"It's amazing what the rich and eccentric can get away with. I find that's true across any culture where the concept of 'rich' is relevant," he says. "Bringing her alien concubine to the opera was the least of her exploits."

Isabella laughs softly at 'alien concubine'.

Lalita giggles. "Well, I was. For almost a year."

"How did you wind up in that position?"

"She captured me while I was out on one of my first trips into deep space. I flirted. She was charmed. She decided to keep me."

"...Ah."

"I really did like her," he adds. "She was a lot of fun."

"I suppose that's considerably better than the alternative. She let you go, or you escaped when you were done?"

"Option C: assassination. One of her rivals got her, and I stole Harley back from the spacedock and ran for it."

"I suppose that works too. What's Klingon society like up close?"

"Violent. Structured. Beautiful. A lot like their opera," he laughs.

"The violence sounds unpleasant."

"It wasn't always."

"I suppose you're probably about a match for a Klingon if you decide to be."

"Shenara liked that about me."

Isabella laughs.

Lalita grins.

"What other improbable civilizations have you visited?"

"Oh, the Klingons were definitely the most improbable."

"What other interesting ones, then?"

"Orion?"

"I know very little about the society. I do know that the people are green."

"They have taboos about food the way some species have taboos about sex, and they're as casual about sex as some species are about food. I've had sex with a lot of Orions, but only one ever let me make her dinner."

"That's an interesting reversal, and not one I've heard of before. Sexual taboos are common. I wonder why."

"I have no idea."