by Robin Roseau
"No!" Bronze said again. She turned to Jasmine and began speaking rapidly. The two talked for some time.
They both stood, and Jasmine approached me. "Sapphire Fletcher, this is a mistake. Please reconsider."
"Fuck off."
She sighed and turned to face Bronze. Bronze slumped and spoke briefly. Jasmine glanced at me.
"Bronze concedes," she said softly. "But no, I won't send Sapphire home."
"What?"
Jasmine turned to me. "Her race requires these rituals. It is not because they are fun. It is not a game to her. It is a critical portion of her mating process, and she will not feel mated if she does not win you. There must be a competition. Only then is she emotionally able to continue the mating ritual. If you will not compete, she is unable to feel mated. And so she concedes and asks me to send you home."
But then she turned back to Bronze. "If you no longer want her, she returns to me, and what I do with her after that is none of your concern."
Bronze spoke hotly, but Jasmine said, "I don't care how powerful you are. You're the one who talked me into taking this cursed job in the first place, so don't complain to me if I do the best job I know how. If she reverts to me, then I will give her the same choices she had before. She may select from one of the races that does not require these competitions. My name will be the first on the list. If she refuses those offers, then I will arrange a new selection event just for her."
She turned back to me. "I presume you will not accept a male, and I could expect to find your corpse if I attempt it."
"Damned right you will."
"Then I will assemble a collection of females, and I will allow you to choose your competitors from amongst them. This is a very generous offer." She turned back to Bronze. "If you don't want her, then she's mine again, and no one is going to interfere in how I dispense with one single human."
"No!" Bronze said clearly. "Home."
"No. Either you accept her on whatever terms you can achieve with her, or someone else gets a chance."
"What about what I want?"
Jasmine turned back to me. "You will be treated gently, and I will see you have sufficient stimulation while you wait. Or you may accept the offer I once made to you. I am not sending you home unless you win an honest competition."
"I don't believe you know the meaning of the word 'honest'. There's no such thing as an honest competition around you."
"I have stated the available choices. Bronze, will you accept her without a proper mating process?"
Bronze turned to look at me then hung her head.
"No."
"Sapphire Fletcher, will you compete in a proper mating ritual as required by this species?"
I stared up into Bronze's eyes. "Bronze?"
She stepped forward and caressed my cheek, her touch exceedingly tender.
"It's a sham, Bronze. I won't participate."
The last of her expression faded, and she dropped her hands.
"So be it," Jasmine said.
"Good. Bye. Sapphire."
Bronze turned and headed for the door. I stared at her retreating back.
"Sapphire Fletcher, I will see to your needs, including your emotional and mental needs, during your stay with us."
A doorway appeared in the wall.
"Bronze!" I screamed. "Stop!"
She froze.
"Have you lied to me?"
She turned around and spoke in her language. Jasmine translated. "I am part of the conspiracy to keep these events from humans. There are other secrets we don't share, secrets that would cause humans to make other choices. We do not keep these secrets with ill intent but simply to counteract the poor choices your species makes."
"Have you directly lied to me?"
"I have kept certain truths from you."
"Have you lied to me today?"
"No."
"Would you truly compete fairly?"
She looked me up and down. "I'm not sure fairly is the right word."
"Honestly then?"
"Yes."
I looked at Jasmine. "I'm not going through this with anyone else."
"Then you must either accept an offer from a species that doesn't compete in this fashion, or you must compete with Bronze."
I looked back and forth between the two of them. "I believe I have earned privileges."
"You do, hmm? What privileges?"
"All of them."
"Most, but not all. Are you agreeing to compete?"
"Bronze, will you come here?"
She nodded and strode back towards me, coming to a stop a few feet in front of me.
"I want courting. Starting now."
Bronze spoke. Jasmine offered her laugh. "She points out the courting began some time ago. But perhaps you invite somewhat more intensive courting."
"I want company. No more leaving me alone in my cell for days at a time. I keep the visor, but you come visit. Daily, if we aren't in a challenge."
Bronze offered a smiled. "Yes." But she spoke her own language for Jasmine to translate.
"You will accept affection. And you will compete to win. Even when the results seem foregone, you will fight to win all the way to the end. You will attempt to kick my ass even though sometimes I will be patting yours."
I smiled.
"Anything else, Sapphire Fletcher?" Jasmine asked. I could hear the amusement in her tone.
"Yes." I turned to her. "No more of your games."
"I don't agree to that. I'll play my games as I see fit. But I will give you something to think about."
Bronze growled at her, but Jasmine ignored her.
"What?" I finally said.
"I wonder if you can figure out why I did all of this. And I wonder if you will figure out why I would risk ruining this agreement. I wonder if you will figure out whose side I'm on."
I sighed. "I retract my demand. So we're agreed?"
"I wish to make one point of clarity. When it becomes absolutely clear you cannot possibly win the third challenge, you will declare there will be at least two more."
"And you will manipulate the fifth as well?"
"No. Bronze wants seven, and she will attempt to ensure you are disheartened over the fifth, but that is well within the rules of these events."
I nodded. "Fine." I turned to Bronze. "If we have agreement, that affection you promised starts right now. I need a hug."
I received it.
Second
Bronze held me for a very long time, eventually moving to a chair, with me standing between her legs, her arms around me. It felt good.
Jasmine moved to her seat at the table, and when I glanced at her, she was using her tablet.
Finally she interrupted us. "If we're having a challenge today, we should decide the terms."
I nodded. "I'll need a break, though. Lunch. A little time to close my eyes. Please. And do you have something for my headache?"
"I will see to your needs," Jasmine agreed. "Can you take a seat, Sapphire?"
"I'm back to Sapphire?"
"Do you mind?"
"No." Bronze slowly released me, and I walked around the table to my seat. I rattled the chains. "Are these necessary?"
"Let me think about that," Jasmine said. "You'll always wear them in the corridors, but maybe not at other times."
"All right. I want to discuss my new privileges."
"Later, please. Let Bronze and I discuss them first."
"All right."
"Very good. Today's challenge is non-physical. That may not be entirely true. If you were to play a game of chess, you would have to move the pieces. But it is largely a cerebral activity."
"I understand. I'm not very good at chess."
"It is only an example. There are games, such as chess and a great many others. There can be a battle of wills, and I imagine that would be quite interesting and lengthy when involving the two of you."
We both offered our versions of a chuckle.
"There are two oth
er categories: puzzles and knowledge. Puzzles you understand. Knowledge could be a math exam, for instance, or you could be required to learn and demonstrate a new skill. Within all categories, there are subcategories where I determine the entire nature of the competition and other subcategories where one of you sets challenges for the other."
"Can you give an example?"
"Bronze could devise a puzzle for you to solve."
"I see."
"Some of these events are still somewhat physical. There is a hedge event that is a maze you must physically traverse, for instance. You are not scored on time but on number of moves, and so it remains a cerebral challenge."
"It sounds like a short event, however."
She smiled. "For some categories, but not all, small, medium, and large are in the list of questions."
I nodded.
"There are four main categories to choose from and three of us here. Today, you will each eliminate one category. And then I will pick between the remaining choices. You will not know which the other has eliminated, and so you could pick the same one, leaving me between three. We will use your visor, Sapphire."
"All right."
A moment later I was given an overlay with the four choices. I decided it was likely Bronze could easily best me in most Knowledge competitions, and so I eliminated it.
A moment later, Jasmine chuckled. "Bronze, you are a chicken."
"What?"
"She eliminated the battle of wills. I think she believes she would lose."
"Yes," Bronze said.
"Does she even know what a chicken is?"
"Yes," Bronze said. And she rubbed her stomach.
I smiled.
"Sapphire eliminated Knowledge. And so I may choose between puzzles and games. I will allow both of you to offer a choice, and if you choose the same, that is what we will do."
I picked games. And so, it turned out, did Bronze.
"Very good."
It took only a few minutes before we had narrowed it down to non-technological games typically played on a tabletop, and cards had been eliminated as a major category.
"Stop there," I said. "Bronze, do you want a good game?"
"Yes."
"I don't know many games like this."
"She plays chess," Jasmine said.
"I play poorly, but if she wishes to play chess..."
Bronze and Jasmine consulted and then Jasmine said, "Everyone wants a good game. Shall we continue?"
"No. Bronze, you may pick a game and teach me. I won't win, but I'll do my best, and we'll have a good time playing."
Bronze spoke to Jasmine for a moment, and then Jasmine said, "Bronze asks if there are games from my home world, and then suggests, if you do not want to continue to pick the way we have been, that I suggest a game. I would teach you both. I have a game in mind that is similar to games from both of your planets, with simple rules, but it can be quite challenging. It is well suited for us today."
"Whatever she wants," I said. "I'm willing to let you pick."
"Very good," Jasmine said. "Are we agreed?"
"Yes," Bronze and I said together.
"Then I will summon your guards and return you to your cell. Bronze, I'll teach you first, after a short break, and Sapphire after that. Your challenge together will be later this afternoon."
"Does it have to be the guards?" I asked. "Can Bronze take me back? It's not like I could get away from her."
"Of course," Jasmine said. She produced a key and set it on the table for Bronze. We all stood, and then Bronze took my arm.
* * * *
My visor blinded me during the walk, and I was somewhat overwhelmed by everything. But once we were inside my cell, once my shackles were removed, I said, "Can you stay a while?"
She nodded. I took her hand and pulled her to the bed. She shook her head at that.
"I don't have a couch," I said. "This has to do."
And so she nodded and came with me. We both sat down, leaning against the wall, and then I leaned against her.
"You are courting me now."
"Yes."
"And that means you will see to my entertainment."
"Yes."
"But in turn, I am obligated to accept affection."
She offered a throaty chuckle. "Yes."
"Are you familiar with the areas a human would consider erogenous zones?" That was another chuckle and assent. "Touch those, and you're dead meat. Those are the limits."
I let her pull me into her arms and cradle me.
It felt nice. I closed my eyes and relaxed against her.
"Thank you," I whispered. "I'm still scared."
She tightened slightly but said nothing.
"And pissed about all of this." I paused. "But you've been gentle." I looked over at her. "And you're sexy as hell." That involved another tightening. "Thank you for not letting one of the males have me."
She stayed with me until my lunch arrived.
* * * *
It was the guards that came for me sometime later. I accepted their escort and found myself back in the conference room. Jasmine and Bronze were both there, and there was some sort of game sitting on the table. The guards led me to a chair at the other end of the table then left. Jasmine and Bronze took seats across the table from me.
"We will first discuss your privileges. Bronze and I are in agreement. You will listen carefully." I nodded ascent. "First, either of us can remove any of these privileges for any reason we choose. If you abuse them, they will be removed and you will be punished besides."
I thought about that.
"I protest at the implication you have the right to punish me for anything other than acts a human would consider a legal violation."
"Your protest is noted," Jasmine said. "Next, you will withdraw all previously stated threats of violence against anyone, starting with me. I take such threats seriously, after all."
I looked away. I didn't want to admit it. "I don't want to hurt anyone," I said in a small voice. "But everything you're putting me through is wrong, and I don't know how to express my frustration. I want justice, and I'm not going to get it."
"And so you still wish to kill me? Why didn't you ask Bronze to do it earlier?"
"I don't want to hurt anyone," I repeated. I looked back. "But where is my justice for what you have done?"
"Let me ask a few questions. Do you agree the situation is more complicated than it seems?"
I sighed. "Yes."
"I asked you before, but I'll ask again. Knowing the full price of our assistance, even some prices you may feel are unjust, would you personally agree to pay them if necessary, for the help we have provided?"
I sighed. "That's not a fair question."
"Right now, if you had the choice to send us away or to agree to everything that is happening, which would you pick."
"But that's the thing, isn't it? You didn't give me a choice. You just took me."
"Let me ask another way then. Imagine you are the spokes person for all humanity. We have made the offers we made, demonstrated our ability to fulfill our promises, but then stated the prices you have seen. You are not personally required to pay these prices, but you know other women would be. Do you send us away or agree to our demands?"
I stared. "That's not fair, either."
"It's the situation your leaders were in. Choose."
"I would offer myself to get you to stay. But they didn't, did they?"
"Most were already mated. Most are far too old for what we require. And very, very few have either the compassion or the empathy to be good mates for us. So, you cannot offer yourself. You must decide if you will allow what is now happening here. Or we leave, and humanity is left to itself."
I looked away.
"It's complicated, isn't it, Sapphire?"
"Yes. But this is misdirection. This isn't about whether humanity has an obligation. This is about how you expect the obligation to be filled, and it is about the extreme unfairness of destroyi
ng my life the way you have."
"It is decidedly unfair to the individuals selected," Jasmine said. "No one is arguing that. Let me ask another question. Did you truly have fun in your first challenge with Bronze?"
"I was scared at first, but it was exciting." I changed my gaze to her. "It would be more fun if it wasn't so all or nothing. I could hide, and you couldn't find me, but if I moved, then it went the other way."
She nodded.
"You had fun."
"Yes, Jasmine. I had fun."
I looked down into my lap, staring at my handcuffed hands. "The only choice is to agree you should stay." Then I looked up at Bronze. "Is this really what you need?"
"Yes," she said. Then she spoke her own language, and Jasmine translated to, "She is sorry for the need and the distress it causes you. She knows it isn't your way."
"But you shouldn't live the rest of your life alone. If you're like us, you don't want to be alone. And... you're very gentle to me."
"Are you asking us to stay?" Jasmine asked me gently.
"Yes." The word was little more than a whisper.
"And do you require justice for what we have done? We have violated human laws and forced this upon you."
"No." That was also a whisper. "But I should be compensated!"
Jasmine smiled broadly. "For that, you will have to wait."
"Did it have to be such a surprise?"
"Not for Bronze's species, but for many, yes. And as we said, the rest of the humans can't know or they will circumvent the testing. That makes it very difficult to arrange a less shocking surprise for some."
"You could make a different story so people wouldn't know how to cheat."
"Humans are smart. They would learn what we seek based on who we take. And many people would go to great lengths to avoid testing. It would be chaos probably leading to massive riots and upheaval."
"And so a small number of us must pay this price for the rest of us."
"Yes."
I looked over at Bronze. She was looking somewhat miserable. "If I am to pay this price, then I am glad it is for you. I believe my decisions earlier should have made that apparent."
At that she sat up straighter, and she inclined her head.
I turned to Jasmine. "I withdraw my threats of violence."
"You will also remove threats of damage to yourself from any future negotiating tactics."
