by S M Matthews
“Then it’s like the icing on the cake.” I finish for him.
He takes a moment to process, then nods and grins, repeating it back to me, “Icing on the cake, I like that.”
I sit and think for a few minutes, eating slowly. They seem content to sit and watch me.
So, I’ve been deliberately chosen and woken up because they think I smell like their girlfriend. They picked me out of everyone else, just because I smell good.
Hardly the basis for a lasting relationship.
I snort to myself at just how ridiculous that sounds. But then I realise; this is some next level stalker abduction shit, and I am suddenly back to becoming very uncomfortable. They say mate, but what does that mean? There are three of them, and they are all much bigger and stronger than me. He’s carefully not answered the question that I really want the answer to. What are they going to do with me?
We are in space, on a spaceship, and the only potential help I might have is asleep in the hold. And then…even if I knew how to wake them without hurting them…would I be putting them in a better position, or a worse one?
Don’t ask questions if you aren't ready for the answer…but now I know why they woke me specifically, I know. There’s no undoing that now.
Well, curiosity killed the cat I guess, I might as well ask. “And what if that’s not what I want?”
Neb does the ear shrug at me from across the table, “We’ve already written you off as a loss as far as sales go. You can do what you like.”
“You mean as profit? You’ve already accepted you’re not going to make any money off me. That’s your first thought? Are you joking?”
“What my brother means,” Lam glares daggers at Neb, “is that you have your autonomy, we are not expecting you to feel beholden to us in any way. You see somewhere you like and you want off the ship, fine, that’s up to you. We, obviously, would like you to stay, but again, don’t feel like you owe us. We didn’t know what we were getting when we woke you, intelligence, personality, attitudes…all of that was a gamble. Just because you smelt good didn’t mean anything, really. You could have been totally inappropriate, totally incompatible, in a million ways but,” he ear-shrugs again, “if you don’t take a risk now and again…”
Well, how’s this for an interstellar blind date.
I try and absorb this too. Hopefully they are being honest, but why would they wake me up just to mess with me? If they wanted a slave or…something else, they could just very easily force me. So far they haven't done anything of the sort. So far.
“Don’t you…what about your own sort? Don’t you want a…” I stall and then find their word, “a mate that’s, you know, like you? A family?” Never mind the fact that they’ve woken me up just to try it on with me. Explains them being all flirty I guess. “Also, just to clarify, I am in no way agreeing to this. It’s weird. We don’t know each other…and I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but you’re aliens.”
Ceph turns to me, sits up straight and with his eye’s wide and ears pricked forward stage whispers to his brothers, “I don’t know if anyone’s noticed, but I think Cora might be a bit speciest.”
“Well excuse me! I like to think I’m as open-minded as the next person but this is…” I don’t get to finish. I’d gone all indignant, and now they are all laughing at me. Loudly. Their laughter comes out like a chuffing noise. Lam actually slaps the tabletop. Great.
I sit back in my chair, crossing my arms and huffing. I think I might be pouting. I have to wait for them to calm down. Lam gets up and tidies away the plates, then sets out hot drinks. I tentatively sip, it’s kind of like a thick, sweet milk. I hold the warm cup in both hands.
Whilst Lam’s milling about, Neb answers my question.
“It’s what you’re supposed to do, you know? Get a good education, find a job, contribute to society, get a mate, have a set of kits…it just…never appealed to us. It was never what we wanted. Because of that I guess we’ve never really actively looked for a mate. Our society is built on everyone fulfilling the role? Do you understand what I mean? And we just sort of…found you.” I nod, not only do I understand it, I agree with it. I was never good at sitting in a classroom, I couldn’t handle sitting an exam. The thought of an office job would actually make me want to jump out of a window. I’ve watched mothers trying to wrangle a screaming kid into a car seat whilst struggling with another on their hip. Along with that maybe working, maybe running a household, maybe dealing with a million other things. I mean I respect that, if that’s what you want. It’s just never appealed to me to fulfil any of that. I’d always floated around, never had the same job for long. I mean, I’d always wanted to do something. Find the thing that took my fancy. Find the thing that I was good at…I just hadn’t found it yet.
And now I’m in space. That’s probably moved the goalposts ever so slightly.
Maybe at least I do have something in common with these three.
I realise I’ve been quiet for a few minutes, “I think I understand exactly what you mean.”
Surprisingly, the quiet isn’t at all uncomfortable, it’s actually quite companionable. My mind wanders back to how I came to be here…and then inevitably back to those poor girls in the hold. The thought sobers me, and leads me right round back to the start again.
I don’t address anyone in particular, “So those green creatures, you really have no inkling as to what that was about? Why they might have felt compelled to take us for a ride?”
Lam sits forward a little, fiddling with his cup before he answers, then sighs. I get the impression they are as lost with this as I am. “We don’t know, I know that’s not a good enough answer, but we don’t. I mean, whatever it is they are up to, we might even be doing exactly what they want by selling you all on but-” He stops mid-sentence, mouth open, frozen. Then he slowly turns to look at me. “How do you know the Ta’Naw are green?”
I shrug, “Like green and sort of flabby,” he nods at my description, “we saw one, when we woke up, and when you said other aliens originally took us…I just guessed it would have been…” I trail off. He’s put his head in his hands. He takes a deep breath.
“Was it just you who woke up? Maybe only you saw?” He asks me through his paws. He sounds hopeful.
“No, we all did, just for a minute, and then one of those things came along and did something to…make us sleep again, I guess.”
He lets out a long, shuddering exhale.
“Well, that might lead to some interesting conversations.” Ceph says.
Lam glares absolute daggers at him across the table.
“There’s absolutely nothing we can do about it now Lam,” Neb says to him, “Once people start figuring it out and giving them translators, they are going to talk.” He shrugs, “probably not exactly great for our reputation but…we could just have a bit of a break? Do some maintenance maybe? And we have a good chance that it might be a while before they do start figuring it out.”
Lam moves his glare from Ceph to Neb. Awkward.
CEPH
We tidy up the last of eve meal, and I offer to show Cora around the ship. Well, to show her the little bit that’s left to see. She’s already seen the galley and the storage hold, so the only real places left are medical and up on deck.
“Ceph, yeah?”
I nod.
“Just checking,” she grins at me. “So how long until we get to wherever this market is?”
“A couple of days,” I indicate for her to sit in one of the pilots’ chairs, she sits swinging her legs, staring out the windows over the console.
She’s pretty clearly fascinated. Space travel is relatively common for our people, but it might not be for hers.
“So…have humans left your Homeworld?”
She shakes her head no, not looking away from the window. “I mean, yes, sorry. A few have. But it’s not like this, we haven't gone far, I guess. Even fewer people have been to the moon. Oh, we do have a space station in orbit that people live on
all the time. It’s called Earth.”
That makes sense with the Ta’Naw then, Cora’s people probably weren't even aware that there was an alien ship near the planet if they are that primitive. It also confirms my thoughts on how they must have gotten the language. Cora’s people are probably transmitting everything wildly with no thought that anyone else might be listening.
Why would they even think that there could be.
We sit quietly for a little while, she’s pretty fascinated with the window, and I turn the lights down low so she can see better.
I’m content to sit here and breathe deep. As attractive as she smells, there’s also something deeply comforting about it.
To say she’s had a hard time is a bit of an understatement.
“Are you…okay?” I ask her. I regret asking it as soon as it’s out. Stupid question really, but we don’t…know each other. I guess this is a part of it.
She sighs, looking down and swinging her feet, thinking. Our furniture is a bit too big for her really, and her feet don’t touch the floor.
“I think I am as alright as I could possibly expect anybody to be under the given circumstances. So no, I’m not really alright…but hopefully things will work out well enough that I’ll get over it. That is probably the most honest answer I can give you right at this moment.”
I nod, I can detect the turmoil she’s hiding. She’s worried, she’s a little fearful. It’s making her body a little stressed. Nothing like when she first woke up though, so that has to be good. And she’s definitely given me an honest answer, which must be good too. I am pretty awed by her honesty, and by her resilience, even after such a life changing event...she’s hopeful. That’s amazing really.
I want to do something to just take the stress away, but I know I can’t. She will just have to work through this herself. Like she says, hopefully all will be well.
“What do the other humans smell like?” She asks, snapping my attention back to her.
I think about it. “Almost like you…but not quite. Not as good, somehow.” I have to try and think of a way to put it how she understands. “So…you have music?”
She nods. And then shifts so she can sit on her hands, swinging her legs slowly. It makes her look sad, and vulnerable. That’s also what I’m getting from the smells too though.
“So there’s a particular piece of music you really like, and you hear it played well, but you know it’s not exactly right. Or you hear it played but you know one of the players isn’t quite getting it. You still love it though, you’d still seek it out even if it wasn’t perfect. It still draws you anyway. And then one day you hear it, and you know it’s being played by someone who loves it as much as you do…and it’s everything to you. It makes you feel something. Everything has fallen into place and all your fur stands on end. Everything you’ve felt before turns into a shadow of this particular time.” She’s looking at me, really intently. “Well…in the middle of all those humans, that’s how you stood out to us. None of the others were quite so…prefect.”
She lets out a really long breath.
“Wow. That sounds…pretty intense.” Her little manes pull together over her nose. It makes a little wrinkle form between them. “So, if I wasn’t there…you’d have just woken up the next best smelling one?”
“I can’t say what we would have done. Maybe? Probably?” I can feel the sly grin forming, hopefully she’s impressed by my fangs. “Why, you getting jealous?”
“No. Don’t be ridiculous.” She snaps at me, her cheeks going a little pinker.
I wonder if the colour change indicates something.
There’s going to be a lot to learn about our human I think.
CORA
I’d sat with Ceph for a while, chatting about everything and nothing. It hadn’t taken me that long before I’d gotten tired though, and I managed to find my room with him watching through the doorway. I’d stopped and pointed to the door I thought it was, and when I’d looked back at him he’d nodded. He seemed happy enough to leave me to it.
He hadn’t made any attempt to follow me, just left it with a companionable “ask if you need anything.” It was all so…normal. Like I truly was a house guest.
I’d had another shower before bed, just because it was there, and I could. Who doesn’t love a hot shower before bed? I didn’t get much in the way of outfits, so I think I’ll just brave it and sleep naked. Although it is slightly chilly in my room, it’s warm enough in the humongous bed. I have to crawl to make it over to the middle.
I starfish. I build myself a little nest with the massive amounts of covers.
I realise I’m probably too overwhelmed by the day to go to sleep.
I’m still aware of the emotions that I’ve packed away for later. It’s all still there, gnawing at me but…there’s nothing I can do to help it.
So I’ll focus on what I do know, and what I might be able to do to help the other girls out.
Hopefully the impression I’m getting of the three furry guys is the real them.
Once you start accepting the fact that they look completely different…well. They seem alright. I hope.
I’ve always tried to judge people by their actions, not what comes out of their mouths. Saying something and being actually willing to act on it are usually two very different things.
But then…if what Ceph had said to me earlier…about hearing the right song and everything falling into place. If a human man that I liked said something like that to me, I probably would have swooned my way right into bed with him.
In fact, I don’t think anyone has ever said anything even remotely like that to me. Ever.
I shouldn’t be taking that to heart though, he’d say it to anyone. Anyone that smelt right. It could have been any of us they’d decided was the smelliest.
They didn’t know me; it wasn’t about personality or anything serious like that. It was just a weird biological thing they have.
Actually, thinking about it logically has killed any and all romance. Usually the way.
It was a nice thought whilst it lasted, though.
I wonder what the next few days will bring. I’m going to be staying on a spaceship, with aliens, there’s got to be interesting things to get up to.
CORA
If someone had said to me ‘aliens’ and ‘spaceships’, I definitely would have thought it would be the most exciting thing ever.
It’s not.
When they guys are busy…it’s actually kind of boring.
I mean, don’t get me wrong. The views are never going to get old. Space is breath-taking. And it’s always slowly changing as we move along. And I do spend really long periods of time just looking at it.
I like spending time with the guys, they are pretty good company. They are funny, even Neb, who can be a little grumpy about work sometimes, is fun to be around.
I like being with them whilst they are working…it’s interesting. Sometimes I feel like I’m a hindrance though, and even though they are apologising to me because they missed whatever I just said…that’s because they are concentrating. That’s when I get out of the way…and get bored.
But I am interrupting what they are doing, and although it’s their fault I’m awake, it’s not their fault I’m here in the first place. Not really. They did see it as a sort of rescue. The way they talk, they wouldn’t have left anyone with those other aliens.
When I’m trying to stay out from under their feet, not only does it get boring, but it gets lonely too.
I talk to the girls in the cage. Wondering what they all used to do on Earth. Wondering about their family and pets and hobbies. At least none of them are ever rude…and when I’m sure none of the guys are in the bay, I can talk to them about anything. It’s cathartic, being able to tell them I miss home. Or that this has been a pretty monumental change…but I’m quite pleased with myself that I haven't just had a meltdown and ceased to function.
I tell them about the guys…and honestly if their peop
le are genuinely all like them then…everyone is going to be alright. I think.
I have half-heartedly accepted the fact that they are going to have to be sold. I’ll still fight them over it, if I have the opportunity but…they are being realistic, and I have to be, too. I’m here on these guys good graces at the moment and…I don’t know what’s out there.
This is space. With aliens. I could have ended up in a much worse situation.
My imagination runs away with me on that front…I start conjuring up the worst alien movie monsters I can remember. The possibilities could be endless.
NEB
I’m in the bay with Cora, contemplating the humans. Whilst travelling she had seemed to sort of come to terms with the fact that we were going to sell the other humans. I think she’d almost, almost, started to agree with our logic. However, now that we are actually here and it’s about to happen, she seems to have gone back to the start again.
I think she just doesn’t want to let them go. I understand that. While she can watch them, at least she knows they are safe. She’d been down here regularly, checking on them. Sometimes she sits on a crate and talks to them about ‘Earth’. We have told her that they can’t hear her, but she does it regardless. I think it makes her feel better.
I’ve been in here whilst she’s been telling them about the space she can see out of the windows. Lam says he heard her talking about how our people are nice and everything will be okay. He didn’t know if she was trying to convince herself of that.
I really, really hope it is. Well, I hope it is because that’s what will make her happy.
We had no idea what we were getting when we woke Cora up, and even though we were drawn to her because of the amazing smell, the chances of her actually being…well, a person, were pretty small. But she is…so now what do we do with her?
We’d woken her because she smells like our mate…we weren’t expecting to be lucky enough to actually like her. We don’t very often get lucky like this.