Patriots Chapter 3

*Date: The next day.*

”Who did you say you represent again?”

The question was full of both curiosity and concern as the Ambassador looked across his desk at the newcomer.

The male Dlamisan wasn’t all that exceptional, generic brown fur, average height, average build, no features that stood out aside from his eyes that is. Not because they were some unique color but because of what they conveyed. There was an inherent superiority in his look, one that gave the darker furred Dlamisan pause and an urge to raise his hackles at the visitor.

”As I said before, I represent several commercial concerns on the home world. Ones that are worried that the one known as ‘Bailey’ might not leave any room for their own interests as the relationship between us and the Humans progresses.” The visitor took a sip of the cup of brown liquid that had been given to him and then set it down on the table. ”I thank you for the offer, but I fail to see the appeal of this stuff.” He said offhandedly, looking back at the ambassador with those cold eyes of his.

The ambassador suppressed another shiver at the look. *“I feel like I’m being sized up as prey.* *I do not want to spend any more time than necessary with this person.* *And like my human says there’s ‘no fucking way’ his story is legitimate.”*

”Well coffee isn’t for everyone.” The ambassador continued in an attempt to move the conversation forward. ”That said, I’m not entirely clear exactly what it is you or your clients are asking of the staff here in this Embassy.”

The other Dlamisan leaned back in his chair his body posture radiating a sense of control as if he were the one in charge in the office. ”Simple, it’s quite apparent that ‘Bailey’ has been getting a lot of help from this office and your staff to do what he’s been doing. The people I represent would greatly appreciate it if you were to cease that assistance beyond the bare minimum needed to keep him safe and aid in his research. No more approval for things like sports leagues and the like.”

”What?!” The sheer gall of this heretofore unknown Dlamisa was enough to shock the ambassador out of even his case of fear-induced nerves.

”You do realize just how absurd that request is right? The home world doesn’t even HAVE sports teams. This is a totally human concept and there is no way any corporate interest could be able to even begin to compete!”

The sudden outrage didn’t fluster the newcomer at all. The brown furred Dlamisa only straightened up and leaned forward. ”That is beside the point. Trust me when I say that many interests want you to cease your assistance.”

”But!”

”Again that is beside the point. And I will not belabor this anymore.” The delivery was calm, cold, and oh so predatory. Another shiver ran down the ambassador’s spine and he couldn’t help but raise his hackles now at the other’s demeanor. *“I wonder if this how the prey species see us?* *If so, I’m starting to understand where they’re coming from.”*

The tension lasted for a few more heartbeats before the Ambassador let out a soft sigh and the newcomer pulled back into a less confrontational posture. ”Well I understand your request, but I hate to break it to you you’re a little late.”

”Care to elaborate?”

”Well before you had arrived we already had finalized the requests to aid Bailey with a few more of his endeavors. The paperwork got sent off yesterday evening via the FTL relay. I of course can call back to the Foreign Office on Dlamias but I highly doubt that they will be willing to put a halt to any projects that they already have approved and begun reporting on to the Council. It would be rather embarrassing to say the least for an agency that has only recently found itself useful again.”

”I see.” The visitor’s eyes narrowed at the news. ”If that is how it will be I suppose that brings our current conversation to a close. However, I still would highly recommend that you reconsider any future partnerships with this individual.”

”I’ll take that under advisement.” The ambassador said as his visitor stood up to leave. “Out of curiosity do you have a name?” He asked switching to English as he stood to see his visitor out.

This only made the newcomer pause as he looked at the ambassador before switching to English himself. “Mr. Ambassador, let me be abundantly clear. I do not have a name, I do not want one. Furthermore, it would be far better for your career if circumstances proceed in a way that won’t require my presence on this planet long enough for some human to give me a name. Just know that what I ask is in the best interests of Dlamias. I’ll see myself out thank you.”

Another chill ran down the Ambassador’s spine as the visitor left, as soon as the door shut all energy seemed to leave him as he slumped back down into his chair and let out a long sigh of relief. *“I’m going to have a very VERY stiff drink and then I’m going to call my aide in and see what the hell we want to do about this.”*

Meanwhile, in the lobby a multi-person staring contest was going on. On one side there were two nervous security guards and one incredibly nervous receptionist and on the other was a giant female of the Dlamisan species leaning against a wall betraying not a shred of wayward emotion.

One of the guards cleared his throat. ”Excuse me, but we really don’t know when your employer will be done with the ambassador. Are you sure you don’t want to take one of the available seats to wait?” The male made a motion to indicate the available seats, and while his words were polite enough his body language clearly indicated he’d MUCH prefer it if she would sit down versus leaning laconically against a wall.

”I’m fine thank you.” She responded, her muzzle and tail not showing a bit of her amusement as the now flustered guard backed off and resumed station. *“Not that I can blame him, I picked this spot because it gives me a good view of the entrance and the door to the offices and having my back to the wall means they can’t get behind me.* *I’m pretty much setting off his professional paranoia right now.”* Her tail did give a little teensy wag at that the thought of that.

Once more she scanned the room, sizing up the situation. *“Receptionist is a non-issue, if things go bad she’ll hide.* *The furthest guard is in good health, but clearly green he’ll likely freeze if a fight starts.* *The closest guard is experienced, but he’s also old and has a distinct limp on his left.* *I should be able to get his gun easily, and if he resists I can cripple his leg and shoulder.”* Her thoughts continued to go over her extraction plan, walking through the steps to neutralize the guards for the fifteenth time as she sized them up.

Her thoughts were interrupted as the office doors opened and her “employer” stepped out. ”We’re done here for now, let’s go.” The smaller male said as he walked briskly to the door without so much as a glance back at the very relieved guards and receptionist.

”Of course. Have a good day everyone.” She said politely as she fell in beside her partner as they exited back onto the street and started walking towards the hover-bus location that would return them to the hotel.

”So, I’m guessing by your demeanor that you were less than successful?” She asked as her partner let out a soft growl under his breath.

”No, apparently we were too late and Bailey has already been assisted by the Embassy staff to launch some more initiatives to bring Humans closer to us. And the Ambassador indicated that the Foreign Office would be reluctant to reverse their decision. This will not make our employers very happy as it’ll continue to accelerate the change in our society.”

The giant pondered for a bit and then let out a chuff of laughter. ”Well I suppose you can’t blame the Foreign Office for being eager to show off. The Humans are the first time in over two thousand years that they actually have had something to do. The prey species just want us to leave them alone and before now when other predatory species have wanted to ‘negotiate’ that was just a euphemism for using less munitions in a battle.”

”True.” The smaller alien pinched the bridge of his muzzle as he considered the situation.

”Still for centuries we’ve shoved the civil servants that are too stupid to trust but too well connected to dismiss into that agency because it was the one place where they couldn’t make things worse. And now we’re paying for it, they’re too short sighted to see how their efforts will undermine our society and Dlamias itself!”

The larger female just sighed as her partner growled and raised his hackles at the thought. Her partner had always been prone to working himself up when he thought the sanctity of the home world was being put at risk.

”You can’t expect a single meeting to make a change. Let’s go report this up the chain and see if they can find any way to put some pressure on the Embassy from their end. We can come back in a few days and see if that makes any difference.”

”I suppose that will have to do for now.”