9. Axl

I had not expected my old friend Fox to be here. This changes everything. No doubt he will see us through to the Empire. “Thank the goddesses,” I say as I enter his office. “I had no idea you were here, Fox! I thought you were still on the Jion.”

Fox takes a bottle of zota and two black ceramic cups while explaining, “When this opportunity came up, I took Sem and we made our oaths to protect the Lost People.” He pours the liquid and offers me one. “To old friendships.”

We make eye contact. “To enduring friendships.” Then we drink. It’s been six months since I’ve tasted the alcohol native to the Empire and it burns my throat, but the familiarity of it feels divine.

“Now tell me about your wife. How did you meet her and how the devil did you keep her hidden away from everyone including us? You’re still listed as a bachelor and there are rumors your mother is trying to marry you off to Aru before you become permanently unavailable.”

“Well, it’s a long romantic story, and I’ll spare you too many of the details. The gist of it is, old friend, I rescued Madame Georgiana from a few criminal Octopods at Gala. I had no intention of marrying her at the time, she was just a young human woman caught in a tough situation.”

“When was this?”

I give him the date that Georgiana and I had both memorized.

“And did you officially buy her at Gala? Do you have the receipt of sale?”

“It was a spur of the moment decision made out of empathy.”

“So, no receipt?”

“Unfortunately not.”

“I see. It happens a lot. Almost all the human women we see pass through here have also been through Gala at one point or another. No doubt we can dig up those records with our connections there. But tell me, what happened next? Did you plan to keep her as a pet? That would’ve been difficult considering your line of work and your need for secrecy.”

“At the time, I didn’t know what I was going to do with her, but she was feisty, so I knew she wouldn’t make a good pet. So, I followed my mother’s advice.”

“I see, so your mother knew. I have no doubt she wanted this to remain a secret. What was her advice?”

“To take her to the Empire and leave her in House Zu. And then my mother found work for her with the accountants.” I assume that Fox will conclude my mother was longing for grandchildren to continue the imperial family line, even if they would have been illegitimate and only half Alliance.

“Extraordinary.”

I nod.

“And when did you decide to marry Madame Georgiana?”

“After a few years, every time I visited, Madame Georgiana and I grew closer to one another and it was after about my tenth trip home, I realized that she was my true other half. When I secretly returned Madame Georgiana to Earth, my mother assumed she was dead to me, and the marriage dissolved. But as soon as the laws changed regarding human women, I came back to Earth to retrieve Georgiana. As the goddesses are my witnesses, I don’t want to be in an arranged marriage with Aru. I’m already married to the woman I want.”

“How romantic,” Fox says. “I myself have yet to meet a human woman I’d consider marrying, let alone my true other half. But like you must have felt, our time to marry is ticking away, we are nearing 50 years old.”

“Exactly.”

“Who were the witnesses at your marriage ceremony?”

I name the people Georgiana and I had agreed on from House Zu.

“And what Known-Jewelry have you given her? I noticed she’s not wearing a marriage bracelet and neither are you.” Fox has a friendly tone but he’s doing his job grilling me.

“Secrecy has always been more important than jewelry. In our hearts, we have always known that we belong to one another.”

“That’s very romantic, but it’s difficult to believe that you were coming all this way and didn’t bring any bracelets with you? I don’t pretend to know much about human women, but I would’ve thought marriage bracelets making your marriage officially legal would’ve been something you both would have wanted, especially your wife. Most men who return to Earth come only with their marriage bracelets.”

“You’re right. Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to stop by Juio’s before coming to Earth.”

“How did you get to Earth if you don’t mind me asking? You know we’re trying to keep track of all the illegal ships coming in and out.”

“I’m sorry, old friend, but that’s classified information.”

“Classified, eh?”

“Classified,” I repeat, then take another sip of zota. Fox is still staring at me, so I add, “Would a donation to Alliance Force make a difference?”

“Perhaps. It depends on what the donation is. We always need UCs, but it would also be helpful to not be in the High Priestess’s pocket. I don’t mind sharing this information with you, the Alliance Force wants direct representation in the High Council.”

“But you’re all men. Only women are allowed to represent organizations in the High Council.”

“Exactly, that’s the problem and we’re all contracted to marry human women who are barred from becoming Alliance citizens,” Fox explains. “I heard your sister, Lia, represents House Zu in the High Council now.”

“Ah, my sister,” I say, following his train of thought.

“She could petition for us to have our own representation,” Fox says brazenly. “And with such a strong imperial House behind us, it would have to be put to a vote and I believe many Houses would support us.”

“The High Priestess would never agree. It goes against the goddesses.”

“Everything out here goes against the goddesses. But if the Alliance Force was able to represent itself, it would be a win-win for everyone. Your sister wants to make a name for herself by modernizing the Contracts, she wants to make men more equal, and I want representation in the High Council. Alliance Force is more than just a military outpost.”

“Yes. You’re a religious outpost, protecting the Lost People, which is why you fall under the jurisdiction of the High Priestess.”

“Yes, but as a generational mission. We need our own representation for our own needs which the High Priestess cannot meet for us and our unique families.”

“I will ask my sister, but I cannot guarantee anything.”

“Fine. And Id like a donation made to the Alliance Force for five thousand UCs.”

“You drive a hard bargain,” I say. “Three thousand.”

“Four.”

“Three and a quarter.”

“Three and a half and you buy some of the marriage bracelets that we are selling on the base.”

“Done.”

“I’ll draw up the contract,” Fox says and gets out his IC. I watch him as he creates it and then hands his IC over to me. I quickly read through it and put my finger to the device indicating my agreement. Then I get out my own IC and transfer him the funds through my personal GC account.

“Now, let me show you which bracelets we have available. I know I sound like I work for Juio’s but you would be shocked at how many marriage ceremonies we see at the station every month and how many marriage bracelets we sell. We can have them genetically coded here as well.”

“We don’t need to…”

“Don’t be ridiculous. Of course, we can do that. And the binding tattoos…”

“No,” I say, and hope I didn’t sound too alarmed at the idea of binding tattoos.

“The Hio won’t be departing until tomorrow. There’s more than enough time. If Madame Georgiana is truly your wife, I’d think you’d want to celebrate with genetically coded bracelets and an official ceremony. And to make everything official we’ll log it at the Alliance Force so you won’t have any more red tape to go through when you reach the Empire.”

“You’re too kind. Genetically coded bracelets will be enough. We don’t require the binding tattoos or an official ceremony. But thank you, old friend.”

“Ah, there’s one thing I realize that I forgot to mention. Here at the Alliance Force we require everyone leaving for the Empire with their human wife to take binding tattoos. That way we are sure no one is lying to us. This is especially true now that our doctor is temporarily away.”

“Fox, we go way back. Why would I lie about having a human wife?”

“Why would you not want the binding tattoos if Madame Georgiana is your true other half?”

“We have an imperial arrangement.”

“I doubt that she would want that now that you’ve been separated and reunited. Let me have Sem ask her. Maybe that would make everything clearer for you both?”