Most of it was straightforward: name, address, qualifications, ethnicity, that sort of thing, but a few things gave her trouble. There were two whole pages of questions on health. Birth parents, for example, she didn’t know who her birth parents were, but her mother had named her, and her family name was Smith. If it was her father’s real name or her mother’s, she didn’t know. She put the adoption agency that had placed her with foster parents in the hope they’d had contact with her mother.
A few questions were too personal.
Are you a virgin? In general terms, describe the level of sexual experience you have had.
She cursed under her breath. No, she wasn’t a virgin; she’d given Bradeverythingon the promise of marriage. The dirty rat.
Her mood had plummeted by the time she’d finished it, but she was more determined than ever to leave her life — the entire rancid mess of it — behind her and make a fresh start on another planet.
The receptionist entered with a cup of coffee, cream and sugar arranged on a little tray, set it on the low table in front of Aelanna and went out again. Her difficult form completed, she relaxed and enjoyed her coffee. Dapkey returned and took the form from Aelanna and sat behind her desk to read it. A fewhmmslater, she called Aelanna back to the visitor’s chair infront of her desk.
“No parents, no family to leave behind and wonder where you’ve gone. No children. You seem to be the ideal candidate,” Ms. Dapkey said. She leaned forward and peered at Aelanna over the top of her spectacles. “You’re not a virgin.”
Aelanna was about to apologize but the woman stopped her with a hand. “Better. We don’t have the resources to deal with frightened virgins or reassure them. It’ll help that you know what you’re dealing with.”
Aelanna slumped in her seat, not quite sure how to respond.
Ms. Dapkey gripped the papers with both hands and thumped the edges decisively on the desk.
“That will be all. We’ll let you know if you’ve met the criteria by phone call. I’ll have to make certain enquiries based on the information you have given.” When she had the papers just as she liked them, she leaned back in her chair and raised a manicured brow. “Any questions?”
Aelanna had one. It had been preying on her mind ever since she’d committed to this crazy idea.
“The aliens, the warriors, I mean our husbands, mates, whatever you want to call them, will be suitable, won’t they?” she stammered.
Understanding occupied Ms. Dapkey’s face. “There won’t be any tentacles, is that what you’re afraid of?”
Aelanna swallowed and nodded nervously. “I have a thing about reptiles... lizards.” Her cheeks blazed with a blush she couldn’t hide. Oh well, she’d asked the question; she just had to wade through the discussion.
Dapkey smiled. “Rest assured we wouldn’t match you girls with reptiles or sea creatures, or other beings that have tentacles, or forked tongues, or are cold-blooded,” she said in a soothing tone. “Does that set your mind at rest?”
Aelanna nodded vigorously and the vibe coming off the manager was patience and tolerance itself.
“You may wait with your friend in reception. Send theother new girl in,” she replied.
There was nothing to say but thank you and she did that. Aelanna stood up, clutched her purse and left the office. The only thing she could remember about the Dapkey experience was her manicured blood-red nails as she straightened Aelanna's form.
Chapter 6
The Mission
Darren was delighted that Pilot Joel seemed to know all about the mission. His confidence was contagious, and he hoped his brothers shared the pilot’s enthusiasm.
Joel moved the A stand out of the way. “I have prepared a presentation,” he informed them when they were seated round the table. The walls were painted white, so it was no problem to project images onto them.
The pilot tapped commands onto his wrist device and a beam fired from the opposite wall to the one behind where the A stand had been. The title image came up.
OHIRIN BREEDING PROGRAM
“What has that got do with us?” Blayze asked, frowning at it. “We’re not even the same species.”
“I’m coming to that,” Joel said patiently.
Lero glared at Blayze. “Shut your mouth and open your ears. You’ve got one speaking device and two listening ones. Use them accordingly.”
Darren was about to protest Lero’s heavy-handed response, but Joel took control.
“If I may continue.”
