Page 12 of Volunteer 4711

I obey him. We walk through the corridors again. I walk in front of him, and he directs me. Neither of us are speaking more than directions. Then finally, he tells me to stop in front of a door. I do. He opens the door with a code. Inside are two Silver females.

My male escort explains something I can’t understand as the females inspect me. The only look on their faces is one of surprise. Then the male turns to me and says slowly, “Stay here. They will tell you what to do.” Then he leaves.

I look at the two females, one looks much older than me, and the other is about the same age as I am. They are dressed in the same military uniforms as the other males, but unlike the Silvers on the farm, they look well looked after.

The older and taller one says, “You will need different clothing.” She takes my hand gently. “Do not be afraid. You will learn, Volunteer 4711.”

“Learn to what?” I ask. I’m afraid to hear the answer, but I must know, as regardless of my wants, whatever it is, it will be a reality I must face.

“To be the valette to your master.”

“What’s a valette?”

“A valet, but a female does the job.”

“What’s a valet?” I ask, not knowing the word.

“Someone who sets out the master’s things and cleans,” the older Silver female explains. “It is easier than farm work.”

“Will he want to rut?” I ask. The females are so shocked I asked the question. I wonder if it was because I mentioned sex.

“No,” the older female replies. “Also, never say the word ‘rut’ it is for animals.”

“Okay,” I say. And then I must have visibly relaxed a little because the older woman squeezes my hand.

“You are safe,” she assures me.

The females kindly help me into some clothing not unlike what the rest of the crew is wearing. I notice when I disrobe that my skin has been healed, and I no longer have any of the bruises from the doctor or the burns from the transport. This makes me respect the ship’s doctor and my patient even more. They weren’t lying to me about helping me, and I’m beginning to expect that I wasn’t being lied to about my work here either. From what I can see already, this is better than being on the farm, especially if I won’t be whored out to random aliens.

I look at my reflection, and I’m clean, wearing a uniform like the others. A black tunic with black trousers, except our uniforms say our positions embroidered on them. I remember my patient’s had small pins on his. I can’t read the alien writing on my tunic, but the females assure me it reads, ‘Valet to the Commander.’ I don’t know what ‘commander’ means yet, but I guess someone important on this ship. I ask where our ship is going, and the females just motion in a circle. As most species don’t travel long distances in their starships but merely patrol their territory, I assume that’s what this ship is doing too. The females show me ‘the job’ as it were. Thankfully on Earth, I worked in hospitality for most of my life, so this feels almost familiar. I even have my own small cabin with a bed and a desk. After everything is explained to me, I ask, “When can I eat?”

The females then take me to a canteen with other Silvers in similar uniforms to ours. They show me how to work the machine for food. It’s activated by my DNA. “You can have food four times a day,” one of the Silver females says. “More than four….” she slaps her hand with her other hand to make it clear to me it’ll result in a punishment. I’m not surprised as Silvers liked physically punishing each other on the farm. Then she brings up another menu on the machine, I can’t read it, but I can see the script is in the color blue, not green. “And not this.” she slaps her hand again to let me know this menu is also forbidden.

“I understand.”

“Also,” the females lead me back to my tiny room and show me a little computer. “You learn here.” They touch a button, and suddenly a holograph of a Silver woman speaking appears, and it’s not long before I realize it’s a Silver language learning program.

“Thank you,” I reply and begin watching the program. I realize instantly it’s interactive, and already the program is measuring my ability. I pause the program because I must eat first. I get Silver oatmeal from the food machine and juice because it’s all I know how to say. I scarf it down and then return to the language program. I’ve been told my room will buzz when the Commander needs me. I assume my patient is the Commander, and I don’t know why he took me from the farmhouse, but I hope it’s only because I saved him from the transport crash and nothing more.

I never enjoyed school, but now that it’s vital I learn this language, I’m inhaling the program. Once the buzzer sounds off, though, I know I have to run to the Commander’s quarters which aren’t far from mine and are well-marked. Also, as the language program has been tailored to me and my new life here, I’ve already memorized the alien written word for ‘Commander’ and can even say some appropriate words I need to serve him. I quickly put on my new shoes, similar to his, that attach to my trousers and race down the corridor out of the servants’ quarters into the officers’ quarters. Once I arrive. I catch my breath and wait outside his door. I know that I need not press any buttons or say anything. He has been alerted to my presence with sensors. After a second, I hear his deep voice, “Enter Volunteer 4711.”

CHAPTER6

COMMANDER

I turnand see my new valet enter. She looks better now that she’s out of that dirty farmhouse and those rags they had given her to wear. I had my first officer look up her details, and she was traded on a low-quality deal by lesser members of my species. She had been chosen for her endurance and health. I’m still impressed she was able to pull me from the transport, which I would’ve surely died in had she not been there, as the farmers, like most of their class, would like to see me dead.

My valet bows, her long brown hair swinging with her movement. “Commander, I am here.”

Again, I am impressed. Obviously, she has been studying the language program and has understood why she is here. Not only is she healthy and strong, but she is also clever. Water people are known for being intelligent, just too impulsive, which always gets them into trouble. But I plan to educate this Water woman well so she will not be imprudent.

“Good,” I say and remind myself to speak clearly and slowly for her as she’s still learning. “You will be my new valet.”

She walks a little closer to me but still keeping a good distance between us. I find this amusing as we shared a bed and bathed together, but I do not encroach on her. I don’t know what she suffered at the farmhouse, but it couldn’t have been good, given the bruises and burns she had all over her small body.

“Every morning, you will set out my uniform,” I instruct her as I show her my wardrobe. “And you will take the one I am wearing away every evening.”

“I understand, Commander.”

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