I smile and then leave the laundry room.

In the evening, the Commander buzzes me, and I go as usual. I enter his room, and he stops me before I start undressing him.

“What’s happened to your eyes?”

I look up into his sharp cobalt eyes. “What do you mean?” I don’t want to admit I just had a breakdown.

“Your eyes,” he brings one of his strong fingers to my temple. “They are red.”

“I was crying, but it’s not important.”

“Did someone hurt you?”

“No. I was sad. But I’m not sad now.”

“Why were you sad?”

I return his gaze blankly. There’s no way I have the vocabulary to answer this question adequately, so I reply, “I’m not sad now. I’m happy to be here. I’m happy to be your valet. I’ve no problems.”

He takes his hand away from my face, and I continue undressing him in my usual manner. I feel like he has forgotten all about my eyes by the time I leave him for the night, but instead of dismissing me, he says, “Volunteer 4711, if anyone ever hurts you, you tell me. I won’t have that. You are my responsibility.”

“I understand. Goodnight, Commander.”

“Dismissed.”

The Commander’s words make me feel special. I felt so alone ever since I left Earth, but today I feel like I have at least two Silvers who would miss me, at least for an hour, if I died, and somehow that feels like something to celebrate. I put the Commander’s clothing in the laundry and head back to the servants’ canteen. I have one food credit left for today, and I learned a fruit dessert in my language lesson that I’m going to try. It’s on the servants’ menu, and I asked one of the other servants if it was any good, and she said she ate it often.

When I order, I almost faint at how small it is. The dessert is pink and only about the size of my fist. Disappointed, I take it out of the food machine and grab a trident fork as the Silvers use. I take a forkful and put it in my mouth. This is the first dessert I’ve had since I left Earth; it is divine. I almost fall on the floor. It tastes so good. I’ve so many tastes and sensations in my mouth and body right now. And then the realization hits me. This is chocolate with something very similar to strawberries or raspberries. Then I laugh uncontrollably because it’s ridiculous how much I love this. I finish the whole thing and lick the trident fork, then I look around to make sure I’m alone, and I lick the plate it came on. When there’s nothing left, I decide today has been the best day I’ve had in a very long time.

CHAPTER 8

COMMANDER

On the bridge, I am watching my starfighters fire on a ship that refuses to surrender, despite having no chance of winning this skirmish. Before my fighters cripple the ship completely, I pull them back and send over attack forces to board and take the crew prisoner. Also, to look through the ship for anything valuable. The ship itself will be sold off in pieces. The crew will be divided up between males and females. The males who are fit will be offered work on the Home Planet. The healthy and unmarried females will also be offered work on the planet or in my fleet. The old and married will be free to go in an ancient cruiser I have just for such an occasion.