Try Not to Look So Human

“Earth has changed you, T’mari—or is it someone on Earth?” L’shell, W’ren’s mate, asked as she ushered the younger woman into the family’s shared quarters. “Are you hungry?”

“No, I’m fine. But if one of the stewards could collect them, there are parcels still aboard the shuttle—food, gifts, a few other things for the family.”

“You brought presents? From Earth?” D’stan, a bright-eyed girl just past her sixteenth V’ren birthday—about twelve and a half in Earth years—nearly bounced with excitement.

T’mari studied her for a moment, then smiled. D’stan was the daughter of W’ren’s second son, W’jon, a man only a few years older than herself. She wondered briefly where he and his mate were.

“Share this with your sisters,” she said, handing over the last of the peanut brittle.

“Good morning—or is it later for you?” W’ren asked, appearing in the doorway with a knowing smirk. He gestured toward a comfortable chair in his office.

“It’s nearly the end of my day, but I’ll manage,” T’mari said, settling into the seat. She laid out three mugs, dropped tea bags into each, and waited for the water to arrive.

“Earth is full of newfound pleasures,” she added, her tone even. “I’ll be resigning from your service.”

“I suspected as much,” W’ren replied, inhaling the scent of the steeping tea as L’shell poured. “Your mother mentioned you were quite taken with this man—but that he didn’t respond to the usual cues.”

“Humans don’t appear to react to V’ren pheromones,” T’mari said with a shrug. “But that’s not important. We’ve done the analysis and spoken to multiple geneticists. Humans are, as we suspected, compatible.”

“You’re certain?” L’shell asked, genuinely intrigued.

“L’tani ran the initial tests. My mother confirmed them, then quietly verified the results with others. There’s no doubt. Humans are progenitors.”

“Then you intend to bond with this Matthew Marmaduke, despite his new status?”

“That’s… more complicated,” T’mari admitted, her voice dipping into caution. “K’rem made Matt the first new High Lord in five thousand years. Matt completed the rite publicly, in front of witnesses. House T’all had no lords of its own and was barely holding on—but when K’rem gave up his house dagger and accepted one forged by Matt, the bond was sealed. I make it six or seven Earth months before the message reaches the home world.”

T’mari exhaled slowly. “I’m now far beneath him in standing. I don’t know if my desire to bond with him is even allowed. He told me he wanted me to come back and work with him. His top assistant, Angelina, said I’m needed back—and I think she meant for him, the man.”

She met her uncle’s gaze directly. “You are Keeper of the Flame, W’ren. I don’t come to you as your niece or your former officer, but as a woman asking for guidance.”

W’ren smiled faintly. “The question may already be answered. Just before I went to bed, I received a very polite demand to return you to his service. It seems you’ve made yourself essential to him—and to his ability to represent us.”

“Politely demanded?” T’mari blinked.

“He certainly has the bearing of a High Lord,” L’shell said. “I’ve met more than a few.”

“I’ve spoken with Angelina several times. She and I get along quite well. And I believe he does want you back—as a woman,” L’shell added.

“The real question,” W’ren said, “is whether House Th’ron can trust him.”

“Yes,” T’mari said without hesitation. “And if it hadn’t felt presumptuous, I would have already given him my house dagger.”

W’ren nodded slowly.

“He reminds me of you, W’ren—the way you carry burdens for others without complaint. Like you, he is a trusted leader. But he does it on a far grander scale than any V’ren lord I’ve ever heard of. He owns more of Earth’s surface than any single noble ever held, and he’s offering to share it. Not just shelter, but autonomy.”

“You know more about Earth from before our contact—and much more now. Think as I do,” W’ren said, putting this into the realm of philosophical consideration.

T’mari hesitated. “There are governments we could choose from—SAC, China, even a megacorporation called Google—that might offer more.”

“They might offer more to the high-born,” W’ren replied, “but what of our people? I’ve seen how they treat their own. Could I ever entrust them with our future?”

“No,” T’mari said, concluding the exercise.

“Good,” he added with a smirk. “That was my conclusion as well. The caste collapses on every colony world. I’ve visited a few. If we don’t adapt, we lose everything. I’ve known that for a long time.”

“When you look him in the eyes, W’ren, you will see what I see.”

W’ren had already seen it, but it was never proper for the teacher to let the student think she was telling him what he already knew. He reached for his tea, then met her eyes again.

“I need you to start coordinating with the other captains. When we reach orbit, they’ll all come aboard. Get some sleep. And when the time comes…”

His smile grew. “Try not to look so human.”