We quietly go through the morning routine, and once I am dressed, I tell her to ignore all messages from the government. I let her know that I am taking care of them and of her case. “Last night, I made a formal statement on your behalf from what you told me of how you were illegally sold.”

“I understand.”

It grates on me when she says, ‘I understand,’ in this way. I know what her other meaning is. She meets my eyes and repeats herself, and I do not know what more I want from her, but it is something that she is not giving me. We hold eye contact, but when she says nothing more, I turn my eyes away and leave without another word.

Once in the corridor, I take a deep breath. I remind myself that whatever is going on between us will work itself out with time. I must focus on my work. Today we are rendezvousing with the other fleet to begin talks. And this evening, I will host the commander of the other fleet here. Although tonight will only be a soft welcome, my officers and I are still preparing for what we expect to be offered and what we will prepare to give in this compromise.

* * *

I nod at Volunteer 4711 as she enters the officers’ lounge. She is wearing a more formal uniform in black, but it still bears her position and my name. Her long brown hair is pulled back, and she looks more feminine than usual. However, this is the formal uniform for servants, it is more fitted to her body, and I cannot change that just because I do not like how others see her in it.

I watch her until she disappears into another room with the other servants to work on preparations. Then I turn my attention to the officers of the other fleet that have entered the room. They have also brought some of their staff with them. Because, of course, you want to have your servants eating and drinking the food before you do when you are on possible enemies’ vessels. I always do the same.

I do not pay too much attention to the other fleet’s staff but focus on the officers and their commander in particular. We have not met in a very long time. I grasp his arm strongly and welcome him. Soon we are handed glasses of alcohol, and I make a toast to our being able to come together and hope that our futures will be united more than just in the history books as powerful males of the same profession.

After my toast, conversation ensues, and everyone seems to be polite, if not friendly. I have a good feeling about these meetings.

Then I hear what sounds like a hundred glasses breaking at once from the back, from where the servants are. And the peacefulness between the two crews is broken. Everyone goes quiet and reaches for their weapons. Thankfully, one of the head servants comes out immediately and apologizes loudly to the point he is almost shouting. He assures everyone that it was nothing more than glasses being dropped by accident. He invites anyone who needs evidence of this to come and see for themselves. A few of my officers and the officers from the other fleet go to investigate.