Page 93 of Truthful Deceptions

“I think perhaps we should play some games,” Moreum said. “Opal might get bored.”

I didn't mind them talking, but the moment Moreum said that, every single one of them produced a ball. I had to stifle a laugh.

When all the balls rolled to me at once, I gave up and laughed loudly as I gathered them up.

“Do you want to play a human game?” I asked.

They all sounded rumbles of agreement.

I held up the only blue ball. “It’s called hot potato. You have to pass this to the next person as fast as you can. The person who has it when the time runs out loses.”

“What’s a potato?” Pesorum asked.

“It was an Old Earth food,” I explained.

“Who will keep time?” Uforum asked.

I looked up at Moreum. “Could you pick a number between 5 and 20 and silently count down?”

“What should I say when the time is up?” Moreum asked with a rumble of agreement.

“Uh, hot potato?” I said.

Moreum sounded a rumble of agreement. “I’ll begin counting the moment the ball is in motion.”

I nodded and rolled it to Pesorum. We played until I was the only one left. Everyone cheered, and we started again. After I won four games in a row, I realized they were making sure I won.

Right, time for a new game. Before I could think of something, the food arrived. I wasn’t super hungry, but I snacked as everyone ate and asked me questions.

“Do you know where your dam and sire are?” Gislorum asked.

Pesorum sounded a sharp rattle. “The entry on Human Opal in the Unibase says her dam and sire are dead.”

Gislorum sounded a worried rumble. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know there was an entry. I’ll study it carefully after we’re done here. I hope my question didn’t upset you, Human Opal.”

“There’s an entry of me?” I asked.

“You and Sloane,” Pesorum said. “I hope your owners add an entry on Cleo soon.”

I looked over my shoulder at Tolly. “Did you do that?”

He sounded a negative rattle. “No, it was probably one of the healers.”

That made sense; they’d all seemed eager to write about us.

“The entry only mentioned your dam and sire,” Pesorum said. “Do you have any other family?”

“Some cousins,” I said.

“Do you know where they’re located?” Gislorum asked.

I shook my head. “No. We lost contact years ago.”

“Where were they the last time you saw them?” Gislorum pressed. “I might be able to track them down.”

I knew that was unlikely. “Hiperk Station. We all left at the same time because it was being decommissioned. I haven’t seen them since. That was about six or seven years ago."

“That had to be difficult for you,” Tishora said.