by Sophie Stern
Earth is dying and I don’t want to die with it. My father is dead. Gone. Even if I’d been willing to leave him before, there was no chance we could afford it, but now? Now I’m a desperate woman and freedom is within my grasp.
I watch for about half an hour. Suddenly, the man with the clipboard says something in a language I don’t understand, and most of the group heads on board. Two of the men don’t. They walk over to where I’m standing, and I scurry back behind the boulder. They stand on the other side, facing the ship, and start speaking.
This time, I can understand them. I think they’re eating something or smoking something because a sweet scent wafts in the air, but I don’t recognize it.
“I’ll be damn glad to leave this planet,” one man says. The other one makes a noise that sounds like agreement. “Two weeks is long enough. I can’t believe Hal shorted us a girl.”
“Fucking Hal,” the other man agrees, and my ears perk up. They’re missing a girl?
“I mean, I know it’s sad and all. Don’t get me wrong, but uh, in case she didn’t notice, her planet is sort of trash.”
“What did Hal say the problem was?”
“She decided to stay. Didn’t want to leave her family. Now we’re one short and we were already running behind. He needs another girl, a young one, within the next four hours or that signing bonus he promised? Gone.”
The second man makes another noise and I get the distinct impression he’s a man of few words. What did he say, though? They need a girl. I glance down at myself, realizing I’m nothing to look at. My faded leather slippers are worn and dirty. My dress is really just a plain brown shift that’s quite ordinary and nothing special, but my father always told me that my eyes are nice. Maybe they’ll think the same thing.
Maybe I could be the girl they need.
I don’t know what it is they need females for and to be honest, I don’t care. If it means getting off Earth, isn’t that enough?
“We need to get back before Jenika gives us shit,” the first man says again, and I hear a shuffling sound. This is it, I realize. It’s now or never. I need to speak up, stand up, or my chance will be lost.
“Wait!” I cry out, more softly than I had intended to. Still, they hear me, and they both turn around as I run over. One of them drops whatever he had been smoking. Some sort of pipe. It clatters on the cracked pavement, but they both ignore the sound and stare at me as I scurry over.
The men are both taller than any humans I’ve ever seen. I’d guess they’re at least six feet tall, maybe taller. I know humans used to be taller, but these days? These days I’m considered a giant at five-and-a-half feet. Their eyes are bright and sparkly, even in the dim lighting that surrounds the ship. I wonder where they’re from. Are they from Taneyemm or somewhere else? Are they natives or were they recruited to come here?
I can’t help but feeling very, very small as I approach the men. I come to a quick stop in front of them, and they both just stare, open-mouthed at me.
What a sight I must be: messy, ragged hair and a tear-streaked face.
“I heard you need a girl,” I say, and they both exchange looks. After a long moment, the taller man speaks.
“Well, Tank, looks like you’ll be getting that bonus, after all.”
Chapter 2
The men circle around me like vultures, looking at my body and speaking in a language I don’t understand. The shorter man, Tank, touches my hair, and I try not to flinch.
“Don’t worry,” he says gruffly to me in my own language. “I’m not going to hurt you, darling.” I just nod. All I can do is nod. I ball my hands into fists and then release them over and over again as they speak. Finally, the taller man stands in front of me and touches my chin, softly raising my gaze to him.
“You understand what you’re getting into, honey?”
“I understand.”
“You won’t be coming back to Earth. You know that, right?”
“It doesn’t matter,” I manage to get out. “There’s nothing left for me here.”
The man nods slowly, watching my eyes. Is he trying to figure out if I’m lying? I don’t know. All I know is that he’s surprisingly handsome, he smells great, and his skin is soft against mine. If this were any other situation, I’d be trying to figure out how to get him to take my mind off things.
Tank touches my arm and I turn to him.
“The Taneyemms don’t like humans much, darling.”
At that, I gulp. That’s something I know. I’ve heard rumors about it. People say the inhabitants of Taneyemm only take in humans because it’s cheap labor. We’re small, weak, and tiny. No one knows what exactly humans who go to Taneyemm do for the planet, but I’m going to guess that I won’t be cleaning mirrors or scrubbing floors.
“I understand,” I say. “I accept my fate.”
The taller man puts his face in his palm and shakes his head.
“What the fuck is wrong with you?” He asks, but I don’t answer him. I have a feeling he doesn’t expect an answer. The truth is that there’s a lot wrong with me. I’m not exactly normal or perfect or special. I might have nice eyes, but I’m very ordinary in every other aspect. I don’t play an instrument or have a special talent. I’m not particularly smart or educated. My adult life has been spent taking care of one sick parent and then another, so when he asks what the fuck is wrong with me?
Everything.
“What my companion means, darling,” Tank shoots the other man a dark look. “Is that there’s no coming back. Ever. If you get there and they don’t want you, you’ll be shipped off to another planet or killed. There are no return voyages to Earth. This is the last one. Doesn’t that scare you?”
My eyes blink several times.
I take a deep breath.
This is my only shot at leaving. It’s the only chance I’ll ever have. If I stay, I’ll be dead within a week or two. If I actually want to live – and a deep, secret part of me does – then I need to convince this man Tank that I’m worth something.
I need to convince him that I won’t be trouble, that I’ll help him qualify for this bonus he wants so badly.
“Tank, sir, I appreciate your concern and I understand what you’re saying, but sir? I have nothing left here. My father died not an hour ago and I have no one else. I have no money, no hope, no future, no friends. I’m an orphan without parents, without a partner, without a husband. I have no children. If you don’t take me, I’ll be sitting around waiting to die because I have nothing left to live for.”
Something passes over his gaze.
Sadness, I think.
Maybe it’s pity.
Either way, Tank doesn’t speak again and he nods to his friend.
“Elf, come on.”
“Elf?” I turn. “Your name is Elf?” I might live in a dirt hut, but even I know the stories about elves from days past.
“Yes,” he says, pleasantly surprised I commented on his name. He smiles. “It’s my Earth name. Elf. You know, little tiny elves?” He lowers his hand and bounces it, as if showing me the small size of a tiny imaginary elf.
“But you aren’t tiny,” I point out the obvious, but Elf just chuckles.
“Oh, honey,” he kisses my forehead. “That’s the point.” He turns back to Tank. “This one’s going to be fun.”
The men stand on either side of me and lead me toward the ship. This is it, I realize. It’s happening. Glancing back behind me, I mentally wave goodbye to the boulders, the dying trees, the dust, the dirt. I can’t see the town from here anymore. I can’t see anything. Night has fallen on Earth and day will not be coming.
“Come on, darling,” Tank whispers. His touch is gentle as he places his hand on my lower back and pushes me forward. He means to guide me, not seduce me, and I can tell the difference. “You said it yourself. There’s nothing here for you anymore.”
One deep breath.
I take one deep and keep moving forward. We approach the plank that rises up into the ship and
carefully walk up it. It’s wide enough for all of us to move side-by-side, so we make our way up the incline.
Soon we’re inside the Taneyemm ship.
I’m actually, really, truly inside a Taneyemm ship.
I blink several times to get used to how bright it is. Everything is painfully light. Tank grabs a pair of dark glasses from the wall. I notice there are dozens of pairs all hanging by the entrance. He places them on my head.
“This will help you get used to the light,” he says. “Taneyemm is much brighter than Earth. By the time we get there, you’ll be used to the brightness and the world won’t seem so harsh.”
“Thank you, Mr. Tank.” I try to be polite. These men control my fate and the truth is, even if the planet I’m going to completely sucks, it can’t be worse than Earth. I won’t forget that they didn’t have to take me, but they did. This is much better than having to sneak onto the ship, than having to hide around in the cargo hold and scavenge for food.
Not that I wouldn’t do it, but this is nicer.
Definitely nicer.
Elf and Tank lead me down a brightly lit corridor. There are doors on either side with various labels and signs. Some of the rooms have open windows and I try to discreetly peer in, but it’s still hard to see, even with the glasses on.
“Just keep moving forward,” Elf says gruffly, and I obey. My feet move on their own. As we make our way down the hall, I can’t help but feel dirty and grungy. Elf and Tank are both tall and tan, but their clothes are pristine and white. My own garments are faded and worn. I’m worried that if I touch anything, I’ll darken it and damage it. My skin is physically dirty. I can’t remember the last time I had a bath or a hot shower.
Maybe they’ll give me something new to wear. Surely they won’t let me make the entire journey wearing only a shift.
Will they?
If they want me to stay clean, to keep my hands to myself, they’ll have to give me something to wear. They’ll just have to.
“Mr. Tank,” I say, my throat suddenly dry. As if sensing my sudden panic, both men stop and turn to me.
“What is it, human?” Tank’s voice is straightforward, but gentle.
“How long is the journey to Taneyemm?”
If it’s more than a few weeks, I’ll ask for clothes. I’ll have to figure out how to get the courage, but I’ll do it. I might be able to manage keeping my hands to myself for a few weeks, but more than that and I’ll need something to change into.
Surely they’ll be able to provide that for me.
“Four Earth years.”
Four.
Earth.
Years.
He’s got to be kidding. I knew that the journey was long, but the farthest I’ve ever been was a day’s walk. Years? He’s talking about years?
So much can change in a day.
How much will change in four years?
I’m in a completely different situation than I was hours ago, let alone a day ago. I almost missed this journey by a single day. What the hell am I going to do on a ship for four years?
Play cards?
Maybe they’ll freeze us, I realize suddenly. I’ve heard about that. Rumors, of course, but I’ve heard of it. Before the wars, before the famines, before the plagues, I loved to read. I read a lot about space travel, but suddenly, that time seems very long ago.
We reach the end of a hall and turn, only instead of another hallway, we’re in an open room now. There are several chairs in a semi-circle in front of a panel of knobs and buttons and computers. Beyond that, there’s glass overlooking my planet.
Overlooking my town.
Arcadia was never much to look at, but it was home. Before I start to cry as I take one last, wistful look at my planet, I try to look around the unusual room. Judging from how official everything looks, I would guess this is where the magic happens.
Each chair on the far side of the room has a person in it. Each person is wearing a uniform that is different from Tank and Elf’s. These are more official-looking. They’re black with red fire streaks on the shirts and bright red buttons that go down the front.
All eyes turn as we enter and a tall man, even taller than Elf, walks over to us. He eyes me up and down, then turns to Elf.
He begins speaking in a language I don’t understand.
I wish I did.
Elf responds quickly, waving at me and gesturing wildly. I suppose this is the part of the story where he’s explaining that he found me and I’m going to be Hal’s replacement girl, whatever the fuck that means. I stare at the captain, but try to look demure about it. I don’t think I’m pulling it off. I should probably be staring at my hands or feet, looking shyly away, but that’s not my style.
Never has been.
After a few minutes, the captain makes an exasperated sound and turns to me. This time he speaks English.
“Do not give me trouble,” he says. Then he storms out of the room.
“That went well,” Tank mumbles under his breath, and the men lead me back out.
“Where are we going now?” I ask. Elf doesn’t even look at me. He just grumbles something and we keep walking. Maybe I should just stay silent. I need to make myself as invisible as possible.
Not an easy task, I think dryly, looking at my dirty body.
Instead of talking, I use this time to look around the ship, but we’re moving so quickly that I’m not really sure where we’re at. We go up one staircase and down another, down one hall, around a bend, then more halls.
By the time we stop at a small room, I’m completely turned around and completely exhausted.
They lead me inside and there’s a surprisingly short, blonde-haired man inside. He looks human. I can’t quite shake the idea that Elf, Tank, and the captain aren’t. I feel like they’re Taneyemms, even though they haven’t told me they are.
“Hal,” Elf says, and I know this is the man who “needed the girls.” “We have a girl for you.”
To my surprise, Hal hops up and hugs Elf. He wraps his arms around the man and starts jumping up and down.
“I knew you could do it!” He says. “I knew you could do it!”
Elf gingerly peels Hal away, the same way he would a little child.
“There’s a complication,” Elf says, looking from me and back to Hal. Hal nods.
“What is it? I can tell she’s a bit…worn…but that shouldn’t pose much of a problem on its own. She’s not the worst we’ve seen.”
I’m not sure if this is an insult or a compliment.
“The others have already been frozen,” Tank says, and Elf nods. He looks at me with sympathy.
“She’ll have to stay awake during the trip. There’s no more neila left to freeze her.” Elf sounds truly remorseful and I wonder exactly what’s going to happen to me on a ship full of super sexy men.
“How can there not be any left? Didn’t you know we might find another girl?” Hal’s voice rises a little, and his face starts to look a little red.
“We didn’t think we’d be able to.”
“And?” Hal seems like he’s waiting for something, and Elf sighs.
“And Dar asked if we’d use the rest to freeze him. You know how he gets bored on these trips.” Elf and Tank both look sympathetically at me once more, as if I’m going to somehow get bored on a spaceship.
As if.
“Is there a room for her?” Hal doesn’t seem fazed by this turn of events, but I am. I’ll be awake on this ship for four years. For four years, the other girls will be asleep, but I won’t.
I’ll be awake.
What the hell am I going to do on a spaceship?
Still, I suppose I can’t complain. They brought me here and saved me from certain death, so I need to be grateful. I’ll smile and nod and do whatever they say because if I do, I get to stay alive, and that’s the real goal, right?
“We have a room and rations,” Elf confirms. He lowers his voice and adds, “Keilla’s.”
“I’m sorry for you
r loss,” Hal says, but Elf just grunts. I wonder who Keilla was or who she was to Elf. My heart hurts a little as I wonder what pain he might be feeling. I still haven’t let my father’s death sink in and I’m basically running on autopilot at this point. At the implication of death, my heart threatens to crack a little bit more, but I suck down the pain.
When I’m alone, I can cry.
When I’m alone, I can mourn my father.
Elf turns back to me and places a large, heavy hand on my shoulder.
“Girl, you’ll be fine,” he says. “Listen to Hal. Do what he says. You’ll be fine.”
“Thank you,” I nod. I know he must have risked his neck for me in there with the captain, and I appreciate it. Spontaneously, I wrap my arms around him in a hug, and he tenses for a moment. Then he relaxes his body and hugs me back.
“Take care of yourself,” he says quietly, then he leaves.
“No hug for me, thanks,” Tank says with a smile. He nods at me, then follows Elf out of the room. When they’re gone, I turn back to Hal.
“What happens now?” I ask.
“Now?” He says. “Now I make you Taneyemm material.”
He grins, and I get the feeling that I’m not going to like how Hal prepares me for my new life.
I’m not going to like it at all.
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The Saucy Devil
Julianne doesn't want to get married.
She certainly doesn't want to marry someone as terrible as Vince Fiddick. The other villagers might believe that his previous wives went missing, but Julianne knows the truth. Fearing for her life, she seeks refuge on the nearest pirate ship: The Dark Lovely.
The pirate captain of the ship is tall, dark, and handsome.
He's everything she's dreamed of in a man.
He also has no tolerance for stowaways.
When his life is threatened, however, Julianne has to make a choice.
Will she play it safe?
Or will she risk everything to save the Saucy Devil?