Collected (Selected Book 1)

by Robin Roseau

  I set the sound back to normal and sighed.

  It was another minute before we reached a room. We came to a stop, and then the visor brightened. Jasmine Brighteyes stood before me.

  "We meet again, Jasmine."

  "For this, you are Ms. Fletcher, and I am Administrator Brighteyes."

  "Of course, Administrator."

  "Ms. Fletcher, do you understand what is about to happen?"

  "You're going to parade me in front of the hungry lions."

  She cocked her head.

  "Oh, come on. You said it's an arena. I had a dream about a colosseum. Don't you know your human history?"

  "Ms. Fletcher."

  "You said you wanted me to be myself, Administrator."

  "I suppose I did. There are no hungry lions. There are, however, somewhat more than three hundred champions in the stands waiting to meet you."

  "Of course. Will I be chained to a pillar?"

  "Will you stay on the podium without the chains?"

  "These old things?" I asked, rattling my wrists. "You're free to remove them if you want."

  "They stay."

  "I'll go where I am led. I'll stay where I am told to stay. And I'll do my best to kill any male that touches me."

  "Will you kill me if I touch you?"

  I looked her up and down. "No."

  "Will you let me lead you out?"

  "Yes."

  "Your heart rate and blood pressure are elevated. You're sweating, and it is not from heat. Are you ill?"

  "I am scared out of my gourd, Administrator Brighteyes. That is all."

  "All right. It is full daylight outside, and it is a hot day. Will you be all right?"

  "How hot?"

  "32 degrees?"

  "That's freezing!"

  "Celsius. That's about 90 Fahrenheit."

  "Oh. Is there shade? I'm going to burn if you leave me out there very long."

  "They must be allowed to see you."

  "I'll give you what you asked for, Administrator. How will I understand their questions?"

  "I will translate."

  "Then if I turn to you and ask for shade, you will provide it. I am from a northern climate, and I burn easily."

  "How long before you begin to burn?"

  "Minutes, but I should be good for a quarter hour. Will you need longer than that?"

  "I don't know."

  "If you want me there more than ten minutes, and it's really that hot, water would be good."

  "I'll arrange it."

  "Thank you."

  "Do you have other questions?"

  "How many have gone before me, of the sixty-four?"

  "You are last."

  "I bet everyone is bored and ready for this to be over."

  She smiled enigmatically. Then she cocked her head. "One minute."

  "How can you tell?"

  "There isn't enough time to explain."

  "Did you really taste me?"

  "No. You talked to Moirai."

  "Yes. But she wasn't sure if you actually taste that way."

  "I would have to suck harder, hard enough to leave these hickies you didn't want."

  "You don't have a very sensitive sense of taste."

  "I have an exceedingly sensitive sense of taste. You have absolutely no idea how hard I can suck."

  "If I give you what you want, will you visit me later?"

  "Yes. I already promised."

  "Good."

  "It is time. You will cooperate with me."

  "I will."

  She nodded at my guards, and they released me, stepping back. Jasmine moved to my side and took my arm, and a moment later we were moving forward.

  She didn't blind me. A doorway opened in the wall just before we reached it, and we were at the bottom of a shallow ramp with high walls on other side. We were shaded, but it was bright sunlight at the top of the ramp.

  The noise was deafening. If I had time, I would have asked the visor to soften it for me.

  We didn't pause, as much as I wanted to, at least not in the deep shadows. Instead, we stepped forward until we passed into the open arena.

  It was a colosseum, almost exactly like the one from my dreams. It appeared to be made from stone and could have been the Colosseum in Rome, if this were two thousand years ago and the structure was brand new. And I thought perhaps it was smaller, but I couldn't be sure.

  We came to a stop, and I looked around.

  The field was dirt, but there was a carpet from our location all the way to the podium waiting in the center of the arena.

  The walls around the field were twelve feet high, or perhaps even higher than that, and made of sheer stone, excepting for four exits.

  Surrounding that were the seats. They were also made of stone. They were not full, not by any stretch. I thought perhaps all three hundred challengers were here, perhaps a few more, but I didn't know how to estimate more accurately than that without simply counting.

  Some might have been human. They were too far away for me to be sure, and I didn't know whether some of the aliens looked fully human. They were all basically humanoid. I saw no spiders, which offered relief, or anyone who looked like a bird or bear.

  Or -- and this disappointed me -- a tiger.

  Jasmine leaned to me. "Everyone is here."

  "They didn't grow bored."

  "You don't understand. The species that do not challenge are also represented. I see two other Catseye." She gestured with her nose, and I thought perhaps I could distinguish the individuals in question.

  "Why?"

  She didn't answer. We paused a moment longer, and then she tugged me forward.

  The podium was stone, perhaps eight feet tall, and amply wide for us to stand together at the top. There was a spiral staircase around the base, and so climbing to the top was easy. Jasmine led me, moved me to the exact center, then stepped away.

  I looked around, first just turning my head, and then turning a slow circle. The audience continued to roar, with some individuals clearly far louder than others. Jasmine was watching me, but I couldn't read her expression. I did two full circles before coming to a stop.

  I had thought about what to do next. I thought about letting them see more of me, but in the end, I decided they could see plenty. I didn't want them to covet my flesh, anyway. I wanted them to send me home as distasteful and ugly.

  But I wanted them to know I was strong and proud and would be far more trouble than I was worth.

  From behind me, Jasmine began to speak, and immediately the other aliens drew silent. I have no idea what language she was speaking, but it wasn't English, and my visor didn't translate.

  But I heard my name three times before she was done.

  Then she grew silent before switching to English, spoken softly. "Some here speak English. For all other languages, I will translate. I will not answer for you, and if someone does not understand your answer, that is his own fault for being ill prepared."

  I nodded understanding.

  One of the aliens stood and bellowed. It wasn't English. Jasmine waited for him to finish, and then she said softly, "Will she speak? You should answer."

  "Yes," I called out. "I will speak." And my words were picked up and amplified for all to hear. Then I turned in a circle again, continuing to speak. "What you do here in this place is wrong. This is not the human way, and what you propose to do to me and the other human women in the cells below is deeply, deeply wrong. And so know that while I am a small, weak human female, I will fight you, I will fight you with my last breath."

  I turned another circle. Jasmine wasn't trying to stop me.

  "You should ask. You should invite. I do not wish to leave Earth. I do not wish to leave the people I love, the people who love me. I especially do not wish to do so with the lies you will leave behind. That is also wrong. My parents deserve to know the truth, regardless of what help you have offered my planet."

  I made another circle. "You expect to take me -- to take each o
f us -- from everything we hold familiar, and to do so through a path of violence and coercion. You do not care that we are each deeply terrified. You do not care what we have done to prepare ourselves for the lives we have built. You do not care who depends upon us. You do not care how you hurt us. But you expect us to care for your personal requirements?"

  I stopped my circle facing Jasmine. "You should have asked. But instead you take, betraying our trust while doing so. You should all be ashamed, each and every single one of you." I glared at Jasmine when I said it.

  I turned my back to her. "That is all I have to say on that subject, as I believe you are immune to guilt. I promised to answer questions. If you have any, you may ask. But I am from a northern climate, so do not waste my time. This sun is far too hot for me to endure for long."

  Another of the aliens stood. "Will you tell us your name as you wish it spoken?" Jasmine translated.

  "Sapphire Fletcher," I said. "Some humans share a middle name. I have never cared for mine and do not offer it easily. Close friends call me Sapphire. All of you should call me Ms. Fletcher."

  The alien remained standing. "Please say only your name, slowly." And so I did, several times. And finally he sat.

  Then no one stood, and I thought that was all. And so I turned to Jasmine. "I believe I scared them off."

  She offered a smile. My voice had been amplified, and everyone had heard. I didn't care.

  "You have not scared us off, as you say." I turned towards the speaker. It was one of the Catseye, and she was speaking in accented English. "They are waiting for the trivial questions to finish so they can ask what everyone wants to really know."

  "I see. And what would that be?"

  "You would jump ahead?"

  I bowed my head. "I will answer the questions presented, but if you do not ask, then I will retreat from this sun."

  An alien stood. He was huge, absolutely huge. "Is it the heat that distresses you, or the sun?"

  "It is hot, but the sun will burn my skin."

  "Then if I am allowed, I would serve as your shield from the sun."

  There was an immediate muttering from the crowd. I was actually impressed, but I wasn't the one running the show. I looked over my shoulder at Jasmine.

  She ignored the muttering. "How critical is this becoming?"

  "I don't know. I should be wearing sunblock. And I am told I am susceptible to cancer. Tell them to hurry."

  "No. I have shade coming. It will only be a minute or two."

  "That's fine. Water."

  "Also coming."

  "Thank you."

  I let Jasmine address the alien. I couldn't tell if he was disappointed, but the crowd settled down. Apparently some of them were the jealous type, and we had barely met.

  "I have a question for all of you," I called out.

  The Catseye who had spoken earlier stood. "What is your question, Ms. Fletcher?"

  "Do all of you have names I am able to pronounce?"

  "Not all," she replied.

  "When you ask your questions, start by first saying your name. First, say only your name in your native language, and then if you have it, in words I could pronounce. Then ask your questions. Please."

  "Of course," said the Catseye. "In my language, I am..." And there was absolutely no way I could reproduce that sound. I couldn't even describe it. "But on Earth, I am called Tia Whitecheeks."

  "I am pleased to meet you. May I display my ignorance?"

  "If it does not embarrass you to do so."

  "Are you male or female? Or, I understand, possibly another gender."

  "All Catseye are female," she replied. "We have one gender."

  I turned and glanced at Jasmine. She flashed a smile but said nothing.

  "Thank you, Ms. Whitecheeks. Were you ready to ask the questions everyone wants to ask?"

  "Not quite yet, Ms. Fletcher."

  "For you, I would allow use of my given name."

  "And then you must call me Tia, Sapphire."

  "Excellent." And she sat down.

  And that was when two men appeared in to one side of the arena. They were carrying a long bundle, and they hurried to the podium, ascending the stairs. A moment later, I saw they had a large umbrella. They erected it, sticking the post into a hole in the stone.

  I was sure there had been no hole previously.

  I immediately moved under the shade. One of the men had a water canteen slung over his shoulder, and he held it out to me.

  "Thank you,"

  He nodded, and I wondered if he spoke English. I drank from the canteen and cowered from the sun.

  "My apologies," I called out.

  And then Jasmine spoke, and there was a movement in the stands as the aliens all moved for a better viewing position, one unobstructed by the umbrella.

  But then no one stood and asked any questions. I stood waiting. Finally I turned to the Catseye, but she had moved, and it took a moment to find her. "Ah. Tia. It appears they are shy. Perhaps it is your turn. No one wishes to ask these trivial questions."

  The Catseye stood again. "Very well, Sapphire. Is it true you allowed Administrator Brighteyes to caress you with her lower digits?"

  "By this you mean the appendages I might call tentacles. Do I offer insult with that name?"

  "You do not." Jasmine and Tia both answered together.

  "You would prefer I call them something else?"

  "No. Tentacles is a somewhat more shocking word to humans," Tia said.

  "I have seen these tentacles," I said. "I didn't find them shocking, and I am not shocked to call them by this name. But no, I would not state things the way you asked. I would not say I allowed Jasmine Brighteyes to touch me with her tentacles. I would say I invited her to do so, and I would also say she has offered a longer conversation later this evening, and I hope she will touch me again."

  The crowd began shouting. Jasmine didn't provide a translation. Tia didn't sit down, however, and finally they stilled.

  "Tia, can you explain their response?"

  "They believe you offer Administrator Brighteyes unfair advantage."

  "As a potential mate?" I asked.

  "Yes."

  "Oh. Well, put your fears to rest. I could never willingly mate with a slave trader."

  Again the aliens burst into a hubbub, although this had a different feel than the previous one. I didn't turn to see how Jasmine responded to what I had to say. I waited for them to quiet down.

  "If you find the administrator so distasteful, why do you ask for her touch?" Tia asked.

  "I do not find the administrator distasteful. I enjoy her company, and she is pleasing to look at besides. I am fascinated by our differences. However, I find her career choice distasteful. We could not possibly become mates, as we would fight fiercely every day until she finally acquiesced to my demands to find a new career and offered restitution to each and every single one of her victims besides."

  Then I rattled my shackles. "But don't worry. As you can see, she doesn't trust me. I don't blame her, however. She looks delicate."

  Tia remained standing, and so I asked, "Did I answer your question?"

  "I thought to ask another."

  "Of course."

  "You said you rejoice in the differences. What differences would be more difficult for you?"

  "Do you know what an Earth spider is?"

  "Yes."

  "Then you know what would frighten me."

  "I also know what a snake is."

  "Snakes do not frighten me, although I am respectful unless sure their bite is not dangerous. My home has no poisonous snakes, and as a young girl, I used to play with garden snakes. Do you wish to ask about other animals, Tia?"

  "Octopus."

  "Fascinating creatures, wouldn't you say?"

  "I would."

  And she sat down.

  I looked around. No one stood immediately, so I called out, "This is all moot. I'm not letting a single one of you touch me."

  One
of the aliens stood, and I was sure this one was male. "Except Administrator Brighteyes. Why is that?"

  "Simple. She attempted no force, and she is female besides."

  "And if I were female?"

  "Are you?"

  "If I were? You have stated an aversion to spiders and being forced. I do not blame you for either. I wish a wider understanding. It seems you are quite open minded."

  "Perhaps I am," I said. "I would have a hard time with an odor I found distasteful or overbearing. I would have a difficult time with a creature that had what I would consider poor hygiene. I shower daily, at least when I am not held captive by a group of space aliens."

  They offered amusement at that.

  "I would have a very difficult time with a mate whose coat or home housed vermin. Other than that, I don't know. I would have to see."

  I turned a slow circle. "This is moot. None of you will ever touch me."

  The alien hadn't sat. "Let us say one of us asked to court you."

  "Court me."

  "Yes. You said we should ask. Imagine one of us has asked, and you see nothing distasteful. What else can you tell us?"

  "I will not accept mistreatment. Beyond that, I don't know."

  "What do you consider mistreatment?"

  "If you have to ask, you're probably doing it."

  That resulted in more noise, quieted quickly.

  "That is not fair, Ms. Fletcher, given the number of species represented here. Can you provide examples of mistreatment?"

  "Violence against my body. Coercion against my body. Being forced into a life of boredom, and I am exceedingly easily bored. Being forced into a life lacking fulfillment. I have no idea what sort of job there is for a human on your space station, but cleaning bathrooms isn't going to cut it."

  "You would be raising young."

  "A worthy endeavor, I am sure. I require adult stimulation. I would be a poor mate if you seek a governess for your young."

  The alien sat.

  A few more stood and asked questions, far more innocuous. I drank the water and answered. Then, finally, they grew still.

  "It seems we are done," I said after a lengthy pause.

  Tia stood.