Page 55 of Invasion of Sorority Z

It turns out that it isn’t much of a job to carry me, as the place he wants to go is only a short walk. It’s a glassy modern building, taller than most surrounding it. On earth, really rich people would be responsible for this place, but here, it could be anything.

Marrec sets me down and takes a hold of my hand before leading me into an Aprixian style elevator. We are lifted up several floors until it stops, and my mate ushers me from the space into a hallway and eventually to the sight of an open door.

I don’t have time to ask what we’re doing here before he opens his mouth.

* * *

Marrec

“Hello, Lovan,” I greet in our native tongue, dipping my head slightly with a proper show of respect.

The busy-minded male looks up from his task—a pile of metal—and nods back with acknowledgement. “Marrec, you have returned.”

His eyes again wander down to the project he is working on, and in a moment’s notice are flying back up. Lovan stares at my mate, many questions flickering through his look.

“Hi,” Stee-vee squeaks politely. She is nervous, my blossom. I take her hand and squeeze, showing her that she is safe.

Lovan is a large male, wider than me, in fact. His vibrant yellow skin contrasts heavily against his long black hair. Hair that matches the dark pitch of his eyes. His muscular frame is partially covered by his attire, as he chooses to wear shirts whilst working. Most Aprixian males find material around our upper bodies to be constricting, but Lovan chooses to cover himself often.

Though he is strong as any of our kind, he is not a warrior by nature—rather a great mind. But if I were not a warrior, and I were as small as Stee-vee, I might find him intimidating to look at. Perhaps I should have explained who I was taking her to see and why, but it is too late for such warnings now.

“This is my mate,” I tell him proudly.

“Ah,” he says with a hum. “Is this why you requested I upload the strange language file you sent me?” Switching to Ang’lish he asks, “What is she?”

Stee-vee crosses her arms and narrows her eyes at him. “Sheis right here and able to answer for herself.”

“Apologies,” he says with sincerity. “My mind has not rested for many days. What areyou?”

My mate softens. “I’m Stevie, I’m a human.”

Lovan seems to search his thoughts and then nods. “Urth species, pre-infection status.”

“Yes?” She looks at me, eyebrows pinched. I give her a nod, agreeing, and her smile brightens.

“Interesting,” the studious male comments. “Are all of your people so small?”

She chuckles. “Not all but most. We’ve had some pretty big people throughout history. I don’t think anyone quite as big as your people, though.”

“Does your size affect your ability to thrive on your home planet?”

“I don’t know?” Her shoulders lift and fall. “I guess maybe before technology? Not during my time and my experience. Though, I guess you could argue that if we were your size and had your immune systems, the zombie apocalypse wouldn’t have wiped us out so quickly.”

The male nods, considering this.

Before I forget our reason for coming, I shift the topic slightly. “We have come to thank you for shipping the health band to our home so quickly,” I tell him. “Stee-vee’s people are a fragile kind, it worries me much less to have her health monitored.”

“Yeah you should see him when he thinks I’m hurt,” she says, sighing. She is not actually bothered by this, just teasing me. “Actually, you should have seen him when we first met. He wasdistressed.”

“A hit to the head can befatal,” I remind her with a grimace. The thought of my mate falling on her head again makes me feel ill.

“So fragile and yet here you stand,” Lovan notes. “An impressive feat for your kind. I have heard you are easily devoured by this infection that has taken over your planet.”

Stee-vee chuckles. “Trust me, my survival isn’t exactly impressive. Just dumb luck.”

“Do not be modest, my mate,” I admonish. “Stee-vee is a provider for her people. She grows food, and much of it.”

“With the technology you speak of?” Lovan asks, interested.

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