Free Alien Interludes by Tracy St. John Page A

violent Earthers that had been kept in stasis for the past three years a concession. She’d love to make them someone else’s problem. It was cowardly of her perhaps, but deciding the fates of those who engaged in brutality was beyond her abilities.
    What kept her from immediately discussing how to foist a dozen aggressive Earthers onto the Galactic Council was the bargain Tyler hinted at. What could a homeless Earther possibly offer? She was moved to pity for the man’s wilingness to sacrifice his few meager possessions for the lives of men he had no care for.
    “What did you have in mind, Colonel?” she asked with a soft voice.
    Tyler shifted. He swalowed. He cracked his finger joints. Then he dropped his eyes so that he wasn’t looking her in the face anymore. “If you find me pleasing for it, I’d be wiling to have sex with you in exchange for those men’s lives.”
    Israla stared at him. Of al the things she’d have expected Colonel Carter to offer, this wasn’t one of them.
    He continued, his pleasant rumbling voice tripping over the words. “I know you prefer younger men. I’m not your type at al. But it’s al I have to trade, and sex seems to be the going currency for a man with little to no funds.”
    Israla pressed her lips together. “I do not enjoy men who don’t find me attractive, Colonel.” Her tone could have frozen a raging inferno.
    Tyler’s flicked a surprised glance at her before looking down again. “You are beautiful, Saucin. Al Plasians are, but you’re the loveliest I’ve seen.” It was Israla’s turn to be startled. “My sources say you’ve taken no lovers since coming to my planet, Colonel. I assumed you were not interested in our people, or too repressed like most of your breed to want sex with us.”
    Tyler crooked a self-conscious smile at her. “Plasians are very pleasing to the eye. And I enjoy sex very much.” His smile faded and his gaze went inward. “I did, anyway.” Israla leaned forward, fascinated despite herself. “Who was she and what happened to her?”
    Tyler’s eyes brightened with tears. “My wife Heather. We lived in Chicago, one of the cities hit by Armageddon.”
    “There’s no chance she wasn’t there when the bomb went off?”
    He shook his head slowly. “I’d spoken to her only an hour before the Kalquorians came through the wormhole. I told her we were preparing to transport home immediately to deal with the attack force that was threatening our defense grid. That I’d see her soon.”
    “I’m so sorry.” Israla winced as she uttered the worthless sympathy. Empty, useless words, but that’s al that was left when the one who filed your heart was gone forever.
    “Thank you.” He didn’t try to sound grateful, and that was al right.
    The bombs had gone off a year and a half ago. Time enough to dul the worst of the agony, but the void within remained. Israla knew the pain wel. She’d lived with her own version of it for forty years now.
    “The Kalquorian emperors are determined to exact their brand of justice for the near-fatal attack on their Matara. They wil not be easily convinced to give up their claim on those soldiers.” Tyler took a deep breath. “You think it’s hopeless.”
    “I think it wil be exceedingly difficult.” Israla smiled tightly. “But I have good relations with one of their trusted councilmen, Dramok Rajhir. I wil contact him about the matter and see what he can negotiate. If anyone can convince the Imperial Clan, it wil be him. The emperors hold him in high esteem.” Tyler blew out a breath. “I thank you for making the effort. No doubt you’d rather wash your hands of the whole affair.” Israla shrugged. “I have worried about this issue for quite some time. I am prepared to keep those men in stasis indefinitely rather than see them put to death in the manner the Kalquorians would prefer.”
    “Plasians are noted for their gentle nature.” Tyler licked his lips. “Now as to my side of the