“I see...” was my only reply. I didn't quite see, exactly, where I fit in as far as that was concerned, but I continued listening patiently, hoping that the underlying point of telling me all of this was somewhere to be found around the corner.
“And this,” he said, “Is where you come in...”
“I don't follow you, I'm afraid...”
“Well, as our planet's greatest warrior, I'm the one who's been selected to sign the treaty in question, which will put an end to all of the senseless violence between our peoples and bring about a long awaited but ever elusive peace.”
“Okay...”
“And... And, I guess there's no way to say this that is especially tactful in nature.” I raised my eyebrow at him, not sure exactly what to expect. “Suffice it to say, a warrior is seen as holding true authority when he has a female by his side at an event such as this. A wife, for instance, or simply a companion...”
I think he paused here for me to say something, but I was a little bit dumbfounded, and my mouth was hanging open like an idiot.
He rushed to continue, “Now, what I'm proposing is, I hope, not too disagreeable for you... And I hope that you'll hear me out before rushing to a decision... You see, the female of my species has grown especially scarce on my planet, and I have yet to find a mate with whom I can establish such a connection as the one implied. Yet I do not wish to appear weak or incompetent by appearing alone. What's more, females from other planets are, if you'll excuse me for saying so, seen as coming across as especially exotic to creatures such as ourselves, and in particular females from your planet Earth. They are seen, for us, as a symbol of power and prosperity.”
“So... Let me get this straight,” I said, the modern day feminist in me kicking in at that point, and not wholly liking the taste on my tongue of what my gracious host seemed to be suggesting. “You want me to fucking marry you just so that your enemies will think you've got a big enough dick to swing around as you please?”
“Please, there's no need to be so vulgar,” he said, and I actually did feel kind of bad about it. In spite of the circumstances, he seemed to be doing his best to treat me decently. I think, aside from my being afraid and confused at the time, I was letting my anger at the events earlier in the evening influence a bit of righteous indignation toward the male sex in my mind.
God, it suddenly struck me as so bizarre that had only been a few hours ago... Hell, maybe not even that much, I realized. My sense of time had all but been distorted, and I couldn't seem to reconcile the fact that the horrible date with the dude from the online dating site and this strangest of abductions were both taking place in the same, long, surreal night.
Lordy Lord, I needed a drink... In spite of my own guarded tendencies, I picked up the glass that my host had placed before me, downing a generous amount of the stuff before I realized what I was doing. To my delighted surprise, however, upon pulling the glass from my lips, I found that the stuff wasn't at all the malicious poison that I'd secretly feared.
It was actually quite delicious, and its effects were highly welcomed by me in my nervous state of existence. I went in for a second drink, and let it sooth me, as I watched Zocor smiling in my direction from the end of the glass.
“Do you like it? That's a very special wine from my home planet. It's one of my very favorite aged varieties, though I sometimes do tend to indulge a bit heavily in it I'm afraid.”
“It's good,” I said noncommittally, and at the moment I was thinking that, for a warrior, this strange creature seemed to practice a peculiar level of fine manners.
“Anyway, as I was saying,” he continued. “The way you describe what I'm interested in with you is not at all accurate. I am not asking to marry you, as fine a creature as you may be.” (I found myself blushing at this.) “What I am proposing is that you come with me to the signing of the treaty, simply pretending to be my wife. You know, resting upon my arm and what have you, looking pretty but serious, and letting the enemy think that I'm in a far better position to bargain with them than might actually be the case.”
I considered what he was saying, and slowly, still cautiously, I began to ease my way gradually into really listening to what he was telling me. “Go on,” I said, and took another sip of the wine.
“Well, after this purpose was fully accomplished, and perhaps after a bout of ritual celebration between our peoples for a few hours to commemorate the occasion, you would be completely free to head back to Earth, continuing on your life as before. I can promise you, furthermore, that you would be handsomely compensated for your participation in this ruse, in gold, perhaps, or in whatever currency you deem fit.”
A thought occurred to me just then, and again, feminist me began to look at the things that may or may not be wrong with the way I was being treated.
“So, basically... You're hiring me as an escort... Is that about what this amounts to?”
“I... I suppose so, to an extent... Yes...”
For some reason, his honesty in this reply was far more encouraging than if he'd tried to deny the fact, and it seemed to assure me that there was no malevolent intent on his part. Was it objectifying? Mm... I supposed that depended upon your perspective, really... But on immediate terms, I couldn't really see what harm it could do to go along with him. And besides, what did I possibly have to lose? What life was I missing out on back home, that I couldn't take a day or two out of my dull, monotonous day-to-day schedule to go on what would surely be the adventure of a lifetime?
I was almost sold on the idea, but still somehow skeptical, despite my clear desire to be convinced. My brain was at the stage of picking apart as many holes in this plan as it could find at this point, and at last, finding none of which to speak, I sighed, and asked one final question, “What, may I ask, made you decide to pick a girl like me to fulfill this role of yours, out of all the human beings on Earth?”
He thought about this for a moment, staring into my eyes, as though the answer itself should have been as plain as day to me.
“Well,” he said, “if I may speak frankly... Of all the humans on Earth that I saw from which to choose, you were easily one of the most beautiful, strong-willed, and desirable in every way. What man wouldn't automatically seem a greater success with a girl like you by his side?”
If I wasn't as red as a goddamn beet already, you can bet that I was now.
“Alright,” I said, swooning just the least bit, “You've sweet-talked me into it.”
“Wonderful,” he said, and I realized in that moment just how beautiful his face was. “Why don't you go ahead and have a bite of this food? I've had some of the most terrific cuisine in the galaxy prepared for your arrival.”
And upon partaking in said cuisine, which I'd feared may just poison me prior to the present moment, I realized that it was indeed exquisite in every way, like nothing on Earth that I'd ever before tasted.
This, I had to say, was proving a far more promising dinner date than that joke of a meetup back at the restaurant on Earth...
Chapter 3
After the two of us ate, Zocor spent a significant portion of the evening trying to teach me the manners appropriate to a girl in my position. In other words, he showed me ways of making it seem as though the two of us had been together for some time, displaying the various mannerisms that a couple so close as we supposedly were might exhibit in one another's presence, as well as teaching me a few token phrases in his mother tongue that would allow me to communicate with the enemy should the need arise.
He told me that he had an outfit prepared for me as well as proper looking makeup to help me blend into the role, which his assistant would aid me in applying the following day before the ceremony. The event in question would take place tomorrow evening, he informed me, but I would need to be especially rested in preparation for it, so if I wanted I was free to bathe and retire for the evening at my personal convenience.
He showed me to my chambers and bade me adieu for the night, and I was ast
onished at the luxury with which he pampered me. The bath was like something out of a dream, the water at an ideal temperature and almost excessively soft and lush up against my skin. I eased my body down into it, applying the various special oils and soaps to my flesh which he'd left nearby for my indulgence.
It felt almost as though I were in heaven...
I remained in the water for perhaps longer than I should have, my fingers and toes getting all pruny. The water, however, seemed as though it didn't even begin to get cold, and if I'd wanted to, I probably could have remained submerged therein to my very heart's content.
I was getting sleepy by this point, though, exhausted by the unbelievable day I'd had, and I didn't much care to doze off inside the tub and accidentally drown myself in the process.
I slipped out of the tub and dried myself off, dabbing away the wetness from my form and my skin feeling as fresh as possible as I streaked in a sheer, delicate nightgown he'd provided for me into my room.
The bed was of an equivalent level of luxury, and I slid beneath the sheets with such enthusiasm that I might have passed out asleep on the spot.
I slept an intense, dreaming sleep, my entire consciousness feeling elevated as I passed through the night, and when I awoke the following morning, I felt more rested than I had in years of sleeping back on planet Earth.
I bathed once more and made myself presentable, and then, standing naked before the mirror, I held up to my body the outfit which my host had prepared for me for the upcoming day. Honestly, it was so ornate and confusing that I couldn't even figure out how the hell I was supposed to wear it, and I couldn't even begin to imagine myself looking halfway decent once the thing was on me.
Hadn't he said something about an assistant supposed to help me out with all of this?
As if on cue, the door of the bathroom opened, and I shrieked, offended, and scrambling to conceal my nudity. I needn't have bothered, however, as the intruder in question turned out to be a sleek, silver robot, designed to appear female, perhaps as a means of feeling less self-conscious about my nudity in her presence.
As promised, the being helped me change into my alien garb, and decorated my body in a way that was, apparently, considered pleasing to this species. She painted my body with a sparkling substance, then traced out dark lines across my naked skin in various locations- some of which wouldn't even be visible once I'd slipped into my dress, or so I hoped. There was something erotic about it, though, feeling the machine's robotic digits as they traced out my curves, swirling around my breasts and decorating my thighs, my lips, my cheeks.
Once this was accomplished, she helped me slide into my dress, which would have proven an impossible feat for me alone in my ignorance. I wore no undergarments beneath the article, as it seemed to have the proper support in place already. And though I suppose by definition it covered me in all the appropriate areas, the fact of going commando while wearing such skimpy, ribbon-like attire made me feel completely naked, like I was about to attend some major gala or something in nothing but a bath towel.
Finally, the robot made its way to my hair, styling and twisting into difficult and complex fashions that defied my wildest imagination, and that made me look far more elegant a figure than I might otherwise have presented myself.
When at last my assistant's work appeared to be complete, it backed away from me, and I peered for a long, stunned moment into the mirror. I could scarcely even recognize the woman staring back at me, feeling as though I was witnessing a stranger. I simply couldn't believe the wonders this cosmic cosmetology had worked on me, and somehow it made me feel prouder, more confident than I had in quite some time up to that point in my life.
I emerged from my chambers, and cautiously presented myself to Zocor. He was stunned, his jaw sinking open in a way that I could tell he was embarrassed by once he caught himself, and I couldn't help but giggle at his reaction.
He cleared his throat, and tried to save face. “My, you look... Lovely, I must say. Not that you didn't already, but... Well, suffice it to say there should be no doubt in my former enemy's mind as to the regal nature of my so-called wife.”
I smiled at him, and took in his appearance in turn. He'd similarly prepared himself for the events of the day, but his costume was sleeker, more appropriate to the visage of a warrior, whereas my ensemble was all frills and elegant excesses from head to toe.
He let out a tremendous sigh, staring into space for a moment as he struggled to compose his thoughts. “Right, then... If you think you're ready at this point... We may as well head down toward the surface, and get this underway.”
“I... Yes, I think I am,” I said, uncertainly, and with my voice cracking slightly. But I was as ready as I was going to be at this point, and I was anxious for it all to get underway.
The ship lurched to a halt out of hyperspace, drawing up near a planet that was unlike any I'd ever seen pictured. It suddenly sunk in for me how very far from home I must have traveled over the course of the evening, and a strange sensation of feeling out of place suddenly cast over me, which I forced myself to shake away out of necessity in the moment.
Our ship touched down on the alien planet, and the two of us disembarked. The scene that greeted me upon setting foot from the vessel was an utterly bizarre one, suffice it to say. I tried, as best I could, to keep up with Zocor as he moved forward, retaining as much of my feigned elegance as I could all the while, but the sights and sounds of all that which took place around me proved a terrible distraction to say the least.
Evidently, we were the last ones to the party, as hoards of aliens were standing on either side of a vast hall, separated by some distance in the middle. Half of the room consisted of green creatures resembling Zocor in appearance, whereas the opposite half, presumably the enemy, was violet in pigment. It was clear among their ranks who fit the corresponding role as leader. He was standing nearer the center of the room, finely decorated in contrast to the near nudity of his comrades. As per Zocor's description, he did, in fact, have a female alongside him as well as a symbol of status. She, too, seemed to be of some other species, with light blue skin that glistened, although I had yet to get a good look at her up close.
I hesitated for a moment, feeling more intimidated by that sole other female presence than by the hoards of aggressive males on either side of the aisle. Then, however, I caught sight of Zocor, turning to look at me. He was waiting patiently enough, but seemed understandably eager for events to get underway. I tried to put aside my reticence, and scrambled forward to catch up with him, trying my damnedest not to allow my own insecurity to get in the way of this momentous event.
At last, the two of us arrived in the center of the room, and the silence of the crowd surrounding us made my skin crawl.
Once we stood facing the enemy up close, the two male warriors bowed toward one another, and Zocor's enemy spoke up in a booming voice. The sound reverberated through the room, causing my insides to tremble as I clung to every strange and alien word that passed his lips. Zocor's grammar lesson had only managed to scarcely prepare me for such a rapid-fire interpretation of what appeared to be a complex and convoluted speech. I did pick up snatches of his words here and there, however, and they were spoken in such tones that it seemed obvious as to what sort of a reaction he meant to evoke in his audience.
The first part of his speech, as best as I could translate, seemed to follow something along the lines of, “Good people of Kataz and Myrx... We gather here today on behalf of a very important cause. For centuries, now, our people have fought and feuded, embroiling themselves in bloody fights which have left our respective planets stripped of all life and peace. Often, this fighting has been senseless and without worthwhile cause, and even on occasions when one side can claim the moral high ground, the results of the fighting have often proven disproportionate to the cause which provoked it. It is thus that, after much deliberation, our two sides have gathered together today, to resolve any and all past differences, and work to
ward a better future for all...”
The act of translation, at this point, was proving far too exhausting for me, and I allowed my mind to wander, as well as my eyes, to other events happening in my vicinity. For some reason, I yearned to look into Zocor's eyes at that moment in particular. For him to simply glance at me, and reassure me that things were all still going as planned. But he was transfixed, eyes forward, and I was left with nothing but the back of his head.
Then, I made the mistake of letting my eyes fall upon the female arm candy of the enemy speaking. Up close, I could see just how astonishing she looked. Her blue body was thin and raw, resembling that of a supermodel. Her midriff was bared, and her anatomy was decorated in gold finery, emphasizing her firm, perfectly portioned breasts. Her eyes seemed predatory in nature, peering right back at me down long black eyelashes. There was a slight wrinkle in her nose, indicating a thinly disguised contempt for me, and I suddenly felt largely insecure.
Then, however, I happened to catch sight of the men standing behind the two of them on the other side. Many of them seemed to be gawking at me, staring at me with looks of longing in their eyes, ignoring the vixen standing in their midst for little old yours truly.
By whatever difference in custom that existed between my race and theirs, I was the type of girl who managed to snare attentions in this galaxy, and I suddenly felt a surge of intense pride in my bearing and appearance as a result. I imagined that, dared I be so disruptive as to turn around and face the crowd behind me, they would be gawking with sincere interest as well. But for now, I was just content with feeling desirable for a change, and my anxieties gradually ebbed as I returned my attention to the matter at hand.
Romance: Alien Romance: Simply Aliens: A Ten Book Alien Romance Collection (Paranormal Scifi Interracial Romance) (Fantasy New Adult Alpha Short Stories) Page 28