There was menace in his voice. The assistant trembled violently. Using the rare smile of that humanoid race, the _beush_ continued, "Do negatively self-preoccupy. Resume your information, if contented." "Contented," came the automatic reply, and the assistant began, "The two humans were perfect for the Plan, I repeat. Before the Energi received the message of the race destruction, it was imperative that we establish an agent on Energa, near the Force Domes. We assumed that the 'aquarium' would be placed on Energa, in the greatest center. That was correct, but negatively yet knowing for certainty, we perpetuated the Plan, with the 'aquarium' as the basis. "One of our most competent protoplasmic computers stabilized the final steps of the Plan. We were to subject the two Terrans to radiation and have as a result two Terrans who could breathe their normal oxygen form H2O--the atmosphere of the 'aquarium', I repeat. We were then to deprive them of memory, except of the inter-attracting emotions, to allow them to live in harmony. Thirdly, we were to place them in the 'aquarium' and have them forwarded under the reference of semi-intelligent aqua-beings from Terran seas. A simple, but quite effective plan, your opinion, _beush_?" "Quite," was the reply. "And concerning the method of info-interception?" The assistant continued without hesitation, embarrassed by his incompetency, "A hyper-complex spheroid with radio interceptors, a-matter viewers and recorders and the general intelligence instruments of micro-size was placed in the cranium of the male mutant. The spheroid has negative direct control over the organism. Size was too scarce for use on trivialities. Then an agent was placed behind the larger controls at our end of the instruments." "And you are the agent?" "Hyper-contentedly affirmative." * * * * * I have done two things today. I have found the word for my hatred of the Faces. The Voice gave it to me. When I asked the Voice, it laughed and told me the word to use was "damn". So today I have thrice said, "Damn the Faces. Damn them." Diane and I have decided that we _want_ a baby. Maybe the other fish _wanted_ them, so they got them. We _want_ a baby. * * * * * "The two Terrans were so biologically mutated and are so nearly robotic, that it is physically impossible for reproduction on their part, _beush_." The _beush_ ignored the assistant's words and said, "I have received copies of the thought-patterns and translations. There was something strange and very powerful about the meaning of the male's thought, 'want'. I query." "Be assured without preoccupation that there exists negative danger of reproduction." * * * * * The name I wanted to call Diane was not good, because her breasts are hard and large, as is her stomach. I think she is sick. * * * * *