by Robin Roseau
"Screw that," I said. "They've seen mine. They're staring at yours."
"No, I don't think so." She nudged. "That one is definitely staring at yours."
"That one has had mine," I said. "Her name is Cherish. You're really going to like her."
"She doesn't have any boobs."
"No, but she's smart as all get out, really sweet, and I really like her."
"So, that's the one you want to pick you?"
"Maybe." Then I nudged. "That one. In the blue skin."
"Yeah."
"Octal. If she invites you to a battle of wills, just say yes, okay? Trust me."
"Okay," she said slowly.
"She's not after serious. Long story. But let's just say. Oh. Em. Gee."
"How many aliens have you slept with?"
"Just her. I had sex with the Tutor though. And took a bath with the Wookie, but she's not sure if she wants more."
"Which Wookie? I think there's two."
"Oh, so there are. I'll introduce you in a bit. So, shall we go make a splash?"
She laughed. "Sure."
Party
I'd hoped that Jasmine would relent on the clothing. I should have known better. But she did offer a sort of compromise. Back in my cell, there was a silky, pure white kimono waiting. It was sleek and felt really good, and just the little bit extra helped with my confidence.
The visor wouldn't let me walk to the party myself. Instead, I had to wait for guards, and then they shackled me besides. My visor dimmed, and I was led through the facility. We arrived... somewhere... and I was pressed against the wall.
Do not panic.
The wall swallowed me, or enough of me I couldn't have escaped. The shackles were removed, and then I was stuck there.
And my visor wouldn't respond, either. But then some music began, and so I waited. I was even at least a little patient about it.
I don't know how long they kept me there, but it might have been a half hour. I had no control over the visor until much later, and so I couldn't tell the time, and I was left to guess.
But then the music faded, and the sound of the room came in. I heard people talking quietly, some of it English, some of it not. Then the visor brightened. But still the wall held me.
I was in a ballroom, and when I looked around, so were the rest of the women. And in front of us, walking back and forth to check us out, were the aliens.
More aliens than I expected.
Oh, it wasn't hundreds, but it might have been two dozen or a little more.
I looked, and there were nine of us women, including the ones I had invited. They were looking around, too, and I saw some expressions smooth when they turned to see me, bound the same as they were.
"Is everyone okay?" I asked.
I got some nods, a couple said, "Yes," and there were a couple who said, "I guess so."
The alien women seemed to be enjoying this. I wasn't sure how I felt about it. I had three watching me, and I didn't recognize any of them, but then Cherish stepped up beside them. The four talked quietly.
"Seriously?" I asked. "Are you even going to say hello?"
She didn't, but she waved her fingers at me.
"Brat," I muttered. "Fine." I looked back and forth. I was at the end, with the rest of the human women towards my right. Immediately beside me was Alisha. She was looking a little miffed.
"Hey. Doctor Stanley."
She turned her head.
"They play games," I said.
She nodded. "Call me Alisha."
"I'm Andie," I said.
"What are they doing?"
"I can guess this is Administrator Brighteye's latest plan to put us off balance," I replied. "But there's a certain Loris who might have been consulted. I'd introduce him to... whatever it is that eats lorises. Lorai. Whatever the plural of loris is."
"Snakes," she said. "Snakes prey on lorises."
"Perfect. Where can I get a snake?"
"Bangladesh."
"Hmm. That's over by India, isn't it. I'm not sure Administrator Brighteyes will let me go that far. I wonder if I can order one on Amazon and have it shipped."
"I don't think Amazon ships dangerous snakes across international borders," she replied. "You could try."
"We're in Africa," I said. "I bet the reason there aren't any lorises in Africa is because the lions ate them all. I bet I can get a lion."
"Or a pack of hyenas," Alisha suggested. "Dirty animals."
"There you go."
"Why are we talking about lorises?"
"There's an alien race that looks quite a bit like a slow loris, only somewhat larger. They're called Lorises. And there's one here with a particularly nasty sense of humor."
"Oh, now I understand." She looked down. "They aren't going to leave us in here all night, are they?"
"I think that would defeat the purpose," I said. "This is supposed to give all of us a chance to meet people. But they're aliens, and Administrator Brighteyes is a voyeur besides. Who knows how they think?"
Alisha smiled. "All right." She pointed with her nose. "What's that one?"
"Which one?" I said. "There's twenty of them."
"Twenty seven," she said. "The one with six limbs."
"That's a Greenbear," I said. "I haven't met one before."
"Does she speak English?"
"I don't know. Let's find out." I raised my voice. "Hey! Greenbear! Hey!"
The Grenbear didn't respond, but she was talking to one of the Catseye while looking at Deb. The Catseye nodded though then gestured to me and said something. The Greenbear turned.
"Yeah, you," I said. "Doctor Stanley here wants to know if you speak English."
The Greenbear turned to the Catseye, and the Catseye spoke quietly.
"I don't think she speaks English."
So Alisha raised her voice, speaking German. The Greenbear snapped her head over, and then she lumbered towards us, coming to a stop in front of Alisha. Then the two of them began speaking in slow, careful German.
"Well, what do you know?" I muttered.
The two talked for a few minutes, and then the Greenbear stepped closer. She caressed Alisha's face, and then a moment later, the wall retracted, leaving Alisha -- but not the rest of us -- free.
"Hey!" I complained. "What did you tell her?"
Alisha turned. "She invited a conversation. Don't worry. I'm holding out for a Catseye, but she seems nice." And then she offered an arm, and the two of them walked off, me staring after them.
"Well," I said. "Hey. Catseye. How about letting me out?"
She ignored me.
One by one, I saw the other women released from the wall. And while a lot of the aliens checked me out, not a single one accepted an offer to come talk to me. Finally I was the only one still stuck in the wall, and I didn't think it was funny.
I fumed but finally shut up. No one wanted to talk to me? Fine. But I wasn't going swimming in the morning, either.
So I stood there, hugged by the wall. Fuming. I couldn't access the visor. I couldn't get loose, and no one wanted to talk to me. Look at me, yes. Talk to me? No.
I was sure Jasmine put all of them up to it. I wasn't happy with my friends.
But then slowly a group of aliens collected in front of me, none looking my way. Cherish was there, and Soft Rain with the other Wookie. Dark Skies showed up and pointedly ignored me. Clover arrived, and the Wookie wandered off. The four of them talked quietly, perhaps ten feet in front of me.
I gave them dirty looks and didn't say a word.
Then Jasmine joined them, and she ignored me, too.
They ignored me for five, maybe ten minutes. I eventually just closed my eyes and tried to tune everything out. But my blood was pounding in my ears.
And then I heard Jasmine's voice. "Hello, Mating Candidate Hayes."
"You're a funny woman, Administrator," I said. I opened my eyes and looked at her. "Why?"
"A joke that carried too far," she said. "But you look like you're r
eady to do something stupid, so I'm hoping you'll calm down."
"Explain."
"I thought someone would rescue you. I told your friends to leave you for someone who hasn't met you. But everyone else thought I was punishing you, so they avoided you."
"So you're going to let me out."
"No."
"Why not?"
"Because no one gets out unless she accepts an offer of a conversation."
"Fine. Offer a conversation."
"With someone she hasn't met."
"And no one seems to be willing to talk to me enough to let me loose. So you're going to leave me here all night?"
"No, but once you calm down, I'll spread the word you're available to be released. Someone will eventually free you."
"I'm not sure I believe anything you tell me," I said. "I think this is exactly what you said: a joke. I'm a joke."
She didn't say anything for a minute. "I like teasing you," she finally admitted.
"And looking at me?"
"Yes, I like looking at you."
"Like this?"
"Actually, a little, yes."
I huffed. "Fine. You can have your game. But if no one is going to rescue me, could you let me have my visor controls back?"
"Still mad?"
"This was a joke on me."
"Yes. This part was a joke on you. But I think putting all of you here was a good choice. It let everyone see you, and it set a mood I feel needed to be set."
"All right," I said. "Let me have my visor and keep everyone away for a short while. I'll be cheerful again in a few minutes. I just need to finish calming down."
"Thank you."
"But you owe me."
"You are stipulating a price?"
"Yes. I want a dance. Do Catseye dance?"
"We can try," she said. "Later."
"Later," I said. "All right."
She stepped away, and a moment later I tried my visor. The controls returned, although I only had limited choices. I couldn't send email or otherwise initiate contact with anyone. I put on some music and closed my eyes.
She left me there for a while, but then I heard a voice. "You are Andromeda Hayes."
I opened my eyes, and there was a Catseye watching me.
"I am," I said.
"I am Periwinkle Moon."
"I am pleased to meet you, Periwinkle Moon. Are we to be friends?"
"Perhaps we are," she said.
"Then maybe you'll call me Andie." I accessed the visor and told it to pause the music.
"You may call me Periwinkle, or if you like something shorter, some call me Wink."
"What is your Catseye name?"
She made a sound. It was several syllables, and I couldn't have reproduced any of them.
"I don't think I can say that," I admitted.
"Which is why we have names humans recognize," she said, her tentacles quivering lightly. "I wanted to ask you something."
"Of course."
"I heard you were swimming earlier."
"Yes."
"Without clothing."
"Yes. You should have had an invitation."
"It was swimming," she said. "I don't swim."
"Ah. The other Catseye sat at the edge and watched."
"I heard there were two human women."
"Yes. Tracey was with me." I scanned the room. "She's currently talking to the Octal." I gestured with my nose. The Catseye followed me gaze.
"She's pretty."
"Yes," I said.
"I think I'll introduce myself," she said. And then without another word, she walked away.
I was still stuck in the wall.
I looked around, and Jasmine was openly laughing at me. I stuck my tongue out at her then accessed the visor. I told it to shut down all exterior lights and sound and to put the music back on. It obeyed, and I let myself get lost in my own little world.
* * * *
The lights came on and sound returned. Jasmine was staring at me from a foot or two away. "Four women have tried to talk to you," she said. "Including three I very much wanted you to meet. They thought you were ignoring them, and they are now letting people know you are an unpleasant woman. It took me a half hour to figure out what you had done."
"Anyone who wanted to let me go had the last hour and a half to do it." I tried accessing the visor to turn everything off again, but I was locked out. "Give it back and go away."
"I am going to tell them you were working. I need you to meet these women, Andromeda, and I need you to be exceedingly pleasant and cheerful."
"Why do you ask things like that after intentionally pissing me off?"
"I did not intentionally piss you off."
"Oh please. You sent Periwinkle over here just to taunt me."
"I had nothing to do with that. She's an airhead. It didn't even occur to her to let you loose."
"And you know this, how?"
"Because I asked her why she didn't let you go, and she said, 'I was supposed to?'"
"Then why didn't you come over and do it?"
"Because I sent four different women to do it. Are you going to do what I'm asking or not?"
I sighed. "Fine. But give me the visor back."
"If you do that again-"
"Yeah, yeah. You'll give me to an Implac."
"I'll give you a challenge involving shock staffs at full power."
"You would not."
"Fine. I don't know what I'd do, but I might loan you to Bay to test his latest bag of mean tricks."
"Now that's something you'd do. I'll behave, Administrator."
"Call me Jasmine." But she walked away before I could say another word. I turned the music back, but I set a proximity alarm before closing my eyes and zoning to the music.
It was a few minutes later that the visor beeped at me. I opened my eyes, and an alien was walking towards me. She was small, about the size of the Loris, with a pale, furless face. Her eyes were big and glowed, somewhat like a Catseye, but with a sort of shifting, light purple light. She had no nose, which was a little off-putting, but a full mouth. She was either wearing lipstick or had bright purple lips. I couldn't be sure.
She had tufted ears and hair similar to that of a fox, but it was in irregular stripes of purple and green mixed with a little grey and a little white. It began just above her eyes, very fine, then grew longer as it reached the top of her head and resembled a horse's mane by the time it reached the back of her neck. She wore a vest of some sort of material, I wasn't sure what, and I would learn later it was backless. Her fur extended all the way down her back and the backs of her arms and hands, growing finer, but the undersides of her arms, her front, and the fronts of her legs were bare and smooth. The vest covered quite a bit of the furless region of her torso, ending just below her hips.
I decided she was beautiful.
She stepped up to me and spoke careful English. "You ignored me before."
"I am sorry. I didn't think anyone wanted to talk to me, so I turned off the light and sound and tried to work. I'm very sorry."
"You are a mating candidate. What work do you have except to become a mate?"
"I am helping Jasmine Brighteyes."
"Why?"
"I made certain agreements with her. In exchange, I asked for a job and demanded to be paid what I used to make in my old job."
"Demanded, did you?"
"Yes."
She cocked her head then moved around me, looking at me from different angles. "You are older than the other human women here."
"Yes. I am 34. The rest are in their 20s, as best I can tell."
"Older. More mature."
"In theory."
She cocked her head the other way.
"You are imprisoned until someone releases you."
"Yes, it appears I am. Are you to free me, or will you walk away like Periwinkle Moon did?"
Her head cocked further. "Now I understand why you darkened your visor. You were angry."
"I was
frustrated and thought Jasmine Brighteyes was teasing me. I decided not to let it make me any more frustrated by distracting myself. I thought she intended to let me be teased all night long. I'm still not sure that isn't the case."
"You are easily frustrated."
"I have been locked like this for quite some time. Judging by how much my feet hurt and how stiff I'm becoming from being unable to move, I guess it's been at least an hour, maybe even two. I didn't care for the joke after what I've been doing to try to help everyone. I especially didn't appreciate having Periwinkle come over and ask me to introduce her to another woman, then walk away, leaving me here."
The head cocked back the other way. "Jasmine Brighteyes suggested you would be charming. You are not being charming."
I closed my eyes tightly, took several breaths, and then opened them again. She was still there. "You're right. I'm being honest. I need the opportunity to calm down before I can achieve charming."
"You were charming in the swimming area. You were pleasant and made jokes, although not everyone understood them."
"I didn't see you there. I can't imagine missing you. You are quite distinctive in appearance."
"I was not." She gestured. "We talk."
"Ah, of course. My name is Andromeda Hayes, but you probably know that. I am human, but you clearly know that. Will you introduce yourself?"
Her head cocked the other way. "I do not like you. We would not fit."
And without another word, she turned and stepped away. I stared after her. She left me here. She knew someone had to let me go, and she knew I was suffering, but she left me here. What a bitch!
I closed my eyes and turned the music back on.
It was three songs later before the visor pinged again. I was seriously tempted to ignore whoever it was, but I sighed and opened my eyes. Jasmine was standing there. She looked angry.
"I tried," I said. "Administrator Brighteyes, I would like to be returned to my cell. My body hurts and I find it exceedingly unlikely I'm going to be charming to anyone. So bitch at me if you want to. I don't care. But this is your fault and not mine."
Then I closed my eyes. Nothing happened. Jasmine said nothing, and the wall didn't release me. I stood there saying not another word, but then I felt furry hands on both arms, and then the wall released me. I would have collapsed, but the people on either side supported me. I opened my eyes and saw Soft Rain on one side, the other Wookie on the other. Jasmine was in front of me, and I swear, steam was exiting her ears. And her tentacles weren't still, either.