Page 3 of The Accidental Omega
“The males,” Nara says, using a horn to point to the larger one as he goes back to chopping. “They are not much larger than their women, and hornless as well.”
The male animation turns in a slow circle. They are smaller, but shaped similar to our males. The female turns and we all stare. It has curved hips and a rounded, heavy chest, unlike the females of our species.
The animations lay down and spread their legs. We all lean in.
“Zatura has blessed us,” Nara breathes, as the animations then begin to mate.
“We have a lot of reading to do,” I say quietly.
Chapter Four
Elizabeth
Iclutch the information packet I was mailed last week to my chest tightly as I tug the strap of my bag higher on my shoulder. I press the buzzer.
I can do this.I take a deep breath, fear singing through me.
“Hello, do you have an appointment?” the tinny voice from the speaker asks.
“Uh, yes, hello. I have an eleven o’clock. I’m Elizabeth Hudson.”
I can’t do this.
The door clicks as it unlocks and I tug the heavy thing open. I step in and it swings shut behind me, and the lock engages.Ominous, I think sourly.
I walk down the sterile hallway as the fluorescent lights hum.Not very welcoming. When I get to the end of the hall, the door swings open on its own. It looks like a hospital waiting room. I guess that’s better than the bare entry.
An older woman behind the desk presses her glasses up her nose and smiles at me. “Come sit,” she says.It’s the woman from the phone call.
“I’m Courtney. I’ll be doing your intake today. First, can I see your identification?”
I nod and dig it out of my purse.
“Hi Courtney,” I greet her, “I have some concerns.”
She laughs as she takes my ID, “Most people do.” She turns to her computer and types something in. “What are you worried about?” She asks in a kind voice, eyes still on the screen.
“Uh...” I start, suddenly tongue tied. I put the packet down and open it, re-reading my frantically scribbled notes.
“Hand me your bag please,” she directs.
“Excuse me?”
“Your bag. I have to be sure you followed the rules about disallowed items. Bringing plants or animals could destroy the alien ecosystem.”
“Oh, right,” I mutter, handing it over as she stands and places it on a side desk. She starts to dig through my stuff, like the world’s sweetest TSA agent. “So, uh, I think my main concern is what if I don’t...likethem?”
“That’s what most people ask,” she peers at me over her glasses as she paws around my underwear. “And what I always say is this: the matching program is incredibly accurate. Between the blood work, the brain scans and biometry—”
“Wait, what brain scans?” I ask, now even more worried.
“Oh, the ones you had done on your return visit.”
“Those were brain scans?!” I blurt, my memory blurry, probably due to the copious drugs I did to work up the nerve to go back to the testing center.
But if you didn’t go willingly, the police would have shown up to drag you there. And then you were put in confinement until a match was made. Human authorities were pretty keen to avoid the aliens taking over the planet.
“Indeed. And today we’ll implant the language transmitters.”
