Page 44 of Volunteer 4711

“It can be nice if you like your husband,” she says. “And most people marry for love.”

I think about my Commander and his house on the Home Planet and the female who messaged him. “What happens when men die and still have wives? Do they get to keep the house?”

“It falls to the eldest son or male relative. Why do you ask?”

“Just curious.”

“Anyway, I have to run now, but I thought you would enjoy that bit of news,” she pauses. “Didn’t you? You look a bit down.”

“I just hope she isn’t suffering too much.”

“Are you kidding, Volunteer 4711? She tricked you and wanted him to rape you. For all you know, they’re lovers anyway. Trash usually loves trash. I’ll see you later for game night. I hope your Jam skills are up to par. I’m ready to win back all the money I lost last week.”

I wave her goodbye and think about the other human woman with that male. I wonder what happened to her or whether my friend is correct. Maybe she was always having an affair with this officer? By the time I get to the end of my tea, I decide it’s not for me to spend any more time thinking about it.

* * *

The next day, while I’m going through my Commander’s personal messages, I can’t help but notice he has read the message from the widow, and unlike his usual custom, he’s not deleted or replied to it. I tell myself I shouldn’t care, but I can’t help but think about it. I resist reading the message again and try to focus on my other work, but it isn’t easy. In the end, I tell myself, even if he marries her, she won’t be on the ship full-time, just when she wants to become pregnant. And that line of thought leads me down to images of his naked body. A body I would recognize anywhere now.

Even though my work is far from being finished, I decide to leave his quarters before I do something I will regret.

* * *

My Commander seems to want to talk tonight as I undress him.

“The other Water woman has married a member of that crew,” he says. I think he’s fishing to see how much I’ve already heard.

“I heard that today. I was surprised I thought she was….” I trail off, not knowing how much I should say. There’s a protocol about servants speaking about officers, and now that the other commander is a part of this crew, I shouldn’t be talking about him at all.

“Yes, that she was with their commander. I think many people thought that” he pauses. “I am bringing it up because their commander has asked for you again.”

I stop what I’m doing. I look up, waiting to see what he will say next. His cobalt eyes reveal nothing as he looks at me, and I can feel my heart beating faster. It seems like an eternity, and I’m wishing, “Don’t sell me. Please don’t sell me.

“Do not worry. I have not changed my mind and never will. I just…” he stops talking and runs a hand through my hair. “I wanted to tell you because I thought it was so ridiculous he thinks I would ever give you up.”

I smile up at the Commander. “You had me scared for a second.”

My Commander formally signs that this conversation is over by putting both hands together in front of him.

I finish undressing him and go to fetch his pajamas. Once my duties are finished, he dismisses me. I wish he would ask me to stay as he used to, but lately, it seems as if he doesn’t have much time for me anymore, except on nights he watches me masturbate. Which I begin to think has become a chore for him. However, I still like the attention, so I will not suggest he stops.

CHAPTER24

COMMANDER

“They thinkthey can bring you in on a formality,” my first officer says as we talk about the government fleet headed towards us. “We all care for Volunteer 4711, but we will not go to war with a government fleet over her.”

My first officer is giving me a warning shot. I know many members of my crew do not understand why I resisted giving her to the other commander when he made space for her among his wives. It would be an honor for a Water person to be married to someone of his status, even as a fifth wife. However, knowing that her life would be hell with the other Water woman there, I was unwilling to do that.

I look at ships moving closer to our fleet. “The government have certainly sent their best.”

“This is their opportunity. They can arrest you, or you can go to war over a volunteer. Send her to the other commander, and then they will have nothing on you. He can marry her and change her from a volunteer to a wife by the time they arrive.” My first officer hesitates but then adds, “That male is good at changing Water women from volunteers to wives.”

His joke does not amuse me. “There must be another way.”

“Commander,” he says, “There is not. Do you want to organize this, or will I?” He looks me straight in the eyes, and I know his meaning, ‘Do this, or it is a mutiny.’

“I will do it. Leave me.”

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