“The humans are very close to achieving that feat.”
“But will bribing the leaders of the many governing factions be enough to satisfy the populace?” It wasn’t just the leaders they needed to convince.
“What other suggestion do you have?”
The only thing that came to mind? “I know when I was on Zilkov Five as part of the team sent to aid against an incursion of Kaffrds”—giant beetles that emerged from the core of the planet and begun decimating everything in their path—“that saving them from such a devastating disaster led to them being so grateful they signed a very generous trade deal with us.” Thus ending centuries of raiding for lilarose, a rare plant that only grew on Zilkov Five, which the Xamian used in much of their food manufacturing. While they’d technically eliminated the Kaffrds to preserve the plant, in doing so, they’d forged enough goodwill with those living on the planet that they no longer had to steal it.
“That’s actually an interesting idea, except for the fact there’s nothing currently threatening their world that we could save them from.”
Pity. It would have been an excellent way to introduce the Xamian that would have displayed their bravery while showing they meant no harm.
Beta had a suggestion. “We could manufacture a crisis.”
“Such as?” Cade asked.
“Redirecting an asteroid that would have a devastating effect if it impacted.”
“We would then rescue them from the calamity, thus fostering good will,” Cade murmured. “It has possibility.”
“It’s dishonest,” Jaspar pointed out, “and would likely cause widespread unrest. When a species is threatened with extinction, they tend to behave erratically. Untold damage could be done before the situation was resolved, and if it were discovered we engineered the crisis, we’d have an even bigger problem.”
Perhaps Colette would have an idea on how they could present the news of their existence.
However, they never had a chance to ask because she disappeared before they could meet the next day.
8
Colette woke before her alarm went off and immediately wondered if she’d dreamed up the blue aliens. In the light of day, it seemed far-fetched. Probably a vivid dream, because, hello, why would some ETs be coming to her to set up an interplanetary dating service?
Utterly ridiculous.
She hopped into a shower and quickly readied herself for work, despite not actually having anything on the agenda for the day. Days until Christmas and she’d be the only one attempting to work. Her staff would be off until January third, barring any emergencies. They no longer put on any events between Christmas and New Year due to a lack of attendance, as many chose to be with family during that time—and the fact those who did appear emitted a stench of desperation that never boded well on the dating scene.
So why leave the comfort of her home at all? She could technically work remotely. Why did she wear matching bra and panties, as well as her most form-fitting pencil skirt with matching flared blazer? Because a teeny tiny part of her kind of hoped she’d not dreamed up the blue hunks. Guess she’d soon find out, given she’d asked for a morning meeting with them.
Colette ran into her first dilemma getting to her office. When she arrived at her parking spot in the underground garage, she discovered her car missing. Her lips pursed, she pulled out her phone, loading the app for her Lexus, which, in turn, provided its current location—at her office.
The fact she’d not driven home didn’t mean she’d actually been beamed aboard a spaceship and then teleported into her condo, though. More likely, she’d drank a little too much and called a taxi, even if she didn’t remember it. Guess she’d have to catch another ride to fetch it.
A dial into the car service she used when not in the mood to drive herself had the operator promising a luxury SUV would be out front within the next ten minutes, which gave her enough time to get out of the garage and grab a coffee at the shop attached to the lobby of her condominium building.
The steaming cappuccino kept her warm as she stood on the sidewalk, grimacing at the light snowflakes daring to fall. She’d never been keen on winter weather. The dimness caused by the cloud cover had the dusk-like gloom triggering Christmas lights strung up and down the street, their golden glow actually pretty. She never decorated herself. Why bother when it would just be her on Christmas Day?
A blacked-out Suburban pulled to the curb, and a woman dressed in a black uniform popped out of the passenger seat.
“Ms. Wilson?” she asked.
“That’s me,” Colette replied, even as she wondered when the luxury taxi service began sending two people on jobs.
The woman opened the rear passenger door, and Colette slid into the sleek leather interior, carefully placing her coffee into a cupholder before she buckled in. The big SUV pulled from the curb, and Colette resumed drinking her cappuccino while catching up on the news on her phone. It was only as she finished her cup and looked away from the screen that she frowned.
“Excuse me, but this isn’t the way to my office,” she stated, noticing they’d reached the outskirts of the city and were heading onto the highway.
“We’re not going to your office,” the woman in the passenger seat replied.
“Excuse me?” Colette didn’t immediately panic, but she did bring up the phone pad and had typed in the number nine before the woman replied, “Don’t bother trying to call anyone for help. It will be intercepted by one of the team.”
Okay, that didn’t sound good, as it implied an organization with resources. “What’s this about? Am I being kidnapped? Are you looking for money?”
