Free Manipulating Mikey (First Wave Book 8) by Mikayla Lane

than he intended.
    Lauren put her fork down and
wondered at the conflicting emotions she felt in his energy.
    “Because they are no different than
anyone else. They eat the food that is grown and walk the same streets as
everyone else. In our societies, your position does not make you immune to the
work that keeps your communities functioning properly,” Lauren explained,
keeping her tone even. 
    Mikey snorted and shook his head in
disbelief as he threw his fork to his plate, unaware of the curious stares
being sent his way.
    “So you’re saying that same
commander in there,” he said, pointing to the kitchen with his thumb, “could be
doing a trash detail tomorrow.”
    Lauren nodded her head as she
smiled gently at him.
    “I did that two weeks ago.
Although, I sorted the recycling and didn’t have to try and lift the heavy
stuff,” she admitted.
    “You’re a doctor aren’t you?” Mikey
demanded.
    “Yes, but I’m also a member of this
community. Everyone is required to pull their own weight. There are no
exceptions. I know this isn’t what you’re used to, but it works for us,” Lauren
responded, wondering if it was the difference in their society and the humans
that was really bothering him.
    “What about the elderly? Or
disabled?” he countered, knowing there had to be something they must be hiding.
    No society was like this utopian
crap they were trying to manipulate him into believing. People were far too
drama hungry and self-oriented to ever work together in such an unrealistic
fashion. Mikey wasn’t stupid, he knew there were people out there spouting
their foul garbage about wanting such things, but only if the rules didn’t
apply to them.
    Lauren snorted this time.
    “The elderly are not stupid and
useless. They are a fount of history, information, and experience. They are
magnificent with the little ones as teachers, companions, storytellers, and
even daycare providers. We do not have disabled people,” Lauren said
defensively.
    Mikey felt like he’d finally found
his “aha” moment, and he struck.
    “So you kill those no longer useful
to you? Is that why you have no disabled?” he accused, pointing at her with an
accusing finger.
    Lauren shook her head sadly,
finally realizing he was looking for an excuse to hate them. To find fault with
them. At least that’s how it appeared.
    “No, that isn’t why we have no
disabled. We have none because even those who may not be able to do everything
others do still can contribute. If you can contribute, then you aren’t
disabled, are you? And those who can no longer contribute in the ways they
would like have earned the right to leave this existence in whatever way they
choose. Be it ending their life or spending their days on a golf course, they
earned the right to make that decision,” Lauren explained, wishing she could
erase the anger and mistrust she felt in his energy.
    “You encourage them to off
themselves when you think they aren’t useful anymore?” Mikey accused, more than
a little stunned by the thought.
    “No!” Lauren said a little louder
than she intended so she lowered her voice. “That is not how it works. No one
is ever encouraged to die, but it is no one else’s decision to make either.”
    “But you don’t discourage it
either?” Mikey countered.
    Lauren was getting a little
irritated at his combative attitude and accusations.
    “We don’t presume to think we know
what is better for someone else. You’re confusing us with the humans. We do not
have the energy disturbances that the humans are going through right now; our
species’ have passed the point of evolution that caused disturbances of the
mind. Only in the case of an anomalous beast do our people ever suffer from
what the humans refer to as depression, and we have no suicide rate,” Lauren
explained, her tone harder and more insistent than before.
    Mikey knew he was being an
unreasonable ass, but he couldn’t stop the surge of anger and resentment