by T. J. Quinn
“We need to evac the area.” Holding his hand to his ear, he paused briefly and frowned. “A Krador is loose and just attacked a team of militia.”
“Gather up as many as you can find. We don’t leave anyone behind.”
The Sergeant gave a clipped response. “Yes, mam. You heard the lady. Fleece the area. If they have a heartbeat, they come with us, even if you gotta stun them.”
The annoyed woman frowned. “That is not what I said.”
As the males stalked off into the darkness, the woman turned to them. “Come, we have hydration packs and you can rest in our vehicle. It armor plated, so you will be safe there. What is your name?”
His grandfather’s dispirited voice responded quietly. “I am Malok and this is my grandson Androd. How is it you speak our language?”
“We were given an inoculation with of alien languages. My name is Rebecca and I’m a healer. It’s nice to meet you and your grandson. I know this is a difficult situation, but you are safe with us. Under the new inter-species treaty, Earth is now your home. Is there anything you need right now?”
“I just want to see my family survive this night.”
Andrew watched the woman place a reassuring hand on his grandfather’s arm. “We’ll do everything we can to see that you’re reunited with them as soon as possible.”
Before they could get onto the large transport, the males wearing green came back, herding dozens of rescued slaves. “We gotta go now. There are half a dozen Krador and they’ve torn people apart limb by limb back there.”
Everyone rushed aboard the vessel. His grandfather sat him down and tried to get back off but was shoved back the alien males in charge. The man leaned over and stated quietly. “You don’t want to do that. There’s no one alive back there. The sight will haunt my nightmares until the day I die. You have the boy to worry about. He’s all you have left.”
The older man’s knees buckled under him, and an agonized wail of grief escaped from his lips. The Keening was sound he would never forget. Andrew watched the nurse kneeled and wrap her arms around his grandfather. That was the moment it hit Andrew that his father, mother, brothers and sisters were all gone. Instead of the sounds his grandfather made, Andrew felt like his life-force had been knocked from his body, only to be filled by an infinite well of sadness.
Jerking awake, Andrew padded through his house to check on his own two small daughters. They were each in their tiny bed, surrounded by their favorite stuffed animals. Shutting the door, he walked back to his room and stood in front of his nest. The lights were dimmed for the night cycle, but inside the clear glass his unborn child rested in the gently bubbling liquid. He checked to make sure the temperature was stable and the proper amount of oxygen and nutrients were circulating through the water.
Running his fingers over the metal casing he remembered his joy in building the mechanical device meant to bring his children through their last stages of growth before being born into this new world of privilege and freedom for his kind.
If his grandfather could see this one, it would have brought yet more joy to his life. Unfortunately, he had passed away shortly after his new human mate died. Andrew’s chest constricted painfully when he thought of his grandfather. The male had spent many long years enjoying this new human world alongside the human woman who lived only for his smile. Andrew had been loved and doted upon as a child. Now he was alone in the world, just his girls and him.
Chapter 2
Integrated Kalian Male
~ Danielle ~
Music Mix
Danielle noticed him immediately, as he meandered by her office. The huge glass wall afforded her a view of most of the work floor in her tiny law firm. Her firm had agreed to hire eight alien males. Their resettlement was related to a push by the central government to open new opportunities for the aliens who had supported them in the war effort.
His soft brown eyes glanced over to find her admiring him and he nodded politely. Feeling her face flame, she quickly got back to work. Perving on her new employees, was bound to cause problems for her, since she hadn’t even been a full partner for year yet.
Her assistant poked his head in her door and he asked politely. “Are you ready to get a bite of lunch, or should I order something for delivery?”
Rubbing her temple, she shoved herself away from the desk. “Let’s eat out somewhere nice.”
Smiling, he suggested helpfully. “How about Jackson Fife?”
Unable to keep the grin off her face, Daniel nodded, That would be fantastic. We deserve a treat.”
“I’m beginning to think that’s what company expense accounts are for.”
“Our firm is pretty generous in that regard. Let’s bring schedules and come up with a strategy for turning alien rights into the next big social issue.”
“Nothing would make me happier. That’s the reason I signed up with the firm, after all.” Jon’s brown eyes and pointed ears gave away his alien heritage, in much the same way as the soft green color of his skin.
“In my humble opinion we were lucky to get you.”
He preened a bit as he quipped. “Strangely enough, that is my wife’s opinion as well.”
Laughing, Danielle tossed some her electronic tablet into her bag and followed Jon to his office to get his.
Never one to miss an opportunity to chitchat, Danielle walked through the door he held open for her. “I’d really love to meet your wife sometime. I’ll bet she’s really sweet.”
“She has my heart, or at least a piece of it.”
There was no way she was letting such a mysterious statement fly right by without comment. “I can’t imagine or what has snagged the rest of your heart, Jon. Is that top secret information, or what?”
“Human females are predictably curious. I knew you wouldn’t be able to resist asking.” Beaming at her, he lowered his head slightly. “Of course each of my young have a small piece of my heart as well.”
“That’s about the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard. My best friends growing up were Kalian. I really miss them a lot.”
Of all the aliens that came down on the ships, Danielle preferred Kalian males. They were consistently attractive, accepted direction, and were meticulous about the details that could make or break a case.
The being attractive part was always the piece that constantly got her attention. They were smaller than most of the other aliens; making them about the size of a human. Their compact, muscular bodies made the males look like body builders. A Kalian could lift twice his body weight, above their head easily. Their skin was lighter, like a human. Hair only came in two varieties; thick coarse black hair, which was almost always worn at shoulder length, or. some few had snow white hair. Any way you cut it, they were real lookers.
Jon’s voice drew her from her thoughts. “What made you decide to relocate to this area?”
“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”
Smiling politely, he opened the door to the restaurant. “Please tell me.”
“I’m looking for a mate. My home town was stuffed with single men but none of them were my one.”
He expression shifted to one of understanding. “You are clever to move to large metropolitan area. I have no doubt that you will hundreds of new males over the next year or so. I wish you luck in finding your one.”
A hostess led them to a cozy table with a view of the city. Leaning over, Danielle whispered. “Would you like to know a secret?”
Looking intrigued her new assistant, nodded. “Only if it’s a really good one.”
“I have a very strong feeling my one is Kalian.”
Gasping, he pressed his lips together a brief moment before responding. “You can’t possibly know that.”
Picking up her menu, she sighed. “I might as well come clean. The Kalian family I grew up with had a ton of sons. I made every single one of the kiss me because I was so convinced one of the was my one.”
Jon stilled long enough for the server to fill
their glasses with water. “What on Earth was that like?”
“It was really disappointing. It felt just like kissing my brother.” Smacking her menu down on the table, she stated happily. “Don’t worry though, I’m not giving up without a kissing every single eligible Kalian bachelor in this entire city.”
Jon made a small sound of shock. “You better get to it, cause there are a lot of my brethren running around without mates.”
“I’m surprised women don’t snap them right up.”
“Though we were highly valued as fighting partners during the war, I get the feeling human women don’t select mates based on the fact that they have highly developed senses, an tendency towards detail or an identic memory.”
Snorting a laugh, Danielle responded. “Well if they don’t, they should. My father had a Kalian fighting partner, and they’ve remained best friends for life. The man can track like a bloodhound. It’s a good skill to have.”
Now it was Jon’s turn to laugh at her antics. Strange that seem to value such traits. I can’t say my Kalian wife even cares about such qualities.”
Looking over the menu, Danielle responded thoughtfully. “I’ve always the Kalian were most attractive of the aliens to land on our world. And not just because of the long hair and big muscles either. You all seemed to be less formal, warmer, friendlier, and you have a good sense of humor.”
Nodding, Jon murmured. “I’ll have to give you that one. We are not quite as serious as most other species.”
“Are you kidding me? A lot of the other alien males seem to have a stick stuck perpetually up their backside for no apparent reason. They’re quick to anger and often times they don’t play well with others. Over the years, she’d learned to be cautious.”
“I can’t say I blame you for that. I’m cautious of many of them myself.”
“God, I thought it was just me. Earth’s first contact with an alien species was a rude awakening for us. Then the long brutal war blindsided us before we could really get used to the idea that we aren’t alone in the verse. Goodness knows, we never would have won without the help of the alien slaves. Most humans recognize your people’s contribution, and welcome you with open arms.”
Jon responded thoughtfully, “I believe many humans were compassionate, if nothing else, because of the hardships we endured on the ships.”
Nodding, Danielle agreed. “However, there is still a lot of discrimination. Many states were struggling to update their legal codes to ensure the protection of the newest members of society.”
“You believe in getting right down to the working part of the lunch without much small talk. I respect that in a boss.”
“I think of us more as co-workers. I eagerly signed the agreement for our small firm to hire the eight aliens because I believe in our cause. However, I need you to understand that decision garner support among our partners for many different reasons.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Most of the partners are honestly dedicated to supporting alien rights. They general consensus is that since you all shed your fair share of blood for the cause of a free earth, you deserve a chance to participate in society on an equal footing. Please don’t be put off that all our new hires were assigned mostly to clerical functions.”
His eyes slid away. “We have noticed that every one of us ended up working in the mail room, or as research assistants, receptionist, or personal assistants. Since most, with the exception of me, got paired with other aliens we suspected the firm wished to marginalize and segregate us.”
They stopped long enough to place their orders and Danielle picked back up with the conversation. “That was actually my idea. I’m the one who spearheaded this move. I reviewed resumes, performed most of the interviews, and debated the merits of each applicant. I asked the firm's HR team to make offers to the individuals who scored highest on a set of pre-established criteria.”
“I suppose that makes good sense, but why segregate us?”
I wanted you paired with tenured aliens who have already learned their way around our system. I may have miscalculated but I wanted them to hit the ground running with mentors who understood what it took to adapt to our fast paced environment. I focused the search on newcomers with the best command of the English language, good written skills, and high scores on the pre-employment testing because I was confident that with the right foundation the individuals I chose would be highly promotable.”
Though Jon still appeared slightly suspicious, he nodded, clearly willing to give her the benefit of the doubt.
“The last thing in the world anyone wants, is for any of our newcomers to get stranded in lower level jobs. It would seem patronizing, and appear as though you were incapable of competing on an equal footing when we are confident that you can. The firm’s goal in this situation is total integration at all levels. Nothing less will due.”
“Alright, I will stick with the firm for a few years and see where this goes.”
“Years? I think not. Several of you have high enough scores to sit for the bar exam. Our partners have already determined, they are very interested in having an Kalian partner in particular.”
“Ah, this is the part where our natural propensity towards mental alertness, being detail oriented, and single minded pursuit of success finally wins us some extra bonus points.”
Smiling at the charming man, he nodded. “Yes sir, it does. Those qualities make you particularly good accountants, and exceptional attorneys. The firm feels that having an Kalian partner, will enable them to capture a whole new segment of the marketplace. The Kalian are most integrated of all the alien species and since they have more contact with humans, they are more heavily discriminated against. Those law suits could constitute a new untapped market for her firm, particularly the ones related to reproductive rights.”
“I must say that I feel fortunate to have been selected as your administrative assistant.”
“Actually, I’m the one who feels fortunate to have you on my team. You’re professional, polite, and detail oriented. I like that you are a bit of a stern task master. I need that kind of structure to keep my meetings to a reasonable length, and get through the volume of work I juggle on a daily basis. If I’m being honest, I would have to admit that I’ve never had it so good.”
Looking embarrassed, he mumbled. “That is kind of you say.”
“Look at me, Jon. I want to be sure you understand your worth. All this being sweet, brining me coffee in the morning, and scanning the major newsfeeds so you can keep me updated on the trends that related to our business is a courtesy. You don’t owe me any of that, so don’t let it stress you out or keep you for doing what you need to do to be successful. I honestly think with your sharp mind and skills at diplomacy, you’re destined to be an outstanding attorney in your own right.”
“I can’t tell you how nice it is to get such a confidence boost, right now particularly. I also appreciate you filling in the blanks about our being hired. It puts my mind at east. I can’t wait to tell my wife the good news. We were starting to think I should looking for another position. She will be happy to know we have found some stability with your firm.”
“How’s your family adapting to the move? It must be stressful.”
“It has been incredibly stressful. We are still at the resettlement annex.” She could hear the disappointment and frustration edging back into his voice as he spoke.
“How many little ones are in your family?”
His expression immediately shifted to one of pride and happiness. “Me, my wife and our three children. They’re all small and as you must know Kalian children are extremely inquisitive. Just yesterday they took apart our holographic projector and put it back together again. We are currently housed all in one room. It is a tight squeeze with a new baby.”
Thinking it over, Danielle reached in her purse, pulled out a set of keys and tossed them to him. “I have a beach house not far from here. It’s about a forty-five minute drive. It�
�s small…three bedrooms and a study but it is furnished. You can stay there for a few months until they get your housing worked out. I almost never use it. You know how tight our schedules are. I can’t seem to get myself out of the city to save my life these days.”
He looked at her strangely and when he opened his mouth to object, she quickly explained. “It’s an empty house just sitting there on the beach. It makes no sense for it sit empty if a family can make use of it. I know how the Kalian feel about wasting resources, so don’t object when you know it’s the right thing to do.”
“This will make such a difference to my family’s quality of life right now. I don’t know how to thank you.”
“You just did, now let’s eat before our food gets cold.”
Putting a bit of food into his mouth, Jon chewed slowly and swallowed before taking a sip of water. “I never expected such generosity from someone I barely know. Though it feels strange to accept, I do not feel that I should pass up an opportunity to get my family into a better living situation. Thank you, Danielle.”
“Trust me, your family will love the bungalow. It’s right on the beachfront. The kids will love playing in the surf. Tell them to beware of the occasional jellyfish.”
“I am certain they will consider it a little vacation. We are anxious to integrate ourselves fully with the human population. All my children were born on earth, it’s a shame they have seen so little of life outside the resettlement center.”
“Well don’t put it off any longer than you have to. Try to take off early today, if you can break away. An early start might get you in my nightfall.”
“Are you certain you don’t need me the rest of the day?”
Smiling deviously, she responded. “I’m planning to take a load of work home for a special project. I’ll hit you with it first thing Monday morning. Prepare to be wowed.”
“I can’t imagine what it could be. Won’t you give me even a little hint?”