Chapter 47 Turning, her world upside down.
Aelita woke up the next morning, only to find herself alone in the gigantic bed, which caused her to freak out a bit, but just as she was about to leave the bed and go look for Andrew, she realized that she was just in her underwear and her hands were clean.
She blushed, realizing that he had to undress her and clean her up after she had fallen asleep.
Not wasting too much time thinking about that, she got dressed and went to look for the human.
The fastest way to do so was to check the internal sensors in the command center, which showed that he was in the fitness module.
The girl sighed in relief, she was scared that he abandoned her.
Only then did she see that it was already late and she had overslept this morning.
She waited patiently, for Andrew to finish his workout, and the moment he entered the command center she started to apologize.
-I'm sorry for yesterday.
She said, not knowing if he would be mad at her.
-What are you apologizing for?
The surprised man asked.
-I don't recall anything that would require you to apologize.
He added.
-You not only had to carry me but also undressed my dirty clothing and even cleaned me up, not to mention that I overslept today.
She explained apologetically.
Andrew was stunned at first and then just started laughing his ass off.
-Sorry for that, but I just can't handle it.
He said a few seconds later to the confused alien.
-First of all, you do not have to apologize for any of it, and second, I think that we need to have a serious talk about the whole, property and protector thing as well as our cultures.
He said to comfort her, and he wanted to know what the hell was going on.
One day she was bold and seductive, while the next she reacted like a little girl, just because he said that he would not punish her and explained that she had not failed in her work.
Fortunately, there was nothing much to do for them so after making some more cubes and sending them to the substations, they sat down and Aelita explained, everything about her culture and her duties as his property as well as his privileges as her protector.
The more Andrew heard, the less he liked her people and their ways.
He knew that the protector system was basically slavery, disguised as protection, but he had no idea that the property would be punished or even abandoned for a minor mistake or that they would be abused almost daily.
What surprised him the most was Aelita's confession about being considered ugly by her people's standards, which led to her choosing to become an engineer as there were not many of them around and it was her best shot at finding a protector for herself.
Once she was done explaining everything, which took over two hours to do, he finally understood her behavior and he also wanted to kick himself for not asking about it from the start.
Now, it was his turn to tell her about humanity and explain how it all worked for his people.
Aelita was confused about many things, as they were opposite from her own culture.
She was speechless when he told her that for human males or at least most of them she would be considered a beautiful woman, and any of them would consider themselves lucky to have an opportunity to even talk to her not to mention spend the night together.
Of course, he didn't tell her everything about humanity as it would take much too long, but he focused on the matters that involved her.
This also let her understand his treatment of her and the lack of the punishments or mistreatment she was expecting.
Andrew then informed her that he would only punish her if she betrayed him or tried to intentionally harm him.
The minor mistakes were not even worth mentioning and even if she made a big mistake, he would at most scold her and tell her to fix it.
Most of the time he was talking, she looked at him with eyes the size of saucers, too stunned to even try to argue as he just flipped her world upside down.
In the end, they both understood each other much better, which would prevent many misunderstandings in the future.
-Can you describe for me how the other Cheroni looks?
He asked when he finished explaining everything.
This was one thing that bothered him, and the only two explanations were that, either her world was full of fairies and goddesses, or they had different esthetic sense than humans.
Aelita had no idea why he would ask about it but proceeded to not only describe it but she had shown him.
Her education capsule could project things that she was learning about or she was thinking about, so she lay inside and started the capsule.
It didn't take long for the display to show a standard Cheroni.
Seeing the display, Andrew paused the image, just like she told him to, but now he was sure that they had different esthetic sense than humans.
The Cheroni on the display was nothing like what he had imagined.
It looked, similar to Aelita, but the body looked like it was starved for a very long time, with almost no muscle, and bones clearly visible under its skin.
Think Concentration Camp Survivor right after the camp liberation and you would have a pretty good idea.
-So, how do you like the normal Cheroni?
She asked getting out of the capsule.
-Not what I was expecting, some of my people might like this appearance, but not many.
He answered and proceeded to tell her what he thought about it.
-Why are you considered ugly, since you are way better looking than the norm?
He asked puzzled, as he finished explaining his thoughts.
-The Cherix, like the thinner Cheroni, but I was never able to lose weight and look like them, later I learned that it's something in my genes that makes me look like this.
She pointed to her body.
Andrew didn't know what to think about it and then an idea came to his mind.
-Are the Cherix also so thin?
He asked.
-Yes, they are all like that or even thinner, why?
Hearing her answer, he connected the dots.
-I think, that you are not considered ugly, but dangerous.
From what you told me, the abuse is normal and the punishment for every little mistake is the same.
She nodded, confirming.
-Tell me, who decided on the rules of your society?
Andrew asked, being certain he knew the answer already.
-It was the protector's council.
Aelita said.
-They gather once every year and set laws, rules, and everything else, why?
Andrew shook his head, he was right and now he had to explain to her that her whole life she was not ugly, but made the protectors scared.
With her musculature intact, she could take out a protector with ease, since she was way stronger than an anorectic-looking guy.
Aelita could hardly believe, his words, but then he showed her proof, which was herself.
-If this one had taken my kick, I'm sure that she would have been critically injured or most likely dead, but you survived, additionally, you managed to train on an exercise machine meant for humans, I seriously doubt that she could even move in my standard gravity, not to mention finish a bike program.
He explained, pointing at the display.
-I might be stronger than the rest of my kind, but I'm no danger to anyone, I can't fight even if I wanted to.
She protested, trying her best to understand everything she just heard.
-Who told you that?
Andrew asked.
-Did you ever try?
He continued.
It took her a moment, but then she figured it out.
-It was my protector father, and my mother who taught me that, and I never doubted it.
This is a piece of common knowledge in my world.
- Right, and it's just accidental that it makes the Cheroni defenseless, in the face of unfair punishments and abuse.
He said, shaking his head.
-Can't you see, that the system is designed in a way that allows, the Cherix to control you, without any fear of you ever rebelling?
He finally pointed it out, but she had figured it out also and was in disbelief.
-Then everyone who was exiled…
-They were most likely, getting close to fighting it out or were like you, too strong.
It would only take one or two accidents where Cheroni defended herself successfully, to endanger the Cherix reign over you, and if I'm right, that was the last thing they wanted to happen.
He said.
-But that's impossible, they are stronger, and know how to fight, and we could never be a threat to them.
She protested, as for the second time in one day, her whole worldview was turned upside down.
-How much weight can a Cherix lift?
Andrew asked.
-Around 25 kilograms.
She answered immediately.
-Come with me, I want to show you something.
He said and took her to the fitness module, where he prepared a 25-kilogram barbell and lifted it off the ground with minimal effort.
-Now you try.
He said to her.
Aelita was surprised, that he would even suggest that, but decided to trust him.
Andrew instructed her how to do it properly.
She did as instructed and to her surprise, the weight lifted off the ground the moment she pulled it upwards.
She was standing with it in her hands, which demanded a lot of effort on her side, but she just did something she thought was impossible.
She put the barbell down, looking at Andrew, with a confused expression.
-Did you lessen its weight somehow?
She asked, still unable to believe what she just did.
-No, this is 25 kilograms, and remember that the gravity compensator doesn't work on external objects.
So you just did something that even Cherix might not be able to do.
He said with a smile.
-This is all the proof you need, to know, why your world's system is eliminating Cheroni like you.
He added.
-But this only proves, that I'm stronger than normal, I still can't fight.
She protested, but Andrew was prepared for this, he already knew how stubborn she could be, not to mention that she just learned that her whole life she was lied to.
-Come here.
He said while grabbing her hand and pulling her to the punching bag.
There, he put the protective bandages on her hands.
-What are you doing?
She asked surprised by his actions.
-Presenting another proof.
He said.
Once the bandages were on, he showed her how to ball up her hand into a fist and how to punch the bag with a straight punch.
-Now it's your turn.
He said.
-But that's fighting, I can't.
She protested, terrified.
-You told me that you have to listen to my orders when I accepted you, so now I order you to hit the bag, like I just did, and just for the record, it's not fighting, it's just punching a bag, there is a difference.
He said, using her own words to force her to do what he wanted and prove to her, that she was more than capable of defending herself.
With no other choice, she nodded and did as she was told.
Her first punch was gentle like she was afraid to damage the bag.
-Harder.
Andrew said.
Listening to him she hit the bag harder and jumped when it produced a sound.
It was quiet, and not anywhere near what it produced when he did it, but it was there.
-Good.
Andrew commented.
-Now hit it with one hand after the other, using more strength.
Aelita did as he asked, jumping both times when the bag produced a sound, but she felt a sensation that she had never felt before, and it was extremely satisfying like she just became something much more than she was till now.
-What is this feeling?
She asked, not understanding what was going on with her.
-I don't know, but you just proved that you could defend yourself, if you were pushed to do so, and with that, you also just proved that you are more than a threat to an unarmed Cherix.
Andrew explained.
Hearing his words, she finally understood, that what he said before was true, she wasn't ugly, they were just afraid of her.
-Can I try a few more times?
She asked, not sure if it was all right.
-Be my guest.
Andrew said allowing her to do as she pleased.
Elite threw a few more punches at the bag and she had to admit, that it felt great.
With every punch, her anger and frustration, which she was always holding in, were burning out, allowing her to think more clearly, and feel lighter than ever.
Now she understood, why Andrew used this bag so often.
After a few minutes of landing a punch after punch on the bag, she was tired, but the satisfying feeling only intensified.
-Can I use this bag later?
She asked, hoping Andrew would allow it.
-Sure, you can use all the equipment here, or if you want you can also buy a fitness module designed for your species.
He said with a smile.
-Won't that be a problem?
She asked, not sure if this would not interfere with their shopping list.
-It won't be a problem, besides, I still need to get you an armory module.
-Why would I need an armory?
The girl asked, confused.
-To store your armor, that will be delivered today, and also, to find out what kind of weapons, you will get with it.
Andrew said with a smile.
She forgot about the space armor she would receive once the merchant returned.
Just as he said that they got a notification about the incoming ships.