A shape-shifter tries to protect both the alien species she has been observing and the humans they have just encountered.


 

Verid was on the bridge of a decrepit starship. As she prepared the premier’s lunch, a couple stale rolls and a small block of cheese, she discreetly watched the Elani around her.

    Most of the Elani were along the edges of the room; they made an inner wall several people deep.  They were huddled together partly for warmth, but also for comfort.  Sometimes they would assure each other that the cold and hunger were temporary, that one day the Elani would reclaim their rightful place at the top of interstellar society and once again enjoy lives of art and science and prosperity.  Such hopeful stories only comforted the children.  Everyone else knew it had been this way for a very long time.  

    At the center of the bridge, their leader Premier Halwyn and his first officer Lt. Brice stood over a computer console.  Their attention was focused on something the sensors had picked up.  A ship, it seemed.

    “Do you recognize the configuration?” the premier asked.

    “No.  Look at the markings though.  It’s that new race the traders on Borath were talking about.”   Lt. Brice responded.

    “Yes, humans, I remember.”  Halwyn paused to marvel jealously at the ship. “It’s so big.”

    They were silent for a moment and Verid knew they were already seeing the human ship and all its contents as theirs.

    “Did the Borans have a language update for these humans?”

    “Yes, it’s already loaded in the translator.”

    Halwyn looked up at his first officer.  He seemed torn between being angry and being grateful.  “And how did we pay for that?  Does your contact like treva ale?  That’s the only thing we can afford to trade.”

    “He likes treva but he wouldn’t trade the update for just some ale.”  Brice looked at the floor.  “However, he did drink a substantial amount of treva ale at our meeting. I was able to steal the update while he was intoxicated.”

    Halwyn was silent for a moment then replied, “Good work.”  

    It was sad to see the Elani resort to thieving so much.  They hardly even seemed to feel remorse or awkwardness about it anymore.  Such a shame, Verid thought.  The Elani didn’t used to be thieves.  Before the cataclysm that destroyed their homeworld, the Elani had considered stealing distasteful.  But somewhere along the way, their desperation had overwhelmed their manners.