by Athena Storm
To become us.
By the time we reach Titanus Vox, I have managed to patch together the front of my top. It would be unseemly to greet Governor Coleson and Captain Yaal with my breasts out. Some manner of decorum must be attained.
For their part, the two leaders greet us warmly, with all the comforts we have been longing for. In my case, it’s a cup of strong coffee and something besides roots to eat. We’re sent almost immediately to medical to get patched up, and I indulge in one of the longest showers I’ve ever taken.
It would have been shorter, but Druic was with me.
Dressed again, we make our way to the Governor’s office and settle in.
“You certainly took a while to get cleaned up,” Yaal eyes up Duric. The Vakutan shrugs in reply and takes a shot at his compatriot.
“What can I say? Human women.”
Captain Yaal lets out a small chuckle at this. His emotion receptors must be at least partially disabled. It seems as though they have been since he and Leyla Coleson have gone public. We will get to reap the benefit of their precedent. There are bound to be grumblings, there always are with relationships like ours, but I can’t help taking comfort in the company.
Between the two of us, Duric and I manage to give a pretty thorough recounting of the engagements we held with the Coalition forces, from the first shots until the dispatching of Commander Martek. It’s an exhausting experience retelling the hardships, and it seems impossible that so little time has passed.
Our report made, Governor Coleson sits quiet for a moment, his fingers laced in front of his lips. Then, with a swift move he rises and heads over to pour himself a tumbler of whiskey.
“So, a Coalition ship initiated an attack on an IHC vessel?”
“That is correct, sir.” Duric sounds strange using such a formal answer.
“And this was before any engagement with the Alliance cruiser?”
“Sir.”
The Governor turns back to us and takes a healthy sip from his glass.
“In the end, the person who dispatched the Shorcu Commander?”
“That would be me, sir.” Coleson looks at me and tugs a small smile across his still handsome face.
“Then, congratulations. Things are about to get very exciting in this sector for the foreseeable future. Until now, the IHC has been a secondary target of the Coalition. Their main objective has been targeting the Alliance, but now? The human transport was the initial target. That’s new. And one of our own took out one of their leaders in hand to hand combat.”
He looks at me firmly, “You’ve got real courage. The IHC needs more like you.”
“Thank you, Governor.”
Dismissing the honorific with a chuckle and wave, he leans in to me, “Bruce. That ‘Governor’ stuff is for state dinners. Whiskey?”
“You know what,” I say, “Yes. Please.”
“That’s the spirit. Duric? Yaal?”
The Alzohn demurs, but Duric pipes up, “Damn right. I’ve wanted one since you stood up.”
Generous glasses are cradled into our hands and Coleson lounges back into his seat.
“You’re going to need a new ship, Commander. Yaal, would you see to it that we contact the higher-ups at the Alliance and find out how best to outfit him?”
“Communications are already in process, Bruce.”
“Excellent. We need to solidify our partnership with the Alliance. If there are any resources the IHC could offer to facilitate your success, they are yours.”
“There is one thing.” Duric’s voice has a strange quality to it. Pushing past formality, there’s almost a hint of reticence in him. A nervous quality.
“Name it,” Coleson shrugs.
“I’m going to need a personal liaison to streamline communication with the IHC, and I would like Miss Moebius here to take up the position.”
My jaw drops. I look at Duric, but he avoids me, keeping his gaze firmly on Governor Coleson.
“After the way she comported herself at my side, I don’t want to be without her. She is an invaluable asset…” he’s stammering, searching for words. Wiping his hands on his trousers, he lets out an exasperated snort, “I love her and I want her by me. I will have her by me.”
Coleson has a bemused look on his face. He and Yaal exchange glances, then he rocks forward in his chair, clinking his glass against Duric’s.
“Done.”
My Vakutan heaves out a relieved sigh and drains his glass in a single swallow. Only then does he turn his eyes on me. That boyish grin spreads across his ridged face and if we weren’t in official company, I would dive into his lap and kiss the life out of him.
Coleson takes his glass, “You look like you could use a top up.”
“Upon further consideration, Governor, I think I will join for a glass.”
Coleson returns, and we all find ourselves standing facing each other. We raise our glasses to each other, but the sensation is odd. It’s hard to tell whether they are toasting our love, our victory over Commander Martek, our mere survival, or any of those. Maybe all three.
We sip our drinks and engage in polite chat until Duric and I feel that we can excuse ourselves. Safely outside the broad wooden door, I wind my arms around his neck and pull him into a lingering kiss. Releasing from it, I feel like all I want to do is gaze into his eyes. They are so different from the ones I first saw.
Looking at him, there is one thing I know. That I am his, entirely. Everything that I am, have been, or will be is irrevocably linked with this Vakutan before me.
I am his. His human woman.
The End
Thanks for reading Book 2 in the Mail Order Bride Series! The war between the Trident Alliance and the Ataxian Coalition is ripping apart the galaxy. And in times of desperation, true love has a way to bring people together. This series goes on with the Coalition moving against humanity near Titanus Vox in Book 3 and the conclusion to the series in Book 4! Stay tuned!