Page 13 of My Human Wife

“I don’t speak Imperial,” she says.

“But your translator.”

Lara gives me the galactic sign for ‘absolutely not’ by crossing her forearms and then explains, “My master always had a fear that I’d join an Imperial cult and run away. As I said before, you’re the first Imperial I’ve ever met.”

We all stare at her for a minute. Agnorrian is the lingua franca on the side of the galaxy, but on the side we’re returning to, it’s Imperial. It’s shocking to hear her translator is blocked against the Imperial language. Clearly her master was racist.He probably had a secret Imperial pet.I meet Seo’s eyes, we’re thinking the same thing. Then I explain to Lara, “I’m the only one who speaks English here. Please go with my doctor, her name is Hela. She can understand you, but you won’t beable to understand her. She only speaks Imperial. Perhaps your translator can be modified.”

Lara looks like she’s going to say something and then decides against it.

I watch as Lara follows Hela from the docking bay. Then I turn to Seo, “She’s reluctantly agreed. She had a horrendous time at Gala before, that’s what’s holding her back. Set in a course for the rendezvous. We can’t be caught bringing her in. The false narrative must look accurate, that she escaped with me and then later turned herself over to be sold because she wants to be owned.”

“Understood. Also, I just want to let you know, some of us here watched you and Lara just to make sure you weren’t double-crossed at the Fertility Temple.”

“I would’ve expected nothing less. I hope that we put on a good show.”

“Superb. She’s something…”

I cut him off right there. “I never want you to talk about what you saw between us or what sexual fantasies you might have about Lara. Not with me or anyone else. And tell the crew. Lara is one of us now and I want her treated with the same dignity and respect.”

“Yes. I understand.”

I’ve stunned Seo, but I would have said this for any person joining the crew. We’ve all done things we wished we wouldn’t have had to in our lives. We shouldn’t be held accountable for every action as if circumstances in life are always the same. “I’m going to shower. I’ll meet you on the bridge in 30 minutes.”

Lara

I assume Gael has a lot to do and will meet me later to discuss his plan. So, I follow the tall Imperial woman with short black hair from the docking bay and through the hallways of the ship. It’s busy with grey Imperials everywhere.

“Where are all the humans? Oh, I forgot you don’t speak English.”

She pulls out an IC and says through the handheld translator, “Safe.”

I’m not impressed with that answer. “Safe on Earth or safe in eternal sleep?”

“Mostly safe on Earth.”

“I heard Gael kills those he can’t save.”

“Sometimes. He does what’s best, but he always gives people a choice. If given the opportunity, would you have rather had death than the life you had with your Uru master?”

“I would’ve rather had freedom.”

“Obviously, but freedom usually isn’t an option.”

As we enter a decent looking medical center, I’m guided over to an exam station. “You can bathe and rest after my exam.”

The doctor begins her assessment of me and a young man, probably her assistant, joins us. She begins speaking in Imperial to him. I only pick up that it’s a tonal language. I can hear five maybe six tones.

Suddenly the doctor says through her translator, “I will have to study your translator. It’s not designed in the usual way. Or I could try downloading Imperial onto it and see what happens?”

“What’s the worst that could happen?”

“Brain damage.”

“I’ll wait.”

“Good choice.”

The doctor continues her ministrations quietly speaking in Imperial to the young man who’s either taking notes or handing her medical instruments. She asks me about my head injuries, and I tell her about the sadistic nun.

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