Page 11 of Breedable Boys from Outer Space
“Natural?” somebody shouted. “You mean…?”
“Butt-babies,” Doctor Wallace confirmed. He paused, then, “Remember that though this is strange to us, it is normal for them. It’s also not uncommon on Earth. Many species have a single opening for both reproductive and waste functions.”
“That is correct,” Eashai agreed. “It is quite common, though rare among the mammalian species.”
Several people made uncomfortable noises, but nobody left.
“Eashai will be back tomorrow morning to answer questions that you think of overnight. But for now, I’d like to shift to what changes you can expect in yourself as you meet the Lalyllte and your eventual partner.”
I murmured a thank you—along with the rest of the audience—as the blue man left. Then swallowed.
Everything was quickly becoming more real.
Chapter 7
Isat on the grass near the fence, staring out at the renovation work being done on the other side. I wasn’t the only one—in fact, there were nearly fifty of us—but none of us had spoken a word to each other.
In the background, I could make out the sounds of an impromptu PT session, where other men were clearing their minds through exertion.
We’d received word that morning during breakfast: no more testing, no more information sessions. We were on free time until that evening, when we’d be introduced to our alien mates.
There were only a few hours left to leave, if we decided to do so.
If we stayed, our existence would be mostly confined to the other side of the fence—for God only knew how long. While we’d be allowed to exit the service when our contracts ended, we wouldn’t be able to move off base. We’d have to continue living and working there for as long as our families were hidden from the public.
A man to my right and slightly in front of me stood and brushed the grass from his ass. He turned to us and sighed. “Good luck everybody. I don’t think I can do it. I wish you the best with your new mates.”
Another man stood, pulled him into a hug, and thumped him twice on the back. Then another stood, hand outstretched.
I didn’t know the soldier’s name, but I stood with the others to wish him farewell.
The truth was that every one of us was walking the same knife’s edge: did we stay or did we go? And none of us had any right to judge any other man for where his decision fell.
Staying meant pheromone-induced blissful devotion to an alien man and babies. But it included the burden of isolation and the constant danger of the public finding out about us.
Walking away meant carrying a different burden: knowledge. It would be years, decades… he might take what he’d learned over the past several days to the grave without being able to talk about it. It was just as isolating in its way.
We saluted as a group and he returned the gesture before striding toward the administration building. Then we each resumed our seats on the grass, staring out past the fence.
My mind tried to figure out which was the right answer, but there wasn’t one.
What kind of life awaited me on the other side?
Would I be able to forgive myself if I regretted leaving?
I got to my feet, walked over, and clung to the chain link.
My mind filled in the empty spaces between work crews: pastel-hued men holding children’s hands, leading them to school or the exchange. Coming home from a long day of work and wrapping my arms around another man—knowing that he would always be mine and I would always be his.
Having the family that I thought I’d never be able to afford.
There would be hateful people who would do anything to pierce that blissful bubble if they knew—the angry mob who saw homosexuality as sinful would definitely see babies born from men as against the will of God. Maybe that was why soldiers were the best choice. We’d have the training to be able to protect our families if necessary.
I blew out a long breath and turned. “I’m going to clean my room… make sure it’s ready.”
The other men nodded, then returned to their own thoughts as I strode toward the barracks.
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