by Robin Roseau
The last in line was the squad leader, and I clung tightly for a minute. "I have now hugged more males this evening than I have in my life leading to this point."
He growl-laughed and then set me carefully on my feet, then led me to Violet.
She took me into her arms, and then the squad leader spoke. "What we do as warriors is never as pleasant as what we have done most recently. We train for so much worse. But we were able to return a scared female to her loving family. And while I do not offer thanks for the situation you were in, I do offer thanks we were able to perform such a good deed."
The rest of the warriors offered a sort of chanting cheer. And then he said, "And now I might ask if we could discuss our names."
"Oh, not quite yet," said Bluebell as she stood. "There is a tradition in this household that must be observed." She looked around the room. "That tradition is called ice cream."
* * * *
It was perhaps twenty minutes later when everyone had his bowl of dessert. Of course, not everyone could eat human ice cream, but everything looked like ice cream, even if it wasn't all made from cow milk.
"Now may we discuss names?" asked the squad leader.
"Yes," said Bluebell. "Now we may discuss names."
That involved bringing the rest of the room up to speed, but that only took a moment.
"We have discussed this," said the squad leader. "We have reached some agreement. We require a name for our species that can be said by every throat in this room, one the humans could remember. But we are unsure what to choose. Could we start there?"
I turned to Amaryllis, but she was looking at me. "You started this, Skye. You will lead this."
"All right," I said. "It is clear why the Octals carry this name, and the Catseye their name. Is there something your species as a whole is known for? As warriors, you are strong and fierce, but you explained you have many castes, and so as a species, you should be known by something more encompassing. Do you agree?"
"We agree," said the squad leader. "But I do not know what to suggest."
"They are known throughout the entire Federation of Allied Planets for their loyalty and honor," said Amaryllis. "They are passionately so."
"Madam Ambassador," said the squad leader, and his tone sounded apologetic. "It is our warriors who are so known."
"Are your other castes not also so known?"
"Our other castes are known for their commitment to the work of their caste. A disloyal warrior is one that cannot be trusted. But a scientist must be passionate about science, and an artist must be passionate about art."
"Would it be safe to say," I asked, "that your species is proud in your passion?"
He turned to me. "I do not understand."
"The ambassador used the word passionate. You used it twice more. Would you say as a species you are passionate? I don't mean emotional or as lovers, but passionate about your work, your caste?"
He looked to his others, and they were moving their heads in a similar fashion, sort of waving it back and forth a little like a bobble head, although not remotely as wildly. He turned back to me. "Yes, that is actually quite fair."
I looked back at Amaryllis. "Are there other features to consider?"
"I believe you may be onto something."
"There are other words in English related to passionate. Perhaps we should review them."
"I learned a word in school this year," Audra inserted. "Ardent."
"Oh, a good word," I said. "Does everyone know this word?"
They didn't, but Amaryllis and the squad leader spoke, I thought perhaps in the FBs' language.
"Ardent is a good word," the squad leader said. "Yes. We are ardent."
"Then perhaps you should be the Ardents, or something along those lines."
The FBs talked rapidly for several minutes. I focused on my ice cream, finding that Violet had also been focusing on my ice cream while I'd been distracted. She waved a tentacle at me when I glared at her, and I barely fended off a tentacle from the other side, wrapped all the way around me, as it tried to get another slurp.
"There is something we haven't done," she said in Catseye.
"Oh?"
"Yes. I have not laid you on the bed, covered you in ice cream, and then eaten it from your skin."
"Naughty," I said. "You are so naughty."
"You like me naughty," she replied.
We teased each other for another minute or two, and then the FBs seem to come to an agreement.
"We like this word," said the squad leader. "Ambassador Amaryllis, do you approve?"
"Wholeheartedly," she said.
"And the humans here. Is this a word we could use proudly?" He didn't look to me. Instead, he looked to Mom.
"It is a good word," Mom agreed, and I thought she was going to burst her buttons with the look she gave Audra.
"Then this is what we will be called by human throats," declared the squad leader. "We do not believe we should dominate the conversation to choose individual names. But would you recommend descriptive names or to pick from common human names?"
"It is most common for humans to have a family name and a personal name," I pointed out. "You could use human personal names and build family names that are descriptive. You could be George Battlestrong." I had to say the family name as separate words before they understood. "If you have a son, he might be Jeff Battlestrong."
That generated another conversation, and then the squad leader said, "We like this plan. We will discuss it together further. Would you be available when we wish a human opinion?"
"Of course," I said. "Always."
* * * *
Over the next few weeks, and even into the start of my term at school, I received invitations to comment on this name or that one. A few times the names were tongue twisters, but I worked with the individuals, and each developed a human name.
It was a small thing, but they each expressed pleasure and gratitude for the help. I thought it was nothing compared to what they had done for me, but I was pleased to have helped.
Challenge
Winter break that year involved traveling first to Africa. We hadn't made specific plans, only that we would discuss options once we were together. I didn't realize that the Catseye had been plotting, and I wouldn't realize it until they sprang their trap.
It happened early the morning after our arrival, and I thought it was a little rudely done at that, but funny in hindsight.
They arranged for me to be Selected, and I wasn't the only one.
I was still on Boston time. What was impressive was that Violet and Posey were able to get out of bed without waking me -- they should also have been on Boston time. The first I knew something was going on was when four of the guards from The Center woke me while I was still in my bed.
They pulled me from the bed, told me I was coming with them, and didn't let me change into clothes or even grab a robe. Instead, against my protests, they bound my arms behind my back, and pulled a hood over my head. While dressed only in undies and a camisole, they marched me from the house and into one of the cars.
I spent most of the time protesting, somewhat loudly. They didn't tell me I'd been Selected, only that I was going with them, and so I didn't know I was being Selected. And they refused all questions.
By the time we reached The Center, I was in a panic. I wasn't sure what I'd done, and I didn't know where Violet was. When we came to a stop, I struggled, but that did me no good at all. I continued to struggle and complain, and they half dragged me through the corridors, the hood still over my head, then thrust me onto a bench. The bench and wall behind me swallowed me to my chin, and once I was fully secured, the hood came off and I got a look of the four of them.
But then they were there with a visor. "You know what this is," said the woman holding it. I didn't recognize her.
"A visor."
"Cooperate while I put it on, or we'll let the wall hold you even more securely. Choose."
"I'll cooperate, bu
t I demand to know what's going on."
"Demand all you want. You'll learn soon enough." But I held still while she slipped the visor over my eyes. It settled in and activated. Of course, I had no control over it.
After that, they didn't wait. The wall and bench released me. The two men left, and the two women stepped to my sides, pulling me up by my arms.
And they led me to the holding cells underneath the arena.
I'd never been here before, although I'd seen videos. As soon as we stepped off the elevator, I knew where they were taking me.
"No!" I said. "You can't! I'm mated. I'm mated to a Catseye. You can't Select me. You can't do this to me!"
"We don't know anything about that," said the one on my right.
They pulled me, struggling again, through the rows of cells. If there were other people in the cells, I didn't know. Either no one was there, or the visor was hiding them from me.
They led me to a cell. It opened for us, and they marched me in. I was pushed down onto the bed, then onto my stomach. The bed partially swallowed me, and they released my arms. They were gone and the door sealed before the bed released me.
I was mad. And scared. I tried accessing the visor controls, but I couldn't. I knew I wouldn't be able to remove it, either.
They couldn't Select me. What was Jasmine doing? What was Violet going to say when she found out?
Twenty minutes later, there was movement outside my cell. I turned, and I saw the same two women escorting Audra to the cell opposite mine.
"No!" I screamed. I banged on the glass, but no one spared me a glance. They brought Audra -- who wasn't struggling -- to her cell. They didn't force her to the bed but simply removed her restraints and stepped out. Her cell closed. She looked around for a minute then turned to look outside.
She was wearing a visor, but she saw me and pressed against the glass. She smiled and waved.
She smiled and waved?
She was wearing pajamas, full pajamas. I was standing there in undies and a camisole, and she was wearing full pajamas while she smiled and waved.
The kicker though was when they brought Mom in. They walked her past my cell, even pausing for a moment. One of them glanced over at me, and then they led Mom to the cell next to mine. I couldn't see her, but a moment later, Audra waved at Mom.
She'd also been in full pajamas and had a bathrobe besides.
I still didn't know what was going on, but I couldn't believe this was happening. I put up a fuss, but of course, no one cared. Audra even grinned at me a few times.
Maybe she was like me at that age. Maybe she thought this was romantic. I didn't think it was romantic. I just wanted Violet to come rescue me.
Why did I repeatedly need rescuing?
They kept us there for some time, perhaps an hour or so. The wall of my cell dimmed, and a voice said into my ears, "Mating Candidate Skye Andrews, sit down on the bed and remain there pending further instructions."
"Go to hell."
"Failure to follow directions will result in punishment. Return to the bed and remain there pending further instructions."
I remained where I was for a minute or two, purely as a feeble show of defiance, but then I moved to the bed and sat down. I leaned backwards against the wall and pulled my feet to my chest.
I was angry and miserable, and I knew things had just begun. Jasmine was going to get an earful.
I wondered if Violet knew what had happened to me.
I'd been on the bed for only a minute or two before the door opened. Four people stepped in: two men and two women.
"You can't do this!" I complained, but I stayed on the bed.
"We must bind your arms," said the woman. "Will you cooperate, or should we use force?"
I sighed. "I'll cooperate."
"Good answer," she replied. "Stand slowly, turn to face the far wall, and spread your legs."
I moved from the bed, setting my feet on the floor, then stood, turned around, and set my feet shoulder length apart.
"Legs further apart, please, Ms. Andrews."
"Fuck you," I said. But I did what I was told.
The two women stepped forward, each grabbing an arm. I didn't resist when they moved my arms behind me and bound them.
"We can be kind, Ms. Andrews," said the other woman. "Or we can be cruel. If you verbally abuse us, guess which we'll pick?"
I closed my mouth and didn't say another word to any of them. A moment later, the visor dimmed, sound dimmed, and they pulled me from the cell.
* * * *
I was set into a chair. The chair swallowed my legs. Then they released my arms and relocked them in front of me, then moved them to the top of a table, which swallowed them. Then they left.
Two minutes later, the sound returned, slowly, and then vision.
I was sitting at a table. Audra, seated in the same fashion as I was, was across from me. We were at the end of the table, and Mom was at the end of the table, also bound.
What was surprising were the other occupants of the room: Jasmine and the entire Beamer family were watching us.
And my little shit of a sister was grinning.
"You knew," I said. "I'm going to get you."
In response, she grinned more widely.
I turned to Mom. "You knew, too, didn't you?"
"I don't know what you're talking about. They came for me the same way they must have come for you."
"And yet you're in a robe."
"I was up."
"I've never seen you wear a robe before," I said. "You get up, shower, and dress, and if it takes you more than six minutes, it's when you're sick."
"You've been gone, and I have a few days off to spend with my daughter."
"Uh huh."
I turned my head the other way. The Catseye were all watching us, although tentacles were hidden, so I couldn't read their body language.
"Well," said Jasmine. "I imagine you are wondering what is happening."
"I don't believe you've taken us as mating candidates," I said. "Mom is over the maximum age. I'm in a committed relationship." Then I looked at Violet. "Or if I'm not, I hope this isn't how a Catseye breaks up with a human." I turned my gaze back to Jasmine. "And you promised to protect Audra from this, at least for now."
"Perhaps 'for now' has ended," Jasmine suggested. "Perhaps someone has become interested in Carmen Andrews, and she will be given a choice. And perhaps this is, indeed, how a Catseye breaks up with a human."
"Yeah, well, I don't believe you."
"Or perhaps this is how a Catseye decides to plan a surprise," Jasmine added. "Well, perhaps this is what happens when one Catseye asks another Catseye for a favor, and that second Catseye has a sense of humor she wishes to express."
"Oh?"
"You once expressed a strong desire to be treated in this fashion. I made my agreement contingent on Violet allowing me to give you this taste."
"We both know I outgrew that, Jasmine!"
"We both know the reason you outgrew it was Violet. And at least one of us knows you didn't outgrow it entirely."
"If so, I think you cured me."
"Oh, I don't think so. I think you still find the rest of what would happen, if this were to proceed, romantic. Well, if you liked the person who won you in the arena. Perhaps Violet and Posey could fight over you."
"Catseye don't compete that way, and Posey doesn't want me."
"Maybe not, but she would love to tease her sister." Okay, that was true. Jasmine smiled. "Violet and Posey asked for me to arrange a game. We're here to discuss it."
I looked at Mom. "Did you know about that?"
"You're now caught up to what I know," she said. "Jasmine asked Audra and me to go along with this much." She smiled. "I don't think I care for it." She looked down at her hands. "Could you let me go?"
"If we do that, we have to let Skye go, too," said Jasmine. "And we're not done giving her a taste. We're going to play a game. This morning we're going to decide who is playing. An
yone not playing will be released and is invited to become a spectator. Any humans still playing will be treated as mating candidates until the conclusion of the game."
"I don't really have to marry someone if I play, do I?" Audra asked.
"We will determine that when we determine the nature of the game itself," said Jasmine. "Everything is on the table, including that, Audra."
"Really?"
"Really."
Audra looked around the room. "Is anyone playing not currently in the room?"
"No."
"All right," said Audra. "So we have to tell you now if we're playing?"
"Not yet," Jasmine replied. "There will be two challenges. They will both be physical. The first will be in the arena. The second will be in a much larger playing area, but that is yet to be determined. Questions so far?"
We shook our heads.
"We will select what is to happen in a fashion very similar to mating challenge choices," Jasmine continued. "Once we determine who is playing, we will select teams. Then each team will be given points to use for determining the nature of the arena event. Points won in the arena will be used to determine the nature of the larger event."
"Are all the Catseye playing?" Mom asked.
"That is not determined," Jasmine said.
Mom counted. "If I play, there are seven of us. That does not divide into teams."
"Ah," said Jasmine. "There are several solutions. We could have no teams. Or we could divide evenly with one person left out, and that person could have a special role in the game. Or I could hand control of the games to an assistant, and I could take a seat in the game, leaving us with eight."
Mom nodded.
"Skye Andrews," said Jasmine. "Your involvement is mandatory. I am not giving you a choice."
"Somehow I didn't think you were."
"Violet Beamer, are you playing?"
"Yes."
"Posey Beamer, are you playing?"
"Yes."
"Audra Andrews, are you playing?"
"May I ask more questions first?"
"I may not answer."
"If I lose you're going to make me marry someone?"