We had been flying for a week before I’d finally adjusted to the cramped spaces on the ship. I was making my way to the common area for lunch when I noticed the view of space obstructed. Rather than drifting stars and asteroids, there was solid ochre with specks of brown.
In the common area, people crowded around a small group in the centre of the room. The Space Corp guys were on edge, their weapons drawn, furtive glances passed between them while they marked the group, slowly encircling them.
As I got closer, I saw that the group were a bunch of winged, elf-eared people; three men and three women. A short, obnoxious, chubby, middle-aged man was speaking at them, Edward Klein. He was grinning from ear to ear, going on about how happy he was to be representing our species to the group.
Klein was insufferable. From the moment we left dock at Heaven’s Spear, he made his occupation and rank known over the comms. He was a politician, and one with too much power in his hands, especially in this bucket to Mars. Klein had given his speech as soon as we cleared Heaven’s Spear; in far more words and with much excitement, he declared himself king. As king, we the subjects were obliged to obey his whims. At least once a day he gave a speech in the common area and those in the vicinity were required to be attentive. Then were the daily emails sent from his state account, which marked them as priority, locking you out of doing anything before reading his email. He’d met with us farmers and, verbatim, presented us with the government’s expectation for our projects and the rules we were to follow. Everything we had already been briefed about, a week before departure and again by email. His presence over the past week filled every corner of the ship ad nauseam. Ignoring him had become second nature.
Sorry, I’ve strayed. Our visitors called themselves, Alythes, claiming to come from a star system a few hundred light years away. From their back and forth with Klein, it seems they need our help, but, I wasn’t paying much attention. One of their men had been staring at me intently. I brushed it off at first, but when my gaze travelled around the room and back to him, it became unsettling. He had a solemn unblinking stare, almost like he was looking inside me. In that moment a single thought ran through my mind:
I must say, he does look sexy, ears, wings and all.
You know that uncomfortable way everyone in a room will watch you when you’ve said something embarrassing aloud— especially when you thought you said it in your mind. Well, all the Alythes looked at me that way. Their staring drew the attention of Klein and the others towards me. I know I didn’t say anything. I was still playing with the ball of chocolate in my mouth.
Okay people, the staring is creepy.
The Alythe man walked towards me, and everyone in his path got out of the way. No resistance, no hesitation to letting him through.
Seriously?! An alien is approaching me, and you guys just clear the way for him. What if he kills me?
The man stopped in front of me. He did nothing— said nothing. A couple Space Corp guards broke from the group and surrounded us. They looked like they were itching to shoot. You know when you find yourself in mortal danger, your biggest regrets come to mind.
I should have taken Kishna up on that date. Now my tombstone is gonna say, Alei Bronwen dead at thirty-two. She was still a virgin.
Mom would do that. She definitely would do it.
The man smiled sweetly at me. It was a haunting smile, like he wasn’t used to it, because the rest of his demeanour was cold and rigid. “You are broadcasting your thoughts.” He said in a low voice.
I blinked up at him dumbly. Broadcasting my thoughts? No, I’m pretty sure they are still in my head. “What?” I managed to get out squeakily.
“You are anxious. Your thoughts are screaming on the Common.” He had an almost monotone way of speaking. Coupled with a slow, deliberate pace, it seemed like every word was carefully considered.
What gibberish is he talking?
Needless to note, Klein was bothered the aliens had turned their attention from him. Growing concerned he turned to the one he’d been speaking to. “Is something wrong? Did she—”
The alien gave a dismissive wave. It was an unhurried sweep of his hand. He carried such authority that Klein stopped mid sentence and stepped back, lowering his head. Klein was visibly shaken, it took him a moment to process what had happened and recover.
He really is a veteran politician.
Klein’s alien stared hard at the one in front of me. Klein manoeuvred himself to my line of sight and gave me a look that I assume meant, stay out of the limelight.
“You need to relax.” The alien towering over me said softly.
Relax?! You put me in the spotlight now you’re telling me to relax!
He leaned forward, I tried to step back but his arms held me in place. He rested his forehead on mine and words in a soothing tone echoed in my head.
Calm yourself, Alei. Our council master will redirect everyone’s attention but I need you to stop screaming. Please.
The image of a black, undisturbed lake was foremost in my mind, its surface reflecting the stars, the sky dim with the glow of twilight. I recognised the place. Immediately calm washed through me. I hadn’t conjured the image; it was thrust into my mind. The man righted himself and smiled at me again. “That is better.”
I glimpsed at the other Alythes. They seemed more relaxed now than they had a few seconds ago. Klein’s Alythe raised his wings and made a series of gentle flaps. By the time he folded his wings back, the entire room was looking at him again and he resumed his conversation with Klein. I looked back at the alien in front of me.
“You all can read minds.” I said intrigued.
“No. I alone can see your mind.” He read the confusion on my face. A satisfied smile settled on his face, it was softer than the first. “You are my companion.”
“Companion?”
“Among your people, the right word would be wife.”
Everyone around us went quiet, then it spread to the rest of the room again. I wish today had been a normal dull day. All I wanted was lunch. Klein’s Alythe approached the one standing by me, his hand resting on the man’s shoulder. His eyes moved between us.
“I believe it would be best for us to end today’s engagement here. Mr. Klein, my councillors and I would like to speak with you again, under different circumstances.”
“Of course.” Klein enthused. “I will make the arrangements. We can meet here again in eighteen hours.”
With that the Alythes vanished into thin air, and the quiet in the room broke like a burst dam. Captain Ruiz voiced his disapproval on entertaining the aliens. True to his nature, Klein countered, saying it was the perfect opportunity for us.
“If we can help them, they will be willing to give us access to their technology. An alliance with them is in the government’s interests, Captain Ruiz.”
“Mr. Klein, you are not the only one who can speak for the government’s interests.” interjected another politician. “If anyone is qualified to speak on our behalf, it is someone who has served on the Luna negotiation panel. That would be me.”
The other politicians seemed worried Klein would get all the glory if things with the Alythe went favorably. While the politicians fought for the future of their careers, others in the room flocked to me. Every which way, people were pushing, raising questions, taking pictures and recording. A whistle screeched and the room went quiet again. A few Space Corp guards put themselves between me and the crowd as Captain Ruiz’s voice boomed across the room.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we were just forcefully boarded by aliens. No doubt some of you have already tried to upload information to the externet. However, we have disabled our connections. Your communication watches will be scanned, and images of the aliens will be confiscated. Likewise, your comms will be restricted until such time the United Earth Government deems it necessary to publicise the alien contact. You are all to return to your quarters. As of now, this ship is under curfew. Mr. Klein, Ms. Bronwen, you will remain.”
People mumbled complaints under their breath as they shuffled to the exits. Captain Ruiz demanded an explanation for Klein’s invitation to the aliens without orders from Earth. Klein stood his ground as a fourth-rank politician, saying his actions were justified as the highest government official on board. Ruiz ordered him to make a report to the United Earth Government headquarters, stating Space Corp and the military would both receive his.
The two then turned to me with questions about what happened between the Alythe man and I. Klein even resorted to threatening me to reveal everything. Not that I intended to hide anything. I told them everything; neither of them could make sense of it, so I was released and returned to the quarters I shared with Kishna.
Kishna had heard about what happened in the common area. He was worried for me, worried that the Aliens’ attention would bring scrutiny from the UEG, and suggested I avoid them if they came onboard again. I agreed. No need to get caught up in an inter-species scandal, or even blamed if negotiations didn’t work out.
Unfortunately, life has an annoying habit of throwing you into situations you definitely don’t want to be in. The next day, the aliens requested I be present at the meeting with the politicians. The negotiation team briefed me not to speak out of turn or make any vocalisations. I was to be a statue in the room, unless spoken to, and if spoken to should not make inappropriate statements.
“No jokes or sarcasm. Be direct with your responses. If we believe you shouldn’t answer a question we will intervene, so take all your cues from us first.” The negotiator from the Luna panel said. The guy was uptight, but I suppose that’s what negotiators who deal with hostile forces are like.
There I was again, in a room with the aliens all staring at me. I wonder if animals in conservatory confinement feel this uncomfortable. All the weird-shaped creatures staring at you trying to exist. Of course, Mr. Sexy was there, staring holes into me as before.
The meeting started like a boring business meeting, with the agenda laid out, followed by overdone pleasantries. The politicians lived up to their titles, probably on orders from the government giving them assignments. Klein was the happiest in the room. He was given control to head the talks. The first issue addressed was why they made contact with us.
“Our species is on the verge of extinction. Females are scarce. We are long-lived, but this has stagnated our society. We hope salvation will be found with your people.” Said the one who had spoken to Klein yesterday. He was their leader.
“How do you know our species to be compatible?” A young man asked. He was younger than the other politicians on the panel. The guy got lucky, this will fast track his career faster than nepotism.
“We have no evidence to support this. We approached you after intercepting your vessel carrying a carved message. The etching showed similarities between our physical forms. That is a start.” The alien leader explained.
“Then you wish us to provide you with wives?” Klein asked. He seemed a little too happy when he asked that.
“We do not choose wives, as you would. Our people are destined for each other. Companions read each other’s minds. It is one of the ways they identify each other, as no two others can.” He turned to me then. “Alei, my brother has waited three thousand years for you.”
Three thousand years for what? Are they that old? Am I supposed to respond?
I looked down the table at the politicians. They were whispering among themselves and making notes, not one of them made eye contact with me!
“Yeah, that’s not happening.” I said leaning back confidently in my chair.
I heard the dismissive click of a tongue. The politicians looked about ready to crucify me. I know I promised not to speak inappropriately, but this alien was marrying me off to his brother without my say.
Wait. He knows my name!
I looked again at the politicians but was met with only angry stares. No, they wouldn’t have given them my full name. Before the politicians could admonish me, Mr. Sexy walked over. He took my hand and, despite my resistance, pulled me up to stand with him.
“You do not like this, I know. There is a bond between us. You can freely enter my mind as I can yours. Try it, see my thoughts.” His last words tugged on my heart like the distressed call of a young animal.
I want to save him. An odd thought to have for a man who looked like I needed saving from him.
How do you read a mind? Do I look into his eyes? How to esper? I should have read Telepathy for Dummies. God, he smells like Petrichor. I could love him for that alone. He gave me that satisfied smile again.
I don’t even know your name.
Lao’k.
Or your favourite color.
Yellow.
Its ridiculous to think I’m your one.
Look at me, Alei.
I focused my eyes on his and was brought back to the room and the moment.
“Your name is Lao’k!” I shouted.
ns216.73.216.67da2
and then Add to home screen.