Tristan looked Alex over, then adjusted the jacket’s collar. The human fidgeted. “This isn’t going to work.” He pulled on the sleeve and looked around the empty alley. “It will. Humans only care that everything looks to be right. You look enough like Aaron that even if the person at the office has met him she will not notice. And it’s unlikely he has been in that office recently. You saw his file, he hasn’t had a reprimand in years.” “Yeah, but won’t they wonder why he’s—I’m asking for a new ID badge?” “No, losing a badge happens. Do not be apologetic. You have worked for this company long enough to be secure in your position. Act embarrassed, losing your identification is something a fresh recruit does, not a veteran like yourself. You have an hour to reach the office, go in as she’s getting ready to leave. You will have ten minutes before her replacement arrives, she’s being delayed. Ask about her family as she works, humans like talking about them, and it will distract her. She has two daughters and a small animal as a pet. Do not ask about the children’s father. Once she has given you the badge, stay until the replacement arrives, offer to walk her home, she’ll refuse.” Alex looked at him. “You expect me to remember all that?” Tristan glared at him. “Yes.” Alex swallowed. “How the fuck do I ask embarrassed?” Tristan smiled. “Just remember when Jack felt you up in your apartment’s lift.” Alex looked confused for a moment, then his face turned red. A moment later anger flashed in the human’s eyes. “Don’t bring him up again.” “When you have the badge, park in the bar’s lot, we won’t need to use this vehicle afterward, and by the time it’s noticed, we will be off planet. Wait in it until I leave the bar with Aaron.” “What if you’re done with him before I’m back?” “If you take that long it means you’ve been caught and I’ll proceed with my alternate plan.” “You have a way that doesn’t involve me?” “I do.” He had enough digestible explosives on him to force Aaron and half the people in the bar to do what he told them. Alex considered that before getting into the rental hover. Tristan headed to the bar. It was a wide room with tables, couches and soft lighting. Most of the people were dressed well, professionals in their field, and relaxing in small groups. Tristan attracted a few glances, but no one objected to his presence. This planet was important enough to have a decent alien population. He did a circuit of the place, locating Aaron seated on a couch in the center of the room. As he watched the human nodded to a few of the people passing by, exchanged a few words, laughed along to what one said, but no one sat with him. He was known here, but he didn’t come here to socialize. He was here waiting for a call to come in, or for when his client was ready to be picked up. Aaron was relaxed, leaning back, head bobbing in time with the music. He wasn’t expecting to be needed soon. Tristan got a non-alcoholic drink at the bar. Aaron wouldn’t be drinking alcohol since he was going to work. That wasn’t going to be a problem. He sat on the couch facing the human. Aaron eyed him for a moment, then went back to bobbing his head. “Excuse me,” Tristan said, raising his voice a little, making himself sound younger. “You work for Weeber, right?” Aaron raised an eyebrow. “The suit is kind of distinctive.” It was black, made of a heavier material that could stop low power blasts. “I do.” “I’m wondering if you have any tips about getting a job with them.” He activated the localized jammer to ensure Aaron didn’t get any calls while they talked. Aaron raised his eyebrow again. “No one wants to hire a big dumb alien, so I figure I might as well do security work.” “You’ve done that before?” Aaron finished his drink and motion for a refill. Tristan shook his head. “You have any combat experience?” “I know how to fight, if that’s what you mean? Growing up on Eftigan, I’ve had to defend myself often enough.” Aaron shook his head. “I’m not familiar with that planet.” “Mining world, pretty far from here. My parents went there because hard labor is about all my people’s good for. We’re big and strong.” Aaron nodded. “What’s your name?” “Brian.” Another raised eyebrow. “Yeah, it’s human. My father felt I’d have better opportunities if I had a name that sounded like most of the people in the universe.” “I’m Aaron.” They shook hands. “He might be right. I don’t know about everyone else, but I’m more comfortable if I don’t have to worry about mangling someone’s name. So, Brian you—” The server arrived and Tristan stood, handing her his cred chip and picking up Aaron’s glass. He dropped the low-level intoxicant pill in it as he placed it on the table. “It’s traditional to offer some form of payment for help we receive.” He explained at the human’s questioning expression. “I haven’t helped, I might not.” “You haven’t told me to leave, so I figure you're going to.” “You’re observant, that’s useful in this job.” Aaron sipped his drink, then nodded to the one Tristan drank. “Alcoholic?” “No, a lot of the human-made alcohol reacts badly with my system, so I avoid them altogether.” “In this job it’s a good thing. You don’t want to be intoxicated when a call comes in.” “Are you working? I mean I can leave.” Aaron smiled. “It’s going to be a few hours before I’m needed. Don’t worry. And I haven’t helped you yet, so you can’t leave.” “Sure I get combat experience? Is that how I can get hired?” “At Weeber that’s the best way. They don’t want to train new recruits. I was in the army here for fifteen years, fought through two wars, had to get half my body replaced over that time. Are you set on working for Weeber?” “They’re the best. My father always said that I should work for the best so I can become the best.” Aaron smiled. “Smart man. But there are other good Security firms that are willing to train you. I can give you their names.” “Thank you. How was the army? Would they take an alien like me?” “They take anyone willing,” Aaron said with a chuckle, then told Tristan about some of his adventures in the army. Tristan had to make something up about getting into fights with some of the tough guys of the mining camps to keep Aaron talking. Each time their drink ran dry Tristan ordered replacements, paying for them and added ever stronger intoxicant to Aaron’s before handing it to him. By the time Tristan suggested they should leave, Aaron had trouble stringing words together. Standing took him five minutes, and Tristan had to hold him up after that. Staggering, they made it out, and Tristan got the human to point to his car. Halfway there Alex got out of a hover and joined them, taking Aaron’s other side. “Heyyy, I duno you came here too,” Aaron slurred, almost tripping. “This is… What’s you name again? I forgot.” He leaned toward Alex and whispered. “He wants to work with us.” Alex nodded. They reached a black hover without any distinguishing marks. “There it is. That’s my baby.” Tristan grabbed Aaron’s hand and pressed it on the door. After a moment it opened. He sat the human behind the controls, which began lighting up. “You need to start it,” Tristan said. “I do?” “Yes, you want to be able to go pick up your client, don’t you?” “My client?” “Yes, he called you, remember? That’s why we’re here.” “I’m drunk. Why am I drunk? I can’t go get a client in this state.” “That’s why he’s here. You can sleep it off while he drives.” Aaron looked at Alex as if that was the greatest revelation. He searched the controls on the dash, and had to enter the startup code three times before the hover came fully to life. Aaron had a pleased grin on his face as Tristan applied the hypodermic to his neck and he slumped down. He put Aaron in the trunk, and flew them to the Academy.