Translation State

Reet is kept in solitary confinement while aboard the ship traveling to the Treaty Administration Facility. He continues to experience the strange, thick sweat and wants to “grab the first person he [sees], taste their skin dissolving under his tongue” (194). He talks to someone who introduces herself as Eilaai through a speaker. This person calls him a Presger juvenile. When Reet protests that he is 31 years old, he is told that this is a normal age range for a juvenile. His unpleasant sweat is proof that he is a Presger Translator.

Ambassador Seimet tells Reet that the Presger Translators probably want information from him; if he cannot tell them anything useful, they will likely kill him. Reet again demands to speak with his parents and his jurist. Seimet insists that he does not have parents. When Reet arrives at the Treaty Administration Facility, he sees his parents and Enae waiting for him. They tell him to say that he is human, which he does. Translator Dlar, who has been waiting for Reet, refuses to hand Reet over to his parents. Dlar takes Reet away, while Istver assures him that they will do everything they can for him.

Qven decides to watch Tzam die because they want to know what will happen if they do not match. They hope that they will be able to sense some invisible doors as they walk to Tzam’s chamber. Qven sits and watches Tzam through a one-way mirror. It looks like Tzam’s skin is melting off their body. Tzam screams and calls out for Qven to save them. Qven is sick. It takes several hours for Tzam to dissolve and die, during which Qven is sick several more times. When it is over, Qven spends several days in bed.

One day, Teacher tells them to get dressed. They take Qven to see Translator Dlar, who introduces them to Reet. Qven realizes that Reet is their match and is horrified. Translator Dlar and Teacher leave them alone to talk. When Reet asks to be addressed using “he/him” pronouns, Qven is fascinated by the concept of gender. They discuss their potential match and Reet’s petition to be declared human. Qven decides that they would like to be human, too. Then Qven asks if they could have a gender too, which puts Reet at a loss for words. All Reet wants to do is lie in bed, eat dumplings, and watch Pirate Exiles of the Death Moons. Teacher interjects over a speaker and says Reet and Qven may do just that.

Enae and Reet’s parents attend endless meetings about Reet’s case. They eventually meet with Ambassador Seimet and Tibanvori, the human ambassador to the Geck. Seimet insists that Reet is not human; Tibanvori says that the Geck believe he is. Seimet argues that Reet might look human, but his biology is very different. When Reet reaches maturity, he will be obliged to match with someone. Using the pronoun “she” to refer to Reet because Radchaai has only one gender pronoun, Seimet insists that Reet is dangerous. After the meeting, Ms. Yedess assures Enae and Reet’s parents that Reet’s obligation to match need not destroy their case. Later, Istver and Enae talk about Enae’s family. Enae is not sure if hir Grandmaman loved hir. Sie thinks that Reet is lucky to have a family who cares so much about him.

Reet and Qven get to know one another. Qven tries to get Reet to behave optimally to avoid suspicion and asks if he can hear plants. He cannot. They watch Pirate Exiles with pillows between them, as Qven does not want Reet to touch them, and then fall asleep. When Reet wakes, a Teacher assures him that matching is nothing to be afraid of, but he is unconvinced. The teacher tells him that Reet’s progenitor, the Presger Translator fugitive, likely matched with an unwilling human. Reet returns to Qven. He makes a blanket fort so they can speak privately. Qven does not like being enclosed. They keep mentioning the lump of flesh they saw when two Edges matched. The two continue watching Pirate Exiles, though Reet has to translate it into Radchaai for Qven. Later, Qven tells Reet that they do not have a choice about matching. They confess to trying to run away and tell Reet about Tzam’s attack and death. It is painful to discuss. Reet, wanting to comfort Qven, asks if he can hug them with a blanket between them, assuring them that he will stop if they are uncomfortable.

Qven finds it both scary and comforting to have Reet’s arms around them. They ask Reet to stop; after he does, they keep watching their pirate show. After an episode, Qven asks Reet to hug them again, and they watch two more episodes cuddled up together. Qven asks Reet if human juveniles eat each other. Reet says no—he has never eaten anyone. Qven does not understand why eating people is wrong. They describe their childhood, and Reet tells them that not all humans are Radchaai. Qven tells Reet that they were originally intended to match with Translator Dlar, which Reet finds disturbing. Later, Qven tells Reet more about their ability to hear things. They can hear plants, doors, and the presence of other people. They think that they can open hidden doors, but they have not yet tried. Reet suggests running away, but neither of them wants to jeopardize the committee’s decision. Reet wishes he could be both human and a Presger Translator; he insists that he is not dangerous and will not break the treaty. Qven and Reet decide to ask Translator Dlar to visit them. They want to know what will happen after they match.

Enae and Reet’s parents talk to the Geck ambassador, Agagag, who is communicating remotely via a many-legged bio mech. The humans drink poick, a Geck drink, but they find it disgusting. Agagag wants to ensure that Reet actually wants to be human, and his parents insist that they will respect his wishes. This satisfies the Geck ambassador, who respects humans but does not actually consider them to be people.

Sphene, a sentient AI with an ancillary human body, joins the meeting. She says that the Radchaai are trying to convince the Rrrrrr committee members to delay Reet’s meeting. Istver wonders why the Presger respect the treaty at all if they are so powerful. Sphene says that Presger logic is impossible for other species to follow. Sphene is friends with a Presger Translator and thus has inside information. She reminds everyone that Reet will have to match soon or die. She wonders if he might be able to match with a bio mech like the one Agagag is using. She is interested in mech suits as an alternative to ancillaries. The Geck ambassador agrees to look into this possibility for both Reet and Sphene. Sphene also tells Reet’s parents that the Presger Translators have found him a match, so the idea of matching with a mech suit might be a non-starter.

Reet and Qven meet with Translator Dlar to ask what will happen to them after they match. Dlar is vague about the details; what happens to them depends on how they both behave and “what kinds of opportunities arise” (254). This does not satisfy Reet; he and Qven will not match unless they have more information. Dlar insists that they have nothing to bargain with, as they will be obliged to match or die. After much back and forth, Dlar reveals that there is Presger infrastructure that needs constant upkeep and repair; given Reet’s pipework qualifications, the job might suit him. Dlar is vague about what the infrastructure is, but reveals that it is a product of the Presger and is biological in nature. Dlar will only give Reet and Qven this job if Reet agrees to drop his petition. If he does not drop it and the committee decides against him, he and Qven will be disposed of. Reet and Qven agree to think about the deal.

Reet tells Qven that Translator Dlar’s offer means that the committee will likely rule in their favor. He explains his reasoning using an analogy from Pirate Exiles. Qven has been thinking about the show a lot; it features a princex in disguise who uses e/em pronouns. Qven decides they want a gender and decides to use e/em pronouns from now on. Reet agrees, which makes Qven very happy. E and Reet decide that they are not going to take Dlar’s deal; they are going to insist to the committee that they are human. Qven has not felt safe since Tzam’s attack, but e feels safe around Reet. Qven still does not want to match but thinks that if it were unavoidable, a match with Reet would be okay. Qven and Reet are summoned to the committee hearing. Reet sees his parents and hugs them, despite Dlar’s protests, before introducing them to Qven. Qven declares that e is human like Reet and is gratified when Reet’s parents agree. Everyone takes their seats, and the meeting begins. Committee Member Agagag agrees to add Qven to Reet’s petition for human status. Ambassador Seimet is the only person missing from the meeting. She arrives late with Mr. Nadkal and the woman who attacked Enae.