“Ah, Newman-kri,” the zirka finally noted his presence when Chris walked to the teaching table, and addressed him respectfully, but with a note of superiority in his voice, which was new to Chris and hearing such tone wasn’t really pleasant. “Did you still assume that Tumblin-kri explains today’s material worse than me?”

Chris sighed, taking in a full chest of air, and exhaled slowly. Yes, the zirka communicated with the vast majority of students in this way. He ought to play nice and low at his period today. Nevertheless, he had long ceased to fear this ‘chilly’ look. He never felt chilled out looking into this impenetrable depth of aliens’ eyes. Moreover, he caught himself so many times that one glance into the bottomless eyes was enough to feel calmed and at ease instantly. It was not clear to him, why do humans feel awkward with direct eye contact with Zirkaazte. It wasn’t in the nature of the green lizards to yell or scold, talk angrily or even frown to repulse the interlocutor. Their faces were usually relaxed and composed, like serenity itself. Erzketau lived on Earth much longer than the major rest of zirks, having arrived here to continue the work of his father and grandfather, according to some reports about fifty years ago, and that is why he had a wider range of emotions and their manifestations, but Chris’s classmates interpreted them only as contempt and arrogance. Nevertheless, it was total rubbish that the black eyes were scary because they didn’t have the pupils. First, they had pupils. Perhaps one could not get this if they constantly hide their eyes. Yet, once the psychological barrier overcome, it immediately becomes clear that blackness does not fill the whole eye, but brightens from the center to the corners. Such a large, unusual pupil, which, however, also reacts to external and internal stimuli.

“I solemnly apologize for my behavior. I have shown disrespect towards your hard-working. This happened unintentionally, and I in no way had the intention of insulting you personally,” Chris said sincerely, looking fearlessly straight in Erzketau’s eyes.

The zirka’s face to soften, the smile developed a more friendly shade.

“There’s no need to be so formal, Newman-kri. You are not one to misbehave without a reason, there had to be something that greatly puts you off. It happens to the best of us. ”

Chris listened to Erzketau as if he heard him for the first time really.

Damn it, Josh is right; he’s really softer with me! Maybe this’ll work after all...

“Erzketau-kri, I need your help,” Please listen and agree!

“What kind of?” Zirka folded hands on his chest and raised his eyebrows.

“I want to file an enrollment application to the seventh building assistants’ team, where the third phase will take place,” Chris said firmly.

“What?” He hardly did not understand, but was definitely surprised, even his ears twitched. “Newman-kri, I’m afraid I’ll have to reject...”

“No, please listen!” No, no, no! Chris bellowed internally “I understand that I am not yet qualified enough, but I am ready to make up for the volume of theory that I lack. I’ll need to keep up with an in-depth biochemistry, human reproduction and transplantology in the first place, which I have already begun to do, and I intend to complete and finalize my thesis ahead of schedule, as well as...”

“As well as getting the approval of two more head coordinators at least. Why don’t you start with them? Though I’m not sure that...”

“Please, kri, there’s only yours I need!” Chris blocked zirka’s path to the way out, as Erzketau was right about to leave the audience; he was on the edge, struggling staying calm, although he was almost ready to spread his arms, just to prevent the coordinators from leaving. “In addition, Professor Shirokawa...”

“Shirokawa?” Zirka asked guardedly. “What about him?”

“Um...”

“You have asked him, haven’t you? Did he agree?” Erzketau asked a bit harshly. The atmosphere has gotten slightly chiller.

“He said that... he would think it over,” Chris said uncertainly, glancing sideways.

“He will, of course,” zirka grunted and squinted, taking a slow step toward Chris, who remained on his spot. “He will think, but he has already provided you with the materials and even suggested few candidates you need to go and flirt to get the place? What exactly have you done for him to ‘think’?” He was now towering over Chris; the student blanched.

“You are mistaken,” Chris said calmly, emphasizing each word. Zirka’s assumption hurt him very much, but the young man understood that he had no right to succumb to his feelings now, otherwise his idea and first priority goal would inevitably fail. With a sigh he continued: “Erzketau-kri, I’m sorry, but you’re wrong. All I want is to make every effort and bring maximum benefit to the future of my race.”

“If this is true, then all you have to do is submit an application and get into the implantation schedule,” zirka said gritting his teeth, still annoyed.

“I’ve already did that,” Chris answered pushing further.

The reaction was silence. Erzketau straightened up and nodded to himself.

“Kazuaki, of course, is in the know,” he said after a pause in the affirmative, but still as if asking.

“Yes, Professor Shirokawa knows, he was the one accepting my application.”

Although Erzketau apparently did not notice that he called professor by first name, but Chris did also remember how zirka had done the same in the professor’s office. There was no doubt that these two got along well. For how long had they been working together? Chris suddenly wanted to google¹ when has Erzketau arrived on Earth and how old he is.

“And in what am I mistaken? Newman-kri, this is how you’re trying to convince me that you are not trading your body? Let it be in the name of science...” Erzketau pointed out shaking his head disapprovingly.

“No I’m not. I do what I must. I provide myself with access to your knowledge and experience, which I am going to use for the benefit of the project as soon as possible. Do you think this is a trading? In my opinion, this is an effective management of the assets available to obtain the unavailable ones for the sake of the efficiency increase. Investing in myself and investing myself in.”

Zirka examined Chris with an unreadable gaze for a while, thinking. Then he said:

“I understand your impulse, Chris, but I can’t approve,” and, seeing that Chris was about to put up a rebel again, put his hand on his shoulders, squeezing a little, as if trying to convey the idea not only by word, but also by touch. “I am sure that you will cope with all the material, as you intended, but without practical skills you can’t get access to the seventh building.”

Zirka walked away, leaving Chris boiling on the spot.

¹google (v.) – Yeah, I know it’s been a thousand years from now, different coding and operating system, and search engines, but hey, this idiom could travel in time just like any other, right? :)