Chapter 1
Timber
Lying to my best friend, wasn't my favorite filter, but she'd understand.
She always did. When I got the invite to the Intergalactic Delegate Bride Program at the Human Exchange Trade (HET), it wasn't a random mass link to any human around.
Sure, lots of people got invites, and that's why there was a mass of applicants outside the trade center when we arrived.
We weren't random.
I applied.
Just not under my name, but my best friend Remy.
She didn't even have enough credits to fix her implant link without opting for the free upgrade, and everyone knew that it wasn't entirely free.
Free just meant you got the implant that gave up your data and Remy was the kind of person who would rather destroy her hair color to prevent her DNA from being farmed off without anything in return.
My plug channel makes enough credits to get her an upgrade, but she'd never accept it, knowing that plug channels are not exactly the more consistent form of credits.
Some months are better than others, and with the new HET program coming, many plugs were going to see a drastic decline in credit income as people watched the bride games.
I wasn't dumb, not making it on this bridal program would mean both of us would struggle soon. I was doing this for both of us.
But, not just for credits, or even a medical implant upgrade… We had to leave Earth and fast. I stared at the trash shredder on the wall, and cringed. She could never know. I couldn't tell her, not yet.
My invite today wasn't an application. I'd already gone into the local HET last month and used Remy's tablet to sign her up with me. Our drone transport was already planned ahead of time. I wasn't lying about Neil, though.
User Niel did give me the codes to access the drone, but they weren't a regular plug user.
The HET would pay for everything. New upgrades, medical advancements that should help Remy with her headaches, and we'd be set up for years with the credits offered.
We didn't have to be selected as brides to get all the benefits of being part of the program.
In fact, we could turn them down even if we are selected as a bride.
I was very thorough on making sure Remy wouldn't hate me forever for tricking her, but both of us couldn't return to Earth, and I prayed to whatever stars were out there, that she'd find someone.
It was just another Timber Adventure that she'd thank me for, right?
She'd understand, I repeated to myself as a mantra as we rode the drone to the trade center.
I couldn't shove her in the medbay fast enough in my nervousness.
She'd get the upgrades and finally get checked out.
No amount of credits could buy us the kind of technology given to someone accepted into the Human Exchange Trade.
We'd each be given the vaccine that would repair our unraveling cells to prepare for space travel.
We'd have skin like we were in our twenties again.
Would she make the same choices if she were me?
She's thoughtful and protective. She would, I knew she would, right?
This was for her, for us, and for our future. She'll forgive me.
It took the whole day waiting in the lobby after my exams to join the bride games. I already had the vaccine last week and knew Remy would be a while to recover once she had hers. The whole center lit up like a beautiful nightclub before the announcement that the shuttle was loading.
It was an actual HET employee that came up to me instead of an AI in my upgraded retina display.
"Your companion is recovering nicely. I can't discuss her details, but she'll probably wake up while in orbit.
We can't delay the launch, so all participants are being boarded.
She'll be in the medical unit with the late participants that didn't get their medical exams ahead of time. "
"Uh, that's probably for the best," I joked with a nervous laugh.
The HET guide lifted a curious brow. His thin mouth wasn't very encouraging.
"An AI might disregard that, but it is not my first rocket launch," he said seriously. "Is she aware of what she agreed to, or did you distract her when she gave HET authority to handle her medical processes and load her without explanation that you made sure was skipped ahead of time."
Damn. I'd never been called out like that by anyone except Remy before. This alien was intense. What species was he, an unGor? He had large shoulders, and his hair moved without the assistance of wind. His skin kind of glittered in the light of the room.
I cleared my throat and was thankful that I'd already stopped my plug channel until there was something interesting to show them. Waiting around didn't seem entertaining enough to keep the plug live.
"She's aware," I said defensively, adding internally that she will be aware when she wakes up.
He was still skeptical; I could tell that much.
"Even if she is not, that is a human flaw to agree to terms without understanding them.
This is why we include so many verifications during human mating practices.
She will still be required to accept the terms multiple times throughout the program.
Just as you will. Please state your name and verbally agree that you understand that if you are selected as a bride, you will be required to attend the ceremonies.
You are not required to participate, but attendance is essential. "
"Timber, I accept."
"If you decline your bridal selection, you will be returned to Earth—"
I interrupted him to clarify my understanding, "Unless, my companion is still in the selection."
"Yes," he said slowly. "If either of you are still part of the bridal program then you may both stay until both of you are considered rejected."
"Harsh," I scoffed. "Just because we're considered geriatric, you think we'll be dumped off quickly?
You know those statistics about female fertility are based on data from when humans were struggling and barely living past forty, right?
When they say our fertility drops by fifty percent after thirty-five, they failed to mention that percent was going from half a percent to one percent. We aren't geriatric at all."
He stopped and turned to face me again. His silver eyes watched me curiously before shaking his head in a very human-like manner.
"I've been stationed on Earth most of my life because AsunGor didn't want me to be tainted with cultural bias against humans for my station.
I came here at a very young age. I'm older than you and in my prime.
I have no judgement on your age. I judge you for your deception against your companion.
It will not serve you well in the bridal selection, and your companion has every right to decline any mates with her trust shattered. "
"I already said she's aware," I complained that he was judging me too harshly.
"Sure, she is," he placated, but we both knew from his tone that he didn't believe me.
"How do you know any different?" I snarked.
"My planet is exceptional at diplomacy. We deal with deception regularly, and my job is to know humans to help with the selection process.
I'll be joining you on the space station to meet with the mates, and though I won't tamper with the selection process, I will make sure there are opportunities for my brothers to get to know your character well enough. "
"Is that a threat?"
He shrugged and walked away for me to follow him.
"Excuse me!" I grabbed his arm and his hand was so warm, it was unexpected and I let go.
His eyes were livid as he stared at my hand that had violated his personal space.
"That was a regrettable decision, Timber of Earth." He snarled.
"I was just," I stammered, "you were just..."
"An unGor's pheromones are highly reactive in humans. Even our sweat is addictive when our mating is triggered."
"Oh," I said with relief and huffed out a forced chuckle.
"You almost tricked me there. Is this payback for how you think I'm treating my best friend?
You wanted me to feel what you think she feels," I reasoned out loud.
He said 'when' his mating is triggered, and he wouldn't be helping load up humans onto a shuttle if he was in some kind of mating heat. That would be ridiculous.
"I went off my suppressants for the program, Timber.
Touching me confirmed that you're a compatible mate.
In my culture, we often wear large robes to prevent accidentally triggering our desires to prove ourselves in mating displays for a female.
Our females do not touch us without careful consideration, as they would find it annoying to be courted by someone they have no interest in accepting. "
"Excuse me?" I sputtered.
"I think I'm going to have fun making your bridal selection process torturous."
"That doesn't make any sense. Are you right in the head?"
"I have no intention of making you my bride, but I'll make sure my mating displays make it impossible for you to choose someone else without thinking of me."
"Won't that ruin things for you too?"
"AsunGor has no intention of allowing me a bride, and neither does Earth.
I'm simply an advisor between my planet and yours that was allowed to participate for optics.
UnGors and humans won't be the only participants, the necia, trill, estrelds, krelins, and even a few garrant will be on the space station. "
"Why did you come out to escort me?"
"Because I was told I still have a job to do before I could join."
He opened the elevator, and he motioned me inside. The doors closed between us as he stayed behind to escort the next human and I startled as my implant dinged to remind me to plug back into my channel for people to experience the live event of joining the shuttle.
"We're finally boarding the shuttle, and my photo is officially added to the bride contestants!" I tell everyone, trying to hide my worry of what the unGor might do to disrupt things.
This was more than finding a mate for me. This was protecting Remy, and he didn't know who he was messing with if he thought I'd let him ruin my plans to save her.