Married to the Alien Admiral of the Fleet

by Alma Nilsson

  Then Admiral Jei turned and left Jane standing there alone in the Grand Assembly Room without another word.

  Jane stood there, momentarily, watching him go. A few of the other High Councilwomen came over to talk to her afterward. All with the same message, ‘I’ve no idea how you find the patience to work with men all the time. They are so impulsive. You know he didn’t even let us know he was going to come tonight?’ After another hour, Jane turned to her security guards, and they returned to the Zuin.

  The Hairpin and House Human

  The next morning, Captain Kara returned to the ship. She and Jane had a coffee in her captain’s ready room off the main bridge.

  “How was the wedding?” Jane asked.

  “Nothing like mine, and it lasted forever,” Kara complained with a hint of a smile.

  “What do you mean? How could it last forever, I thought it was just the exchanging of vows and then the deed and then done.” Jane wanted details. After what Kes had alluded to, it must have been really something to see, a marriage ceremony with the ancient binding tattoos. Apart of Jane was relieved though that she had not had to be a witness to it. She still was uncomfortable to the Alliance custom of witnessing a couple having sex as part of the marriage ceremony. She could adhere to most Alliance religious practices, but this was still one that made her feel queasy. Mind you, Jane had done her duty a few times already, but she really hoped all the other human women would make good friends so she would not have to be a witness to any more marriage ceremonies.

  “Yeah, well, I guess Doctor Ket wanted to make things more traditional if you know what I mean? He went so painfully slow. I don’t know how many times he made her orgasm before the thing was over. I never thought I could get bored watching live sex, but there I was bored out of my mind.”

  Jane smiled, “That must have been embarrassing to watch.” Thinking that the participates minds were far away from the audience they had at the time.

  “Thankfully, I had brought a case of champagne, and I took a bottle up to the bedroom. But, I’ve to admit, after about 30 minutes, it was like watching a really badly made alien porn. I wanted to yell out instructions, but I controlled myself. They were complete amateurs.”

  Both women laughed.

  “Honestly, Kara, you’ve got to give her a break. What did you expect? James is so young. And her husband, he may be handsome, but I’ve met him, and he just doesn’t strike me as a man who has spent a lot of time studying the karma sutra or whatever the Alliance equivalent might be.”

  “I know, but you would think they would at least practice a little beforehand for their wedding night to make a good impression on all of us that had to witness it. Practice makes perfect,” she said sarcastically.

  “It’s supposed to be the first time,” Jane said, and then they both laughed at the ridiculousness of that rule. No one really seemed to wait until their marriage ceremony to have sex in their experience of the maximum class on the Capital Planet.

  “Well, the first time Tir and I had sex was after we exchanged marriage bracelets,” Kara said proudly.

  “And you’d known each other for what two hours beforehand?” Jane laughed.

  Kara laughed too, “I know. But we must have put on a good show.” She referred to the doctor who was their witness who now was a frequent visitor to their marital bed.

  “I don’t think James was out to seduce anyone for joining them. Especially as they were taking those binding tattoos.”

  “What were the details from the slave who watched them in House Human? ‘A wild frenzy of animalistic human love with fur spilling everywhere’? What I want to know was where was that last night? That would have been so much better than the boring and slow lovemaking I had to watch. ”

  “Something like that. Oh, the slaves hate that we have hair on our bodies. Who knows what that really looked like as she could have just been focused on James’s hair. I guess it’s annoying to clean up.”

  “I just don’t understand why they don’t use machines to clean?”

  Then both Kara and Jane looked at each other and said in unison, “Because it goes against the gods.” Then they laughed again.

  Finally, when Jane regained her countenance, she asked, “And how did the photograph go off?”

  “Well, as we took it before they were naked, I think James really appreciated the gesture,” Kara replied. Having a wedding photograph taken of the bride and groom was the only human tradition she and Jane could come up with to integrate into the Alliance marriage ritual. “I hope the rest of the human women begin integrating it into their marriages to bring some humanity to these barbaric ceremonies.”

  “Good. I’m glad we could add something human that was appreciated.”

  “Yes, and as you can imagine, the Alliance people didn’t like it at all,” Kara laughed. “They just get so upset when one little thing is changed without warning.”

  “Well, it’s just the way they come. What always gets me, though, is that Alliance people are fine with almost anything, as long as they are made aware of the change well ahead of time,” Jane smiled.

  “Yes, it did take them almost a decade to actually act on integrating human women,” Kara commented. “Anyway, now tell me, how was your night? Just as boring as mine at the High Council reception I imagine.”

  “I spoke to your mother-in-law,” Jane answered evenly, watching Kara’s reaction.

  “I know, she told me this morning as I left before breakfast, and she was appalled. Absolutely riveting. It’s good that she has a high opinion of you, though. Anyone else worth mentioning? Any good gossip?”

  “Not really, I did learn though that I don’t have to pay all the fines the women in House Human incur though,” Jane had had a real problem with James incurring fines by holding hands or kissing her future husband while they had been courting.

  “Oh?” Kara asked only half-interested.

  “Yes, I can send them to the High Priestess at the Grand Temple in the Capital City for public physical punishment instead.”

  “You wouldn’t really do that, would you? It’s so barbaric.”

  Jane shrugged, “I can’t continue to always ask you for UCs from House Zu to cover the fines. And who knows what is going to happen with 1,000 more women? I need to enforce these Alliance rules no matter how illogical and impractical as you and I believe them to be.”

  “But you wouldn’t really, would you? I mean, it’s so barbaric. A public punishment?” Kara had only been to that temple once, and she had had to take part in an archaic blood ritual with her husband. “I’m more than happy to spend House Zu’s UCs on human women kissing random Alliance men. I think that is money well spent. Besides it’s good for the Alliance men, the human women and the Empire.”

  Jane laughed, “I know you think so and you are very rich. That’s part of the problem. But, I'm serious, Kara. These new women must integrate. They have actually volunteered to be here.”

  “Integrate or what? They’re not going to send any of us home. We must stand our ground. We must remain as human as possible,” Kara put her hand over her heart.

  Jane put one finger over her heart, the corresponding hand signal in the Alliance; she was speaking the truth, “We are all Alliance now.”

  Kara frowned, “I hate it when you do that, Jane. We can’t just wash off our human culture or our human spirit. We can only conform so much. There’s always a breaking point. We must always keep our hearts and desires human or else, mark me,” she spoke with seriousness now, “We will wither and die here if we give in. Only to be shells of real humans to be only breeders like cattle. I won’t let that happen.”

  “To be Alliance,” Jane murmured. “It’s our only choice, but you’re right, of course, we will never be truly Alliance. It’s impossible. But I still don’t want the hassle of the fines.”

  “So says the woman who never has to marry and who still has her husband and children on Earth. And is he still faithful to you even after all this time?
Is he true to your human love?” Kara asked almost mockingly.

  “It’s different, and you know that. We never married, so don’t insult me by calling him my husband and you know very well that he still is faithful to me. We met when we were so young, and we have so many memories together. You’ll have those memories with Tir, and maybe that is why you are fighting so hard against them? You are afraid of creating such intimate memories together that will forever bind you and I’m not just talking about the sex.”

  Kara shrugged, “Maybe.” She didn’t want to talk about this with Jane right now. She was jealous of Jane’s relationship with Jim, and Jane didn’t’ seem to realize. If Kara gave Jane the opportunity to reminisce, she would go on and on about what a great man Jim was and their wonderful children. It made Kara green with envy. She did like Tir, but he would never be human, and a part of her hated that. Kara also suspected that a part of Tir hated that she would never be Alliance too. And they hated each other as much as they loved each other. Their relationship was a constant storm.

  Kara and Jane were quiet for some minutes, both lost in their own thoughts.

  “Oh,” Jane said, remembering after a time, “Admiral Jei was there.”

  “And he spoke to you?”

  “Yes, he gave me a stern warning about cutting my hair.”

  Kara waved this away, “Oh, pooh.”

  “He seemed quite serious to me,” Jane admitted, still remembering the shiver he sent up her spine, when he mentioned a public punishment.

  “I wouldn’t even think about letting my hair grow long, and you shouldn’t either. What can he really do?”

  “Easy for you to say, you are married to Tir. You can do what you want. But who am I? Head of the last House in the Alliance Empire with little power and a few UCs. I’m not going to cut my hair anymore. He said he would publically punish me himself. I’m going to take his threat quite seriously. Unlike you, I don’t relish in the idea of a public punishment.”

  “That sounds like a sexy proposition to me. And I mean he’s old, but he’s still got it. And I’m sure he’s very skilled in the bedroom. Can you imagine. He’s probably had sex every week, at least since he’s been 20 years old and he’s over 200 years old now. Think about all the times he’s made women come. He could probably make me come in mere minutes by just looking across the room.”

  Jane looked at Kara in disbelief, “Honestly Kara, is sex all that you think about? And I’m pretty sure people plateau. It don’t think it continues.”

  “I don’t know, I think it’s like playing an instrument, the more you practice no matter how old you get, you do get better as long as your fingers and mouth and things work.”

  Jane’s mind couldn’t help but race now to imagine Admiral Jei sucking on her clitoris. But after a second she shook those thoughts away and said, “It didn’t come off like a proposition and definitely not a sexy one either. It was a threat, and he meant it. Just because it’s foreplay for you and Tir to have him punish you in front of his officers, it’s not for me, and I doubt it is for the Admiral either.” She stopped short of saying, ‘And please don’t put these thoughts in my head because now I’m thinking about him only in this sexy way.’

  “I never thought I would see the day that Jane Johnson adhered to what an Alliance man told her. You are Head of House Human. How can he tell you what to do, and you take it seriously? Especially when he told you this at a High Council reception of all places. That man has some gall. ”

  “Well, he’s the admiral of the entire Alliance fleet, the most powerful in the galaxy and where do we spend most of our time?” she asked rhetorically. “With the fleet. I feel like he has more jurisdiction over me than just any woman who is Head of any House.” Jane looked at Kara, she seemed a million kilometers away. “So I’ve to give up my one comfort of having short hair? After everything else I’ve done, it’s a small thing to do,” she lied. Jane felt that by letting her hair grow she would be giving up another human part of herself. And she hated it, but she wasn’t going to admit that to Kara out loud. Jane was typically not a complainer.

  After coffee with Kara, Jane returned to her quarters quickly before she was scheduled to go down to the Capital Planet and meet all the new women in House Human. As she entered she saw a parcel addressed to her on her desk. Sometimes people would send her human gifts from the Earth Store especially when the Zuin was in orbit as it was cheaper. However, Frank the owner, always wrapped his gifts in human products. And this gift was clearly from the Alliance.

  Curiously, Jane picked up the black box. She had no idea who would send her something that was Alliance made. She opened it and inside was a beautiful silver Alliance hairpin and a handwritten note with precise writing.

  Do not cut your hair or punishment will follow.

  Jane laughed when she read the note. It was unsigned, but it didn’t matter because she knew who had sent it. There was no doubt in her mind. This was from Admiral Jei. Jane smiled and then put the hairpin back in the box and closed it. Then, without another thought about the hairpin, she grabbed her IC and left her quarters to attend to her duties at House Human.

  Admiral Jei’s squire Den walked into the Kzi’s conference room where he was working alone before a meeting and said to Jei, “It’s done.”

  “Did you give it to her directly?”

  “No. She wasn’t in her quarters, I used your override and left it on her desk.”

  “Was there anything out of the ordinary about her quarters?” Jei wanted to know everything about this Jane. He hadn’t stopped thinking about her since he left her at the High Council reception last night. Unfortunately, all he could find out about her, he already knew. She really had nothing personal of herself anywhere on social media. And although he had not added her as a direct contact, he had checked her social page today to see if she posted anything from being on the Capital Planet or the hairpin, he had given her. A typical Alliance woman, whether she was romantically interested or not, would have posted the hairpin to her social media account as a sign of her desirability and worth in the Empire. As the hairpin came from the most famous jeweler in all the Alliance Empire, and it was a one of a kind. Also, it was from him, and even though he was a great-grandfather, most older women would be happy to receive his attentions as he was Admiral of the Fleet.

  “No,” Den replied, not really knowing what the Admiral meant by his question. “It looked like any officer’s quarters.” Den was 15 years old and had just taken this post less than a year ago. He knew very little of courting and women. And he knew nothing about human women except that they were like Alliance women but different colors and acted a bit strangely. If truth be told he had hurried out of Chief Jane’s quarters as soon as he had left the gift as he had been afraid to meet her by surprise.

  “Dismissed,” Jei said, annoyed the young man didn’t snoop around Jane’s quarters, but he had expected Jane to be in her quarters, so he hadn’t instructed him to snoop and Jei knew most young men Den’s age needed to be told to do it. Jei wondered then, Maybe she considers me too old? I must force myself to stop thinking about her. I made myself perfectly clear with the hairpin, and if she’s not interested, there’s nothing more I can do. She will make her feelings known one way or another.

  Jane walked into House Human and was instantly reminded again of how bare it was and how much she hated it. House Human reminded her of the dormitories at the human fleet, basic rooms with only a few communal areas to relax. If one could relax sharing sofas and tables and all with other women.

  Madame Bai had assembled all the women in the dining hall. All 1,000 of them. Every chair was taken, and Jane suspected all the rooms were full too. The house was meant to hold 1,000 women, and that was how many Admiral Tir had brought back, How convenient? Jane thought, knowing full well that nothing in the Alliance was hardly a coincidence.

  Jane and Madame Bai walked into the House Human dining hall together. Madame Bai then began addressing the new additions, “Welcome
. It’s good that you are all here and healthy. We were thrilled that you all volunteered to help us and then devastated when we discovered you had contracted the Zoipli virus while in the spaceport. We all have been saying extra prayers to the goddess of home and of health to bring you to us, and finally, our prayers have been answered. Thanks be to the gods as they allow us to walk in their light.”

  When the women looked at her blankly, Madame Bai chided them, “Now you say, ‘We are not worthy of their grace, but we accept.’”

  After all the women said the words, Madame Bai continued, “I’m not surprised that the men that were supposed to teach you about our culture and religion have failed. But don’t worry, we will bring you all up to speed. First, I would like to introduce you to your Head of House Human, Jane. She is currently serving with Captain Kara, another human, on the Zuin. Now please stand and bow to your Head.”

  After a couple of seconds of hesitation, the women all stood, and when Jane stood in front of them, they bowed.

  Jane stood and began to address the women who had all quieted down for her, “With the gods' permission, mark the date, the 3rd day of the 55th week of the year 18905, Earth date, November 16th, 2636. Welcome to House Human. I’m Jane,” she hesitated as she had to drop her surname, and she still was not used to it and she couldn’t help but think how ridiculous it sounded as if she were the character Jane from the book Tarzan. “Head of House Human. I’m responsible for you all. Madame Bai and her assistants are only your cultural guides. Any problems, you come to me. Any fines will be sent to me as well as, and just so we are clear on that matter, I’ll not hesitate to send people to the High Priestess for punishment rather than paying the UCs. Don’t be fooled by our connections with some of the Imperial Houses. We are poor and our ranking as a House is low. As you all volunteered to come here, I expect you to be keen to learn and follow all the Alliance customs to the tiniest detail with no deviations. Now, are there any questions you have for me?”