We were the first mission to Mars. I say first, in actuality we were only the first civilian mission, the first civilians to settle the wild wastes. I used to fantasise about Mars and what living there would be like. I'd always imagined it to be like those old western movies. The footage and information we got from the previous expeditions only helped fuel my obsessions. That dry, rocky terrain, lawless and free, waiting to be claimed and tamed.
Sometimes I'd picture myself on horseback, tilting my hat back and dropping a classic one-liner to the townsfolk. That won't happen, of course; no animals have been brought in yet, and the government doesn't seem to want livestock on Mars. But a girl can dream.
Our mission was made up of Architects, Plumbers, Civil engineers, Farmers, Miners, laborers and Politicians. I was travelling on a farmer's passport with our chief of production, Kishna. Together we represented Bronwen Farms. The first of many to start setting up infrastructure to support the population. The previous missions were all military, engineers and scientists. They built bases and started small-scale terraforming. Their success created patches of forests and a few oases spread across the planet. The terraforming projects would continue as settlers arrived.
The government aims to build several cities to move people from the desert encroachment zones on Earth to Mars. But the Science Council wanted 45% of the planet terraformed with budding forests before people began settling. The government and Science Council couldn't agree, so they compromised. Mission One is that compromise. The laborers are people taken from desert zones who were pending relocation. They're desperate, so they are cheap to hire. They'll mostly be used in construction and farming projects. We hired 10 on full-time contracts. Kishna has been training them. He isn't too fond of the laborers and thinks they lack the green thumb magic. I think they'll be fine. The first phase of our plans isn't to grow food, but to test our Leucaena trees. If they take well to Mars, it'll help with the other crops.
We had been flying for a week before I'd finally adjusted to the cramped spaces on the ship. I was making my way to the common area for lunch when I noticed the view of space was obstructed. Another vessel had pulled up alongside us. When I got to the common area, people crowded around a small group in the centre of the room. The Space Corp guys were on edge. Their weapons were drawn. Worried glances passed between them as they marked the group.
As I got closer, I saw that the group were a bunch of winged, elf-eared people; 3 men and 3 women. A short, obnoxious man was speaking with them, Edward Klein. He was grinning from ear-to-ear, saying how happy he was to be representing our species to the group. Klein was a braggart. Over the past few days, it has become second nature for me to ignore him. I blocked him out as I studied the visitors, Alythes, they were called, from a star system a few hundred light years away. Something about them hoping to get our help, but I wasn't paying attention anymore. One of their men was staring at me intently. I had brushed it off at first, but when my gaze travelled around the room and back at him, it became unsettling. He had a solemn unblinking stare, almost like he was looking inside me.
I must say he does look sexy, ears,wings and all.
You know that uncomfortable way everyone in a room will watch you when you've said something aloud that you thought you said in your mind. Well, all the Alythes in the room looked at me like that, then Klein and the others turned to me as well. I know I didn't say anything. I was still sucking on the chocolate in my mouth.
Okay people, the staring is creepy.
The Alythe man walked towards me, and everyone in his path just got out of the way.
Great, an alien is approaching me, and you guys just clear the way for him. What if he kills me?!
The man stopped in front of me. He did nothing, said nothing. A few Space Corp guards surrounded us. They looked like they were itching for a reason to shoot. If I die, I'll haunt all your asses. My mind went to its dark place, thinking about my imminent death and potential tombstone. Alei Bronwen dead at 32. She was still a virgin. I should have taken Kishna up on that date.
"You are broadcasting your thoughts." The man smiled at me.
I blinked up at him dumbly. Broadcasting my thoughts? No, I'm not pretty sure they are still in my head. "What?"
"You're anxious. Your thoughts are screaming on the common wavelength."
What gibberish are you talking?!
Klein was growing concerned and turned to the Alythe he'd been speaking to.
"Is something wrong? Did she-"
The man silenced him with a wave of his hand. He was staring hard at the other one in front of me. Klein gave me a look that I assumed meant, stay out of the limelight.
"You need to relax."
Relax?! You put me in the spotlight out of the blue and now you're telling me to relax?!
He leaned forward, resting his forehead on mine. Words echoed in my head like he'd spoken in my brain, his tone soothing.
Calm yourself Alei, our council master, will redirect everyone's attention, but I need you to stop screaming. Please.
The image of a black undisturbed lake was foremost in my mind, its surface reflecting the stars, the sky dim with the glow of twilight. I recognised the place; it was my mental haven for when I needed to stay calm. But, I hadn't conjured the image; it was thrust into my mind. The man righted himself and smiled at me again.
"That's better."
I looked at the other Alythes. They seemed more relaxed now than they had a few seconds ago. Klein's Alythe resumed their conversation, I looked back at the man in front of me.
"You all can read minds."
"Not exactly. You are my companion. I alone can see your mind."
"Companion?"
"In your expression, the right word would be wife."
The room went quiet again. I wish today had been a normal dull day. All I wanted was lunch. Klein's Alythe approached the one standing by me, his hand resting on the man's shoulder. His eyes moved between us.
"I believe it would be best for us to end today's engagement here. Mr. Klein, my councilors and I would like to speak with you again, under different circumstances."
"Of course, I can make the arrangements. We can meet here again in 18 hours."
The Alythes vanished into thin air, and the quiet in the room broke like a burst dam. Captain Ruiz voiced his disapproval on entertaining the aliens. True to his nature, Klein countered, saying it was the perfect opportunity for us.
"If we can help them, they will be willing to give us access to their technology. An alliance with them is in the government's interests, Captain Ruiz."
" Mr. Klein, you are not the only one who can speak for the government's interests." interjected another politician.
The other politicians seemed worried that Klein would get all the glory if things with the Alythe went favorably. While the politicians fought over the future of their careers, others in the room flocked to me with questions about what happened. Every which way, people were pushing, raising questions, taking pictures and recording; it was overwhelming. A whistle screeched and the room went quiet again. A few Space Corp guards put themselves between me and the crowd as Captain Ruiz's voice boomed across the room.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we were just forcefully boarded by aliens. No doubt some of you have already tried to upload information to the externet. However, we have cut our connections to the internet. Your communication watches will be scanned, images of the aliens will be removed, as well as your comms will be restricted until the United Earth Government deems it necessary to share the information. You are all to return to your quarters. As of now, this ship is under curfew. Mr. Klein, Ms. Bronwen, you will remain."
People mumbled complaints under their breath as they shuffled to the exits. Captain Ruiz demanded an explanation for what happened. Klein stood his ground as a third-rank politician, saying his actions were justified as the highest government official on board. Ruiz ordered him to make a report to the United Earth Government headquarters, stating Space Corp and the military would both receive his own.
They both then turned to me with questions about what happened between the Alythe man and I. Klein even resorted to threatening me to reveal everything, not that I intended to hide anything. I told them everything; the common wave length thing, the mind reading, and the companion bit. Neither of them could make sense of it either, so I returned to the quarters I shared with Kishna.
Kishna had heard of what happened. He was worried the aliens might try something funny, and suggested I avoid them if they came onboard again. I agreed. No need to get caught up in an inter-species scandal, or even blamed if negotiations don't work out.
Unfortunately, life has an annoying habit of throwing a wrench in your plans. The next day, the aliens requested I be present at the meeting with the politicians and Space Corp guards. I was given instructions not to speak out of turn. There I was again, in a room with the aliens all staring at me. I wonder if animals at the zoo feel this uncomfortable. All the weird-shaped creatures staring at you trying to exist. Of course, Mr. Sexy was there, staring me down again like before.
The meeting started like a boring business meeting, with the agenda laid out, followed by overdone pleasantries. The politicians lived up to their titles, probably on orders from the government giving them assignments. Klein was the happiest in the room. I assumed he was given control to head the talks. The first thing on the agenda was why they made contact with us.
"We approached you in the hope that we would find salvation. Females are scarce among our species. While we are long-lived, this has stagnated our society."
"Then, you believe there is a chance we are compatible with your species, yes?"
"We have no evidence to support this. We only approached you after intercepting your vessel carrying a carved message. Your physical form bore similarities to ours. That is a start."
"How will you choose wives?"
"We do not choose wives, as you would. Among our people, men and women are destined for each other. Companions are able to read each other's minds. It is one of the ways they identify each other. My brother has waited three thousand years, and now he has found his wife." He turned to me then.
"Sorry? I am not his wife."
The politicians looked about ready to crucify me. I know I promised not to speak, but this alien was marrying me off to his brother without my say. Before they could admonish me, Mr. Sexy walked over to me. He took my hand and pulled me up to stand with him.
"There is a bond between us. You can freely enter my mind as I can yours. Try it, see my thoughts."
How do you read a mind? Do I look into his eyes? How to esper? I should have read Telepathy for Dummies. God he smells like Petrichor. I could love him for that alone. He smiled at me again.
I don't even know your name.
Lao'k.
Or your favourite color.
Yellow.
Why do you think I can be your wife?
Our minds are one.
"Your name is Lao'k!" I shouted.
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