Chapter 17 #2
I smiled. “I will not exclude other species. If I find a match that doesn’t involve a human, I will obviously pair those people.
But humans are the most adaptable species in the galaxy.
They’re compatible with the greater number of other races, or generally quite flexible in embracing new cultures, and can thrive in a variety of environments, given the right tools.
It’s easier for me to focus on one pool of candidates—at least at the beginning—and then eventually expand. ”
“Fair enough,” Linsea conceded. “So long as others also get an opportunity, your logic makes sense.”
I smiled again, relieved by her reaction.
“The second point is that the couple must marry following the customs of both cultures to make it fully binding on all sides. The Galactic Hall of Records only requires one marriage certificate to deem a union valid. However, some species will not recognize a foreign contract, which would leave the partner without protection in that new world should things go awry.”
“Very good point! I’m impressed!” my mate said proudly.
I gave her a sheepish expression. “Sadly, I cannot take full credit for this. While talking with Isobel, I mentioned that she could tag along to perform the wedding ceremonies for the occasional matches I make—since she also is fascinated by primitive species. She’s the one who pointed out that there might be legal issues with some of them.
And your grandmother confirmed as much.”
“But you’re still the one who came up with the final rule by taking into account the feedback of the wonderful people you surrounded yourself with.
That makes you a competent project manager instead of a narcissistic fool who thinks he has all the answers.
No one succeeds on their own when it comes to projects of this scale.
It’s good that you give credit to others where it’s due, but do not sell yourself short either. ”
“Noted, my love,” I said before rubbing my beak against hers.
Fuck, how I loved this female!
Before I even got to read the third point, Linsea’s strong reaction revealed she’d already taken a peek at it and was flabbergasted, as I expected she and everyone else would be about that request.
“Sex on the first night?!” Linsea exclaimed, stunned.
I nodded and held her gaze unwaveringly.
“Yes. I thought about it long and hard, and I have come to the strong conclusion that it’s the best approach.
It will bring the couple closer together a lot faster, and it will remove a tremendous amount of stress.
Deciding when to move to the next step in a relationship is always quite a headache.
You don’t want to come across as too impatient, too easy, or too hard to get.
By imposing it, we remove that barrier right away, and they can focus on falling in love rather than tiptoeing around the inevitable. ”
“I hear what you’re saying,” my mate said carefully. “However, everyone’s situation is different. They may have trauma or other circumstances that could make that requirement a harmful experience for them.”
To her surprise, I smiled in agreement.
“That’s correct. But that rule will truly serve these couples, even those with special circumstances that would make it a bad idea to sleep together right away.
” My smile broadened at her confused expression.
“This isn’t an enforceable rule to the extent that we’re not going to perform blood tests to make sure they copulated.
We’re also not going to set up cameras or spy on them during their wedding night.
In truth, I expect at least ten to twenty percent of the couples not to follow that rule. ”
“Then why instate it to begin with?” Linsea asked, baffled.
“Because it will force that uncomfortable conversation and get it out of the way immediately. In turn, it will help form trust between them as well as it shows the respect they will bear each other. These people will be soulmates. Whatever the circumstances that will lead them to be paired, they will naturally want to protect their partner. And if that means waiting a little longer until they’re ready for it, it will have been discussed and agreed upon. ”
“That’s an interesting way of looking at it,” my mate said, nodding slowly.
“I could see myself being stressed about how to broach the topic if I was in such a situation. It would make for an extremely tense first few days as we danced around it. That said, I’m still curious to see how that will work out. But I can get behind the concept.”
I smiled and caressed her cheek. She leaned into my touch, which had me melting from the inside out. She was so damn perfect. Tearing my gaze away from her beauty, I glanced back at the holographic display projected from my tablet.
“The next point will be for the UPO to grant me a discretionary budget for all the paired couples,” I continued.
“Relocation to primitive planets could be fairly expensive. I don’t want this to be an obstacle.
Granted, I have added a few provisions so that people don’t just abuse it, but as true soulmates, I’m not too worried about candidates attempting to use this as a means to get a free trip to an exotic location. ”
“Another good point. They will probably try to rein you in as far as the amounts they will agree to. But so long as there are reasonable justifications, it shouldn’t be too much of a problem.”
“Relocation is the last thing they will complain about. It’s the startup gifts I want included that will probably make them balk,” I said in a mischievous tone.
“Startup gift? I’m intrigued.”
“In all likelihood, the human partner will be the one moving to the primitive alien’s planet.
The other way around would not benefit the UPO, whose goal is to create stronger bonds with those species, which can only occur if we have a physical presence on their homeworld.
But they’re primitive, which means they will likely lack certain things that are essential to the welfare of a human.
For example, medical care, appropriate basic equipment to help them survive in potentially harsher environments, and other such things. ”
“Another excellent point. However, why do I feel there’s more to it that you’re not stating?” she asked, with a suspicious glimmer in her beautiful blue eyes.
I chuckled, impressed by her intuition.
“Because there is. I do not want to box myself in so narrowly that I won’t have any wiggle room.
Based on my studies on primitive species and of the countless violations to the Prime Directive, I can picture scenarios where a wedding gift—although I’m labeling them dowries—could indirectly help mend some of the harm caused to that species.
There are many ways that you can help someone by toeing the line without actually crossing it. ”
“You know, maybe you should be the one becoming an ambassador,” Linsea said, only half teasing.
“Technically, that’s what Colin said I would be, but doing so undercover,” I replied with a grin.
“Actually, the next point would be to add a trial period. It’s not only to reassure each partner, especially the one relocating, that they won’t be stuck in a loveless or abusive marriage, assuming I had made a mistake.
Obviously, I won’t. But people always love knowing there’s a way out if needed.
“Obviously, you won’t,” she repeated mockingly, while shaking her head at me as if I was a hopeless case.
“That’s right,” I replied smugly. “That said, the trial period will also grant me additional time to see if that dowry needs to be increased or modified to address the specific needs of that couple or species.”
“Wow, you really are thinking of this almost more in terms of assisting the primitive species,” Linsea said, surprised.
“This project is giving me the power to do everything I thought I never could. I won’t be able to rewrite history or prevent wars. But I will be able to mitigate the damage, prevent some of it from ever occurring, or mend what has been done,” I said in a serious tone.
“I cannot wait to see what you will do with this agency. I knew you would be amazing, but I’m starting to think you will blow everyone away with what you will actually accomplish,” Linsea said with awe.
“Hopefully, your prediction will prove accurate. The one thing I fear the UPO will push back against is the fact that I want to keep these benefits exclusively to pairings involving a primitive species. If I match a couple where they both belong to an advanced species, relocation and everything else should be at their own expense.”
“Hmm, why is that? If the UPO is funding this, why deprive some couples from those benefits?”
“Because I want to save as many resources as possible for the PMA to provide incentives and benefits to people willing to mate with primitive aliens. Members of advanced species will have the means to get together or have access to programs for low-income people to help them achieve their goals. I also do not want the PMA to turn into a matchmaking agency for the elite. People coming to me will know from the start that they will be paired with someone from a developing planet.”
“I agree. But you said PMA twice. Is that the name of your agency?”
My face heated, and I nodded with a sheepish expression. “Yes. After much reflection, I decided to call it the Prime Mating Agency. It’s a bit on the nose, but I will be pairing people with mates under the Prime Directive.”
“I think it sounds great,” Linsea said with genuine enthusiasm. “You’re going to have a crazy number of people knocking down your door.”
“I both hope and dread it,” I said with a nervous laugh. “At first, I will have people apply online, but with the understanding that a meeting in person is required so that I can hear the song of their souls.”
“Hmmm, I agree with the online application for people to reserve their spot. But I think it should be done with more of a fair approach. You announce that you will be at a specific place, on a set date, between a defined time range. People can reserve a slot to meet you.”
“That would work eventually. But I don’t expect to have enough people at the beginning to support that,” I said in an indulgent tone.
Linsea laughed and shook her head at me as if I was clueless.
“Sweetie, you have no idea what kind of marketing machine the UPO and the Enforcers are going to unleash on your behalf. You cannot begin to imagine how invested they are in your success. The most efficient way that I can think of for you will be to go by region. Just like with a music tour, you announce which region you’ll be touring and the dates, and people will reserve their seats to see you. ”
“But then what will that mean for you and me?” I asked, my chest constricting at the thought of extended periods of time apart from her.
“We’ll just have to coordinate our missions so they can take place in the same general area. I will have less flexibility on that front as whatever conflict occurs will dictate where I have to go. But you will mostly be your own boss.”
“Then I’ll make sure I’ll be touring the area you’re in,” I said, relieved. “That said, I need to make sure that the UPO and the Enforcers are not going to try to dictate the pairings I come up with. I will only match true soulmates.”
My heart sank when Linsea slapped a neutral expression on her face.
That she also tried to block part of her emotions cut me deep.
Now that I no longer wore the circlet, the full extent of my empathic powers had returned, minus the chaos that used to drive me insane.
No one could prevent me from reading their emotions if I so chose.
“Do not shut yourself down from me,” I said, the hurt I felt audible in my voice.
The wave of guilt that surged within her slammed into me.
“I’m sorry,” Linsea said with sincerity. “It wasn’t intentional, just a professional reflex when dealing with delicate matters.”
“Why is the fact that I don’t want to make fake pairings a delicate matter?” I asked, my back stiff with tension.
“For political reasons, they could ask you to help facilitate—”
“I don’t want to match people that are not meant for each other,” I said forcefully, interrupting her. “Why would I condemn them to a potential life of misery? It would be a gross misuse of my gift.”
She caressed my cheek in an appeasing fashion while giving me a sympathetic smile.
“I understand very well how you feel. However, your assistance in this matter could actually prevent the couple from that very life of misery. Arranged marriages between wealthy families, nobility, and political leaders have always existed and will continue to do so. You could help pinpoint the most compatible pair or nearest match from a very strict pool of candidates. They wouldn’t be soulmates, but they would be the better option. ”
I frowned and studied her features as suspicion blossomed within me.
“That sounds rather specific,” I challenged.
“Because it is,” Linsea replied in an unrepentant fashion.
“I have to leave again on a mission in three weeks. A very influential executive is looking to make an alliance with a rival firm by marrying off his daughter. We have strong reservations about that pairing. If you tagged along, you might be able to assess the threat.”
That left me speechless. In that instant, I realized that things would never quite be the way I envisioned.
My visceral wish to refuse to get involved was immediately squashed by my protective instinct rearing its head.
I didn’t even know the daughter in question, but I always had issues with the idea of using one’s child as an asset or trade item, ignoring their own wishes and aspirations.
That I would get to travel with my mate and be by her side as she performed her magic was also too great an opportunity to pass up.
“Fine. I will assess the candidates, but I will not commit to any pairings. I will leave that mess to the rest of you,” I mumbled.
Linsea chuckled and rose from her chair to settle in my lap.
“You know something, you’re really sexy when you’re grumpy,” my mate said teasingly.
“I’m always sexy, period,” I said in a haughty tone.
She snorted and rubbed her beak against mine. “Sexy, and all mine.”
“All yours, now and always.”