Essentially Human by Maureen O. Betita Read Free Book Online

popped a cube into his mouth. They’d walked about the ship before, but found mostly corridors. She’d explained that doorways changed according to the need of the crew. Maybe this time he’d actually be shown something. Their first forays ended too soon, with his head pounding.
    She turned and led the way out of her room.
    The hallway curved and it appeared they walked in a circle before another opening appeared. It wouldn’t have surprised him if this was a trick, regardless of Ria’s statement that the Aleena didn’t lie. Then they turned into the new chamber and he nearly stumbled. The room held less light and it felt hollow. She took his hand and led him to a bench. “This is the viewing area. I doubt there is much to see but perhaps this will show you I’m telling you the truth.” Her hand tapped the bench top at her side and the lights faded even more.
    Then the wall before them began to glow, but not the same. He stared, trying to decipher what he saw. Then he realized, it was water. Illuminated from a hull, speeding through it. He stood up and moved closer.
    “You can touch it.”
    He reached out and touched that wall. Beneath his fingers it felt soft and icy cold. He pressed and it gave, causing him to take a step back.
    “You can’t push through it.” Her voice came from behind him. “I sometimes see schools of fish, if we’re in shallow waters. I’ve seen whales in the northern seas. It’s best when we’re near the surface and natural light filters down. This is a viewing room in an upper level.”
    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