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I wait to see if he picks up on that or if he’ll pretend it was innocent and not an invitation to write exchange sex texts.
When he only responds with ‘goodnight.’ I make myself put my phone away and sign off. I’m drunk, and the last thing I want is to write something ridiculous I’ll regret tomorrow.
Thirteen
Sem
“Sem, we must go NOW,” Ash says impatiently.
I put away my human phone and start the transport. While on Earth, it’s disguised as an SUV with a holo, but once we begin flying, we turn on our deflectors and become invisible to human radars. When we clear their small international space station, we fly free back to the base.
Ash and I don’t talk as we make the short journey back to the moon's dark side.
When we arrive, we both go directly to the conference room and are the last to arrive.
Commander Fox begins, “The Agnorrians have been helpful for once and given us this information.” He pulls up documents on the large computer in the center of the table in the Octopod language. Of course, I see it translated into Alliance, but every here and there is a squiggle or half circle that does not belong and only exists in their language.
“Why are they obsessed with humans suddenly?” I ask after quickly scanning the document.
“The Agnorrians believe it’s because the Octopods have realized they can use human women as incubators for their young as they have run into the same problem we had with artificial wombs from the Dulu.”
A hundred years ago, a small group of Alliance women tried to use Dulu incubators rather than their own bodies to grow embryos into babies. Although the babies had everything they needed throughout the process, something was missing, and those individuals grew up to be mostly uncontrollable and without empathy. Since then, it’s been illegal to use artificial wombs in the Empire.
No one says anything upon hearing this new information. Octopods are much larger than humans, and the idea of an innocent human woman being used as an incubator, with an extended abdomen filled with Octo embryos, is enough to make me feel ill.
“Listen, more than ever,” Commander Fox continues, “We need to be extra vigilant. I’ve asked for more transports and men from the Empire. And for a permanent anthropologist position to make human contacts to better help us. We can no longer do this alone. We need humans we can trust.”
“But telling any humans that we aren’t going to marry goes against our contracts with the High Priestess,” Ash says unnecessarily.
Commander Fox raises his hand in acknowledgment. “I’ve contacted the High Priestess and made her aware of the situation. She’s going to convene with the goddesses about it. In the meantime, we will make contact with suitable humans.”
“And if the High Priestess denies us?” I ask.
“We’ll erase their memories,” Commander Fox replies. “Now,” he says, pulling up a roster of this week’s assignments. “Sem, I want you leading the team out past Jupiter. According to the information received from the Agnorrians, the Octopods will abduct and run with a lot of humans this week. It’s unlikely we’ll be able to stop the abductions without losing lives, so it’s safer we use a surprise attack to minimize casualties.” Commander Fox continues to issue orders, and when he finishes, he says, “Walk in the goddesses’ light.”
“They guide us,” we all answer the commander in unison.
Ash walks over to me as everyone around us is getting up. “I have a new puzzle jug. Would you like to come over with some zota and see if we can figure it out?”
I enjoy a good puzzle jug. “I need to send a message first.”
“To Ivy?”
“Yes. We talk almost every day. I won’t be able to contact her with my human phone if I’m as far out as Jupiter.”
“What are you going to tell her?”
“The truth, or as much as I can.”
“Good luck,” he says sarcastically. “If it were me, I would tell her the truth now. What if you die?”
“I’m not going to die, and it’s too soon to tell her.”
“Fine. Find me in my quarters. I’m going to start without you. “Ash begins walking away.
“I doubt you’ll figure it out before I get there.” I walk towards my quarters, thinking about how bad Ash is at puzzle jugs and wondering if he’s right. Should I tell her now? He’s not wrong about the mission; it’s going to be dangerous.
When I reach my quarters, I get out my human phone. I turn it on and check my messages. I have one from Ivy. Of course, I do. We are always sending each other messages and pictures. This one is a picture of a beach. She wants to go on holiday together. She has a break from teaching soon, but I have a dilemma. Caroline has warned me that Ivy will probably want to be intimate if we are on holiday together, and if I resist even touching her, I run the risk of her thinking I’m not interested. So, for the moment, I’m trying to put off the holiday. Ash thinks I should go and let the goddesses’ will guide me.
