Question Tschetter

After a moment, you decide to head over to Tschetter and the Jellies.

The woman looks at you, her face a tight mask of concern. “Specialist.”

“Ma’am.”

“Ambassador Rohyamar told me to expect you.”

You gesture at the body. “Can you tell me anything about what happened?”

She shakes her head. “None of the Wranaui were here. Nor was I. My implants can provide verification, if you need.”

Wranaui. You remembered from your briefings; that was what the Jellies called themselves. “Verification would be helpful.” You eye the Jelly next to her. “Do you believe ‘em, Ma’am?”

Tschetter doesn’t seem offended. “I do. Lying isn’t really their style, Specialist.”

“But they can lie.”

She gives you a long, hard look. “Starting up the war again isn’t in any of our interests, Specialist. Whatever happened here . . . whoever or whatever did this, it wasn’t the Wranaui.”

“Right. It was the Tooth Fairy. Got it. It’s not like the Jellies ever have disagreements among themselves.”

Tschetter takes a single step toward you, and for a moment, you find yourself intimidated, even though she’s half your height. “I’m not sure I like you, Specialist. You have a particularly suspicious mind.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.” You jerk your chin toward the Jelly looming behind her shoulder. “Can you translate for me? I haven’t gotten my scent-to-sound unit yet.”

You nearly jump as a low, wavering voice emanates from the Jelly. If a whale could talk, you imagine it would sound something like this. “Kvarau here: There is no need for this one to repeat my scents, two-form. All the Wranaui on this shell now carry the conversion device.”

“Great,” you mutter. Now the damn things could talk? You were going to have nightmares about that voice later. Still, it was going to make the investigation a hell of a lot easier.