Chapter 6 #2
“Now, everyone will be taken down in groups,” Graecey said, her voice echoing in the cargo bay just off the main exit ramp.
They had all been brought down to this part of the ship as the ship landed.
“I have the selections here. You all will be receiving your group placement through your chips any moment.” She pressed on her data pad.
They all were given small chips, chronometers mostly, but they also provided a tag so the Galactic Alliance could get medical records, and assuming the project moved to conclusion, for easier monitoring of any babies made.
Just one more piece of the Galactic Alliance’s deal.
Adryel glanced at Janae, and they both looked at their wrists. A number shined on their skin through their internal digital chronometers.
“One,” Janae said.
“Two,” Adryel said.
They glanced at each other. “Well at least we won't be in competition,” Janae said.
Adryel smiled. “But who will we be in competition with anyway?” Her gaze darted around. She saw Roemary and was able to make out the number 'one' on her wrist before Roemary started waving her hand.
It looked like her little friend, Sereya, was in group three.
At least those two were separated.
“Looks like you get to deal with that,” Adryel muttered and gestured to Roemary.
Janae nodded. “At least it will get it over with,” she replied. “I can stay on the far side of the group. Let her have the front and center. Maybe it'll mean she'll get picked and it will be over.”
“Shut your mouth. You and I both know we don't want her getting an alien husband. For one, she’s far too spoiled and she’d make every Kantenan she met never forget that she was the first. Then she’d single-handedly destroy any opportunities for future Terran or Nevillian mating.
The Kantenans would never let another envoy in if she was their first representative.
” Roemary would certainly cause contempt between anyone. Diplomatic, she was not.
Janae nodded. “Maybe I should get picked, I’m the best of both,” she said and caressed her nose.
The Neville ridges went over her upper nose and brow bone, like small cloth pleats. She wasn’t the only female Adryel had met with Nevillian heritage, but she was one with the smallest nose ridges. Her Terran side must have dominated her personal genes.
Adryel was Terran by birth and her red hair was from a relative somewhere back in her family line.
At least, that's what her mother told her in a sober moment.
She seemed sober at the time, anyway. When she was a kid, she'd always been fascinated by other humanoids and their markings. Ridges, scales, different skin colors.
She always felt plain around others.
Adryel ran her hands through her hair. “What should I do with this crazy mop?” she asked, pulling her hair on top of her head. “Should I put it up?”
Janae shook her head. “With it down, it's more you.”
Adryel raised her eyebrow. “You think?”
Janae nodded. “I am sure of it.”
They smiled at each other, but it was time for them to start moving toward their groups.
“I'm sorry we're not in the same group,” Janae said.
“If we were, we'd be in competition, and we don’t need that,” Adryel said. “Now, we both have a chance at landing a hunky alien husband.”
They both giggled, but it was a more nervous one. Adryel wasn't really ready for this. Her stomach flip-flopped like crazy.
“I'm nervous,” Janae said.
“Just look at the wildlife. See if there are any animals or birds. Looks like we're landing near some green. Maybe you'll see something flying around or some pretty flowers or something. There will be things to see. You don't have to stare at the aliens.”
“Well, they're all so hard to miss,” Janae said. “Red skin. Green horns. Not exactly subtle, are they?”
Adryel chuckled. “No, they aren't.” She glanced around the stark, cold metal bay they had all been herded down to. Graecey moved everyone into their groups, and the energy crackled in the room from the anticipation.
Adryel distracted herself by staring out the windows to see the new world they were about to embark on. And the nature.
Sure, there was the landing pad and the buildings associated with a landing zone, but the technology blended into the foliage around the zone.
And on the far side?
Kantenans.
“Those of you in group one, I need you to come this way. The rest of you, please gather in your groups for each presentation.” Graecey gestured to one of the other staff members, a guy that Adryel couldn't remember his name.
As they started to group up, one of the staff kept staring at her.
Janae went off in the other direction toward group one while Adryel moved to her group. She could still feel the staff member's eyes on her. She glanced back, and immediately wished she hadn’t. He had a hard look on his face. Like a scary one.
She wasn't a fan of it.
But maybe she was just paranoid.
She made eye contact with the staffer.
He'd looked away.
Maybe she really had been imagining it.
Her paranoia was going to make her crazy.
But was it paranoia, or the fact she’d done this same song and dance a few times now. She knew what was coming.
They were looking for her.
She just hoped they hadn't figured out where she'd gone. Not yet, anyway.
Deep breath.
In and out.
Focus on the moment. On Janae and the first group. She opened her eyes and watched them walk away and down the ramp.
As soon as they'd cleared the ship, external cameras popped up over the walls. There was a soft murmur in the ship as everyone watched what was happening.
The first group clustered into rough lines, with space between each girl. Not quite a grid of them, but enough that one could walk between them easily.
A Kantenan came into view, stepping towards the grid of women.
He stopped before them, and started to make a speech about how Kantenans honored their mates, and that he was glad that they were there, and ready to make this journey and be a part of it.
All that kind of formal, cheesy stuff. He sounded pompous, as far as Adryel was concerned.
His horns stuck out and branched in several directions.
Some of the gals darted around, and others leaned in.
Some tried to touch him, but he stayed well out of contact, darting in between the lines of women.
Despite how he moved through them, something was distracting him.
He kept shifting and pausing as he looked over to one spot.
From the camera angle, Adryel couldn't tell what kept jarring his attention, but something certainly had him.
Had he already selected his mate? He headed through the crowd, weaving between the females. More tried to touch him, to say hello or whatever, but he glided past them like he didn't even notice them. He kept moving through the crowds and reached the back of the group.
The cameras shifted.
Adryel gasped.
He stopped right in front of Janae. They spoke to each other, in hushed whispers.
Roemary, of course, opened her damn mouth. But the Kantenan didn’t even give her the time of day.
He turned to Janae.
He claimed her for his.
Janae’s slight head nod said she agreed.
Just like that, it was done.
And Roemary was so pissed.
Adryel barked out a loud laugh. “Way to go, Janae!” Someone else let out a whistle, and clapping started to fill the bay.
“At least he didn’t pick her…” someone said, but they all knew who the person was talking about.
Adryel caught a bit of a smile on Sereya’s face before she covered her own expression.
“Thank the stars,” someone else muttered, but Adryel didn't see who it was. She was too busy clapping for her friend. The volume of celebration rose in the room as everyone started to cheer louder.
One of the monitors showed Roemary being walked out of the group with Graecey, and they were having a rather heated conversation.
“She’s probably wanting to get another shot,” Adryel muttered to herself. Out of the corner of her eye, Adryel saw Sereya coming her way.
Adryel sighed.
Before Sereya could speak, Adryel held up her hand. “I don't want to hear it.”
“Not even an apology?”
She glared at her. “Now you apologize? When your queen isn't picked?”
Sereya shook her head. “I came on this mission so I could be a part of something important. I am here because I wanted to be a part of history. What we're doing? This is the beginning for many humanoids, a life that will change their worlds forever. I wanted to be a part of that.”
“You sure didn't act like you were here for history.”
Sereya bowed her head. “I know.”
“You should apologize to her. And to Graecey. And every other female here that you and Roemary made feel bad about themselves.”
Sereya nodded. “Did you ever want to be a part of something so much, that you would do anything to stay in it?”
Adryel raised her eyebrow. “Nothing is ever worth that much desire. That kind of desire will get you killed.”
Sereya seemed to agree. “If I die, then I die being a part of something I loved. I don't see a fault in that.”
“Ladies,” Graecey's voice echoed through the chamber. “Group two, I'm ready for you to come down. Group one is remaining on the platform. Groups three and four? Get yourselves together, and get down on the ramp, ready to go.
Sereya reached over and handed Adryel a clip. “For your hair. It's windy down there. Even Roemary's hair was blowing around, I noticed. Yours might need some restraint.”
Adryel blinked. “A peace offering?”
Sereya nodded. “Whether you believe me or not, I am sorry.”
About that time, Roemary was hauled into the ship, and she was bellowing as the guards moved her toward the cabins.
“Do yourself a favor, though,” Sereya said. “Stay away from her.”
“Not planning on inviting her to dinner or anything.”
Sereya put her hand on Adryel's arm. “No. Seriously. Stay away from her. I don't know what it is, but she hates you. Like hates you.”
Adryel shrugged. “The red hair. It brings it out of people.”