Page 95 of Malliko
“What stories?” Clara asked and wiped her pale forehead.
“Is it true that human women bleed twenty-five percent of their life?”
Clara looked at me and then back to Cacala. “You’re talking about our period. We typically start bleeding somewhere around twelve to fifteen. Some start earlier and some later. Until we grow old and finish menopause we’ll bleed about a quarter of our time. Unless of course, we’re pregnant because then we don’t menstruate, or if we have an IUD that stops the bleeding.” With a sigh, she added. “It’s complicated, but I can see why that story would occur. A woman past her menopause doesn’t bleed at all.”
“Hm.” Cacala’s large brown eyes, shone with fascination as she asked, “But is it true that females on Earth bind themselves to the first male they have sex with?”
Clara’s head turned from side to side as if searching for something. In a tone of worry, she addressed her concern, “I’m sorry, but if you’re the pilot then how are you flying the shuttle? I don’t see any steering panel.”
“Cacala has a mind-link to the shuttle. Most technology works that way.”
“Not on Earth,” Clara pointed out.
“No, but that’s probably because you don’t use telepathy like we do.”
“Before you met Malliko, did you then believe humans were the only intelligent life form in the Universe?” Cacala asked Clara.
“Yes. I never imagined there were humanoid aliens visiting our planet.”
“Humanoid?” Cacala looked to me. “What is that?”
“I think it means to be shaped as a human. I guess all we descendants of doom are humanoid, right, Clara?”
She nodded. “About your question that we human females bind ourselves to the first male we have sex with, it’s not true. At least not entirely.”
Cacala put a hand to her chest. “Good, because that story made me feel sorry for you. What if the first male you had sex with wasn’t nice to you?”
Still holding Clara’s hand, I speculated. “I’ve heard that rumor too; I wonder where it came from. It was something about the female brain getting overloaded with hormones during sex that would make them connect emotionally to their sex partner. Even when being forced.”
Clara didn’t seem to know what we were referring to or maybe she was too distracted to think about that. Moving in herseat, she looked out the large windows and marveled at seeing space around us. “This is wild. I can’t believe I get to experience something this crazy and extraordinary.”
We smiled and let her take in this new sight. “Do you know anything about planets and space?” I asked.
“Not really. Can we see your planet from here?” she asked.
“No, Eidrona is in a different star system.”
“I don’t get how you travel between star systems. Isn’t that awfully far?”
My eyes twinkled with excitement as I leaned forward, eager to explain the details of interstellar travel. “To travel that far one must master the technology of warp speed and figure out how to manipulate the fabric of space-time,” I began. “It requires the knowledge of how to fold the distance between star systems and travel almost instantaneously. We can reach a speed nearly three million times the speed of light, allowing us to traverse galaxies in mere days.” I paused to watch Clara’s reaction. The sense of awe and amazement that poured from her gave me a feeling of pride. Continuing, I said, “This technology allows us to explore the Universe, to expand our knowledge and our understanding of the Universe and its many mysteries. Without it, we couldn’t have developed relationships with other species from distant star systems.”
“Why don’t we know about this on Earth?” Clara asked me.
I hesitated to answer, but Cacala was honest. “Humans aren’t ready yet. First, you need to figure out how to coexist on your planet before you start mingling with the rest of us. Everyone agrees that it was a colossal mistake that the Malbreeans got their hands on space traveling technology. The Universe would be much more peaceful if they would just stay home.”
“I see.” Clara clasped her hands in her lap. “Humans are considered a threat to others.”
“Yes. A species that kills and starts wars among themselves must first evolve. Using resources on self-destructive behavior only shows the members of the Federation that you’re still too immature to be invited to join the rest of us.”
“Are you saying that none of your planets have civil wars?” she asked us, sounding slightly defensive.
“There are disagreements and tension at times, but wars like the ones you have on Earth are extremely rare. The wars we see are typically started by outside forces.”
Cacala turned her attention on me. “Malliko, did I tell you that your old team is coming to conduct the interview?”
“No. I thought it would be someone from the cultural committee.”
When I glanced nervously at Clara, she asked, “What’s wrong? You don’t seem happy?”
