Sneak Peek: A Universal Red Line (Patreon)

This month's sneak-peek is another bit from my untitled smutty space opera. It's still in progress, although I admit December hasn't seen much added to it. Other work demanded attention, and then there's all that holiday & plague stuff. I hope to have good things for you next year, and I hope 2021 brings us better things in general!

So, once upon a time, I taught a high school English Language Learners class. My students were all refugees and recent immigrants with good conversational English skills, where we focused on writing & academic English. One time my class got to talking about insults from different languages, things that are a big deal in one culture & no big deal in another, etc.

I had kids from all over the world. They all agreed on one subject being too sensitive to mess with across any culture...

“I need to take your mind off the fight, anyway,” said Leeth. Her easy and patient tone didn’t match her mood. “Something has come up.”

Toquii's furry brow closed in. They didn’t need code words or phrases for this. He trusted her judgment when it came to his time and attention, and his information practices. Nobody in his organization needed to know everything—including Leeth, and including his other confidants. “Give us the room, huh? I don’t know if I’m staying, anyway,” Toquii told the others. He waited for them to leave before nodding for her to share her news.

“Riley likes me,” she began evenly. “I have encouraged him. It seemed harmless and useful. I received a payoff of sorts just now, I suppose. It’s not good news.”

She placed the palm screen in his furry, much larger hand. Toquii read with his short snout turning into a deep scowl. “What is this? Did he screw up the job?”

“That’s what it sounds like. This is all I have.”

“Fucking fool. ‘Too dirty?’ He has some moral objection? What the hell is ‘too dirty?’ It was a private, secret run and they were told not to look at the cargo. The client paid for secrecy. Riley knew all that. He was here. Of course it was dirty.”

“He said too dirty. Perhaps you would agree if you knew the details. Someone who values only money would sell out to anyone with more money. Would you trust a person with no limits? No standards?”

“I’m not sure Riley’s limits and mine have anything in common.”

“Surely you have some. You are both mammals. Would you continue on with a job if it hurt your mother?”

“Only worthless scum would… hrnh. You make a wild stretch, but your point is made,” he grumbled. “Your people are not birthed and raised the same. Tread carefully when talking about one’s mother.”