Page 1 of Reluctantly Abducted
Chapter One
Ry'eth
I should have known something was wrong when neither of my brothers responded to my communication requests for a week.
Kav'eth, I could understand. He's always been obsessively focused on his Council duties, and lately he's been even more insufferable than usual about "maintaining professional boundaries" and "proper protocol adherence." But Zeph'hai usually answers within hours, eager to share whatever new research has captured his attention this cycle.
A week of silence from both of them is... unprecedented.
Which is why I'm standing outside Zeph'hai's residential unit, prepared to use my emergency access codes if necessary. I depart for Earth's orbital region this afternoon, and protocol dictates that family members be informed before interplanetary assignments. Emergency protocols seemed my only option given the time constraints.
The door slides open before I can activate the entry panel.
"Oh," says a voice I don't recognize. "You must be the other brother."
I find myself staring at a human. Male, brown hair, wearing casual Nereidan attire that looks wrong on his unfamiliar frame. He's shorter than I expected humans to be, though still taller than me, an unfortunate genetic trait I've inherited as the youngest of three brothers. As an environmental restoration specialist, I've spent considerable time studying the ecological impact of various species. Humans, according to every metric I've analyzed, are among the most destructive. Their industrial practices have rendered vast ecosystems uninhabitable, their resource consumption patternsare unsustainable, and their population expansion has driven countless species to extinction.
"You are in my brother's dwelling," I state, keeping my voice carefully neutral despite the immediate surge of revulsion. This is what Zeph'hai chose? This unremarkable creature that's probably already polluting our air with whatever toxins humans carry in their respiratory systems?
"I'm Jake," the human says, extending his hand in that primitive greeting gesture they're apparently fond of. "You must be Ry. Zeph's told me about you."
"My name is Ry'eth," I correct sharply. "Not Ry."
"Right. Sorry. Ry'eth." He lowers his hand without apparent offense. "Zeph'hai's in a conference call with the Council. Should be done soon."
"I require five minutes with my brother," I inform him. "Privately."
Before the human can respond, another voice calls from deeper in the dwelling.
"Jake, who's at the—oh." A second human appears, this one taller, more physically imposing, with geometric markings covering his visible skin. He nods politely in my direction. "You must be the youngest brother. I'm Derek."
Two humans. In my brother's dwelling. Acting as though they belong here.
"How many of your kind are currently contaminating this space?" I ask.
The two humans exchange a look, and the one called Jake's casual demeanor shifts slightly. "Just us. And we're not contaminating anything."
"Your species has rendered significant portions of your homeworld uninhabitable through industrial excess and resource mismanagement," I state matter-of-factly. "These are documented facts."
"Okay," Derek says slowly. "Clearly you have some... opinions about humans."
Opinions. As if ecological devastation and mass extinction events are matters of personal preference.
The dwelling's internal communication system chimes, and Zeph'hai's voice fills the air. "Jake, Derek, the Council session is concluded. Ry'eth, I sense your presence. Please join us."
I take a steadying breath, reminding myself that this conversation cannot be avoided regardless of how distasteful I find the company. I follow the corridor to the main living area, where I find both my brothers seated around the conference table with their respective humans. Kav'eth's bioluminescence is more relaxed than I've seen it in cycles, while Zeph'hai practically glows with contentment.
"Brother," Zeph'hai says warmly, rising to greet me. "I did not expect you today."
"I attempted to reach you through standard communication channels," I reply stiffly. "When you failed to respond, I assumed emergency protocols might be necessary."
"My apologies. We have been... occupied with integration planning." He gestures toward the humans as if this explains everything.
Kav'eth studies me with that penetrating gaze I remember from our juvenilehood. "You appear distressed, Ry'eth. More so than usual."
"I am about to depart for an assignment," I begin, then stop as the implications of what I must tell them become clear. "Though I have recently learned it may not be the assignment I anticipated."
"Explain," Kav'eth says, his formal tone sharpening.
