Married to the Alien Doctor: Renascence Alliance Series Book 2

by Alma Nilsson

  “I can hear all your thoughts,” said the doctor. “Now it’s time to send a message to your family. Let’s move over to the desk to make sure you can read and operate everything correctly. You shouldn’t feel too much discomfort, just a little dizziness.”

  Dru slowly moved over to the desk and sat down.

  “Do you speak to your family in your most dominate language? I noticed you had a couple of languages. I hesitated before selecting the strongest one.”

  “Yes. Did no one in the Alliance ever think it was boring to only speak to each other in one language?”

  “No one has used a different language in the Alliance Empire for thousands of years. It’s practical to have one language only. Humans are the only ones in the galaxy that waste time on making things more complicated because you think it’s beautiful,” the doctor was becoming impatient now.

  “What’s the point of life if there is not some beauty to it?”

  “Some beauty is desirable, of course, but you humans take it too far. That is why your civilization is so far behind the rest of us. You waste your time on love, art, food and I don’t even know what else, but I’m sure there is a long list of nonsense.”

  “I don’t know if humans can survive without the beauty of life, what you call nonsense,” Dru admitted quietly and it seemed like the doctor ignored her, but she still continued. “What do people in the Alliance live for?”

  “Honor and the knowing we are the best in everything. You’re one of us now. You must relearn what to prioritize in life. I can already tell some of your crewmates are actually enjoying the few modern conveniences they have seen so far. You’re the only one who has questioned any of this. Don’t be difficult, just accept this and learn how to be a good Alliance citizen so you may have a good life as the gods’ intended. Now come, it’s time to send a message to your family.”

  Dru sat at the desk and the doctor stood beside her. She could easily read the menu now and unlock her computer with facial recognition and her unique Galaxy Court code. Soon she brought up her messages, she had a lot obviously as it had been weeks since she had logged in, but she ignored them. She opened a new line to send a VM to her family.

  The doctor moved out of the way so that Dru was alone in the video.

  “Mother, Jesse, Jimmy, Barbs,” she hesitated as she had not spoken to any of them since she left the Exterior. “I bet you never expected to see my face again. You probably don’t know, but I was in the war in space. Our ship was saved by an Alliance Empire warship, you know the grey aliens, and now they are making us stay here on their planet. Just the women.” Dru paused then and then said what she had gone over in her mind countless times if she ever saw her mother again. Her voice changed then and almost became accusatory, “And just so you know, I don’t regret leaving. That life wasn’t for me, you always knew that. I’m here now, so I am just as dead to you as I was when I left before. If you want to reach me, this account will still work, but I don’t expect it and don’t expect me to reach out again.” Dru closed the message and cried. She didn’t cry because she missed her family. She cried because she realized that she was very much alone in this galaxy.

  The doctor put a hand on her shoulder, “Thank you for acquiescing to send the message.” The doctor had gotten images from Drusilla’s childhood while she sent the message and unlike the other women, her childhood was filled with darkness, hatred, violence and poverty. It wasn’t very difficult to summarize that she had run away with no intention of ever returning. “At least you have let them know where you are now and that they never need be concerned for your welfare again.”

  Dru wiped away the rest of her tears and replied, “They don’t care. They don’t even have a computer, there is just a communal one, it maybe months or years before they see that message if ever.” Then she smiled through her tears, “And I’m sure if they did care, they wouldn’t feel too comforted that I was here among aliens.”

  The doctor hesitated only for a second, “You’re right, they probably don’t care. We care though. You are valuable to us in so many ways and not just for breeding. Drusilla, you represent the hope of a dying Empire. No more tears now. Be strong for your new family. We may be clumsy in welcoming you, as the doctors on Space Port One were, I apologize for them, but we desperately want you.”

  Dru was overwhelmed. She had never been important to anyone before. She didn’t know how to respond.

  “You don’t have to respond. Give this opportunity, this second life, your Alliance life, a chance.” The doctor gave Drusilla one last look and then packed up her things and left.

  After a few minutes Dru composed herself and went downstairs where everyone else was already seated at an assigned seat at the circular table in the classroom. One of Madame Bai’s assistants handed her an IC and a tablet as she sat down.

  “Now that we are all here, I’d like to go over some practical matters and then we are going to begin our first class on Alliance culture. First thing,” she looked down at her list, “You all have an IC in front of you. It’s monitored so don’t try to plan any escapes.” She looked around at the women who seemed disappointed, “You didn’t honestly think we would just hand out IC’s for you to plan your rescue? Be serious ladies. Let me remind you again, Alliance citizenship is a gift, and you are no longer prisoners, but you must earn your independence. Now, if you would each turn on your IC, I want to point out two important functions to you. The first, is what we call the Day. This is a summary of everything of importance that has happened in the galactic day specifically organized by the High Council. You must watch it or read it every day. If you don’t you will be punished by the government. You cannot cheat either, the IC has sensors to see if you are really paying attention or not.”

  Jane raised her hand and Madame Bai nodded at her, “What kind of things are covered in the Day?” She wanted to ask if it was government propaganda, but of course, even if Madame Bai thought that it was, it was very unlikely, she would admit to it.

  “The Day covers anything from great military achievements to new schools opening on colonial planets. It can be anything. When you were brought here there was a short mention of you all in the Day.”

  “I want to see that,” said Rebecca. “How do I search for that?”

  Madame Bai brought up a 3D screen of her IC and showed the women how to search the database of Days. There they watched the 30 second clip of a stern Alliance woman with banners behind her that said the ‘Day’ report the following, ‘Yesterday, 26 human women from the human starship Dakota arrived on the Capital Planet. The women were rescued by Admiral Tir of the Refa and chose not to return to Earth but to come to the Capital Planet and become Alliance citizens. Their wellbeing and introduction to society will be executed by Madame Bai an anthropologist. Let us all pray that they are our redemption.’

  After it was finished Rebecca said, “We didn’t choose to come here. We were taken.”

  “You mustn’t remember it that way. You chose to be here,” Madame Bai said looking at all the women very seriously. “You must always remember that. Is that clear?” The women just looked at her in astonishment. “I imagine that on Earth, it’s easier to have different accounts of events and many varying opinions, but the Alliance Empire is vast and therefore the Days are often simplified so that people can remember the important part of the events more easily. The important part of your event is that you are all here and will marry and hopefully have daughters, not how you came to be here.”

  “That is exactly what I thought,” commented Jane. “And our punishment if we don’t watch?”

  “Thirty public lashings for the first time and then the punishments increase with every day.”

  “I see,” said Jane. “I think we’ll all be able to find the time to watch the Day every day.”

  “Good,” said Madame Bai, “Now moving on to the other important part of your IC, the ‘Prayers’. If you open that application, you’ll see that this monitors how often you pray to t
he gods. You must pray, either in the private shrine here or at one of the city temples at least once a day.”

  “And if we don’t, we will be punished?” Rebecca asked.

  Madame Bai nodded, “Yes.”

  “How do people find the time for so much praying?” asked Dru.

  “You’ll find the time,” Madame Bai assured them all. “Now, moving on,” Jane interrupted her.

  “Are all Alliance citizens made to pray every day too?”

  “Of course, you are now Alliance citizens and have access to the same freedoms that we enjoy.”

  “We have to watch the government sponsored news every day, we have to pray every day and we can never leave the planet, these are the freedoms?” Dru asked for clarification.

  Madame Bai smiled sympathetically, “Yes, these are just some of the freedoms you now have, access to the true religion of the galaxy, access to the best information about what is important to Alliance citizens and the privilege of never having to travel through the galaxy yourself but living in the best part of it.”

  Dru frowned, “This is all so contrary to what I think about when I hear the word ‘freedom’,” she said and others around her agreed.

  “Maybe on Earth you were using the word ‘freedom’ incorrectly?” Madame Bai suggested sharply. “Now, moving on, you all have been given universal credits into your own individual Alliance accounts which can be accessed with your fingerprints, facial recognition and for larger purchases your Galaxy Court code. This will help you to begin assuming a more normal life here on the Capital Planet. These credits reflect your age, skill and what you have left behind at home. Jane, you’ve been given the most, 3,000 UC, as you are 37 years old and left behind three children and a boyfriend on Earth. Dru you have been given the least, 250 UC, as you are the youngest and have left behind no children or boyfriend. The rest of you are somewhere in between. The Alliance hopes that you will see this as compensation for the drastic changes in your lives.”

  None of the women said anything about this as they were in a state of shock, 3,000 UC was equivalent to being one of the wealthiest humans on Earth.

  “You are free to do what you like with the money; you can send it home. Whatever you would like. Let me remind you again, as you were all so tired yesterday, that as long as you are unmarried, the Alliance will provide your living, food and clothing. You can remain here in this building indefinitely and you will always be looked after.” Madame Bai looked them all over to make sure they understood this and when she was satisfied she continued, “As for earning money, from this day forward, you all will begin to earn 5 UC per month for just being here and that will continue until your death. You will all receive the money, regardless of work or marriage, as an understanding between yourselves and the Empire.” Madame Bai knew this was not a lot of money in the Alliance. But the Alliance would provide for them everything else they needed, and the idea was to make them feel welcome, but give them some incentive to get married as well.

  Again, the women were silent, 5 UC a month was more money than any of them had ever seen at once.

  “As for work, we all work here in the Alliance, you will be trained for what you are most suited for and hopefully it won’t be long until you are all happily employed again. I don’t want to get your hopes up, but your captain, now married to Admiral Tir, who is a very important man, has pushed the High Council to allow you all to be allowed to serve in the Alliance fleet. This, of course, would change the laws about women in the military and leaving the planet, which is part of the ancient Contracts between the sexes that keeps us all equal, but if Admiral Tir wants it, he has enough power in the Alliance to make the High Council do it. Don’t think though this would be a means of escape. You wouldn’t be alone on the ship, it would be integrated with Alliance officers and no doubt you would be a part of Admiral Tir’s fleet, but I thought it was right that I should tell you that your captain is trying to make the best of this situation, as you should too.” Madame Bai saw the excitement in some of their eyes and she was pleased that she could give them something to look forward to. “Now, I’d like you to switch on your tablets and look at the first page. Today we are going to begin studying Alliance culture from a nuclear family perspective. Our culture is much older than human culture and it’s very strict as it’s more complex, and this strictness first begins at home. That is why, I thought it was best to begin our lessons there. As you know from the mealtimes, we try to avoid disruption to the order of things at all times. I hope it won’t take too long for you to adjust to our way of arranging our days and nights, our families and our relationships. You are all one of us now. If you turn to chapter one, we will begin with home life.” Madame Bai looked out onto the human women, “Jane, I think it’s fitting you begin reading as this affects you the most here.”

  Jane found her place and began reading, “Ideally, Alliance people all belong to a hereditary House which provides for them their identity and subsequently their occupation. All three of the social classes are represented in each House, maximum, middling and slave. Only women move from House to House when they marry and can retain membership in both if merited. A man will forever remain in the House he was born. The eldest woman of the maximum class is always head of the entire House and if possible, will represent her House, at least annually at the High Council General Assemblies.”

  Madame Bai interrupted Jane then, “Jane that’s you. Now listen ladies, this means that if you want to get married, take a job, anything outside this House, your Human House, you must ask Jane’s permission.” Madame Bai looked at Jane then and said, “And you have a great responsibility to all of these women that they make the right decisions. In your IC you have the ability to restrict their funds and issue punishments when needed. For example, Drusilla is still being punished for resisting the piercings yesterday. It’s up to you to decide when her punishment will end.”

  Jane got out her IC immediately and asked, “How do I do that?”

  Madame Bai went to Jane’s side and showed her how to access each woman’s account and make adjustments.

  Jane looked at Drusilla and said, “James, the punishment is over.”

  Dru nodded, “Thanks.”

  Then Jane asked, “What about if I marry?”

  “You can choose to still be Head of House Human or pass the responsibility on to the next oldest woman, and so forth.”

  “And what is your role then Madame Bai?”

  “I’m only your cultural guide. I’ve no legal responsibility over you.”

  Everyone was stunned, most of all Jane, of course, but she spoke confidently, “At least nothing has changed then except I’ll have to be more curious about your ladies’ love lives,” she tried to make a joke.

  “What class are we then?” asked Rebecca, already moving on.

  “You are the lowest of the maximum class. It was thought it was best to replenish the top with human women first,” Madame Bai explained, “and then over the centuries the healing blending of Alliance and Lost People would trickle down.”

  “What class are you?” Dru asked.

  “I’m upper middling,” Madame Bai explained pointing to some of her jewelry. “There’s a section in your handbook dedicated to ranking jewelry which we’ll go over in detail in the next few days. We know everything by our jewelry. The most important part of socializing in the Alliance is knowing your place.”

  Madame Bai looked out on her students who were just waiting so she continued with her lesson. After many hours they began to discuss relationships between children and parents. “There is nothing more sacred in the Alliance than family. Daughters live with their families until they are married. They look to their mothers for guidance in all things. The relationship between a mother and daughter and sisters is unbreakable. Conversely, sons are sent away to school from eight years old and even after marriage will not live with the family until they retire from the military or pursue another occupation after their minimum military requirement
has been met.”

  “All these poor, young boys sent away from their families at eight years old, forever?” Rebecca asked horrified.

  “Boys leave to be trained to serve the glory of the Empire. They form strong bonds with the other boys and men so that when they are gone for long periods of time, they feel like they are with family, a family of fighting brothers. And when they are on leave or anytime on their home planet they can return to their familial home. And when they marry, they bring their wives to live with their families. Men, unlike women, always call their familial home, ‘home’ and just like women have two families. Women have the family that is genetically theirs and the family they marry into. Men have their genetical family and the military,” Madame Bai explained.

  “When do young men and women meet and begin a family then if the young men are always away for such long periods of time?” Dru asked somewhat confused. And couldn’t help but wonder, And maybe you wouldn’t have a demographics issue if men were around more? Even though, she knew the two probably weren’t linked, she couldn’t help but think it. The man she suspected was her father only came around once every six months or so, and she thought it was a terrible way to have a romantic relationship, if she could call her mother and probably-father’s relationship, ‘romantic’.

  “Men are eligible to marry from 30 years old and women from 20 years old, only if they have finished their education and have begun working. However, those are our Alliance years so in Earth years they are slightly older. Young men and women can meet through friends, family or at official functions just for these purposes called ‘Assemblies’. You each have a formal dress that was purposely made for these Assemblies. Once a couple has courted for at least one month, but no longer than one year, they can get married and then begin having children. The woman stays here and works, and the man sees her when he is on planet or in our territory depending on the arrangements and rank. Minimum age of retirement from the military is 150 years old, but very few leave then. It’s an age that should be moved to 250 years old as that is the typical age a man retires.” She paused then and added, “And this is only for maximum class, the other classes differ in requirements and ages for marriage because their lives differ so greatly from yours. We will discuss those later as it’s not important now as it doesn’t affect any of you. You,” she looked at them all seriously, “aren’t allowed to court or marry anyone that is not from maximum class. Is that understood?”