“I will wait,” the woman said politely, “but my Sister will try, she is older than me.”


    The Administrators wished them well and recorded the information. The group of men walked out with the women casually touching and caressing them. They were all pleased they could try to produce a child. The two families were entirely focused on one another as they left.


    The next group was five men. They wanted to discuss growing a new type of crop. The men had been doing a good bit of studying and thought this new starch would be beneficial. It would easily grow in the soil here.


    “We grow all our own food,” Gunth exined to Rose, Fuji, and me. “We have hidden farms spread throughout the forest. Men go each day to monitor them.”


    “Women like Nu-reeh don’t see your fields?” I asked curiously.


    Gunthughed quietly, “We hide our fields in in sight and cover them with the false vision you already saw on the mountain side. They have not seen us yet.”


    The Administrators at the head of the room took the information from the family and thanked them.


    “Let us study it,” the lead male Administrator said, “we will put it to a vote.”


    The men thanked the Administrators and turned to leave. They stopped dead in their tracks when they saw us.


    These men looked different from Warriors in thepound. Their clothes were all leather, scuffed and patched. They werenky, like shopkeepers, and with prominent stripes. I saw the thick callouses on their hands. They worked hard at whatever they did.


    “Introduce yourself, Arik,” Gunth said gruffly. “Do not stare.”


    “I am Arik from the T’rale Mountains,” the man said. “It is a pleasure to meet a human.”


    I responded the way I had been taught by Gunth and the man just continued to stare at me as his Brothers introduced themselves.


    “Is there more Arik or are you and your Brothers done?” Gunth asked gruffly.


    “Would you join us for the evening meal?” Arik asked quickly. “I have many questions about Earth. We work to grow the food that is on the tables every meal. We enjoy watching nts grow. There is a nt from Earth we have been growing and you maye see it if you like.”


    I looked at Rose and she was staring at the ground, there would be no help from her.


    “I don’t know,” I finally answered the man.


    “Are you willing to have a meal with this man at your table?” Gunth asked patiently.


    “I want to eat with Damien and his Brothers,” I said feeling stupid and scared.


    “That is not an option,” Gunth said firmly. “Would you like to have a meal with this man and his family?”


    “Yes,” I answered hesitantly.


    I thought perhaps if I yed along, they’d let me see Damien. Whatever they wanted, I should provide. Getting on their good side was probably the quickest way to getting what I wanted. That’s how it always had worked before.


    Gunth seemed pleased and told me when it came time for the evening meal I should meet Arik and his Brothers outside the dining hall.


    “Now, Gunth,” the one of the women at the head of the hall interjected, “we have not even determined if these females wish to stay or return to their ces of origin.”This is from N?velDrama.Org.


    My terror doubled as I looked into her fanged face. “I don’t wish to leave my family, Ma’am. I want to see my offspring grow. I wish to be with Damien’s family.”


    “My name,” the great woman said, “is Hassar. I am from the T’stelvic Mountains. You do not need to address me as Ma’am. If you wish to stay on this world for your offspring, we will not remove you. We must keep you away from Damien and his Brothers, though.”


    “Please,” I begged, “I need them and I care for them-”


    Hassar was patient, but firm. Damien and his Brothers had enved me. They had trained me with punishment until I believed that only they could be trusted. That part of my life was over now.


    “I am Reed, Hassar’s Sister, of the T’stelvic Mountains,” the other women interjected. “We have spent a great deal of time studying very and its effects. You must learn to think again, if you wish to stay.”


    “I wish to stay,” I whispered as tears ran down my cheeks.


    The Administrators asked Rose to introduce herself and asked her if she wanted to stay next.


    “My name is Rose,” she said quietly while staring at the floor. “I was from Earth and I do not wish to go through the portals. I understand they are dangerous and unstable. I want to be with Basin and his Broth…..”


    Gunth interrupted to exin “Rose” was the name the vers gave her.


    The women looked patiently at us, but gave Rose the same answer they’d given me. Her reeducation would not include the men who had enved her.


    When it was Fuji’s turn she just refused to speak. She watched the floor listlessly and another lock of her hair fell out. Reed sighed and came forward.


    “I own you now, ve from Batra. You are in my charge and I will protect you from harm. I am the leader here and the men who took you did so at mymand. Tell me the name you have been given,” she said stopping in front of Fuji.


    Gunth gasped as did several others in the room. Reed and her Sister were not fazed by the obvious horror on the faces around them.


    “I am Fuji, named by myst Masters, what would you have me do?” Fuji asked brightly.


    Rose and I just stared at her looking stunned. She sounded pleased and rxed.


    “You will learn many things while you are here. These Paterians,” Reed said pointing around, “are my agents and will instruct you. However, one of the first things I need to do is to remove your old Master’s insignia from your body,”


    Fuji didn’t flinch as Reed removed her cor and cuffs. “You must look around and meet the eyes of those around you,” Reed instructed. “I like the name you were given. You may use it when you are greeted. I wish that you speak with any that speak to you. I wish you to start at least three conversations a day. You may chose who to start those conversations with.”


    Gunth sputtered and made a sound that resembled a foul curse Bane had taught me. It wasn’t a set of words Damien really liked me to say. Reed just shed a toothy smile at Gunth and handed the metal to another man.


    “You expect too much, too soon, my friend,” she said simply. “My Sister and I have studied every culture, every species of ve, the vers brought to this. It is apparent different species need different… assistance.”


    “Fuji, you stay with my Sister and me,” Reed stated. “We will teach you what we wish you to do.”


    Reed stepped in front of Rose and looked down at her.


    “It is time to lose those signs of very,” she said reaching for Rose’s cor.


    “NO!” Rose shouted backing away. “My name is Rose. I want to keep this on. I want Basin, please. I am not safe here. They need me and I need them!”


    “You will not live in a free society bearing the brand of a ve,” Reed exined.