Essentially Human by Maureen O. Betita Read Free Book Online Page A

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