The robot adjusted his monocle. He was nervous. Whenever Ladee started fiddling with his clothes, Dawn put up her guard. “The trail was littered with whispers of rumors of myths but only ended in a deeper mystery.”
As her mind whirled at the news, Ladee laid things out for her. “My theory is that he’s a member of another race, a race not from Territh but from a planet that shares many of the same aspects as Territh. They evolved to be very similar to Territhians but with key differences. For one, I postulate that they’re much stronger than humans and much hardier.”
That made sense. Z seemed to be something beyond a mere mortal, which was part of the reason she’d thought of him as a god when she’d first seen him.
“Secondly, it’s possible that his race is much older than humans and has therefore evolved certain psychic and perhaps physical powers that haven’t manifested in Territhians yet, but which might, given a long enough timeline.”
“You think he might have powers?” That made sense too. She’d felt something come over her when she’d been at the locking console yesterday. He’d ordered her to let him in and she’d complied, against her own strong desire.
Ladee nodded. “I can’t confirm this theory based solely on the DNA sample I have. Now, if we could get some of his blood, I’d be able to tell you more.”
“If a race of superhumans exists, then how can there be no record of them?”
Ladee frowned. “Now, that’s the strange part. While it’s true there is no mention of this genetic code in the databases, it’s not as if they’ve never been discovered. Instead, it’s as if the data has been forcibly removed. Broken links, half-mentions of men descended from gods, and blank spaces litter the network, as if someone tried to wipe away any mention of a race like his.”
“A coverup.” Was that possible? Why would such a powerful race want the universe to think they didn’t exist? Why weren’t they using their powers to rule the quadrant?
Maybe they were, and the quadrant just wasn’t aware of it.
Dawn shivered, wondering suddenly what sort of creature was sleeping away in her storage room. “We have to figure out some sort of plan. I can’t have some kind of psychic spy digging around in my lab.”
“I agree.” The robot’s fingers tapped away. “I will keep working to find any scrap of data I can, but we’ve got to find a way to get that sample.”
Dawn frowned. “How do you expect me to get a blood sample from him? He’d suspect something was up the moment I asked for it.”
Ladee stared hard at her. “Blood would be optimal, but any fluid might give us clues.”
“Any fluid?” Dawn deadpanned the robot. “Are you asking me to obtain a sample of another variety?”
The robot didn’t respond at first. “I won’t ask you to do anything you’re disinclined to do, although it seems from my observations that it wouldn’t be something you’d find distasteful.”
“Shut up, Ladee,” she growled. “If you’re suggesting I harvest his—his seed for your tests—”
“I’m not suggesting anything, other than we treat this situation with extreme caution.” The robot’s expression was as serious as she’d ever seen it. “Until we can figure out where he’s from and what he wants, we have to keep him in the dark about what we know.”
Dawn nodded. “I’ve done nothing but lie to him since he showed up. But I don’t know how to keep him out of our business perpetually.”
“Don’t you?”
She didn’t like the expression on her companion’s face. “What are you saying, Ladee?”
“You’ve got to distract him. Keep him tangled up in your web while I work behind the scenes to discover his real identity.”
Dawn’s jaw dropped. “You mean you want me to seduce him?”
Ladee nodded. “It shouldn’t be hard. He can barely keep his hands off you as it is.”
“But I assumed that was part of his plan. He tries to seduce me in the hopes that I’ll spill my secrets.”
“So turn the tables on him,” the robot suggested. “Seduce him until he spills his secrets.”
Dawn let out a harsh laugh. “I think you overestimate my skills, pal.”
The robot shrugged. “Even if he’s just playing along, trying to seduce you, then let him think he’s succeeding. String him along until he believes that you’re falling for him and almost ready to tell him everything.”
It could work. Dawn didn’t have much faith in her own powers of seduction, but if she had only to submit to his wiles while keeping her head, she might be able to prevail.
Maybe.
