Elasa did not inquire further. She knew that her role as a secret agent for Earth had to be performed flawlessly. But it helped that this aspect was not onerous.
She almost lost it with one client. The man had enthusiastic sex with her, then looked at her with dawning recognition. “Fembot!”
Elasa froze.
Then Bunky was there with Adela. “No, impossible,” the man concluded. “It was just that the only experience I have had before that matches yours was with one of those robots.”
“Thank you,” Elasa said, relieved that the Lamb, in concert with the Aware, had been able to project the necessary thought. Bunky was telepathic, but projection was not easy for him. It was the vampire plants that had real powers of projection. “I understand they are very good at what they do.”
“Oh, yes. But ultimately there is no substitute for a real live girl.”
“That is reassuring to know.”
She did not mention the incident to Pauling.
The tour concluded. Pauling's regular secretary had recovered and would return to her position, which included bed as well as board. Adela reported that the woman was jealous as hell of his time with Elasa, for good reason; he preferred Elasa. It was time for Elasa to go home.
“Oh Silver,” Pauling lamented. “I'm ashamed to admit it, but I don't want to lose you. You have been the best secretary and companion I have ever had, and--” He took a breath. “I think I have fallen in love with you.”
There was the crux. She had to maintain the relationship, but it was better that it be at his behest rather than hers. Elasa made a pretense of surprise. “I assumed it was just business and sex. You know I am married.”
“It was supposed to be. I do know you are married. I do know better. There can never be anything formal between us. But you are the perfect woman, the very image of my desire. Is there not at least some hint of return feeling on your part?”
“All I can legitimately say is that I do like you, Pauling, and have enjoyed our sessions together, of whatever nature. I will be sorry to see them end. But I will always love my husband best. I would not have taken this job were it not for the money.” That was a necessary lie, and perhaps not a complete one.
He grasped at that straw. “There are occasional projects you could facilitate. They can be well paid. If you could handle one every week or so--”
“I believe I could do that,” Elasa agreed. “If your secretary is amenable.”
For a moment grim lines formed about his mouth. He was a man of power. “She will be amenable.” Or else.
“Then perhaps this is not farewell,” Elasa said, kissing him. Not farewell until the Maggots took him over. She wished that were not part of the equation.
Chapter 5:
Alien
Banning and Bela were glad to have her back, and Elasa was glad to be back. She made love to Banning six times in two days, catching up. She also hugged Vulture and Python. They were Mona and Elen's creatures rather than hers, but she had come to care for them. She had been seeing Bunky all along, of course.
“The key players are on our registry,” Adela reported.
“So you will know when they are taken over by alien minds?”
“Yes. Actually that process is already occurring.”
“Already!” Elasa was unpleasantly surprised. “Pauling seemed entirely normal to me.”
“He is. He doesn't know that an alien is in his mind, observing everything.”
“Everything?”
“Your entire association with Pauling was observed by the alien.”
“And you did not tell me!”
“We thought it best that you not know, any more than he did.”
“Bunky was in on this?”
“Bunky's sense was that it could be either way. We Awares made the decision. We wanted you to be entirely natural, so that the alien could have no suspicion. I was on the scene and it felt right.”
It did make sense. Handling Pauling had been tricky enough without her having to factor in an alien observer. “Why are you telling me now?”
“Because now you need to seduce the alien.”
Elasa stared at her. “And I thought you were an innocent girl.”
“I was, until six months ago. Awareness is hard on innocence.”
“And now there's a planet to save,” Elasa said. “By a fembot?”
“Yes. You are the key player. We merely assist.”
“How do I seduce the alien?”
“We're not sure, but Bunky approves the path we have chosen. When you seduce Pauling, you mention your experience exchanging to another host on another planet. That should be similar to the alien's position.”
“But that was Elasa! With Pauling I am Silver. It would give away my real identity.”
“Pauling already knows it.”
“He knows it?”
“He's a high power official. He routinely does due diligence on his contacts. He liked you, so let it pass.”
“And you thought it better than I not know,” Elasa concluded grimly.
“With one exception. Somehow the term fembot was omitted from the report.”
“Somehow?”
“We are getting better at what we do.”
“So he still believes I am alive.”
“Yes. That much is essential.”
“So when I let slip my experience, it will not be news to Pauling.”
“Or the alien,” Adela agreed. “We believe the alien already is interested in you, for that reason. You can use that to win him over.”
“An alien who means to take over our world and destroy it?”
“We think the alien is a person impressed into service by an utterly ruthless power. He may have sympathy for you.”
“That and a galactic space fleet just might save Earth.”
“The space fleet belongs to the Maggots.”
“You're sure this alien is male?”
“Yes, Bunky sniffed that out. We suspect he is lonely.”
“But surely his romantic interest is in a female with three heads and five tentacles.”
“When in human host, his interest should align with human. The body orientation governs in that respect.”
“Well, we'll see. At least so far he's just observing.”
“He will take over in another month.”
“And what will happen to Pauling then?”
“We think takeover is not the same as displacement. This is not like the exchanges. There will be two minds in one host, the alien mind governing. That is so there is no confusion about identity or program. The aliens do not want to be discovered prematurely.”
“Prematurely to what?”
“To the final takeover of the planet. They don't want it to be wastefully messy. As nearly as we can tell, from vague precognition, the final thrust will come when Maggot minds take over the hosts directly. They will be powerfully telepathic, governing the minds of all creatures in range. Then it will be too late for Earth.”
Elasa considered. “At what point, then, do you plan to stop them?”
“The moment the Maggots strike.”
“And if you are a whisker too late?”
“Then Earth is lost.”
“You can't make your counter-strike sooner?”
“We can't,” Adela agreed.
“Oh, I hope you know what you're doing!”
“So do we,” Adela said seriously.
*
Pauling brought the special project personally. Elasa met him at the hotel. She saw immediately that the material was important and complicated. She set to work organizing it, and in three hours was done.
“You're a marvel, Silver,” Pauling said. “The sponsoring outfit told me this was a five hour job.”
“I like to think I am good at what I do.”
“You're the best at whatever you do.”
Then they made love. It was fair to call it that, rather than mere sex, because it was clear that Pauling did love h
er, and she liked him well enough.
Then as they lay together on the bed, relaxing, she spoke. “This reminds me vaguely of the time I visited Colony Planet Jones. That's the one where the sheep govern. They are said to be precognitive, but all they really care about is ovine events.”
He smiled. “I remind you of a sheep?”
She laughed. “No, of course not. I was just identifying the locale. It's that I visited there by exchange, occupying the body of a native host, and had unusual sex there. It's a different kind of experience. Here on Earth I'm just a housewife, but this time with you has been a whirlwind of experience with exotic locales and high-powered officials. Not quite the same as being in a different body on a different planet, but maybe there are parallels.” She was talking to the alien observer. Was he listening?
“I appreciate the analogy. I'm sure you're competent and lovely wherever you are.”
Soon they made love again, and she wondered what the alien thought about it. Did he dream of his five-tentacled lover?
The following week she did more work, and they had another tryst. And again the week after.
Then Adela told her. “The alien has taken over the host.”
“My next encounter will be with the alien?”
“We don't know. So far he has been content to continue observing. But soon he will start acting. Pauling will follow his normal schedule except when the alien directs otherwise.”
“Why take over, if not to act?”
“To get into it gradually, making no waves. Maybe he's waiting to interact with you before getting serious. It's still three months before the official strike.”
“He wants to fuck me before he kills me,” Elasa said sourly.
“Males are males throughout the galaxy.”
But she went on schedule. The survival of the planet depended on it.
She knew the instant she saw him that Pauling had changed. The indications were subtle, but she was primed to pick up on them. It was his body and his mind, but a different personality governed both. She made no reaction, so as to keep her knowledge private, but she was not comfortable.
He gazed at her. “You know,” he said.
So much for that. She glanced at Adela, who nodded. It was, astonishingly, all right.
The alien followed that glance. “You have Awares!”
Now Adela was the astonished one. “You see me!”
He laughed. “I am Aware myself, and telepathic, though I prefer verbal communication when dealing with alien minds. Come join the dialogue.”
Elasa recovered her equilibrium. “Shall we introduce ourselves? I am Elasa.” Because if Pauling knew it, so did the alien.
“I am Adela.”
“And I am Qqopp,” he said, pronouncing it with a kind of stutter at each end, K-kop-p. “You may call me Kop, of the late planet Qqq.” That was pronounced Queue.
“I am interested to meet you, Kop,” Elasa said.
“And I am intrigued by you, lady machine. My host had no knowledge of your nature. But I have experience and powers of observation he does not, apart from the fact that your electronic mind is opaque to me.”
“And what has happened to Pauling?” Elasa asked evenly.
“He remains. I have taken over the command centers of his brain, and govern absolutely, but I have not otherwise damaged him. You may consider him as a prisoner, unharmed but restricted.”
“Can you demonstrate that?”
“I can, if you provide me reason to do so.”
This was curious. “Why should you bargain with me?”
“Let's make ourselves comfortable, Elasa. We have a fair dialogue coming.”
The three of them took easy chairs. Both Elasa and Adela crossed their legs, showing thighs under skirts. The alien did look, faintly smiling.
“I think it will be best if we consider ourselves to be in a state of truce,” Kop said. “I am aware that each of you has mechanisms to alert your associates to the details of this interview, while I have the perception and means to destroy you before you can do so. We all can benefit by maintaining a civilized discussion, after which we may reassess our positions.”
Elasa glanced at Adela again. “He's not bluffing,” Adela said.
“None of us are,” Kop said.
“I do not promise total candor,” Elasa said. “But I will facilitate the dialogue. You have answered my question about why you should bargain: you want something of us you will not obtain if you destroy us. Now I will answer your question: I had an ongoing relationship with Pauling, and liked him well. I realize I can not dictate to you how he is treated, but I will be significantly more cooperative with your designs if you can show me that you have not hurt him.”
“My designs?”
“You desire me sexually. You may be an alien in a human body, but your immediate impressions and emotions are governed by that body.”
“You are correct. I am incidentally curious how you know, since you are neither telepathic nor Aware.”
“I am trained to observe men,” Elasa said. “When I do this, your pupils expand.” She separated her knees more widely, giving him a glimpse almost to her crotch. “Also when I do this.” She leaned forward and inhaled while her decolletage fell loose.
“Ah. You have powers of observation beyond those of a mortal woman.”
“I do when I focus, though all women know the standard ploys. It facilitates the business I was designed for.”
“It does indeed,” Kop agreed.
“But if you know me for a machine, why do I turn you on?”
“You turn me on in significant part because you are a machine. I am unable to read your mind or fathom your personal future, yet I know you are conscious and feeling. I have never encountered that before. It lends intriguing mystery. I think I can't trust any native girl with the truth about my situation, but you are more rational. I can truly interact with you, physically and mentally.”
“So you know you will have to work to earn my favor.”
“I do desire your favor. Therefore I will demonstrate that I have not harmed Pauling Hudson.”
In a moment his expression changed. “Hello, Silver,” Pauling said.
“That's him,” Adela said.
“I was never aware of you,” Pauling said to her. “I never heard of Awares before.”
“We are folk who somehow know our immediate situations,” Adela said. “We can seldom be surprised. I have been helping Elasa manage you.”
“She already knows how to tempt a man,” Pauling said wryly.
“In connection with the coming invasion of the Maggots.”
“I never heard of them either,” Pauling said. “Not before Kop took over.”
“He will surely fill you in,” Elasa said. “You sound normal. Are you all right?”
“Apart from being captive, yes. Kop lets me handle routine matters. It is easier to delegate tasks than to micro-manage.”
“So you simply serve a new master.”
“That's it.”
“You're not fighting him?”
Pauling shook his head. “I can't fight him. This is not coercive. It is as if I suddenly decided to follow a new course. I am now his loyal assistant.”
“You don't even want to be free of his control?”
Pauling considered briefly. “Objectively I can see that I should oppose him. After all, he will implement policies that destroy my world. But it seems that my motive center has been revised. I am satisfied to do his business.”
“And while he is governing, where are you?”
“Here, observing. It is as if I am seeing a movie, appreciating the action without being directly involved. To the extent I am involved I am like a horse in harness, not questioning the directives of my rider.”
“So he is not a monster.”
“He is not a monster,” Pauling agreed. “He is an alien master. He has motives and feelings similar to mine. He merely serves a different cause.”
Elasa nodded.
“I am satisfied, Kop. You are not mistreating him.”
“Thank you. Now I will tell you that I was observing when you first encountered Pauling. When you seduced him, you seduced me, though I was at that point merely a spectator. When he fell in love with you, so did I. I would do almost anything in my power to win your favor.” His mouth quirked. “I'm sure that was one reason you were selected for this mission. Your Aware associates anticipated my tastes.”
“They did,” Elasa agreed. “You can win my favor by canceling the invasion.”
Kop shook his head. “You of course know that is beyond my power. I am a functionary, serving my master as you serve yours. Make some other demand.”
“Tell me everything you know about the Maggots.”
He laughed. “That is not what we call them, but is nevertheless apt. But the telling would take some time.”
Elasa was surprised. “You will do it?”
“In return for your favor, yes.”
“My sexual favor is available in return for information. My emotional favor has to be won, not bargained for.”
“I will settle for the first, and hope for the second in due course.”
Elasa was uncertain. This was too easy. “I think we need the Lamb,” she said to Adela.
“I will fetch him,” Adela said, rising.
“I know of no lamb,” Kop said. “This is a pet animal?”
“The pet of a friend, yes. He has powers you will appreciate.” She glanced at the table, where there was a briefcase. “Suppose I organize the material, as I normally do, while we wait? My presumption is that you prefer to maintain Pauling's routine as much as is feasible, until you substitute your own.”
“Official business mixed with an unofficial affair,” Kop agreed.
Elasa stood, went to the table, opened the briefcase, and slid out the papers. She scanned their content. “This is not routine.”
“It is my routine rather than Pauling's,” Kop said. “You do not have to do it if you find it distasteful.”
“I do find it distasteful. This is a plan for the biggest and most sophisticated slaughterhouse ever built.”
“One of a number. I have three months to get the local ones set up and staffed. All living tissue will be processed in the course of the six months following.”
Elasa was surprised again. “You are telling me this? I'm the enemy!”