Page 33 of Volunteer 4711

She and I hold eye contact. She knows I am lying, but I think she also knows why I said that.

“You heard me. I will protect myself,” she says in her familiar accented Silver now.

“I know you can,” I reply. “Be vigilant.”

She nods, and then I leave my quarters. I have a lot to do in the next few days, and I do not want to have to worry about her. However, I must let her have this freedom to prove she can defend herself. I try not to let her violent and direct Water woman words disturb me too much. I must also trust her that she will not kill the other Water woman for what she had said.

CHAPTER17

VOLUNTEER 4711

I goabout my work quickly. I must finish my usual chores and get to the assembly room. Not only to attend to my Commander but because I’m curious how this arrangement between the fleets will be negotiated. I have been on the outside of Silver life for so long; this will be my first time witnessing something really important.

I practically run to the laundry room. I almost run right into my friend who tells me about the rich and famous on the Home Planet.

“Where are you going so fast, 4711?”

“I have to get this clean and then get to the assembly room,” I tell her in a rush. “I don’t want to miss anything.”

“Give them to me,” she replies, taking the Commander’s uniform and sheets. “I don’t want you to be late because of laundry.”

“Are you sure?”

She runs her fist from shoulder to shoulder, which means she is absolutely positive. I smile, give her the laundry, and then run to the assembly room.

I am one of the last people to enter, and I feel good when the Commander notices that I made it in time. I move to stand behind him and his officers. I’m the lowest-ranked person here, but I don’t care.

All the important Silvers are seated around an oval table. Once the room becomes quiet, I’m surprised that it’s not my Commander who speaks first. Instead, it’s a male from our crew that I’ve seen before but never spoken to. I don’t know his title, but he’s speaking very eloquently about the benefit of common interests and friendship. He mentions many historical events that everyone but me seem to recognize. Silver people are very active listeners, so there’s a lot of nodding going on as he speaks. When he finishes, he asks our Commander respectfully, then the commander of the other fleet, if he may sit down. I find this very puzzling behavior.

Next, my Commander begins speaking. He doesn’t stand but addresses everyone in the room, not just the commander of the other fleet. He makes a few offers of money and technology if the other commander would agree to join his fleet. The other commander politely answers him after speaking with some of his officers and makes a counteroffer. This seems like a set game, and no one seems surprised when counteroffer after counteroffer is offered. This goes on for a few hours until a lunch break is finally called.

My Commander summons me to his side. “Go and tell the serving staff to serve the nicer drinks. They will understand.”

I do as I’m told and don’t ask any questions. I’ve no doubt all communication is being monitored, and that’s why he’s sending me rather than just pressing a button. I hurry to the officers’ dining hall and tell the head waiter. He isn’t surprised and knows exactly what the Commander wants. I ask him if there’s anything I can do to help, and he gives me a cleaning task in the kitchen.

“I do not trust you with any breakables,” he says.

I can’t blame him.

In no time at all, the males from both fleets are in the dining room, and, of course, the other human woman enters the kitchen as it’s her job to taste all of her commander’s food. She gives me the side eye, but I still greet her. I figure, since we’re going to have to see each other, especially if the fleets are combined, we might as well be civil.

“I see they’ve put you to work cleaning.”

“I don’t mind,” I reply. I notice she’s wearing a different outfit today and is wearing makeup and jewelry again. “Were you allowed to bring that jewelry from Earth?” I ask.

“Only the ring,” she says, showing me a gold class ring with a red stone from her high school. “The rest my commander bought me.”

“Do females on the Home Planet wear jewelry like that?” I ask while I continue washing dishes.

“Haven’t you been?”

“Never to a city. I’ve only seen poor farmers and the crew here. I’ve never seen wealthy Silver females.”

“Don’t you have a computer in your valet’s quarters?”

“I do,” I reply. “But it’s limited to my language and cultural programs.”

“Oh,” she says. “Well, you are really missing out then. There are lots of dramas and things just like we have on Earth. And there you can see all the rich people and what they think is stylish and everything.”

---