"For the Betterment of Planet Earth" (closed)

[desperado1089]

Aboard the Mothership

Alex stared for a long moment at the hologram of his Commander-in-Chief. "With all due respect, Madam President, I don't see how that could accomplish anything except emboldening her and putting me in one place for long enough for some nut to blow me to kingdom come." The humorous tone of his CinC was not lost on him, but he failed to understand its significance. "Perhaps it would help me carry out your orders if I understood what the plan was."

Alex glanced out the shuttle windows towards where Dyah and Paula were talking, then giggling. What the hell is that all about? He hoped it was the good kind of collective female bonding they were doing, which was, in his opinion, any kind that wasn't designed to laugh at the men--or in this case, man--in their lives.

 

[MarieDavisRPs]

The White House

Alex respectfully expressed his disagreement about being interviewed, stressing the with all due respect part. "Perhaps it would help me carry out your orders if I understood what the plan was."

"I have already run this by Queen Valla," Victoria informed Alex, "And she likes it. She thinks it will help support you in your role as Emissary."

Again, Victoria's lips spread in a knowing smile before she added, "As far as my plan ... we have an opportunity to put an American in a position of influence... an Ambassadorship like none that has existed through the history of Human diplomacy."

Victoria feared that Alex might think she was only thinking about advancing US position, power, and influence, so she quickly reminded Alex, "Remember, Valla chose you. We ... I did not choose you for this important responsibility. I just think that ... I don't see how a little Press could harm."

 

[desperado1089]

Aboard the Mothership

"Okay. But from your expression, it kind of sounds like you want me to say or do something specific," Alex said. It wasn't that he objected to the idea of this, but he would rather not be seen as encouraging further leaks or dissemination of classified information, and said as much to the President.

"I am fully aware that you're not just thinking of America, and I am grateful you are beginning to see the world as one cohesive whole," Alex added. "I will continue to act for the good of all Humanity, not just America." Perhaps, he thought, he could program a Troyna translator with all of Earth's languages, to further help him achieve this.

 

[MarieDavisRPs]

The White House Oval Office

"No, not at all," Victoria responded when Alex suggested she had something specific for him to say or do. "I just think there is a lot to be gained by being a bit more ... open with the public. It would be good for us, I think ... Humans in general ... you and me in particular."

Victoria was only 20 months into her first term as POTUS, and she desperately wanted a second term. Beyond that, she wanted to exit the Presidency being remembered as the American leader who worked hand in hand with the alien Queen to improve life for all of Earth's residents, current and future.

"I am fully aware that you're not just thinking of America," Alex told her, "And I am grateful you are beginning to see the world as one cohesive whole."

"It's the only way to look at the world now," Victoria said. She truly wanted to believe that, but at the same time she still couldn't get it out of her mind that unlike Queen Valla, her career as the leader of her people was for a limited time only.

Alex continued, "I will continue to act for the good of all Humanity, not just America."

"I want that, too, Alex," she said with a sincere tone; even though she might have had some selfish aims, Victoria most certainly wanted all of Humanity to benefit from the presence of the Troyna. "So, I'm going to speak to World News Now ... and to Cassandra Cannon herself. I'll speak to her about what questions she wants to ask and make it clear which ones she can't ... and I'll make sure she also asks the questions we want asked, too."

Victoria paused; she didn't know Alex as well as she wished she did, considering his importance, but she knew him enough that he was probably going to have an issue with her turning the interview into a propaganda campaign for the US, for her, even for Alex himself.

 

[desperado1089]

Aboard the Mothership

Alex's eyebrows shot into his hairline. "So you do want me to dance to a particular tune," he said, his displeasure more than evident. "Perhaps I should remind you that I now have career options that are literally out of this world. I would rather not avail myself of turning in my oak leaves so my conscience can remain clear, but I will if I must. We will speak again after Operation Gaza." Alex cut the connection before the President could reply, and exited the shuttle to rejoin Paula and Dyah. "Right, then. What's next?"

 

[MarieDavisRPs]

An IHOP in Western Pennsylvania
18 September 2030, afternoon

For almost two hours, Anya had been sitting in the restaurant's back corner booth, close to the emergency exit should a quick retreat become necessary. She was about to give up and depart when a man entered the front entrance, paused to take her in, then reached a hand up to scratch at his temple.

She repeated the gesture, adding the quick brush of her bent index finger down her cheek. As the man walked toward her, Anya couldn't help but think that the coded signaled resembled those passed between batters and base coaches. She'd always loved baseball, almost as much as she still loved sex.

The man sat opposite Anya with a delighted smile and -- after looking for prying eyes -- lifted his fisted hands to his chest, saying softly, "My Queen."

She repeated the gesture, asking, "Paul...? Where is he? Why isn't he with you?"

The man's smile faded. "My grandfather passed away three years ago. Sickness and age."

"Sickness?" Anya asked with surprise; the man's grandfather was a Hybrid like her. "His genetic enhancements should have kept him healthy for two centuries."

"Yes, my Queen," he said. "He couldn't explain what went wrong. He died at age 96 looking as though he was barely into his 40s."

With obvious concern, he asked, "You are healthy, yes?" Then looking her up and down and smiling, he said, "You are as beautiful as my grandfather said you were ... and still would be, My Queen."

"Thank you," she said, smiling. "Your grandfather explained to you the mission for which we put on this planet, yes?"

"Yes, My Queen," the man said. He recapped what his grandfather had taught him and his father before him, as well as other family members over the decades since the original Hybrids had been put on Earth.

As he spoke about the arrangements made to bring her to power, Anya contemplated his use of such words as father, grandfather, uncles, cousins, and family in general. The Troyna-Human hybrids couldn't reproduce; from the earliest times of their lives here on Earth, they'd created their families by two methods: adoption and kidnapping of young children -- mostly males but females also -- who were then raised with the belief that they were blood family.

They were also raised with the belief that they would one day be the benefactors of an alien invasion of Earth; they would receive great rewards for their loyalty from their leader, Queen Anya Roysa Erroline Remiline Muur of the Troyna.

Because these Anya-loyalists were fully Human and from multiple generations dating back to the early 1930s, some were now very old men and women; others had already naturally died of old age. But because this recruitment had been going on for so long, there were potentially thousands of Anya's followers across the globe.

"Now, what can you tell me about our preparations?" Anya asked.

The man could only speak about what he and his cell had been doing, of course; the cells spread across the globe -- each one associated to a single hybrid clone -- communicated only as much as was necessary to keep the others aware of their continuing work.

The two spoke for almost three hours before standing and going their own ways. Anya returned to yet another vehicle she'd stolen after abandoning the motorcycle earlier in the day.

 

[MarieDavisRPs]

The White House, Oval Office:

"So, you do want me to dance to a particular tune," Alex said when Victoria let him know that she wanted to control the message -- somewhat or as fully as she could -- when the Pilot was interviewed by the World News Now reporter.

His displeasure was obvious to Victoria, not that that surprised her. She was caught between a rock and a hard place when it came to controlling him; as a USAF pilot and officer, he was obligated to serve her, but as Queen Valla's Emissary to Earth...

As if he could read her mind, he reminded her, Alex reminded Victoria, "Perhaps I should remind you that I now have career options that are literally out of this world."

Victoria laughed, responding, "Literally, is right."

"I would rather not avail myself of turning in my oak leaves so my conscience can remain clear," he continued, "but I will if I must."

"I don't want to see you resign your commission either, Colonel," Victoria agreed. Not specifying whether she was referring to Earth, to the US, or to her personally, she added, "It would be a great loss."

"We will speak again after Operation Gaza," Alex said.

"Yes, let's," Victoria said, just as Alex's hovering 3D hologram disappeared. She couldn't be sure whether or not he'd heard her, not that it really mattered much. It did bother her that he was the one who ended the communication, though; protocol between a President and a USAF Officer would have called for the opposite, but there was no real protocol for President to Emissary, so she shrugged it off.

She looked to her Chief of Staff, saying, "Julie, get a hold of WNN. Tell them they have their interview with the Colonel ... the Emissary. Tell them they have to wait until after the Troyna have done their thing in Gaza."

"Are we telling them anything more about our involvement in Gaza, Madam President?" Julie asked.

"No," Victoria answered simply. The only thing the Press had been told about the US's involvement thus far was that the Troyna had requested intelligence on the region, and the US had given it. Victoria had no plans to say anything more until after the hidden nuke had been discovered and disarmed ... or detonated. One way or the other, she had a speech already written that would make the US and her look good.



The Mothership, Auxiliary Shuttle Bay:

"Right, then," Alex said as he lowered the rear gate of the Shuttle to find Dyah and Paula once again standing together talking. "What's next?"

"Dinner," a third female voice said from near the bay's entrance. Ryla smiled to the trio as she approached, bowed her head while double-fisted saluting, and explained, "My Queen would like the three of you to join her for dinner. You'll want to clean up and change, of course, so one hour...?"

Looking between Paula and Alex as she continued, Ryla explained with a knowing smile, "You'll find a change of clothes awaiting you in your quarters Friend Paula, Friend Alex."

She repeated her bow and salute, backed a step -- a protocol specifically for departing from the presence of a Noble, of which the Emissary was the equivalent -- then turned and departed the Bay.

"See you at dinner," Dyah said, saluting and departing.

Paula looked to Alex in silence, recalling how he'd dressed her down earlier. Instead of pressing her luck, she only nodded and turned; if Alex didn't say anything to stop her, Paula would head back to her room. There, she would find the female equivalent of what Alex would find in his own Quarters: elegant dress wear.

 

[desperado1089]

Aboard the Mothership

"Paula," Alex said, reaching out to put a hand gently on her shoulder. "I'm really glad you're watching my back. If I had known I was gonna be landing on the surface, I would have certainly invited you along. Quite apart from being my bodyguard, you have a front-row seat to the greatest event in human history. However, it is my turn to worry about you." He gestured for the both of them to proceed towards their quarters.

"The opening phase to Operation Gaza will not involve handing out food to starving children, as you well know." Glancing around as discreetly as he could, he leaned in to murmur, "I don't think body armor and a pantsuit really go together." It was a light-hearted joke, but he elaborated on his overall meaning by saying, "Unless you've been in combat, you will have to trust that Dyah and the twelve DEVGRU operators that will be in the shuttle with me will keep me safe. Not to mention the fact that I can handle myself pretty well."

Forestalling any angry response by holding up a hand, he said, "I just don't want you to get hurt. War is a totally different animal than what you're used to. Your enemy won't be some bean-counter who's nervous about the FSB poisoning them to death. The enemy in this case will be either highly-trained or highly-motivated men and women with assault rifles. They won't wait until you're right in their face and stab you between the ribs. They'll fill you with as much lead as they can from dozens of yards away. That is if you're lucky. If you're not, they'll use grenades, mortars, RPGs...and let's not forget the nuclear bomb-shaped elephant in the room."

 

[MarieDavisRPs]

Aboard the Mothership

"Paula, I'm really glad you're watching my back," Alex said, joining her in her walk toward their quarters. He explained himself, then spoke about the dangers she might face if she accompanied him to Gaza. He continued, "Unless you've been in combat..."

As Alex continued, Paula wondered whether she should be more open about her work history. Much if it was highly classified; in some cases, only a handful of people had known of her involvement in missions. Many of them had taken place in combat zones, but Paula honestly wouldn't have considered herself a combat veteran, not like the many Marines, Soldiers, and Sailors she'd known over the years.

"Not to mention," he continued, "the fact that I can handle myself pretty well."

"I know you can, Alex," Paula agreed. "It's my job to watch for the unexpected things ... the shit that neither one of us could even imagine happening because this is all so new to us both.

"You've never been a celebrity before ... a high value target for psychos, governmental actors, and everything in between, " Paula went on as they took the elevator up to their level. "And while I've played bodyguard before, I've never had to worry about my Charge being the target of two different species."

They reached their doors, where Paula finished, "I don't need to be with you when you're on the Shuttle," she admitted. "But when you're not otherwise surrounded by men with automatic weapons, I expect to be there. Understand?"

 

[desperado1089]

Aboard the Mothership

"You got it, Paula. See you soon." Alex waved at her before disappearing into his quarters. Crossing over to where they had laid out his clothes for the evening, he compared them to the suit he'd worn the very first time he met the Queen; he also had his dress uniform on board the Mothership. Casting about, he saw a panel on the wall and pressed it, spending a few minutes figuring out the touch-screen interface (which was helpfully in English) before he figured out how to send a message to the Queen.

Your Highness, I have realized that you have yet to see me in my dress uniform from my own military. I would like to wear it to dinner tonight, if that is all right with you?

Emissary Alex Stewart

 

[MarieDavisRPs]

Valla's Quarters aboard the Mothership

After having seen how flirtatious Alex and the Servant, Syleen, had gotten much earlier in the day, Valla had ordered Internal Intelligence to continue recording the Humans' wherever they were aboard the ship but to not live-view either of them while they were in their quarters. That didn't mean that Valla herself couldn't peep on either Alex or Paula if she wanted, though, at the moment that her Communications System told her she was getting a message from the former's quarters, she wasn't.

Your Highness, the AI system read out to her in Troyna, I have realized that you have yet to see me in my dress uniform from my own military. I would like to wear it to dinner tonight, if that is all right with you?​

​

Emissary Alex Stewart​

​

Valla hadn't realized that fact either, and intrigued at the prospect, spoke to the Comms, "Respond to the Emissary's message ... Yes, please wear your dress uniform. I would be delighted to see you in your United States Air Force uniform."

She knew that her response was a bit more formal than necessary, but that was just the way she and many, if not most, Troyna were in conversation.

 

[MarieDavisRPs]

Paula Reed's Quarters on the Mothership

Paula stepped inside the rooms that Valla had had assigned to her and scanned the space for a long moment. It was a spook habit of hers to look for things that weren't just right, little things that might have changed after someone had entered during her absence to search it or plant bugs.

Catching the view out the window, though, caused Paula to stop worrying about any of that as she headed that way. She placed her flattened hands, fingers splayed, upon the glass, as well as her forehead; it reminded her of the first time she'd visited the observation deck of the Sears Tower in Chicago, at the time the tallest building in the world. It no longer held either that title nor the name -- now called the Willis Tower -- but that memory of being 6 years old and standing on the railing with her face against the glass, looking down upon the clouds and, beyond them, the Chicago Loop.

Below her, Europe -- and beyond it the Atlantic Ocean, most of Africa, and parts of Western Asia -- was passing by so imperceptibly slowly that the Mothership felt as though it wasn't moving at all in relation to the planet. It had been explained to her that, compared to International Space Station, for example which was much closer to the planet -- the Mothership orbited Earth much, much slower in order to maintain its current orbit; any faster, and it would wander off toward the deeper void and require great amounts of energy depletion from its propulsion units to stay put.

Paula looked to the right, toward the Middle East, searching for the approximate location of the Lavant. The terminator or twilight zone was just settling on that longitude; from Moscow to Mozambique and, in between, Gaza itself, people were watching the sun dropping to the west and preparing for the end of their day.

She knew that somewhere in Israel, a special unit of Massad was counting down the hours until the Troyna relief ships settled to the Earth in Gaza, waiting for the moment that they would set off their hidden nuke and announce to the world, We don't cower to aliens any more than we cower to humans.

Paula couldn't understand why Netanyahu had ordered such an action, but she was going to discover in the days, months, and years to come, that there were a great many things that she wouldn't understand about human behavior as well.

Finally turning and heading for her bedroom, Paula stopped at the door and stared wide-eyed at the dress that had been laid out for her. It seemed to be far more Earthly in design than the Troyna dress she'd been given for the previous nights dinner with Queen Valla. Was there a reason for that, or was the style of this dress simply universal in design?

She headed for the bathroom to shower, and upon exiting and walking into the bedroom naked as she patted her body with a towel, Paula nearly jumped out of her skin when she found a Troyna female in the now-familiar Servant garb waiting in the bedroom. The Servant immediately bowed her head and performed the two-fisted salute, then apologized, "Forgive me, Friend Paula. I did not mean to startle you ... nor did I mean to be late."

By now Paula had wrapped the large towel around her body, asking, "Late for what?"

"I have been assigned to you as your Chamber Maid," the female said. Repeating the bow and salute, she said, "My name is Coraya."

Paula laughed and tried to explain that she didn't need a chamber maid, but Coraya insisted that she'd been assigned and that to be turned away would be seen as negligence on her part. Ultimately, Paula gave in and let the Servant set about doing the things that she said were included in her job description. Most of it didn't surprise her; she'd binge watched Downton Abbey and several other such series and movies during her down time between spook missions.

Then Coraya pulled out a device about the shape and size of a cordless razor and asked, "Is it true that Human females shave their bodies to make them more appealing to their lovers?"

Again, Paula laughed, heartily with a bit of anxiety. "Well, not just for their lovers ... but ... for other reasons, too ... and not all women do it. In some national or ethnic cultures ... or some social groups ... women who don't shave their legs or underarms because they feel it's..."

Paula suddenly realized that she was delving into or at least close to gender issues and sexual preference topics that the Troyna might not understand; she also thought that it might bring up her own bisexual preferences, which -- again -- Paula was not eager to explain at this moment while she stood in the room in just a towel.

"Never mind, let's just ... table that conversation for now," Paula said. She told Coraya that she'd shave her own legs and pits, but the woman pressed, saying that it was her responsibility and -- surprising Paula -- she had to report all she'd done to her Supervisor to prove her worth as a Chamber Maid.

Paula surrendered, returned to the bathroom, sat where Coraya indicated, and let the woman shave her legs and underarms. It wasn't really shaving, however; the device gently disintegrated the hairs right down to the skin, sucking in the almost microscopic debris. Paula hadn't had such a close treatment since she'd once gotten herself waxed to suit the desires of the Kuwaiti Emir on whom she was spying.

She balked on having the Troyna use that disintegrator anywhere near her womanhood, though, saying only, "Maybe I'll have you do that next time ... or not."

When it was time to dress, Paula found herself temporarily naked before the Servant once again as Coraya helped showed her several styles of panties, asking, "Do any of these please you, Friend Paula?"

"Paula," the Human corrected before picking a modest pair of panties and saying, "If you're going to be assigned to me, you're going to have to call me Paula."

She looked for a bra and found no offerings at all, and when she asked about what she thought was an obvious error, Coraya looked at her with a confused expression and asked, "What does that mean ... brassiere?"

Standing there in just the panties, Paula groped her own slightly-drooping-yet-still-beautiful-and-sexy C-cups, lifted them up and in, and said, "Brassiere ... bra..." After a moment of the Servant listening to her translator attempting but failing to explain, Paula continued, "Over the shoulder boulder holder...? The Rack Pack...? Titty tamers?"

Still, Coraya just stared, dumbfounded. Paula gave up with the cute names and simply described what a bra was and what it did. She asked, "The Troyna women don't wear bras apparently."

Coraya laughed, saying, "No, Fr-- no, Paula. I ... I don't understand what the need would be."

Again, Paula took handfuls of her generous bosom and explained about the need for support and control and beautification of the Human female's bosom. She added, "Most women need it even more so after they'd had children. They get ... floopy, would be a good word."

Again, she had to explain it all to Coraya because -- Paula would discover through their conversation -- Troyna females' milk machines neither grew larger before and after the birth of a child nor lost their firmness and resistance to gravity.

"Don't take this personally, Coraya," Paula said with a smile and a playful tone, "But women all over Earth are going to hate hearing this information."

As the Servant finished helping the spook dress and do her hair and makeup, they talked in great detail about the differences between the females of their species. Paula didn't ask anything extremely personal about sex or sexual organs, though; she kept the conversation to image, wardrobe, aging, and other such things.

Eventually, Coraya stepped back, walked fully around Paula -- she said it was more proper for her to do that than to have her Lady turn around -- and smiled with delight. "From what I know of Human females, you are beautiful, Paula. The dress suits you very much. Do you like it?"

Paula did turn now, looking into a large, full-length mirror. With the modest heels that had been provided, her 5'8", 36C-26-36 figure looked incredible. She nodded her head, saying, "Yes ... I like."

Coraya said that she would clean up after them and directed Paula to go have fun. As Paula departed, the click of her heels echoing in the portion of the hallway that was enclosed, she couldn't help but wonder what Alex Stewart would think of her. She knew that he had had thoughts about fucking her their first night here, and -- to be honest -- she would have loved to have fuck him that night, this night, or any night, too. But she was his protector, and until that changed, his dick would not being finding delight in any of Paula's holes.

 

[desperado1089]

Alex's Quarters
Troyna Mothership
Earth Orbit

As Alex straightened his tie one last time, he looked at himself in the mirror and checked out his dress uniform, making sure everything was arranged and polished to military precision. He had not bothered with his cover or the shoulder holster; the former would be against years of learned protocol as he was indoors, the latter would be useless as he would just have to surrender the weapon before he'd gone ten feet.

When he emerged from the room and saw Paula, he had to practically pick his jaw up off the floor. "Paula," he breathed out, "you look...wow. Umm, would it be all right if I fired you for the evening?", he joked, knowing her (in his opinion) overly strict adherence to protocol was just about the only thing keeping them both from jumping the others' bones. That said, he cleared his throat and offered her his arm. "Seriously, you look amazing. Shall we?"

Whether she decided to take him up on his offer to be her 'escort' or not, he would keep pace with her on the way to the Queen's quarters, and when they got there he would go so far as to be extra-gentlemanly and pull her chair out for her. To be fair, he would be doing the same for Dyah once she arrived, but still.

 

[MarieDavisRPs]

Troyna Mothership, in high Earth Orbit

Paula caught sight of Alex in his dress uniform and smiled. "You clean up nicely, Colonel."

She could have said more, such as Now, let's go back to your room and take it off of you and my my dress off of me, but she resisted.

"Paula, you look...wow," here said. "Umm, would it be all right if I fired you for the evening?"

She laughed, then took his offered arm, thanked him for his chivalry, and continued onward toward Valla's quarters. Looking about her, she noted there lack of guards escorting them, asking, "Does that mean Valla trysts us more now?"

Paula noted also that Alex had forgone wearing his sidearm. She'd done the same, what with no desire to wear it on the outside and thigh holster to wear it under her dress. Really, the pistol she was currently packing wasn't made for that kind of concealment anyway.

Arriving at Valla's door, Ryla greeted them and escorted them directly to the dining hall, saying, "My Queen will be with you immediately. She understands the time constraint--"

She was speaking if the start of Operation Gaza, of course, which at this point was less than 14 hours from beginning. Ryla continued, "--so she has had a simpler meal prepare for a less time consuming affair."

Just as there Humans were seating themselves, Dyah entered, apologizing for being late. She was also in a spectacular dinner dress, one of silver and purple that sparkled from sequins.

She smiled with delight as Alex pulled her chair out for her to sit. Such dinners were not the norm for the simple Troyna pilot, so such chivalry was new to her.

A moment later, Valla entered, looking as beautiful and regal as always. She greeted each of her three guests by name -- she did so with the Humans in English -- and with the appropriate salutes.

"I know that we are pressed for time," she said, repeating what Ryla had already said, "So, let us begin.

Without delay, for Servants entered, carrying in the first course. Valla caught the look in Alex's eyes as he studied the face of his server when she returned with his drink, then his bowl of doing sauces; she sensed that perhaps he was getting better at discriminating behnken the subtle physical differences in Troyna females and realized who his server was.

"Emissary, I believe that you and Syleen have met already," Valla said, to ensure that he did know it was that Troyna.

The Servant bowed her head but -- with a tray in her hands -- skipped the salute. "Nice to see you again, Emissary."

Valla spent most of the dinner chatting with the Humans and her pilot about the mission ahead; she barely ate, wanting to keep her mouth clear for conversations.

 

[desperado1089]

Queen Valla's Quarters
Troyna Mothership
High Earth Orbit

Alex did indeed recognize Syleen, and smiled when she told him it was nice to see him again. "It's nice to see you too, Syleen." He definitely regarded her as an equal, as he did Dyah, whatever the Troyna's caste system said on the matter. To that end, he turned towards Queen Valla. "Your Majesty," he began, "I have had a wonderful time getting to know the Troyna and your way of life. However, I would like to point out that from my point of view, there are few things more precious than freedom. Freedom of expression, the freedom to choose one's own path in life, freedom from want, from persecution, from hardship. I hope that the Troyna can learn from Humanity just as easily as Humanity can learn from the Troyna."

Being a diplomat, he did not just jump out and say 'your caste system reminds us of dark periods of our history', but the lesson was there between the lines of his words. It was up to Queen Valla and the rest of the Troyna if they were going to learn from it or not.

 

[MarieDavisRPs]

Queen Valla's Quarters
Troyna Mothership
High Earth Orbit

"Your Majesty," Alex began, going on to speak about the Troyna's caste system without actually using those two words.

Valla was a very intelligent person, so she knew where Alex was heading. He finished, "I hope that the Troyna can learn from Humanity just as easily as Humanity can learn from the Troyna."

"I'm sure we can," Valla said without hesitating. Every species with which the Troyna had dealt over their millions of years of betterment had taught her people something worth knowing and infuse into their own existence. Their culture -- what Alex thought of as a caste system -- had evolved as well. The irony was that it had evolved to what it was now because it worked for them.

Still, Valla understood why Alex would have qualms about the Troyna way. Caste systems in many of Earth's cultures -- from ancient ones to those currently in existence -- had nearly always included negative treatment of one degree or another.

They had been at the table for nearly an hour by now, discussing Gaza, Ukraine, and now the Troyna culture. Valla pushed her plate back a bit, which resulted in the Servant tending to her coming to collect it. Valla said with a tone of finality, "We have a big day ahead of us tomorrow ... each of us."

She looked between the three of them, but then looked to Alex and considered her words. With a polite smile, she said, "After you have completed your assignment, Alex ... your part of Operation Gaza ... I would like to invite you to spent some more time on my ship ... in my home.

"I'd like you to see how the Troyna live," she continued, clarifying, "All of the Troyna. I will open the entirety of the Mothership to you, Emissary. I need you to see that, while we do have a Class System ... that it benefits one and all."

She rose from her seat, an indication that they were done; Dyah, of course, rose, too.

 

[desperado1089]

Queen Valla's Quarters
Troyna Mothership
High Earth Orbit

Alex smiled and rose to his feet, saluting the Queen in the Troyna fashion, modified for Humans: a single closed fist over his heart. "I would like nothing more. There are many cultures, many nations on Earth, and it would be much easier for me to perform my role as Emissary if I spent more time here." He hoped to see the deeper benefit of their class system, and looked forward to the lessons to be learned there.

Looking both to Syleen and Dyah with an unreadable expression, he wondered which of them, if any, would be willing to share his bed tonight, on the eve of battle. "Queen Valla," he said, "perhaps I should be issued a translator once I begin my role of Emissary in earnest. Not one that translates Troyna to English, as yourself, Dyah and the others use, but that translates English to other Earth languages. A bridge to gap the divide between nations, as I am certain I will be spending a great deal of time among non-English speakers."

 

[MarieDavisRPs]

Queen Valla's Quarters
Troyna Mothership
High Earth Orbit

Early Evening (the Mothership is, at this moment, above Egypt, which is in Earth's twilight zone)

Alex asked about a more universal translator which, of course, the Troyna actually had; they even called it a Universal Translator, thought the one she would present to Alex was only programmed for Earthly languages. She told him, "It will be available for you before you leave for Gaza, Emissary."

She thanked Dyah for coming, and the two saluted one another properly. Dyah had wanted to speak with Alex more before ending their day, but she'd been informed before dinner that Valla would be keeping Alex behind for a discussion.

"See you in the morning, Colonel," Dyah said, saluting him. "I will have the Guards knock on your door two hours before we depart ... to give us time to speak more about the mission."

Dyah traded head nods and salutes, turned, and departed.

"Ryla, will you please see Paula to her quarters," Valla directed, adding, "I need to have a word with the Emissary before he leaves."

"Of course, My Queen," the Aide said. She swung a hand invitingly out of the dining hall.

Paula wondered about what the Queen wished to speak to Alex but only bowed her head and saluted, saying, "Thank you for dinner, Your Highness."

She gave Alex a last glance before following Ryla out of the dining hall and to the entrance of Valla's quarters, where she said, "I know my way ... if that's okay."

Ryla sent Paula on her way, returned to the massive living quarter's anteroom, and waited for her Queen to need her again.

"Please, come with me, Alex," Valla said, getting a bit more familiar using his given name with Friend or Emissary included.

She walked him to a portion of her quarters he hadn't seen yet, a quiet, more intimate room set off from the two bigger sections with which he was already familiar. There were a pair of comfortable, deep chairs, as well as a chaise lounge-like couch, all arranged around a wound table upon which were several hot or cold drinks and platters of food from both Earth and beyond-Earth locales.

"Please, sit, Alex," Valla said invitingly, gesturing toward one of the chairs as she sat in the one adjacent to it. Gesturing again, toward the table, "Eat. Drink."

She popped a purple cherry-like fruit into her mouth and, before chewing it, sipped from a glass of clear, bubbly liquid. She consumed them together, then told Alex, "The drink, šampaňské, brings out the sweetness of the fruit, liliový cibule."

Valla gave Alex a moment to try the pair together or some other delight before getting to that for which she'd brought him here. "Operation Gaza is very important to me, Alex ... very important to the overall mission here on Earth."

She sipped from yet another glass, this one a thick green fluid with little sparkling things floating in it. Valla continued, "Once the mission is over, and you have once again proved yourself as the correct choice to be Emissary ... which I am sure you will do ... I would like to speak to you about a more ... personal issue."

Valla looked off toward the room's entrance as she tapped a small hors d'oeuvres fork against a glass, sending out a tink tink sound that brought her Aide into view. Valla directed, "Bring her."

Ryla nodded and disappeared as Valla looked back to Alex and continued, "Human Beings are very similar ... physically ... to the Troyna, as I believe you have noticed. And ... some of us have wondered whether Troyna and Human might be ... compatible ... in certain ... intimate ways."

Movement caught Valla's attention, drawing her eyes to Ryla ... and Syleen. The Aide gestured the Servant into the room; Syleen moved in to stand before Valla, performing the most respectful bow and salute that Alex would have seen by now as she said, "My Queen, you asked for me."

"Yes, Syleen," Valla said, before turning her eyes back to Alex and asked in English, "Syleen ... she is ... beauty..? No, beautiful ... yes?"

She waited for Alex's response if he chose to make one, then continued on the translator, "Syleen has expressed an interest in being the first Troyna female to experience sexual interaction with a Human male ... and I have given the joining my blessing."

As if what she was saying was not that important, Valla returned to the strange looking hors d'oeuvres, then continued off the translator, "Syleen ... is ... pure...? What is your word ... virgin...? Untouched. Because of the importance of this being her first time with a male ... and the Troyna's first time of being with a Human ... it is very important to me to be sure that she will be treated with the utmost respect and honor."

She paused again, asking Alex with a serious tone, "Is this an honor that you would be willing to bestow upon your people and mine, Emissary?"

 

[desperado1089]

Queen Valla's Chambers
Troyna Mothership
High Earth Orbit

Alex's heart was doing somersaults in his chest, and his throat was dry as he processed what was happening. "Yes, she is definitely beautiful," he responded when prompted. He had to drink some of the bubbly beverage to regain some semblance of composure before speaking to the Queen. "Valla," he said, deciding that her foregoing of titles allowed him the same, "I cannot speak for other Human men. But I always make it a point to treat anyone I invite into my bed as if they are the most important woman in the world. I would most definitely treat Syleen with the utmost kindness, respect, and honor." He turned towards Syleen and gestured her towards him, where he took her hand and just rubbed his thumb along its back. "I promise, your first time will be memorable."

 

[MarieDavisRPs]

Queen Valla's Chambers
Troyna Mothership
High Earth Orbit

Alex told the pair of female Troyna, "I would most definitely treat Syleen with the utmost kindness, respect, and honor."

He gestured Syleen to him, taking her hand. "I promise, your first time will be memorable."

Syleen smiled nervously; her hand trembled noticeably in Alex's. She said with a timid voice, "I believe you, Emissary ... and trust you, Friend Alex."

"You may leave now," Valla said politely.

The Servant didn't look surprised at being so quickly dismissed. She bowed and saluted to Valla with obvious great respect, then repeated the gesture just as sincerely to Alex before saying to him, "I wish you safety and success on your mission, Emissary, and I await your safe return with great joy. "

Once they were again alone, Valla said, "I must warn you, Alex. There is ceremony involved in what we are asking of you. It is unlike any consummation ceremony on Earth, as far as my education has taught me."

 

[desperado1089]

Queen Valla's Chambers
Troyna Mothership
High Earth Orbit

"Ah," Alex said when Queen Valla spoke of a ceremony. "I was wondering why you sent her off." He would have loved to do this before he went off to danger, but apparently fate had other plans. "I won't pretend I'm not a little disappointed," he admitted. "What does the ceremony involve? Or perhaps if there's some kind of recording you can show me, it might be more informative than anything you can say." Alex wasn't sure how  explicit such a recording would be, but surely Queen Valla has heard of porn. Perhaps if he couldn't get exactly what he wanted, he could masturbate to what he had to look forward to after the nuke was found and disarmed.

 

[MarieDavisRPs]

Queen Valla's Chambers
Troyna Mothership
High Earth Orbit

"Ah," Alex said when Queen Valla spoke of a ceremony. "I was wondering why you sent her off."

"Yes, well, Syleen is fully aware of the ceremony," Valla informed him. "I sent her away so that I would explain some of it to you ... and ... if you decided not to participate because of it, she would not be embarrassed or offended."

"I won't pretend I'm not a little disappointed," he admitted.

Valla didn't immediately understand what Alex meant by the question, but once she did, she smiled and chuckled softly. "You thought that perhaps this was going to happen tonight. I'm sorry ... no."

"What does the ceremony involve?" Alex inquired.

When he asked if there was some kind of recording, Valla again chuckled, only louder and longer this time. "I'm sorry, I'm ... how would you say it ... making light of what you asked. No, there is no form of recording of the event. It is a very sacred ceremony."

Valla popped another liliový cibule in her mouth and followed it with a gulp of šampaňské. After chewing and swallowing, she began, "The virgin is bathed by members of the Sacred Order ... what you would call nuns or sisters...? to wash away the girl, readying her for..."

Valla paused, uncertain of how to say the word such that it would translate properly. She pressed a finger to the translator, speaking to the AI that supported it, then asked in English, "Deflowering...?"

Valla wondered whether or not she needed to reassure Alex that Syleen was of the proper minimum age to participate in sexual activity. After all, the Troyna females were all relatively similar in appearance, and -- unless you were a Troyna yourself -- you probably wouldn't be able to tell the difference between a girl of 13 Earth years and one of 30 Earth years.

Syleen had passed the typical Western age of 18 Earth years before the Mothership had even dropped out of its light speed transit in preparation for slowing to enter Earth's atmosphere. Valla decided not to even bring it up unless, of course, Alex asked.

Returning to the translator, Valla continued, "While this bathing of the female is taking place, the male is going through his own ceremony, this one involving both a bath and the painting. The male's front side, from forehead to ... you call it a groin, yes?
"The male's hands are also painted," she continued, "and during the ... deflowering, he lies on his back with his hands to his side. The male is not permitted to touch the female in any way, with the exception of his penis and groin. The paint is the proof that he has literally kept his hands to himself during the ceremony."

She paused to sip from the thick drink again before continuing her description, "Once the female has ... finished ... I believe your words are..." She pressed the translator to kill it, then said in English, "orgasm ... cum ... yes?"

Valla listened to Alex's response if he gave one, then returned to the translator and finished, "Once she has finished, she will ensure that the male has also finished ... and the ceremony is complete."

 

[desperado1089]

Queen Valla's Chambers
Troyna Mothership
High Earth Orbit

"I see," Alex said after Queen Valla had concluded her explanation. He had not offered any comment during the explanation, only partaking of the snacks and drinks before him. "All right. I don't suppose there's any risk of me mistreating her if I can't touch her. What about afterwards? Would it be all right if, once the ceremony is concluded, we do it again, this time with a little bit more...touching?"

 

[MarieDavisRPs]

Queen Valla's Chambers
Troyna Mothership
High Earth Orbit

"I don't suppose there's any risk of me mistreating her if I can't touch her," Alex said.

"That is the reason," Valla confirmed. "I want you to know that I don't imagine that you would hurt Syleen, either physically or emotionally. But it is our way."

"What about afterwards?" he inquired. "Would it be all right if, once the ceremony is concluded, we do it again, this time with a little bit more...touching?"

"Not at that time, during the ceremony," Valla explained. Her lips spread a bit as she added, "But if Syleen wishes to be with you again, Alex ... she will be with you. There is another ... little detail about Troyna sexual traditions of which you should be aware. If a female Troyna wishes to partake of a Troyna male ... any male who is of her social class or lower ... she has that right. All she has to do is ask.

"Since you are not Troyna," Valla said after taking another sip of the clear bubbly, "I would have to make inquiries of the Sacred Order as to whether this rule applies to you, a Human. It has been generations since the Troyna came to the assistance of a species that was so similar to us to require me to ask these questions."

Valla smiled a bit wider, wondering what Alex's answer would be when she inquired, "If the Order says that you would also be required to abide by this tradition ... would you be ... accepting of the knowledge that any Noble female Troyna -- or other female for whom I have given the right to be with you intimately -- could make that request?"

 

[desperado1089]

Queen Valla's Chambers
Troyna Mothership
High Earth Orbit

"Queen Valla," Alex began, "of course I would accept that knowledge. But...there are many Human men who would not. But how would we reconcile the fact that, at least from appearances, I occupy a relatively high social class, even though I am not Troyna? For example, Syleen seemed to consider herself beneath me. What if she wishes to make love to me later? What if we both wish it? Does that same tradition mean I am off-limits to her, except for the ceremony? That...I don't want that to be the case." Alex took another sip as he gathered his thoughts. "I won't pretend I don't desire her, or Dyah," he said. "Perhaps this is one of those things that we are gonna need to discuss later, yeah?"

The veteran Air Force pilot-turned-Emissary cleared his throat and set down his glass. "But what I can tell you about now, is the portion of Human men that would rather...well, do terrible things that I won't repeat for your sake, than submit to a woman's request for sex. Many of those men are easily identifiable: red hats that say 'Make America Great Again,' poor hygiene, long, unkempt beards, armed in places and during times when it is inappropriate. And lately, they wave signs and shout things that suggest that they'd be perfectly happy staying behind while the rest of Humanity benefits from your presence...at best. But typically they at least speak of their desire to drive you and the Troyna off the planet, and if it takes the spilling of some Troyna blood, then that's all the better for them."

Alex looked at Queen Valla seriously. "If the Troyna that were sent to Earth and that have aligned themselves against you join forces with these humans, there's no telling what sort of harm they may cause. But thankfully, there is a silver lining. At least some of these...people...are not so dedicated as others. What I mean is, they may talk a lot, go to protests, wave signs, post vitriol on social media. But when it comes to taking action, actually doing something? They balk at it, they stay home, they slink away." He gave a small smirk as he said, "Sometimes they don't even have the spine to keep up the fight online."