Chapter 44
CHAPTER 44
Aefre
Kaelin finds me in the strategy room.
“You’ve heard the talk?”
I nod. “They’re starting to pay attention.”
“They’re more than paying attention. They’re recalibrating. The Callix Prime team ran their last simulation differently—faster, more aggressive. They’re trying to match what Ash and Ember did this afternoon.”
“Good,” I say simply. “They should. I would do the same.”
Kaelin folds his arms across his chest. “You’re really enjoying this aren’t you?”
“Well why not? It’s different isn’t it? We usually come in as the best, former champions and all. This year not only are we coming in hot with a pet that has not competed before but one that I basically rescued from the Octopods. No one thought this possible.” I turn back to the holographic display of the arena. The simulation replays Ash and Ember’s tandem leap, their timing nearly perfect. “They’ve earned the attention.”
“You’ve done the impossible.”
“We both have,” I reply. Then I change the subject. “What have you heard about Gael the Returner today?”
“Nothing except the gossip from the other trainers. Of course, they’ve noticed how close Ash and Ember are. They say if Gael gets anywhere near them, they’ll run because they’re so in love.”
It’s a risk, of course. The bond I pushed between Ash and Ember is both their greatest strength and vulnerability. “So we must make sure that Gael never talks to them and that they’re so happy with their success that they willingly return to the Luminous Arc .”
“Perhaps you should promise them something? To sweeten the deal.”
“They’re pets, Kaelin.”
“You and I both know Ember is the real liability. He’s never recovered from Fifi’s death. He worries about his own mortality and now Ash’s too. And it’s obvious to everyone, he wants to keep Ash like a wife.”
I laugh. “Are you suggesting humans could maintain long term relationships, Kaelin? Have you got human mind rot from listening to human languages? Ember will forget about Ash once she is no longer new to him.” I leave off saying, ‘But I’ll personally never let her go. I’ll keep her the same way I have kept Mags.’ I don’t want to tell Kaelin how I really feel about Ash. I suspect he knows already. “But I’ll humor you in this because I’m curious, what would you suggest I offer Ember?”
“Their own private quarters on the Luminous Arc .”
“Outrageous. We would be the laughing stock of the galaxy. They’re not our equals.”
“Think about it. One of the reasons they’d consider running is for privacy. That’s the one thing Gael can offer them that they want and we can easily give that to them.”
“Where are you getting these ideas? Humans don’t like privacy.”
Kaelin sighs. “It’s your outfit. I’ve given you my suggestions.”
“You have and I think you’re listening too much to the younger trainers who have strange ideas about humans. Oh I’ve heard them too. Saying things like humans have long-term memories and are capable of so much more then we give them credit for, but I’ve been doing this for over forty years and not once have I had a human who was more than half sentient, except for Ember, maybe.”
“I have been speaking with the younger trainers. They showed me some shocking new studies.”
“Imperial?”
“No.”
“Then there you have it.”
“Have you ever considered that they are traumatized from the experience of abduction? Or that we may not be giving them the chance to show they are sentient?”
“Honestly Kaelin, I’m not sure if your drink was spiked, but I thank you for your suggestions. If we hear more rumors about Gael the Returner or if I hear he’s been in contact with Ash or Ember then of course I will try to offer them something more. We have an early start tomorrow. Go and sleep off this whole humans-might-be-sentient thing. I’ll see you in the morning.”