Alien Romance: Caged By The Alien: Scifi Alien Abduction Romance (Alien Romance, Alien Invasion Romance, BBW) (Celestial Mates Book 4) by Marla Therron Page A

Penny wanted to do, but she was a diplomat. Fostering understanding was what she was good at. She could do this.

Chapter Eight
     
    She spent the next hour or so doing her best to stretch and work out within the confines of her cage, just for something to do, and answering all Tau's questions about earth.
    "But what is its purpose?"
    "To be funny, I suppose, though to be honest, I am more of a Calvin and Hobbes fan."
    "But why is it funny? These things, these comics and shows and movies, what purpose do they serve?"
    Penny thought about it for a long moment, trying to figure out how to explain the concept of entertainment.
    "You don't have anything here you do just for fun?" she asked as she thought.
    "Of course," he confirmed, "We have games, and sports. The winged males amuse themselves with fashion and certain crafts. But we have nothing like the novels and films you have described."
    "I suppose it goes back to what I said before," she said after a moment, "About humans valuing things that are unique. Stories, the kind we tell in books and movies, are an expression of that. There's nothing more unique than the experience of a human life. Stories allow us to convey that unique experience to others, allow us to see life through another person's eyes, and to reflect on what our own life would look like to someone else."
    "Doesn't that make it less unique?" Tau asked, "Once so many people have experienced it?"
    "I don't think so," Penny shrugged, "And it gives people who otherwise might have no shared experiences something in common. Once we have something in common we can begin to understand each other and work together."
    "Don't you already have much in common?" Tau frowned thoughtfully, "You are all human, and have parents, and have seen sunrises and been happy and sad. Is that not enough?"
    "It should be," Penny agreed, looking away, "But for some people the differences are more important. It can be hard to remind them that one big difference doesn't erase all the similarities. If you aren't careful, those kind of people can forget that people different from them are people at all. And once a group of people start regarding another group as not being people, war is inevitable."
    "That does not make sense," Tau huffed, frustrated by trying to understand her. Penny agreed, the behavior of Earth's recent history didn't make any sense. But it was true all the same.
    Tau was quiet, thinking about something, his hand over his mouth as he pondered.
    "Humans and the Hive," he took his hand from his mouth to look at her, "Me and you. We are very different. We are not the same species. I did not have parents like you. You have never seen the sunset I know. I don't think you even experience happiness and sadness like I do. Is it possible that humans could forget we of the Hive are people? Could they come to hate us and want to destroy us, like the wars you spoke of?"
    Penny was shocked by the question. She looked away, thinking about how certain people on Earth would react to learning the human exploratory crew had been imprisoned and put on trial here.
    "Yes," she said, "It's possible. But it won't happen. That's what Ambassadors like me are for. We help even people who are very different find a way to cooperate. I'll find a way for us too."
    She smiled, but Tau still looked worried. Penny scooted forward and reached through the bars to touch his hand and he jumped.
    "Hey, we're not that different," she said lightly, "You and me. We're both ambassadors. We're both shaped a lot alike. And I know there are a lot of other things too. We'll figure them out together. Deep down, we are the same."
    He smiled back at her, placing his hand over hers.
    "We are the same." he agreed, squeezing her hand, "Now, tell me more of comics."
    It had been past quarter day when Penny woke, and she'd more or less figured out that days here were 48 hours, divided into eight portions. Tau, built for 48-hour days, did not need a rest in between, but Penny