The whole planet buzzes with new energy. Everyone is spreading the news, rejoicing, questioning. Just in time for the crystal solstice, the arrival of a Zandian female signifies a blessing from the stars, from the ancients, from Zandia’s past. It’s a great harbinger for a positive future. Everyone is gathered together in joyful celebration.
Except for me.
I’ve never felt more alone in my life.
Kianna
* * *
“Kee, please look at me.” Mirelle’s voice is pleading. “Just stop. Get away from that vid.”
I flick my finger and the holo volume goes up. “Do you want to train with t
he best? Are you between jobs on Zandia? Come join us on a three-month intensive training course to enhance your combat skills. At the end of the session, you will not only better protect and serve Zandia, but you will have found reserves of strength inside yourself that you never knew existed. Skills that will prepare you for whatever comes next in your life.”
On the screen, human females demonstrate roundhouse kicks. Some of them are shown in a pull-back image flying craft. “These humans, like you, never did anything with flight or combat training. Now they’re ready to take on any task they choose!”
“They don’t say it outright,” I tell Mirelle, “but this training course? It’s for the duds. The ones nobody wants.” I flop back against the bench. We’re alone in the lunch grove, and I’m obsessing about what to do now.
“That’s nonsense.” She reaches past me and snaps at the screen, and the holo disappears.
I speak into my hands. “You know, the older ones, maybe, still strong but past prime childbearing years. The ones who for whatever reason, aren’t right for mating. Keep the poor dears occupied, you know?”
Mirelle crosses her arms. “Laxmi went on that training course, and she met her commanders and now mates, Derrack and Konner, while she was deployed.” She narrows her eyes at me. “They now have twin halflings.”
“One anecdotal example. The rest of us might as well give up now.” I hear a strange sound, sort of a snuffling, a few paces away. Probably one of the Willi birds. I ignore it.
“So because you can’t have the male you want, you’re giving up on life?”
She sits beside me. “Come on. You’re better than that.”
“Tell me about her.” I bite my lip.
She hesitates. But she knows who I mean. “She’s… disoriented.” She shrugs. “It’s hard to say. I’ll know better, we’ll all know her once she is released from med and starts interacting.”
“What happened to her?”
Mirelle shakes her head. “It’s not my story to tell. But what I can tell you is this. She’s been enslaved for years, escaped, then was enslaved again. I don’t think—she’s seen a lot of bad stuff, Kee. It might take her a long time to get past it.”
“What’s she like, though?” I lean forward. “Different from humans. Is she just like the males? The same lack of humor, and the sense of duty, and all of it?”
“Well.” Mirelle thinks. “She’s not been around humans, so she’s not very emotional. Yes, she seems very inclined to follow her honor and commitments. She’s strong, already recovered physically for the most part. Reticent about any feelings she has. She seems… pleasant.”
I nod. “And she… ah… likes… Mykl?”
“He claimed her, Kee. She accepted, right on board the ship. I’m so sorry.”
When I start crying, she grabs me into her arms. “It’s going to be all right.”
“I don’t see how, though.”
Mirelle doesn’t answer, because there is nothing to say. Sometimes life just doesn’t work out the way we want. Sometimes our dreams come true—I was freed from the factory where I was enslaved. I found purpose and benevolence on Zandia. But the dream of a mate who makes my heart race? Well, sometimes, other beings’ dreams are realized instead.
An unpleasant thought occurs to me. “Arc and Bow asked me to accept their crystals right before the crystal solstice. That way we could use the light to celebrate and strengthen our brand new bond.”
“That sounds like a good plan.” Her voice is decidedly neutral. She doesn’t look at me.
I swallow. “I suppose.” I wipe my nose. “Do you hear that? I keep hearing that stupid sound. What is it?”