00:00I'll do literally anything if you help my son, the desperate plea of an alien mother.
00:05Miles Bourne drummed his fingers against the polished surface of his desk,
00:09watching the alien cityscape through the circular window of his office.
00:13The setting sun cast long shadows across the gleaming spires of New Haven,
00:18the human-alien integration colony, where he'd spent the last five years
00:22as director of the most prestigious interstellar school in the sector.
00:25The soft chime of his office door interrupted his contemplation.
00:30He wasn't expecting anyone this late, but that wasn't unusual.
00:34Parents often came at odd hours, especially those working multiple jobs to afford the school's steep tuition.
00:40Come in, he called out, straightening his fitted black shirt and running a hand through his casually styled light brown
00:46hair.
00:47The door slid open with a whisper, and Miles found himself momentarily stunned.
00:52A Celestian woman stood in the doorway, tall, graceful, with light blue skin that seemed to shimmer in the dying
00:59sunlight.
01:00Her long, slightly wavy blue hair was tied in a high ponytail,
01:04and she wore a loose gray sweater that had slipped off one shoulder,
01:07paired with black fitted leggings that accentuated her curves.
01:12Director Bourne, her voice was melodious, with an underlying tension that immediately caught his attention.
01:18I apologize for coming so late, but I desperately need your help.
01:22Miles gestured to the chair across from his desk.
01:25Please, sit, Miss...
01:27Birana? Birana Valen?
01:30She moved with fluid grace, settling into the chair.
01:32Her eyes, silver with hints of starlight, met as directly.
01:36I'll be direct, director. I need a place for my son in your school.
01:40Miles leaned back, already knowing where this was going.
01:44Miss Valen, I'm sure you're aware we're at capacity.
01:47There's a waiting list hundreds of names long.
01:49I know.
01:51She leaned forward, and her sweater slipped a little further.
01:54I've tried everything else.
01:56Every other school in the sector has turned us away.
01:59You're my last hope.
02:01Her voice dropped to a whisper.
02:02I'll do literally anything if you help my son.
02:05The way she said anything made his pulse quicken,
02:08but years of experience kept his expression professional.
02:12Miss Valen, please, she interrupted,
02:16standing and moving around his desk with a grace that made his throat go dry.
02:19I mean it. Anything.
02:22She perched on the edge of his desk,
02:24close enough that he could smell her exotic perfume.
02:27I've heard things about you, director Bourne,
02:30about how you understand the importance of personal connections.
02:35Miles stood abruptly, putting distance between them.
02:38Miss Valen, stop.
02:39Whatever you've heard, it's not true.
02:41I don't operate that way.
02:43She followed him, closing the distance again.
02:46You don't understand.
02:48My son, Kai, he's brilliant.
02:50But the local schools don't know how to handle his abilities.
02:53He needs specialized attention,
02:55the kind only your school can provide.
02:57Then apply through proper channels.
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