“If we allow our community to simply pair off, more than half the males will have no chance of finding a mate or family partner. This is unacceptable, not the least of which because it will almost certainly create a great deal of resentment in half our population, strife, conflict, competition for the available females that could wreck our chances of building what we want.
“The only solution we could come up with that would serve the community is to pass a law prohibiting contracting of family units of pairs. Contracts must be left open to provide for at least one additional male, but not more than four.”
Chapter Twenty
The president’s hope of heading off an outpouring of outrage by explaining the circumstances before the announcement proved forlorn. The words were hardly out of his mouth before the entire room exploded, half of them jumping to their feet. It took almost thirty minutes to bring order. By the time it had been restored, the president looked as furious as everyone else.
“Considering your displeasure with our solution to our problem, I think it should be clear enough that anything short of that would have been received far more poorly. None of us were completely satisfied. We do not expect you to be completely satisfied. However, itisthe law. It will be strictly enforced, because it is in the best interests of all.
“I am sure those of you who have already formed an attachment are more disturbed than others who have not, but you must consider whether it would be better to accept and adapt, or better to have to constantly guard your female from theft and wage battle against challengers.
“We cannot hope to establish any sort of civilized societal structure under those conditions.”
Emotions might be difficult for the cyborg community to handle, but logic was still strong in them. They quieted, settled into their seats once more, and considered the situation while questions were answered. Finally, still displeased, they accepted that the solution had merits, especially since it increased their odds of a mate, even if it was a shared one, substantially.
Dalia wasn’t certain how the other females in the group felt, but she wasn’t completely comfortable with it. What no one had pointed out was that, even though the solution sounded logical andwasbest for all concerned, the cyborg males were nearly as territorial as their human counterparts, perhaps more so. Many of the females were almost as territorial, which meant that the majority of the battles would be fought in the homes instead of on the streets.
She hadn’t dared even glance in Reuel’s direction since the announcement. He’d been furious, and he and Pierce had been engaged in a glaring match above her head ever since. If she chose them, and she certainly wouldn’t consider choosing anyone else, she would have to be standing between them constantly, at least until they adjusted to the idea, assuming they ever would.
It was almost more tempting to consider leaving the colony and taking her chances with the company. At least in that instance, she would have some peace.
They returned to the plantation in complete silence. Once they reached it, Dalia fled to her room and locked the door. She knew she wasn’t going to be able to simply ignore the issue altogether, but she thought it best to allow Reuel time to come to terms with the law itself before there was any discussion on a more personal level.
Remaining single wasn’t an option for the females. If they stayed, they were expected to play a pivotal role in establishing family units, not create more conflict by refusing to accept even one male. So, unless she wanted to leave, which she didn’t, she couldn’t avoid Reuel’s displeasure by simply refusing to commit at all.
For a week, everyone seemed determined to avoid everyone else as much as possible. Peace reigned in the household until the second week, when Pierce decided to court her since Reuel didn’t seem to be making a push in that direction.
Conflict erupted almost immediately, but it didn’t manifest itself in actual violence until the third week, at least as far as Dalia knew. Unfortunately, it appeared to be her effort to prevent that eventuality that provoked it.
They had taken up the practice of spending time in the informal living area in the evenings before bed and continued to even after the competition between Reuel and Pierce reached a point two weeks after the president’s announcement that made it uncomfortable.
“We have to establish some house rules,” she said resolutely, standing up and addressing both Reuel and Pierce.
Reuel’s eyes narrowed. “It’s my house. It’s my plantation. I make the rules.”
Dalia studied him for several moments in tight-lipped silence. Finally, she sighed. “You’re right.” She glanced at Pierce. “I’m going down to the land office tomorrow to see what’s available. Would you mind coming along to help me with Claire?”
Pierce sent Reuel a wicked look and grinned at her. “Sure. I’ve been thinking about trying my hand at being a planter since I started helping Reuel around here. I think I could be good at it.”
Dalia nodded and got up. She stopped on the way to her room and looked back at Reuel. “Actually, Claire’s yours, too. I’ll just leave her here with you.”
She could see Reuel was already furious. Her parting shot pulled the rug out from under him. “I am willing to hear you out,” he said ungraciously.
“That’s so magnanimous of you!” she retorted tartly.
He ground his teeth. “Do you want to talk about it or not?” he ground out.
“Not if you don’t plan on being reasonable.”
“He’s a ’borg, Dally. In case you haven’t noticed, they’re not very reasonable.”
Dalia glared at Pierce. Before she could comment on such deliberate provocation, however, Reuel slugged him across the jaw so hard he flew backwards over the couch and skidded across the carpet almost to the wall. The moment he came to a halt, Pierce jumped to his feet with a roar of fury and launched himself toward Reuel, leaping over the couch. Reuel made no attempt to avoid him and Dalia was just thinking that he’d thought better of engaging in a full out battle in the house when, having waited until Pierce was within arm’s reach, he executed a lightning fast punch that knocked Pierce’s feet out from under him.
Pierce landed on the floor at his feet, flat of his back. He wasn’t stunned long, however. Swinging one arm, he clipped the back of Reuel’s knees hard enough that Reuel fell backwards.
The baby had merely gaped at the two men in stunned surprise when Reuel had thrown the first punch. When he slugged Pierce the second time, she let out a blood-curdling shriek and kept on screaming. Cuddling her close, Dalia went into their room and slammed the door. It took her nearly thirty minutes to quiet the baby and she discovered that thirty minutes of infant wails were more torturous than anyone unfamiliar with that particular noise could possibly comprehend. It would’ve been easier, she thought, if not for the grunts, growls, meaty thuds, crashes of furniture and the tinkling sound of breaking glass.
Finally, Reuel and Pierce either reached an understanding, exhausted themselves, or reached unconsciousness. Silence fell and she managed to quiet the baby and get her to sleep. When she did, Dalia went out to assess the damage. The room was a shambles. Pierce was sitting on the floor in the middle of the wreckage, massaging his jaw and grinning at Reuel, who was gingerly examining a black eye using a piece of what had once been a three foot square wall mirror but was now in fragments, most of them less than two inches.
