Page 17 of Volunteer 4711

“Our sensors show 101 Water people,” the Imperial captain insists.

“One is a member of my crew,” I explain.

“I want him too.”

“No,” I say. “That crew member is not for sale.”

“What do you want with Water person?” he asks. And this is what I do not like about the relationship between the Imperial people and the Water people. Imperials see the Water people as their own.

I should not have to explain myself, but I want to make the deal, and I want to make it clear that I am not selling my valet. “This Water person saved my life. In return, I offered a position on my ship.”

“I see, but perhaps you should ask this crew member if he would consider leaving to be with a species more like his own.”

“He is happy here,” I say. For some reason, my instincts tell me not to let on that Volunteer 4711 is female. Not that his sensors won’t tell him when he sorts through them, but still, I am not handing out any extra information.

“I understand you feel some obligation to this Water man, but let me assure you, you will tire of this Water man, and when you do, you will have wished you sold him to me.”

“When I tire of him, I will think about selling him to you,” I assure the captain. “Now, the UCs for the 100 Water people?” When I see the UCs appear in my ship’s account, I say, “Thank you, Captain. I will have the Water people delivered to your ship just over the border.”

“Walk in the gods’ light,” the Imperial captain says and signs off.

I look at the blank screen and feel a little guilty, but business is business, and if my crew and fleet had found out that I had passed up that deal because I was fond of my valet, I would have a full-scale mutiny on my hands.

I walk back to the bridge and announce to my fleet the good news. I know Volunteer 4711 will hear my announcement. I cannot imagine what she will think. I nod to my comms officer, who lets me know I’m on to the entire fleet. “This is your Commander. I have just sold the 100 Water people we took to the Imperials just across the border for 5,000 UCs per person. On top of what we will make with the crew and the ship, we can move forward with our sweep of the sector sooner than expected. Good work.”

My first officer gives me an approving smile. “Well negotiated, Commander. You even had me fooled for a minute.”

“And myself,” I say honestly.

After everything is concluded with the ship we just took, and the Water people have all been transported and accepted by the Imperials, I call it a day, leave the bridge, and walk back to my quarters. It’s later than usual, and I’m tired.

I buzz for Volunteer 4711, and she arrives promptly.

But she does not smile as broadly as before, and I know why, but to her credit, she says nothing as she begins undressing me. It is just a strange silence between us, but the silence is speaking.

Although her silence does not last long. When she begins unfastening my shoes, she says, her voice breaking, “I know I should be nothing but grateful, but it hurts me you sold other Water people. Who did you sell them to?”

When I step out of my trousers and shoes, I look down at her as she kneels on the floor and explain to her as simply as I can. “People who are like Water people, but a different color. They will be treated well. Would you rather they be sent to farms like you?” I do not mean to sound bitter, but I did not want this for her people either. I fear the Imperials will make them pets, even though it is illegal now.

“No, not the farm,” she says and wipes some stray tears from her face as she stands.

Surprising even myself, I take her small hands in mine. “I will never sell you. They asked for you too. They wanted to take you, and I said ‘no.’ But I could not do that for the others. It was too much money. Understand?”

She is looking up at me with her fantastic brown eyes, the color of tree bark and earth that springs life from it, and I wish I did not have to hurt her. However, I would rather she know the truth than a lie. I sold Water people for a profit. But I cannot even say the full sentence out loud to her.

“I understand,” she says and wiggles her hands free from mine as if I am tainted now. Perhaps in her mind, I am. It is her prerogative. No one is clean from anything in the galaxy.

I stay standing there naked while she fetches my pajamas. When she comes back and dresses me, she asks, “Can you show me, Imperial people?” I have her computer purposely locked, except for her language program, and selfishly I do not want her to know about Imperials. I worry she might want to join them as it is known they are genetically the same as Water people, and their Empire is one of the most powerful in the galaxy.

“Another time,” I say. But now I feel like I owe her, which is strange because I saved her from her life on the farm in exchange for saving my life. We are equal. We owe each other nothing, yet my heart wants to give her something for what I have done today.

On my computer, I open my executive account from which I manage my staff’s pay. “I am giving you ten extra food credits,” I tell her.

“Thank you,” she says, but I can tell she is not impressed with my offer.

I resist telling her she does not have to take it, and I remind myself that I just sold Water people and announced it to my crew like a win. And it is a win. But I cannot deny that no amount of food credits will change that.

After her duties, she collects my uniform and stands by the door as is her custom. She bows and says, “Goodnight, Commander.”

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