14
It was the candidates, their many wives, any children living with them, the human bodyguards and the remaining Beta Councilors. Plus the Alpha and the former Alpha had their wives with them as a matter of courtesy. With no room for the entire press contingent, Acreon selected Craethe to do all of the reporting.
Craethe turned to a camera and spoke. "We have a most unusual situation. Due to the violence that has erupted in the streets, the Beta Council has agreed to meet one last time before the general election, which will be held tomorrow, regardless of the condition of the polling places. The Beta Council says voting will occur the old-fashioned way if it must, and a little vandalism should not deter our voters or intimidate them. No one is to be kept from voting tomorrow."
"If we have to count votes by hand, then we will," Acreon stated.
Craethe added, "For their own safety, the candidates' wives and minor children have been brought to the chamber, along with bodyguards generously provided by our barefaced human friends on the USS Bluebird." Deb, Frank and the other MACOs and Security officers briefly nodded their acknowledgments to the cameras.
"We will have speeches tonight, from the two lead candidates only," Acreon announced. "We have drawn lots and Vidam will speak first."
Vidam stood up, a little flush with excitement and nervousness, which caused the tips of his ears and nose to redden and make him appear more foxlike than normal. "Cooperation with humans and friendship with other species, like Tellarites and Denobulans, has taught us that most species don't marry the way we do. Even Denobulans, who also have multiples, they do not place a commercial value on their women."
He paused to collect himself. "Long ago, when we were but tiny ancestral versions of ourselves, litters were large. And they were dominated by female children. The females were mostly stronger, and therefore more likely to survive to adulthood, and so the difference was supported and sustained. This imbalance perpetuated as our ancestors evolved broader, wider teeth, their spines straightened out as they began to walk upright, and they developed opposable thumbs. There were, quite simply, too many females."
Some of the lesser candidates seemed a little bored, so he realized he needed to wrap things up quickly. "Thylacine Paramyxovirus has devastated our population, yet we devastate it even more with compulsory euthanasia. Doctors, I know, are working around the clock to try to cure that horrible malady. My brother, the doctor, Trinning – he says that they are close to a true breakthrough."
His voice got louder as he gathered more courage. "What will we do when they have finally cured it? Will we, then, decide to make a law to euthanize our secondaries? Where does it end? I say it ends now. It ends here! Third caste females who are menopausal can do all manner of things. They can still cook and keep house. They can still care for children. They could, I dare say, do more if we gave them the opportunity. A vote for, for me, that is a vote against the euthanasia law. I say we end it now!"
=/\=
In Trinning and Varelle's lab, there were the sounds of shouting outside, but the doors seemed to be holding. "Trava," Varelle said, "you are a good woman. You are a caring nurse."
"I, I only do what I can copy from what you and Doctor Trinning do, sir."
"It is good. And Darri, you are good at, at following my directions. The bandage is put on correctly."
"Thank you, Doctor Varelle," she said, "We are here to help you find the cure for Thylacine Paramyxovirus. Do you think that Cama will recover?"
"I cannot say," he replied. "Trinning is staying in quarantine with her and Fyra. I fear that his protective gear may not help him for as long as he is staying in there. He has three small daughters at home, and a pouchling, and his Prime Wife is due to deliver again soon. It would be a tragedy if he were to bring the disease home with him."
"Do you think," Trava ventured, "that the protesting, is it doing anything?"
"I do not know. I am not a follower of most politics. If the euthanasia law is repealed, I suppose I will need to find true volunteers. And I do not know what would happen to someone such as Darri, who was never purchased to be a wife. I do hope that Vidam has a plan for what would happen to someone like you, eh?"
"I do not know what I would do," Darri said, "I wonder if someone like me would be permitted to work, like Trava does."
"Trava is, it is all very unofficial and off the record. If our funding sources were to find out, I suppose we would be shut down for good," Varelle said sadly. "It is a pity, for you are a good worker, Trava. And I do not mean just how you cook and clean. I never thought I would say this, but your work has been a part of us finding the cure."
"I am pleased that my blood could help you."
"It was not just that. It was your ideas as well. I wish I knew a way for you to properly receive credit. It is a pity that Doctor Rechal in the prison will receive some credit for this breakthrough when you cannot, due to your sex."
"I was not born the right way," Trava said, looking down.
=/\=
"I think I have everything I need," Rona told Jonathan. "I will do the broadcast tonight."
"Thank you," he said.
"Do you have a paramour? A real one?" she asked.
"I do," he admitted, "but she deserves her privacy. The woman is," he sighed, "the arrangement is a less than conventional one."
"Is it like Reed and his lady?" Rona asked.
"Yes," Jonathan admitted quietly.
"Very well," Rona said, "but if you are ever in a position to marry her, will you invite me, and allow me to cover it? I love weddings, and I always, always bawl like a baby at them."
He smiled at her. "Sure," he said, but had no idea if it would ever happen. Miva was far away, on Lafa II – the same planet where Lili was – and was as married as Lili was. Life was, at times, far too complicated.
7