Claws and Starships by M.C.A. Hogarth

Author:M.C.A. Hogarth
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: humor, space opera, genetic engineering, aliens, issues, anthropomorphic, furry
Publisher: M.C.A. Hogarth
Published: 2013-06-23T00:00:00+00:00

Two hours later, they had discovered no loophole; if La'aina did not call off the Rite herself, there was no way to prevent it. Not only that, but no Champion had ever called off a Rite in the history of the custom.

They would have to show her the transcript.

Tablet in hand, Peli stepped out of the tent and began the walk back to the dig for the second time that day. The sun was especially strong, the colors of the tents when she approached particularly vibrant; the Seersa felt as if everything on Aren had chosen to assault her.

Ringing the bells outside the female's tent and receiving a cold invitation to enter, Peli again strode into the abode of the predator, who was sitting on a pillow reading a report.

"You again?" La'aina bristled when she glanced up.

"Stop!" Peli said, injecting as much command into her appeal as possible without disrespect, "Listen to me! Du'er has manipulated us both!"

"I am not interested in your excuses!"

The Seersa continued, ignoring her racing heart and La'aina's stormy gaze. "He wanted to break away from you and arranged it so that you would Challenge me, and either of us would set him free if we won! He was doing it all on purpose! He was lying to you! And to me!"

La'aina glowered. "You really expect me to believe you?"

"You don't have to--I have proof! I accidentally recorded the conversation I had with Du'er where he admitted all of this! You only have to read it to see that he's been planning this all along. We were set up!"

"That sort of data can be forged," La'aina replied coldly.

Peli felt her body tensing. "Do you want to take the chance? If I'm right, Du'er will have tricked you, made a fool of you by using you like a puppet to execute his whims. Do you want to be the butt of every joke in this community? You will be, once Du'er gets away from you and starts gloating! Read the transcript!"

"I'm not interested," La'aina said again, beginning to shift against her pillow in growing anger.

"Do you want to reward him for playing you like a musical instrument?"

"I'm not interested!" La'aina roared, leaping to her feet, "Take your immutable tablet and get your 'sexy white pelt' out of my tent!"

"I'm going," Peli replied, fighting the urge to cringe and run, "But I'm leaving this here. Read it! Don't let Du'er get away with this! It's your name at stake!"

"OUT!" La'aina bellowed, and Peli gave in and ran, tossing the tablet with its incriminating evidence onto a pillow before exiting.

Outside, Peli tried to decide if that had gone well or not. What if La'aina did not read the tablet? What if it was all lost? Glancing at the workers who occasionally gave her inquisitive and sometimes knowing looks, Peli felt exasperation for Aren and its intractable inhabitants. Slipping her hand into her now-empty pockets, the Seersa walked back toward the scientific settlement through the sun and sandy terrain, ruminating on the chance that La'aina would see sense and the chilling possibility that she wouldn't.

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