Page 10 of Asmodel

And after four weeks of grueling training about the different alien cultures, having some time off was more than welcome. So, the day before the exchange, the Zerins promised all of them a fun-filled vacation in their holodeck.

Izzy was as eager as anyone for a little fun. Besides the stress of the twelve- or thirteen-hour days in extensive classes, she also spent many a late night sitting in her comfortable, small quarters devouring whatever she found on her personal tablet that the Zerins provided.

It captivated her when she found out most of the aliens she’d read about in her science-fiction-romance novels were based on reality. And just like in those novels, they were looking for human women to share their lives and help repopulate their dwindling species.

At the same time, she delved into Earth’s history and became obsessed with the Akurns, an alien race. The Akurns had played a significant role in creating most humans thousands of years ago, using them as gold-mining slaves on Earth. They crafted human genomes not only from the existing humanoids on Earth but also from a mixture of several alien species. This explained why human women could have children with many of the humanoid species in the galaxy.

Sleep had been an afterthought.

So, when the promised “repose interval” was announced, relief spread throughout the ship. Everyone looked forward to enjoying a day filled with fun and games before their lives changed forever.

It was finally here. The promised day off.

Izzy rushed to the dining hall to meet up with a large group of human women waiting to enter. Instead of being open, the massive doorway was closed, making the group mill around in the crowded hallway.

“What do you think aliens consider is a day off?”

This question came from a tall brunette with curly hair.

Izzy sighed. She’d always wanted to have more volume to her straight, baby-fine hair.

“Come on, Althea. You know how they have fun.”

This from a pleasantly plump blond with shocking exotic-gray eyes.

Althea crossed her arms and gave the blond a playful, narrow gaze. “Oh yeah, Lora? What’s that?”

“You know, instead of Mai Tais and piña coladas, they’ll make us sit all day in an auditorium and listen to one lecture after another.” Lora laughed. “Without the human custom of lunch or breaks.”

“That ain’t happening.” An African-American woman next to Lora waved her expressive hand. “If they think I’m going to be doing that crap, I’m outta here!”

“Like where would you go, Chloe?” Lora snorted. “Back to your room?”

Chloe nodded. “You bet your ass. I’ve got a comfy bed just callin’ me.”

Izzy agreed with that. Although she was excited about the upcoming vacation day, she wouldn’t mind getting some more sleep. That way she’d be in top form to meet her love at tomorrow’s exchange.

“I wonder what's taking so long.” A woman next to Lora placed a hand on her arm and stood on her tiptoes. Her head bobbed back and forth like a curious pigeon’s.

Izzy, just as short, didn't even bother trying—she knew she'd see nothing but backs.

“Do you see anything?” Lora grabbed the other woman’s elbow.

The woman shook her head and dropped back to the soles of her feet.

All at once, people moved and shoved Izzy until the tight group halted. She wiggled between two solid bodies of the taller women around her and muttered, trying to get their attention. “Excuse me. Please excuse me. I can’t breathe.”

Instead of anyone responding, someone elbowed her out of the group.

Izzy stumbled into the solid golden side wall. The sea of women flowed past her, leaving her just outside the doorway. She put her head down with her hands on her thighs and tried to calm her racing heart and catch her breath.

“Ah, perfect.”

When the familiar female voice spoke, Izzy jerked her head up. “Oh, Aja! You scared me.” She put her hand over her heart as her eyes widened. What in the world was the liaison wearing? She’d traded her normal one-piece cream suit for something quite different.

It reminded Izzy of a character from a steampunk novel she’d read.

Aja wore a silver chest plate adorned with intricate swirling patterns that matched the designs on her silver wrist bands. Her black leather boots reached over her knees, and the steel over the toes matched the pattern on her chest plate. The formfitting outfit shimmered whenever she moved.

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