Alien need, p.4
Alien Need, page 4
"No, there will not be a receiving line. The Kantenan will come forward and speak a few words. Then he will pick his bride.”
"What if his bride isn't in the group?"
"We have contingencies planned if that is the case," Graecey said. "When the Kantenan chooses, the rest of us will walk back to the ship."
"Will we get to see more of the world?" another girl asked.
"I can see what we can arrange," Graecey said.
That made Janae smile. A tour would be fantastic. Amazing. Brilliant.
The big heavy doors that led to outside began to open. Janae felt the warm, moist air blast them, and it felt surreal.
Beautiful and surreal.
A couple of the women immediately groaned that the air would ruin their hair, and Janae shook her head. They were about to depart on a new world, and they were worried about their hair?
Silly.
She headed toward the opening door and took in a deep breath at the top of the ramp before she descended.
She wanted to savor this first breath of a new world.
Warm.
Fresh.
She could smell botanicals and rain.
As she looked out onto the platform they'd landed on, she could see the Kantenans standing on the perimeter. They all had ridges on their backs. Four stood near the vehicle, all in long black coats and pointed horn-like headgear.
Or was that their heads?
Each one was slightly different, but they all had horns.
If it was a headpiece, she couldn't tell. But they were pretty intense looking, no matter the shapes. Bright colored, a contrast to their red skin.
Organic.
Like this place.
Hard and natural.
She had to say, she was very intrigued.
Hopefully, she'd be able to get a close look at them before this was over.
"Come, ladies. It's time," Graecey said and glanced at Janae. "Time to see one lucky lady’s new home.”
"Someone's going to be lucky," one of the others said.
Janae nodded.
For a brief second, she wondered if she was lucky enough to be able to stay.
3
"The ship is big," Stron said as the ship started to land on the platform.
Khalzin nodded. "From what I understand, the females live there until they're united with a mate." He'd been given information from the Galactic Alliance Science Senate when he joined about how the process worked, though it seemed very basic now, what he knew about these females.
Only that they chose to be a part of this, and most were eager for new experiences and meeting new humanoids.
"They could be ship-starved," Fiviel said, referring to the slang term for being stuck on a ship so long that one takes whatever they could get. Those who were desperate or out to con a ship-starved passenger spent time near landing ports. Ready to take advantage. Most, though usually, resided on space stations.
It simply meant the women would settle for anything and likely be desperate.
"Do you think you can handle it?" Dhomhes said, his voice low.
Khalzin gritted his teeth. "I can. Can you?"
"There is nothing to handle because this mess will only fail," Dhomhes replied. "They all will be atrocious looking, I promise. Ship-starved and desperate.”
"Then why did you volunteer?" Fiviel asked.
"Because it is also controversial, and I like to be in the middle of the controversy.”
"Naturally," Khalzin said.
"End your ego," Stron said. "We need to get on with this. The females will likely be nervous."
"Good," Khalzin said.
Stron glanced at him. "Why?"
"Nerves means more genuine emotions and more authentic personalities. Our physiology will be able to connect with natural personalities and the hormones that they radiate."
And it would distract from his nervousness because he was nervous about the next few minutes. It could very much go brilliantly, or it could do as Dhomhes said and blow up in his face.
His pride would not handle a failure well. Nor would dealing with his father.
"You really have worked out the science of attraction, haven't you?" Fiviel asked.
"There is a reason why none of us are attached to anyone," Khalzin said. "The genome is--"
"The reason none of us are mated is that we don't want to be," Dhomhes said. "We control when we mate. That connection is something that we can manipulate."
"It's not," Khalzin said. He was prepared to argue that point with Dhomhes because basic Kantenan science proved him wrong. It meant nothing when intimate with just anyone. But with the right humanoid? It could mean everything.
Many believed as Dhomhes did that it was controllable. Khalzin knew better the science was there it proved--
The ship opened, and down the ramp came a singular female.
"They brought us one?" Stron said.
"Are we supposed to share?" Dhomhes asked.
"No..." Fiviel said, a growl to his voice.
Kantenans did not share mates. That did not work. Some had tried in the past having polyamorous relationships, but it always wound up in a battle to the death over a mate. So, sharing did not go well with them.
They started to cross the landing pad as the female approached.
A few moments later, more females came down the ramp and toward the landing platform.
Some were in a hurry; others were taking their time.
Rather, one was taking her time.
She came down the ramp, and even from a distance, Khalzin could see her eyes, wide with wonder as she looked at everything. She took deep breaths and slowly followed the group of females toward the center of the ramp. Like she was more interested in being on a new world than meeting a mate.
As far as he could tell, she had not even looked toward him or the others.
The wind blew, and her dark hair danced around her face. She immediately brushed her hair down and stayed in the back of the group. She seemed almost shy, the way she lingered behind the others.
Shy but curious.
He was immediately intrigued.
However, the lead female came right over to them, and she carried a data tablet in her arm. Fiviel, who was next to Khalzin, lengthened his stride, approaching the female before Khalzin could get there.
She stopped and spoke to him, nodded her head, and turned back toward the females.
Fiviel stayed where he was.
"What is going on," Khalzin asked.
"The females will gather together, and we'll do the selection right here."
"Fine," Khalzin said.
The other two reached them, Stron and Dhomhes.
"So, who goes first?" Stron asked.
"Shall I toss a chance cube?" Dhomhes smirked.
"I will," Khalzin said. He glanced at the women as their leader got them all together. He was more and more intrigued by the woman he'd seen. She stayed on the edge.
Others stood in the center, obviously posing to attract attention. The organizer arranged all the females in a few rows, with space between them. It only took a few minutes, but it allowed him to watch their behaviors and see if anyone drew his attention.
Many watched him and the others. Some even raised their hands to wave at them. He noticed that Dhomhes even posed a bit back, looking extra arrogant. He'd seen that sort of thing before. No matter the humanoid species, there were always those who posed for attention. Regardless of Dhomhes's attitude, he was enjoying himself.
The female who stayed in the back had been put on the back row, in the corner. The organizer was near her, and she covered her mouth as she conversed with the other female.
Something the organizer said made her smile.
And that expression alone hit him like a stone. He inhaled a breath, feeling suddenly very overwhelmed with what was happening. His body came alive, and his coat started to tighten around his armor as it grew.
"This is your little game," Stron said. He put his hand on Khalzin's shoulder. "You certain this is what you want to do?"
Khalzin nodded. "I'm sure. This is the only way.”
Stron leaned a little closer. "Is this about saving the Kantenans or proving your father wrong?"
"Can't it be about both?" Khalzin asked.
"If that's what you want.”
"You know this will be documented," Dhomhes said, and he gestured to the edges of the pad. Monitors and cameras recorded everything that happened on the landing pad.
Proof that could not be denied if this went poorly.
Also, it would prove if he met someone immediately and asked her to mate with him. There would be undeniable records of the interaction, and therefore it would be legal and legitimate.
Khalzin stood straighter.
He knew what was at risk here. But he also knew how his body responded, and that was his sign.
His proof that this was the right path.
"Those are real humanoids there. We cannot toy with them," Stron said.
Khalzin nodded. "I do not plan to. I will bond with my mate and treasure her for as long as I live.”
He started to cross the pad toward the group of females.
Their female leader came around the group and approached him. A pretty humanoid, she had wavy hair and silvery eyes. "I'm Graecey. If you wished to speak to them before you, well, before you choose, that is fine. I'm sure they'd like to hear a few words."
"Thank you," Khalzin nodded as they both reached the collection of females.
He cleared his throat. "Welcome to our world. We appreciate your choice to come here and be a part of this.”
His gaze ran over the crowd. The dark-haired girl ignored him. Instead, she was watching a fowl running along the edge of the landing platform.
"If you are selected," he said. He looked between the others, but he kept going back to her.
Many waved and smiled and generally tried to encourage him.
And Dhomhes was very wrong. They all were quite attractive humanoids.
The one, though...
She still didn't take her eyes off the animal. She smiled again at something the fowl did but didn't seem to pay any attention to him.
"You will be well taken care of," he said, his voice a little louder as he spoke to get her attention.
No, she still didn't care.
Other women sighed, like what he said appealed to them.
"Treated as precious commodities, for life-bearers are considered our most important citizens.”
More of the signing.
The woman still did not look away. It was like she didn't even care what he said. Like she didn't expect to be selected.
An idea to get her attention came to mind.
"You will be taken to see all the beauties of our world--"
She turned to look at him, her gaze hitting him like a stone, and he felt it through to his armor and his bones.
However, it only lasted for a moment, for another fowl came up, and her attention went back to the animals.
"We will be the beauties," one of the women said, very near him in the front.
He turned and glanced at the silvery-blonde-haired female. "If you are chosen.”
The woman opened her mouth to scoff at him, though he knew immediately he wanted no part of her. She stunk of arrogance and conceit. Something he had no time for.
The females were spaced far enough apart to allow him to slip between them. Some smelled nice. Others were nervous, he could tell, but none pulled him like the one on the back row. Some engaged him as he walked through, and while he was not rude, he did not linger over any of them.
The female on the back row still paid him no attention, which only made him want to get to her and find out why.
What it was about her that drew him so?
"You," he said. As soon as he reached her, he could smell her. Yet another overwhelming sensation--she smelled like pure pleasure and joy. Different from all the others, but in the best possible way.
She glanced at him and blinked. "Uh."
He stepped closer to her. "You were ignoring me."
"No, I wasn't. I heard everything you said. But it doesn't apply to me." She shifted, and the wind blew more of her smell toward him.
His body reacted to her immediately.
Parts grew even more.
Armor.
And other places.
He would wonder if this was intentional, how she was overwhelming him with her scent.
But he didn't think so. There was something about her. Not innocence, precisely, but a lacking, well, what was it? He glanced around. Her difference was obvious, but what to call it, he was not sure.
"Why does it not apply to you? You are welcome here, same as the others. You would be taken care of and treated as a precious commodity.”
She shook her head. "But I'm just filler.”
He blinked. "What does that mean?"
"I'm just here to make the pretty ones look good."
"No one expects you to take her," the stinky silver-haired female said.
"Roemary, enough!" their leader said. She crossed to the Roemary woman. "This is their process, not yours!"
The female glared at the other and crossed her arms. It was apparent by her posturing that this female did not like the other. He did not blame her; she was not sincere. He doubted even Dhomhes would like her.
That was it.
He snapped his gaze back on this female that smelled so good.
She was sincere.
Not like the others, who performed to gain his attention.
She didn't care to gain it. She was her true self.
Khalzin put his hand on her arm. "I choose her.”
She blinked.
"What?"
The female Roemary cried out. "What is this? A joke? Her? You picked her?"
He turned to the female. "I pick you if you will take me."
The words were out of his mouth before he realized what he'd said.
If she answered affirmatively, then they would be bonded. Eternally.
He looked into her eyes and realized they were dark, like her hair. He saw the ridges on her nose, and he took in every detail on her face.
"I--"
"This is ridiculous. Why would you take her? She's nobody. A street vagabond who was only here for the free food and home," Roemary cried. "Why would you waste your time on her?"
"Is it true?" Khalzin asked. "You do not wish to be here?"
When he turned to look back at the female, he chose her eyes were glistening with tears. "I am as she said. I have nothing, and I came to..."
He put his hand on her delicate cheek. "Now, you have nothing to worry about again.”
She covered his hand.
Tears sprang from her eyes, and she nodded. "Okay.”
4
Oh, stars, what have I done?
With his red skin and green-gold horns, Janae stared at the large Kantenan before her.
His hand was warm.
She felt his fingers in hers, and it seemed almost surreal. His hand was larger, but not scarily so. His touch didn’t feel mean or angry, or possessive.
His eyes, though.
Gold like the sun. A beard made his face seem long, contrasting the large horns that came out of his head. His hair parted around the horns, falling almost in chaos compared to the horns that curled around the side and back of his head, with branching off pieces. They weren’t tight against his head, more like a kind of antlers from an animal.
And were they more prominent than they had been?
She brushed off the thought because that just seemed silly. They wouldn't grow. And if they did, why would they?
Seemed a strange thing that they would shift and change.
She couldn’t take her eyes off him, though. Dressed in what she assumed to be formal clothing, the long coat had adornments and stitching that created an embroidered pattern.
She had an impulse to run her finger along the pattern and follow the lines to see how they were intertwined.
"I shall care for you," he said, his voice low.
"I..." She wasn’t sure what to say. This was so far distant from the idea that she had expected. No one in their right mind would pick her. She really was there for filler, someone to plump the numbers. She didn’t expect any of this.
Roemary glared at her like she had somehow manipulated this.
Which was further from the truth.
Had she ignored him?
Sure.
Not because she was trying to manipulate anything, but because she genuinely didn’t think it mattered if she listened. He was talking to the others. Not to her.
She wasn’t going to be chosen for a mate.
That’s what she had expected.
She did this for the warm bed and the food for a while.
Get away from Trinity Omega Prime and the corruption and her status. She was who she was – a Less.
Considered by many to be less than worthy of living.
Janae was just there to survive.
He tipped his head to the side and studied her. “Are you well?”
“Taken by shock, is all,” she said.
“Why?”
She saw all the eyes on her and waved her hand. “We can discuss that in private.” And allow him to walk away if need be.
“As you like.” He stood straighter and raised his voice. "We shall enter Courtship now."
She remembered what the information had said about how they mated. Courtship was dating of a sort, but it was done wrong. After the commitment was made.
She didn't understand. Why did he so readily make that promise?
He was an alien, though, and who knew what that meant to him.
She nodded. She felt strange. Everything whirled around her, and she stood in the center of a storm. Chaotic, and yet she remained still at the same time.
Then it seemed to dawn on her exactly what she was doing, and everything crashed into her.
She agreed to be the wife and eventually the mother to this humanoid's child, even before she knew anything about him! Had she lost her mind? Was she going crazy? Why had she done this again?
"Yay!" Graecey cried. "Congratulations, Janae!"
"This is ludicrous," Roemary snarled. "I cannot believe this. Why in the world would you take her when you have someone like me?" She gestured to the grouping. "Even any of these other women are plenty more beautiful than she is." She turned to Graecey. "She's your friend. You rigged this, didn't you!"
