He begins to wet a small towel and then puts it on my face. “I’m not sure what’s going on between you two, whether you come from rival tribes or what, but you should stop quarreling before the Commander finds out. He won’t like it.”

A tear escapes my eye. “She brings out the worst in me.”

“It’s not an excuse for attacking her,” he says softly. “You know that. I know you know that.”

“Are you going to tell the Commander?”

He stops his ministrations and looks me in the eyes. “I would never tell on another servant unless ordered to, and even then…” he trails off. “I’d have to be under much duress.”

“Thank you,” I say. Then I explain how she tricked me, got me purposely lost, and then almost raped.

“I take back what I said, Volunteer 4711. I want to kill her myself. You know this breaks the laws of the fleet.”

I nod. “But I don’t think it does in this other fleet.”

“Not yet. But by the end of the night, it will,” he assures me.

CHAPTER 20

COMMANDER

Relief washes over me when I see Volunteer 4711 return. My officer tells me that she lost her hair clip from the transport and had gone looking for it. I can turn my full attention to these negotiations now.

Dinner goes well. By the end, the other commander and I sign an agreement. He and his fleet are now officially a part of mine. I have traded more technology than I had wanted and more money, but I need the other commander’s loyalty to me. I cannot have him coming in half-heartedly, even if we both benefit. I know it is difficult for him to now come under my command, and I had to make it worth it for him and his fleet.

It is late, but we have one last ceremonial drink, and then I take the transport with my crew back to my ship. I notice the servants are quiet, and Volunteer 4711 is just looking out the window. Her hair is down, so I cannot see her face, but I assume she is just tired. It has been a long day for everyone.

Back onboard, my ship, Volunteer 4711, follows me to my quarters, we enter together, then I stand in my usual spot, and she begins to undress me. However, as I look down at her face, I see that she has purple bruises on her cheek.

My emotions get the better of me. I reach out and brush her long brown hair back, away from her face and neck. What I see makes me angry. Who has hurt her? I take her hands in mine to stop what she’s doing. “What happened?”

She looks down at her feet and then back up at me, tears in her eyes. “You were right. I was such a fool. The other Water woman told me that she had my necklace. The one thing I was allowed to bring with me from Earth. I left it at the farm.” Tears are running in rivers down my valet’s cheeks now, and she’s stopped talking.