“Why can’t we send the other girls like us up to one of the ships,” Nic said.
“Because they don’t have a guardian taking them,” Sally said. “Our government would consider it kidnapping.”
“Nobody cares about them,” Nic said. “Why do they care if these girls go off to another world? They won’t be a draw on human resources if they go.”
“We do not steal children,” Mycos said.
“But you welcome them,” Nic said. “Ilandra’s decree allowed for even minors to be taken in.”
“Ilandra’s decree,” Mycos asked.
“I am unfamiliar with this decree,” Gregor said sitting forward.
“I read about it in your history,” Nic said. “Ilandra Hylat was the oldest daughter and took her mate. Her mother died giving birth.”
“When was this,” Gregor asked.
“Something like eleven hundred years ago,” Nic said. “Her mother died giving birth to her youngest sister. Her father went crazy. He killed the baby and ordered all the babies killed who were born that year. His soldiers didn’t do it but then he ordered all sorts of other atrocities. Ilandra couldn’t unseat him as head of the family.”
“No, women weren’t in power yet,” Mycos said.
“The only way would have been to kill him,” Gregor said.
“Unwilling to kill her father,” Nic said. “She allowed anyone of any age to leave his area of rule to come to her area of rule.”
“It sounds like a minor decree,” Mycos said.
“I’ll ask the council to give us guidance on it,” Lydia said.
“We are not following human laws if we invoke this,” Mycos said.
“There’s a time and a place,” Sally said. “As things stand right now, it’s a political quagmire to remove these minors.”
“But there might come a time when we could invoke this,” Lydia said. “Where were we?”
“We have an increase in contacts from women who want to see if they have a mate amongst the men,” Gregor said. “As well as a small number of men who write to see if they can get rid of a woman with us.”
“Why,” Lydia asked.
“For the women,” Gregor said grinning. “There are a number of reasons why they are willing to come to us.”
“You do have some assets,” Sally said leaning against him.
“And the men,” Nic asked snorting.
“Usually it is a father or brother,” Mycos said. “Sometimes it is their current spouse.”
“Can we set something up,” Lydia said. “If we are to find mates for all the men, we need to find a way to get more of them exposure to the women here.”
“I think you underestimate how many we move through the shelter,” Sally said. “We’ve offered a safe place. The men who work there make connections.”
“Senator Richardson is at the gate,” Gregor said looking at his com. “I have given her permission to enter.”
“I’ll meet her,” Nic said rising from the table. “You want her in here?” At Lydia’s nod, she left the dining room. Everyone hastily gathered dirty dishes. Bots carried the debris from their dinner back to the kitchen.
“Wonder what she wants,” Lydia said glancing around to make sure everything was tidy.
Mycos covered her hand with his. “We will know shortly,” he said.
The table cleared and order restored, Lydia sat next to Mycos worried about the reason for the visit. They heard the door open and the murmur of voices.
“Oh, I interrupted your dinner,” Morgan said.
Lydia stood to greet her. Holding out her hand she said, “We’re lingering over coffee. Would you like some?”
“No, thank you,” Morgan said. “I’ve come from a meeting with the other delegates. I had to share the good news.”
“Which is,” Mycos said.
“The committee has agreed to allow the purchase of the scanners and healing devices,” Morgan said.
“Great news,” Lydia said smiling broadly.
“We want to make an announcement as soon as possible,” Morgan said. “They want the manufacture of these items done here on earth.”
“This is only practical,” Mycos said.
“Excellent,” Morgan said.
“What about the education programs,” Lydia asked leading Morgan to a chair.
“It’s our next tour,” Morgan said. “It isn’t a sure thing but I think once they see the advances the students have made they will approve this purchase.”
“Elaxus can give a demonstration,” Mycos said.
“He gives them regularly throughout the week,” Lydia said. “There are teachers and other school personnel coming from around the world to get a look at it.”
“The committee is still here,” Morgan said. “Is it possible to set it up before they return to the capital?”
“Allow me to step out and check with Elaxus,” Gregor said. He rose and left the room.
“The Premier has asked if there are other technologies you’re willing to share,” Morgan asked.
“We have others,” Mycos said sensing more behind the request.
“Are you willing to share some of the transports,” Morgan asked.
“Not at this time,” Mycos said. He picked up his coffee and drank deeply. He enjoyed the coffee’s rich dark flavor.
“May I ask why,” Morgan said.
“The transports are a giant leap forward for you,” Mycos said. “Will you agree to not use them as gunships? Will you agree to never use them in a military situation?”
“I could,” Morgan said.
“But would the government,” Lydia asked.
“They probably would say it,” Morgan said.
“But not stick by it,” Sally said.
Morgan didn’t answer.
“At this time, we are unwilling to share our transport technology,” Mycos said.
“Are there other technologies you are willing to share,” Morgan asked.
Lydia looked at Mycos who nodded. “The sun and wind technology is vastly more advanced,” she said.
“Is this something which could be shown to the committee as well,” Morgan asked.
“It is,” Mycos said. “Lydia will not accompany you onto the roof. Our techs can go with and show you.”
“Do you often dictate what Lydia will do,” Morgan asked.
“Does your mate not express concern about your well-being,” Lydia asked. “In his language the request he made would not sound like a demand.”
“I see,” Morgan said. “Is there a reason you won’t accompany us?”
“I know nothing about the technology,” Lydia said. “I can facilitate a meeting with the utility company. They have been thrilled with the excess they get from our buildings.”
“The committee is very interested in what they have to say,” Morgan said. “Let’s start with the utility and move from there.”
“As you wish,” Lydia said. “I’ll have our techs at the meeting to explain anything which may come up.”
“The Premier is quite interested in your technology. Is there anything else you’re willing to share,” Morgan asked, her face blank of expression and her tone bland with nearly no inflection.
“There are household aids,” Sally said. “We have bots which move around the house to do the cleaning, carrying and other tasks.”
“Your rudimentary bots are… simplistic compared to ours,” Mycos said.
“Is this technology available for negotiation,” Morgan asked.
“Will they be weaponized,” Mycos asked.
“Not as far as I know,” Morgan said meeting his eyes.
“We can discuss it,” Mycos said.
“I’ll make arrangements for the committee to stay longer,” Morgan said. “I hope you’re as pleased as I am about this step forward.”
“We hope it will lead to a closer relationship between the two people,” Lydia said.
“I must get back,” Morgan said rising from her chair. “I ha
ve a younger sister who’s single. She’s interested in meeting some of your men. Would this be possible?”
“Is she willing to relocate,” Lydia asked.
“Yes,” Morgan said. “Though it saddens me. She has difficult relations with my parents and is looking for a family.”
“We have men still who seek mates,” Mycos said.
“I’ll have her visit me,” Morgan said. Shaking their hands, she smiled, “Thank you.”
Nic showed her out of the house. “Do you plan to tell them this is old tech for you,” she asked when she returned.
“Old tech,” Sally asked.
“It is nearly three hundred years old for our people,” Mycos admitted. “How did you know?”
“I’ve been studying the development of weapons,” Nic said. “I like how your weapons went from the swords, like the humans, to more damaging and deadly, again like the humans, to now you use the stunners.”
“In this situation,” Landros said. “We have weapons which will destroy and kill. We prefer not to use them.”
“Like the guns the humans have but worse,” Nic said. “It made me wonder about other technology. I asked Justinian about the scanners. He said he learned this iteration of them on the trip here.”
“You realized we offer them old tech,” Landros said smiling. Pride beamed out at how she pieced together the bits of information to come up with the right outcome.
“I did,” Nic said. “You could have kept this from me.” She looked from Landros to Mycos.
The men looked to Mycos and Gregor to answer her. “It shows a level of trust,” Lydia said.
“Did you know,” Nic asked Lydia.
“No, but I suspected,” Lydia said.
“We did not wish to lie to you,” Mycos said leaning forward to take Lydia’s hand. “This planet is backwards.”
“Why come here,” Sally asked not sure if she felt honored or annoyed.
“Because the seer said we would find our mates here,” Gregor said pulling her closer to him.
“For a society with few women, this was a high priority,” Sally said. “Yet you are responsible enough to protect us from jumping too far forward too quickly.”
“Our laws do not permit us to give advancements to cultures such as your culture,” Mycos said.
“Humans still exhibit war like behaviors,” Gregor said.
“They allow small things to overrule common sense,” Landros said.
“We were encouraged to see a female as your leader,” Mycos said. “It is one of the reasons we picked this country over others.”
“Do you also have a way to turn it all off,” Nic asked.
“What? Why would they need to turn it off,” Sally asked.
“Even though we’re getting good PR from all you’ve been doing,” Nic said. “There are still those who won’t believe you’re doing this for the good of humanity. How many of the comments on the shows, articles and other media crap are negative?”
“You think we will leave,” Mycos said.
“I think it’s a possibility,” Nic said. “If we do, I’m going with you guys. I don’t care about human laws. I can tell you the others, those seven in the hall and the other orphans, they feel the same way.”
“We need to save the children,” Sally said. “Working at the shelter, the things I’ve heard. We need to save as many as possible.”
“What about extended family,” Lydia asked.
“Yeah,” Nic said. “Trinity and Carol survived the plagues. If the women don’t want to leave, will the men stay here?”
“They may not be able to,” Landros said.
“Because of the attacks,” Sally said. “We need to work this out and start a plan to get the rest of the men down. Larger numbers of them.”
“I read about something in one of my books,” Nic said. “You men can tell within a short period of time, right?”
“Yes,” the men around the table who connected with mates spoke as one.
“There was a practice called speed dating,” Nic said. “Sally do you remember it?”
“I did it once as a lark,” she said blushing. “It was right after college. People gathered and the men went from table to table to have five minutes to talk to someone. At the end of the evening, the participants notified the organizer if they wanted to get to know someone more.”
“Our men will know,” Gregor said. Landros rested his hand on Nic’s shoulder. She reached up to take it in her hand. It was the first outward sign she gave of recognizing his need.
“We can have a group of men at tables and women can move from one to the next,” Sally said.
“It allows them to have contact with more women,” Lydia said. “As the men find their mates, more men can take their places.”
“But will the women be willing to connect so quickly,” Mycos asked.
“Some will,” Sally said. “I was with Gregor.”
“I wasn’t but I didn’t trust anything,” Lydia said. “Your men will have to be patient once they make the choice and will have to let the women set the pace of the connection.”
“Is this something we should arrange through the senator,” Justinian asked frowning.
“No,” Sally and Lydia said.
“We can set it up as a social event,” Sally said. “I may know someone.”
“If the senator’s sister finds a mate,” Lydia said. “Will things be kept from her?”
“This is a fine line,” Sally said. “Let’s wait and see.”
“When will the first ship leave,” Lydia asked.
“We planned to send it off in a day or two,” Mycos said.
“Does anyone onboard have family they may want to go with them,” Lydia asked.
“Are you prepared to take on humans who want to go with their daughters or sisters,” Sally asked.
“Lord Mycos,” Justinian said. “Trinity asked if her mother could come with. They only have each other.”
“We will ask,” Mycos said. “This first ship needs to head out in order to have the fuel and food necessary to make the return trip.”
“Give them a deadline,” Lydia said. “Gregor, you speak with them daily?”
“I do,” he said. “I will take care of this. Should I report to you milady?”
“Mycos or me,” she said turning her head to look at Mycos.
“And there’s the googlie look,” Nic said. “I’m for bed. Landros walk me back, please.”
“Of course,” he said standing to go with her. She took his hand as they headed for the door.
“Tell me about the other weapons,” Nic said as they walked out the dining room doors.
“Googlie,” Gregor shook his head as the other men rose and smiled.
“It’s her way,” Lydia said. “Mycos and I are retiring for the evening.”
“I will check with the squads before Sally and I turn in,” Gregor said.
“How soon will you change your residence to the shelter,” Mycos said.
“Soon,” Sally said. “The women are comfortable with the men but I think having a woman on hand is better.”
“No lifting,” Gregor said pulling her close to him.
“I leave all of it in your capable hands,” Sally said gazing at him in the googlie manner.
***
“Tas, you said you were interested,” Morgan said. “Why are you being contrary now?”
“I’m not,” Tasmine said pacing like a caged cat. “I’m not trying to be. I’ve spent a week with mom and dad. You know what they’re like.”
“How many times did they try to set you up,” Morgan asked pulling her sister to sit next to her on the plush couch.
“They want me to be the perfect wife to one of dad’s friend’s son,” Tas said. “He’s disgusting. He’s arrogant and annoying and …”
“Everything you hate about dad,” Morgan said.
“How did you turn out so normal,” Tas said leaning her head on her sister’s shoulder.
; Morgan brushed back Tasmine’s long brown hair and considered. “Look it’s a meeting. It’s a meeting and nothing more,” she said. “If you don’t want to have anything to do with them after this first meeting, I’ll never say anything again.”
“You know they hate what you’re doing,” Tas said. “They think the aliens should give us the tech and be grateful we don’t blow them out of our skies.”
“Oh, that’s a dad quote,” Morgan said smiling. “You know he’s mostly bluster.”
“I’m not so sure,” Tas said. “He wasn’t blustering for his rich buddies. He was talking to me.”
“I know,” Morgan said. “I have to go. Are you coming or am I making excuses for you?”
“Can I come in comfortable shoes,” Tas said.
“You can wear anything you want,” Morgan said. “Almost anything. I’m not having a repeat of your junior prom where mom gave you the credit card and you got a dress so scandalous I thought dad was going to pass out.”
“It was not scandalous,” Tas said grinning. “It was in. He didn’t like in.”
***
“Thirteen women contacted their families,” Gregor said as he met with Sally, Mycos, and Lydia to discuss the ship leaving.
“Did any of them accept,” Mycos asked.
“All of them,” Gregor said. “Apparently the families were being harassed. From the families, nineteen more men found mates.”
“One family had a lot of daughters and cousins who were living in a very small space,” Sally said. “I think all eight of the adult single women found mates.”
“Are there any more on the ship who want to ask,” Lydia asked frowning.
Mycos pulled her close to him. “I know you do not like the idea of them leaving family,” he murmured.
“I don’t,” she said. “But I also think we should stress to them it is an option.”
“Because you’ve not had a lot of options,” Sally asked. She leaned on Gregor. His hand slipped around her, covered her belly. She smiled at him, covering his hand with hers.
“The plagues killed so many,” Lydia said. “I don’t want us to cause harm if we can avoid it.”
“We will ask again,” Mycos said. “The families make it easier for the women to take such a big step.”
Lydia reached up and kissed him. “Thank you,” she said.
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