find, but it was there.
Muddy flew back to the ship and had a conversation with someone I realized with relief was Alexander. Alexander nodded and then did what Jeff had—leaped up onto the ramp and went to join Jeff and the others. Muddy stayed on the cutter but moved out of the camera’s view.
More talk, more obvious greetings. Once again the bow, the handclasp, and, to Alexander’s great credit, the kissing on both cheeks. This time, the room seemed to handle it better. Did not look forward to when I had to do that for the first time. Knew it was coming and would be soon, too. Also knew, without asking, that Raheem was looking as forward to that as I was.
“Emperor Alexander, representing all of the Alpha Centauri System, also greets the Themnir as welcomed friends,” Oliver shared. He walked to the ramp. Whether because he’d been told to stay on the boat or if he just wanted to delay the greeting by however many seconds, Oliver stayed on the cutter at the end of the ramp.
Muddy was back on camera. He put his fingers to his mouth and gave an impressive wolf whistle. Other Turleens appeared in dirigible form. They flew over onto the Themnir’s ramp and lined it, Space Turtle next to Space Turtle all the way on both sides. Then Muddy moved out of camera range again. The Themnir sped up.
“So, they fear the ocean,” Raheem said.
“Makes sense. Even if salt isn’t a problem for them, who wants to fall in? They might be buoyant and able to swim, but right now isn’t the time to find out.”
“I’m talking to the Major General of the Turleen Air Force, Dew Lakes,” Oliver shared. “Major General Lakes, why are the Themnir visiting Earth?”
“The Themnir are, as you can see, non-aggressive people,” Dew replied. “They are fleeing our home system of Sirius for the same reason that we Turleens have come to request Earth’s aid and allegiance. A common enemy is approaching.”