Page 61 of The Alien I Fell in Love with on Walpurgis Night

“I understand. I don’t want my memories erased even if I return to Earth. Is there anything you can do to make sure that doesn’t happen? I want to remember all of this.”

“It’s against the law to interfere with Alliance Force practices. The only way you will be able to keep all of your memories is by not returning to Earth. Now, are you content that you were not influenced while onboard the last ship?”

“Yes.”

“Let the record state that,” the doctor says to his assistant and then says to me, “All readouts would confirm you are in good physical and mental health. You may go unless you have any questions or concerns for me?”

“Thank you but no.”

“Walk in the god’s light,” the doctor says.

I walk out and see Axl waiting for me. I never want to forget him. But what future do we have?

“The doctor says I’m healthy,” I tell him unnecessarily. “But we need to talk. I don’t want to forget you. But I can’t live on the Capital Planet either.”

Axl caresses my cheek with the back of his hand. “Maybe we can come to a compromise.”

We walk back to my extravagant quarters and sit down in the sitting area.

“I can’t live in the Empire.”

“Going there without being legally married was a mistake. If you trust me, we can go back and it’ll be different.”

“Axl, I love you, but I won’t ever go back. And I can’t let my love alone guide this decision. I need to return to Earth.”

“And if you come to regret your decision?” He asks me, shattered.

“I won’t. Alliance Force will erase my memories so I won’t have anything to regret.”

He touches his hand to his heart. “But your body will know something is off. You’ll always feel that you are missing something. Just because your memories are pushed down doesn’t mean your physical body forgets anything. You’ll always feel the sting of separation.”

Axl opens the 3D computer in the table between us and brings up images of the Empire. “You didn’t see the best side of the Empire; I couldn’t show it to you before you were taken. But there are humans who live there. And people of other species who trade there. You wouldn’t be alone.” Then a thought occurs to him and he accesses the Alliance Force records. I recognize their symbol.

“How do you have these records?”

“I make sure I do all my homework when I make deals with people,” Axl says as if this was a given. “See these are all the human women who have passed through Alliance Force and are now living with their Alliance husbands on the Capital Planet.”

This is interesting to me and I lean closer to look at the pictures, names, and ages of the women. “What happened that all these women had to be retrieved from Earth?” Before Axl answers I add with horror, “Why does that one say, ‘former pet?’”

“People have their kinks in the galaxy,” Axl says. “I am not one of them.”

“Don’t lie to me.”

“I’m not. Have I ever treated you like a pet?”

I don’t answer him because he’s right. In fact, I’ve been treated reasonably well given the circumstances.

“But this isn’t to say there isn’t racism in the Empire. Of course there is.”

“I know, I experienced it firsthand. But why the Alliance Force? If the Empire isn’t too fond of humanity then what’s the point?”

“To protect humanity from other alien species who would do you harm,” he explains and brings up images of disgusting looking aliens and some aliens that look like the ones everyone who has ever been abducted describes.

“Those,” I point to the green men. “Everyone always talks about those guys doing experiments on documentaries about UFOs.”

“The Dulu have been abducting humans for centuries. They are one of humanity's predators.”

“Predators? We aren’t helpless bunnies.”

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