“Will you marry?” I ask her, realizing it’s uncommon she’s on the ship as an unmarried female.

“Yes, I think so, but I want to stay on the ship. My parents both served, and I think I have that gene. If I were a male, I would definitely be part of the crew.”

“So, if you marry one of the crew members here, what would your life be like?”

“Why are you asking?”

“I’m only thinking about the other Water woman,” I say.

“Well, I would still have my job if my husband allowed that, but if he knew me, he would allow it,” she laughs. “I imagine the husband in question will not let his Water woman out of their quarters until she has a child. Then she will be sent to live with his family if he as any as he’s not wealthy enough to have his own house.”

“What then?” I ask.

“Then, when she’s ready, she will be sent back to him on the ship and repeat until she can have no more children.”

“Sounds…” I stop, not wanting to be insulting to Silver culture.

“It can be nice if you like your husband,” she says. “And most people marry for love.”

I think about my Commander and his house on the Home Planet and the female who messaged him. “What happens when men die and still have wives? Do they get to keep the house?”

“It falls to the eldest son or male relative. Why do you ask?”

“Just curious.”

“Anyway, I have to run now, but I thought you would enjoy that bit of news,” she pauses. “Didn’t you? You look a bit down.”

“I just hope she isn’t suffering too much.”

“Are you kidding, Volunteer 4711? She tricked you and wanted him to rape you. For all you know, they’re lovers anyway. Trash usually loves trash. I’ll see you later for game night. I hope your Jam skills are up to par. I’m ready to win back all the money I lost last week.”

I wave her goodbye and think about the other human woman with that male. I wonder what happened to her or whether my friend is correct. Maybe she was always having an affair with this officer? By the time I get to the end of my tea, I decide it’s not for me to spend any more time thinking about it.

* * *

The next day, while I’m going through my Commander’s personal messages, I can’t help but notice he has read the message from the widow, and unlike his usual custom, he’s not deleted or replied to it. I tell myself I shouldn’t care, but I can’t help but think about it. I resist reading the message again and try to focus on my other work, but it isn’t easy. In the end, I tell myself, even if he marries her, she won’t be on the ship full-time, just when she wants to become pregnant. And that line of thought leads me down to images of his naked body. A body I would recognize anywhere now.