Negotiations were still on-going. The Jueks had been there to talk to the humans for a week and, from what Malcolm said, they were getting nowhere. Which was fine with Jacob for now. He had no wish to return to Unides, now having committed to pursuing a relationship of sorts with the king and consort.
When they weren't in the meetings, Thaxl and Yaro joined Jacob, content to just be in his company, whatever he was doing.
The base didn't allow for many choices, but Jacob found he really enjoyed the deck he'd found the other day. He would take his food, his data pad and just sit out there for hours. His friends around base would visit him there, bringing food, books and more stories.
A break in negotiations had seen all of the Juek going back under water for the day, needing to take care of matters there. Even though he hadn't known them very long, Jacob already felt that loss and couldn't wait for them to come back, or allow him to go back with them.
Malcolm had gone down with them as a show of goodwill. That had been the main reason Jacob hadn't joined Yaro and Thaxl on this occasion to the under. Jacob knew his father was interested in learning more about their culture and hoped to bring back information that would help the ambassadors see things differently.
Today brought the first rains they had experienced since their arrival, making it impossible for him to go to his favorite spot as the deck wasn't covered and the last thing he wanted was to soak his data pad. Instead he decided to stay in the room and enjoy the alone time. He spent the morning reading the news, having his laundry sent down to be washed. In the early afternoon, after lunch, he took a short nap on the couch. A knock woke him up, and he grumbled at being disturbed.
Dragging himself from the couch, Jacob went over the door and peeked out the peephole. It was Cramley. He really did not want to open the door, but maybe it was important.
Cramley gave him a greasy smile. "May I come in?"
"Malcolm isn't here," Jacob said, hoping that would be enough to make him go away.
"I know. I wanted to speak with you."
Jacob thought about just slamming the door in his face, but he didn't want his father coming down on him for being rude.
"Sure, I guess that's fine." He stepped back enough to let Cramley in.
He shut the door once it was cleared, turning around to find his unwanted visitor was right behind him, within inches.
Again with that smile.
"How have you been? Enjoying yourself?" Cramley asked, posture straight, an air of superiority about him. "I bet this is refined compared to where you come from."
"It's been fine," Jacob said, not acknowledging that last comment.
"Oh yeah? That's good, that's good." Cramley rocked back on his feet, looking like he was thinking. "Made any friends?"
That made Jacob suspicious. Why would he care what Jacob was doing?
Cramley didn't wait for an answer. "I saw you out on that deck. With them. I also heard they took you down to their city."
"So?"
"So it's interesting how you gained the interest of the most powerful people on this planet." Now Cramley moved even further into Jacob's personal space. "What's it like kissing them? We've got a bet going just how fish-like they are."
Jacob jerked and stepped to the side until he was no longer trapped between Cramley and the door. "It's none of your business what I do or who with."
"That's where you're wrong. It is most definitely my business," Cramley snarled, no longer pretending to be nice. He stalked after Jacob, grabbing him and shoving him against the wall before he could get away. His arm came up against Jacob's throat. "We are trying to do right by the Confederation. If we can get these fish-men to just give in, we could fuel all of our ships for decades. We could go further, last longer."
All Jacob did was glare. He was in a precarious situation. Even though the insult to Yaro and Thaxl registered with him, he couldn't show it. Not here, not now. It was a generic insult, 'fish-men', not directed at gender, but the inherent insensitivity towards Juek identities made the insult seem worse somehow.
"Now, why don't you tell me what it is you three talk about," Cramley purred, pressing his body against Jacob's.
"Nothing."
"Nothing, huh?" He snorted. "What, do you guys not talk? Do you just suck their dicks to pass the time? Do they even have dicks?"
Jacob wanted no part of this conversation. He put all of his strength into shoving Cramley away. "I said, nothing. Now get out!" He pointed toward the door.
Cramley straightened his own clothes then, with one last sneer, walked out.
For the rest of the day, Jacob kept the door locked, unwilling to answer it for anyone.
*~*~*
When Malcolm came back the next morning and asked how his day had gone, Jacob shrugged and made noncommittal noises. He wasn't sure if he should mention what happened. He could, grudgingly, admit that his father was turning out to be not as bad as he originally thought.
Jacob decided to wait, to get some proof of Cramley's behavior before he mentioned anything. He wanted to make sure nobody could deny it, call him crazy or say that he was lying. After Cramley's visit, he felt like he couldn't trust anything. Obviously the man had an agenda and he made it clear that his intentions were only for the greed of the C.S.F.
Grabbing his data pad, Jacob went down to the shops to see if he could find any small cameras and microphones for sale. If they didn't have any, he would be surprised. It seemed anything was bought and sold on the base.
After checking a few different stores and making some inquiries, he was directed to an individual who sold the little cameras that could be hidden in clothing as an unofficial part of their business. It was kept quiet, and thankfully Jacob had been friendly enough to gain their trust. And he got a discount, so he bought one camera and one microphone. He decided he would wear both in his clothing and keep them running at all times.
Slipping into the bathroom to set up his new purchases, he had barely turned them on before he was no longer alone in the bathroom. The men didn't seem to realize they weren't alone.
"Did you hear?"
"About the Juek?" another voice asked.
"The fish-men," the first corrected. "They're not like us."
There was that insult again. Jacob's lip curled.
"Right, sorry. Fish-men." A cough.
"Yeah. They're saying if they don't come to a compromise, the Federation will be taking things into their own hands."
It seems as if he was already putting his new gadgets to use. Jacob stayed as still as possible, willing them to say more.
"What will they do?"
"I heard they'll capture every single one of those fish-men, lock them up and throw away the key. Take everything on this planet of worth."
"Will they make more bases?" the second voice asked.
"Probably. If we have to take everything by force, we need somewhere to store it."
There was some flushing sounds, then they were leaving the bathroom.
Jacob tried imagining the things the C.S.F. had planned for this planet and all those people underneath the waters. He imagined the cities, with their beautiful architecture destroyed, the old buildings used as scrap for the building of the bases. He imagined the Juek citizens in chains or killed. Then he imagined Thaxl and Yaro dead, because that's what was done with the ruling figures of an enemy.
He couldn't let that happen.
Jacob waited a few more minute before exiting, heading back to his room to start downloading the files he'd just recorded.