Page 42 of Bought and Shared
“And how was he punished, Lieutenant?” I inquire, curious how the men are being handled in the field.
Crom, although new to his position, has a reputation for excellence in discipline and control of his charges. It won’t be long before the soldier climbs the ranks in this new government the Voltan have formed with the humans.
“The human draftee was forced to do physical exercise and labor until he could barely walk, Sir. I figured if the man had enough time and energy to run his mouth to our females, he wasn’t working hard enough. It was my duty to give him more to do to tire him out.”
Crom’s quick smile told me he had a sense of humor, alongside his admirable ability to keep the soldiers in line.
“I see,” I tell him, steepling my hands together as I think about my next line of questioning. “It seems like you’ve handled this situation quite well, Lieutenant, considering the circumstances.”
“Thank you, Colonel. I believe the human men now know that we don’t tolerate disrespect to our women.”
“Let’s hope you’re right. You seem to have your finger on the pulse of what Fort Kent needs to thrive, Lieutenant.”
Crom knows I’m hinting at something, though he isn’t sure what yet. “I do my best, Sir.”
“Since you are so dialed into the needs of this community, tell me, how is the morale of the men?” I perceive a hint of discomfort at this question and patiently await his response.
“May I speak freely, Colonel Rayaz?” Crom poses.
I smile to encourage the man to do exactly that. “I really hope you will. Your feedback is important to both me and to Fort Kent.”
Leaning back in his Chair, Crom tilts his head to the side as he chooses his words carefully. “As I’m sure you’ve heard, Colonel, the men are feeling deprived of female companionship since coming to Earth.”
I appreciate his honesty. “So, what I hear you saying, Lieutenant, is the soldiers are lonely and horny.”
No need to beat around the bush with these issues. Best to get the truth on the table so that we can directly deal with the problem.
“Yes, Sir. That’s accurate. We keep hoping the government will increase the number of draftees, but they haven’t yet. As you can imagine, it’s demoralizing for a lot of the men who can’t qualify for the auction, let alone afford to bid at one.”
This isn’t the first time I’ve heard this argument, nor do I think it will be the last. “I’ve been petitioning General Lichwiss to increase the number of female participants in the quarterly draft, but every time it’s brought to the proper committees, they deny the motion because they’re afraid of further upsetting the humans.”
“I know that the government is doing their best, Sir. But, if I may be frank, it’s not good enough. The men are fighting over the simplest disagreements. They’re on edge and moody. They feel hopeless, lonely, and despondent. I can’t say I haven’t felt that way myself since being stationed here. As you well know, the Voltanneedfemales to protect, honor, and care for. Without them, we’re only a shell of the men we are meant to be.”
It is true. The Voltan don’t just have a strong sex drive. We also need female companionship in our day-to-day lives because we deeply appreciate feminine energy. We understand that women are the glue that holds our society together. They balance out our war-like nature and aggression so that we don’t destroy ourselves. Without them, we’re in danger of doing just that.
But politics isn’t just about meeting the needs of one group of people; it is about meeting the needs of all. I know the General and his committee are struggling to balance the needs of the humans whose lives have been irreparably changed and the soldiers’ need for companionship. It is a difficult balance to strike, but neither community can be ignored if we expect this union to have long-term success.
“This matter is my number one priority, Lieutenant. I’m going to do everything in my power to rectify this shortfall as best I can by the next auction. You have my word on that.”
Crom’s troubled expression softens some. “Thank you, Sir.”
Picking up my tablet, I pull up the calendar for the next auction and note the date. “Besides this issue, is there anything else I should be made aware of?”
“Not at this time, Sir,” Crom answers, angling his body like he’s ready to get back to work.
“Well, if something does arise in the future, I want you to come directly to me. I’ll always do my best for the men of this fort. Understood?”
The Lieutenant nods and smiles. “Yes, Sir. Thank you, Sir.”
“You are dismissed, Lieutenant,” I say, as the man thanks me once again and exits my office.
Checking my watch, I see that I’m late for dinner with Aurora. Heading out of my office, I tell Bryan not to stay too late as I make my way to the elevator.
When I reach our suite, I use my badge to key inside. Aurora isn’t in the common room, so I go looking for her. I find her in her bedroom, standing in front of the mirror, braiding her lovely, long red hair into a simple plait. Standing there, I watch the task with deep reverence. While I never expected her in my life, I don’t know what I’d ever do without her now that she’s here. She’s everything I could ever want in a mate and more.
“Are you ready for dinner, Kitten?” I ask affectionately from the doorway.
Aurora starts. She looks fearful for a split second, but when she sees me, her expression smooths out. “Yes, I’m ready.”
