Chapter 4
T he lab was quiet as we waited for the computer to finish an analysis. The military scientists had all gone out for physical training rather than wait around, leaving only Eashai and I to make sure there were no errors that needed to be addressed.
He was perched on a stool, his back resting against a gray counter as he gazed at what appeared to be a piece of glass—his world’s version of a tablet. At some point, a smile had spread across his face.
I—on the other hand—was bored out of my mind. I’d been on the base for three days, and while I’d been able to jump right into working with the team, my personal devices hadn’t been cleared yet, so I didn’t have as much as a book to pass the time.
I kept reaching for my reading glasses—just to fidget with them—and had to keep stopping myself. The last thing I needed was to drop them and not be able to replace them quickly.
“I can stay if you would like to take a break,” Eashai said without looking up. “I have become accustomed to the monotony.”
I blinked. “Do you want me to leave?” I grumbled.
His head popped up, and a frown spread across his face as he turned toward me. “Apologies. That was not my intent.”
I shook my head. “Sorry. I must have misunderstood.” I paused, then sighed. “No… I apologize. I was rude. I’m just… bored. And for some reason, my brain thought you didn’t want me around.”
He tapped the corner of the glass-looking tablet and it rolled up into something the size of an ink pen that he placed on the counter.
I stared at it for a second. “Damn. I thought that was some sort of glass.”
He glanced at it and chuckled. “It is not my area of expertise, but I believe the translation would be ‘smart polymer.’”
“Where’s the battery?”
“It does not use one. If I recall, it is powered by a combination of light, kinetic energy, and body heat.”
“And the storage?”
He shrugged. “It uses quantum storage.”
I blew out a long breath and shook my head. “Our tech companies would fight to have access to something like that.”
He groaned. “That is one source of irritation among our diplomats. Many countries—including yours—try to push the boundaries of our offer. However, it is dangerous to provide technology that you are not ready for.”
I sighed. “We’re a volatile species.”
“Indeed.”
“May I ask what you were looking at on it?”
He smiled. “I was reviewing the results of today’s experiments from when the Lalyllte scientists ran them.”
“You already did this?”
He nodded. “Yes. However, we understand the human need for corroboration. We also deem it proper procedure to confirm results before proceeding with a project of this magnitude.”
“Can I see your results?”
“Yes…” he hedged. “But I would prefer you wait until after yours have concluded processing. I do not want our results to impact how you interpret yours.”
I considered, then nodded. “Fair enough.” I paused. “Are they good though? Is that why you were smiling?”
His blue cheeks darkened into that subtle purple hue that signified a blush. “While reviewing the results, I received a recording of my grandson. He is learning to walk.”
I grinned. “Congrats! You must be excited.”
He nodded. “I wish I could be there to see him more. But I am here so that he hopefully has a better future than current projections.”
“How many grandkids do you have?”
“He is my only one. My son and his mate had tried to conceive for several years and were finally successful.”
“How many kids do you have?”
He gave me a sad smile. “My mate and I were only able to have one. I was able to get him pregnant, but despite many treatments I was never able to carry for him, nor give him another.”
“I’m sorry.” I paused. “Is your mate on Lyll enjoying the grandbaby while you’re here?”
His face fell. “I… lost my mate… many years ago. Not long after our son came of age.”
I grimaced. “I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have pried.”
He shook his head. “Your inquiries were innocent.”
I nodded, then let out a nervous chuckle.
“What is funny?”
I rubbed the back of my neck. “Sorry. Intrusive thoughts made me think of a whole bunch of new questions.”
“You may ask.”
I held up my hands and waved them defensively. “No, no. I’ve already asked too much.”
He smiled. “I do not mind.” He paused. “The others… They are polite, but they have erected professional barriers. It is pleasant to discuss something other than our research, even if the current topic is an emotionally difficult one.”
“Are you saying you want to be friends, not just colleagues?”
A smile spread across his face. “I would like that.”
I grinned. “Friends it is then. And feel free to ask what you want to know about me as well.”
“Thank you, I will.”
“You do know that makes it my job to introduce you to all the Earth things that you’re unfamiliar with, right? Horrible movies, even worse music, those recreational sports that everybody thinks they’re better at than they are.”
His eyes lit up and he wore the biggest smile I’d ever seen. “You would show me these things?”
I blinked. “Of course. But… nobody’s just… hung out with you?”
He deflated slightly. “Myself and the other Lalyllte here have made attempts to socialize with humans. However, we have found our presence can be… I believe the word ‘overwhelming’ is suitable.”
“I’m sorry. That must be lonely. I’ve only seen a handful of your kind around.”
He nodded. “It is isolating. However, we do not wish to bring too many yet, as each one of us here now increases the chances of unplanned matings.”
“I see,” I started, then paused, and finally decided to dive in. “About that… It’s ok if you don’t want to answer, but… you never looked for another mate?”
His expression turned sad again. “Although it is not unheard of, it is rare for Lalyllte to find second mates after losing their first. Some speculate that this is due to our dwindling population and that it was more common in the past.”
He paused and shook his head. “I grieved. For many years, I woke up every day longing to find him nestled in my arms. However, as time passed, the pain lessened. I know I will feel his absence until my final breath, but I eventually gave myself permission to move on. I opened myself back up to possibility and decided that if another mate was in my future, then I would embrace them as tightly as I had my Naqoi.”
“Was that his name, Naqoi?”
He nodded.
“Tell me about him?”
He smiled wistfully. “He was kind and gentle. I believe you would describe his color as pale orange. His passion was farming, and he worked long shifts on one of the local farms.”
“Did he manage it?”
Eashai chuckled. “No. His connection was to the plants and the land. He could never quite get all the dirt from under his fingernails.” He paused. “He was offered a chance to manage multiple times, but he chose to remain what you would call a farmhand.”
“You have a different word for it?”
He cocked his head to one side. “Our term… honors… the role in a different way. It is demanding work, and vital to feed our people. Even with robotic assistance, manual labor is still important.”
He sighed. “Most of us… disagree… with the sentiment that some work is lesser. There are jobs that further the species, some that add to the tapestry of existence, and those that need to be done. None is more or less important than another. I would be unable to do my work if another man was not focused on feeding our people. And he knows that there are those like me working to make life better for his children and grandchildren. Both of our lives are enriched by the people fueled by creativity, who are allowed those freedoms by our work in return.”
“So everybody gets paid the same?”
He laughed. “In a fashion. There are incentives to push oneself, but we learned long ago that everybody is happier and more productive if basic needs are met. It allows our people to find their own potential, rather than tying them to a job they might not thrive in just to live.”
I sighed. “I wish more humans had that mindset.”
“It is not a position that many species come to easily, especially when money was an early development of society. There is a strong likelihood that it is a struggle we would have shared if not for the Lalylltiar.”
“You inherited more than genetic traits and technology,” I mused.
“We did,” he chuckled. There was a beat of silence, then, “May I ask you a question, Gene?”
“Of course.”
“Are women your preferred choice of mate?”
“What?” I choked on air, wondering where the question came from.
“Apologies,” he replied. “That was personal.”
I laughed. “It’s fine. It just took me by surprise. Why do you ask?”
He licked his lips and glanced at the floor before responding.
“A few minutes ago, I informed you that humans find us overwhelming. Myself and the other Lalyllte have noticed that everybody here reacts to us in some way. We believe it is due to our stronger pheromones. Gentle probing has indicated that the reaction is proportional to the preference of mate gender. However, you do not react in a similar fashion. Even those who are adamant that they are only interested in women react to a tiny extent, but you do not seem to react at all.”
I rolled my stool over, rested my back against the counter, and stared up at the drop ceiling. “My… preferences… are complicated.”
“How so? If you do not mind.”
I chuckled. “Romantically, I don’t have a preference. I can see myself falling in love as easily with a man as with a woman—or even somebody who is outside the normal gender binary. It’s the person that matters.”
“That is strange. Somebody else said something similar. He called it…” he paused, “bisexual. But he still reacted quite strongly to our presence. ”
I nodded. “That’s the term most are familiar with, but it doesn’t fit me.”
“Please explain.”
“Romantic and sexual attraction don’t always align in humans. A person can desire romantic relationships with one gender, but have differing sexual attractions.”