• Choose a category
• All
• Classic-Fiction

Light reflected white from the Devaronian’s sable horns. He stepped forward and took Gavin’s chin in his hand. His fingernails pressed hard into Gavin’s flesh, but Gavin did not flinch nor try to pull away. He stared down into Dmaynel’s dark eyes and did his best to hide his fear.

The Devaronian smiled, then released him and stepped back. “You have chosen wisely, Asyr. He is youthful and even handsome by their standards. His body will say all we want to say, and more.”

“Indeed,” said Nawara Ven, “it will let them know they are superior to all of us in every way they think now and new ones as well.”

“Who are you?”

The Bothan scowled. “These five were with this Man.”

Dmaynel looked past Gavin. “And you five are his friends?”

“We are, and proud to be so.” Nawara Ven appeared at Gavin’s left hand. “I have known him for well over six standard months and consider him one of the best friends I have ever had.”

The Devaronian folded his arms across his chest. “It is rare among us to find one who so openly professes his friendship with a bigot.”

Nawara smiled. “And what proof do you have that he is a bigot?”

Asyr snarled. “He refused to dance with me.”

The Twi’lek opened his arms. “Of course, how could I have forgotten? Refusing to dance is a sign of being a bigot. What if I had refused your request? Would I have been a bigot?”

“You were with her.”

“The human female, yes.” Nawara nodded slowly. “So you would say I would have had a reason to refuse you.”

Asyr nervously smoothed the fur on her face. “Yes, you would have.”

“Is it not possible, then, that this Man had a reason to refuse you?”

“He did. He is a bigot.”

“You draw a conclusion that is not supported by evidence, my dear.” Nawara opened his hands and lifted them up to take in all the aliens watching. “Is there no reason other than bigotry that might explain his action? Perhaps he is not a good dancer. Perhaps he has someone he loves far away from here. Perhaps he is allergic to Bothan fur.”

Asyr thrust a finger toward the Gotal. “But Mnor Nha said he felt relief when I went away. He was relieved he would not have to touch me and associate with me.”

“She is telling the truth, Dmaynel. That is what I sensed.”

Nawara drew himself up to his full height and turned to face the Gotal. “Tell me, Mnor Nha, did you sense relief from this Man when the stormtrooper departed from our table?”

The Gotal hesitated, then nodded. “Yes.”

“So when one threat removed itself, this Man felt relief.” Nawara turned back and smiled at Asyr. “Could it be, fair Asyr Sei’lar, that this man felt you as threatening in some ways as a stormtrooper?”

The Bothan’s head came up. “I am no stormtrooper.”

“Perhaps not in form, but in impact, I think you are.” The Twi’lek patted Gavin on the shoulder. “My friend here is young and you are very beautiful. You approached him. You flattered him. You expressed interest in him and you were persistent. You stalked him, all of which must have quickened his pulse. You clearly saw something in him that he was not certain truly existed, which certainly would make him anxious. Your departure meant he never had to discover how disappointed you would be when you discovered he did not live up to the image you carried in your mind. Relief at your departure would only be natural.”

Gavin nodded in agreement with Nawara’s assessment and saw heads among the spectators also bob away. Nawara’s hitting close to one part of the truth so he can leave the rest of it alone. Rather obviously Gavin’s relief could be explained in terms of his being on a covert mission from the Rebellion, but revealing that fact would blow the operation. As much as the Alien Combine had been organized to protest Imperial misconduct, he knew there had to be at least one Imperial informant among the creatures assembled in the warehouse.

“He was threatened by me?” Asyr’s violet eyes narrowed. “That’s nonsense. How could anyone think of me as threatening?”

“How indeed?” Nawara exaggerated a frown. “Could it be that he has heard it was the Bothan people who bravely sacrificed themselves