Also, the presence of nouns, which a more advanced translator would forgo in faithfulness to the Kruchen Mellach language.

Tausa squatted, arms on knees, bringing her head nearly level with the top of the spherical entity. Her Human instinct to gaze on a face was entirely frustrated. If a Kruchen Mellach had a head or eyes, they were buried deep beneath thick, long quills that looked like fur. It was a mystery for this species who had never seen fit to answer the question: do Kruchen Mellach even have faces?

On stage, the symphony orchestra was in the first movement of the extended version of _Sonnenaufgang_. Tausa had to pause her reply as booming drums and music reverberated across the huge assembly hall. Woven through the music were textures she could not hear, in infrasound and ultrasound, so that the performance might reach the full auditory ranges of the many species in attendance.

"I sorrow that this has happened to you," Tausa said to the Kruchen Mellach, pausing to allow her translator, woven through her tan and green uniform vest, to issue what sounded like a series of low moans. In her headset she received a back-translation: "Sadness imbues." Close enough.

Another crashing of drums filled the air. Tausa inhaled, catching a whiff of the Kruchen Mellach before her, a bit like burning hair, orange peel, and a dusting of sulfur.

The station's AI, listening to Tausa's words, would already be in motion, searching for the missing offspring. Lost children were typically found very quickly thanks to the AI's access to sensors across the station, from observation bubbles to docking bays to utility tunnels.

Tausa pressed fingers to her vest: "Missing child, species Kruchen Mellach. Priority search."

Entirely redundant. Missing offspring were always a priority search. But it bore saying, so it could be heard, especially by the parents. And particularly by this Kruchen Mellach.

"Keep them happy," Director Noitolly had told Tausa. The Kruchen Mellach delegation had suggested that they might reroute their trade vessels through Station Arlechin after the Commissioning Extravagancy. They were here to assess the possibilities. It would pay to keep them happy.

"How old is the child?" Tausa asked.

From the long quills emerged a thin grey limb. Tausa watched, fascinated. Few had seen what she was now seeing. The appendage unfurled like a lizard's tongue, then curled upon itself, describing a circle about ten centimeters wide.

So the child was small enough to hold in one's hand. Young. Very young.

Tausa stood. "I am certain that we will be able to reunite you with your offspring shortly."

Across balconies and floor stood, crouched, perched, paraded, and slithered as many species as Tausa had ever seen in one place. A trio of Tstopa Tstopa towered a meter above various other sentient parts—heads, palps, eyestalks—their fin-flats held high like solar panels, iridescent in hues of blue and green, red and yellow.

A curvy pale pink Ctun Dcin waved elastic appendages. Or maybe it was more. When Ctun Dcin stood together, they often wrapped limbs, making it hard to tell just how many they were.

An atmosphere tank was making surprisingly good progress through the crowd, given its size. Tausa's headset overlay told her the tank held a set of Myndympar twins, transiting from one fluxship to another. The Myndympar were one of a few species that could navigate a fluxship through the superluminal.

"I am dysregulated," repeated the Kruchen Mellach.

The station AI spoke into Tausa's headset. "Entity not located."

Tausa frowned, switching to subvocalization to keep the conversation private. "Check again."

"The described entity is not detected in proximity to the Kruchen Mellach," came the longer reply, as if the AI thought she hadn't understood it the first time. "Or anywhere else on Station Arlechin."

As if she might have forgotten what station she was on.

Tausa turned in place, her gaze raking the heavy crowds as if she could somehow find the child herself. Her gut went sour.

Galactic citizenship required immersive study of many histories. Further, being Deputy Havener required Tausa know a fair bit about the many sentient species who might visit the station.

So Tausa knew what an accomplishment the current galactic peace really was. Even in the microcosm of Station Arlechin's Extravagancy, there had not been a single fight the last two days. The prior day's tussle was now making heart-warming headlines, ending as it had with a Zaykatorn and Ocipamorch becoming fast friends. As different as they were, people generally got along.

At the same time, those same histories taught that a darker side lurked just under the surface, ready to break free the moment people began to take peace—and each other—for granted.

In that dark place, the young of various species were a vulnerable target for less civilized impulses.

"Keep looking," she told the AI unnecessarily.

"Affirmative, Deputy Havener."

Even the AI had limits. Tausa pressed the heel of her hand to her vest. "Nkalafar. To me."

A grunted response in Tausa's headset.

Tausa stifled annoyance. Hadn't she just spoken about this yesterday with her latest hire?

Well, Tausa had spoken. Nkalafar the Engedu grunted. "Reply with words," she told him, struggling for an even tone, this not being the first time. "Maybe even a full sentence." He grunted again.

Tausa would give the Engedu, fresh off his home planet, some more chances. Especially with the station director pressuring her to hire rare species.

The Engedu was that, certainly. Few galactic stations could boast an Engedu on staff.

Maybe there was a reason.

Tausa addressed the Kruchen Mellach parent again. "A priority search is underway. Will you come with me to my office, which is quieter and more private, please?"

"Will," came the tinny sound of the translator.

Tausa led the way to a nearby access door. They walked a short corridor to Tausa's office.

With each passing moment, Tausa expected to hear the AI's voice in her ears, telling her that the child had been found.

"I am dysregulated," said the Kruchen Mellach a third time.

As the silence in her headset lengthened, Tausa was starting to feel a bit dysregulated herself.