King Renten surveyed the humans before him. He was impressed by the different shapes, colors and ages of those present. He saw youth and the experienced.
Renten sent his thoughts and observations along the private telepathic link he shared with his son. He knew that Dex would relay them to Master Chief Leftclaw who remained on the scout ship with four of the eight guards chosen for the mission. The other four flanked him and his son.
Renten had chosen one guard from each of the major bloodlines. When the bald sweaty human cleared his throat, Renten thought it prudent to pay attention. "Yes?"
The humans' surprise at his speech amused Renten. The diplomat gaped and quickly recovered.
"I apologize King LoudRoar. We did not know you spoke Earth's language."
"We studied all the information contained in your probe. From there it was easy to adapt our translators to understand the syntax of your patterns."
The diplomat grinned. "I am Larry Mellen and I will be your liaison during your visit here. Please, follow me so we can begin the tour."
"Of course, Larry Mellen."
Larry chuckled. "You can address me as Larry. Less of a mouthful that way."
"Very well, Larry. Let me introduce my son, Crown Prince Dex LoudRoar. The others are our personal guards that will accompany us as we visit your planet." Renten watched Larry's gaze dart to a man who wore more medals than the other humans.
::He must be the leader. Make a note of it, my son.::
::Yes, Father. I do not like his scent,:: Dex growled.
::His scent is…interesting. Be careful around him. We do not need a misstep.::
::Understood, my King.::
Renten was composed. He waited for the silent byplay between their liaison and the male with the power to finish. He'd always been observant. You had to be to hunt and to lead, two things Renten excelled at. The moment passed and Larry urged them down the ramp.
They had only moved a few paces when Dex let out a telepathic roar of challenge and teleported near a certain section of the lined up soldiers.
::Dex! What are you doing?:: Renten demanded and broke into a sprint. He left behind the liaison and moved toward his son.
* * *
Jewels was sweating not just from the heat, but from nerves. The diplomat was funny and that made her smile. It didn't quite quell her fear that something would go wrong. She was impressed that the Gatoans spoke and understood human speech. Her admiration was cut short because Jeremy was in her mind, once again ordering her to do the scan.
::For the record, I want it noted that this is a bad idea.:: She focused on the Gatoans and with her gentlest touch, reached out and brushed against the Prince's mind. She was not prepared for the reaction. She had mere seconds to realize the aliens were psionic and then the Crown Prince was before her.
::Did he just teleport?:: Jeremy shouted excitedly.
Jewels was busy studying the male before her and didn't respond. The Gatoan's glossy black fur with that odd patch of tawny hairs in the center of his chest intrigued her. And he smelled of cocoa and cinnamon, her two favorite scents. He towered over her by a good foot, if not more. She was impressed that he walked upright. Definitely different from Earth felines.
They stared at each other. All awareness receded. Tension and something more flared between them. The Prince didn't give her time to analyze the situation. He stretched out his paw, touched her face, and the impossible happened.
The bond that anchored her to Jeremy crumbled. She screamed aloud and telepathically in pain from the abrupt separation as the assault of everyone's thoughts slammed into her unprotected mind.
"Stop! Please!" she implored, disoriented while her mind tried to reconnect to her anchor. She couldn't seem to make her body obey her command to run either. She was frozen in place.
Instead of Jeremy's familiar mind, Prince Dex's mind locked on to hers and the sheer power swallowed her up like a black hole. His mind was too alien for her to handle.
Her chest heaved and her heart raced. She had to break free from his mind! But she couldn't move. The Prince had taken control of her limbs. Dazed, she watched the King approach. Jewels noticed his raised paw and knew with certainty that he too was going to read her mind. And she was powerless to prevent it.
::Jeremy! Jeremy, please help me! You promised not to leave me! Where are you?:: Her cries met only emptiness.
The King's paw touched her right cheek and a fresh wave of pain burned her synapses and made her nose bleed. The King removed his paw and his eyes glowed. His low purr made her shiver. "Fascinating, Dex," he murmured.
Jewels was still immobilized. Blood fell from her nose and hit the Prince's fur, but he didn't seem to notice. He studied her face once more and slowly lowered his paw. The mental hold over her vanished.
It took her confused mind and eyes a moment to realize that the three of them were surrounded by the snarling Gatoan guards and the base's soldiers. The Gatoans' claws were out and the soldiers had weapons drawn and trained on the visitors.
"No," Jewels whispered. She couldn't let the soldiers harm the aliens. Not when it was her fault to begin with. Her head throbbed and her mind was raw from the press of so many thoughts. Some instinct made her drop to one knee, head lowered in submission. She felt the King's and Prince's surprise.
"Sire, I ask pardon for the intrusion. It will not happen again." She shivered and felt faint, worried that they would refuse her apology.
Jewels felt a gentle squeeze on her shoulder and then the Prince spoke, his words warm and kind, "You are forgiven, little human. Rise."
Shakily she stood and shot the Prince a relieved look. "Thank you."
He smiled and she glimpsed a mouth full of dangerously sharp teeth.
"Lieutenant Enbran! What in the bloody blazes do you think you're doing?" Maussey's bellow startled her, but it was his loud thoughts that made her flinch. She came to attention, ignoring the Prince's quizzical expression.
Maussey's face was red with fury. "I asked you a question, Lieutenant!"
"Nothing, Sir. It was," her eyes flicked to the King and then away. "a misunderstanding on my part. It will not happen again...Sir."
Jewels locked gazes with the Prince and hoped that focusing on him would help her ignore the agony of her aching head.
Maussey's eyes narrowed. "A misunderstanding? Well, Lieutenant, let's see if you misunderstand this. Report to the CC immediately. Dismissed!"
"Yes, Sir." Jewels saluted, turned and walked away, her back ramrod straight, her head held high.