Page 62 of The Alien I Fell in Love with on Walpurgis Night

“I don’t know exactly what a bunny is, but humanity doesn’t have many defenses against advanced space faring civilizations. Sending out an invitation with Earth’s address on it wasn’t clever either.”

“An invitation, what are you talking about?”

Axl brings up a picture and I recognize it immediately. It’s the golden record NASA thought it was a clever idea to put on Voyager 1 and Voyager 2. “I think everyone with any sense was hoping those got lost or destroyed. It was so stupid. Even when they did it, lots of people knew it was a bad idea,” I say thinking about a science fiction film about Voyager returning after centuries. “But I still don’t understand why employ the Alliance Force if Alliance people don’t like humans?”

“Humans are us. Do you think it’s merely a coincidence that we look the same bar our skin color? Earth has a much warmer climate. Your skin tones evolved differently, and you don’t have night vision.”

“How?”

“Don’t you remember the Lost People myth that you heard at the Grand City Temple? A ship was lost a long time ago. Its survivors made a home on Earth. Some mixed with the local humanoids.”

“So some of us could be completely human and not what you call Alliance at all?”

“Could be,” he agrees. “We could do a DNA test if you really wanted to know, but I doubt it and you don’t have the look either. Your face structure is quite imperial.”

“Stop, now you are trying to change the subject.”

“Possibly,” he admits. “But it’s true, you do look like an Alliance woman, but in a washed out skin tone.”

“Washed out?”

“I don’t mean to be negative. I mean less color.”

“I would say grey is less color.”

“Then we will have to disagree. It’s all a matter of perspective.”

Just then a chime at the door. Axl gets up to answer it and I continue to read the information on the 3D screen. I try to use the virtual keyboard that appeared on the table to get it to go back to the files of the women who recently transferred through the Alliance Force. I look at their pictures and briefly read some of their files.

“Could I visit Earth if I lived with you?”

“Unfortunately, that’s illegal,” he tells me. “Earth still has not joined an organization called the Galactic Court. Until they do, any human who has gone longer than one imperial year from Earth can never return.”

“But then how are all these human women on Earth after they’ve been gone for years?”

“Touché. Not all laws are enforced and exceptional circumstances were made immediately after the law was changed. Unfortunately, none of those apply to you.”

“So I could return. It would just be illegal.”

“Yes and I’m not even entertaining that as an option because that would put my life and career in jeopardy for breaking galactic laws.”

“I can’t just leave Earth and live in the Empire, though.”

“You already have left Earth. You passed through the Alliance Force like a professional galactic spy and managed to even impress my mother and sister and the Empress so much that they wanted you off the planet and out of the Empire as quickly as possible. Maybe you’re not meant to be on Earth?”

“I did, didn’t I?” I smile. “But what would my future look like? I don’t want to be a prisoner on an alien planet.”

Axl picks me up as if I weigh nothing. “Let’s finish this conversation in bed.”

“Don’t confuse me.”

He gives me a baffled look.

“I need to think about this without you kissing me.”

“I think you need to be kissed to remind you of our connection. Only then will you make the right choice.”

Axl sets me in the middle of the large bed and then lies down next to me. Despite what I just said I allow him to hold me, my head on his chest. I can feel his heart beating. I feel so content despite being in such an unfortunate situation. Is this what love feels like?

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