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No, I don’t. Nor do I need or want to. “Should we get started?”
Eloise side-eyes my attempt at changing the subject, but she nods. “Let’s do this.”
She gives me the frequency and call signal to enter. I nod at one of the communication officers who keys in the information. A few short beeps later, there’s static, and then a gray-haired woman wearing a dark jacket and red blouse appears on the viewscreen mounted within the wall in front of us. She stands behind a desk and leans forward with her palms flat on the surface of it.
“Who are you, and how did you get through on this line?” Her icy glare penetrates mine.
“Madame President,” Eloise speaks up. “My name is Eloise Bannock. I’m a former communications crew member of the terraforming ship Helios 3.”
“That ship went down months ago,” she says.
“Yes, ma’am. We were attacked by space pirates. I—along with at least one of my colleagues—was able to safely eject using the escape pods. While I crash-landed on the habitable planet of Tavikh with a human colony already settled, my colleague Johnna Wolff landed on a neighboring planet. My Tavikhi mate Zedam and I travelled here today with a proposition from the leader of the Bohnari people.”
It is my turn.
“Greetings, Madame President. I am Alik of the Bohnari. It is an honor to meet you.” I will play nice if it gets me what I want.
The female on screen narrows her gaze. “What kind of proposition do you have for me?”
“A lucrative one.” The potential for wealth will incentivize anything.
“Go on. I’m listening,” she says.
“A widespread sickness came through our planet two generations ago. Since that time, no female Bohnari have been born. We are an advanced society, but our scientists and healers have not been able to find a cure.”
The female straightens. “If you’re that advanced, then how do you expect my scientists to find your cure? Especially considering we know nothing about your species.”
I shake my head. “It is not a cure I seek from you.”
“Then what is?”
“Brides.”
The human leader’s eyes widen. “Brides?”
“Yes.” I glance at Eloise before returning my attention to the female on the monitor before us. “From what I understand of your planet, your citizens are divided by what you classify as the upper and bottom tiers. One of my requirements is that these brides must be a resident of your bottom tier.”
This “Madame President” narrows her gaze at my statement. “Why the bottom tier? Certainly you’ve been made aware that the women there are not the type of women your people would wish to marry. Not if your society is advanced as you say it is.”
From slightly behind me, Eloise growls low in her throat and takes a step forward, only to be stopped by Zedam with a gentle touch to her arm. She huffs lightly and shifts back to her previous position. I don’t miss the way the human leader’s gaze darts in Eloise’s direction and back to me.
“I am well aware of the distinction between your levels of privilege.” I’m well aware the humans in the upper tier have more credits than they could ever spend, while every citizen of the bottom tier barely have enough credits to live on. They aren’t even provided real food, only protein bars.
The female leader makes a hmph sound, but nothing more. “You said that is one of your requirements. What others do you have?”
“The females must all be of child-bearing age, but no younger than twenty anums. We have no wish to mate with children. They must also come voluntarily. No one will be forced or coerced into leaving their lives behind and traveling to Bohna. I suggest a lottery of some kind where those chosen can accept or decline the offer.”
“You want to offer women of the bottom tier a chance to leave Earth for another planet in order to become brides? What happens if they get there and decide they don’t want to marry one of your people?” the human leader asks.
“As I have already said, no female will be forced. If they arrive on Bohna and do not find a male they wish to become a bride of, that is their choice. They may remain here if they wish and find some sort of trade to occupy them.” Or no trade at all, if that is what they desire. Given the way Eloise has described how females in the bottom tier are treated, I suspect none will ask to return to Earth once they realize the kind of life they can have here. Even a life without a mate.
The female on the screen cocks her head. “You mentioned money.”
“I didn’t actually. I merely said I had a lucrative proposition for you.” If that means credits, then I will pay.
She scoffs. “What is it you have to offer me, then?”
“We mine a rare and precious mineral here on Bohna. One that is sought after by many ruling leaders in our galaxy. It is not something we part with lightly.” Its varied uses include providing a power source and, along with the right chemical components, a nearly indestructible material. “I will give you a percentage of the supply we collect every six moon cycles for five anums. In human terms that equals once every six months for five years from the time we sign the agreement.”
