The Beacon: Hard Science Fiction by Brandon Morris (red white and royal blue hardcover TXT) 📕

What do you think, Eggwatcher Lotrak? I need some relaxation.

Of course, Netmaster! Is there anything special you’d like?

Number 17 was pleasingly docile last time, Kasfok replied.

Do you want to reproduce, or just relaxation? In the first instance, I could give you a recommendation...

Just relaxation, Kasfok interrupted Lotrak.

I’ll see to it that Number 17 is prepared. The smaller Mendrak lowered his mandibles, turned, and disappeared through the door. The reason for his small size was that Lotrak and the other Eggwatchers had their genital organs removed shortly after hatching to prepare them for their position. This stunted their growth, making them too scrawny for any other work. They were scorned in private by the fully grown Mendraki, especially those of the leading Warrior Caste, although simultaneously envied for the privilege of always being able to live in the company of females.

Kasfok settled into one of the immaculate webs on the opposite wall. A few pulses later the side door opened again, and Lotrak entered with a female Mendrak.

Number 17 at your service, Netmaster, he drummed, then retreated and closed the door behind him.

The little Mendrak stood motionless in front of Kasfok. Hesitantly, she lifted her rear pair of legs in a clumsy attempt to offer the greeting of respect. Her mandibles sagged loosely, and her gripping legs rested lightly on the communication thread. The two middle pairs of legs, which now had to bear her entire weight, trembled slightly. She was clearly nervous.

Kasfok felt anger rising within. Sometimes he wanted to be able to have an intelligent conversation with a female. But this was, of course, impossible. Every female Mendrak was lobotomized shortly after hatching. In the ships' narrow confines, this was the only way to keep them from killing each other. Each female would try to destroy another female’s clutch but protect her own.

It had always been possible in the home world to ensure sufficient distance between sexually mature females, but this was impossible on the ships. It had already become common in the first generation of ship crews to treat the females for any aggression they had shown toward other females by operating on their brains. Kasfok thought this was a shame, but not because he pitied the female Mendraki. Rather, he regretted that after the procedure, they were no longer able to perform the tasks that nature had designed them for—particularly those that made life as pleasant as possible for the male Mendraki.

Now they were only suitable for mating and laying eggs so as to ensure the procreation of the species. Educational duties now fell to specially trained Mendraki who were not suited to be Warriors, and this group now formed the bottom of the Mendraki patriarchal social structure.

Number 17—females did not need names because they were not considered full-fledged individuals—was one of the rare cases in which a lobotomized female still had some residual self-awareness, and therefore could cater to a Warrior’s sexual desires. At least she understood how Kasfok expected her to satisfy him, if he repeatedly explained it to her.

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Copyright © 2021 by Brandon Q. Morris

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Translator: Stephen Vladimirov

Editing team: Marcia Kwiecinski, A.A.S., and Stephen Kwiecinski, B.S.

Cover design: Jelena Gajic