Another woman might have been insulted at the inference she was over the hill. Colette snorted. “They didn’t visit me because they wanted to marry me and make babies.” She paused before revealing, “They want me to set up a dating service to help their eligible bachelors find human women willing to wed and relocate to their planet.”
Needless to say, the colonel freaked. “Like fucking hell.”
The doctor furiously tapped on her screen.
The general frowned. “Do you believe them?”
“I don’t know what to think, but they did seem sincere. And let’s be honest, why else would they come to me? I’m just the CEO of a very successful matchmaking service. As your doctor noted, I’m not some nubile young lady capable of popping out babies, nor am I a government official they could use to influence or advance their agenda. Also, while well off, I’m not a billionaire who can influence.”
“You’re lying!” the colonel yelled.
“Colonel—”
“No. She’s covering for those blue bastards. Tell us why they’re really here. Did they abduct those women to study us so that they can create a virus to wipe us out? Is their armada coming?” Colette had no chance to reply—nor did anyone else, for that matter—as the colonel turned to the general, huffing, “We need to act at once before it’s too late. You should advise the president of the imminent threat so he can authorize the use of missiles to take them out.”
The demand widened Colette’s eyes. “You can’t be seriously thinking about killing them.”
“Better them than us,” he snarled.
“We are not blowing up their ship,” was the general’s firm reply, which led to the colonel scowling.
“If we don’t show ourselves strong, they’ll think they can just waltz in here and subjugate Earth.”
“They don’t want our planet,” Colette interjected, which had the colonel turning a glare in her direction. “Just willing brides to take back home.”
“As if they’d tell you their true plans.”
“Why would they lie to me?”
“To get you to trust them, and you were dumb enough to believe.” A claim that came with a mighty sneer from the colonel.
“What does me trusting what they say get them?” Colette exclaimed. “Again, I don’t have any kind of money or influence to do anything that might be of use to aliens.”
“There must be a reason. I’m thinking you’re connected to the human trafficking trade and know how to funnel victims to these alien invaders.”
“That’s outrageous.” Colette had no idea how to defend herself against the ridiculous and baseless accusation.
“Colonel, I think you should go for a walk and calm yourself.” The general’s pinched disapproval iced the command.
“But—”
“Now.” The general’s steely tone left no room for argument.
A visibly angry colonel stalked out, and the general sighed. “I’d apologize for his outburst, but it comes from a good place. He’s just worried. We all are.”
“I can understand that, but I honestly didn’t get the impression they meant us any harm. As a matter of fact, they did broach the fact they’d have to make their presence known to the governments on Earth, given what they want to achieve will expose their existence. We were supposed to discuss that, amongst other things, at our next meeting.”
“You believe they’re telling the truth?”
“Maybe.” Colette shrugged. “I don’t know. Yesterday, aliens were little green men with antennas driving Fred Flintstone nuts. Today, they’re blue and looking for women to make babies with.”
The doctor glanced at Colette. “If what you say is true, then I would assume that means our species are physically compatible.”
Colette couldn’t stop the heat from filling her cheeks as she mumbled. “That’s what they told me.”
“Do you think you could arrange a meeting?” The general jumped in. “How do you contact them? Or do you have to wait for them to contact you?”
“I haven’t the slightest clue how to get in touch. When we spoke last night, we’d planned to link up this morning in my office to discuss in more detail exactly what they wanted me to do and how we’d go about it. But seeing as how I’m here and not there…” Colette shrugged.
