“Come on in, Zhishik! How’re things going?”

 

“Great and greater, you know it! That’s fresh coffee I smell?”

 

“I just put it on when you said were coming. Here, mind the doorframe.”

 

“Yeah, I always remember. The thing is, Paco, I got a real need for aid. A triple-priority ask, you feel me?”

 

“Do you mean a favor? For you? Ask away.”

 

“Stellar! You remember my littlest cub?”

 

“You mean the adorable one who was hosting her own going-away party? Reshishi?”

 

“Raeshi-Zhi, right. Let me mark it out for you. Turns out she's not just back today, she’ll be on us in twenty. She snuck right down from Customs on someone’s joyride, so I have to really hustle some plans ahead. You can be a major helper here.”

 

“Oh, poor thing. Of course I'll help, but— you mean she’s asking strangers for rides? You let her wander around the station alone?”

 

“I mean she cruised on in when they weren’t watching. Real smooth moves on her part! Now, she’s coming here with a quickness. And she told me she wanted to come in with something to show how good she’s gotten, like in the old days. You tracking me so far?”

 

“I think I’ve heard of this. You all call them hunt-gifts, right? But I still don’t see where I— what exactly is she trying to catch, Zhishik?”

 

“I’m a great parent. I want this to go smooth as greased mirrors for her, I don’t want her wandering everywhere looking for a top prize. So she just has to, you know, borrow you for a while. With her weapons.”

 

“Oh good lord. I let her hunt in my yard once, but—”

 

“I said it was a big ask, not mega-sized! She’s not keeping you. I’ll just give her some hints where to find you— you don’t even have to put up a fight first if you don’t want to! All you have to do is whatever she tells you to. Promptly.”

 

“I suppose I’m flattered you picked me for this. But do you remember that park trip? I don’t even enjoy going on unsimulated thrill rides—”

 

“Which are riskier! Those can mess up, my girl can’t! I’ll just tell her to follow bloodless rules on this—”

 

“Oh, well I’m glad to hear there are rules! Otherwise, this abduction would be dangerous!”

 

“Look, smooth out, I know how you humans are. You’re a busy guy, I dig. How about I give you a copy of it all? She can record the whole thing, from hunt to capture to presentation. Something you can show off to everyone around the joint.”

 

“That’s kind of you, really it is, but I’d rather get famous some other way. I get that you want her to keep in touch with traditions; it’s admirable, even. Have you tried telling her to hunt down a good snow globe or something instead?”

 

“And let her miss out on her own genuine, full-blooded, live-capture raid? Come on, my man. Trust me, it’ll be aces! No shame getting caught by her, it’s the natural outcome.”

 

“Oh hell. I’m not threatened by your child, I just don’t want to get mixed up in some fake combat so she can impress you and carry out some… undoubtedly important cultural tradition, which means a lot to your people, I'm sure. I’m sorry, but I just don’t know about this, Zhishik.”

 

“The thing is, you’re blind to the angle here, Paco. That cultural tradition has a song attached to it, an old family groove.”

 

“You know how much I love to hear about your traditions. All of us do, but—”

 

“You’ll love this one! The Jarharen-tann. It means something like ‘Presentation of the Craved Trophies.’ And it’s never been posted in public before.”

 

“…Nobody’s recorded it, even once?”

 

“Not since contact times, as far as I know. If they did, it was so cool they kept it themselves. It's all new to you dudes, all primo. We can sing it right here in your living room, after.”

 

“Now that’s interesting. It’s very interesting to a whole lot of people, I bet. And of course, you know I’d give the appropriate credits; we always do.”

 

“Sure deal. My clan’s been working on it for like five thousand years, we might as well bag some rep for it too.”

 

“Mm. Well, I guess that’s a little more workable, more of a fair exchange, friends helping friends. You did say bloodless, right?”

 

“Don’t worry, short stuff! She’ll pretty much take it from here. You’ll know what to do. Finish that coffee, you’ll need the boost. And one more thing, Paco, ultra important, mondo vital.”

 

“For rights to all that? Name it.”

 

“It’s her first time, so do her a solid and pretend to be scared.”