Page 27 of The Alien I Fell in Love with on Walpurgis Night

“I do. I say it to my only wife.”

I sit up and see that he’s already dressed. I get out of bed and go to the bathroom. I still haven’t figured out how the toilet works but I figure I’ll ask if I haven’t figured it out by the time I really need to. At the moment, I’m letting it do its thing and hoping that’s the way it’s meant to work. It sprays me with water as there’s no sign of toilet paper anywhere I assume that’s how it’s done. Then there’s a little dryer. However, that little spray isn’t going to do anything for solids, I think.

Once I’m finished in the bathroom and Axl has shown me how to brush my teeth or rather clean my teeth, it’s not a brush. “Do I have time to shower?”

“I want you smelling of me.”

A wave of arousal washes over me. I smile and go back into the room. Then I put on the black dress he’s set out for me with some stockings and boots. When I’m finished, he braids my hair how he wants it, which makes me feel like a well-cared for doll. “I’ll learn how to do it myself.”

“Why would you deny me?”

I realize I don’t’ know why I would. If he enjoys it what’s wrong with letting him do it? But for some reason it’s different. “I can’t explain. It’s fine.”

When he’s finished with my hair he puts a silver necklace over my head. It has a familiar shaped pendant on it and I recognize it as an ID necklace they all seem to wear. I pick up the pendent. It reads, ‘Madame Georgiana of Imperial House Zu.’ And before I can ask him any questions, he also presents me with my marriage bracelet.

“We must wear these. Hold out your left hand, please.”

His voice is serious. I hold out my left hand. He slips the bracelet onto my wrist. Then he hands me his bracelet and I do the same.

“I’m worried it’s going to fall off.” Holding on to the loose bracelet with my other hand.

“We must say the sacred words to tighten them.”

“What are the words?”

Axl looks down at me and takes both of my hands in his. My hands in his strong ones feel good. “Madame Georgiana Smith from Earth, I pledge my life, passion, and honor to you in wedlock,” he says and then adds, “Now you say the same for me.”

I straighten my shoulders. “Imperial Fleet Reserve Commander Axl of Imperial House Zu,” then I pause, not being able to remember the rest. I don’t know why I’m nervous, this isn’t real, is it? Do I want it to be real? Is this real for him? It’s morning and I can’t think. My mind is fuzzy from all the alcohol last night. Why are we doing this before even having coffee?

Axl, unaware of my mental turmoil, says, “I accept your pledge and promise you my life, passion, and honor in wedlock.”

“I accept your pledge and promise you my life, love and honor in wedlock.”

The marriage bracelets tighten, and I jump at the small pinprick of electric shock. Immediately I investigate my bracelet. “You’d think for something so technologically advanced it wouldn’t shock you. Wasn’t it supposed to do that or is mine broken?”

“It marks a new life together for the couple. A new beginning. The bracelets are purposefully designed to prick you so you don’t forget it.”

I want to ask Axl if that was legal, if we are really married now in this sci-fi cosplay, his reality, but at the same time, I don’t want to know. Because knowing one way or the other might ruin the romance of this. And what this is, I don’t exactly know, but I know I don’t want it to end, not yet. I’m enjoying myself. And maybe this is what he wants, a sci-fi cosplay wife for the rest of his life.

We leave our quarters and Axl is carrying a bag with our belongings in it. I have nothing but the feel of my new jewelry reminding me of my new alien status between my breasts and on my wrist.

The moving holographic arrows on the wall guide us to the docking bay where we will be boarding our ship to the Empire. When we enter the docking bay, I’m surprised by how large the Hio is. But then again, supposedly it’s going across the galaxy. I see some grey men, not in the uniforms but in what I suppose is galactic men’s wear, waiting outside the ship. They see us and give us a hand gesture I assume means, ‘This way.’

Axl confirms this, “That’s the ship. They’re waiting for us.”

We walk towards it and I’m greeted by one of the men. I expect him to say his name but he doesn’t. “Welcome onboard the Hio. We’ve made special arrangements for you both. Please follow me.”

I follow the tall grey man into the large ship. I’ve never been on a spaceship before, nor do I watch a lot of science fiction, so I don’t have much to compare it to. But it does remind me of a mixture between a futuristic submarine and a tacky cruise ship. The man explains that they have one private room for imperial guests and that they’ve moved around shipments to accommodate us. Once we are shown the room, I’m surprised it’s so small given it’s kept for imperial guests. The bed is long but barely wide enough for Axl let alone me too. The bathroom is even tinier. I’m not used to the finer things in life, but I find these accommodations a little funny being referred to as ‘imperial’ after the luxury on the base.

“Is this how all starships are?” I ask.

“The Hio is more of a supply ship. It’s run by middling class men delivering goods from one end of the galaxy to the other. It isn’t meant to be a passenger ship. The High Council doesn’t want any official passenger ships going between Earth and the Empire.”

“Why not?”

“Politics. The government doesn’t want to advertise what’s going on.”

“Oh, and what’s going on?”

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