Volunteer (Selected Book 3)

by Robin Roseau

  "We also enjoyed our time," she said.

  "Next, what you and I did as we were preparing to leave." I smiled. "That was amazing."

  "You do not wish you had declined?"

  "Violet and I had a lengthy discussion the next morning. No. I do not wish I had declined. And if you were to make a similar offer in the future, I would accept."

  She made a finger gesture.

  "What does that mean?" I gestured to her fingers.

  "It is our equivalent of a human smile."

  And so I smiled, but then it faded. "I must say something else. Posey is Violet's sister, and Audra is mine. Our species have taboos against certain things with our sisters."

  She made the finger gesture again. "You are looking ahead." I nodded. "I signaled my intentions."

  "You did."

  "You would not be doing these certain things with your sisters. I would not ask that of you."

  "The taboo is fairly strong amongst humans. If my sister is doing the same things with someone else, then it is almost as if she and I are doing them together."

  "I do not understand this taboo," said Rapid Flitter.

  "I told her you wouldn't," Violet said. "But I also told her you would respect it."

  "Of course," she replied. "You are telling me you are not rejecting my intention, but you are placing a qualification."

  Violet and I looked at each other then back to her. "We are not yet accepting," Violet said. "But we are not rejecting."

  Again the finger gesture. "And so I must understand the qualifications. You are telling me you do not wish to do these certain things while your sisters are also doing these certain things. And so there is a simple answer. I shall order them to watch."

  "No!" I said. And White Snow snickered, her hand moving over her mouth. I looked to her then said, "Rapid Flitter, are you now teasing me?"

  "Yes. But I still wish clarity. I may continue to invite the four of you for more dinners, and these invitations are welcome."

  "Yes," I said. "They are."

  "But when I wish us to engage in these certain things, then I should not invite the four of you."

  "Yes, and I don't know how I feel about it yet."

  Again the finger gesture. "Four and two is not a good number for us. It must be four and four or four and two and two."

  "I understand," I said. "But it will not be Audra and Skye or Violet and Posey. And it will not be Skye without Violet."

  "Of course," she said.

  "And Audra is too young."

  "Yes, this we established." She again offered the finger gesture. "You feared you would offend me."

  "Yes," I said.

  "This was honest communication between species," she said. "I am not offended. If anything, I am pleased."

  From that point, we established a friendship with Rapid Flitter and her family. We had more dinners, both out and in their home. We shared from our cultures. We talked. We did the things friends do.

  And when Rapid Flitter offered to share her pheromones with me, I always said yes and enjoyed myself immensely. But I especially enjoyed the day she did it to Violet. Oh yes, I enjoyed that a great deal.

  Violet didn't complain, either.

  As for the rest? Perhaps we'll see.

  Cell

  I'm nearing the end of my story, or at least this phase of the story. I'm going to fast forward through a year or two.

  Junior and senior year of college weren't easy, but everything that got me through the first two years helped me to get through the next two.

  While Audra is younger than I am for much of the year, the way our birthdays lie, she is only three years behind me in school. And so, it was at the beginning of my senior year at Mount Holyoke that Audra entered college as a freshman. She didn't attend Mount Holyoke. Instead, she was accepted at Harvard.

  I always knew she was brilliant. We're all so amazingly proud of her.

  I'll have more to say on my sister shortly. For now suffice it to say she and I are as close as we've ever been. I love her to pieces.

  Mom hasn't moved back to the United States. She began dating, of all people, my old boss at Sunset. I don't know if they're serious, but for now, she is staying in Africa. The rest of us wouldn't at all mind if she moved to Boston, but we want her to be happy. I think her heart is torn. Audra and I don't see her as often as we would prefer, but we video often. She seems happy and healthy, but there are always a few tears at the distance.

  The seven of us continue to vacation together. The Catseye travel the world like it is nothing. I suppose for a species that travels the stars, circumnavigating one blue planet isn't a big deal.

  I refuse to let myself become jaded.

  As for my relationship with Violet? Well, I'll talk more about that soon, but I'll say this. She loves surprising me. A few days of mating challenges has become the norm at the start of our winter breaks. We fly down, spend some time there, then all of us proceed to whatever vacation is planned. But there was one surprise that wasn't welcome, and it has lasting ramifications.

  * * * *

  "Well, Squirt," I said. "Did you get straight-As for your first term at Harvard?"

  "I don't know," she replied. But she grinned. "I love college!"

  "I don't blame you," I replied.

  At that moment, Posey invited us aboard the space ship. The jumpers weren't good for trips all the way to Africa, so we traveled in a bigger craft. Violet put an arm around both Audra and me, and together we stepped onto the craft.

  Bluebell and Azalea weren't on this trip. They'd meet us later. The both said they had work commitments, but I wondered if the Catseye sisters were plotting something.

  We had a nice trip. We spent it in our chairs, but Audra and I both had visors, and we played a variety of games. The time went quickly, and soon Posey announced we'd be landing shortly.

  I hadn't even noticed.

  We'd scheduled the trip to arrive in time for a late dinner. We expected to meet Mom, so we were surprised when Jasmine was standing beside Mom when we landed. We pulled our things from the ship, but Jasmine was prepared, and we sent our luggage home. Then we were all off to dinner together.

  Over dinner, Violet and Posey presented a portion of their surprise, but it wasn't that much of a surprise. "We've asked Jasmine to run a challenge for us."

  "Why aren't we surprised?" Audra asked. "But don't think anyone is collecting me in my pajamas."

  "Of course not," said Posey. "But after dinner, we'll go determine the first challenge, and then we can head home."

  "Do we get a vote?" Audra asked.

  "No," Violet said.

  "I don't know if I want a challenge," she said. "Maybe I want to spend this time with Mom. She's an empty nester now. I bet she's been lonely."

  "What Audra said," I said.

  Both Catseye sisters look back and forth between us, settling their gazes on each other. "I can't tell if they're teasing us," Posey said.

  "Skye tells me she enjoys the challenges," Violet added.

  "I don't like losing all of them," I pointed out.

  "You don't lose all of them. You won the very first one."

  "I was the grand loser our first year," I said.

  "That's not true, either," said Posey. "We were a team."

  "You didn't get caught," I pointed out.

  "We were still a team. And Violet didn't get to capture anyone, plus she lost the first challenge."

  "She still got to make us go to Antarctica. It was cold."

  "Oohhhhh," said Violet, and I knew she was mimicking me. "The penguins are so cute."

  "Is that a seal?" Posey said.

  "Can I pet the seal?" Violet asked.

  Audra began to giggle. "You two don't sound at all like her, but you've got the lines down."

  "You're supposed to be on my side."

  "I'm on the side of truth and justice," she said.

  "Yeah, right. That's why you're pretending you aren't as excited as I am," I said. But
I turned to Jasmine. "But you aren't treating us like mating candidates!"

  She held her hands up defensively. "Although."

  "Although what?"

  "Nothing. Forget I said anything."

  "Although what?" Audra asked. "Are you intending to grab us in our pajamas?"

  "No, of course not," Jasmine said.

  We eyed her carefully, but Violet said, "So, you were pulling our legs, right?"

  I sighed dramatically. "They put all this effort into it, Audra."

  She set the back of her wrist to her forehead. "I suppose they did. Whatever are we to do?"

  "I could rethink the pajamas," Jasmine said.

  "Fine. No pajamas, and we'll do it," I said, Audra agreeing. "If you promise it will be fair, Jasmine."

  "I always do my best," she said.

  "And yet, I always lose."

  "You don't always lose," said Audra. "But I admit, I surely did enjoy winning two years ago."

  * * * *

  And so it was an hour later that five of us assembled around Jasmine's conference table, Mom having gone home.

  "I want to remind all of you," Jasmine said. "I will hold binding any agreements made here, and I have the power to enforce them. Do all four of you agree to the challenges we determine here, including any rewards and punishments that should ensue?"

  I thought that was said carefully, but I eyed everyone then nodded. Jasmine required a verbal agreement from each of us, so we each said, "Yes," in turn.

  "Very good. You are now all bound. There will be a series of challenges. Winners will receive rewards for future challenges. Losers will receive punishments."

  "What kind of punishments?" Audra asked.

  "We'll get to that."

  "I think you should have said that before you made us agree."

  "And you wouldn't have agreed," said Jasmine. "But this will be a bonding experience for the four of you, so by the end, you'll be happy we're doing it my way."

  "Not if I lose all of them again," I muttered. But then I kissed Violet's tentacle.

  "Who put your panties in a bunch?" Audra asked. "I thought you were the perky sister."

  "Jasmine has something special planned for me. I just know it."

  "So suspicious," Jasmine said. Her tentacles quivered lightly, and I knew I was right. "The first challenge will be in the arena. Do you want to play as teams or individuals?"

  "I want to know what sort of rewards and punishments."

  Jasmine snuffled. "I would like to determine the nature of the first game before answering that."

  "Do you already know the answer?"

  "I have a general idea but not specifics. Rewards will be used to offer advantage in future games, or possibly other privileges I can confer while you are here."

  "What sort of privileges can you give the Catseye they don't already have?"

  "Well, perhaps none, but I can give them to the humans."

  "Such as?"

  "Baby elephant!" Audra said with a grin. I had thought she'd grown out of that, but from time to time, she asked for it.

  "That's an example," Jasmine said.

  I nodded. "All right. I think there are things you aren't telling us. Is the decision of teams vs. individuals permanent?"

  "No. It is for this challenge only."

  "Then I am fine either way."

  "Me, too," said Audra.

  "Individuals," Posey and Violet said together.

  That was the last choice we agreed on, so Jasmine reverted us to the grid system she used with mating challenges, also giving us points we could spend to direct the grid.

  It wasn't obvious at first, but the Catseye worked together to steer the choices. I didn't detect it until we reached the point of selecting handicaps for each of us. "You two conspired!"

  "Maybe we just wanted the same challenge," Posey said. "You shouldn't make such accusations. Really, Skye. You're supposed to be the bubbly sister."

  "I want a side agreement."

  "Oh?" Posey asked.

  "Yes. If I lose this first challenge, I want pampering."

  "I think it should be the winners to receive the rewards," Violet said.

  "Fine. If you win and I lose, I'll let you fondle my back and feet all you want."

  Even Jasmine snickered at that suggestion.

  "Are you really upset?" Audra asked.

  "Only at myself," I said. "I didn't see their maneuvering, and it was pretty obvious, wasn't it."

  "It sure was," she said. "I don't mind. It's going to be fun, win or lose."

  It was actually a fairly simple challenge. It was to be gentle physical combat. There would be several of the cages in the arena, and the goal was to drive someone into one. There would be weapons available, but only gentle weapons.

  I was sure the humans were going to lose. But maybe it would be fun. If I didn't lose in the first ten seconds.

  Jasmine reset the points for the handicapping system. For this challenge, we were given a menu and we could spend up to ten points handicapping our opponents, but anyone we handicapped got to spend the same points against us. So if I used three points for a handicap on Audra, she could use three points on me and still have her ten points remaining.

  Once a particular handicap was applied to one person, it couldn't be used against anyone else. But there were ample choices for us.

  We all read the menu of choices and then stared at each other. I decided not to spend my points at all and just wait to see what everyone else did.

  And no one said a word.

  "I went through all this work to make this list, and none of you intend to use it?"

  "The humans are afraid," Posey said. "They are frightened rabbits who wish to avoid drawing attention."

  "Whatever noises rabbits make," Audra said, "Consider me as making them."

  "I will spend two points to reduce Posey's distance vision," Violet declared.

  "Then I get to use two points to bind one pair of Violet's limbs to her body," Posey countered. Then she smiled at Audra. "And I will use all ten of my points. Audra, you will be wearing the stiffening body suit." I scanned the menu and saw that a strike from any of the weapons would stiffen the suit at the strike. It wouldn't take long, pummeling her with no more than a nerf stick, before she'd be unable to move.

  Audra groaned. "Sure, pick on me." Then she smiled. "And Posey doesn't get to use any weapons."

  Violet laughed loudly at that. "Give her a handicap, and now you can't even take advantage of it. Excellent!" Then she turned to me and offered a considering look.

  "You don't want to pick on me," I said. "I'm not the real threat. Posey is."

  She laughed again. "I definitely want to pick on you, Skye. Five points to give Skye tunnel vision."

  I scanned the list and smiled. "Five points to hobble Violet."

  I'd only be able to see directly in front of me, but she'd only be able to take small steps and wouldn't be able to run. That should make it a lot easier to avoid letting her catch me.

  Violet used the rest of her base points, and then only Audra and I had points left. We eyed each other.

  "Do we have to use our points, Jasmine?"

  "Oh, interesting question. I am inclined to say 'yes'."

  "But you won't," I said.

  "No, you do not need to use your points," Jasmine said.

  Audra and I reached across the table and shook hands.

  "Very good," said Jasmine. "Now, rewards and punishments. The winner of this event will be able to veto three choices when we determine the next event. If there is some sort of draw, then there will be one veto each, which might not equal three."

  She looked around the room.

  "For losers, there will be one, the first person driven into a cage. However, if two people are driven in at nearly the same time, then they will both be considered losers. I expect to see one winner, one loser, and two whom I do not consider either. But you have all surprised me in the past."

  "What happens to t
he loser?" Audra asked. "Does she receive some sort of handicap in the next challenge?"

  "No. The loser of each challenge this week will be treated as a mating candidate until the start of the next challenge."

  I groaned.

  "If she is gracious, she will have control of her visor," Jasmine added. "If she is particularly ungracious, then she remains a mating candidate for an additional challenge, unless she is the winner of her next challenge."

  Violet and Posey were holding their faces expressionless, but their tentacles were giving them away. "Did you put her up to that?" I asked.

  "Of course not," Posey said. "But we might have known about it."

  "Questions?" Jasmine asked gleefully.

  * * * *

  We gathered in the arena. There were force barriers arranged as funnels into the cages, so if someone were driven backwards, she would eventually be forced into one of the cages.

  Here and there were racks of weapons. They weren't nerf sticks, although the striking weapons were padded. Jasmine gave us permission to wander the arena, so I gestured. Audra and I each picked up a couple of the long sticks and eyed each other.

  "Practice?"

  "Sure," she said. "Do you think it hurts?"

  I swung at her with my stick, hitting her in the arm. I didn't put that much into it, but she fell back and complained. "Hey!" But I let her hit me the same way. I think she hit me harder than I hit her.

  After that, we sparred slowly, not putting a lot of speed into it. Then we set the sticks back and checked the other weapons.

  Each rack appeared to be equipped in the same fashion. They each had two of the sticks. There were also several swords of varying lengths, but they were made of bamboo and padded besides. There were also nets and a few things I couldn't identify. "What's this?"

  Audra and I looked at it. "It's a sling shot," she said.

  "No," I said. "It's not."

  "It is. You spin it. There should be something to put in it." With the slingshot was a small backpack filled with tennis balls. She took a tennis ball, slipped it into the pouch, and then spun the pouch in a circle, finally letting go of one set of strings. The tennis ball went flying into the stands.

  "Good shot," I said.

  "I don't think I'm going to try to use it," she said with a grin. "Maybe you can do better."