by Mara Jaye
“No.” He shuddered. “No. We’re an advanced species.”
“A lot of Earthers eat meat.” I shrug and resist the joys of describing my last medium rare steak. “Doesn’t mean we’re not advanced.” I did, after all, go to college.
Before he can reply, the announcement begins. “Resume work. Bust rock. Gently place blue glowing stones on conveyor. Place all cadavers onto conveyor.”
I get to my feet. “This song is so old.”
“What do we do with these?” Greek god asks while holding up his empty food pack.
“Drop them,” I answer, and one of his eyebrows rise. “I know. I had trouble leaving my trash behind the first few times. A worker comes along and picks them up.” After checking up the shaft, I nod to our right. “There he is now.”
“What does he do with them?”
“I don’t know. Recycle, dump in a pit, refill and give to us again?” He trades places with Fox which is a bit surprising. He’s next to me now and reminding me silently of how tall he is. I manage to squeak out, “I’ve not been here long enough to know anything.”
“Me either.” He watches as the cleanup crew of one walks up to, behind us, and beyond. “They should automate his work, too.”
I begin working again. “Automate all of this so I can go home.”
“To somewhere you call Earth?”
I nod and grumble, “That’s the one and am almost afraid you know the name.”
A silence stretched out before he said, “No, you’ll never see your home again.”
My pick falters, and I hit the belt with the tip. He’s an asshole who has to be kidding me. He’s also wrong. He has to be. “Yes, I will. I will go home when whatever this is, is over.”
He pauses before resuming with a determined clench to his jaw. “No. You need to accept it’s not ever going to happen. No one will allow you to return to Earth.”
Chapter Five
Turkh
Well, that went better than I thought it would. She’s laughing at our law about traveling to Earth. I figured screaming, crying, coming at me with the pick, and then denial. She went straight for disbelief.
Up close, her hair is this rare gold I’ve never seen in real life before. I keep trying to figure out her eye color, too, but she’s always in motion. She has a stubborn expression on her face as she hits the rock and says, “Whatever. You know nothing.”
I laugh. I might not know anything, but my database holds a galaxy of information. “Really?”
The woman grimaces as the pick skips across the harder rock and she sighs. “Yeah, nothing, or you’d be flying around in a starship instead of being down here with me.”
She has a point, and I do miss my craft. Saying anything about the law like I know how the higher worlds live was a rookie mistake. If I’m lucky, she’ll forget what I’ve said. Her disbelief is good, though. I can use it to my own advantage. “You’re right. Anyone else would be flying away by now.”
I glance over when her work rhythm becomes erratic. She continues to wince every time her pick hits the rock. I know she has to be in pain from the earlier wounding. “Am I the only person you’ve talked to down here?”
“Not hardly. I’ve talked to others.”
She’s quiet for a while, and the suspense gets to me. I have to push for more. “And?” I glance at her when her movement stops. “What did you learn?”
“They don’t know anything, either.” She began busting rock again. “Some have been up on the surface in the fields and talked about what it’s like up there. They’ve said it’s a lot colder. I almost want the cool after being down here for a while.”
G’nar and I knew going in what the climate here would be like. I’d expected the mines to be the same as the surface, but it’s warmer than even body heat and mechanics can explain. With her thin little shirt, short pants, and bare feet, the woman would freeze in the fields. “Be glad you’re down here. You’re not dressed for anything colder.”
“No shit Sherlock. They grabbed me while I was sleeping in my pajamas.” She shook her head before giving me a grin. “I don’t suppose you know who Sherlock is?”
Having zero access to my central database means my earth knowledge has a serious limit. “Not at all.”
“Never mind.” She stops for a second to look at me with eyes matching the color of her blue clothes. “Except, don’t you watch Earth television to learn our ways? That’s what all the smart aliens do.”
“Pless no.” Most seventh world broadcasts were required viewing in xeno history classes. I’ve had enough to last me for a very long time. “There are faster and easier ways to learn anything than watching your television. Smart natives learn which ignorant aliens to ignore.”
I try to not laugh when she frowns at me. Her irritation is cute. She’s so fair, more so than some of the people on my homeworld. I grin as it occurs to me in a flash how what I know of her planet is not what we’re supposed to be talking about at all. I’m down here as an undercover backward slave. Not the best time to be chatting up a pretty woman. “Our civilization only had what was on our planet, anyway.”
“How did your kind know about Earth?”
Considering how she’s favoring her left arm, I feel like I’ve teased her enough for one day. There’s no need for me to tell her the how many Earthers does it take to pour water from a shoe joke. Particularly since she’s not wearing any. Too low of a blow at the moment. I clear my throat and say, “Rumor. We had contact with an advanced race, and they mentioned you.”
“Oh great. I’m not sure I want us to be so well known considering where they’ve put me.”
“Too late. Nearly everyone in the galaxy knows about your planet. It’s actually one of the most hospitable ones for life. A vacation spot.” And, I’m talking too much again. Shit. It’s like she’s like one of my nephews and I want to show her everything interesting.
I’m on a mission, not on a play date, so I add, “The others here know more about Earth than I do and I’ve heard a few things.” When I glance at her, she’s looking at me, the fear in her eyes easy to read. I want to reassure her but don’t know how to without making everything worse. Maybe hint at the Alliance and the fact her world is restricted from all visitations? It’s worth a try. “All this is supposed to be against the law.”
She stops and turns toward me. “What law? Is there a governing body for the universe or even this part of the galaxy? Do you know who I can report a kidnapping to around here?”
All right, so I’m digging in deeper. I can’t say anything else and need to turn this conversation around, quick. “I don’t know. I don’t even know who’s in charge around here.”
“I see.”
After a while, I realize she’s done talking. A shame, because I liked hearing her voice. I can restart the conversation with her later. Right now, I need to organize all of the input from the time we landed until now. The repetitious work gives me a chance to zone out and catalog information stored in my systems. Hopefully, G’nar is able to transmit as he records. Otherwise, I’ll just need to absorb as much as possible before finding a break in the interference.
The report doesn’t take long, a few milliseconds and I’m ready for the next chance to transmit. Might as well make small talk with the Earther. Bonus points with the director for adding to the Alliance datalinks about the woman’s planet when the signal is restored. Which makes me wonder what her name is. I know a lot of women and having to refer to her as THE woman is inane. “I’m Turkh, by the way.”
“Just Turk?”
She doesn’t make the soft “h.” It shouldn’t matter, no, but it does, so I repeat the sounds. “Turk-h.”
She laughs and leans over towards me. “Ohhh, it’s like that, Turk-ha?”
Pless. She sounds a lot like my cohorts at the primary school. “No. No ha to it.”
“Sorry,” she says but doesn’t look as if she’s apologetic. “I’m Lindsey Daniels, but everyone calls me Lin for short.”
“That’s rather poetic, and you’re right. I would have called you Kirk or just Turk.”
I clench my teeth and smile. Yeah, and manage to ignore the need to add the h to her pronunciation. “I wouldn’t have answered to my father’s name.”
“No, and I rarely answer to Daniels.” She stopped for a moment to rest. “My arm hurts like a bitch right now.”
I’ve kept my eyes open for a medkit since entering the mineshaft but found nothing. “Here, let me have your tool for a moment.”
She snickers a little before handing it over. “I might need your tool later for the pounding.”
Odd thing to say, but all right. I shrug. “Take it to do what you want after you rest for a while.” I use my right arm to hit my area and the left to hit hers. “Any time you need my tool, just ask.” She snorts again before growing silent. I glance over to see her angling her injury to one of the lights overhead for a better look.
Processing the odds of breaking the law by how much I can tell her, I decide to give a little information to reassure her. “Did you taste the bitter in our meal today? The hint of…” She doesn’t have schril on Earth, and I don’t know her words for what compares to the medicine.
“Like ground up aspirin?”
“A pain reliever?” At her nod, I return her grin. “Yes, it’s a pain reliever. I can tell they’ve added it and probably a few other compounds to our food.”
“Jesus, like what? Do you have super taste buds or does your world have this sort of technology? And if you do have tech able to modify your senses, how do you not have a way out of a hell hole like this?”
There’s so much to break down in her monologue, and I don’t know where to start. Keeping the mission safe at the top of my mind, I begin with the easy explanations. If nanotechnology gives me a super taste ability I can explain away as organic, I’ll go with it. “Yes. We’re all able to pick out specific flavors where I’m from. Very common. ” It’s true, too. By the time we’re ten sas old, we’re given basic nanos.
“Do you have the ability to travel between planets or solar systems?” She reaches for, and I debate for a millisecond before giving back her tool. “You seem more intelligent than most of the others here.”
I won’t lie, her considering me better than those around us gives my ego a huge boost. I also lean closer to her so the Blendarian on her left side won’t hear. “You’re biased because of our appearance being similar. Our ancestors followed a similar path and give us a common bond.”
Lin, now that I know her name, resumes her mining. “If I weren’t getting tired and the medicine you discovered in our food wasn’t wearing off, I’d make you tell me more about your history.”
I ignore her backhanded request and watch her work. She’s still using just one arm. The urge to take over for her is strong. Lin’s smaller than I am. No surprise. Most Earthers are. There’s a calmness about her which I find concerning, though. “How long have you been here?”
“No idea. I couldn’t even begin to guess.” She looks down at her fingernails. “My nail polish says two months.”
I peer down to see if she has a display but see nothing but dark pink and chipped paint has grown out from the base. “How? I don’t see anything there other than color.” We’d have information on our fingerpads since the skin is thinner there, but even if the nails could display something, no one I know would cover the readout.
She smiles. “You don’t have polish, huh? I have an idea of how long it takes for my manicure to grow out. I’d say two months, but that’s on Earth and assuming the goo is as nutritious as my usual diet.” Her next stroke misses the rock and hits the belt. “The workdays feel like forever.”
Her injury is on the other side of me. “Here, let me have your tool again. I want to see your arm.” I put down my implement and reach for hers.
Lin does as I’ve requested and I begin doing her work and mine. After she looks up and down the corridor, she says, “You’re spoiling me.”
“It won’t be for long. Turn and let me…” As she does, I see what’s happened much more clearly. The shot cut her sleeve in two and scraped a canyon into her arm. My own aches in sympathy. “I’m sorry I can’t do anything to help.”
“Don’t be, it’s fine.”
The Blendarian stops working and says behind me, “Let me help you sometime, sweetheart. Sometime when we’re supposed to be asleep, and I’ll work for you all night long.”
“Thank you, but no. No one needs to be working for me at all.” She tried to take her tool back, and I resist. “Come on, Turkh. I don’t want to owe anyone favors.” She nods at the Blendarian before leaning closer to add, “You understand?”
“I guess I do.” She gives another tug, so I let go. “Sorry. I just don’t enjoy watching someone suffer.”
She hits at the rock again. “Suffer is a strong word, but my arm does ache all the way to my neck and teeth. But, it could always be worse. I consider how my body could be rolling along on the belt to God knows where right now, and suck it up.”
The idiom suck it up has no entry in my memory, so I store the phrase for later. I give another strong ping to G’nar and the outside world but nothing. Pless it. Hundreds of solutions run through my processors, and none can be implemented due to the Lesser Worlds order. I absolutely can not give her a single one of my nanos to repair the damage.
We’re silent for a while. Others talk to each side of us. I’ve been half listening to the Blendarian and Gleet talk about sexual differences in their women. Cross female Gleets off of any list, I tell my main goal list. Especially if they look similar to the males with big bellies, wide mouths, huge eyes, and are perpetually damp. I’m not a speciesist by any means but like my women to have drier skin.
Lin pauses to wipe sweat from her forehead. “I think I’ve talked to you more today than I have anyone else since I’ve been here.”
She’s rather lovely, and I smile at look at her for a moment. As she pulls the hair away from her face, I respond with, “I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“Or as a future career option. You’d make a great counselor.”
The word comes back with several meanings from her planet. I’m already an Enforcer for the Alliance, similar to but not equal with her councilor. “A, what?”
“Right, someone who listens to your problems and helps solve them.”
I nod at the explanation. “Listening is my job.”
“Other than finding gems, huh?” As a tone sounds Lin stops working to touch the back of her neck. “Oh thank God. I’m so ready to stop.” She lets her tool fall to the ground. “Shift change.” The gates behind us move. “I didn’t think I was going to live through this one.” Metal grinds against the porous rock as several of the dug in doorways are unblocked. She glances up at me. “Leave your ax here and hurry.”
“What?”
“Stop gawking, seriously. It’s time to quit, and we have to go.” She grabs my hand and pulls me toward one of the newly unbarred openings. “Isn’t your neck buzzing right now?”
I’d forgotten about the primitive translator my nanos rejected until she mentioned hers. My instructions turned off everything in the alien tech except the homing device. Up the mineshaft, a blast of water goes off multiple times before groans and curses echo down to us. I look at Lin and she explains, “The others are getting cleaned up to work. The opening in the bars will shift to let them out.”
I watch the base of the exposed cavern as a small river of sewage flows down the narrow trench. Hideous smell, too. Lin pulls me further down the mine with her. “We need to find somewhere not so stuffed full of people.” She and I duck inside a damp and dark room. Between the cleaning, outside sewe
r, and press of fresh off the shift miners, the air stinks. The Blendarian follows us inside while the Gleetar watches the gates move to shut us in. When the metal stops grinding, damp people start milling past our opening while on their way to a place along the rock wall. Right in front of me, someone, a silver-skinned MoNse with large, black, and slanted eyes picks up a discarded ax to being his work. Water still drips off of him.
The events make me wonder what G’nar is dealing with on the surface. Being holed up in a shallow cave makes my hair stand on end. I don’t fear small spaces, but the room is more like a wide tunnel, double the size of the mine shaft. The dim room won’t let me see much, so I switch to infrared. Now that I can’t see her very well, I miss being able to watch her colors shift hues in various lights. No one from my world has color in her eyes like she does. I’ll bet she can’t see a hand in front of her face or anyone coming up to attack her. “Are you sure this is where we need to be right now?”
“Yes. Be glad you’re here.” She settles in against a wall and slides down to sit. “It took me one time of missing the chance to sleep before I learned to hustle.” She pats the ground next to her, and I sit, too. “When you’re out there, you’re expected to work without stopping for anything but bathroom and food breaks. I can’t find the cameras watching us, but they know when we’re not hitting the rock consistently.”
I can think of a dozen viewless ways to monitor worker activity. My concern for her, their, treatment overrides everything else. “Did you learn this punishment first hand?”
“Yeah, a couple of times.” She closed her eyes and leans back to rest her head against the rock. “I was stupid the first time. Thought I could just quit and walk away since no one was watching.” She sighed. “Those translators can be such a bitch when you slack off too long.”
Her using the word first piques my curiosity. Plus, I need to get this down as evidence. “Was there more than once?”
“Afraid so. The second wasn’t my fault. You’ve seen what happens when a fight breaks out. Everyone involved tends to die. Some almost normal looking guy wanted to play with me instead of work. After that, no one messed with me until today.”
