He nodded. "Polly. A name as intriguing as its bearer. Someday, you'll have to enlighten me about its origins."
"It's a common name where I'm from," Polly replied, her voice light, but he detected a hint of something deeper beneath her casual demeanor.
As they stepped to the door of their new domicile, Erzo found himself increasingly drawn to Polly's athletic yet curvaceous form, her movements exuding a sensuality that was hard to ignore. The Intergalactic Dating Agency had done its part well, at least physically speaking. But as he watched her marvel at their luxurious surroundings, a twinge of discomfort settled in. When she agreed to this, she would be his, but at what cost?
Re-lee had distributed credit vouchers, an odd gesture that only added to the surreal nature of their situation. But looking around, he realized that only one, Tori, had brought a bag. Erzo couldn't help but wonder about these women, so different from any Terrans he had encountered. Who were they, really? And how would they adapt to this new chapter of their lives?
As they entered their designated suite, her gasp at the surrounding opulence echoed his thoughts.
"It's like a dream," Polly breathed, her awe evident.
Erzo nodded, comparing the luxury before him to the functional simplicity of the Stonebroke. In this floating palace, the designers have considered everything for comfort and elegance, including the art adorning the walls.
Polly drifted towards the window, mesmerized by the stars and bustling space traffic. Outside, the vast expanse of space opened before them, a living canvas where commercial vessels gracefully docked in and out of Disguised Serenity's bustling ports. The steady stream of ships weaving their paths through the cosmos was a sight to behold. Far off in the distance, the twinkling lights of the wormhole conduit's entry points shimmered like distant stars.
"Quite a view," Erzo remarked. "Rarely you see space life up close like this."
"Why not?" she asked, her curiosity piqued.
"Usually, it's just space. Endless and empty," Erzo explained.
She marveled at the vista. "Breathtaking, either way." But then she hesitated, eyeing the window warily. "That's not glass, is it?"
Erzo moved closer, careful not to invade her space. "No, a force field. See the rim around the window? There are emergency barrier plates."
Her body tensed slightly. "Do they fail?"
He chose his words carefully, not wanting to heighten her anxiety. "No," he assured her, masking the truth of technology's fallibility. The last thing he wanted was to add to her fears.
As he stood there, watching her grapple with the realities of space living, Erzo couldn't help but feel a growing sense of responsibility. The more he observed her, the more this arrangement felt less like a mutual agreement and more like a forced hand. The line between mating and abduction blurred, leaving him questioning the morality of it all.
The one, Jana had mentioned slavery.
Surely that’s not how they came to be a part of this.
Erzo's confidence in this arrangement waned as Polly's apprehension grew. "Polly, I need to ask you something."
She turned from the window. "What's that?"
"Did you come here by choice? I mean, do you want to be here?"
Her answer was swift and honest. "No, I don't."
The words hit Erzo harder than he expected, stirring anger and disappointment. This wasn't what he signed up for—he never intended to force anyone into a mating.
"And what's your plan now?" Erzo probed, trying to gauge her mindset.
Polly shrugged. "I'm not sure. This all feels like some bizarre dream. Teleported across the galaxy, and now you're my supposed perfect match? It's overwhelming."
Erzo pondered for a moment, then played his next card. "How about a proposal?"
She gave a nonchalant wave, not meeting his gaze. "Sure, go ahead."
"I promise to make sure you're safe while you're here. For the next thirty days, let's act as mates in public. Privately, we can be whatever we need to be," Erzo suggested, trying to find a middle ground.
Her response came laced with sarcasm. "Oh, so we can scream and argue behind closed doors?"
Erzo couldn't help but smile at her quick wit. "I wouldn't have put it quite like that, but yes."
