"That's true. That we do have data to support. Similarly structured, but different regions light up under load."
"Interesting," said Christophe. "So right now, if I was to think something to you, you'd understand?"
I shrugged. "I have no idea." He sat there and stared at me. I think he was trying, I really do. I didn't feel anything.
Or maybe he was just thinking. "Very well then. Your stories of Laak'sa are interesting, but need a little polish. I believe you when you say them, and that's something that cannot be taught."
"It's the truth. You should believe them."
He gave a quick smile. "Yes, but not everyone who says the truth is believable. You are, and that makes my job easier. I have a full schedule today, as do you." He put his napkin on the table and stood. Everyone rushed to do the same and a bot came scurrying to clear the table. He pointed at me and Ralph. "A word in the hall, gentlemen?"
We followed and once outside in the hall with the door shut, Christophe got right to the point. "Not another word about this inspeaking."
"But..."
"I believe you. That's the problem. Lynette was right when she was telling you that most people do not believe in other life forms." He quirked an eyebrow at my expression. "I am never too involved in one conversation to not pay attention to the others, Jake. Of course I heard that exchange. And she's correct. People will be beside themselves to hear about other life forms as it is. Put mind control on top of that and it'll be mass chaos."
"It's not mind control!"
"It doesn't matter what it is or is not. The public will believe it is. They will believe you have been sent by these aliens to take over their population and eat their babies and turn them into zombies and any other number of idiotic mass hysterias that take control when people are faced with the unknown." His look changed then, to one of almost kindness. "Jake, don't misunderstand me. I am personally very interested in this inspeaking and perhaps we shall have some time to discuss it further. But I am a man of studied intelligence. I am not a scared public. You will never again speak of it to anyone less than a G level ranking, and that includes those yokels in there. Ralph, you will explain to them in an aside that he was simply a child playing make believe with friends."
Ralph nodded. I felt a quick flash of anger, but remembered that they were trying to help me. Indeed, that's exactly what Christophe was doing. I had seen the reactions of these people, these who worked for StarTech, of all companies. I had seen how shocked they were to find out their company had been right all these years and that humans are not alone in the universe. He was right. There were things to keep to myself. "I think that's wise," Ralph said.
"Good man. Now, I've worked our your schedule for the next week. I'll be back at the end of it to get you ready for cameras."
"Cameras?"
He grinned then, a real smile for the first time. "Of course! You can't be a star without them! Now do as you're told. And no more calling them excrement. I understand the feeling, but it doesn't help make friends." He gave a nod and entered the elevator.
"Are people really that freaked out about tribes?"
"More than you can imagine," said Ralph. "Look, Jake. You've lived a life that would terrify them. You have to listen when someone says to zip your lip about this or that, okay? For your good, more than theirs, at least from where I stand. The squeaks on Earth catch wind that you can send messages with your mind, and you'll be locked up as a lab rat faster than an Ehkin can change shape. They'll get you and keep you. Please, kid. Please keep it to yourself."
He meant it. I nodded. I'd do my best. But I still planned to keep trying. I hadn't given up hope on finding someone who could inspeak as well.
We went back in the room and Dr. Karl announced it was time for my testing. We went into the gym. Ralph got on his cycle and turned on what he stubbornly calls a tv and called for Lynette and Marlon to join us. Lynette came in and looked around, uncertain.
"In here?"
"You're his human liaison, right? Well let's start killing a couple birds with one stone. He's going to have to do this every day, might as well do it while the tv's on and while you answer questions about the culture." I groaned, Marlon groaned. Finally, something we had in common.
Lynette thought it was a great idea. She took a seat on a cycle, but just a seat. Obviously she wasn't on a conditioning regimen. "I don't know where to start. Have you watched any shows?"
"He refuses. Start at the beginning." I was breathing in to the machine like Dr. Karl wanted, so I couldn't look, but I knew by his tone that Ralph would have a smirk on his face.
"Yeah, Lynnie. Fill him in on your little soaps. Meanwhile, what the hell am I supposed to do?"
I heard a wrapper. Ralph was snacking again. Must be nice to relax, I thought bitterly as I puffed in and out of the machine.
"Oh go grab a terminal. You'll just get in the way," Lynette ordered. Marlon was out before she even finished.
The doc thumped me on the back and told me to get to my workout. I got up and turned on the treadmill.
"Okay, so you don't know tv at all. Well this is one of the most popular programs. The actors get a script and..." Hours. Hours of the same. I worked out, and she assaulted me with information. Who that actor was, how many divorces she had, who she starred with and what they starred in. Ads. The ads were probably the worst. Every commercial brought a wave of information.
"That's the very best paper towel. Hands down."
"Oh boy did they just lie. I'm sorry, but that will not make your hair shiny...unless by shiny you mean a fat blob of grease!"
"That's an okay band, but they tend to be more for the trancers. If you really want to dance, you should start listening to EMOverload. They're great in concert. Oh wait. Do you know what a concert is?"
It was like all the zines Lena had uploaded for me all smashed into one person. Her ability to talk is endless. She rattled on and on and on until my head was as sore as my muscles. I was never so happy for lunch break. I wiped off my sweaty brow and went back to the dining area where Marlon gave me a sympathetic smile. "Tired yet?"
"You have no idea," I whispered quickly before Lynette joined us.
"Try growing up with that twenty-four seven!"
He tapped away on his keyboard and our camaraderie ended as quickly as it began.
Lynette sat and smiled. "Well that's a great way to earn a buck! Are you getting the hang of things yet?"
"Sure," I said, even though I wasn't. How could I possibly absorb anything when it was being machine-gunned at me a mile a minute?
Lynette laughed. "You'll see. It'll all make sense once you're in it. Trust me. The day will come when someone asks you some pop trivia and won't you look like the hero for getting it right? It'll shove it right back in their faces. All of them!"
It was a surprisingly heated sentiment, and I still haven't figured it out. She was mad at people in general. That wasn't the only time she let something like that slip.
We ate lunch. I was informed that after lunch, my sessions with Marlon would begin. I had no idea what that could mean. Was I going to learn how to offend and irritate people? Or maybe I was supposed to learn how to intentionally be an outsider, or throw in cutting remarks. I finished my lunch giggling in my head to my own little jokes.
Marlon is a tech guru. I know he is, because he told me so.
"I'm a tech guru. You will consider me your master."
"Yes, master," I said blandly. "Teach me your ways, oh great guru." I have not had much opportunity to use sarcasm. It's wasted on most scientists. But Ralph snickered, so I figured I was using it right.
"Har har," Marlon said. "I didn't know I was getting a comedian. My job here is to catch you up. In case you hadn't noticed, things have changed just a bit in the last hundred years." He looked at Ralph. "Wouldn't kill you to pay attention, either."