Only one wall held a door and also a very large mirror, which seemed odd. He moved close and studied it, even tapped lightly on it with a finger. A possible escape route if he could smash it. To finish off his room, he noticed in the ceiling, well above his head, a rounded glass lens, which had to be a camera.
How long would they keep him contained? What did they plan? As if hearing his questions, a voice spoke from the camera.
“Hello. I see you’re woken. I’m General Davis.”
“Greetings. I am Cade’krinno Mer Acadu of the planet Xaanda, and I’ve come to your planet on a mission of peace.”
“I find that difficult to believe given you chose to contact a civilian instead of those in positions of authority.”
“Your leaders are well guarded, and we did not wish to cause panic by suddenly appearing in their presence,” he explained.
“A fair point, however, my understanding is you’re not just here to introduce yourself to us,” the general stated.
“That is correct. My assigned task is twofold. Part of it involves forming an alliance between my world and the governments of Earth, which will, in turn, facilitate the willing relocation of females to our planet.”
“Why only women?”
“Because our world is in need of nubile females for our unattached males.”
“Why the sudden decision to come clean about your intent? After all, you’ve been kidnapping citizens of Earth for years.”
“You detected our previous visits?” Cade had suspected they might, and this confirmed it.
“We’re well aware you’ve been visiting us for years. So, again, I’ll ask, why change your modus operandi now, after all this time?”
“Our previous method was time-consuming. It involved an eligible male submitting an application for a mate. If accepted, our Oracle then communicated with that male’s ancestors?—”
The general interrupted. “Your Oracle? Is that some kind of religious position?”
The question brought a frown. “We don’t have a religion like other species. The Oracle is someone with the ability to communicate with those who’ve passed.”
“Are you talking about ghosts?” the general exclaimed.
“Yes. It is the spirit of those who’ve died.”
“And this Oracle can talk to them?” A skeptical reply.
“Yes. Our ancestors have the ability to recall the past, see hints of the future, and also to see past our own galaxy to others. It’s how they’re able to find mates.”
“Wait, you’re saying ghosts are selecting human woman to be taken off-planet?”
She kept reducing his words to their most basic meaning. Accurate, and yet lacking nuance at the same time. “Our ancestors know what a male needs in a mate. I don’t know how they do it, but they somehow search the universe to find a suitable female. If one is found, then they relay that information to the Oracle, who then sends the male to retrieve his future mate.”
“Let me see if I’m understanding. The ghosts of your families are choosing who you marry.”
“Yes.”
“But only this Oracle can hear them?”
“That is correct.”
“Is this Oracle in charge of your government, too?”
“She is involved, but more as an advisor. When she becomes aware of a potential peril, she informs those who do run the planet so they might take steps to avert or lessen any damage.”
“What proof do you have of this Oracle’s power?”
His brows rose. “The fact she’s always right.”
