The hangar in New Vitriol could have fit a ship twice their size and three times their length, but the docking clamps and boarding tube hooked into place without difficulty.

"Connection isn't very good," Urle noted. "Just above the minimum standards. Air quality is pretty poor, too. Nothing toxic, but a much higher level of bacteria and chemical compounds than I would call healthy for long-term exposure." He glanced to Brooks.

"Keep your kids on the ship for now," the Captain said. "And you stay here for the time being. I'll take Dr. Logus and Cenz and we'll go meet their welcoming party."

"Aye, sir."

They went down the tube. On the other end, the airlock door opened, and a man who could only have been the governor was awaiting them. Along with him were a handful of officials and several guards, only the leader of whom had his face visible.

His grin was surely meant to be friendly, but nothing about it conveyed warmth. His outfit was a mix of sensible and faded grandiose, with a high collar that appeared to have been cut down after some of the ribbing had folded.

"Welcome to New Vitriol, gents." His eyes went to Cenz, and for a moment his smile faltered. He didn't seem to know what he was looking at.

There was no gravity on the station, and Brooks floated himself forward, drawing the Governor's eyes back to him. "I'm Captain-Mayor Ian Brooks," he introduced himself, before gesturing to the others. "Dr. Arn Logus and Commander Cenz."

"What is he, a fancy drone?" the governor asked, eyes going back to the Commander.

"I am what your people call a Coral or Polyp," Cenz answered. "From the Dulea system."

"An alien," the man said. His smile had faded, and he gave Brooks a glare.

"We welcome outsiders, Captain-Mayor, but things aren't free on New Vitriol. And prices are higher for some."

"We'll be happy to take you up on your hospitality and pay you for your services," Brooks replied. "So long as it's safe for my people here - all of my people. It is one of the most important laws of interstellar trade - that all travellers can expect welcome and safety."

"Everyone's safe on New Vitriol," the Governor replied, his tone turning a little sour. "As long as you don't plan to stay - we don't promise that. We got supply problems and we don't want population in here that's not going to help us get more population." He was looking pointedly at Cenz, then shrugged expansively. "More bodies means more workers and more workers means more resources. Surely you understand."

"None of us are coming to stay, Governor . . ." Brooks trailed off. "Perhaps a proper introduction is in order."

"Nec Tede," the Governor said, then gestured to the guard without a helmet. "This here's my Chief of Security and second-in-command, Hoc Rem."

Brooks nodded to the latter, who regarded him coldly, saying nothing. He didn't look like a local; his neck was thick with muscle, as if he'd come from a place with much higher gravity.

But Nec Tede was still talking. "I'm not just the leader of New Vitriol, but the Rightful Governor of this system - though you wouldn't know that by talking to that Judas, Ban."

Brooks wasn't sure who Ban was, and the Governor must have noticed. "I heard you just spoke with him - the head man over at Old Vitriol. Ban is a crotchety bastard who hates meeting face to face." The man slid a thumb across his throat. "Paranoid, ya see, about assassins."

"Oh my," Cenz said. "I was not aware there was a substantial risk of such violence in this system."

Nec chuckled. "Just in his mind. Man is the reason we were banished. He doesn't trust anyone with a claim on the Tede line."

"That's unfortunate," Brooks said. "Governor, we've come to speak to you about-"

"I know who you're looking for." The man grinned and tapped his head. "Word spreads faster than light in this system. I know the freak you're looking for - and she's here."

With how unfruitful the trip had been so far, even this kind of response made Brooks feel like this was going too well. "Can you arrange a meeting? I would like to talk to her."

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"Sure," the man said. "That'll be no problem. Except you might not live to get a word out." The man chuckled, an ugly sound. "Seein' as she likes to kill people just by lookin' at 'em."

*******

The airlock sealed behind them. There was no need to pump in air, but Brooks pressed on the 'hold' button all the same. Now that they were back inside the Hurricane, he felt secure in talking.

He only need glance to Dr. Logus.

"Interesting fellow," the man commented.

"With an active imagination," Brooks added. "What do you make of his story?"

"That he's the rightful governor? That Ban Tede is the paranoid one? His clear bias against non-humans? Or his claim that the CR killed a man by looking at him?"

"The last," Brooks replied dryly.

"Fanciful, at best. No CR on record has ever been able to do something like that. And rare as they are, that's still tens of thousands of cases."

"So either the CR used some other method or it's just an accusation."

"It's very common for Cerebral Readers to face this sort of problem," Cenz noted. "There are no reported cases among my species, but most others have similar conditions - in nearly all of them, CRs face a greatly increased rate of assault, murder, and wrongful imprisonment, along with general social isolation."

"He's made his goal clear as well," Logus said. "He wants more people. Perhaps he hopes to barter the CR for your assistance in getting more people here."

"I can't say I would recommend the place based on what I've seen so far - as short as it's been," the Captain commented.

"Nor I," Cenz said. "And not even just among my own kind for his clear bias against me. In the Governor and his entourage I see signs of long-term radiation damage and general poor health."

Outside the airlock, Brooks noticed that Urle was waiting - and behind him was nearly every other person on the ship.

"We'll talk more later on this," Brooks told Logus. "Gather the information you can, I'd like to know more about this place before I pass judgment on it."

Opening the door, Brooks stepped into the ship proper.

"Captain," Urle said. "That seemed a brief meeting."

"I'm going to go talk more to Governor Tede," Brooks told Urle and the assembled crew. "We have permission to move among the colony, though they clearly have issue with non-humans."

"Would you prefer we wait on the ship?" Cenz asked.

Brooks shook his head. "No, I'm not going to force anyone to stay on the ship after that rough ride we've had out here. The Governor said we were welcome and I intend to take him at his word. The colony still uses a market economy, so we'll get you all some External Trade Credits, in case you'd like to patronize any small businesses here."

"I am glad," Cenz replied. "I am highly curious to see more of such a young colony. And still in a rudimentary form of capitalism as well! It will be fascinating."

Brooks glanced over them all. "No one go anywhere alone - just to be on the safe side. Their bylaws state that the open-carry of weapons is allowed, so I suggest that you all take sidearms."

"Seriously, Captain?" Cenz asked.

"Yes," he replied bluntly. "In places like this they tend not to respect people who are not carrying weapons - I've known others like it."

Urle nodded. "I'll unlock the armory and issue sidearms to anyone who plans on going out."

The Executive Commander noticed Hannah watching through the rest of the assembled crew. She looked nervous. He had always taught his daughters to be respectful of firearms, and he knew she had taken to it with something approaching a phobia.

Someday, he'd have to teach her how to use one, he knew. But he wanted that day to be far off.

"Excuse me," he said, stepping through the crowd towards her.

"All right, I'm heading out," Brooks said. "They have a curfew at 2200 hours, and I've sent a sync to your systems to update them to local time."

Brooks left out the hatch, and Cenz approached Kell, who seemed oddly lost in thought.

"Ambassador, I think I feel like going for a walk. Would you care to join me? I know you must be curious to see this new colony."

"No," Kell said.

Cenz recoiled slightly. "Ah . . . my apologies for assuming. If you do go out, however, please let me know - I will be happy to join you."

"I will not," Kell said, not even looking to Cenz.

"Just remember that the Captain has given a directive for no one to go out alone. I believe this applies even to you, Ambassador."

The Shoggoth gave no response and moved away, back towards his quarters. Cenz was left with a puzzled expression on his face as Pirra approached him.

"It's acting . . . weirder than usual," she said softly. Kell seemed out of earshot. "I thought the Ambassador wanted to see these places."

"And this is a very unique one, by his experiences. It does seem as if something is bothering the Ambassador, and I fear he will ignore the Captain's orders."

"At least it's staying on the ship for now. Perhaps it's too much too fast," Pirra said. "But on the topic of these locals . . . what are your thoughts on them, Commander?" she asked.

"I think I feel like going for a walk and finding out more," he said. "You and Alexander are free to join me if you wish."