A Meeting of Minds

A tingling along his spine prompted Scorpius to turn around, even though he was sure he was alone in the room. To his surprise and dismay, a young female was crouched in the corner. He started and called for Natira, made as if he would walk off as well, but found himself restrained by a long, bronze-brown hand on his arm.

"I’m not here to spy on you and I don’t want trouble; just to talk."

She spoke quickly and the voice, a low mezzo; seemed familiar to Scorpius.

"And how did you manage to get in here without being caught?"

He made a mental note to "speak" to whoever was the current head of security later. The girl—her name eluded him—gave a small smile.

"I have my ways," she said. Then turning serious,

 "Listen. I don’t want anything from you, but… well, maybe you need something from me."

 Scorpius pulled his arm away from her, but his curiosity had peaked and he made no move to leave.

"What could you have that would possibly be of any value to me?"

"Nothing of material value. You’ll figure out what I mean on your own. You’re intelligent and clever. You’re also lonely," she said, looking into his eyes.

 "You hate the Scarrans because of what you are, and you can never forgive the Sebaceans for your early abandonment. The rest of the Universe doesn’t understand you at all. You face them as the possessor of great knowledge and power: confidant, calm, and self-assured; but for the most part it is a carefully cultivated mask that you wear. You’re a classic Misunderstood, Used and Confused."

 "That is quite a remarkable conclusion. Would you care to elaborate further?"

"You like to cause pain because you want to show the Universe how you felt, or feel. I don’t blame you. You were left on your own at a young age and that’s painful for any child. Unfortunately, you received little or no sympathy until Natira took you in, but she only wanted to use you, and you saw that.  Because of her, you don’t trust anyone."

Scorpius stared at this presumptuous female. What she was saying was making far more sense than it had any right to. He wasn’t, of course, going to admit to any of it, but he indicated that she should continue. He was intrigued, for she knew things about him that she should not. This would have been an interesting one for the Aurora Chair, he thought.

"Touch," the girl continued, running a hand down his arm.

"You get right in people’s faces because you know it makes them uncomfortable, but the truth is that you wish it didn’t. You like physical contact with others, but most keep their distance. They fear what they cannot understand, and you play on that fear to get to them, but if only someone would forget their prejudice…"

 She reached up with both hands then, putting warm palm to bony cheek and stroking with her thumbs. The half-Scarran was taken aback by this, quite startled, but his analytical mind was busy processing everything he had heard and seen. He came to a conclusion of his own.

"You… pity me, is that it?"

"You want it, you know," the girl said by way of reply. She removed her hands. "Just a little bit."

A sound outside the door to the room caused both heads to turn sharply towards it. It proved to be nothing but set the female on edge.

"I’d best get myself out of here soon, but…"

Scorpius looked at her quizzically. She seemed to be preparing to make some profound statement, but then smiled, put long arms about his neck, and pulled herself close. After a few moments she released him and stepped back.

"Be easy," she edged toward the door, "and try not to kill too many people."

This said with a trace of laughter. Scorpius glanced away for just a moment, and when he turned back she was gone, just as suddenly and silently as she had appeared. It occurred to him to wonder why Natira had never shown up, but the thought left his head a soon as it had entered. He continued to go about what he had been doing, no longer sure what it was that had distracted him.