Only Human (Themis Files, #3)(8)
—What difference does it make?
—Exactly! What’s the point in not telling me? I can just ask her, you know. I’d rather you tell me because the security protocols are a lot tighter with her, and I hate the paperwork. But it’s OK, you don’t have to. Do you know how many forms I have to fill out just to talk to her through a glass wall?
—I don’t understand. Why would things be any different with her? We all spent the same amount of time over there.
—I know! Right? I asked the same question when they put her inside that sealed room. Well, for starters, she has more alien DNA than just about anyone we’ve come across.
—That’s still just a tiny fraction of her genetics.
—Well, tiny fractions matter now. She’s an A5.
—What’s that mean?
—It means she’d have a real hard time getting a job. I’m an A1 and I can only make colonel. Most countries keep their A3s in camps. Anyway, that’s strike one. Your daughter, being more alien than most, also spent almost half her life on another planet. She was a baby for a few of the years she spent here, so, really, most of her life is over there. I’m gonna make a fool of myself again, but I’d be willing to bet that…she didn’t wanna leave! Yes? No? Anyway, strike two. Then, of course, there’s the whole dating an alien thing. You know, the same kind that killed one hundred million people here on Earth, the kind that destroyed Moscow.
—I thought you bombed Moscow yourself.
—Potato, po-tah-to. The point is she doesn’t inspire a lot of trust right now. I was glad when I found out she’s held on to some Earth customs—she gave me the finger the first time I saw her—but still, she speaks friggin’ alien.
—She’s as human as you are. We lived by ourselves. I raised her. Rose did. She was with us.
—See! That’s the spirit. Now I have something more positive than the finger thing to share with my boss. What else can you tell me? Come on! Anything! OK, tell me what happened when you landed on Esat Ekt—yeah, Rose told me. It’s a good name. What’d you do? Was anyone there to greet you? Did you just walk around aimlessly until you ran into people? Please?
—We didn’t do anything…We were waiting to die.
FILE NO. 1641 EE001
PARTY LOG—EVA REYES
Location: Inside Themis, EDC Headquarters, New York, New York —This is Eva Reyes. We’re on board Themis, celebrating. I’m with my dad, Dr. Franklin, and General Govender. I…I don’t know what I’m supposed to say! Hey, Vincent?
[Yes, Eva?]
Why do I have to wear the headset?
[Because we’re recording this. Rose likes to record everything.]
I know that, but why me? Why can’t any of you wear it?
[Let’s see. I have a broken shoulder and a bent-up leg. Rose has a broken tibia.]
It’s a headset. It goes on your head.
[You can move around more than we can. Stop complaining, will you?]
The general could wear it.
[The general is slightly inebriated.]
{I heard that, Couture!}
[Sorry sir. I meant to say you’re drunk as a skunk.]
{It’s that damn champagne. Why can’t I get a real drink? And why is it so dark in here? I can barely see my glass!}
That’s the other thing I wanted to ask about. Why am I the only one drinking juice?
[So you can do the recording. Oh, that and you’re ten.]
Come on, Vincent! I just kicked some giant robot’s ass. I just want one glass of champagne.
[Technically, Rose kicked his ass—]
<Come here, Eva. I’ll give you a glass. A small one!> Thank you, Dr. Franklin.
<I told you to call me Rose.> I’m not sure I— <Vincent does it. If you don’t, I’ll start calling you Ms. Reyes.> OK, then, Rose. How does it feel?
<Champagne? It’s—> No, I meant you were right. Your plan worked.
<I guess it did. Why are you making that face, General?> {Show the aliens that humans could be just as tough without them messing with our DNA, by shooting some green goo full of bacteria out of a keg—}
What are you saying, General?
{I’m saying…What was I saying?}
<The general was saying he didn’t think my plan had any chance of success.> Is that right, General?
{Not a chance in hell.}
Haha! What about you, Vincent? Did you think it would work?
[Me? I—]
<You thought it was stupid. Come on, Vincent! You can say it!> [No, Rose! I understood the logic behind it. I just wasn’t sure that, even if the bacteria worked, the aliens were gonna get the right message.]
<We don’t know that they did.> How can you say that, Dr. Franklin? They left, didn’t they!
<It’s Rose, remember? We don’t know why they left. We don’t know if that’s what they really wanted us to do. This is just what Mr. Burns told me. He knows more about them than we do, but he hasn’t talked to them. He was probably guessing as much as we were.> Why else would they have left?
{Because Dr. Franklin sprayed them with some goddamn goo!}
[General, maybe you should try some of Eva’s juice.]
It’s apple juice.
{Shut up, Couture! That’s an order!}
Seriously, Rose. Why else would they leave?