An Alien male will provide me protection and food and clothing, and I’ll have to give him everything: my future, my body, and my dreams.
But I’m desperate. And I’m pretty sure the scavenging life I made for myself is not something I can go back to. I would have to start up again in someone else’s territory, navigate new enemies, markets, and trade agreements. I’ve exhausted the job options in the area. Few will hire me because I lack experience and a permanent address.
Or a million credits if I win? Maybe that’s what I should aim for. That can’t hurt, right?
I settle my mouth atop Radar’s furry head and give him a long kiss as I hug him tightly. Radar deserves better. He’s had my back when no one else did. Few understand just how much he means to me unless they’ve been at rock bottom and had a starving animal curl up with them just to stay warm.
The Alien Bride Race, something General Viriden suggested, will have males that understand the nature of survival, but I will likely be trading one battle for survival for another.
But at least we’ll be with others like us.
I hope.
5: Tessi
I set down outside the Alien Bride Race office complex, in the parking area, and unload. Radar stays at my side.
The facility shines like it’s been recently washed. The glass doors are so clean that I feel like a sinner entering Heaven as I step inside in my dirty armored suit and tactical gear bags with a dog who desperately needs a bath as well.
A security guard stands just inside. He looks me over. “Any weapons?”
“If you’re going to make me take them all off, it will be about thirty minutes. I’d just like some information.”
“Hi!” A woman walks up to me. She glances at the man. “It’s fine Dannin. We’ll talk right here.”
She motions me out of the walkway and to a seating area with black leather sofas. The woman hands me a tablet.
“I don’t want to sign up yet.”
“Few ever decide not to.” The blonde smiles, exposing inhumanly white teeth. “I was in a position like yours when I walked in that door.”
“You were a starving scavenger being chased by Myndrous?” I ask.
Her mouth hangs open for a moment. “Well, no. I worked… It doesn’t matter.” She waves a hand dismissively through the air. “What matters is you are here now.”
“I am going to be honest. I don’t want to be. But I have no other options.”
She nods. “A lot of us feel like you do. Just so you know, there is no obligation to say yes to any male who might capture you during the race. That’s why you have a week of events, to play games with others, socialize, and decide what you want to do.There’s voting on the last day that allows you to take a look at who wants you, and also vote for the ones you want.”
“Is it a requirement that we have never had a mate before?” I ask.
“It’s a mix on both sides. Some of our alien males have had mates before but they died. We do not require virgin women. Our only stipulation is that you do not have children of your own. We have a different program for single mothers to meet single fathers. It’s not broadcast to protect the children’s identities.”
“I just have Radar.” I stroke the top of his head between his ears. “No children.”
“Perfect. And there’s no pressure. You don’t have to find a mate if you get into the program and realize that you’re not ready. You always have the option of working for ABR afterward and returning to the races when you feel more up to it. And before…if you need a safe place to stay until your next heat.”
“We do.”
She looks down at Radar, who sits by my right foot and covertly sniffs the air for any scent he doesn’t like.
“Wait, heat?” I ask.
“Race heat.” She waggles her head. “But we try to schedule women to race when they’re fertile, ideally fertile around the time of the bonding ceremony. It helps the males tap into their primal instincts during the race. Our scents are stronger then. And the goal is to match up mates to create healthy offspring. When was your last cycle?”
I grit my teeth and look away. “I haven’t had one in six months.”
She frowns. “Starvation, stress, and being over worked will do that. How about this, you can work here for us until you have one. Then we’ll have the doctor check you out. She’s great. And you can decide at that time if you want to opt for the race.”
