Essentially Human (4 page)

He looked down and could see the curve of something massive below him. If this were an optical trick or illusion of some sort, he had to admire their ingenuity. Suddenly, a shape the size of a small whale darted to the level of the floor and paused. He stared at a face, looking at him from a viewport.

“That is a scout ship. One like it found me as I sank. It shadowed the cruise ship, listening in on the noise. The Aleena are very curious.” She moved to stand next to him. “That is S’bita.” She waved and a limb rose to return that wave, then the ship darted away. “He must be on a mission. Or he’d entertain us with tricks. He’s very good at handling his scout.”

Sam felt the floor tilt underneath him for a moment. Breathe in through his nose, out through his mouth. And again. Again. He regained control to see her studying him.

“You did that before. A trick to handle shock?”

“One way of looking at it.”

He saw her chest rise then fall. “Too bad I didn’t know about it.”

Before he could reply, she’d turned and taken a seat again. “I find it restful and peaceful here. The lower level viewing rooms sometimes offer a chance to watch retrieval missions. I’ve seen sunken ships carefully explored and shipping containers lifted into the hull.”

“They loot sunken ships?”

“They recycle what is beyond retrieval for the rest of you. They don’t loot. Nor will they disturb the long dead. They have always collected bodies, it’s how they learned anatomy, but it isn’t like they are sifting through the ruins of the Titanic.”

“No, we only did that once. At the request of our human contact. My father commanded then.” Sam watched the new figure enter the room. This one looked more human than not. His voice was lower pitched, with a smooth chest, even showing the hint of a ribcage and musculature. The light grew as he stepped closer.

“Ria, I hope you don’t mind if I interrupt your tour.”

“Not at all T’talin. This is the head of the vessel, Sam. T’talin, Agent Sam Montgomery.”

“Captain T’talin.” Sam held out his hand. This time what took his felt like an actual hand, albeit the texture didn’t feel quite right.

“Agent Montgomery. And thank you, though captain is a title which denotes a more total control then I wield.”

Sam studied the Aleena. This one didn’t have cat eyes, which made it easier to meet his gaze without the sense of watching a movie. “Consider it an honorary title, then. What are your intentions regarding my status?”

“Ah, very direct.” The alien tilted his head. “To be as forthright, I’m not certain. We are entering very delicate and unknown territory. My inclination is to return you to the surface as soon as possible, but after observing you for some days, I would like your professional opinion regarding a difficulty with our human contact.”

“Yeah, about that.” He knew they hadn’t survived beneath the surface so long without someone on shore pulling strings. Perhaps now he’d learn something of value.

“If you would come with me, both of you, please? I’m on a break and need to feed myself.” He turned and gracefully gestured to the door.

Ria took several steps, then paused. “How can I be of help? Will you finally reveal my presence to him?”

“You are always helpful, N’sila. From the strident tone of his summons, our human mentor already knows of you.”

She bowed her shoulders and wrapped arms around herself, standing very still. Sam wondered what disturbed her so much. T’talin patiently waited, while Sam took a step toward her.

“No, please. Let her process. You see, our mentor advised letting her die when we first reported her survival. In fact, he made quite clear that to continue trying to revive her was a waste of time. She had no value.”

“Who is this sterling representative of the human race?” Sam ignored T’talin’s words and put a hand on Ria’s back. He could feel the small tremors running through her spine, but she still didn’t move. “You ignored him, so why does it matter so much?”

Her shoulders began to shake. Without considering what did, Sam pulled her into an embrace and stroked her head. “It’s all right. It doesn’t matter.”

He looked over her head to see T’talin watching closely. The captain lifted his hand and touched her head. “What Agent Montgomery says is true. Yes, it was the first time we disobeyed him and that is important, but your life carried more weight than his wishes.”

She took a deep breath; Sam felt it at his chest. Then another, and another, before pulling away. “Thank you. I can see his face and hear his words. He thought nothing of me. In fact, he truly didn’t like me. It felt personal.”

“You saw it?”

“The records are available to anyone, Agent Montgomery,” T’talin offered explanation.

“He didn’t just want me dead, he wanted them to throw me back into the shipping lanes and make certain I was found. But make it look like I’d been caught in the propellers.” Her face appeared calm again, no grimace or frown. Only her eyes showed fear, wide and brimming with tears.

“Well, I agree, that sounds personal. You spit in his soup at some point?” Sam tried to lighten the mood.

She snorted. “I think I knew him, or knew of him.”

“Who?”

“Alfred Hammer.”

“The head of Hammer Industries?” Sam studied her face. “He’s only in his forties, how could he be involved? He’d have been…in his twenties at the time you tried to kill yourself.”

“His father.” T’talin replied. “Come, to the dining room.”

Ria reached for his hand and they followed the alien down another long corridor until they entered a room set up with many tables. There were a dozen Aleena scattered about. Some looked more human, some less. Sam concentrated on the facts he’d just learned.

Alfred Hammer was hip deep in all of this. As they walked, T’talin explained that the senior Hammer did the Aleena a service nearly a century earlier, saving the lives of two adolescents caught in a storm after taking a scout out to explore.

“He cautioned my predecessor to remain hidden, stating the humans weren’t ready for our presence on their planet. His argument carried weight and a partnership began. He provided us with information and assisted us with learning more of the language, provided access to technology we had acquired but didn’t fully understand and encouraged our exploration of the ocean. He provided updated charts of the shipping routes and warned us when large military exercises took place. In return, our scientists took on projects for him. This relationship appeared equitable to us.”

T’talin recited the history with enough detail that Sam could follow without needing a specific timeline. Ria chimed in now and then with her estimate of the actual dates.

“In 2020, the old man died,” she added.

“Yes, and his son took over. Then the open flow of information grew one-sided. As I trained as ship’s commander, I found myself questioning our loyalty to the family. His son requested we explore the ruins of the Titanic and retrieve a steel container for him. We did so. The next time he didn’t request, he ordered and I resisted. The commander at the time, L’andgs, didn’t offer any protest. But the item he wanted couldn’t be found.”

“What ship did he want you to desecrate this time?”

“A submarine.”

“A Chinese submarine,” Ria explained. “He can show you the name. I don’t read Chinese.”

“What year?”

“2027, approximately.”

He considered what he could recall of naval disasters and it came to him. The
Red Queen
. That bastard wanted them to raid the wreck which contained the biological weapon stolen from the labs in Beijing. No one knew exactly what it did. The Chinese never offered details but provided proof of the serious nature of the threat by destroying the facility itself to stop the contagion. A joint effort of six countries pursued the
Red Queen
and sank them.

Sam didn’t have the security clearance to see the evidence, but he’d seen the face of his uncle after the briefing. A man who seldom revealed anything, he’d looked green at how close the world came to catastrophe.

“You couldn’t find what he wanted?” He turned his attention back to the conversation.

“Nothing large remained of the craft. The pressure at that depth left nothing.”

T’talin seemed pleased to report that. That counted in his favor to Sam’s evaluation.

They took a seat and Ria asked if Sam would like something different than the cereal. “I can’t guarantee what is available. They make adjustments for my taste, but we may not share similar favorites.”

“What do you like other than the cereal?” Monty raised an eyebrow.

A smaller Aleena brought a bowl of flat discs and set it in front of T’talin.

“There is something that resembles pizza in flavor. And friend chicken.” She suggested. “Or eggs and bacon.”

His stomach growled at that last offering. “Yeah, that sounds good. Eggs and bacon.”

The smaller Aleena nodded and slipped away.

Sam examined the bowl T’talin ate from. “What is that?”

“Ria tried it once and thought it tasted like something called burnt rubber. Would you like some?”

“I don’t think so. But thank you. When the current Hammer took over as your contact, what did he ask and offer?”

“He offered very little. Unlike his father or grandfather, he discouraged our salvaging from sunken vessels, saying the ocean grew too crowded and we’d be discovered. But by then we’d ascertained how your systems worked and had no fear of discovery.  I didn’t share that with him.”

“What did you share with him?”

T’talin looked at Sam’s hand, lying flat on the table. His hand mirrored Sam’s, and slowly the color changed and the lines firmed up. The Aleena’s voice grew soft. “We worked on chemical compounds, medicines for example. We also shared propulsion techniques and fuel alternatives.”

A bowl appeared near Sam’s hand as Ria rejoined them. “They solved the oil crisis. Told Hammer how to power the grid using sea water. And came up with a new solar cell that even I understand.”

Sam looked up at her. The first smile he’d seen on her face, though small, proved a pleasant change. He hated to ruin it.

Ria closed her eyes and leaned against T’talin. Exhaustion drove all thoughts of disappointment and betrayal from her.  She didn’t want to fall asleep, she’d miss what they decided but the magnetic attraction of letting go drew her in. Her eyes glossed as they discussed Hammer’s lies.

T’talin related how Hammer told them the solar cells were in production and already helping the southern continent. He’d also faked excitement about the breakthrough using sea water to generate electricity and build batteries that were endlessly rechargeable. Sam postulated that the man held onto the technologies to use when the oil reserves were totally depleted.

“He also may have money in oil stocks. I don’t know. He must have an angle. Ria, the applications the Aleena developed aren’t lost. It can still be utilized.”

“He probably has them tied up in some arcane patent.” Her chest literally hurt. For a decade she’d convinced herself the Aleena’s partnership with the notorious defense contractor contained seeds that would mean a rich harvest for the rest of the world. What a fool she’d been.

She’d fallen onto the bench next to T’talin, suddenly terribly tired, as Sam told her the truth.

“Is she ill?” Sam’s voice penetrated her misery.

She opened her eyes and nodded at him, touched at his concern. “Just a very long day.”

“Why don’t you return to your room and take a nap, N’sila?” T’talin waved the same helper who’d brought his bowl to him and suggested he assist her.

“No, I want to be part of this. I know, I’ll go shower. Please, don’t exclude me. I don’t want to talk to Hammer. Tell him Sam killed me instead of letting me be rescued or something.” Her head felt so heavy.

“I’ll make sure you’re included. Go with Testa and take a nap, you’ll feel fresher.”

She didn’t resist, a blank fog surrounding her emotions. A safer place then the turmoil of anger and despair.

“What have you done with her? No one loses energy that fast.” Agent Montgomery glared at T’talin.

The Aleena commander met his eyes. “I don’t know how much she has shared with you regarding her revival. She resisted and sank back to dying twice. The techniques used to overcome those obstacles left her extremely volatile, hence the hampering of the emotional rise which you just witnessed.”

“She slips into exhaustion?” He considered how she’d set her head down and fallen asleep after Drum’s series of tests. That made sense now. Not dismissing the situation, but dealing with it the way she’d been programmed.

“Usually. But a nap should see her regain her balance.”

They had no idea what they were doing to her.  He’d majored in psychology in college and suppressing her normal reactions this way would eventually explode. No wonder her memory was so comprised.

“How are you doing it? Drugs?”

“Not any longer. But please, trust us that we mean her no harm. I need to speak with you about Hammer.” Despite his misgivings, Monty let the commander turn the conversation away from Ria.

T’talin found Agent Montgomery’s interest in Ria encouraging. Milaar reported he’d stepped in front of her back at the room, evidence of developing protective instincts. He needed this man to trust him, to believe him and offer advice. For the sake of the Aleena and Ria.

He explained a growing reticence to continue the relationship with Hammer.

“Four weeks ago, he and I had an exchange that left me extremely confused. Ria has watched the record and offered her opinion. I’d like you to do so. In two days, we’ll be close enough to communicate again. By now, he knows about Ria and you. I can delay our confrontation only that long. Please look over the records, Agent Montgomery. I am attempting to do what is best for my people.”

“Was Ria a plant to lure someone that could advise you?”

The expression on the man’s face didn’t comfort T’talin. He sat back and set his hands on the table. “No. Her body needs sunshine. Once a week, she spends several hours on a surface raft with a nearby watch. Her assigned escort let his attention wander and so we lost her to the ship. We understood her rescuers meant her no harm. We searched but couldn’t find her.”

“So, you took the entire crew?”

“We returned them, unharmed.”

“How did you know where she was this time?”

“Through questioning several members of the company, we ascertained the likeliest place she would be held. We were prepared to search three other locations. Don’t worry, the crew remember nothing about their hours with us.”

“Pity, the doubt will now be part of their records. You’ve ruined sixty-five careers.” He waved his hand. “Not your intention, I get that. And you took me because I was chained to her.”

“And because of your injury. She showed concern that you would die before the rest revived and could tend you.” T’talin noticed how that answer surprised the man.

“Our interaction hasn’t been pleasant.”

“From what we have read, the human ability for compassion is strong. The book she wrote would leave me to believe that tendency runs deep in her. Even if your relationship proved difficult, you are the first human she has seen since rebirth. She showed concern for your safety, we made certain of you.”

He seemed to consider the answer, leaned back and nodded. “Fine, I’m good at analyzing situations, I’ll look at your records and talk to you. If she has already seen all this, why the concern about missing out if she took a nap?”

“The sleep period can last a long time.” Pushing the empty bowl away, he stood. “If you will follow me, I will take you where you can do the review.”

He left the man on an operational command chair and the earliest recordings playing across from him. He’d requested water, paper and a writing implement. And pants.

T’talin went to reflective room and studied his body. With concentration the chest grew more defined, the lower appendages took on a more uniform shape. The feet would take more observation. He held up his hand and flexed the fingers. Just another step toward integration. They’d never be human, but hopefully human enough to not stir a race war. Montgomery’s insistence on clothes would inhibit the Aleena’s study of the male form, but data from the sailors and recordings of the agent as he moved, should prove sufficient from here on.

Sam reviewed the last four conversations again. His stomach burned, muscles clenched and if Hammer had been in front of him, the man would be dead. They’d found a cure for the Shakes. And he told them it was no good for his needs, he wanted a way to treat the symptoms. He looked up at the Aleena in the doorway, keeping watch.

It was the same who had escorted Ria away from the dining room. He’d told Sam his name, Testa. The short alien had brought him food, water and shown him where to relieve himself.

“Testa. I need to speak to T’talin.”

“I will send a message.” He walked to the wall and tapped at a keypad Sam could discern only with concentration, it was very neatly integrated into the surface. “Can I help with anything?”

“Do you know when this communication took place?” He tapped on the console at his right until the screen across from him showed the first mention of the disease, Shakes.

“That would be sixteen months ago.” He glanced at the keypad. “T’talin will be an hour.”

“Fine. How often are the contacts made?”

“Every three months, sir.”

He fast flipped forward, making notes as he went. Yup, the Aleena had given Hammer the cure in time to save both of his sisters and their families, four months ago. He closed his eyes and leaned back, thinking. He’d been reviewing these meetings for over twenty four hours. His eyes burned and he wanted to scream. Carefully, he set his tablet to one side and turned toward Tesla. “I need to move. Would it alarm anyone if I jogged down the corridors?”

“Jog? Oh, you mean run. No, I will make certain notice goes out and no one will bother you.”

“Please. After, I need to shower. I also want pants.”

“I will search the non-recycled while you jog.” Testa gestured to the right. “Go through no doorways and you will return to this room.”

Sam nodded and simply took off. He began slow, his mind spinning back and forth over all he’d seen. The sound of his bare feet, slapping on the odd floor, took on a rhythm and gradually his mind cleared of the minutia and a pattern flitted at the edges of his awareness. He let it and increased his pace.

He saw no one.

Sweat dripped down his torso and he glanced down to see pink spots on the surface in front of him. He slowed and bent down to touch them. Only then did he realize the pink dye on his makeshift loin cloth was running.

“What a piece of crap.” He jerked the cloth free and kept running. Fuck it, no one was around. As he rounded the curve he saw the doorway of his viewing room again and entered. The relief area was on one side. He stepped in to use the shower Testa has shown him and tried to rinse away the tiredness.

Hammer, from the first to the third, took advantage of the Aleena. Again and again, the family used advances the aliens provided to increase their fame and fortune. Sam didn’t have all the answers, his memory wasn’t good enough regarding the marketplace. He recognized certain innovations. But the timing lined up with what he could recall.

“Sir? I have two selections you might choose from.” Testa stood in the doorway of the bathroom. There were no doors to close on this ship.

“Fine, leave them. I’ll be out in a minute. Thank you.”

“I’ll wait and escort you to the dining area.”

“I’d like to see Ria, please.”

“Certainly.”

He waited a few more minutes, letting the water drain down his neck. He reached up to stroke his head and paused. His hair felt thicker.

With a shrug, he touched the faint indentation on the wall and the water disappeared. A hot, dry air began to dry him. He stood, head bent, arms extended touching the wall, legs spread. It didn’t take long. This was his third shower since he’d started the review.

On a nearby bench, he found two clothing items. He lifted the first. A pair of plaid pants, stiff and with a slight odor to it. He checked out the next pair. They felt soft. He shook them out and sighed. Not pants, but long baggy shorts. Fine, they’d be better than a loin cloth. He stepped into them. Very baggy. The tie at the waist had been removed but there was a trim down the side of them. He ripped it off, tied it together and fed it through the casing. It worked.

They weren’t pink and lime green, but grey.

Thank God.

Testa waited and took him to the room where Ria still slept. He entered the dimly lit room and went to the bed. She faced away from him legs drawn up and arms tight to her chest. He touched her shoulders and as he suspected, they were tense. Everywhere he touched felt tight.

She must wake up with muscle cramps.

“Ria. It’s all right to be upset.” He leaned close and moved a lock of hair from her face. To his shock, her eyes were open. “Ria?”

She didn’t respond.

He attempted to roll her to her back. After a moment her body relaxed and he straightened her limbs, and turned his face to his. Her eyes didn’t focus and her breathing didn’t change.

“Ria?” He touched her face.

“She usually grows rigid before she wakes.” Milaar suddenly spoke from the doorway. “I doubt it is good for her, but I don’t know how to change it.”

“She can’t continue to repress her emotions.” He gently encouraged her eyes closed and didn’t turn to the doorway until the lids lowered. “It isn’t healthy.”

“I would assume so. I know T’talin spoke to you of the chemical assistance I once used to keep her calm. Walk with me and I will answer any other questions you have.”

Sam rose and went with her.

“Why drug her?” He wouldn’t mince words.

“Once she recovered enough to walk and listen, she seemed settled. Days would pass and she’d talk to us. Then one day, in the dining area, she grew angry, then frantic and violent. She ran and hid from us. We’d find her, asleep. She’d wake up and apologize, and couldn’t explain what drove her. The day I found her trying to hurt herself, I had to take action. I asked for permission and she not only granted it, she pled with me to assist her. I am pledged to heal. I synthesized a sedative of sorts and she gratefully took it.”

“She needed a therapist.” He shook his head, as the realization that he believed everything she’d told him. That woman was Rachel Inez Aster and she’d killed herself twenty six years ago. No wonder her brain was so fucked up.

“As I understand the concept, I’m certain you are right. We had no access to such a specialist. The Aleena do not suffer from strong emotions or complex relationships that muddle the mind. Ria told you we don’t lie. The concept is difficult for us to grasp. T’talin skirts the edge. He and I have debated the rational of hiding the truth for the greater good. Excuse me, I digress. Regarding Ria, the only information I have to work from regarding human psychology is in the books we recover. They are incomplete, I’m sure of this.”

He nodded, understanding the limitations. He’d seen the list of books the first Hammer gave them, then the next and now the current. They carefully kept the aliens ignorant of the world around them, shipping books on chemistry, language, science books, physics and human biology. Nothing on psychology, nothing on technology or the communication revolution. Nothing on modern history or environmental science. And nothing on modern psychology.