"So, we three were presumed dead?" Lelith sighed.

"Yes, Ambassador. Due to sensor data of the Blatto station showing you being attacked by a pirate not long after departure, then disappearing. After the standard eight days of searching, you were presumed dead," Selessa lowered her head.

"It would seem best that we alert the homeworld immediately," Ozakos shrugged.

"A message is already being sent to Brirali now. Do you happen to know which pirate attacked you, by chance?" Asked Selessa.

"It was that rotten-finned Squambles," Zedoris said, venom in her voice. "However, I'm not too sure he'll be an issue, for a short time at the very least. It seems he took a bite from a raft too large this time." A chuckle was heard in her voice.

"How do you mean?" The Serpens inquired.

"This one," Zedoris pointed a thumb at Frank, "managed to stand toe-to-fin with that bottom-feeder."

"Did, 'he'? Is that correct?" She looked down to her pad for a moment. "I apologize if that's the wrong term."

"'He' is fine. And it would seem I did. At the very least, he stopped attacking and ran," Frank spoke somewhat tiredly.

"Are you sure it was him?" Selessa tapped a few keys on her pad

"That's what he identified himself as. I have the transmission recording on my log, if you'll permit me a moment to retrieve it," Frank began to reach for his arm computer.

"Proceed." She nodded.

After a few commands, the speaker on the computer began playing the audio of the transmission with Squambles. During the playback, Selessa was tapping away at her datapad. The audio playback ended when Frank's transmission was interrupted.

"At this point in time, he began firing directed energy weapons, leading me to respond in kind with my own. After a short battle, he ran," Frank explained.

"I see. Voice pattern matches Squambles. I must say, I'm impressed you survived," Selessa appeared to be impressed.

Frank just shrugged slightly. The rest of the conversation mostly focused on the other three. Frank was drifting slightly before he said fuck it, and tossed on his helmet for a bit, breathing air a bit more to his liking. Other than a brief pause from the Serpens, the conversation continued. The audio was coming in well enough, but he started feeling a bit better after a few breaths but kept it on a bit longer.

"...and lastly, we need to make use of your engineering services. Our vessel is currently located in the cargo bay of Frank's ship. Also, I would like to request a full-service upgrade to his ship. Drives, sensors, and whatever he may ask for, within reason. We would also like to have Frank, his race, and ship registered." Lelith finished.

"That can be arranged. That should be all for now. If there is anything else you need, please, feel free to contact me at any time," Selessa stated. "A room has been arranged for you with the on-station hotel. Frank, it seems that is the reference you prefer, please come to my office in two standard hours, if you will excuse me."

Selessa bowed and left out of the room, leaving the door open. The suit-enhanced audio of Frank's picked up on her mumbles and his translator said she was mumbling about more work. Frank, feeling a bit better, unlatched his helmet and placed it on the table.

"I hate these things..." Zedoris mumbled.

"Now, now. Official reports are needed," Ozakos patted her in the shoulder as he stood.

"I am quite surprised. I would not have expected the Blatto to be so willing to assist in the investigation," Lelith sighed.

"Well, I highly doubt they would have wanted an issue with the Brirali military. While we may not have an official trade agreement with them, we do allow them passage through our space quite frequently," Ozakos stated matter-of-factly.

"Enjoy your helmet time?" Zedoris asked snidely.

"Hey, this place has more than twice the oxygen of home. We're not built for it. Even have a term, 'Oxygen Toxicity'." Frank shot back.

"Big, bad primate can't handle some extra oxygen, huh?" Zedoris sneered back.

"I swear you two are like two toddlers at times," Lelith said, shaking her head.

"Am not!" Zedoris chided, sneakily throwing some gesture at Frank.

Lelith just sighed and Ozakos put his hand on her shoulder. She reached up and patted it.

"I think we will check into the room, you two," Lelith sighed, "do whatever it is you children will do." Lelith got up and walked with Ozakos out the door.

"Finally, a break. At least I know this station is safe for her," Zedoris finally appeared relaxed a bit. "You showed us your food, now it's time for me to show you OUR'S."

Frank shrugged and followed along with Zedoris. She pointed out a few species and told Frank their names, as they made it to the promenade of the station. Cat people, dog people, bird people, even a drider looking person. So much stuff from fantasy stories he wondered if MAYBE some of them might have actually come to earth given how similar they were in various art and comics he'd seen and read. He took a few sly pictures with his gear. They finally made it to a food vendor.

"I'll have two dundun sticks and two nectars," Zedoris ordered for the two of them. After a tap of a card, two strangely colored sticks and a small tray of drinks were handed over. She passed one of the strange sticks over to Frank along with a cup.

"This looks...." Frank drifted off. The stick looked like some odd plant, roasted, and slathered with some kind of thick sauce, "...interesting."

"Dundun sticks are quintessential vendor food. And the nectar, so good... So sweet..." Zedoris exclaimed as she took a hearty bite.

Frank took a tentative bite. It tasted a little like cauliflower in some kind of smokey sauce. It wasn't unpleasant at the very least.

"It's not that bad at all," Frank said chewing. "A little salt and It would be pretty good."

"Really now," Zedoris scoffed. "You primates need too much nonsense on your food."

"Hey, to be honest," Frank said, taking a sip of the nectar. A bit overly sweet, but paired well. "Food is almost a way of life for us. Many cultures, each culture, many dishes. Some bland, some savory, salty, etcetera."

"Can't you just enjoy the simple things in life?"

"Simple things? Rice and boiled chicken with a bit of salt and pepper make a great meal."

"You depend on that stuff a bit too much."

"Well, it's common for us. No matter the culture, or region, we almost all have it."

"Also, I told you vendors have great food."

"Same can be said for Human street vendors."

"You know what, maybe I WILL take a trip. If it's even remotely close to this..."

"Not too many vegetarian cuisine vendors on Earth, but we have our fair share. Maybe they will shut you up."

"Hah!" She scoffed.

They finished their food in relative silence. Frank had to admit, it wasn't half bad. As much as he'd love some Human BBQ, given the smokey flavor, the food was decent, and the nectar went down smoothly. They discarded the sticks and cups, and Frank glanced at his watch.

"I need to meet up with Selessa in a half hour. You wouldn't know where her office is, would you?" Frank asked.

"That'll be easy enough to find." Zedoris walked over toward a large console Frank almost confused as a basic mall map screen and tapped a few keys.

"I swear, the more things I see, the more I see things that look a little too Human-like," Frank chuckled lightly.

"What was the phrase you used? Convergent evolution?" Zedoris questioned.

"Yeah, that's the one." Frank pointed out. "Though I'm not entirely certain that would account for ads and maps."

Zedoris typed in a few commands and got a simplified map with directions to the main security office. It wasn't too far away. A couple of hundred meters to an elevator, the elevator up a few floors, and another 50 meters. 'Simple enough,' he thought. They made their way toward the elevator. Even the square buttons looked similar to some of the Earth ones he's seen. They made it up to the needed floor and walked over to the door.

Since it was only about maybe five minutes earlier than the time he was supposed to be there, he knocked gently. Even with the gentle knock, he swore he saw a slight indentation in the material of the door. The door opened with a hiss. A busy-bodied secretary, not even looking up, was slightly scrambling behind a desk.

"Uhh... Frank Barnet for a meeting with, Security Commander Selessa?" Frank said without exactly knowing how they do it out here.

"Huh?" a Caninn glanced over the desk, stopped momentarily, and looked at the Human and Brirali for a brief moment before their snout was back at what may have been a computer at their side of the desk. "Oh, umm, please wait one moment, I'll inform her you are here." The creature began tapping commands onto the computer.

"Thank you, very much," Frank said as he stepped over to one of the chairs in the seeming receiving area. Zedoris plopped down in the other seat.

"I hate having to deal with bureaucratic nonsense." Zedoris sighed as she threw her head back.

"You don't have to keep following me, you know." Frank pointed out.

"I highly doubt you can make your way around and just in case any bureaucratic nonsense comes up,," Zedoris said toward the ceiling of the room.

"Ye of little faith. Bureaucratic bullshit is something I'm a little too used to. It's common for us humans as well." Frank sighed.

"The Security Commander will see you now," the Cannin finally spoke after a few minutes of waiting.

Frank got up and threw a glance at Zedoris.

"Do you need me to hold your hand?" Zedoris said sing-songly.

"Nah, it should be simple enough." Frank brushed off her comment and followed the lead of the Caninn secretary into a room behind the desk.

Frank entered and stood at parade rest. He figured it was a simple enough pose to show he was there and waiting for the Serpens as she was tapping away at her computer.

"Please, have a seat," Selessa said without making eye contact.

"Thank you," Frank said as he sat in the seat. It was a little odd, but he figured it would work for more than a few species.

"Now, Let's start with some basic information. Are you able to read Galactic Common?" She asked, digging out a datapad.

"Affirmative, ma'am." Frank nodded.

"Please fill out this form." Selessa slid the pad and a pen-like object across the desk toward Frank.

Frank picked up the pad and looked over it. His visor was providing its live translation of the text.

"Ma'am, while I may be able to read Common, I'm unable to write it properly," Frank admitted.

"Just write in your language, and I'll verify the data, it'll be logged, and a translation algorithm will take care of the rest," Selessa stated as she was typing away at her computer.

The Questions were simple enough. Name, species, gender, ship name, and registration number, along with stranger questions like estimated population numbers, homeworld quadrant, and occupied worlds, along with other random data. He considered attempting to write in an attempt to mimic Common but decided against it and just wrote English in print form. After a short while, he placed the tablet back on the desk and pushed it toward her side. She picked it up and began to review it, shaking her head slightly.

"Just to confirm. Name?"

"Frank Barnet."

"Species?"

"Human."

"Gender."

"Male, bi-gendered species, for the most part."

"Uh-huh, ship name, number, and type?"

"Occasional Epiphany, Charlie Echo Victor dash three eight two five eight. Ship type, Civilian Exploration Vessel, light cruiser."

"An exploration ship able to take on a pirate? Strange... Home area?"

"This Galaxy, on what we call the Orion arm. About nine thousand lightyears away from here perhaps? Toward the outer rim, maybe twenty-five thousand seven hundred lightyears from the Galactic center. Expanse, maybe two thousand light-years around the area, some outposts further out, but no significant colonies."

"Wait, you came from the outer rim?"

"That's what I've been told."

"I see... Population and number of colonized worlds?"

"I think the last census had us somewhere around twenty-two point five billion with a few hundred colonies on about eighty-three properly colonized worlds? It's been a while since I last looked."

"Really?" a shocked look in Selessa's eyes showed.

"To my knowledge."

"I see. Lastly, you've been approved for... 'Upgrades' to your ship. Anything specialized?"

"Sensors, FTL drive, communications, computers, proper docking bay door on my cargo hatch. Depending on the new system's usage, an improved power distribution system. Perhaps a repair on the Brirali shuttle in my cargo bay as well. It took some heavy damage."

"That should not be too much of an issue. However, the Brirali craft has already been consigned to the engineering team as scrap and spare parts, so that will not be likely. I'll have an engineering team there by the end of the day."

"That would be very much appreciated."

"I believe that concludes our meeting. It was interesting to meet you, at the very least." Selessa began to rise. Seeing this, Frank did the same.

"The pleasure was all mine." He extended his hand for a handshake before realizing they don't have the same custom out here and withdrew his hand.

"Wait, what was that?" The Serpens looked quizzically.

"Oh, uh... Human gesture. We call it a handshake. It's generally used as a sign of agreement or greeting." Frank cursed himself for making that mistake, again.

"Interesting, since it seems we might be seeing more of each other," she outstretched her arm in a similar fashion though not quite right.

"Almost..." Frank gently adjusted her hand into the proper position, then placed his hand in hers before raising and lowering it, then released. She seemed hesitant to release, damn snakes.

"Oh, um..." he realized after a short moment, "I'm an endotherm."

"Would explain why your hand was so warm. You know," Selessa reached into her pocket and pulled out and passed over a small card with a string of digits on it. "I wouldn't mind learning a bit more about your kind."

"Perhaps later." Frank bowed toward the Serpens as he began to walk back toward the door. He heard a slight hiss as he closed the door behind him.

'Dammit, first she wanted to fight, and now she wants to...' Frank was thinking as he started walking past the desk.

"Finally done?" Zedoris asked as she stood.

"It seems so for now. They'll have an engineering team meet me at my ship later. Did Lelith really consign her shuttle to the station?" Frank inquired.

"Well, it IS a little safer on your ship, if you can get that bucket of bolts to move faster. Besides, The shuttle is a bit older and has seen far better days." Zedoris shrugged it off.

"You already knew about it?" Frank was still a bit confused.

"Well, we're waiting on confirmation of you taking the next contract, but I know you're not tired of me yet." Zedoris smirked slyly. "So, what do you have there?" She said looking at his hand.

"Oh, um, contact information should anything come up." Frank tucked the card into his armor.

"Uh-huh..." She nodded slowly. "Knowing her..." She drifted off.

"Huh?" Frank tried asking.

"Anyway, I just got the message Lelith and Ozakos are already in the, according to Lelith, 'sprawling suite' that's reserved for us here at the station." Zedoris sighed. "I'd be happy with a 'cot and a pot,' to quote one of your movies. A place to sleep and eat is all I'd need."

"I take it you're not a fan of the 'high life?'" Frank elbowed her gently, knowing what she can handle, somewhat.

"I wouldn't quite say that, I'm just more used to, let's say, less embellished society," Zedoris said sourly.

"I know what you mean..." Honestly, he wanted to joke around with it, but since this was one of the first times she really seemed to open up to him, he didn't want to ruin it. "What did you do before you were, I think Lelith called it, a Hand?"

"I was a soldier. Got approached to serve a ‘much more glorious purpose.’ Don't get me wrong, it's an honor to be the right hand of the ambassador, but sometimes..." Zedoris went a little quiet.

"You'd prefer something with a bit more overall excitement?" Frank asked as they stepped on the elevator.

"Yeah, that's it! There's only so many times one can sit through some dull meeting about this or that." Zedoris sighed.

"Of that, I can understand, perhaps a touch too well..." Frank yawned.

"You alright?" Zedoris asked, seemingly concerned.

"As I said, I'm not used to high oxygen environments like this, makes me sleepy. I was barely able to handle the forty percent we had on the ship, but at fifty percent, it's quite a bit worse." Frank said, rubbing his eyes.

"I thought you were kidding about that," Zedoris said as they exited.

"I wish I was. What I said wasn't a joke." Frank said, putting on the helmet. "Perhaps I'll grab a nasal cannula next time I'm out, better than covering my whole head,'' he said through the audio of his suit.

"Nasal cannula?" She asked worriedly.

"Oh, just an add-on for my suit that can provide air right to my nose. Just a small hose linked to my air supply." Frank shrugged.

"That's, uhh..." Zedoris seemed to drift into worry.

"Hey now, where's the Zedoris I know? Don't get too comfortable on a friendly station now." Frank chuckled a bit

"You're right." Zedoris took a deep breath. "I guess I just figured you were made of sterner stuff."

"Of course I am." Frank laughed. "It's you who needs all the oxygen."

"Damned primate." Zedoris elbowed him in the chest with a smile on her face seemingly returning to normal. "Now, let's go see what kind of overly extravagant place they'll have waiting for us."

Frank followed close behind her as they headed toward the hotel section of the station. He felt a bit better seeing her a little closer to what he was used to. He thought he might just go back to his ship for rest. The station oxygen was way too high for him and he'd rather be somewhere he didn't have to worry about breathing. But that was for a while later. Time to see what was considered extravagant.