Page 126 of Alien Haven

Mitag gazed at the hall where several tables for six had been set out, topped by gleaming white covers and elegant centerpieces of flowers and candles. He did so thoughtfully, as if seriously weighing the prospective bride’s suggestions.

He gathered all the diplomacy at his command. “It would be unexpected indeed. However, your guests will be dressed in formal attire. You stipulated they wear black tuxedos and gowns,so you and the wedding party would stand out in your white and silver. Using haybales as chairs, whileincrediblyironic at a swanky reception, will result in everyone covered in chaff. They might be less than happy about the mess and the cleaning bills as a result.” At her dubious expression, he added, “It’ll look terrible in the stills and vids. All the hay on the dark fabric will stand out.”

“Oh. Yeah, I guess it would.” Matara Selene…“Matara Selfish,” in Mitag’s head…had shown little concern for how her guests would feel when it came to her ceremony and reception choices. It always came down to how her big day would look.

Whenever Mitag pointed out how her decisions impacted others, it always came back to “But it’smyspecial day.” Consideration for her family and friends and future in-laws be damned. She was paying the price for her self-absorption. What had started as a guest list of three hundred was down to one-twenty-six. Mitag had a feeling it would be far lower before the nuptials in a few days. Her demands on her guests continued to become narrower and more frivolous.

She was paying a high price to him as well. Despite the falloff in attendance, he’d begun adding to his fee in an effort to rein in the impulsive rustic design choices she made by the hour. Haybale seating was her latest effort to drive him bonkers.

He’d somehow managed to render palatable the chicken wire arch she’d decided she couldn’t live without by weaving in white tulle ribbons and roses treated to appear fresh for weeks. Hay was another matter entirely, however.

The event had begun as “elegance to rival a big-city wedding,” as Matara Selene had expressed during their initial consultation. However, the lifelong farmgirl seemed determined to devolve her sumptuous vision. No doubt Jennifer would have declared it a Planet Farm Hell Black Tie and Tails Hoedown.

Mitag managed to talk Selene out of the haybales for seating and riding her favorite farm horse into the hall. “Manure on the floor also isn’t what you want in the vid” was the deciding factor on that idea. He’d been ready to strengthen his argument by noting the guests puking at the sight and smell alongside their dinners would also result in poor recordings. Fortunately, she’d seen the wisdom of making the groomsmen pull her and her betrothed in an old-fashioned horse cart instead. Mitag was pretty sure he could get the rig decorated nicely in time for the festivities.

He escorted her, her giggling maid of honor, and her eye-rolling mother to the hall’s door. Selene’s mother had long given up on debating her choices by then. At this point, she was simply there to watch Mitag handle her daughter as best he could. “I’m always tempted to bring popcorn for the show,” she’d whispered to him a week prior. When he bowed to them as they said their farewells, she grinned and silently applauded behind Selene’s back

As soon as the door shut behind them, he unleashed an extended sigh.

“I could still hire myself out as a waste tank scrubbing sponge at the sewage treatment center,” he said to the silently waiting assistants he’d hired to set up the room.

Chuckles brightened their sympathetic faces. He dismissed them for the day and thought about finding a barn to hide in until Selene’s wedding day was over.

His com buzzed. He brightened to see Jennifer’s frequency. Maybe the day was looking up. “Hi, gorgeous. Are you ready to run away with me and make all my dreams come true?”

“Ha! You’ll have to settle for dinner tonight at Clan Amgar’s. Ilid and Detodev will be there. I’m baking the dessert, so I’ll take a no from you personally.”

His heart skipped a beat. He heard the eagerness in his tone and didn’t care. “I’m as good as sitting at the table right now. What can I bring?”

* * * *

“It’s her. DNA, fingerprint, and vocal analysis confirm Jennifer Seng is Charity Nath.”

Wilkes gloated as if he’d personally brought the traitor’s daughter to Haven. He couldn’t help it. So much of his work as an informant to the leaders of Mercy and New Bethlehem had been strictly reporting which humans had joined Kalquorian clans or given birth to hybrid babies. He’d begun to seriously question what benefit it was to traditional God-fearing Earthers to know such matters. It wasn’t as if they could stop the sins of so many.

None of the Earther colonies had space fleets designed to defend against or attack enemies. After the original Earth had been lost and their battlecruisers had been confiscated by the Galactic Council of Planets ten years prior, they’d had to rely on the member planets of the governing body to defend them from attacks, mostly by Tragooms. Only Earth II had been given permission under its Kalquor-loving governor Stacy Nichols to develop a defensive fleet. The fleet was yet to take shape, however. The new Earth was currently dependent on the goodwill of other species to keep them safe. It would mean years for humanity to resume its sovereign status as a fully liberated people.

Discovering Holy Leader Browning Copeland might still live and was being kept prisoner by the Kalquorians and the former Earth general Borey Nath would prove humans had been treated unfairly. It might result in financial assistance from planets unaffiliated with the Kalquorian Empire, loosening the Earthersfrom their true enemy. The idea he could have a hand in restoring his people to the path they belonged on excited Wilkes.

Governor McCarthy sounded on the brink of religious fervor in his enthusiasm. “You must capture her and fly her to New Bethlehem. It could finally swing matters here on Mercy in our favor. We could put down this damned rebellion and jail those behind it indefinitely. At any cost, Wilkes. Do you understand? No matter who you have to kill, get Charity Nath.”

Chapter Eight

Mitag walked through town, thinking about buying a new shirt for dinner at the Amgar farm. He had plenty of nice outfits, but were any perfect to impress a lady of Jennifer’s worth? He should find something extra special.

His heart skipped a beat when he saw the other new face in the district. Dramok Ilid headed his way. Mitag’s bright grin was answered by a more restrained but entirely pleasant smile from the handsome young man.

When they were within a few feet, they exchanged bows. “I’ve been informed we have a dinner date tonight,” Mitag enthused. “I was planning to com you to see if I could offer you a shuttle ride. It’s only fair since you were so kind to pilot Detodev and me last night.”

“I’d appreciate it, thanks. My parent clan plans to go out. They were going to drop me off at the farm, but your offer will free them up.” Ilid changed direction and fell in step with Mitag.

The Imdiko was thrilled to have him as a companion. “Where are they off to?”

“The next district over has a Kalquorian restaurant they heard was excellent.”

“They must be eating at Etariz. It’s definitely worth an hour’s flight.”

“That’s the place they mentioned. I’m relieved you think it’s good. The dinner is a celebration. They’ve decided to buy the bakery if its current owner agrees to their offer.”

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