Chapter 2
TWO
Kim went back inside. The agreement she read was straightforward with no surprises or red flags.
Her heart pounded as she pulled her rolling duffel out of her closet and began throwing things inside it—underwear, shirts, jeans?
What would the temperature be like in the spaceship? Should she bring a fancy outfit?
Unsure, she threw a simple black dress that could be dressed up or down, into the bag.
She moved to the bathroom and filled her mini travel bag with toiletry items. Toothpaste, toothbrush, hairbrush, face cream—she had no idea what accommodations she would have.
It wouldn’t be like staying in a hotel. What if they didn’t use water?
Her hands shook. She zipped up her suitcase, barely aware of what was inside.
She threw her phone charger in her handbag—for all the good it would do in a place where there probably wasn’t anyplace to plug it in—and made a call to the Virilian Match Program to double-check the legitimacy of Mr. Mann’s claims. After being transferred a couple times, Kim spoke to the head of the program and confirmed that, yes, Klae Rillim wanted to meet her and had attempted to contact her many times through the program’s communication channels.
Kim winced at the program director’s chiding tone.
They had called no less than eighteen times (which Kim had ignored) and had sent letters (which Kim had chucked, unopened).
Only one rule made her uncomfortable—she was not to inform anyone else where she was going, only to say she was going on a “trip.” It was a condition she expected, considering the secretive nature of the program and the intense public scrutiny that everyone who took part had to endure.
She agreed. After ending that very awkward call, she closed up her house and stepped outside.
Mr. Mann was still outside, but he now stood next to the SUV.
Or rather, what had never been an SUV. The general shape was the same, but instead of an Earth vehicle, a transport shuttle sat there.
Its surface was a smooth, dull silver metal.
It hovered a foot off the ground. There were no wheels, rumbling engine, or windows.
As she approached, a low hum was all that came from it.
“Wow,” she said to Mr. Mann. “That’s quite the ride. ”
Mr. Mann had the grace to shrug and look only slightly repentant. “This is how we get around a few pesky regulations,” he said. “I assure you my organization does nothing your people would consider illegal.”
“Except for dodging our rules,” she said with a grin. After seeing how advanced other societies were, she knew that all of Earth’s “rules” and “policies” were followed to humor the nervous humans.
“I work in a communication and negotiation capacity, only. My colleagues and I work in concert with the match program. Nothing happens without their direct knowledge and approval. Fortunately, they’re open-minded regarding special requests.”
“So you don’t just take people, do you?”
“Never. The Virilians need human females far too much to jeopardize the arrangement they have with the match program.”
Kim looked to the transport. “They don’t tell us about things like this. They make all the applicants think that everything is legitimate.”
“It is legitimate. Some matches—both human and Virilian—want to stay in touch. Some change their minds after they part ways and decide to see more of each other.” He swept a hand towards the shuttle and a door slid open. “Shall we?”
She looked through the open door. Cool blue lights illuminated a cream-colored, high-tech interior that had no windows, only screens on the walls.
She took a deep breath and stepped in. Somehow, it was bigger inside.
The filtered air was cool and moist. A luxurious sofa wrapped around the back of the vehicle.
A low, round table sat in the middle, holding a plate of small bites and several beverage options.
Plush carpet squished beneath her feet. This was nothing like any car on Earth.
It put to shame even the fanciest limos Kim had seen on TV.
Mr. Mann joined her. “Help yourself to the food and drink. We will not be in flight for long, but if you wish for entertainment, use any of the touchscreens on the walls. You will find games, Earth entertainment, and reading material. We have calibrated everything for English. If you need anything, simply say my name and I will assist you.” He gestured toward a milk-white wall that separated the cabin from a smaller space near the front.
“Are you the pilot?” she asked. “I mean, are you the transport operator?”
“This shuttle is completely automated. I am merely your escort. Do not hesitate to alert me if you need anything.” He paused, then looked back at her with an appraising eye.
“Mr. Rillim will be very pleased to meet you. I am quite impressed that you are willing to give him a chance. I was not sure you would.”
“Neither was I.” Kim let out a chuckle. “I guess I need some adventure in my life.”
Mr. Mann smiled again, offering another glimpse of those sharp teeth. “Then, an adventure you shall have.”
Kim sank into the soft cushions of the sofa, which hugged her body almost weirdly perfectly. She felt like she was sitting in a warm, large hand that knew exactly how to support her.
Despite not being able to see out, it was obvious when they took off and were in space.
Gravity disappeared. The only thing keeping her in her seat was a strange downward pull that kept her body planted on the sofa.
Zero gravity took a little getting used to.
Her stomach rolled at the sensation, so when she checked out the food, it was only out of curiosity.
Mr. Mann was true to his word. The trip was fast. A mere thirty minutes and the transport landed. The shuttle clunked on a hard surface and the gravity changed, returning to something similar to Earth. The lights inside the cabin turned white, and the door slid open.
Mr. Mann stood outside. He assisted her from the transport, which was good because Kim wasn’t looking where she was stepping, she was gaping at her surroundings.
They were docked in a huge hangar, filled with ships of all shapes and sizes as far as she could see.
Voices and sounds—both mechanical and organic—rang out across the high open space.
Aliens of species Kim had never seen before worked alongside robots and cyborgs, loading and unloading cargo.
Sleek containers zipped past on hovering platforms, reflecting off the polished black floor.
Everyone but her seemed to know their role in this place. Operators and pilots bustled to and from ships as they embarked or alighted. It looked like controlled chaos to her. Mr. Mann took her suitcase and handed it to attendants, who whisked away with it. “Let me see an ear, please.”
“Why?” Kim automatically put a hand over her ear.
He held up a small device that looked like a silver hearing aid with thin wires.
It looked like a metal spider. “You will need this to understand what people say to you. This will translate their words.” He nodded reassuringly.
“It’s painless, I promise, like wearing a piece of jewelry. You can remove it at any time.”
“Why don’t you have one?” Kim wanted to know.
“Because part of my brain is computerized. I could download your language directly to my memory systems. I suspect that solution would not appeal to you.”
“Yeah, no thanks.” She lowered her hand and turned her head so Mr. Mann could place the device on her ear.
She felt the thin wires wrap delicately around her ear.
Suddenly, some of the loudest words spoken nearby made sense.
She looked around, listening to aliens check delivery schedules and ask for updates on fuel cell recharges.
“Wow. That’s wild. I can understand everyone. ”
“Good. The device is working.” Mr. Mann made a slight bow. “It was a pleasure meeting you, Miss Humphries.”
“Same here.” She frowned with a twinge of worry. “You’re leaving me?”
He nodded with a smile. “My job is done. All the best to you, Miss Humphries.”
“But what do I…?” Before she could finish, he turned and disappeared into the bustling activity of the hangar.
Kim clutched her handbag and stood still.
The first streaks of fear scraped up her spine at all the activity whirling around her.
It was similar to how she had felt after her abduction—so alone and so out of her depth.
Her hands began to sweat. She turned back to the shuttle, which no longer bore even a passing resemblance to an SUV.
The door was locked. It was slowly gliding away from her. Panic leapt in her throat.
Her gaze snagged on a tall Virilian male walking through the hangar.
Tight pants encased muscled legs. His chest was bare except for a loose brown vest that exposed a ripped abdomen.
She held her breath without even realizing it, unable to tear her gaze away.
Warm brown eyes swept the hangar with a proprietary air.
His gaze found her and locked on. He shifted his course and headed straight toward her. Surely this couldn’t be Klae Rillim.
He stopped right in front of her and gazed down his perfectly straight nose at her. A slow smile curved his lips. “Miss Humphries?”
“Yes. Yes, that’s me,” she stammered out. “Are you…” Please no… This male was far too devastating to be her host for two weeks. Even her thoughts were tongue-tied around him.
“I am Klae Rillim. I welcome you to my ship.” Light brown hair fell over his forehead. Dark, slashing eyebrows arched over those luminous eyes. High cheekbones highlighted smooth cheeks, dented with dimple grooves.
There was simply no looking away from him. There was no hiding her reaction. The noise swirling around her faded to a dull hum.