by Robin Roseau
"I would like that as well. I am not in control of my schedule for such things, and I do not know if I can be charming for another day or two."
"You are still hurt."
"A little, yes, and today will be a long day."
"Is tomorrow too soon?"
I looked at Jasmine. "Am I available?"
"Yes."
I turned back to the Sugilite. "I may need a nap before we meet, and I do not think too much excitement would be good."
"We will share a quiet evening," she said. She stepped forward, closing the rest of the distance. She took a hand in one of hers and then reached up to very gently touch the side of my face. "Very foolish human."
"Perhaps, but a proud human. Would you have done it differently?"
"Yes. I would have assassinated her."
I couldn't help it. I laughed, then apologized. "I'm sorry, but I bet you're just the Kitsune to do it, too. But would you really?"
"Yes. If she had done that to me, she would be dead. I think poison. Slow poison, but I would want to look her in the eyes when I applied it. Perhaps I would have asked her to dance, and given it to her then."
"I wasn't aware that option was available to me," I said. "I will remember it next time."
She wrinkled her face, squeezed my hand, and then stepped away. The next time I looked for her, she was gone.
The two Wookies were next, and I took gentle hugs from both of them. "Thank you for your help," I said.
"The Kitsune is right," said Soft Rain. "You are a foolish human. In the future, if you must battle an Implac, you will ask me to do it for you."
"I believe Jasmine Brighteyes has ensured I will not have a similar need, but if I do, I will remember your words." I touched my face in emphasis. "Am I still pretty?"
The Wookie took my question seriously, studying my face. "You will be prettier in a few days, I believe."
"Administrator Brighteyes, I believe this Wookie just implied I'm not pretty anymore."
"I'm not sure she agreed you were in the first place."
"Oh, please. She finds me fascinating." I looked up into kind Wookie face. "I am not going to be fit for challenges with you for at least a few days."
She gestured to the other Wookie. "She has taken a name. She wishes to be called Thick Fog."
I held my hand to her. We'd already greeted, but she took my hand. "That is a good name, Thick Fog." Soft Rain translated, and the Wookie rumbled. "Oh, tell her I like her voice, too."
"Thick Fog and I wondered if you would accept a challenge from both of us together."
"There is no way in the world I'm going to beat one Wookie, much less two. But if you want such an uneven challenge, I accept. In a few days."
"It would be a three way challenge," said Soft Rain. "We would compete over you."
I looked back and forth between them. "I do not want to see two friends fight."
"We won't fight. We'll compete."
"Will it look like fighting to human eyes?"
"No. We do not know the details. But it won't look like fighting, and we will be very gentle with you."
"I know you will. And so only one of you will win? I do not believe Thick Fog and I can communicate very well if she wins me for an evening."
"We will be three friends for the evening," Soft Rain said. "We are competing for which of us you will bathe."
I laughed. "Agreed. I look forward to it."
After that, I spoke very briefly with Dark Skies. She whispered into my ear, "We'll see each other more later."
Cherish gave me a long, long hug. "I wish another challenge."
"I'd like that. I need a day or two more. If they are to be similar challenges as our last, you may have all you want, subject to Dark Skies and her management of my schedule."
"Good. I would like that."
I spoke briefly with the others, taking a few more hugs, and then Jasmine said we had events to run, and Clover chased everyone out.
"You will sit with me during the events," Jasmine said. "I will provide shade."
"I thought I was running cameras."
"You can do that with your visor."
"I need more screens than that," I said. "And I don't think it has the resolution to let me watch multiple views at the same time."
They both began laughing.
"Hey!" I said. "It's not funny, whatever I said."
"Andromeda," said Clover. "If the visor lacks resolution, then how is it you can watch all those screens while wearing a visor?"
"Oh, hell," I said. "Okay, yeah, that's worth laughing at me about. But I don't know how to get the visor to do everything I need."
"Dark Skies can help you set up," Clover said. "And we can keep you in the conversation from the control room."
"They do that with me now," Jasmine said.
"All right."
"Questions?"
"No, I don't think so."
"Then go to your cell. You have clothes waiting. I will bring your kimono when I retrieve you."
* * * *
The visor led me straight to the cell, not the changing room. Once I stepped through the door, it locked me in, which wasn't surprising.
I changed into the camisole and undies. I checked the time. I only had a few minutes, but I used the time to dig through records.
If my charges were getting dates, I couldn't tell. A problem for tomorrow, I decided.
I watched Julie's interview. She was led out into the arena and onto a podium near the middle of the arena. Jasmine introduced her to the assembled group, talking up her virtues and explaining her needs. Julie stood there, looking down at the arena sands, saying nothing.
But then an alien stood, and his voice was amplified. He introduced himself as Dr. Waterfall. "I am a physicist. I read your thesis paper."
Julie looked up. "That was several years ago."
"I have questions," he said. And then for the next minute or two, I didn't understand a word of the conversation. But Julie came alive. She came fully alive, and it was beautiful to watch.
Another alien stood, and then one more, and the four of them discussed the paper. They had all read it. And these aliens, with their interstellar travel and their ability to throw me a kilometer into the air, drop me, then catch me, these aliens treated her as an equal.
They took turns asking her other questions, too. They asked how she filled her spare time. One asked if she played human games and mentioned chess. One asked if she liked to cook.
"I like to cook far too much," she said. And then she looked down.
"I have grown fond of food from the American city of New Orleans. Do you know it?"
She looked up. "You like Cajun food?"
"Yes."
"I love Cajun food. You can eat our food?"
"Yes. I require dietary supplements, because your food does not have every nutrient my body requires, but I love human food. If you were my mate, would you cook this Cajun food? I cannot find anyone on the space station who can cook it properly."
"Can we get the ingredients?"
"We can," he replied.
"I'd love to cook for you."
They asked her a few more questions, some of them deeply personal, some which embarrassed her, but she answered. And then, all at once, the three of them sat down.
One other stood. He asked a question about her paper, and then he sat.
A moment, later, she was led from the arena, and the video ended.
"Well, well," I said. "That's good then. I hope."
And then I lay down and closed my eyes. I asked the visor to play soothing sounds and was rewarded with a gentle summer shower.
* * * *
"Andromeda."
I sat up quickly. Jasmine was kneeling beside the bed.
"Oh, I'm sorry. It was only a few minutes. Please tell me I didn't sleep the entire day."
"I have come to get you. You slept only a few minutes. Are you all right?"
"Yes. I will be. No guards?"
&
nbsp; "Are you going to fight me?"
"Of course not."
"Stand up, please."
I did. She slipped the kimono in place for me, belting it. She also had a long chain attached to a pair of wrist shackles. She clamped one shackle over each wrist, and I saw the chain was a Y, one branch to each shackle. But there was a hoop, and she slid the hoop towards my wrists, pulling them together. Somehow the hoop stayed where she put it. I would worry at it later, but I was unable to move it. Yet when Jasmine wanted to move it, it moved easily.
Aliens cheat.
"You're leading me out at the end of a chain?"
"Yes. I rather like the symbolism. Don't you?"
"No."
"Tough."
And then she tugged on my wrists as my visor dimmed.
She led me by the chain, although she slid her hand up to cup the chain right at my wrists, so I was able to walk beside her, not following along behind. We talked as we walked.
"I watched Julie's interview. Three seemed more interested than the fourth."
"The fourth listened and was happy with the questions and answers. He is just as interested as the first three."
"They want her as a mathematician."
"They want her as a woman with a brain they can appreciate," Jasmine replied. "All four know what she wants, and all four have agreed."
"Will they be kind?"
"Yes. I do not know any of them, but I have friends who do. Dear friends. I do not have many dear friends, Andromeda. But I asked about them. These are all good men." She tugged my wrists for a moment, probably just because she could. "One of the people I talked to is the first human who let me hug her. She knows three of them, two of them well, but she said they all treat her very kindly when she sees them."
"All right," I said. "Good."
We came to an eventual stop. "You have a choice," she said. "I can take you out there now and leave you to wait, or we can wait here until the women are there, and I can take you out after."
"Lead me out once they can see you do so."
"And make it obvious I am leading you?"
"Yes."
"And now you know part of the reason for this long chain."
"If you are not going to hold my arm, then will you let me see?"
My visor brightened immediately. We were standing just inside the arena structure, deep in shadow, but ahead it was bright sunlight. I could see the circle of pillars and some of the cages. And in a circle, the alien males, waiting.
"I should be on the cameras."
"It is being handled."
"We should be getting close ups of each challenger."
"This is not the first time we have done this, Andromeda."
"Oh. Am I a control freak?"
She laughed. "Maybe a little."
"I should have done interviews before today."
"You were a little occupied."
I paused then asked, "Would Sugilite really have poisoned her?"
"I have no doubt," Jasmine replied. "I would have been vexed, because while you were violated more than I was, if you had poisoned her, I wouldn't have had my own revenge."
I smiled and leaned against her for a moment. "Jasmine? If you were going to guess, do you know what will happen to me?"
"I know you're not leaving unmated. I won't allow it."
"Will I be happy?"
"I think you will fight with your mate, but if you fight fairly, and do not hold grudges, then yes, I believe you will be very happy."
"If Dark Skies took me, there wouldn't be any fighting."
"Is that what you want?"
"No," I said. "I like thinking for myself."
"It feels good though, doesn't it?"
"Yes. Really good. I know I'd be happy, but I think a part of me would die."
"I think what makes you special would be lost," she replied. It may have been the nicest thing she said to me by that point.
"I wouldn't want to be an Octal queen, either."
"You need someone who challenges you."
"Yeah, I think so. And someone who tells me when I'm being an idiot." I laughed. "Or a foolish human. Why didn't you tell me I was being a foolish human?"
"I believe I did. But I also believe you did what you needed to do, and I think you proved a point or two that needed to be proven."
"Did she try to kill me?"
"No, but she wanted you hurt."
I took a breath. "New rule. We're not talking about that anymore. We have the future before us, and these woman deserve our attention."
"Do you know what you're going to say?"
"No. Do I have leeway on what I can offer?"
"We cannot negotiate the way we did in private. But if they agree, we can offer a little negotiation in private, but they will not be in a position of strength. If they back out after agreeing, they'll sit in their cells until the next cycle."
"With nothing to do?"
"Correct. Do not tell them that."
"Right."
We waited another moment, then from across the sands there was motion. Two of the guards led a woman forward. They brought her to a pillar, secured her hands, and removed the restraints. She was wearing a hood, and she kept the hood. Then more women were led out, one at a time. It took a while.
"We need more guards."
"The guards do not like working here. The women they guard resent them, and they take significant abuse. I do not want anyone here who is so cold as to ignore the abuse, and so the guards suffer for it. I do not want to do that to more people."
"Does it take two per woman?"
"They stumble. Two can catch her. One cannot. This works, Andromeda."
And so I nodded.
Soon there were sixteen women attached to the pillars. About a third wore visors. The rest were hooded. But then the four guards moved around the circle, removing hoods. Even from here, I could see them blinking in the light. And I could tell when the visors brightened, as the women wearing them began looking around.
Some of the women looked determined. Most looked frightened. Two began to cry.
"This is cruel."
"I know."
"Damn it, Jasmine."
"I know, Andromeda. Think about helping them. Help some to make another choice, and help the others to have hope."
"Hope when it is hopeless?"
"It is not hopeless. They will have different lives than they envisioned, but they can be very, very good lives, Andromeda. Tell me, if I pulled you to one of those pillars, and the arena was filled with Dark Skies, Soft Rain, Thick Fog, Cherish, and a few others, do you think you would have a good life?"
I looked over at her. "What? No Catseye would fight for me?"
"We don't fight."
"You wouldn't fight for me, Jasmine Brighteyes?" I asked teasingly.
"Answer my question."
"Fine. You're right. I could be happy with many of those."
"This appears barbaric, but it is a portion of the culture -- and for some, biological needs -- of the men surrounding these women. But they will treat them well, and these women will have good lives."
I didn't respond to that. Instead I said, "They need to see us approach, but I don't want anything flashy."
"Leave it to me. It is time. Come."
And then she stepped forward, but she relaxed her hold on my chains, and soon I was following five feet behind her, my arms outstretched. We stepped into the sunlight, and then she came to a stop. I moved slightly sideways so that all the women could see me, if they looked, and just a little closer to Jasmine, lowering my arms but the chain still tight.
Then we stood there, waiting.
From the stands, the assembled audience saw us, of course, and they set up a fresh racket. Apparently this was a popular event.
I looked around. Some of the males were watching me. Some were watching the women. Some were watching each other. And I saw three females as well. I didn't know their species. But I was glad I'd fought the Implac and not
any of them.
I wondered how this would work out for them. If they wanted a mate, they should come to me. I'd help them out.
But then I turned to look at the women. Some of them had noticed us and were looking this way. A few looked over their shoulders. Some stared at the pillar that was holding them, and a few were looking around, barely glancing at Jasmine and me.
Then Jasmine tugged on my arms, and we were walking again.
She didn't lead me straight into position. Instead, we approached the women but then walked all the way around them, Jasmine clearly leading me by the chain. That got the attention of nearly all the women. And that was when she led me into the center of the circle.
There was a pillar there, but she didn't press my hands to it. She hooked the furthest end of the chain, a chain so long it could reach to any of the other women. She reeled me in and released the ring that bound my wrists closely, offering me a little more movement.
And then she stepped away. She remained in the circle, but she stepped from the center.
"You're live, Andromeda," said Clover into my ears. "There are two women from Japan, but they have visors and will receive a translation. Don't worry about pausing."
I nodded once. Then I stepped partly away from the pillar, dragging the chain with me. I turned a slow circle, looking at each of the women in turn. Most were watching either me or Jasmine, but two were crying and staring down.
I stepped to the first of them. She looked young, but they all looked young, I suppose. I reached with my hands and lifted her chin, then wiped away the tears. Then I leaned forward and kissed her cheek.
I walked to the other and did the same. And in the stands, the crowd grew quiet.
I looked around, and then I spoke. "All of you have been told what is happening here." I looked around, this time past the women. "Staring at the reality is frightening."
"Why are they doing this to us?" one of the women asked.
I turned to her. "Humanity owes a debt. Right or wrong, we are here to pay that debt. We are needed. Right or wrong, this is how the debt is to be paid."
"They're going to kill us!"
"No," I said. "They are not."
"Who are you?" asked another.
"Didn't you watch?" said a third. "She's the one from yesterday, the one who kicked that alien bitch's ass!"
I turned to that woman and approached her. She was looking at me with fierce eyes. I smiled at her. "You watched?"
