for you, being there, being conversant with the local cultures. It saves us a great deal of energy to have you as our proxy.”
I felt my blood turn to ice.
“That makes you the one we deal with directly in regards to this species,” he said.
I’d thought that I’d act only as a go-between, the one who opened up a channel of communication, like Lieutenant Uhura. I thought it would be someone like Senator Knight who’d do the real talking; he was a dickhead, but he knew how to do this kind of thing.
I spoke carefully, trying to ignore my overflowing panic and hoping the Administrator would be able to hear me over the chattering of my teeth. “I appreciate the trust you’re putting in me, but perhaps it would be more . . . convenient, to speak to one senior to me.”
“If there were someone senior to you, they would have been the ones speaking to us,” he said tartly.
Don’t let Senator Knight hear I’m senior to him, I thought. He’ll call an air strike on my ass. Inspiration struck me. “It is not the way of my people to circumvent protocol. It would offend my elders for me to do as you wish.” Oh, jeez, I sounded like a bad alien movie. But I was trying to walk a very fine line between insisting politely and saying “Hells to the no” outright.
The Administrator gave me a sour look that told me that he was equally unimpressed by this effort. “I’m sure you can work it out. It’s power that makes precedence.”
Oof. Definitely not going to tell Senator Knight that. Looks like Lieutenant Uhura just got a promotion, I thought grimly, but it was a ship I was unwilling and incapable of handling. I wracked my brains but was at a loss. “I shall do my best.”
“Good. Your full cooperation in this is expected, and we will confer on you what you need to accomplish this. We expect a noticeable improvement at the end of the thirty rotations.”
Like I was being put on academic probation. But it was probation for . . . all of us.
I had the feeling the meeting was about to wrap up. “If I may, some of the oracles—all of them, actually—were overwhelmed by a . . . command that seemed to come from me. Was that you?”
He frowned. “I said we would help you, make things clear to your kind. You are in charge. You are our proxy.”
“Many of them were injured,” I insisted, “and some killed by this announcement. Please, do not do it again.”
His frown deepened, and he pressed the tip of his finger against his lip. “I will consider it. I presume it was effective on the entire . . . oracle . . . population?”
I worked hard, not entirely successfully, to keep the anger from my voice. “I haven’t had time to take a poll.”
“You’ve no idea the expense and time we’ve spent already on this system,” he said, sighing. “Mostly because of your actions, and those around you.”
“Which you’ve agreed were misunderstood by you. I misunderstood your intentions as well.”
“Yes, we agree on that. But tell me, Zoe.” The Administrator tented his fingers. “How much time would you spend on a weed?”
I got a sick feeling. I knew what he was going after, and knew I had to answer. “It depends.”
The Administrator sighed. “Your kind says that entirely too often.”
“Because it is relevant entirely too often,” I answered briskly. “At this level—my level—there’s a lot to consider that might not occur to you. Depends on whether the weed is ornamental or helps keep other pests away from the garden. Depends on whether the weed threatens to take over the entire yard, is an invasive species that has outstayed its purpose. Depends on whether the weed is good to eat. Depends on whether it is rare. Depends on whether the local bees like it. Depends on—”
“Yes, I see your point. The analogy is more complicated for you, I understand. This is one of the problems between us. While we can communicate directly, we still lack . . .”
“A common context.” I nodded. “But I am patient, and I think it is worthwhile for you to be patient, too. Here’s the thing. We’re usually able to figure out pretty quick if a weed needs to go or not, and the fact that you’re hesitating makes me think you should consider we are a pretty weed, possibly beneficial in the long run.”
“Bring your