by Juno Wells
Chapter three
Lights flash hitting the other ship. It doesn't return fire. Parts of it that were lit up go dark and it has the appearance of drifting. The floor and walls rumble then the space outside stretches. There's a sensation like coming apart at the seams, then a whoofing, before everything returns to normal. Outside is still nothing but black with an occasional white blur. I know, because of my background and theory study, that we’re moving faster than light. Nothing on Earth can do this. I've got to see the engines!
"Missy," Abby says. "Where the hell are we?"
The door opens. We have nowhere to run.
Two men, two stunningly gorgeous men, walk in. They are no longer wearing the trench coats or outerwear and I gasp. The pair would put the best underwear models to shame.
They're tall, close to seven feet, with very broad shoulders. Their skin has a golden tint to it that shimmers in the light. As they walk closer I notice that the shimmer is because their exposed skin is covered in scales. It's subtle, barely noticeable as different from regular skin. Their eyes are slightly too wide set for a human. One of them has golden eyes and the other has blue green. In general their anatomy is human enough.
You are safe now.
One or both of them speak into my mind. I look at Abby and see she heard them too.
"Who are you?" I ask.
"I am Prince Mal-Tunak," the golden-eyed one speaks aloud for the first time.
His voice is deep and rich, like warm dark coffee full of overtones. He smiles with his too wide mouth showing way too many teeth. Most of his teeth look like a human’s but his canines are sharp and pointed.
"Prince?" I ask.
He bows his head then bends at his waist placing one arm in front of himself. He stands back up straight and awkward silence settles among the four of us. I stare at our captor without shame. I'm not good with social settings and certainly don't know the protocol for being abducted by aliens.
Something on his neck holds my attention and then it hits me. "Gills!"
He looks surprised and Abby snorts.
"You have gills. Oh my god, so your evolutionary line developed on a world with lots of water, lots more than Earth. Of course!"
My mind is racing down the path that would lead a species to develop gills. The scales make sense now, they're protective underwater. The ship is filled with air that Abby and I can breathe so they're oxygen based life forms. Amphibian. And they're traveling through space, so they must be much older than us as well.
"Your planet has to be what eighty, ninety percent water? Earth is around seventy which didn't lend to that evolution."
"It is," he says with surprise in his voice. "I knew you were the one. You are every bit as brilliant as you are beautiful."
"Well of course that makes sense, but you have to have enough land to build space travel from-" I stop talking.
He knew I was the one? The one for what? And I'm beautiful? My heart jumps in my chest and my gut tightens. I look at him again but not with my analytical mind. A more primal part examines him. All man. He’s so tall. His dark hair is pulled tight against the top of his head and hangs down in the back. As he moves his muscles ripple, well everywhere. I lick my lips which are suddenly dry and Abby laughs.
"You got her there," she says chuckling.
"Got her?" he asks.
"Shocked her. Got her mind to stop for a moment," Abby replies.
"Oh, I don't want to harm her, how do I fix this?" he says genuinely concerned. He reaches for my shoulders but I step back.
"No, no it's a figure of speech," I explain.
"Ah, our translators are still getting accustomed to your language. It will take a bit longer before the nuances are fully integrated."
"Translators? That's how you’re speaking English?" I ask.
"Yes."
"Well then, how about the most important question of all?" I ask.
"Anything you wish to know, I will gladly tell you."
"Why are we here?"
He looks at the man with him who has been standing silent but he simply shrugs.
"Well, to marry you of course. Were you not briefed on this?" He looks at the other man again.
"There was no time," the man says. "We were attacked by Dark Ones."
Mal-Tunak frowns. "I am sorry. You must be so confused and scared. This is not the way."
"Uh-huh, the way for what?"
Abby snorts behind me. "Oh my god, are you serious?"
I look back at her then back at Mal. "What the hell is going on here?"
Mal's brow knits together. He turns towards the other man speaking rapidly in a language I don't understand. It’s an odd mix of guttural interspersed with high pitches that I'm not sure my own vocal chords could duplicate. Just the tone is enough to tell he's angry. The other man's skin turns a shade of light blue though he stands at attention and takes the berating without a word.
He replies to Mal then turns sharply on one heel and walks out the door. Mal stares at the closed door for a long moment before turning back.
"I apologize. Allow me to explain."
There's a sound behind me. I turn and a table has come from some place with chairs. Several glasses rest on it along with what I assume is food. Mal sits on one side of the table and Abby is already digging through the treats. I join her on the opposite side and choose something that looks like small pieces of meat and fruit on a toothpick. Surprisingly it's quite tasty.
"So," I say.
I take a sip from a glass filled with a blue substance that reminds me of watermelons but is incredibly light and refreshing.
He smiles before he speaks. I find it only a little disturbing that his teeth are different. When he doesn't smile big, I can't tell.
"The universe is much bigger than you think," he says.
I arch an eyebrow at him. "Huh."
He clears his throat and starts over. "Of course, I apologize. There was a prepared speech for you but then things went wrong. I am Prince Mal-Tunak of Actabar. Our planet is several thousand light years from your home of Earth. We are part of the Federation of Astria, as is Earth, though your people don't know it yet. You will be welcomed once you develop interstellar travel."
"You're kidding me. Federation? You mean like Star Trek?" Abby interjects excitedly.
"Star Trek?" he asks.
I hang my head down. "Abby, I don't think they watch tv."
"Oh, well still, I mean he said Federation and everything."
Patting Abby's hand under the table I nod for Mal to continue.
"The Federation is at war. The Dark Nebulan's encroach into our territory. They are a terrible, evil race that destroys all they come in contact with. They've set their eyes on Earth. So, in order to protect you, the Lords of Astria are each taking a bride from Earth."
"A bride? Are you planning to breed us out?"
He frowns. "Breed you out? No. We're going to honor your race and elevate some of you to live in a civilized society."
"Civilized?" Anger and indignation war for control of my emotions. I feel offended for every human on the planet.
"Well, yes," he says.
"Honored?" I ask.
He nods.
"So let me get this straight. You and your compatriots, in your graciousness, decide to kidnap Earth women, take them millions of miles, and then marry them?"
"It's not kidnapping, we wanted to ask you ... I wanted to ask."
"Uh-huh. Ask, not kidnap. Though that went south when the ... Dark Ones attacked?"
"Yes." He smiles as he leans back in the chair. "I knew you were brilliant."
"Brilliant about what?" I lean forward raising my voice. "What are you actually trying to ask me?"
"To be my wife..." he says trailing off surprised.
I stop. Me. Wife. Him.
I replay the entire conversation in my head and realize I'd assumed he was talking about Abby, not me. Guys have never gone for me. They've come to me to try and get her to go ou
t with them, sure.
I sit back. "Me?" I ask at last and Abby laughs.
"Yes. You."
I look at Mal with new eyes. I'd noticed before his good looks but that was cursory. Data in, data out. I wasn't looking with fresh eyes. I do now and I like what I see but seriously? I don't know this ... man. Is he a man? Would we be ... compatible?
"Well," I say to buy myself some time.
Mal and Abby stare. I feel my skin flushing.
My own curiosity is burning inside. There’s so much I could learn from him and this ship. His brain patterns and my own must be similar or I wouldn't be able to work the doors. But marriage?
"We have time," he says. "It will take a few cycles for us to return to home. I will teach you."
He rises from his chair and walks towards the door looking back over his shoulder before exiting. "If you need anything, it works the same as the doors. Project your thoughts here," he points at the rectangular box.
"Yeah, how does that work?"
He shrugs. "I'm not a scientist."
"But, you've been talking to me, like a normal person. The others, they used some kind of, I don't know, telepathy?"
He nods smiling. "I thought it would make you more comfortable though it’s archaic and much harder to get across the nuances of a good communication."
"Thanks," I say laughing weakly.
Mal walks out the door and I watch it close behind him. Nausea passes over me like a tidal wave followed by nervous excitement.
"Holy shit," Abby says grabbing me by my shoulders and shaking.
She's smiling ear to ear and jumping up and down unable to contain her excitement. She pulls me close wrapping her arms tight.
"Okay, okay," I say trying to extricate myself.
"You're going to get married! And damn he's hot. Teeth are a bit weird but screw it no one’s perfect right? What an incredible hunk of man meat!"
"Yeah, that's first on my mind. You remember we've been kidnapped?"
"Bah, whatever," she says laughing. "The universe just got immensely bigger. Who cares about the details?"
Chapter four
It's strange how the most extraordinary of things becomes 'normal'.
Abby and I learn to work our way around the ship. Most days Mal is with us, showing us around, telling us about his home, and answering all my questions the best he can. He introduces me to the IES, Information Exchange System. It seems to be their version of a library but it works off mental commands and creates full holographic images of what I’m studying.
I delve into this system and lose track of how long it's been since we left home. The Actabarian technology is advanced definitely but the fundamentals are the same as what I know from Earth. Their star drives look like they’re at most one or two steps ahead of what I was working on. Just a couple of leaps of logic and I would have created something similar. The door opens behind me but I don't bother to look away from the diagram I'm studying.
"Missy?" Mal's deep voice asks.
"Yeah?" I reply.
"Are you... happy?"
There’s something in his tone. I spin around to look. He's standing and waiting for an answer that I'm not sure I have. I frown. Am I happy? My heart rate and blood pressure increase. Curiosity gnaws at me and I realize I want to know what he looks like under those pants. How compatible are we? He's so big. Bigger than any normal man. Would he be too big, down there, for me? Down there. God what am I, twelve?
"Where's Abby?" I ask instead of answering him.
"She's taken an interest in one of the crew. I saw them in the observation room."
He doesn't push. I like that. I like his patience. I like the way he indulges my own obsessiveness. When I have a problem I tend to put all my focus on it. That's driven away more potential husbands and almost all lovers I've ever had. Most men don't seem to be able to compete with my love for my work and it damages their ego. Mal indulges me.
"Define happy," I reply to his question at last.
His brow furrows. He's very attractive when he's deep in thought. I like the way his eyes are deep set and wide, his high forehead, it gives him an aura of thoughtfulness.
"Do you feel," he pauses "at peace?"
"Yes," I say realizing I do. "Yes I do."
"Good. We're about to dock with Stynissh Station. It's a trading post. I thought perhaps I could take you to the market. Give you a taste of the world."
"That'd be nice."
"Good. I've had some clothes delivered to your room for you and Abby. Your current outfit would stand out."
I look down at my jeans and shirt but shrug. When in Rome and all that.
"Sounds great."
"So what do you think of him?" Abby asks.
"Who?"
I hold the clothes that were sent up and try to figure out how to put them on. It seems more like it's intended to be a curtain than clothing. Abby looks over and laughs before coming over and helping me to slip the thing on. It's along the lines of a dress that leaves my back exposed which I don't like at all. It drapes over my shoulders, crosses over my breasts, then underneath them, then cinches at my waist and hangs to my ankles. The color is a shade of blue I've never seen before but I find it's quite flattering to my skin.
Abby stands back and whistles. "Damn!"
"Huh."
"So, what do you think of him?"
I arch an eyebrow knowing damn well who she's talking about but feeling particularly contrary today.
"What's this I hear about you and a crewman?"
She waves a hand. "This isn't about me. I asked first."
"He's nice."
"Nice? Like really nice?" She wiggles her eyebrows while making a circular motion with her hips.
"Abby!"
"Well? Inquiring minds want to know!" she laughs.
"I have no idea. Surely you haven't? I mean, are we even compatible?"
"Not yet but I fully intend to find out."
I shake my head at my sister then a low rumble passes through the deck under our feet. We must have made dock with the station. The lights flash once and then there's a knock at our door.
"Come in," I call.
The door opens and Mal is standing there along with another person I don't know. I see both of their eyes widen looking at Abby and I. A flush runs up my neck. Swallowing hard I walk towards Mal trying to push past the embarrassment of his open admiration.
"You are beautiful," he says in a soft whisper.
He reaches his hand out and I take it. My hand is so small in his but I find it comforting. The strength of him calls to the primal part of me. I smile as he leads us out of the ship and onto my first alien planet.
Chapter five
Outside the ship everything is an explosion of color and noise. I can't focus on any one thing. Aliens are everywhere. It's like one of the massive bazaars in a Middle Eastern city I visited once called Tehran. There are signs and masses of bodies but instead of humans packed elbow to elbow there are dozens and dozens of aliens of every shape and size imaginable.
The first ones I see several of are bird-like humanoids covered in colorful feathers that range in hue from purples to reds. They wear shawl looking things over robes and are adorned with pounds of jewelry.
Others look like they are evolved from lizards, still others from fish. Everywhere there is another new species. All of them seem to be basically bi-pedal and humanoid though.
The place is loud. Really loud. There are dozens of languages being shouted and each stall we pass has bizarre things for sale.
Several guards came off the ship with us forming a small bubble of space we can walk through. The Actabarans are larger than most of the other creatures in the market which makes it easy for them to clear a path for their Prince.
Mal leads us to a stall that’s filled with cloth. So many colors and textures on display I could spend hours cataloging them. Mal picks up a bolt that has a deep purple hue and runs it between his fingers before turning towards me.
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"Do you like it?" he asks.
I run my fingers over it too and am amazed at how soft it is.
"Yeah," I say. "Man, that's soft."
Mal smiles then starts talking to the vendor in a language that is slightly guttural and very fast. They go back and forth, the vendor’s voice rising higher and higher as they negotiate. At last Mal motions to one of the guards who steps in, opens a bag on his side, and hands over a large card that looks like it has a reader screen on it. The merchant takes it, punches a couple of buttons, then hands it back. The guard takes it then takes the bolt of cloth. Mal leads us away.
"I will have that made into an outfit for you," he says smiling.
"Thank you," I say. "You really don't have to do that."
"Missy," he says. "I know you don't know me well but I know you. When the decree came down that a Lord of each planet would have to marry an Earth woman I knew it would fall to me. It is my duty for my people and I am the only unmarried Prince.
I chose you. We watched you for months. I hope, in time, you will come to feel about me as I do about you. We must marry, to fulfill my obligation and to protect Earth. There is no choice, however I will not force myself on you. I will only come unto you when I am invited."
Cold chills run up my spine. No choice? Have to marry for Earth? Who does he think he is? Who does he think I am?
"Man that is SO romantic!" Abby chimes in.
She's literally wiping a tear from her eye. I frown at her as my anger builds. I like Mal. I'm definitely attracted to him. But marry him?
"What if I don't want to marry you? What if I want to go home?" I ask.
"I'm afraid that is not possible. We cannot send you back to Earth with everything you know now. Your people are not ready to join the broader universe. I'm sure you can imagine how they would react at finding proof they are not alone."
I want to argue with him. The desire burns inside me but I'm a scientist. I know he's right. The people of Earth would flip out. I can only imagine mass suicides, nuclear bombs, god knows what else. I want to stand up for my race but history tells me I'd be wrong. They're not ready.
"Marriage?" I ask.