Page 9 of Zimon's Bride
Abby
I felt safe again once we were back at the Alliance base in Zimon’s quarters. It was a three-room apartment with a living room, bedroom, and an eat-in kitchenette. The small bathroom was off the bedroom, with a shower that was just large enough to accommodate us both.
Felines were big on grooming their mates. Zimon clearly took great pleasure in bathing me and washing my hair. He especially liked me to reciprocate; although he was tall, it was hard for me to wash his hair without his help. He didn’t mind; he craved my touch more than anything.
Delivered by a droid, our native outfits for our betrothal were laid out on Zimon’s king-sized bed. The introduction and celebration would take place in the star base holographic chamber. The room was primarily used for communications like Earthers used video conferencing, including personal Facetime for staff with families and loved ones.
My outfit was a revealing green halter top and a triple split maxi skirt, both embroidered with Narovian feline love symbols. Zimon’s was the same color but with only a long, two-panel loin cloth and a short vest. It was easy to imagine how sexy Zimon would look wearing it.
Each came with a headdress ring, beaded with semiprecious stones made to sit on the head like a crown. No shoes were worn with either.
Although his apartment was small, there was ample storage for me to stow my things. While I did just that, Zimon met with his superiors to give a report and discuss the thugs he dispatched at my house.
On our way to the base, Zimon said, “I want you to stay at the base with me until we contain these males.”
“I’m not going to argue with you. They would have caught me easily had you not been there. I’ve never even used a gun and don’t know any martial arts. I will need to go back to work at some point. I have work to finish before we leave for Narova.”
“And I still have a few months left before my discharge. It will take that long to get your immigration to Narova approved,” he replied. “You will be escorted to your job and back until we settle this.”
“I need to speak with my commander to let him know what happened. You will be safe here, and no one will bother you. I should be back within the hour.”
“I’ll be fine. I need to put this stuff away, and I brought my tablet. I can find something to read if I finish before you get back.”
Zimon took me into his arms and kissed me at length, then we held each other for a time. Finally, he reluctantly released me and said, “I’ll be back soon.”
Then I was alone with my stuffed overnight bag and our betrothal outfits to put away. It turned out that Zimon’s quarters had actually been designed to share with a spouse or a mate. Half the closet and drawer space were empty, leaving plenty of room for my things. With no need to move items around, it took only about 10 minutes to unpack and put away the stuff I had brought.
Later when Zimon returned, he told me that his team had contacted the Earth’s authorities, who were working on the case with them. After the fact, they went to my home but found none of the men Zimon had stunned in the vicinity.
We didn’t have much time to worry about the kidnappers because we were preparing for our betrothal party in the holographic chamber the following day.
I was right about Zimon’s outfit because he looked sexy as hell in it. From the look in his eyes as he took in my appearance, my outfit made the same impression on him.
I don’t know what I was expecting. I thought we would just have a meal in a simulated dining room. But when we got there, the area was decked out like a cross between a Hawaiian luau and a Native American celebration.
There was a kind of picnic shelter made of rough-hewn logs with a bark-thatched roof. Two tables were pushed together. On our side, the food laid out was real. Everything on the table opposite ours was holographic.
We waited at the entrance while Zimon’s family filed in and stood in a row by their places at the table. Naturally, Zimon’s parents entered first.
Zimon and I entered next, and I followed him in. It was customary for the person making the introductions to take the lead. When he got to the table, he turned and took my hand and stepped aside to present me to his parents.
“May I present my father, Zigmon, and my mother, Ezell Arnav? Mother, father, may I present mymeomee,Abby Poole.”
As he made my introduction, I did a small curtsy, nodding to each of them. Next, his brother Tukal came in, then his two sisters, Eela and Ocrag. Zimon’s parents introduced each one separately, and I placed my hand over my heart and bowed my head to each one as Zimon instructed.
Zimon’s mother formally welcomed me into the family with a speech entirely in Narovian. I was so glad that I got my translator implanted at Mars City to understand Zimon’s mother as she spoke.
“We welcome you to our family, Abby Poole,meomeeto our beloved Zimon….”
When she finished, Zimon drew my attention to the two goblets on the table. He handed me one and picked up the other for himself. His mother, Ezell, made a toast to Zimon’s and my union in marriage, and we sipped from glasses of cold catnip tea.
This is what they drank instead of alcoholic beverages. It was also a recreational drug that feline humanoids could consume or smoke. That tea was slightly sweet and with an herbal flavor that was not unpleasant.
Had this gathering been in person, I would have received a hug from each of Zimon’s family members. That would come later once we arrived at Narova.
Finally, we sat down to the small feast in front of us, consisting of cooked meats and fish and raw fruits and vegetables that we ate with our fingers from plates of large shiny green leaves. Most of the food was unfamiliar but esthetically pleasing, so I tried some of everything. I’m not a fussy eater, so I found nothing distasteful.
Zimon’s family was well-informed about life on Earth, so their questions were pertinent. They asked me about my job and family, who I was ashamed to admit did not approve of my union with Zimon.
