Page 38 of The Alien I Fell in Love with on Walpurgis Night

I walk back out into the bedroom and look for the wardrobes. I can’t find any. Then I find a little door and inside is a large walk in closet almost empty. I find five lonely dresses hanging up and two pairs of shoes. On a display table next to the clothing are a few pieces of silver jewelry. From a distance, I recognize one of the pieces as an ID necklace. I pick it up and it reads, ‘Madame Georgiana Smith, Human.’

I don’t know why this bothers me, but it does. It shouldn’t, Axl and I were never truly married, it was always a business arrangement for him to get back to the Empire. That ID necklace he gave me wasn’t real. But I think we were and still are mutually attracted to each other and the doctor told me he wants to marry me. But if that’s true why isn’t he here with me now?

I look through the clothing and the drawers but there’s no bras or underwear, only stockings and dresses. I give up trying to find some pajamas and decide to sleep in Axl’s tunic. I get into bed, turn out the lights, and lay down. The sheets are silky-smooth and warm. They have a faint floral scent to them, but from flowers I don’t recognize. I close my eyes and try to sleep. But I can’t. My mind is racing. I am too curious about this alien place.

After a few minutes in the dark, I turn the lights back on, and wonder if there is some kind of alien television to watch. I don’t know if there’s a computer in this room like there was on the ship. Axl always asked a room computer to do things, so I chance it.

“Computer?”

“Yes, Madame Georgiana Smith.” I jump when a woman’s voice says my name. It’s not computerized at all. It sounds like a stern woman is hiding behind the curtain.

“Is there a television in the room?”

“There is not an ancient device known as a ‘television.’ There is a computer at the desk. Would you like me to bring it up?”

“Yes.”

I look over to the corner of the room where there is a black lacquer desk. Suddenly a 3D computer appears.

“Are there any dramas to watch?”

“There are no dramas in the Empire. There are videos of real events.”

“Okay. How do I watch those?”

“Would you like fashion, military, political, Reima Two, immigrant ring, historical, medical, imperial…”

“Is there anything about Imperial Fleet Reserve Commander Axl of House Zu?”

“How would you like them presented? Most recent first?”

“Yes.”

I get out of bed and sit at the desk. I can smell Axl on his tunic and I wait for the first video to come up. In the video, he’s accepting some kind of award. He’s surrounded by all grey people, mainly women. It’s so alien but at the same time familiar. Humans have similar award ceremonies.

The next video is of him out with his friends. I don’t know why this would be here. I check the source in the corner. This looks like a fashion magazine. I’m not sure why he would be featured in this. All the Alliance men I’ve seen seem to wear the exact same clothing, except for the crew of the Hio.

The next videos are all with his sister, who seems to be an important woman on this planet, or with his mother. Then I ask, “Computer, show me fashion.”

The computer then begins showing me all the latest women’s fashions on the Capital Planet. I’m surprised that none of these dresses are tight or look uncomfortable. Instead it’s a steady flow of comfort and flowing fabrics. When I get bored of that I check some of the other video streams. Nothing is interesting and I finally fall asleep on religion.

The computer wakes me, “Georgiana, you will have more restful sleep in your bed.”

I agree and stumble to bed.

17

Axl

I’ve just said ‘good night’ to Georgiana, but I’m still standing outside her door. I don’t know what I expect to happen. I don’t know why I’m standing here, but I feel it’s the right place to be, just in case her door opens again and she needs something. I don’t know what she could need. She knows how to work the room’s computer as it’s a similar system to one that was on the Hio and on the Alliance Force Base.

A passing slave gives me a look. “You know Axl, you shouldn’t be here.”

“I know.” I don’t move.

The slave comes over to stand beside me. He’s an older man and I’ve known him my whole life. “The goddesses have sunburnt you,” he says after a few minutes of silence.

“I know.”

---