Wilma stared, both shocked and furious. "Scientific specimens?" she protested. "You're going to dissect us?"
Anderin shook his head. "Now, Colonel, that shouldn't be necessary. In fact, it would be contraindicated; a living source regenerates itself. We have no wish to kill you; we simply need to study you. Really, you're making this so much harder on yourselves than it has to be. You should have a very comfortable and well-kept life, and you will be valued highly. We are a very civilized people."
Wilma couldn't believe her ears. "You call this civilized? Inviting people here under false pretenses and then making us hostages? Don't you have any concept of individual rights? We're people, and you can't keep us in a cage."
Anderin sounded offended. "Of course we have a concept of individual rights. We would never suggest doing this to another Mangolian. You, however, do not fall under our articles of statement regarding citizens. And like I said, you will not be mistreated."
Wilma was practically sputtering. "You cannot do this. Do you really think the Searcher won't notice we've disappeared?"
"I've already spoken to your ship and informed them that very unfortunately, you were attacked and killed by a pack of salas, who dragged your bodies away."
She didn't challenge that, but hope started rising. The Searcher would not accept a statement like that from a total stranger without extensive proof. They would challenge it, investigate it. Help was on the way if it only could find them. No doubt the admiral would send down Hawk, one of the most suspicious beings Wilma had ever encountered, and no Mangolian lie was apt to fool him.
Hawk. With sudden dread, she replayed every conversation she'd had with Buck since he lost his memory. Had she mentioned Hawk to him? She couldn't recall doing so. The Searcher, yes, but nothing about Hawk. Buck, trapped in a totally unfamiliar world, had hesitated to trust even her. How would he react if he ran into Hawk, especially after the day they had had so far? He was as apt to shoot the arriving help (assuming he could escape and get his hands on a weapon) as he was to be rescued by it, and Hawk, not realizing what was wrong, wouldn't be on guard and wouldn't approach him carefully.
Anderin continued. "Really, Colonel, cooperation is your best option. Things will go so much more easily. And again, we have no intentions of hurting you. You are quite valuable to us; you and Captain Rogers hopefully are going to save our people."
"Save you from what?" Wilma demanded.
Anderin sighed. "There is a virus ravaging our people. All of our medical scientists have been unable to make any progress on defeating it. We have always been a small society, strict limits on offspring so that we do not overrun our resources, and the current agreed-upon theory by the scientists is that the small size of our gene pool has over centuries weakened our immunities. They wish to try infusion of some new tissue, assuming that other species are immune to this virus that is slowly killing us. So we researched other races; we have had communication into space for quite a while, you know. Humans to all appearances are the most similar to us and the most likely to be able to assist us."
This conversation kept getting more unbelievable to Wilma. "It didn't occur to you to simply ask for help? The galaxy is full of medical scientists, Anderin. We would be glad to help you study and defeat this virus."
"We are a very proud people," Anderin replied. "For decades, we have refused any visitors from other worlds and always have insisted that we are self sufficient. We can solve our own problems."
"So you would rather subject other beings to slavery than admit that you need help?" she protested.
"Slavery is such a harsh word. You are not needed for work, and you will not be mistreated."
"You just intend to use us as breeding stock? That's its own form of slavery, Anderin, just as much as physical labor."
"Hopefully everything can be accomplished in the lab. You will not actually have to go through the process. We just need genetic material from you. First, of course, we'll have to work out whether you are indeed immune to this virus, and then we'll go from there."
"You mentioned selling us," Wilma reminded him. "If that's not slavery, what do you call it?"
"Unfortunately, there is a disagreement among our scientists as to finer details of how to proceed and also as to who would get the credit and the offered reward for defeating the virus. This seemed the best way of settling that question fairly and showing no favoritism among them. You will go to separate buyers, so two different methods of study will be being employed, and our scientists are very motivated to solve our problem. You will not be harmed, Colonel. You should have a very pleasant rest of your life." He looked at his chronometer. "I must leave you now. Get some rest, Colonel, and again, I apologize that we had to shoot you. In the morning, you will be sold to one of our scientists at auction." He turned and left the room, the androids backing out carefully to keep her covered.
Wilma resumed her pacing. She had to get out of here somehow, find Buck, and make their escape. And how was he? Was he all right? The walls gave her no answers.
