Doctor Mizuno settled into the couch in the staff tea room to wait for the broadcast, glad that she had beaten the rush to the best position to watch her daughter fight for democracy in North America. The room was strangely empty, but she was sure it would soon fill at the appointed time.
"You should try some of the chocolate cake," a vaguely familiar voice told her. "It is an exceptional delicacy."
The doctor turned her head slowly and nearly spat out her tea at the sight of the plushy monster sitting by the coffee table. "Kachoo!?"
"Gazuntite!" it responded.
"Wa-wa-what?"
The being sighed and waved a tentacle apologetically. "That was an attempt at humour to put you at ease. I'm afraid I have not got the nuances down. Do be careful with that tea. It is such a delicate blend, it would be a shame to waste it." He levitated his own cup and considered it. "It is almost a shame to ingest it, but it is meant to be enjoyed as well as to nourish. You are such an interesting species, you know, to turn nutrition into an art form."
"Ah, Really?" she asked nervously, carefully lowering her shaking fingers to deposit the tea cup on the table.
"Yes. Reproduction too. For most species such biological functions are purely mechanical necessities. The way you turned them into art forms, sources of diverse pleasure, is a rare novelty. "
"I see," she murmured, wondering if the tentacled-alien gourmand took as active an interest in human voluptuary arts as it did the gastronomical.
"I have a proposition for you," it said, while dusting crumbs off of its feeding tentacles.
"Arhe," she stammered. "Look, while I'm flattered and, I admit, a little intrigued, I must decline!"
"A pity. I was most impressed by your handling of the SimAfrica challenge. You managed to recover the situation with a deft touch while I, I must admit, made a rather mess of it. I underestimated human tenacity, ingenuity and stupidity, even in the simulation. To die for a cause, that I can understand, but when such sacrifice not only is in vain, but has already been proven to be entirely counterproductive? I questioned the accuracy of the simulation, but apparently humans really are that irrational.
"That's why I have chosen to delegate human Governors to manage my territories. What is the phrase? 'It takes man to know man?'"
"Close enough," the doctor agreed. "Your rule would be a bitter pill to swallow. You need a velvet glove to cover your iron fist?"
The alien's bug eyes swirled as it regarded her. "Even your languages are an art form! For a species that engages in such barbarism, you have such an astonishing love of beauty. But, yes, you have the essence of it. When one of your own is seen to be implementing my strategies, it somehow becomes more acceptable than the dictates of an alien power. And you are able to anticipate human reactions my alien point of view may overlook. That is why I wish you to consider becoming the Governor of the Asian Territories."
"You want me to... what?"
"Manage the Asian Territories, should my champions win the right in a forthcoming challenge. Please consider it. Meanwhile, let's see how your daughter and her friends are doing?"
The nervous doctor nodded and eyed the television.
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(Posted Tue, 26 Aug 2003 06:07)
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