Excerpt of Sonya by Daniel K Seward

One of the men opened a door, and I was standing head-to-toe with the President of the United States. His eyebrows were raised in surprise. It was the fact I was so young. I was only nineteen. He fluttered his head in an attempt to come to grips with this. Then he returned to his senses and shook my hand firmly.

      “Sonya, correct?” he asked.

      ‘Yes, Mr. President. And, of course, I know your name.”

      “Sonya, I have the best cooks and servants at our beck and call,” he began. “I can get you anything you wish.”

     “I’ll just have water, thank you.”

     “Now, now, this is an opportunity to get anything you might have been craving on that alien contraption you and your friends call an energy ship. I assume you have been cooped up on it the past several hours.”

     “Actually, sir, you would be surprised at how accommodating that vessel is.”

     "I suppose so," he said stiffly. He straightened his back, walked behind his desk, and pressed an intercom button. "Margaret, bring in some water for our guest, please." He sat down while I took his cue and sat across from him in a soft leather recliner. His secretary entered carrying a varnished wooden stand, a bottle of expensive water, and a crystal glass.

    "Thank you so much, Margaret," I told her, "But I'll just take the bottle."

    She handed me the bottle and began fussing with the stand.

    "That won't be necessary either, dear," I said, smiling at her.

   She paused, did a double take of me, then left with the unused items and closed the door behind her.

   The President folded his hands in front of him and looked at me intently. I sensed pleasantries were now at an end. “How do you know we can trust these…beings, Sonya?”

    The question made sense from his point of view. He protected national and international peace, and security was his biggest responsibility. I decided to reassure him. "I have interacted with hundreds of beings from dozens of races, not just these four. They all seemed honorable to me."

     “These beings are talking as though they just want to help us, but I never put any stock in altruism. What is in it for them?”

     “Race interactions are synergistic. Everyone benefits.”

     "That sounds all fluffy and good, but it is somewhat obtuse. Don't they want something tangible?"

     “If they do, they have not communicated it to me. You must remember, Mr. President, these are advanced beings, very removed from the practicalities we deal with here on Earth. I have found that their feet do not quite touch the ground compared to your typical human.”

     “Well, I do not believe that. I think they want something. For them.”

     I remembered Sedrick studying me, looking so very human.

     "You know," I replied in a low, conspiratorial voice, "you might have a point. I can inquire into the matter and consult the Four Race leaders and the computer at my disposal. I will see what I can dig up and get back to you on that."

One of the men opened a door, and I was standing head-to-toe with the President of the United States. His eyebrows were raised in surprise. It was the fact I was so young. I was only nineteen. He fluttered his head in an attempt to come to grips with this. Then he returned to his senses and shook my hand firmly.

      “Sonya, correct?” he asked.

      ‘Yes, Mr. President. And, of course, I know your name.”

      “Sonya, I have the best cooks and servants at our beck and call,” he began. “I can get you anything you wish.”

     “I’ll just have water, thank you.”

     “Now, now, this is an opportunity to get anything you might have been craving on that alien contraption you and your friends call an energy ship. I assume you have been cooped up on it the past several hours.”

     “Actually, sir, you would be surprised at how accommodating that vessel is.”

     "I suppose so," he said stiffly. He straightened his back, walked behind his desk, and pressed an intercom button. "Margaret, bring in some water for our guest, please." He sat down while I took his cue and sat across from him in a soft leather recliner. His secretary entered carrying a varnished wooden stand, a bottle of expensive water, and a crystal glass.

    "Thank you so much, Margaret," I told her, "But I'll just take the bottle."

    She handed me the bottle and began fussing with the stand.

    "That won't be necessary either, dear," I said, smiling at her.

   She paused, did a double take of me, then left with the unused items and closed the door behind her.

   The President folded his hands in front of him and looked at me intently. I sensed pleasantries were now at an end. “How do you know we can trust these…beings, Sonya?”

    The question made sense from his point of view. He protected national and international peace, and security was his biggest responsibility. I decided to reassure him. "I have interacted with hundreds of beings from dozens of races, not just these four. They all seemed honorable to me."

     “These beings are talking as though they just want to help us, but I never put any stock in altruism. What is in it for them?”

     “Race interactions are synergistic. Everyone benefits.”

     "That sounds all fluffy and good, but it is somewhat obtuse. Don't they want something tangible?"

     “If they do, they have not communicated it to me. You must remember, Mr. President, these are advanced beings, very removed from the practicalities we deal with here on Earth. I have found that their feet do not quite touch the ground compared to your typical human.”

     “Well, I do not believe that. I think they want something. For them.”

     I remembered Sedrick studying me, looking so very human.

     "You know," I replied in a low, conspiratorial voice, "you might have a point. I can inquire into the matter and consult the Four Race leaders and the computer at my disposal. I will see what I can dig up and get back to you on that."

One of the men opened a door, and I was standing head-to-toe with the President of the United States. His eyebrows were raised in surprise. It was the fact I was so young. I was only nineteen. He fluttered his head in an attempt to come to grips with this. Then he returned to his senses and shook my hand firmly.

      “Sonya, correct?” he asked.

      ‘Yes, Mr. President. And, of course, I know your name.”

      “Sonya, I have the best cooks and servants at our beck and call,” he began. “I can get you anything you wish.”

     “I’ll just have water, thank you.”

     “Now, now, this is an opportunity to get anything you might have been craving on that alien contraption you and your friends call an energy ship. I assume you have been cooped up on it the past several hours.”

     “Actually, sir, you would be surprised at how accommodating that vessel is.”

     "I suppose so," he said stiffly. He straightened his back, walked behind his desk, and pressed an intercom button. "Margaret, bring in some water for our guest, please." He sat down while I took his cue and sat across from him in a soft leather recliner. His secretary entered carrying a varnished wooden stand, a bottle of expensive water, and a crystal glass.

    "Thank you so much, Margaret," I told her, "But I'll just take the bottle."

    She handed me the bottle and began fussing with the stand.

    "That won't be necessary either, dear," I said, smiling at her.

   She paused, did a double take of me, then left with the unused items and closed the door behind her.

   The President folded his hands in front of him and looked at me intently. I sensed pleasantries were now at an end. “How do you know we can trust these…beings, Sonya?”

    The question made sense from his point of view. He protected national and international peace, and security was his biggest responsibility. I decided to reassure him. "I have interacted with hundreds of beings from dozens of races, not just these four. They all seemed honorable to me."

     “These beings are talking as though they just want to help us, but I never put any stock in altruism. What is in it for them?”

     “Race interactions are synergistic. Everyone benefits.”

     "That sounds all fluffy and good, but it is somewhat obtuse. Don't they want something tangible?"

     “If they do, they have not communicated it to me. You must remember, Mr. President, these are advanced beings, very removed from the practicalities we deal with here on Earth. I have found that their feet do not quite touch the ground compared to your typical human.”

     “Well, I do not believe that. I think they want something. For them.”

     I remembered Sedrick studying me, looking so very human.

     "You know," I replied in a low, conspiratorial voice, "you might have a point. I can inquire into the matter and consult the Four Race leaders and the computer at my disposal. I will see what I can dig up and get back to you on that."

One of the men opened a door, and I was standing head-to-toe with the President of the United States. His eyebrows were raised in surprise. It was the fact I was so young. I was only nineteen. He fluttered his head in an attempt to come to grips with this. Then he returned to his senses and shook my hand firmly.

      “Sonya, correct?” he asked.

      ‘Yes, Mr. President. And, of course, I know your name.”

      “Sonya, I have the best cooks and servants at our beck and call,” he began. “I can get you anything you wish.”

     “I’ll just have water, thank you.”

     “Now, now, this is an opportunity to get anything you might have been craving on that alien contraption you and your friends call an energy ship. I assume you have been cooped up on it the past several hours.”

     “Actually, sir, you would be surprised at how accommodating that vessel is.”

     "I suppose so," he said stiffly. He straightened his back, walked behind his desk, and pressed an intercom button. "Margaret, bring in some water for our guest, please." He sat down while I took his cue and sat across from him in a soft leather recliner. His secretary entered carrying a varnished wooden stand, a bottle of expensive water, and a crystal glass.

    "Thank you so much, Margaret," I told her, "But I'll just take the bottle."

    She handed me the bottle and began fussing with the stand.

    "That won't be necessary either, dear," I said, smiling at her.

   She paused, did a double take of me, then left with the unused items and closed the door behind her.

   The President folded his hands in front of him and looked at me intently. I sensed pleasantries were now at an end. “How do you know we can trust these…beings, Sonya?”

    The question made sense from his point of view. He protected national and international peace, and security was his biggest responsibility. I decided to reassure him. "I have interacted with hundreds of beings from dozens of races, not just these four. They all seemed honorable to me."

     “These beings are talking as though they just want to help us, but I never put any stock in altruism. What is in it for them?”

     “Race interactions are synergistic. Everyone benefits.”

     "That sounds all fluffy and good, but it is somewhat obtuse. Don't they want something tangible?"

     “If they do, they have not communicated it to me. You must remember, Mr. President, these are advanced beings, very removed from the practicalities we deal with here on Earth. I have found that their feet do not quite touch the ground compared to your typical human.”

     “Well, I do not believe that. I think they want something. For them.”

     I remembered Sedrick studying me, looking so very human.

     "You know," I replied in a low, conspiratorial voice, "you might have a point. I can inquire into the matter and consult the Four Race leaders and the computer at my disposal. I will see what I can dig up and get back to you on that."

One of the men opened a door, and I was standing head-to-toe with the President of the United States. His eyebrows were raised in surprise. It was the fact I was so young. I was only nineteen. He fluttered his head in an attempt to come to grips with this. Then he returned to his senses and shook my hand firmly.

      “Sonya, correct?” he asked.

      ‘Yes, Mr. President. And, of course, I know your name.”

      “Sonya, I have the best cooks and servants at our beck and call,” he began. “I can get you anything you wish.”

     “I’ll just have water, thank you.”

     “Now, now, this is an opportunity to get anything you might have been craving on that alien contraption you and your friends call an energy ship. I assume you have been cooped up on it the past several hours.”

     “Actually, sir, you would be surprised at how accommodating that vessel is.”

     "I suppose so," he said stiffly. He straightened his back, walked behind his desk, and pressed an intercom button. "Margaret, bring in some water for our guest, please." He sat down while I took his cue and sat across from him in a soft leather recliner. His secretary entered carrying a varnished wooden stand, a bottle of expensive water, and a crystal glass.

    "Thank you so much, Margaret," I told her, "But I'll just take the bottle."

    She handed me the bottle and began fussing with the stand.

    "That won't be necessary either, dear," I said, smiling at her.

   She paused, did a double take of me, then left with the unused items and closed the door behind her.

   The President folded his hands in front of him and looked at me intently. I sensed pleasantries were now at an end. “How do you know we can trust these…beings, Sonya?”

    The question made sense from his point of view. He protected national and international peace, and security was his biggest responsibility. I decided to reassure him. "I have interacted with hundreds of beings from dozens of races, not just these four. They all seemed honorable to me."

     “These beings are talking as though they just want to help us, but I never put any stock in altruism. What is in it for them?”

     “Race interactions are synergistic. Everyone benefits.”

     "That sounds all fluffy and good, but it is somewhat obtuse. Don't they want something tangible?"

     “If they do, they have not communicated it to me. You must remember, Mr. President, these are advanced beings, very removed from the practicalities we deal with here on Earth. I have found that their feet do not quite touch the ground compared to your typical human.”

     “Well, I do not believe that. I think they want something. For them.”

     I remembered Sedrick studying me, looking so very human.

     "You know," I replied in a low, conspiratorial voice, "you might have a point. I can inquire into the matter and consult the Four Race leaders and the computer at my disposal. I will see what I can dig up and get back to you on that."

One of the men opened a door, and I was standing head-to-toe with the President of the United States. His eyebrows were raised in surprise. It was the fact I was so young. I was only nineteen. He fluttered his head in an attempt to come to grips with this. Then he returned to his senses and shook my hand firmly.

      “Sonya, correct?” he asked.

      ‘Yes, Mr. President. And, of course, I know your name.”

      “Sonya, I have the best cooks and servants at our beck and call,” he began. “I can get you anything you wish.”

     “I’ll just have water, thank you.”

     “Now, now, this is an opportunity to get anything you might have been craving on that alien contraption you and your friends call an energy ship. I assume you have been cooped up on it the past several hours.”

     “Actually, sir, you would be surprised at how accommodating that vessel is.”

     "I suppose so," he said stiffly. He straightened his back, walked behind his desk, and pressed an intercom button. "Margaret, bring in some water for our guest, please." He sat down while I took his cue and sat across from him in a soft leather recliner. His secretary entered carrying a varnished wooden stand, a bottle of expensive water, and a crystal glass.

    "Thank you so much, Margaret," I told her, "But I'll just take the bottle."

    She handed me the bottle and began fussing with the stand.

    "That won't be necessary either, dear," I said, smiling at her.

   She paused, did a double take of me, then left with the unused items and closed the door behind her.

   The President folded his hands in front of him and looked at me intently. I sensed pleasantries were now at an end. “How do you know we can trust these…beings, Sonya?”

    The question made sense from his point of view. He protected national and international peace, and security was his biggest responsibility. I decided to reassure him. "I have interacted with hundreds of beings from dozens of races, not just these four. They all seemed honorable to me."

     “These beings are talking as though they just want to help us, but I never put any stock in altruism. What is in it for them?”

     “Race interactions are synergistic. Everyone benefits.”

     "That sounds all fluffy and good, but it is somewhat obtuse. Don't they want something tangible?"

     “If they do, they have not communicated it to me. You must remember, Mr. President, these are advanced beings, very removed from the practicalities we deal with here on Earth. I have found that their feet do not quite touch the ground compared to your typical human.”

     “Well, I do not believe that. I think they want something. For them.”

     I remembered Sedrick studying me, looking so very human.

     "You know," I replied in a low, conspiratorial voice, "you might have a point. I can inquire into the matter and consult the Four Race leaders and the computer at my disposal. I will see what I can dig up and get back to you on that."

One of the men opened a door, and I was standing head-to-toe with the President of the United States. His eyebrows were raised in surprise. It was the fact I was so young. I was only nineteen. He fluttered his head in an attempt to come to grips with this. Then he returned to his senses and shook my hand firmly.

      “Sonya, correct?” he asked.

      ‘Yes, Mr. President. And, of course, I know your name.”

      “Sonya, I have the best cooks and servants at our beck and call,” he began. “I can get you anything you wish.”

     “I’ll just have water, thank you.”

     “Now, now, this is an opportunity to get anything you might have been craving on that alien contraption you and your friends call an energy ship. I assume you have been cooped up on it the past several hours.”

     “Actually, sir, you would be surprised at how accommodating that vessel is.”

     "I suppose so," he said stiffly. He straightened his back, walked behind his desk, and pressed an intercom button. "Margaret, bring in some water for our guest, please." He sat down while I took his cue and sat across from him in a soft leather recliner. His secretary entered carrying a varnished wooden stand, a bottle of expensive water, and a crystal glass.

    "Thank you so much, Margaret," I told her, "But I'll just take the bottle."

    She handed me the bottle and began fussing with the stand.

    "That won't be necessary either, dear," I said, smiling at her.

   She paused, did a double take of me, then left with the unused items and closed the door behind her.

   The President folded his hands in front of him and looked at me intently. I sensed pleasantries were now at an end. “How do you know we can trust these…beings, Sonya?”

    The question made sense from his point of view. He protected national and international peace, and security was his biggest responsibility. I decided to reassure him. "I have interacted with hundreds of beings from dozens of races, not just these four. They all seemed honorable to me."

     “These beings are talking as though they just want to help us, but I never put any stock in altruism. What is in it for them?”

     “Race interactions are synergistic. Everyone benefits.”

     "That sounds all fluffy and good, but it is somewhat obtuse. Don't they want something tangible?"

     “If they do, they have not communicated it to me. You must remember, Mr. President, these are advanced beings, very removed from the practicalities we deal with here on Earth. I have found that their feet do not quite touch the ground compared to your typical human.”

     “Well, I do not believe that. I think they want something. For them.”

     I remembered Sedrick studying me, looking so very human.

     "You know," I replied in a low, conspiratorial voice, "you might have a point. I can inquire into the matter and consult the Four Race leaders and the computer at my disposal. I will see what I can dig up and get back to you on that."