Kranow (Mate the Stars Book 4)

by Loretta Johns

  She pondered what to say all the way back Maya’s home. “You’ve been quiet,” Maya said to her. “I know it’s really different here and it’s a strain having to go out accompanied at all time, with where you’re allowed to go and who you’re allowed to see restricted, but it’s better than the alternative.”

  She glanced at her twin. “It’s not that. I’ve just been thinking about something my therapist and I discussed.”

  “Well, just remember that she’s there to help you.”

  “I know,” Marley gave her sister a tight smile. “She’s definitely helped me understand a few things. I just have things that I have to do on my own. She can guide me, but she can’t do them.”

  “Right,” Maya said, though she looked unsure about what they were actually talking about. “Well, if you need someone else to listen, you know where to find me.”

  “Thanks, sis.” Marley headed into her room. When Torval returns from work, I’ll make my move. She’d gone to her appointment an hour after she and Maya had lunch and returned two hours later. That left roughly an hour before the time Torval normally arrived home. The wait felt interminable. She picked up the data pad Maya had given her. It was locked so all she could do was read on it and with all the time on her hands, she’d made good use of the books available. Today though, not even Terry Prachett’s witty prose could keep her attention.

  A soak in the bath should help me calm my nerves. I can have a bath and put on something nice, but casual, so they can see I’ve made an effort and not just casually spouting what I think they want to hear. She just hoped that they actually did want to hear what she had to say, as well as believe in the sincerity of her words.

  Chapter Three

  She’d bathed, styled her hair, and put on the nicest clothes she had from her limited selection. She’d carefully applied her makeup and rehearsed her apology. Now she stood at the dinner table, gripping the back of her chair as she stood behind it. Maya and Torval were watching her intently, looking puzzled as to why she wasn’t sitting down while the meal cooled upon the table.

  “So,” she said nervously, addressing them both. “I’ve done a lot of thinking on things and been dealing with stuff at therapy and all,” she began. Shit. That isn’t what I wanted to say. “I mean, that is…” She trailed off, looking down at her hands before taking a deep breath. “I’ve done a lot of things I deeply regret. I could have handled things a lot better when I found out Maya had applied for the Bride Scholarship, and I certainly had plenty of chances to fix things and didn’t. I just let all that anger boil up inside until it exploded and I took it out on the wrong people. I hurt a lot of people, including Maya, and I’m ashamed of what I’ve done and how I’ve acted.” Tears fell onto her hands. “There’s no way I can undo what I did, but I hope you can forgive me. I’m trying to think of a way to apologize to everyone, you guys, and Melissa and Junrig, the Bride Fleet, everybody, and try to make amends. I’m not sure what I can do, but I think I’d like to do something benefit the Bride Fleet, somehow.”

  Maya rose from her seat and came around the table. Marley found herself engulfed in a tight hug. The two sisters held onto each other, crying. “I forgive you. I should have talked to you about it first, not just come out of nowhere with it. I should have had Mama and Daddy go get you and drag you to the wedding. You cut yourself off, but we let you do it. And as for the Human Right stuff, well, I’m sure if you apologize and let them know you want to give some kind of restitution, something can be found, right, Torval?”

  Torval nodded solemnly. Marley sobbed harder, this time in relief. She hadn’t been rejected and a path forward was opening to her. Now I know what they mean by cleansing tears.

  ****

  Gundar eyed the missive once more. It looks like we made the right choice. The written apology was short but sincere. A copy had also gone to Melissa and Junrig, he saw. The Council were urging them to respond favorably, hoping that acceptance and understanding would help mend things further. He frowned at the final paragraph from the Council.

  It is the wish of the Council that she comes to request matching so that we may alert her and her mate to their compatibility. Upon a successful conclusion to their mating, it is desired that her mate be reassigned to your ship and for herself to take up the post as teacher. As an experienced educator with relevant experience, she would be a valuable asset. She would be of service to the Fleet and provide a boon to the families she sought to hurt, serving a dual purpose. Should this situation come to pass, it is also the recommendation of this Council that the human public be made aware of her apology, her mating, and her desire to be of service to the families of the Fleet.

  He growled. He was willing to accept her apology, but put her in charge of young without supervision, to guide them? That was not going to happen. She would need to be supervised. A second teacher, perhaps, as well as the classroom AI. Xeranos and the techs will need to modify it to monitor her closely and interface it as needed with security. IF she registers as a bride, that is. We already know she has a match. He pinched the bridge of his nose. What else could they add to my plate?

  Moments later he had his answer to that question. A human Bride had approached him after hearing about Steve and Hathor. She’d made an application to run a matching service for Mylos who preferred males. She had made an interesting proposition, and it seemed that the Council was giving her the go ahead. Gundar groaned inwardly. This meant hours of negotiation with various ambassadors from the various countries on Earth, an addendum to be signed and ratified to their treaty, and resources to be allocated.

  Still, it is a good thing. More children in happy families and becoming Mylos, adding to our diversity. He thought of his own bride. One day, we too will have a young. He decided to ignore the fact the woman who had orchestrated hate against the Mylos and their Brides might one day teach his young. That time was not now and he knew Melissa might never apply to be a Bride.

  Chapter Four

  “Look for a match, really?” she asked Maya, staring at her with a dumbfounded expression, the chai tea in her hand forgotten. “Don’t you think I should concentrate on making amends, continuing therapy, and making up for lost time with you?” She glanced at the baby playing on the floor by their feet. After her emotional breakthrough and demonstrating her apology was sincere, Torval and Maya had brought Kentel home. Marley adored the solemn faced little boy and cherished every moment she now had with him.

  Maya sighed. “Look, I’ll level with you. As you know, Torval works for the Council, and your relationship as a member of his extended family has not gone unnoticed.”

  I bet it hasn’t. Oh, God, did I cause him problems at work? They haven’t had anyone over while I’ve been here either. Are their friends giving them the cold shoulder because of me? Marley absently sipped her tea as her mind ran through the scenarios of just how she might have ruined her sister and Torval’s lives.

  “Stop that. I can see you’re going on a guilt trip. Just listen, okay? His boss came to him and said your apology and offer to make amends has caught the interest of certain parties, who’d like to see better relations between Earth’s general population and the Mylos. He said that the suggestion was made that if a person was truly not against Mylos-human pairings and now feeling fully supportive of the program and women who choose to register, then, well, perhaps that person might put on a show of good faith.”

  “And register.” Marley set her cup down.

  “Yeah. Look, I know I was matched, but the odds are astronomical, right?” Marley appreciated that Maya didn’t come outright and say that her odds were even slimmer thanks to needing a Mylos who would overlook her previous transgressions. “And you could apply via the scholarship program, so you’d get something out of it too. You’re a qualified teacher already. You could go on and get a Master’s in education, or go for a second Bachelor’s.” Maya finished the dregs within her own cup, then set hers down as well.

  “Okay, let’s see if I do
this, the Mylos Council knows, but how will it get out so everyone else does as well?”

  Maya chewed her lip. “They’d have to do a press release or something, I guess.”

  “Yeah, but that wouldn’t make quite the splash that my previous stuff did. Surely they’d want it to go viral, right? So as many people as possible see the story of the Human Right woman who has turned over a new leaf.”

  “Yeah, I guess. But, Marley, don’t even think about doing it just to impress anyone else. There’re other ways to show your change of heart.”

  “Like what?”

  “Write a blog maybe, sharing your journey?”

  Marley snorted. “My journey? Damn, you sound all New Age.”

  Maya flushed. “Shut up. You know what I mean!”

  Marley laughed harder. “Okay, okay, yes, I do. But, I think if someone has mentioned this ‘suggestion’ to your hubby’s boss and encouraged him to share it with Torval, then it’s probably more of an instruction than a helpful suggestion. And you know what? They’re right. So are you. I mean, the odds are astronomical to begin with, but factor in someone having to be willing to mate with a rehabilitating would be kidnapper and former hate group member, and I’m sure the odds get even longer.” Marley sighed, then tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear. “Tell Torval to let his boss know that I might be interested in applying for the Bride Scholarship program, but I need more information on how they plan for news of my application to get around sufficiently.”

  Maya looked anxious. “Are you sure? I don’t want you to feel railroaded.”

  “I’m sure. It won’t hurt to ask, right? If I don’t like the answer, I can say no, and we’ll think of something else. Maybe do a Vlog sort of deal or something. I’m sure between you and me, we’ll come up with something that makes both sides happy.”

  Maya looked pensive, but nodded her head in agreement. She stood up. “I’ll send him a private message via his kunnarskyn. How about I do that while you go make us some lunch? I need to put Kentel down for his nap first, but I’ll do it right after.”

  “Sure.” Marley stood the bent down to pick up their cups. “I’ll wash these up then get started. Just sandwiches?”

  Maya flashed her a grateful smile. “Sounds good. I picked up some Mikrian flatbread at the market yesterday morning while you were having your session. I think some tuna and egg salad would go great in them. Maybe some split pea and ham soup to go with it?”

  “Okie dokie. I can do that.”

  Maya picked Kentel up from his play mat where he was rolling a wheeled animal of some sort. He kept the toy clutched tightly in his hand, but didn’t protest. “You just need to replicate the tuna and egg salad and the soup. You remember how to use it, right?”

  “Yes.” Marley rolled her eyes. “It’s all very Star Trek. I tell your house AI what to replicate and take it out of the replicator once it’s done the molecular magic show trick and made it.”

  Maya nodded. “Yeah, it’s not rocket science, is it? Sorry if I sounded like I thought you were a dummy.”

  “All is forgiven, now go, because Kentel is making that face, the one that says something nasty is about to perfume the air, Maya hurried from the room, desperate to contain the toxic scent of her offspring’s bowel movements. Melissa shook her head. How something that cute can make a stench that bad, I don’t know. She chuckled to herself as she walked into the kitchen. After pouring the remainder of her now cold tea down the drain, she placed both cups into the Mylos equivalent of a dishwasher. Marley wasn’t exactly sure how it worked. Torval had explained that it reduced the left behind foodstuffs down to their basic molecules, which then were stored in the buffer and reused by the replicator. That much she could follow. It was the how of it that left her feeling dazed.

  “Tethis,” she said, speaking the house AI’s wake word as she placed an empty bowl inside the replicator unit.

  “Yes, Marley?” Tethis replied.

  “I need filling for two flat bread pocket sandwiches. Tuna and egg salad, please, Maya’s recipe. Please make it for me.”

  “Replicating now.” Marley watched in fascination as the bowl began to glow as light came from the food tube just before the sandwich filling came through. “Portion creation complete.” Marley eyed the bowl. It looked right, both in composition and in quantity. She removed the bowl and took it to the counter to begin making the sandwiches. Sensing the bowl had been removed, Tethis spoke again. “Cleaning cycle commencing.” Marley thought this was one of the coolest things about the unit, its self-cleaning feature.

  “Tethis, when you’re done, can you replicate two mugs filled with split pea and ham soup?”

  “Certainly.”

  Yep, easy peasy. Told Maya I could do it. Marley grinned to herself as she plated up the sandwiches and took them to the table. She’d just grabbed the mugs of soup and two spoons when Maya reappeared. “How’s that for timing?” she grinned at her twin as she spoke. Maya gave her a small, tight smile.

  “This looks great,” Maya said, taking a seat. Melissa eased herself into the other chair. “So why the look? Was Torval mad that we were bothering him at work?”

  Maya shook her head. “No, not at all. No, in fact he messaged me back almost straightaway. I’m not sure you’ll like the answer, though. I don’t know what to think of it, that’s for sure.”

  Marley put her spoon down. “Why? What did they say?”

  Maya licked her lips and slid her eyes away. “They, uh, said that if you decide to apply, that they could arrange for you to do it here.”

  “That’s good, right?”

  Maya swallowed, “And that it would be broadcast s part of a joint talk show special?”

  “Say what now?”

  “They’d have Jackie O’Hannigan and Charteesie both air some footage of you talking about what led you to join the Human Right and all that, discuss your progress in therapy a little bit, then sit with you as you sit in the local Council chamber’s offices and applied. It’d be a live simulcast.”

  Jackie O’Hannigan? Of Here’s Jackie? Oh my God. That certainly would make a splash back home. “Um, who is Charteesie?”

  “If Oprah and Ellen got together and spawned a TV chat show host, and she turned out to be a Telluvian, that’d be Charteesie.”

  “Oh, so she’s a popular talk show host on this planet.”

  “Um, no. She’s huge. Like, her show is watched throughout the entire Mylos sphere of influence.”

  Oh shit. Marley shivered. That’s a helluva lot of people all up in my business. Her shoulders slumped for a moment. Though to be fair, I got all up in theirs, too, kinda. She picked up her sandwich. “I’ll think about it,” she said before taking a bite.

  Chapter Five

  Gundar wanted to throw something. The Council had gotten their way and Marley Sampson had made an appointment to be matched. The relevant media personalities had been contacted and arrangements had been made for some apparently famous human female to come interview Marley and observe her filling out the match forms and waiting to see if she was matched. All Gundar had to do was talk to Kranow. That had not gone so well.

  Kranow stared across the conference room table. “No.”

  “No? But this is your perfect match and the whole reason you joined the Bride Fleet,” Gundar pointed out, though truthfully, he did not blame the man. Marley Sampson very well might be sorry but the enormity of what she did and the personal fall out as people recognized her would make things very uncomfortable and more than a little tense.

  “If she was my perfect match, then she’d not be a criminal,” Kranow ground out. “Not one who does things like this. It’s not as if we’re talking about someone who stole in order to have food to eat.”

  Gundar nodded. “I understand. I’ll ask them to remove your profile from the database, then. Do you request reassignment? The odds of you being matched again are practically non-existent.”

  Kranow closed his eyes, an expression of deep regret crossing his
face. “It’s all I’ve ever wanted. A family, you understand? I- I think if I cannot be matched, then perhaps it is best if I do go elsewhere.”

  Gundar did know. Sachuu had shown him the male’s record. Kranow had been orphaned at age three when the bride colony ship his family resided on was attacked by Moravian pirates who were interested in taking the ship. Moravians were ruthless scavengers. They stole ships to use as their own, retrofitting them with a hodgepodge of mounted guns and using the shuttle bays to store their smaller attack craft. They usually killed the males on board and sold the women and children on the black market. Kranow’s father had died trying to keep the pirates from exiting the main shuttle bay into the main corridors of the ship. His mother had resisted as they’d broken into their quarters, smashing a ceramic vase over the head of one of the pirates before being shot by another. He’d been raised by his grandparents, cherished as all Mylos children were, but there were notations that as he’d matured, he spoke often of wishing he’d had brothers, of wishing to be the same kind of wonderful mate and brave warrior that his grandparents had told him his father was, and that he’d been highly motivated to raise his profile in order to garner one of the limited places within the Bride Fleet. Gundar sighed, saddened. “All right. I will take this under advisement.”