"But you are so kind," Maia said. "Perhaps that gentleness would have been enough."
"Or perhaps I would have gotten a slap across the face," Taylor teased. Her heart soared when she saw a smile tug at Maia's lips. She was grateful that she had been able to make Maia smile at least once. "So how would we have met? Maybe in a bar? Or would you stay away from those kinds of places?"
Taylor enjoyed the light blush that tinged Maia’s cheeks as she thought over the questions. "I suppose I would have frequented a bar…eventually. Perhaps a colleague would force me to go after successfully compiling a report."
"You're a geneticist, right?" Taylor asked.
Maia's smile grew wider. "Yes. I am glad you remembered. I started out as a biologist, but over the past decade, my research has drifted heavily toward genetics."
Taylor could not help being impressed. "Really? So you’d probably have a pick-up line about DNA sequencing or something, right?"
Maia’s brow furrowed. "I do not understand what you are implying, Taylor. I was not under the impression that bars were an acceptable place to discuss genetic theory."
"That isn't quite what I meant," Taylor said. "I was just kidding. We really need someone to update those translator chips. You never get my humor."
"Perhaps it is because your delivery leaves something to be desired."
For a moment, Taylor was stunned. Then, she burst out laughing. She pulled her arm from around Maia's shoulders and braced her elbows on her knees instead, leaning forward until she could catch her breath.
"That was a joke," Maia said, sounding concerned. Her hand rubbed circles on Taylor's back.
"I know it was a joke." Taylor straightened up again, still a little winded from laughter. "I just didn't expect you to tell one."
"If it makes you feel better, it has always been difficult for me to detect humor or sarcasm, even in my native language. It is not just you." Maia's hand fell away, and Taylor saw a dark flush start to spread beneath her silver cheeks. "If we had met in a bar, I probably would not have realized that you were interested in me. Still, I suppose it would have been nice to have someone sympathetic to talk to. Since many ikthians disagreed with my discoveries, I had very few friends back home."
"Your discoveries?" Taylor repeated. "You know, you've never told me what about them was dangerous enough to make the Dominion want to kill you. They can't be that bad, can they?"
Maia's face fell. "They are not bad...at least, not from my perspective. I am ashamed to admit now that the Dominion funded most of them, and they often interpreted the results the way they wanted to instead of the way I presented them. Most recently, I have been studying the genetic codes of various sentient species across the Milky Way. Ikthians, naledai, humans...there are some surprising similarities that convergent evolution cannot fully account for."
"Wait, slow down." Taylor held up her hand. "What do you mean by convergent evolution?"
"In closely related environments, sometimes two species will evolve to function the same way. Their appearances become similar."
"Is that why you look so much like me?" Taylor asked, unable to resist studying Maia's body. She hoped Maia would not notice, or mind the attention.
"Our similarities cannot all be attributed to evolving in equivalent environments," Maia said. She brought a hand up to Taylor's face, tracing her features lightly. "We have plenty of differences, but our basic structure is the same, all the way down to our DNA."
Taylor had considered how odd it was that so many of the spacefaring species looked vaguely 'human' before, but she had never given it much thought beyond that. "I guess it explains why we all look alike, but what does it mean?"
"The aliens I was studying did not just look like ikthians. They also shared several DNA sequences with us. It would be like a family trait showing up in several relatives."
Taylor frowned. "But how did we all get similar genetics? We’re all from different planets. It doesn't make sense."
"We were even more similar to each other several thousand years ago. We still do not know for certain what created life, but my research suggests that, at some point in the distant past, an ancient spacefaring species was genetically modifying all of our ancestors. They discovered our home-worlds and our species, and began guiding our evolution. Each planet was home to a different experiment. The excavation sites I have visited match the same time periods. There are a few crucial elements to the research that pin it together, but my most significant study did not occur until recently, when I discovered an ancient database of scientific analyses and conclusions. Whatever the ancients did to us, they had time and very little concern for the long-term effects of their experiments."
Taylor was stunned. Of all the explanations for why human life had evolved the way it did, this was the strangest she had ever heard. Humanity had been exploring space for the past several decades, but they were certainly not the first to leave their home-worlds. The ikthians had dominated the galaxy for over a century before their arrival. It was not inconceivable that another, much older race had laid claim to the galaxy even earlier. "I can see why some people might not want to believe it. The thought that someone was manipulating your species isn't easy to swallow. But why is the Dominion so afraid of your research?"
"Think about it, Taylor. Imagine the political implications. The Dominion justifies their rule by claiming that other species are inferior. Discovering that we are actually related, in a sense, to the people we are trying to subjugate would tear apart the very foundation of the ikthian belief system." Maia stopped, glancing away when Taylor tried to look at her. "But I am rambling. Forgive me. You must find all of this terribly boring."
Taylor shook her head. "No, you aren't boring… I mean, it isn't boring..." She gave Maia an awkward look, rubbing the back of her neck. "Sorry. Sometimes I'm not really good at talking to people."
"That makes two of us," Maia admitted. "I fear that somewhere along the way, my research prevented me from socializing with other ikthians...or any other species. Not that my mother would have approved. But something about you makes me want to spend time with you, Taylor." She paused, lifting her hand to cover her mouth as she let out a yawn. "I apologize. I did not sleep last night."
"I guess that was my fault," Taylor said. She wanted to ask Maia more questions about her research, but they could wait until later. The ikthian was clearly exhausted. "I'll let you get some sleep. You can tell me more tomorrow."
Taylor reached out and put her hand on Maia’s shoulder, giving it a brief squeeze before standing up. "Are you going to bed as well?" Maia asked with a hopeful look in her eyes.
"Probably," Taylor said. "I could use a good night’s sleep. I'll take the couch for now while we... start over. You’ve given me a lot to think about, and I’m not sure I even understand half of it."
Maia’s eyes fixed on Taylor’s. "Are you talking about my genetic research, or…whatever is between us?"
"Both. Just give me a little time. Then, maybe we can…" Taylor let her voice trail off, too unsure of herself to suggest what she was thinking.
"Yes," Maia said, but her voice sounded reluctant. "Perhaps some space would be helpful to both of us." Taylor knew that if she asked, Maia would allow her to share the bed, but she did not want to tempt herself. Before she was intimate with Maia again, she wanted to get to know her better. It seemed ridiculous, since Maia was still technically her prisoner, but Taylor wanted the opportunity to court her a little. She still felt some lingering guilt for rushing into sex with Maia so quickly.
There was an awkward pause between them, and Taylor took a few paces back toward the door. "Sleep well." She turned away, forcing herself not to look back. She knew that if she did, her resolve would shatter.
Chapter Twenty Seven
For the next week, Taylor worked hard to discover new ways of making Maia happy. During the days, she usually found some excuse to go out for a little while and pick up gifts. Sometimes she brought back food, and sh
e provided Maia with meals more often than was strictly necessary. When she noticed that Maia had a sweet tooth, Taylor bribed the line cook into giving her extra rations of fresh fruit, which the ikthian took a liking to immediately. She had given Rachel Harris a piece of the haul, too, as repayment for the alcohol and friendly ear that she had provided.
Taylor also started looking for books to bring to Maia, since she had caught her glancing over the limited selection in her quarters more than once. She handed over the first one she found quietly, hoping for a positive reaction. Maia studied the book she had chosen with a raised eyebrow. "I thought you might like this," Taylor explained, wincing a little at how awkward her own voice sounded.
The sad smile she got in return was almost enough to dishearten her. Maia took the book and looked it over. "I appreciate the thought, and I probably would enjoy this book, but I cannot read any human languages. The translator does not work visually."
Taylor felt dumbstruck. "But I’ve seen you. You’ll have a book out sometimes…"
"To examine the recording system your species uses. The text means nothing to me."
Taylor offered to teach her, but Maia gently explained that unless she had her translator removed and learned a human language, the symbols would still hold no meaning to her. She passed the book back to Taylor. "But…you could read it to me, if you like."
"Well, I guess I could," Taylor said, her hope rising. She did not consider her own reading voice to be any good, but she and Maia had nothing else to do while they waited for the generals and the ikthians to come to an agreement. It would help keep their minds off the inevitable, whatever that turned out to be.
The book, Pride and Prejudice, delighted Maia. They never got very far in it, considering she constantly interrupted Taylor’s attempts at reading aloud. "This is quite archaic," she said more than once. That was her favorite note. "Imagine, assuming the females of a species needed to be enslaved, or traded around like property...although I suppose we did not treat our males very well in the past, either."
"It’s an old book," Taylor said, feeling the need to defend the work. "And if you’d let me get farther, you’d realize Elizabeth is undermining that stereotype."
"I like that character. The one who ruined her clothes in the mud?" For some reason, Taylor had suspected that Maia would latch onto the defiant main character. "I dislike her mother, though."
Taylor smirked. "Does she remind you of anyone?"
"If you are trying to infer that my mother is like the controlling human in that story, then…you would have a point. The male character, though. Darcy. That is what he is called, yes? He seems rude."
Taylor shrugged. "He just doesn’t know how to talk to women, especially one as lovely as Elizabeth."
"Does he remind you of anyone?" Maia asked, a playful edge to her voice.
Taylor laughed and shut the book. “I refuse to acknowledge what you’re implying. I’m hardly a wealthy Englishman.”
“A what?” Maia asked.
“Englishman. It just means someone who is from England.”
“Is that a neighboring planet?” Maia asked. Her eyes were wide again with scientific curiosity. Taylor liked seeing it in her gaze.
“No. It’s an island here on Earth. We like to divide up where people are from that way,” Taylor explained. She watched Maia nod and then furrow her brow as she processed the information.
“So where would you be from?” she asked, glancing up at Taylor once more.
Taylor sighed and placed the book on top of a dresser. She ran a hand through her hair and thought of the simplest way to explain it to Maia. “Well, most humans would consider me to come from two places, though I spent most of my life about seven hundred miles north of San Diego, meaning here.” She pointed down to gesture at the base. Maia nodded to indicate that she understood. “My mom is actually from Japan, a set of islands west of this continent, while my dad grew up here.”
“But if you always lived on this continent, why would other humans assume you belong to both?”
Taylor shrugged. “It’s a heritage thing. What about you? You don’t have just your mother, right? What does your father do, or where is he from?”
“My father is on Korithia.” Maia glanced out the window. “He has always been there. We rarely speak, though. He mostly focuses on keeping up with my mother and her career. It was always...exhausting for him to live such a public life, but he is expected to remain with my mother, and so he does.” Taylor nodded and waited for the inevitable question. She knew Maia would ask it, even though she was an alien. She would ask just like any other woman Taylor had dated. “And what about your mother and father?”
She took a deep breath. “They died when I was young.” Maia’s face fell, but Taylor gave her a small smile anyways. “Don’t feel too bad for me. It was a long time ago, and I’ve had time to come to terms with it.” She reached for the book and opened it once more. “I can read more for you, if you like.” It seemed like a suitable time to change the subject.
Unfortunately, reality interrupted before Maia could agree. Her datapad went off with a message from Roberts, requesting her presence at another meeting. Normally, Taylor hated meeting with the brass, especially when Bouchard was involved, but this time, she was grateful for the excuse to leave for a little while. Bringing up her parents always made whatever woman she was seeing feel pity for her, and while Maia had not rushed to soothe her, she could tell the ikthian needed a moment to process the information.
It only took her a few minutes to say goodbye to Maia, put the book away, and hurry over to the meeting. Taylor reported to Roberts’s office early. She could hear muffled voices shouting at one another through the door, and for once, things were almost normal. She nodded at the guard, and he activated his communicator. "Sir?" he said. The voices in the next room grew quiet. "Lieutenant Morgan is here."
There was the silent crackle of static, and then, "Send her in." The guard nodded and opened the door.
Inside, Generals Hunt, Lee, and Moore were waiting for her, along with Commander Roberts. Bouchard had made an appearance again as well. Taylor held her salute until General Hunt nodded. "At ease, Lieutenant Morgan. We wanted to check up on your progress with Kalanis. Anything to report?"
Taylor thought for a moment. What had she learned about Maia that would prove useful to a war effort? She had learned she was a person, and that she had a new appetite for human literature, but the generals were probably not interested in hearing any of that. "She’s a scientist, Sir," she said instead.
"We knew that already," Bouchard said. "She confessed that during the initial interrogation."
"But you don’t know what she was researching." Hunt and the others seemed intrigued, but Bouchard looked like he wanted to slap her for contradicting him. "She does genetic research. Her latest study suggests that the ikthians and most species in the Milky Way are more closely related than the ikthians like to think. We share some DNA sequences with them. The way she put it, we’re almost like distant relatives. That's why the Dominion wants her back so badly. Her discoveries would undermine their deepest-held convictions."
General Lee ran his fingers over his dark beard, studying Taylor intently. "She told you this, Lieutenant Morgan?"
"Yes. That’s why the seekers were chasing her, and why we captured her so easily."
"I can see why," Bouchard said sourly. "Perhaps we should modify our negotiation tactics. Surely the Dominion has little use for someone who challenges their doctrine..."
Even though she did not like the idea of returning Maia to the Dominion, Taylor was alarmed by Bouchard's dismissal. If he did not perceive Maia as valuable anymore, it could put her in serious danger sooner rather than later. The Coalition had no reason to house a prisoner they could not use, and as much as Taylor still wavered on the issue, she knew she needed to find a reason for the generals to keep Maia around.
General Moore spoke before she could. "The ikthians have been open to negoti
ating with us so far. Things are moving slowly, but they seem invested in getting her back. She’s obviously still valuable to them." Taylor breathed a sigh of relief, grateful for the support.
"We cannot just ignore this information," Bouchard insisted. "Making deals to trade an unfavored prisoner of war could be extremely detrimental to us. If the Dominion views Kalanis as a traitor..."
"It doesn't matter why they value her as long as they value her," Hunt said. "If her people consider her research so subversive, it might even drive up her price."
For the first time, Taylor felt uncomfortable listening to General Hunt speak. Although she admired him, hearing him discuss Maia like a piece of property was uncomfortable, almost painful. It reminded her too much of her own actions. No wonder Maia’s feelings had been hurt.
"What if her research is valuable to us, Sir?" Taylor asked. If she wanted to help Maia, now was the time to act. "What if it could help end the war?"
Bouchard rolled his eyes. "Do you honestly think some bleeding-edge theory about genetics will stop the Dominion from conquering any planet it wants? Kalanis is obviously playing you, Lieutenant. Don’t let a pretty face distract you from your true loyalties."
For a moment, Taylor froze. In that moment, she realized that Bouchard knew. She was not sure whether Bower had told him, whether he had heard it from some other source, or whether he had simply guessed, but he knew. Taylor was certain that if he got the chance, he would use the information against her.
"That’s a little harsh, Bouchard," Roberts said, breaking the moment of tension. "The lieutenant may have a point. This research might not do much for the leaders, but what if it incites a riot among the masses? Large regimes aren’t kept together without layers and layers of secrets."
"The ikthians won’t care," Bouchard said dismissively.
"But the other races might. The ikthians have a lot of other planets under their control. If we could get our hands on Kalanis’s research and make the Dominion look weak, it might encourage some of them fight back. Most naledai worlds are already on the brink of revolution."
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