Erik was taking his third swallow of beer when a young woman sidled up to him. She might have been twenty-five but looked no older than eighteen; she was beautiful like all Vegan girls, but not exceptional. Her outfit revealed most of her body, and clearly her job was to seduce. She smiled at him in an attempt at coquettishness.

“I haven’t seen you in here before.”

He didn’t return the smile. “You probably won’t see me in here again.”

“You’re Vegan.”

He said nothing.

“What brings you in? Only Sirians hang out in here.”

“Then why are you here?”

Her smile faded as he failed to warm to her charms.

“A girl has to survive,” she said testily.

“I’m sure Sophia is real proud of you.”

Her right hand snaked out to slap him, but he blocked it with his elbow.

“Fuck you!” she screamed. “I never did worship that pagan bitch!”

“Too bad for you, then. Go bother somebody else.”

The girl backed off, rage in her eyes, her lip curled in a sneer. A soldier with sergeant’s stripes appeared at her side and took her by the arm.

“This guy givin’ you a hard time, Sallje?”

“He insulted me!” she said. “He’s some kind of religious freak.”

The Sirian’s eyes turned hard as he faced Erik.

“What about it, Veggie? You insult my lady friend here?”

Erik gazed at him evenly.

“Is that what she is? A lady?”

Two more soldiers stepped forward and flanked the sergeant. All three now faced Erik with challenge in their eyes.

“No,” the sergeant replied, “she’s a Vegan whore. What’s that to you?”

Erik picked up his beer and shrugged.

“Nothing.” He drank and set the beer down.

“What the fuck you doin’ here anyway?” the sergeant demanded. “This is a soldier’s bar.”

Erik shrugged again. “I’m a soldier.”

They blinked at him. “Veggie Guard?”

“I think that’s what you call it. Can I buy you a beer?”

They glanced uncertainly at each other, then the sergeant nodded.

“This is a Confederate water hole,” he said, “but in the interest of interstellar relations…yeah, what the hell.”

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