Chapter 11
ELEVEN
Bri
These “brethren” are making it extremely difficult to enjoy my first interplanetary adventure.
A history lesson on their religious beliefs and symbolism is not my idea of a good time.
All I know is they are all called brethren, and it’s super confusing.
They ‘shed their identities’ to serve the goddess. Whom they presume me to be.
“This alcove symbolizes the…” My mind wanders when one of them explains the closest cavity in the wall.
Each one has some significance, and these dudes are all very eager to go into excruciating detail for each one.
My stomach is loudly grumbling. The single glass of water I had in my room is not enough.
I steal a glance down the hallway, looking for any sign of a kitchen or comms room. Surrounded by the brethren, they each stare lovingly up at me and their bulging eyes go even wider when I make eye contact.
I muster a smile, but it feels like a grimace. Once this tour is over, I’ll explain this misunderstanding and be on my way. Preferably with a full stomach and a canteen full of water.
“Anointed Rain-Bringer, what do you search for?” one of the little guys pops his head up and asks.
“I’m pretty hungry and dehydrated—”
“Yes! Yes, of course! How could we have overlooked this? Please forgive our egregious transgressions! Come this way. We have failed in our true purpose!”
Their groveling takes me by surprise.
“It’s really not—”
I’m led into a room with rustic wood tables evenly spaced throughout. My head brushing against the ceiling distracts me, and I bang my knee on the corner of a table while we make our way to where they want me to sit.
“Bring the goddess her sustenance!” a brethren with eyebrows that grow down past his face and merge into a long beard yells down the hall.
This guy is clearly the boss. A few of the others jump into action and hurry out of the room to follow his orders.
“That really isn’t necessary. If you’ll show me the kitchen, I can make something.”
One at a nearby table is about to take a drink of water. Boss snatches the cup out of his hand. He hands me the cup and pushes it up toward my mouth.
What a dick move. I could have waited for my own. The guy who lost his cup to me hangs his head low and cowers away from Boss.
I give the cup back without taking a drink. “Please, take it. It’s yours.”
He takes it and looks next to me at Boss. The leader shakes his head ‘no’, and the brethren sets the cup down on the table reluctantly, clearly conflicted as to what he is supposed to do.
“We are but your humble servants, ready to serve your will,” the seated brethren says, bowing his head.
Boss disappears down a hallway and takes the tension in the room with him.
All is forgotten when platters of plump berries and steaming bowls of rice and meat are placed in front of me.
It’s possible being their goddess for a few days won’t be so bad after all. Maybe I can influence these brethren to stand up for themselves while I’m here. Sowing a little discontent for social justice sounds right up my alley.
I settle into my place and one of the brethren, who I now refer to as Bug-Eyes since he’s the only one who hasn’t removed his goggles underground, reaches out to hand me some grilled meat on a long skewer.
His hand veers up and all of a sudden, he’s feeding me. I awkwardly take a bite and pull away as quickly as possible.
“Hmm. Thanks,” I mumble with my mouth full.
“It is our duty to provide for you,” he says and forces the skewer back into my mouth. “It is our highest calling.”
Before I can finish chewing the bite, another brethren dangles a cluster of grapes over my mouth.
Oh, fuck that. I draw the line at being fed grapes. I snatch the cluster out of his hand and feed myself.
I’m not going to be here long. Nonetheless, it’s time to establish some boundaries.
“I can feed myself,” I say loud enough for the whole room to hear.
“But the prophecy says that you mustn’t toil or your displeasure will rain down upon us,” Bug-Eyes says.
“I’m not displeased. I prefer to feed myself.” It’s odd that I have to repeat myself so many times. Can’t they let a girl eat in peace?
They murmur amongst each other, shaking their heads. I don’t know what’s so confusing about me wanting to feed myself. These poor heatstroked little guys have completely lost their minds.
Another leans in closely and lays a cloth napkin across my lap. I give an awkward laugh and inch away from him.
“I’m good, really. You don’t need to do all this for me.”
They stare back at me with confused looks.
“It is our duty and pleasure to serve you,” a brethren says. He holds up a glass of water to my mouth like he didn’t hear me tell them to knock it off.
“Really. You need to stop,” I tell him and level him with my most serious look.
Boss walks in the room and everyone hunches lower in their seats. He strides through the rows of tables, head held high, dead eyes inspecting everything in the room. They act like this is some egalitarian society, but I’m seeing some signs confirming this is the one pulling the strings around here.
“The goddess has spoken. She must feed herself,” Boss says.
I do not appreciate males speaking for me.
I really wish Elowen were here. She would know what to do. I have zero experience outside of Earth and the research lab on j’Tilak. My well-traveled friend would know how to handle this weird situation.
It’s quiet. I could cut the tension with a knife.
Looking around, I offer a friendly smile to anyone who makes eye contact with me. I notice the brethren are all eating a grayish mush while Boss and I have a much fancier spread ahead of us. The realization makes the food taste sour in my mouth. They aren’t equal here at all.
I stand up from the table and grab my plate, looking to see where the dirty dishes go. The first guy I met back at my room takes the plate from me.
“Thank you…brother?” My voice turns up at the end as I test out what exactly I’m supposed to call him.
“You may call me Brethren, Holy One,” he says and bows deeply.
“I’m really supposed to call you all ‘brethren’? Wouldn’t the singular be ‘brother’?” If I really was their goddess, the first thing I’d do is clear up this brother/brethren nonsense.
I am met with blank stares. They seem perplexed by what I said.
Okay, maybe not. I’m going to roll with it.
“If you are finished with your meal, I can return you to your room, Glorious Cloudweaver.”
His eyes dart to Boss, who gives him a nod of approval.
Once we are away from the dining room, and away from Boss’s prying eyes, I test the waters with this guy.
“So, don’t get me wrong, dinner was nice, but you know you don’t have to do whatever the boss says,” I tell him.
“Boss?” he asks, confused.
“Yeah, the guy in charge. He orders you all around like you’re at his beck and call.”
“We are all equal here. There is no one in charge.” He sounds so sincere. He doesn’t seem to know any better.
“I just want everyone to actually be equal, ya know?”
“We are all equal in serving our goddess,” he says, genuinely confused.
They are damn lucky I crashed here and not some narcissist who would take advantage of their beliefs.
The wrong person would relish the opportunity to have these aliens do their bidding.
Maybe I can get them to think critically, so next time someone wanders into the colony they’ll be more prepared.
In the meantime, I need to get a message to Elowen that I’m safe.
“I really need to get a message to my people. Where is your comms system? Do you have those here?”
His face shifts from confusion to intense focus. His wide black eyes zero in on me, all affection and reverence gone.
“That is not possible. There is no way to get a message out. We don’t have the technology to communicate off Sabaak. The goddess, I mean…you demand we live a humble life.”
He opens the door to my room and swiftly closes it behind me.
Getting out of here is proving to be a little more difficult than I thought.
I’m stuck on a Paleolithic planet with a creepy cult. I’m not crazy about any of them, especially Boss. I hate how he treats everyone.
I am so ready to get out of these uncomfortable clothes and back into my coveralls. I search the room for my clothing. I open every drawer, look under the bed, and check the bathroom. They’re gone.
A soft knock on my door and a meek throat-clearing rouses me out of the bed. With no windows or daylight, it’s impossible to know what time it is.
“Just a sec!” Every muscle in my body screams when I throw the blanket off and hobble across the room. I’m still sore from two days of endless walking, and I don’t think my feet will ever fully recover from the blisters. I swing open the door and standing in the hall is another brethren.
“Blessed Goddess, your morning meal has been laid out for you. Might I escort you?” he asks, keeping his eyes trained on my feet. I shift a little, not feeling comfortable with the way his expression shifts. A brethren with a foot fetish is just as alarming as the ones who look me up and down.
Ugh. I guess the “male gaze” exists no matter where you are in the universe.
You little freak. Keep your eyes to yourself.
“Keep it professional, buddy. My eyes are up here.” I give him the two-finger point and motion from his eyes to mine.
He blushes and bows his head, clearly embarrassed I called him out.
“Have you seen my clothes anywhere?” I ask.
“Those rags were not fit for a goddess. They were destroyed.”
“What? Those were mine. Who told you to get rid of them?”
I suspect I already know the answer. They did not have the right to take away my clothes. I’m pissed.
“Brethen told us that you would be pleased to have your new clothes,” he says, sounding defensive.
“Which brethren? Never mind, I already know.” I throw my hands up in defeat.
“We all speak as one brethren,” he says.
“Sure, you’re all the same. Except for when the boss barks orders at you.” I’m taking my frustrations out on this guy when they should be directed at Boss.
I really wish I had my coveralls back.
The dining room goes silent when we step in. Their robes rustle when they turn to watch me weave my way through the tightly packed room.
Boss is at the front of the room standing over everyone like a prison warden. I stare him down, trying to get it across that I’m not intimidated by him.
“The goddess is not pleased. You have failed in your one true purpose. Food is only for those loyal to Her Sublimity. Prostrate yourselves, and maybe you can eat next time,” he announces.
Now I really don’t appreciate him speaking for me. He’s not going to use me as his bullshit excuse to refuse food to anyone.
That’s it. The goddess is coming out.
“Everyone, enjoy your meal. You’ve all been great brethren.” I stare at Boss, daring him to defy me.
A sickening smile stretches across his face, and he bows. “What a gracious and forgiving mistress we have been blessed with.”