Chapter 24

Helga

"My woolly bits?"

"Yes," he says, and rubs a hand between my legs. "If I'm going to worship you between your legs, I need to know what you want me to call your divine body and all its features."

I can't help it. I'm wooed by this. It also helps that he just made me orgasm again and again by touching, licking, and sucking on my woolly bits . "You can call them that. Not fur though. Never fur."

Fox begins looking for something in the bathroom.

"What are you looking for?"

"Personal hair removal device. There's usually one hanging around. Every now and then, an Alliance man will get an odd hair he wants removed."

"Why do you use the word hair when it's on you?" I ask accusatorially.

"Because it will literally be only one black hair on smooth skin. You have the body the goddesses intended us to have."

"Do you think the goddesses look human and have human woolly bits then?"

Fox stops what he's doing and stares at me. Clearly, he's never thought about this before. "I suppose they do. But the statues we create of them look like us. But, of course, we know what we did to ourselves through genetic alteration."

"Why doesn't the Empire change everyone back?"

"We promised the goddesses never to alter our genes again, and that includes reversing what we did."

I don't reply. What can I say? What Anna told me is correct. It seems as if the Empire heavily mixes science and religion to just keep the civilization afloat. I want to ask Fox if he really believes in the goddesses, but I know there's no reason to. Of course he will say yes. He's been conditioned to say yes. To him, religion isn't a question of fact, but a prerequisite for being a member of the Empire.

Fox produces the tiniest laser I've ever seen and hands it to me. "If you want to remove your woolly bits, you can use this."

I look at the microscopic tool and then my legs' stubble of the last week. I hand him back the little laser. "It's not worth it, and if you like me like this, I'll show off all my woolly bits to your friends and colleagues."

Fox takes the laser and puts it back wherever it came from and then picks me up as if I weigh nothing. "You're perfect as you are." He walks with me into the shower and I'm grateful for the body heat between us because the water is only lukewarm.

He kisses me, and I put my arms around his neck. However, before our kisses turn into something else, he says, "I must save myself for our marriage ceremony. If I can't perform, then our marriage won't be valid."

"You don't get a re-do?"

"No," he says seriously. "If a man can't perform, then the marriage is annulled and the couple can never be together."

"That's harsh."

"It's a woman's world," he says in a matter-of-fact tone.

Of course, that would make sense in a matriarchy. "I'll keep my hands off you for the next two hours then."

Fox runs his fingers through my hair, getting out some of the knots. I would like to say I'd do the same for him, but his long black hair doesn't seem to get into knots. It's just long, shiny, and straight.

"How does the shower know when we've had enough soap?"

"Sensors," he replies casually.

"Is this like your shower on the base?" I ask, wondering about my new home.

"This is nothing compared to that. I'm the Commander. I have superior accommodations, two-hundred square meters, including a large bathroom. I hope you'll be happy there."

I put my hands on either side of his face and bring him down for another long sensual kiss. "I'd be happy with you anywhere. Size doesn't matter."

"I beg to differ," he retorts. "Your small size made the joining of our bodies even better."

I blush and silently reflect that most human men would have commented on their penis size not the tightness of a woman's body first. He really does see things differently.

When we are dry, Fox attempts to convince me to wear the black dress he bought for me, but I'd rather marry in one of the pieces of lingerie Anna loaned me, and I'm just in the middle of wondering if I could wear lingerie with the jeans when the door chimes.

I look at Fox and he answers it, as he's already dressed. It's Anna, and she's holding some clothing. Fox stands to the side, and she comes in.

"I didn't want to show these to you before because I didn't want to make any assumptions, but I did bring dresses too. In the armory on the base, we have lots of formal dresses for weddings."

"In the armory?"

"It seemed like the safest place to put them according to Caroline, our resident nurse and honorary house mother." Anna looks at Fox. "Why don't you give us some time. I'll bring Helga to the dining room when we're ready."

"Helga, are you alright if I go oversee the rest of the details for our marriage ceremony? I don't want Axl to get too excited about the blood offering."

"Yes," I reply as I watch him retrieve a few things, put them in his pockets, and then leave.

Anna has laid out three dresses on the bed. One blue and cream silk ombre with little crystals in it, another that's more like a traditional wedding dress with white lace, buttons down the back of the bodice, and a full skirt, and then a modern cream silk dress with spaghetti straps and an open back. They all look to be about my size, more or less.

"How did you know my size?"

"I didn't until you got here. I just assumed from pictures I'd seen."

"Fox has pictures of me? I don't remember him taking any."

"Oh no, he didn't share anything with me. But he was under surveillance, so every so often I sneaked a peek, just to make sure he was safe. So I had an idea of your size. And don't forget, I have two daughters. I've had years of practice of guessing sizes. For Christmas, I want to buy them things not just give them gift cards and the only thing that usually puts a wrench in my plan is the lack of store's having consistent universal sizes."

I smile. I didn't expect her to say that. "Of course that'd be too easy for the stores. They must make so much money from people buying things and never returning them." Then I look over the selection of dresses. "These are all very lovely, but I don't know which one to choose. Which one do you think is most appropriate?"

"Oh, you don't need to worry about that. Alliance women would wear a big black dress, so there's no fashion for these people to understand. And as far as I'm concerned, I think all these dresses are good for the occasion, so it's really up to you."

I eye all the dresses again and then pick the ombre one. "I'll try this one first," I say, and I take off the lingerie and jeans and put on the dress. I put it over my head with the help of Anna and the silky fabric feels wonderful against my skin. When it's on and zipped up I ask, "How does it look?"

"Computer, mirror," Anna says, and a full-length mirror appears.

I look at my reflection. "I look like I'm going to a ball."

"It brings out your eyes. And the sparkles are a very nice detail. I also think the Alliance people will appreciate that. They love their jewelry, and since you don't have any, this will be a nice touch."

I think about the necklace Fox gave me that bought Ella's freedom. I'm so glad I did that, otherwise there's a good chance Fox wouldn't have been able to buy both of us. "Is all of their jewelry only ranking jewelry?"

"No," Anna informs me. "Both men and women wear jewelry someone has given to them. It's forbidden to buy things for yourself."

"Oh. Any other weird jewelry customs I should know about?"

"Has Fox mentioned piercing your nipples?"

"Oh Gott! No."

"Good, maybe he won't want that. A lot of men do though. It's a common grievance among human wives."

"Do you have your nipples pierced?" I ask out of fascination. Anna is an anthropologist through and through; I could imagine her doing it just to see what it felt like.

"No. Even I have my limitations."

"Do many of the other wives on the base have theirs pierced?"

"A few, but I think it's a personal preference from their husbands."

"Anything else? Any labias pierced?"

"Ha. Not that I know of." Anna then looks at the dress and pulls it a bit. "Now it's perfect. Unfortunately I only have the shoes I brought you before. Or you could go barefoot. It might look better when you get to the intimate part of the ceremony."

"Did you really have sex in front of everyone when you got married?"

"I sure did. It was embarrassing when I was doing it. I'm not going to lie to you. But now that I've lived in this culture for a few years, I realize I was the only one who didn't appreciate it for what it was. Imagine it as a prolonged kiss at a wedding."

"I don't know if I can," I admit. "I'm worried everyone is going to be judging me."

"I promise, no one will pass judgment on you. Plus, it's Fox that has to do most of the work."

"He's worried he won't be able to perform given we just had sex three times."

"Alliance men want to put on a good show. It's their time, if you will. Whereas weddings in Western civilization tend to focus more on the bride, Alliance weddings are more about the groom. I hope that information takes some of the pressure off you."

"So you're telling me everyone will be looking at Fox more than me?"

"No question about it. It's the man's day, not the bride's."

I take in my reflection in the mirror trying to open my mind to believe this, but it's difficult. After a few minutes, I resign myself to the public sex because I want to marry Fox so I have to do this. And he did risk a lot coming after me across the galaxy. I put my hair up in a simple French twist and ask, "Do I look ready?"

"Gorgeous. And don't worry. All eyes will be on Fox's performance."

I walk with Anna to the dining hall. My dress swishes wonderfully as I walk, and I'm glad I chose this one. "Thank you, Anna, for being prepared."

"I hoped. We all hoped this would work out," she says earnestly. "Nothing in the Empire or on the base happens in isolation."

Before I can ask her exactly what that means, she assures me, "It's a good thing." As we walk into the dining room, I see Axl, Lev, and Fox. There is a small screen set up with a grey-faced woman peering through.

Anna whispers to me, "That's the High Priestess on the screen. Get close, bow, and say, ‘Thank the goddesses.' You don't need to be any more specific."

I nod, and Anna stops as I continue to walk toward the small screen and I do as she instructed.

I'm surprised when the grey-skinned woman answers me. She was so still I almost thought she was a statue. "The goddesses certainly shine their light on you, Helga from Earth. And you think you're worthy of marrying Commander Fox?"

"He and I are fated," I say. It's not how I would have described it, but I know it's what Fox would say, and it sounds good.

"At what point did you know he was your true other half?"

I look over at Fox.

"Don't look at him. Look at me and answer the question."

I was not expecting the Spanish Inquisition. I only thought I had to be nervous about having sex in public. I rack my brain, trying to think of when I really knew Fox was the one. "The first time we talked all night, he told me about how he imagined his future, and I knew I had to be a part of it," I say, and this is no lie. I was very attracted to him thinking about being a part of his life. I just didn't realize when he said protecting and helping people, he meant helping humans in outer space, but it's a small technicality.

The High Priestess seems content with my answer.

"And have you had sex?"

Oh no. What do I say? I keep my eyes locked with hers across the galaxy, and I wonder what she can really do to me across the screen. I decide to be truthful. "I would not marry a man I had not had sex with."

"Sinner."

I must have made a face because she repeated herself as if I hadn't heard her the first time.

"Commander Fox had no right to sate his carnal pleasures with you before marriage."

"It was the bar I set . He's not to blame. If you want to be cross with someone, let it be me."

"You will take full responsibility?"

"Yes," I reply and stop myself before adding, ‘Didn't I just say that?'

"Then you will pay the blood price as you have no UCs."

"The blood price?"

"There's one with you called Axl?"

"Yes?"

"He will administer your punishment in my stead. Would you like it now or after your marriage ceremony?" the High Priestess asks me with such a marked difference in her tone, she sounds almost friendly, as if I should look forward to her punishment, and this concerns me.

I look down at my beautiful dress and say, "Most definitely after."

"Noted. Now you have my blessing and may proceed with the marriage ceremony."

I don't say anything more but turn to walk toward Fox. He takes me into his embrace and says quietly, "I'm sorry, I didn't know she would show up for this. I would've warned you otherwise."

"You can pay me back in other ways later."

Fox squeezes my hand in reply. "And by the way, you look stunning in this human dress."

Before I can say how handsome he looks, he surprises me by getting down on one knee and looking up at me. "Helga, you asked me a few hours ago to formally propose to you and to be dressed when I did it. Now I'd like to ask you in front of our witnesses to be my wife, in your human way, as long as we both shall live."

It's not perfect, but I'm touched he remembered. "Yes, I'll be your wife," I answer, and then he stands up, hovering over me, and kisses me on the forehead.

"I'm glad you said yes. It did cross my mind you might have asked me to do it only to formally reject me with witnesses."

"What? Who would do that? Never," I assure him.

"Not to hurry things along, but we should really hurry things along now that a punishment has been added to the proceedings," Axl chimes in, and hands Fox an ornate silver dagger.

Fox takes my hand in his and turns it palm up. "This is the blood for the goddesses," he says so quietly I can hardly hear him. Then, louder, he says, "The goddesses have blessed us by bringing us together. Let us walk in their light and permanently intertwine our souls."

Fox cuts my hand lightly. It feels tingly, and I worry about getting blood on this dress I'm wearing, so I hold my hand out away from my body. Then Fox hands me the dagger, handle first. "Cut me in the same place and say the same words."

I take his strong grey hand in mine, palm up. I've never cut anyone before. I look at the dagger and his unmarked grey skin. How much pressure will I have to put there? I try to mouth the question but obviously Fox can't read my lips as he's got a translator. I decide that I'd rather go too light to begin with. I run the dagger across his palm, but I don't break the skin.

"Do it again," Fox instructs me. "Press harder. It's okay. You won't really hurt me. I've made blood sacrifices countless times in my life."

Before I lose my gumption, I try again, but clearly it's not enough and he pushes his own hand into the dagger. I have to force myself not to immediately pull it back.

Then Axl prompts me, "The words, Helga."

"The goddesses have blessed us by bringing us together. Let us walk in their light and permanently intertwine our souls."

Axl then takes a silver cup and collects a few drops of blood from my hand and then a lot from Fox's. When he's content, he swirls the blood around in the cup, mixing it sufficiently.

"May we honor the goddesses. Today, two halves will be made one," Axl says and then hands me the cup with our blood in it.

"Do I drink it?"

"Yes," Axl tells me.

"All of it?" I ask horrified.

"Half."

I look at the dark coppery liquid in the cup. I decide this might be worse than public sex. I want to hold my nose but resist. I take a sip and do my best not to gag. Then I pass the cup sheepishly to Fox.

Axl then says, "Helga, now you say, ‘Goddess of home, you have guided our souls to find one another across the galaxy. We always promise to walk in your light and not stray into the darkness.'"

I repeat the words and wonder the entire time if my teeth are stained from the blood I just drank. Am I really marrying a high-tech barbarian or what?