Page 2 of Eclipse Bound
“And,” Eclipsyionic interrupted, bringing up images of blue aliens next to smaller females, “they paired isolated ice warriors from Sintaz through a series of arranged marriages to Earth humans."
"Earth?" Solarestabinian and Luniaren asked simultaneously, before they resumed glaring at each other.
"A developing planet with no official knowledge of alien life," Eclipsyionic continued, showing images of the blue orb with changing light patterns. "Their society is chaotic, their customs contradictory, and their technological advancement limited. But their capacity for adaptation is remarkable. Plus, they’re not unpleasant to behold, as far as alien creatures go."
"And?" Solarestabinian crossed his arms, sun-sparks dancing around his shoulders. Luniaren expanded a shadow toward him like a taunt.
"Their atmosphere, food products, and local terrains are compatible with our kind," Eclipsyionic added. "Implanted nano-translators will take care of the language. Basic customs and information will be provided on the trip."
"And?" Solarestabinian prompted, brightening his body to counteract Luniaren's encroaching darkness.
The hostility was palpable. Eclipsyionic kept a tight hold on his energy, as he fought the urge to explode toward both of them.
"The Peacemaker Council feels that since all other attempts at mediation have been met with resistance, we need to try a new tactic, one where both sides join in an offworld mission." He averted his gaze before clarifying, "A mating expedition.”
They look at him like he’d grown another set of arms, but don’t speak.
“If representatives from the opposing zones can successfully integrate into Earth society and create relationships with the natives, it would prove that cooperation between contradictory forces is possible." Eclipsyionic tried to hide his exasperation as he looked at them. Being here was like mediating children, not that he had seen children in a long while. There weren’t many on the planet outside of the designated spawning centers. "The Galaxy Alien Mail Order Brides corporation is prepared to facilitate this experiment."
“No,” Luniaren and Solarestabinian stated in unison.
“One unified goal. A symbolic peace,” Eclipsyionic insisted. “If the two of you?—”
"Symbolism won't stop a war," Solarestabinian muttered. "This is an absurd proposal."
The two men started bickering again, and Eclipsyionic blocked them out. The council had already signed the contracts. These two were going whether they wanted to or not. He just had to deliver the details.
After sixty cycles of listening to both sides quarrel, he’d finally had enough. Raising his voice, he projected over the arguing. “The Peacemaker Council has decreed it necessary. If you refuse, you will be personally responsible for the council withdrawing our support of?—”
“No, wait a moment,” Solarestabinian held up his hands, panicked. “There is no reason to be impulsive.”
“Says the Solarian.” Luniaren's night-dark eyes narrowed further as he returned to the shadows. "What exactly does this decree entail?"
“Do not withdraw support,” Solarestabinian insisted. Neither man would want to be responsible for such a thing. They’d be ostracized.
"I'm glad you're both willing to listen to reason," Eclipsyionic said, though he knew better than to believe either of them was truly being reasonable. They were scared of the consequences. He pulled up pictures of the location to show them. "The corporation has arranged for a small compound in a place called Duskrock, Arizona. The planet is not tidal locked like ours, and this area has a good balance of light and dark. Apparently, the locals are quite welcoming of unusual visitors, which will make it easier to blend with the population."
Luniaren and Solarestabinian frowned.
“The idea is simple. You will both travel to Earth and participate in the mating customs,” Eclipsyionic said.
"Is our species even biologically compatible?" Luniaren asked doubtfully, though his tone hardly sounded like a question. "They look…"
Luniaren frowned harder, his shadow essence contracting inward.
"I'm told with our energy transformations, you will be able to perform in a way that… pleases…" Eclipsyionic tried to think of a delicate way of explaining what he'd been told, but it was difficult while he was being optically threatened by both sides. "That will pleasurably infuse a mate should it come to such an act."
“Is there no other option?” Solarestabinian insisted. “Can you not arrange a marriage here?”
“Since the few inter-marriages between both sides have proven problematic—” Eclipsyionic began.
“Death is more than problematic,” Luniaren interrupted.
“Only one died,” Solarestabinian countered.
“Out of three,” Luniaren argued. "The others live apart."
Eclipsyionic continued, ignoring them, "You will be working together, living among humans, learning their customs, attempting to find compatible friendships?—"
