Page 81 of Across The Stars
“Did Akasa tell the Nexus about us?” I asked.
“She did. For good reason,” Vahko answered, stopping for a while as his gaze moved slowly over the terrain around us. “Do you know the details of our relationship with humans?”
“I know about the syfer,” I shrugged.
“That’s what we give. What we receive is far more valuable to us.”
I swallowed, watching his gaze return to me. “What exactly do you receive?”
“The mayor provides us with willing humans in an induced coma. Since our DNA is so similar, we’ve been using them for study and experimentation.”
My blood went a little cold. “Experimentation?”
“It’s not what you think. And every human placed in our possession signs a contract, which is provided to us upon exchange. Humans reproduce with such ease and we do not. We’ve been trying to fix that. Our scientists send them to Valer,study them for months, and then send them back. They return to Earth with no recollection of their time there.”
“Wow. That’s… not what I expected.”
“And your people are compensated, I assure you.”
“Does it harm them at all? The ones they send you?”
He paused for a moment and I knew I wasn’t going to like the answer. “Not in any life-threatening way.”
“What’s that mean?”
“The kinds of studies we do require reproductive organs.”
“So… you take their ability to have kids?”
He kept his eyes on me, letting the fact sink in. I wanted to be horrified, but signed contracts and compensation was a choice. If he was telling the truth, there were no violations and those people had agreed to the risks. But now our “surge” was being realized under a whole new light.
“Have there been any breakthroughs?”
“Almost,” he said. “Many times. Not enough to provide a permanent solution.”
“What does a temporary solution look like?”
He went quiet and I could feel he was about to avoid that question entirely.
And he did.
“I’m telling you this so you understand. There is so much more to the world—the galaxy—than you know. I want you to start seeing it through clear eyes.”
“Ok?”
“At this point, with a valerian escort, the Nexus is willing to send a shuttle to retrieve you and Sam.”
I turned my body toward him, a stab of devastation piercing my heart. I didn’t know why I felt that way. It wasn’t as if I loved Vahko. It was too early to love him. Besides, what was happening between us was genetic. It had nothing to do with love. Love was spiritual. What we had was lust… probably.
“Oh,” I nodded. “And I’m not going to prison?”
“No. Akasa vouched for you both. Since we surged, your DNA and your body has been deemed a valuable trade product and you’ve been forgiven your transgressions in exchange for the samples we just took.”
I stopped talking for a moment, imagining the life I would have if I left Sylos. Or more importantly, Vahko. Seeing as his words had suddenly become a bit disconnected, perhaps it was better to start separating myself mentally before the blow came.
“So, to get me out of trouble, you guys called me a product?” I asked.
“It’s a formality. She needed to make you significant in our agreement with humans.”
