Page 1 of Reluctantly Abducted (Nereidan Compatibility Program #3)

Ry'eth

I should have known something was wrong when neither of my brothers responded to my communication requests for a week.

Kav'eth, I could understand. He's always been obsessively focused on his Council duties, and lately he's been even more insufferable than usual about "maintaining professional boundaries" and "proper protocol adherence.

" But Zeph'hai usually answers within hours, eager to share whatever new research has captured his attention this cycle.

A week of silence from both of them is... unprecedented.

Which is why I'm standing outside Zeph'hai's residential unit, prepared to use my emergency access codes if necessary.

I depart for Earth's orbital region this afternoon, and protocol dictates that family members be informed before interplanetary assignments.

Emergency protocols seemed my only option given the time constraints.

The door slides open before I can activate the entry panel.

"Oh," says a voice I don't recognize. "You must be the other brother."

I find myself staring at a human. Male, brown hair, wearing casual Nereidan attire that looks wrong on his unfamiliar frame.

He's shorter than I expected humans to be, though still taller than me, an unfortunate genetic trait I've inherited as the youngest of three brothers.

As an environmental restoration specialist, I've spent considerable time studying the ecological impact of various species.

Humans, according to every metric I've analyzed, are among the most destructive.

Their industrial practices have rendered vast ecosystems uninhabitable, their resource consumption patterns are unsustainable, and their population expansion has driven countless species to extinction.

"You are in my brother's dwelling," I state, keeping my voice carefully neutral despite the immediate surge of revulsion. This is what Zeph'hai chose? This unremarkable creature that's probably already polluting our air with whatever toxins humans carry in their respiratory systems?

"I'm Jake," the human says, extending his hand in that primitive greeting gesture they're apparently fond of. "You must be Ry. Zeph's told me about you."

"My name is Ry'eth," I correct sharply. "Not Ry."

"Right. Sorry. Ry'eth." He lowers his hand without apparent offense. "Zeph'hai's in a conference call with the Council. Should be done soon."

"I require five minutes with my brother," I inform him. "Privately."

Before the human can respond, another voice calls from deeper in the dwelling.

"Jake, who's at the—oh." A second human appears, this one taller, more physically imposing, with geometric markings covering his visible skin. He nods politely in my direction. "You must be the youngest brother. I'm Derek."

Two humans. In my brother's dwelling. Acting as though they belong here.

"How many of your kind are currently contaminating this space?" I ask.

The two humans exchange a look, and the one called Jake's casual demeanor shifts slightly. "Just us. And we're not contaminating anything."

"Your species has rendered significant portions of your homeworld uninhabitable through industrial excess and resource mismanagement," I state matter-of-factly. "These are documented facts."

"Okay," Derek says slowly. "Clearly you have some... opinions about humans."

Opinions. As if ecological devastation and mass extinction events are matters of personal preference.

The dwelling's internal communication system chimes, and Zeph'hai's voice fills the air. "Jake, Derek, the Council session is concluded. Ry'eth, I sense your presence. Please join us."

I take a steadying breath, reminding myself that this conversation cannot be avoided regardless of how distasteful I find the company.

I follow the corridor to the main living area, where I find both my brothers seated around the conference table with their respective humans.

Kav'eth's bioluminescence is more relaxed than I've seen it in cycles, while Zeph'hai practically glows with contentment.

"Brother," Zeph'hai says warmly, rising to greet me. "I did not expect you today."

"I attempted to reach you through standard communication channels," I reply stiffly. "When you failed to respond, I assumed emergency protocols might be necessary."

"My apologies. We have been... occupied with integration planning." He gestures toward the humans as if this explains everything.

Kav'eth studies me with that penetrating gaze I remember from our juvenilehood. "You appear distressed, Ry'eth. More so than usual."

"I am about to depart for an assignment," I begin, then stop as the implications of what I must tell them become clear. "Though I have recently learned it may not be the assignment I anticipated."

"Explain," Kav'eth says, his formal tone sharpening.

I glance at the humans, who are watching this exchange with obvious curiosity. "Perhaps this conversation should occur privately."

"Jake and Derek are part of our family now," Zeph'hai says gently. "Whatever concerns you have—"

"The Council has selected me for the compatibility program," I say flatly.

The silence that follows is profound.

"What?" Zeph'hai's bioluminescence flickers with shock.

Kav'eth leans forward, his expression unreadable. "You were chosen for human assessment?"

"Apparently." The word tastes bitter. "Elder Va'ril informed me this morning. I depart for Earth's orbital region this afternoon to assess a human candidate for partnership compatibility."

"But you despise humans," Derek observes with what I can only assume is meant to be helpfulness.

"An accurate assessment," I confirm.

"Then why would they choose you?" Jake asks, his tone genuinely puzzled.

I force myself to meet Kav'eth's gaze as I deliver the rest of Elder Va'ril's explanation. "Because they require a control group."

My oldest brother's bioluminescence dims to almost nothing, a reaction I've seen perhaps three times in our entire lives. "A control group?"

"Your assessments," I continue, the clinical terminology making this easier somehow, "were conducted by Nereidans who were either neutral toward humans or who demonstrated.

.. attraction." I cannot quite bring myself to use more direct language.

"The Council wishes to determine whether successful bonding can occur when the Nereidan participant begins from a position of informed opposition. "

"Informed opposition," Zeph'hai repeats slowly.

"You're being sent to prove that this doesn't work," Jake says, his voice flat.

"I am being sent to conduct an objective assessment," I correct, though his phrasing is not entirely inaccurate. "My findings will determine whether your choices were based on genuine compatibility or merely the result of... proximity and physical attraction overriding logical evaluation."

"Our choices?" Derek's voice carries a sharp edge.

"You think we were fooled," Jake adds, his casual demeanor completely gone now. "You think we somehow tricked them into thinking this works."

"I think," I say carefully, "that emotional responses often interfere with rational decision-making. The Council wishes to test whether successful integration can occur when that variable is controlled for."

Kav'eth has been silent through this exchange, but now he speaks with the formal authority that marks his Council voice. "What parameters have been established for this assessment?"

"Standard compatibility evaluation. Seventy-two hours, same as your assignments." I pause, then add what I know will be the most disturbing detail. "Though this human was selected through different criteria than your subjects."

"Different how?" Zeph'hai asks, though his dimming bioluminescence suggests he already suspects.

"Previous assessments involved humans who adapted relatively quickly to the situation.

The Council wanted to test whether successful bonding could occur with a human who would be.

.. more resistant to the process. Specifically, a recently discharged military medic.

" Someone trained for combat situations, accustomed to high stress, but also someone who has recently transitioned to civilian life.

The psychological profile suggests he will be actively hostile to confinement and loss of control. "

Jake shakes his head. "You're setting up a guy who just left the military to be abducted by aliens. That's going to go badly."

"The subject's military background was considered an asset," I reply stiffly. "Combat medics are trained to adapt to challenging circumstances."

"Combat medics are trained to save lives in war zones," Derek corrects with an edge to his voice.

"That doesn't mean they'll react well to being kidnapped and studied.

They've seen things, dealt with situations that most people can't imagine.

They're used to being in control and making life-or-death decisions. "

"Makes you protective," Jake adds. "Sometimes hypervigilant. And definitely not inclined to trust easily, especially when you're used to being the one in charge."

"Particularly when it comes to situations they can't control," Derek continues. "Like being abducted by aliens."

I consider this information. "The Council selected him precisely because of his experience with high-stress situations. They believe this will make him more adaptable."

"Or more hostile," Kav'eth observes quietly.

"The assessment parameters account for initial resistance," I say, though I'm beginning to understand their concern. "It is expected that both participants will require time to adjust."

"Both participants," Kav'eth observes quietly. "You say that as if you're approaching this with complete objectivity, but you've already decided this human is unsuitable."

"I am approaching this scientifically," I correct. "With appropriate skepticism toward a process that has thus far produced only two data points, both involving subjects who may have been predisposed to adaptation."

"You think we were easy marks," Jake says, his casual tone not hiding the sharpness underneath.

"I think the assessment may benefit from testing compatibility under more challenging conditions."

"And what happens," Kav'eth asks in that deceptively mild tone that usually precedes uncomfortable questions, "when your assessment concludes that integration is inadvisable?"

I meet his gaze steadily. "Then the program will be discontinued, and alternative solutions for our species' survival will be pursued."

"Alternative solutions," Zeph'hai says softly. "Such as?"

"That is not my concern. My responsibility is to assess compatibility and provide accurate data to the Council.

" I pause, seeing the tension in both my brothers' faces.

"Your existing partnerships will not be affected by my findings.

The Council has made that clear. This assessment will only determine whether future human integration should proceed. "

I stand, suddenly eager to end this conversation before it becomes even more unpleasant. "I merely came to inform you of my departure, as protocol requires."

"Ry'eth," Zeph'hai calls as I move toward the exit. "What if you're wrong?"

I pause at the threshold. "About what?"

"About humans. About us. About all of it." His bioluminescence has returned to normal levels, but there's something in his tone that makes me uncomfortable. "What if you discover that everything you believe about human-Nereidan compatibility is incorrect?"

"Then I will adjust my assessment accordingly," I reply. "That is what objective evaluation means."

"And what if," Jake adds quietly, "you find out that you're more like your brothers than you think?"

I don't dignify this with a response. The door seals behind me as I leave, cutting off any further discussion of hypothetical scenarios that will never occur.

I am not like my brothers. I will not be swayed by proximity, or physical attraction, or whatever psychological techniques humans employ.

I will conduct this assessment with scientific rigor, document the inevitable failures of cross-species compatibility, and return with data that will allow our Council to make informed decisions about our species' future.

The transport to Earth's orbital region departs in three hours. The human will be retrieved according to standard protocols and brought to the research facility for initial assessment. The process will be professional, objective, and brief.

I suspect very brief.