Volunteer (Selected Book 3)

by Robin Roseau

"English from now until three days after the end of the term," Bluebell declared. "And of course, English when Carmen and Audra arrive. Catseye otherwise. Violet, did you hear me."

  "Yes, Mom."

  "That means on dates."

  "I understood, Mom."

  "Is there anything we can do about my accent?"

  "No," said Jasmine. "I believe, as more humans learn our language, even our own accents will shift."

  "I'm sorry."

  "We're pleased you're learning." Jasmine turned to Bluebell. "How is she with written?"

  "If we use Latin letters, she reads better than she hears. If we use our letters, she is very slow."

  "I want her completely fluent by graduation."

  "Yes, Administrator Brighteyes," Bluebell said. "That has been my goal."

  "Did you hear me, Ms. Andrews?"

  "Yes, Administrator Brighteyes," I agreed. "Why?"

  "I'm not ready to explain. I will, probably soon."

  "All right."

  We finished the meal. I stood to help clear, but Bluebell said, "Jasmine, did you wish to speak privately with Skye now or wait for a different opportunity?"

  "Now. We won't be long."

  "Go along," Bluebell said. "We'll meet you in the game room when you're done."

  I led Jasmine to my room. I only had one chair, so I offered it to her and sat on the bed. But then she smiled and sat on the bed facing me. "You continue to surprise me, Skye."

  "I hope that's a good thing."

  "Yes. I want to know how serious you are with Violet Beamer."

  "We've had one date," I said. "Humans take longer than that."

  "Yes. And?"

  "And I want to ask you. Did you program me so I'd fall in love with a Catseye?"

  She laughed fairly hard, then finally said, "No. Should I jump to conclusions?"

  "Yes."

  She laughed again. "Good. If you can't tell, I wholeheartedly approve. However, I want the two of you to publicly play it just a little cool."

  "No more nights on the town?"

  "You may openly date, but do not publicly declare love or marriage. You are fond of each other."

  "All right, but I don't understand."

  "And I'm not quite ready to explain this, either. Will you do what I've asked?"

  "Yes, of course."

  "Good. I am giving you a car."

  "What?" I screeched.

  "Well, not giving you. I am allocating one to you. It doesn't belong to you, but when you are not using it, it will reside in the parking lot near your dorm. It will open to your identification. It will go where you tell it to go."

  "I'm not sure I'm ready to drive Boston streets."

  "That's fine. It will not allow you to. It will allow manual operation in the parking area, if necessary, but it will refuse to enter a public road unless it is in automated mode. And I would rather you just let it drive itself."

  "How much can I trust it?"

  "What do you mean?"

  "Can I do my homework?"

  She laughed. "Yes. Or take a nap. Bluebell Beamer wished to buy you a car, but we do not let the humans buy our automated cars, and frankly, we believe your ability to drive in Boston would be an issue. She doesn't have sufficient authority to do this, but I do."

  "I'm sorry to be so much trouble."

  "You are no trouble at all, Skye. This conversation has taken longer than authorizing the car. Bluebell will handle it from this point."

  "Thank you, Jasmine. She got tired of retrieving me."

  "She knew it made you feel guilty."

  "You're loaning me a car so I won't feel guilty?"

  "Yes."

  "I'm going to feel guilty anyway."

  "You shouldn't. We have the cars. When you're done here, we'll take it back. It costs very little."

  "Well, thank you."

  "Do you have anything you want to talk to me about?"

  "Probably." I paused. "You were right. I was being immature."

  "You figured that out a lot faster than I thought you would."

  "Violet pointed something out to me. She said you had to work very hard to put Sapphire Fletcher and Dr. Moirai together."

  "She's right. I did."

  "I didn't know. I think I would have been as upset as the other women if after I volunteered, you gave me to a male."

  "I know you would, and I wouldn't blame you. That's something else I'm not ready to talk about."

  "Soon?"

  "Soon, I hope," she said. "What else?"

  "Are you going to pressure me to get a business degree?"

  She laughed lightly. "I didn't know you would begin to study Catseye. I didn't even know Holyoke had a program. That didn't come to my attention until you told me."

  "And that changes your answer?"

  "It makes you more valuable to me than you already were."

  "I bet you aren't going to explain that, either."

  "Actually, I am, a little. We don't require humans to speak our languages. But the diplomatic value of someone who does is enormous. If one begins with a human who speaks fluent Catseye, then the two most valuable areas of study are business and political science. Azalea hasn't chimed in, but if you get her away from Bluebell, she might be willing to support you in that direction."

  "I don't really understand, but I sort of understand."

  "However, what is important to me is that you study something that pleases you. That answer hasn't changed. If you want to know what is most valuable to me, it is either business or political science. But neither of those are more important than you enjoying your studies and career."

  "Would Bluebell tell me the same thing?"

  "Yes, but she might be more grudging to admit it. She wouldn't understand why anyone would choose anything other than business."

  "The world needs scientists."

  "The world doesn't need Catseye scientists, Skye. And she is making you an adoptive Catseye."

  "Will I hurt her if I study something else?"

  "A little, but you will hurt her more if you are unhappy. She'll understand. It might take her a little time."

  "She offered me a job."

  "I know."

  "I haven't told Mom yet."

  "You did, however, tell your mother you were gay."

  "Finally." I grinned. "She was cool about it."

  "I thought she would be."

  "She was even pretty cool about Violet."

  "I wasn't sure about that."

  "She's a little wigged out by the tentacles."

  "By that you mean they disturb her?"

  "Yes."

  "A common reaction."

  "Audra's reaction was about like mine."

  "Really," Jasmine said slowly.

  "Stop it. She's only fifteen."

  "I am aware." She paused. "I am going to prevent her from being Tested."

  "Why?"

  "Because if she's Tested, my hands are tied. I'm not ready for that."

  "And you'll explain soon."

  She laughed. "If I can."

  "I didn't have anything else."

  "I have one more, then. I want you to come home during spring break. Do not accept offers to remain here."

  "All right. Will you say why?"

  "I'm putting you through more Testing, and I want it somewhere I control more thoroughly than the center here, and I don't want Bluebell seeing the results before I do."

  "All right. Does that mean I can't invite Violet?"

  "You can invite her for the second half of your break, or you could return early. I want you for two days, and your mother deserves the rest of a week. I also want you at the end of the summer for a week."

  "All right."

  "I will run interference with Bluebell."

  "What do I do if things fall out of my control?"

  "How?"

  "What if she and Mom talk and make other plans?"

  "I like the way you think ahead. If they fall out of your control, then close
your mouth and go along."

  "I don't like these secrets, Jasmine."

  "Fair enough," she said. "Come on." We stood up, and I led the way to the game room.

  "Administrator Beamer," she said. "I require Skye at The Center for a week during her spring break and a week near the end of next summer."

  "Of course, Administrator Brighteyes. I assume you are going to administer further Testing?"

  "Of course I am."

  "Good. If I do it, it will get out."

  Jasmine turned to me. "Better?"

  "Yes. Thank you."

  Bluebell snorted. "You tried to do it behind my back and she fussed."

  "Yes," Jasmine said. "Skye, I won't make you choose loyalties between us again if Administrator Beamer will make the same promise."

  "Of course I won't," she said. "Unless you try to take her away from my daughter."

  "I wouldn't dream of it."

  "Good. Who is up for a game?"

  "Boardwalk?" Jasmine asked. I could practically see hers light up, as if her eyes didn't shine enough.

  "Is there another game?"

  "I'm sure there is," Jasmine said. "But for the life of me, I can't think of any."

  "What about that game you taught Sapphire and Bronze?"

  "What game?"

  "I don't know what it's called," I said. "Jasmine taught them a Catseye game for their second challenge. It looked interesting."

  Jasmine said a word in Catseye. "There's no translation," she added.

  "Maybe we should come up with one," I said. "It's played with stone. Maybe Catstone."

  They chuckled. "Catstone it is," Jasmine agreed.

  "You want to learn that?" Posey asked. "I wish you'd said something."

  "I'd probably be as bad as I am at Boardwalk," I said.

  "Well, as much fun as trouncing the human might be," Bluebell said, "It is not a group game."

  We set up with the older Catseye divided by the human and younger Catseye. I sat between Bluebell and Azalea with Jasmine across the circle from me. I was pretty sure I'd be moving soon enough. This time, Jasmine started. Posey was next and immediately asked Azalea for a partnership. Before she got the terms out, Violet's tentacles were waving in frustration, and Posey waved back at her sister. Azalea accepted Posey's offer. Posey finished her turn. Bluebell offered no partnerships and took her turn. I looked across the table to Jasmine. Then I glanced at both sisters.

  "I have lost this game every time I have played," I said.

  "That is as expected," Jasmine suggested.

  "I am typically someone's vassal by the third turn."

  "That is not surprising."

  "And later I am offered as a sacrifice."

  "That is also not surprising."

  "I understand I can offer a partnership to you, but I am such a poor player, I have little to offer."

  She inclined her head, saying little.

  "But I also understand I can become your vassal willingly."

  Jasmine snorted.

  "Which I will do if you agree you won't sacrifice me or let me be wrested from you easily. We win or lose together."

  "You could have made that offer to me any time you wanted!" Violet said.

  "And if I had, everyone else at the table would have worked to wrest me from you," I said. "Weakening you in the process. Am I wrong?"

  She waved her tentacles. "No, but Posey's agreement with Mom obligates Mom to go after you. And I'm going to go after you, too."

  "I don't understand," I said. "That sounds like a poor choice."

  Jasmine snorted again. "That is because you think only in terms of the game," Jasmine said. "You are a unique piece on the board, even if you are a weak player. There is a certain cachet in having you as a vassal." Then she smiled. "And you taste good. Are you withdrawing your offer and perhaps extending it in another direction?"

  "I stand by my offer."

  "Accepted," Jasmine said instantly.

  I immediately stood and moved around the other side of the board. Everyone shifted, and I shared Jasmine's cushion. She wrapped tentacles around me. Because I was no longer in my old position, play moved to Azalea. She made a clear move towards my statue. Violet looked at the board then looked around at the players. She muttered something under her breath, but I couldn't hear what it was.

  "Violet, did I offend you?"

  "No, Skye. It was actually a brilliant move. But you frustrated me to no end. The only thing that's going to save me is if everyone continues to go after you."

  "What are the chances?" Jasmine said with a smile. "I haven't even played, and I now have the strongest position on the board. Guess what I intend to do."

  Posey snickered.

  Finally Violet moved, one designed to strengthen her position. Jasmine made her move towards Violet. And then she said to me, "You must become strong so you are difficult to wrest from me. Posey and Azalea represent the greatest threat, and as Bluebell has designs on Azalea, I want you to strengthen against attack from Posey." Then she told me specifically how to play, and I did what I was told.

  Play moved around the board. It was still good strategy to weaken Jasmine by taking me from her, so both Posey and Azalea worked towards that. Bluebell appeared to be approaching Azalea's position. Violet built towards a strong, secure base, which should keep her unaligned and alive for a long time, but it wasn't a winning strategy. Jasmine put feelers out in her direction while telling me to remain strong against attack from Posey.

  And two turns later, instead of playing off her pieces, Jasmine played off mine and then immediately told me to capture Posey. "Do you see how? Take your time. Does anyone mind if we teach her?"

  "No," Azalea said. She stared at the pieces. "Oohhh," she said. "Oh, very clever, Jasmine."

  It took everyone else longer. When Violet saw it, she said, "Oh, that's good. She's not going to see it though."

  I didn't have a clue what they all saw. Beside me, Posey looked upset, but not that upset. Everyone watched me.

  "I think Violet is right," I said. "I just don't see it."

  "Skye," said Posey. "She wasn't having you become strong against attack from me, she was setting up this capture from the beginning. I was fooled."

  "I believe we were all fooled," said Bluebell. Jasmine inclined her head.

  "It worked because in effect, you get two plays in a row," Violet said. "Jasmine gave up a move towards me. And Posey didn't expect that."

  "Because she said she was going after you," Posey said. "Which was misdirection all along."

  "Maybe you should just tell me," I suggested.

  "Not yet," Bluebell said. "We will forgive you if you set a piece on the board to see what it does, then move it a few times. We're not in a hurry."

  I picked up one of my wooden markers. Then I hovered around the board for a while.

  Then I set it down on the board in about the weakest place I could put it. Either Posey or Bluebell would immediately capture it.

  Except it served as a capture of Posey.

  "Are you going to add any stones to that piece?" Bluebell asked.

  "And hand them to you?" I asked. "I'm fairly certain I don't need stones to do what that move does, and adding stones won't help."

  "Bravo," said Jasmine.

  "I wouldn't have seen it without all the encouragement."

  "But you did see it," Violet said. "And that type of sacrifice is an advanced move. It took most of us time to see it, and we only looked because Jasmine told us to."

  "I just captured Posey."

  "Yes," said Posey. "You are still Jasmine's vassal, but now I'm yours."

  She had to move her cushion, as there wasn't room for three of us on Jasmine's. Then she said, "Jasmine, she doesn't have tentacles to touch me."

  "You may touch, if she allows it," Jasmine said. "But you may not taste."

  And so Posey draped two tentacles over me.

  "What does Posey do now?"

  "She is your vassal," Jasmine said.
"I can order you. I can't order her."

  "Oh, Posey," I said. "I don't think I'll keep you long at all."

  She laughed. "You do not have to order me exactly. You can order me in general."

  "All right. Then I want you to play to secure our position. Protect our relationship."

  "Very good," she said. And she immediately captured the marker I'd just played, but she set it back in my box as soon as she did.

  Bluebell snorted. "I wanted that piece," she said. "Well done, Daughter."

  "Thank you, Mom."

  Neither Bluebell nor Azalea had been playing to attack Posey, so for now, her position was actually secure. Given my order, she was able to build a formidable base connecting us, especially as I was already strong in that direction, and she'd also been working towards me. In effect, that meant Jasmine's left flank was rock solid, and attacking either Posey or me would have required our three opponents coordinating together. And they just weren't in a position to do so.

  Bluebell looked across the pieces to her wife. "Partnership. We can fight together or go down separately."

  Azalea looked at the pieces and finally nodded. Bluebell redirected her play towards Jasmine.

  On Azalea's turn, she looked at Violet. "The only way you live three more moves is to become my vassal."

  "No."

  "Daughter."

  "No. You can become mine though."

  Azalea laughed. "I will decline." She made a play towards her daughter.

  Jasmine made a play towards Violet, and I was sure we'd be capturing soon. Then she had me play off her play, and I was positive we'd catch Violet soon.

  Play went around again, and Azalea was at most a move or two from capturing Violet. But I was sure we were about to do it instead.

  I was wrong. Jasmine made a move then said to me, "Before you play, I want you to look very carefully at the position between Violet and her mother."

  "I'm going to play where you tell me to play."

  "No. You're going to decide this yourself," she said. "But you will take your time."

  And so I reviewed the pieces again. And I realized something. Violet wasn't a threat. She'd been making a bedrock for herself, but she wasn't reaching out.

  Catching her would take time. Azalea, on the other hand, was extended. I set a marker down and added four stones. "Comments, Jasmine?"

  "No. If that is your move, release your hand and direct your vassal."

  "Posey, attack your mother."

  Posey began laughing. It took her only a few seconds to decide her play, and while we didn't capture Azalea, we put pressure on her.