Total pages in book: 44
Estimated words: 40274 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 201(@200wpm)___ 161(@250wpm)___ 134(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 40274 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 201(@200wpm)___ 161(@250wpm)___ 134(@300wpm)
“Absolutely,” she grins broadly, her deep brown eyes dancing with hope and mischief.
“Filangth un troweth.”
“Yes,” she says, not skipping a beat.
“Uhngering forthril gamnrin interiswas fudaxi wererwan.”
“Oh my god. Always.”
I restrain a smile. She is bluffing with the confidence of a master. I glance back down at her resume, then back at her. All of this is irrelevant, really. The true test comes now. I let my mind settle across hers and I probe gently. I do not want her to feel me there. I want to get a sense for the shape of her.
I find deprivation. I find hunger. I find struggle. I also find strength and bravery. She has suffered quite deeply. Many humans have. But this one is not content to let suffering become her status quo. She is fighting for her life now, just as she has fought for it many times before.
Her appearance is quite pleasing. She has a round face that shows humor and bright, intelligent eyes. Humans do not have our instincts for or abilities in the arena of mutual understanding. They are constantly in conflict with one another because they cannot read one another’s minds. They have tried valiantly over the millennia to remedy this situation, starting with cave art, all the way to building an advanced communications network. No matter what they do, they simply lack the ability to fully feel into others. Each of them is highly connected, and yet each of them feels inexorably alone. They are a tragic little species and the one sitting before me is a perfect example of that tragedy. She lies to have her needs met because she imagines the truth will see her rejected.
I should gift her with some supplies and send her back to her world. That would be the kindest outcome. We cannot save every human from their predicament. That has been the understanding from the outset. We will do our best to aid this blighted little species through its transition to the stars, hoping that this spark of sentience does not die out as so many others have before them.
My mission here is part of a multi-generational undertaking. We Cupid have sworn to patrol the universe, looking for civilizations like this one. Most species never make it as far as humanity has. Like tired chicks trapped in their shells, they have just barely made a crack in the great task of all species — to leave the cradle of their birth and seek eternity.
Their planet is suffering, as all planets do at this crucial moment. They are burning through their resources as they attempt to elevate themselves. They are frightened because they understand how dire their situation is, and yet they do not quite have the ability to free themselves.
That is why we are here. To help all humanity. My job is to find the most intelligent people with the most potential and imbue them with the knowledge to help the others. My mission is not to find a cute girl who lies with every single word out of her mouth, and yet that appears to be precisely what I am doing.
“Listen,” she says, leaning forward. “You hire me, and you won’t regret it. There won’t be anyone as willing to do what I’m willing to do. I mean,” she blushes, flustered, because she just heard what she said and it sounds to her as though she just offered her body. It is amusing, watching her tie herself in knots in front of me while attempting to maintain what she imagines is a professional veneer. “I mean I’ll be a really good employee.”
My light grasp of her mind remains, and with it I feel her eagerness. She is not lying about that last part. She wants more desperately than anything to be good for me, for someone, for anything. My heart goes out to her, this scrappy young woman who desperately needs nothing more than a chance.
I make a decision.
It is true that we cannot save every human.
But I can save this one.
Jessica
“I am impressed,” he says.
“You are? You are!” I change my tone from surprised to confident as quickly as possible.
“Yes,” he says. “I’d like to extend an offer of employment aboard Eros Station.”
“You would!?”
“Yes.”
There’s something about his expression that shows he’s restraining… something. Is it laughter? It’s definitely something. I can’t read these aliens yet. But I know what an offer of employment is. It means I just got the fucking job. I have to keep it together, even though I am buzzing with so much excitement and triumph I could throw my clothes off and run around this room butt naked like a streaker at a sports game.
“Thank you very much,” I say, remembering what I planned for this situation. “I look forward to you regretting this decision.”
Fuck. I meant to say I look forward to working with you, you won’t regret this decision.