Page 17 of Reluctantly Abducted
He laughs, the sound echoing strangely in the hydration chamber. "At least I'm honest about it."
We lapse into silence, the gentle ripple of water the only sound. Despite my initial discomfort, I find the situation less objectionable than anticipated. There's something almost... familiar about sharing the hydration pool.
"So what's the plan for the next two days?" Owen finally asks, disrupting my thoughts. "More sitting around while you work on reports? Or is there actually something to this 'assessment' beyond observation?"
"The protocol includes different types of interaction scenarios," I say carefully. "Communication evaluations, proximity monitoring."
"Sounds thrilling," he says dryly. "Any chance we get to do something interesting? Or is this assessment limited to counting how many times you can make me sit still before I lose my mind?"
His directness is both refreshing and unsettling. "We'll have meals together, of course. And there are shared observation areas where we can continue... talking."
"Talking. Great." He submerges briefly, then resurfaces with water streaming from his hair. The sight is oddly compelling, his species clearly isn't adapted for aquatic environments, yet he seems perfectly comfortable in the water.
"You said combat medic," I find myself saying. "Does that mean you enjoy combat? Is that why you joined your military?"
The question seems to surprise him. He's quiet for a moment, his expression growing more serious.
"No," he finally says. "I don't enjoy combat. I joined because... it was a way out. A path to something better than what I had."
"Then why not become simply a medic? Why the combat specialization?"
He shifts position, sending small ripples across the pool. "Combat medics go where they're needed most. Right in the middle of the worst situations. That's where you can save the most lives."
There's something in his voice I haven't heard before, a depth of feeling that contradicts his usual casual demeanor.
"Your brothers," he says suddenly, changing the subject. "You mentioned they're involved with humans. How'd that happen?"
I tense involuntarily, which triggers a cascade of bioluminescence across my skin. "It's complicated."
"We've got time," he says, gesturing to the water around us. "Unless you're getting pruney fingers already."
"Pruney...?"
"Wrinkled. From being in water too long."
"Oh." I glance at my fingertips, noting the slight wrinkling already beginning. "I was explaining about my brothers."
I hesitate, not sure how much to share, but find myself continuing anyway. "My middle brother, Zeph'hai, was the first. He accidentally abducted a human during a routine observation mission."
"Accidentally?" Owen raises an eyebrow.
"There was a malfunction in the selection protocols. The human, Jake, was brought aboard instead of the intended subject."
"And they just... what? Fell for each other?"
I sigh. "It's more complicated than that. They formed an empathic bond."
"A what now?"
"A neural connection. It's extremely rare, especially between species. It allows for shared sensory experiences, emotional awareness." I'm not explaining this well, and I know it. "It's never happened between our species before."
"And your other brother?"
"Kav'eth. He's the eldest. He was actually sent to abduct the human that Zeph'hai was originally supposed to get. Derek." I can't keep the hint of disbelief from my voice, even now. "He was supposed to complete the assessment properly, but instead ended up forming a similar bond."
"So it runs in the family," Owen says, looking amused. "And now here you are, third brother, third human. Seems like a pattern."
"It is not a pattern," I say, more sharply than intended. "My assignment is strictly scientific. I'm here to assess the environmental impact of human-Nereidan proximity."
