Even though my work is far from being finished, I decide to leave his quarters before I do something I will regret.

* * *

My Commander seems to want to talk tonight as I undress him.

“The other Water woman has married a member of that crew,” he says. I think he’s fishing to see how much I’ve already heard.

“I heard that today. I was surprised I thought she was….” I trail off, not knowing how much I should say. There’s a protocol about servants speaking about officers, and now that the other commander is a part of this crew, I shouldn’t be talking about him at all.

“Yes, that she was with their commander. I think many people thought that” he pauses. “I am bringing it up because their commander has asked for you again.”

I stop what I’m doing. I look up, waiting to see what he will say next. His cobalt eyes reveal nothing as he looks at me, and I can feel my heart beating faster. It seems like an eternity, and I’m wishing, “ Don’t sell me. Please don’t sell me.

“Do not worry. I have not changed my mind and never will. I just…” he stops talking and runs a hand through my hair. “I wanted to tell you because I thought it was so ridiculous he thinks I would ever give you up.”

I smile up at the Commander. “You had me scared for a second.”

My Commander formally signs that this conversation is over by putting both hands together in front of him.

I finish undressing him and go to fetch his pajamas. Once my duties are finished, he dismisses me. I wish he would ask me to stay as he used to, but lately, it seems as if he doesn’t have much time for me anymore, except on nights he watches me masturbate. Which I begin to think has become a chore for him. However, I still like the attention, so I will not suggest he stops.

CHAPTER 24

COMMANDER

“They think they can bring you in on a formality,” my first officer says as we talk about the government fleet headed towards us. “We all care for Volunteer 4711, but we will not go to war with a government fleet over her.”

My first officer is giving me a warning shot. I know many members of my crew do not understand why I resisted giving her to the other commander when he made space for her among his wives. It would be an honor for a Water person to be married to someone of his status, even as a fifth wife. However, knowing that her life would be hell with the other Water woman there, I was unwilling to do that.

I look at ships moving closer to our fleet. “The government have certainly sent their best.”

“This is their opportunity. They can arrest you, or you can go to war over a volunteer. Send her to the other commander, and then they will have nothing on you. He can marry her and change her from a volunteer to a wife by the time they arrive.” My first officer hesitates but then adds, “That male is good at changing Water women from volunteers to wives.”