Page 64 of All You Need is Alien Love
It’s only been in more recent years that polyamory has become better understood in certain human cultures, although it’s still considered to be the preference of a minority of people, and lots of misunderstandings and misconceptions about polycules abound. Hopefully, withtime, humanity will become more accepting of committed unions that involve more than two people.
But for now, that is the law of the land almost everywhere on Earth. Marriage between two individuals is the perfect fit for some, but not all. Matrimony is not a one-size-fits-all model, but many humans still like to think it is. So, you and your spouses can still be in a loving polyamorous collective when they arrive; however, you won’t be able to share that you’re legally married to all of them while you’re here.
Beaming rays of hope your way,
Dr. TEA
River
Two glorious days.
That’s exactly how long I get to enjoy my second wedding with Kai before all hell breaks loose.
On the one hand, it’s kind of a relief. The waiting was making me bananas. On the other hand, I’m really fucking pissed off because I wanted to be able to enjoy my fully wedded bliss with Kai at least a bit longer without having to deal with any bullshit.
We’re all at our downtown headquarters when we get the go message on our phones and spring into action. Operation CHAOS is ready to rock and roll, and everyone knows their parts. And even though it makes me hella nervous, it requires us to split up for this to work.
“Team Beta, follow me,” Maddox says, his voice clear and commanding.
Zamir, Lu-Ren, and Roxy are following Maddox to the Valley of Fire base where they’ll be meeting up with Evan, Zion, and Zion’s friends. Those awesome Vroknu men, who prefer peaceover violence, have agreed to don their battle gear to protect their friends and their new home. That goes to show how much they value their new lives here on Earth. Meanwhile, Kai, Mal, Nirblob, and I are joining our new friend Agent Catengi on Ellie’s team, which is staying at our downtown headquarters for now.
Along with Grandma Iris, my parents, Tom Jones, and CJ are setting up the residential Rec Center as the headquarters of our stealth orbital operations. With the help of the intergalactic cavalry they’ve called in, they’ll be handling the larger ships orbiting around Earth.
We all share hasty goodbyes before Maddox and his team use the teleporters to get to their destination.
When they’re gone, I turn to Kai, who pulls me in for a hug. “It’s time to split up now.”
We have to do this to take up various positions around HQ, but it’s also because my sweet boo is going to act as bait.
I bite my bottom lip. “I don’t like this part of the plan.” Even if it is my plan.
He gives me a soft smile. “It’ll be okay. We’ve got this, remember?”
I nod and he starts to pull away.
“Oh, fuck it,” I mutter, then yank his head down to lay the mother of all kisses on him.
When I pull away, he’s looking delightfully dazed.
“Don’t get killed,” I demand.
He touches his lips, his grin turning goofy.
Fuck yeah. That’s my man.
“Okay, you two love birds,” Ellie says in her no-nonsense voice. “It’s time to get into position.”
She marches off with Mal to lie in wait, while Kai disappears alongside Agent Catengi to surveil the med lab. If Adeline shows up to collect her research, like I’m anticipating she will, thenshe’ll head straight there. I’d bet my entire Star Trek figurine collection on it.
Nirblob and I head into the central command center that is the technological nervous system of the Alliance outpost on Earth—and no doubt precisely where Layne Madison and his goons want to gain access.
Too bad for them.
When I was first told about this room, I’d kind of been expecting something reminiscent of a huge government command center that you see in old ’80s movies, like one of my faves,War Games. Despite its importance and the critical technology it houses, the Alliance’s command center is actually fairly modest in size. It’s maybe the equivalent of a few conference rooms pushed together, and one entire wall hosts a bank of video screens showing surveillance from all over the building. From here, we can keep an eye on what’s happening at all times.
I rub damp palms down the front of my jeans and swallow hard. Operation CHAOS had better work. Sci-fi movies haven’t let me down yet, so I’m putting my trust in them again.
Channel a cocky Captain Kirk like the boss you are, River!
