Chapter Text
The group of aliens walked on, following their guide through the facility. You were all touring the aquarium before starting work on a big project there. It was an incredible facility, doing important conservation work and boasting galaxy-class engineering and beautiful architecture. It was an honor to be here. And you couldn't have asked for better aliens to work alongside!
The guide, a colorful, lanky raptor-like woman covered in feathers, instructed everyone through the halls. You followed at the back of the group, You had already started working there, and there wasn't anything the tour guide said that you didn't already know, so you were just following for fun.
You waited for the other aliens to all move first. Members of your species were very careful of those at their feet. Literally. You towered over all other sentient beings in the United Galactic Federation. At twenty or more feet in height your species was easily the tallest around. Plus, your locality had a generally smaller build so you were tall even for your kind at nineteen feet.
Only one nearby alien surpassed you - the leader of the Galactic Armada, Captain Gantu. He stayed several feet away from you as he followed the group. You didn't know exactly why he was here. Most of your team was told, it was for security reasons, but you weren't sure of much other than it definitely involved a dangerous creature. And probably some bureaucratic stuff out of his control. At least he kept his distance from you.
Still, it was too beautiful in the facility to dwell on the Captain being there. You were used to a galaxy not built with your species in mind, but this facility was breathtaking. Vaulted-ceiling hallways over forty feet tall connected exhibits and the habitats were unbelievably vast. It was nice to have such huge strides - you had to take a moment to marvel at every view, at the floor-to-ceiling windows to the animal habitats over one hundred feet tall. Each tank must have been like a small lake. Words couldn't describe the incredible space. It was like you were in a shallow ocean. Most times, when others likened your kind to other sea creatures, it was rude and demeaning, but you were evolved from ocean-dwellers.
The group stopped at the next exhibit. They listened to the guide but she was talking about the creatures in that habitat. Nothing you didn't already know. You stepped back from the others, taking some time to gaze through the tall, narrow view port. The water was a bit darker, for the animals' different day-night cycles. You were fortunate enough to see them. Six or so white sharks, all in perfect view, investigated some device submerged for their enrichment. You couldn't help but smile. Such beautiful creatures, and you were their caretaker! One of them, at least!
While you watched the animals, a friend of yours stepped away from the group. Daisuke, as she let you call her, was definitely the third-tallest alien there besides you and the Captain. She stood above everyone else but still only came up to your stomach height.
She gave you her kind's version of a smile, as her mouth was covered by four inward-pointing mandibles. "You still with us?" she joked, her voice deep and rough.
"Ehh, I'll catch up." You looked down to return a smile.
Daisuke turned to the massive glass pane. Gazing at the sharks in the dark exhibit, she flicked her head, rattling the jewelry on her fleshy dreadlocks. She said a phrase in one of her species' languages. To anyone else, it sounded like rapid clicking.
"What's that?" You'd learned some of that language, but didn't know what she said, then.
She crossed her arms. "I find them fascinating," she said, "but my men would call me soft if I hunted something so weak."
You scoffed. Daisuke could manhandle a twenty-foot crocodile and they'd both come out unscathed. Everyone revered her skills for what they were. Now, though, she used them for a new cause.
She gestured behind her, towards the tour guide. She said, "I need to speak with her, they're moving the ghost leviathans around today and they asked me to watch."
"Oh, alright," you said. "Let me know if you're done before lunch." You hadn't seen her in a while, so you were somewhat looking forward to it.
She used her clicking speech. "Of course. But…"
"Hm?"
She took a quick look around the vast hall. She then began to switch between Galactic Standard English and her clicking, using simpler words in the latter so you understood. "The Captain… Did you notice him leave?"
You looked around. "Oh… No. No, I didn't." You were more focused on not tripping over your future coworkers. And, you remembered, for a while he'd been staying a good distance back from the tour group.
Glancing back at the group in question, Daisuke said, "I don't know where he went. There's nothing important or dangerous right now. I would have been told."
"It's probably nothing." It was hard to stay optimistic, though. Simply talking about the Captain and not knowing where he was put you on edge.
"Actually… I saw he was hot. He seemed uncomfortable or painful, as well."
You narrowed your eyes and looked to the floor. If this was about… something you and your friend were aware of, this would be awkward.
"I think he had an abnormal temperature." Daisuke had both thermal vision and good judgment. You confided a lot in her. "Unrelated to his feelings about you."
Well, that was… good to hear? This was weird. But knowing Daisuke, she was only telling you for a good reason.
She spoke as quietly as her voice allowed. "I don't know your species, but that didn't seem like any arousal or environment reaction I've seen." Her clicking sounded suddenly urgent. "I'm worried he's sick."
Damn, when she was worried, it meant things were serious. You were the only other member of his species around, and although you didn't expect anything to be wrong, there was still the slightest possibility.
You glanced at the tank one last time. "Yeah, I should… I think I'll try and look for him." You didn't want to be the one who ignored a medical emergency.
"Alright. I'll see you later," Daisuke said.
You gave a slight wave. She left to do her thing with the leviathans, you turned around to go back the way you came. He sure snuck away easily, for a giant and someone so important. But your kind had a surprisingly quiet gait. Searching the halls you'd already toured, your hooved feet were nearly silent on the aquarium's floor.
It took several minutes to search that area. Well, he wasn't anywhere you'd already been. But it was a big facility. Not about to look through the entire place for someone who might not have even been there, you stopped by a security desk. The facility wasn't open to the public that day so you were lucky to find someone there.
"Hey…" You knelt down to speak with the alien there. "Sorry, I'm looking for the Captain, if you know where he went? Uh, my species, black uniform…"
The worker, a bright blue-complexioned man with his long hair pulled back, said, "Of course." He adjusted a loose cape around himself - the building was rather cold for most species. He typed on the desk computer. "Yes, I remember him coming in with your group."
"Do you know if he's still here?"
He typed a few more commands. "He should have notified us if he left. Oh… Last camera check, he was around the A-5 wing. Do you want me to call him to the desk?"
"No, that's fine. I'll find him." You stood to leave. "Thank you."
A-5 wing… That was pretty close to the entrance. Down the main hall, left, then the hall curved right, and you found the area just fine. It was an offshoot hall with dozens of small, tropical freshwater tanks, and across from another window to the white shark pool. Damn, every part of this building was so pretty.
No sign of the Captain, though, so you turned around. Maybe it wasn't worth searching… No, he might have been unwell; and you trusted your friend, so you had to at least confirm he was fine. A little unhappy that you now had to search the entire facility, and possibly needed someone to call the Captain, you walked back towards the entrance.
Just by the hallway corner, though, you stopped in front of the restrooms. You had to check… Man, this could get embarrassing, quick. And as far as you knew the ones in this hallway were the only accessible ones to your huge species. You gritted your sharp teeth and pushed open the door. Hopefully no one was in here. All restrooms in the Federation were gender-neutral, but what would someone think of why you were here?
Not sure if you wanted an answer, you let the door close behind you, first. You asked, "Uh, Captain? Are you in here?"
It took a moment, so you readied to leave.
But a deep voice, sounding equally uncertain, said, "Yes, I'm here."
"My, uh, my friend saw you leave and… was worried about you. I was just checking if you're okay." You figured this was close enough to the truth. You turned towards the door to leave.
"Can I talk to you?" he asked.
You froze. You heard the tremor in his voice. "Um… sure."
"Last stall," he said.
You stepped towards the stall with incredible uncertainty.
"It's alright, you can come in."
You hesitated but opened the stall door. Your jaws parted in shock.
The Captain only stood leaning against the wall. But he crossed his arms tightly around himself. And you recognized the look on his face.
You knew Captain Gantu had a crush on you. You never expected to see him like this, though.
The most powerful man in the Federation was seconds from crying.