Page 14 of A Fool For Her Mates

“Where are you going?” H’Row mumbles. He cracks his eyes open, reaches for me lazily.

“I need to clean up. Don’t want to meet the gatekeepers or whatever they’re called when I’m a stinky mess.” I look around and can’t see my clothes. Oh well, I’m just going shower, anyway.

“No!” H’Row sits up. I stop in my tracks.

“What is it?”

“You shouldn’t clean up. It’s better if you smell like us. We need to convince the guards that you’re our mate, that you belong with us. Otherwise, they may think you’re a fugitive.”

“Really?” My heart is beating faster. What do they do with fugitives up here? Who are they? H’Row and V’Lin feel like family to me, but other aliens may not be so welcoming.

“Now, don’t get worried, Fancy. You know we won’t let anything happen to you.”

“How are you going to stop them? I don’t want to go to an alien prison. Is there an alien prison? Gahh. There’s so much I don’t know.” I sit back down and hide my face in my hands.

H’Row wraps a comforting arm around my shoulders and squeezes.

“V’Lin?” he calls over his shoulder. “I think we should talk strategy with Fancy.”

In seconds, I hear footsteps approaching and look up to see V’Lin kneeling at my feet.

“I’m here Fancy. Let’s talk through how we’re going to do this.”

***

Okay. We talked through it and I’m ready for the gate guys. At least I’m as ready as I’ll ever be. I’m wearing V’Lin’s discarded rash guard and H’Row’s uniform pants. I’m sure I look like a total mess, but I’m trying to avoid looking (or smelling) myself now. I’m sure I look exactly like what I am. An ordinary human woman who just got her brains fucked out by her amazing WP12 mates. And yes, we just did it again to help me feel better. I could really get used to their stress-relieving methods.

I gather my courage and lift off the well-used bed to follow V’Lin to the front of the ship. The three of us strap into our seats. He’s the captain, H’Row the co-pilot, and I guess I’m the random passenger. Wait. Scratch that. I’m the treasured mate of both of them. I’ve got to used to saying it and thinking it. V’Lin told me I need to be convincing when the guards see us together.. If they think I’m a stowaway, fugitive, or something like they could arrest one or all of us. I can’t have that.

Be brazen. Be possessive. Be slutty. I tell myself. Now is not the time for subtlety. I look out the window and see the stars zooming by through the wrap-around windows. I wonder if that will ever feel ordinary, like taking the bus at night. For me it feels amazing, awe-inspiring even and I’m almost sorry I spent the last two days having sex instead of taking in the sights. But I guess you only mate once, or multiple times depending on your species, so it’s worth enjoying.

V’Lin lowers a lever, and I can feel the ship slowing. In the distance I see what I guess is a space station with an enormous cylindrical docking area. Is that the entrance to the spacegate? It must be because we’re headed right for it.

I go over what V’Lin told me earlier, that any number of species could be the ones checking our ship. But they all wear the same grey uniform and have universal translators. We know that the translators work on human English, otherwise I would be able to communicate so well with my guys.

We’re getting closer and closer, and the ship starts feeling a little floaty as the propulsion jets cool and we maneuver into the cylinder. H’Row grasps my hand and I look over at him gratefully. Who would have ever thought I’d find myself here? And with them? What a miracle it all is. I’ve got to make sure this goes well.

A few minutes later we drift to a stop and some machinery from the cylinder locks us into place. We’re not going anywhere until they decide to release us. Air lock doors close around the ship and a whooshing sound surrounds us. When it ends, a light on the display panel turns from purple to yellow and V’Lin opens the main doors. I quickly take off my seatbelt and slide onto H’Row’s lap. I think it will help us sell our story, and also I feel better when I’m touching him.

Two creatures in gray uniforms enter the ship. One is a pale blue humanoid with impressive white fangs. The other is orange, and walks on what can only describe as tentacle feet, but up top is mostly human shaped.

“Your registration?” The blue one asks. V’Lin passes over his comm and the blue guard scans it. “This says this vehicle belongs to the Trella Corporation. Is this company business?”

“We were on a Trella job, but the ship broke down, and we used this transportation unit here to return home.” V’Lin explains, his voice even. He’s standing very still in front of the guards, showing respect and confidence. The guard’s eyes narrow.

“Did you stop by another planet and pick up some additional baggage? I don’t see a third person on the register.” The guard gives me an assessing look. I pout and snuggle closer to H’Row. Baggage? Really? I wish I could tell off that jerk guard, but I resist the urge.

“This is our mate. We picked her up on Polexa before the breakdown. She doesn’t have any official duties outside the bedroom.” V’Lin says this in his calm even voice, but I can feel his nerves start to crackle, like he’s getting nervous. I look over my shoulder and smile lasciviously. I’m getting pissed. But I remind myself of V'Lin is telling a story designed to get us through the gate without trouble.

The blue guard’s nose wrinkles in disgust. I guess it’s obvious we’ve been doing here. The orange guard decides to get a closer look, walking towards H’Row and I.

“She doesn’t look like one of your people,” the guard says, looking me up and down, “but she certainly smells like one of you.”

“She’s got a skin condition,” H’Row blurts. “We’d appreciate it you didn’t talk about it. It’s a sensitive topic.”

The orange guard leans in and stares at me closer, and I feel H’Row’s arms flexing around me. I can tell he’s ready to jump into action if needed. I look over at V’Lin and he subtly shakes his head. H’Row takes a breath and tries to calm himself. I lean in and kiss H’Row sloppily on the neck. Normally I would be appalled by my own behavior, but we’ve made it this far and I want to leave no doubt that I’m theirs. The guard frowns and turns away.

“Next time, make sure she’s added to the register,” he says.

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