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“I don’t think it is anymore, not since aliens have such easy access to Earth. Back then, before the wormhole was stable, it was going on without our knowledge.”

“You didn’t consent to this study?”

“Of course not.” Nell’s eyes narrowed. “Why would I damn well want some stranger poking me about?”

Rane hummed at Nell for another thirty seconds until she relaxed again. “You hear horror stories about what happened. Most aliens weren’t doing anything malevolent.” He held his hand up as she opened her mouth. “All I mean by that is that they were curious about humans. They wanted to learn more about your physiology.”

“You mean they weren’t all implanting alien egg sacs in us and having their babies explode out of our chests?”

Rane pressed his lips together. “I happen to enjoy a good Earth movie. I know that one. That’s not something we do.”

“I happen to think that movie is true to life.”

Rane chuckled. “When you were discovered, humans were of great interest. For one thing, there are so many of you on a single planet. I don’t think any other alien race has had such success with breeding.”

Nell shrugged. “That’s not a good thing, considering the state of our planet.”

“Maybe not. I’m not saying that what happened was right; all I’m suggesting is that maybe the experiments weren’t as horrible as you imagine. They might have monitored your behavior rather than do anything physical.”

“I wasn’t... violated.” Nell waved a hand in the air. “You know, not in the down below area if that’s what you’re skirting around.”

“Yes, that’s exactly what I’m skirting around. As lovely as you are to look at, most of us have a decent set of morals. We know not to overstep that boundary.”

“There were a few boundaries overstepped when I was taken in my sleep.”

“By a beam of alien light?”

Nell huffed. “Okay, I don’t remember that exactly. That’s what I imagine. I was transported out of my bed to somewhere else.”

“It could have been a teleportation device. They’re common enough.”

“I don’t care about the technology used. I want to know who did it.”

“And make them pay?”

“I need answers. Why me? What did they do? How would they like it if I strapped them down and stuck needles in them?”

“Is that what happened?”

Nell slapped her hands on the table. “That’s just it. I don’t know. There’s a blank in my memory, and it’s driving me mad.”

“Which is why you’re having therapy?”

“You’re a genius,” Nell said.

Rane took a sip of his coffee. “I try. How is your therapist helping you?”

“She’s forward thinking. She doesn’t just suggest ways to relax and forget. She’s making me look the situation in the face, immerse in it, and explore what happened.”

Rane tilted his head. “How’s that working out for you?”

“It’s a new thing I’m trying.” Nell scowled at him. “I read about it online. You immerse yourself in the thing that freaks you out. You get used to it and de-sensitize yourself.”

“That’s why you work for My Single Alien?”

“You got it.”

“Do you like your job?”