2. Senior year started very differently from the previous years.
âHey, Stella, can I borrow your computer while youâre at class?â
âWhy?â
âI wanted to write my term paper.â
âWe are not even a day into the semester, Madeleine. You usually wait longer before writing your papers, or asking
others to write them for you.â
âI know. Iâm trying to be better about my schoolwork.â
âAlright.â
3. Madeleine headed into Stellaâs room to use the computer, noticing as she did just how empty - almost stark - the
room was. Stella hadnât added anything to the room other than the computer. There were no posters, no paintings,
not even an interesting bedspread.
She sat down at the computer and booted it up, opening a new document.
4. She wasnât sure what she was doing. Writing a term paper really wasnât all that easy, and to be completely honest,
she hadnât written a single one since starting college.
Sheâd always flirted with people who would write them for her.
But since sheâd broken up with Kendra, she hadnât dated anyone. Or even flirted with anyone.
Which meant that she had to write her own term paper, and she might as well get that done sooner than later.
5. When she was finished, she clicked save with a sense of accomplishment, then emailed the paper to herself so she
could print it at the library.
Sheâd written her own term paper, and it hadnât been that hard.
Why hadnât she ever bothered before?
Oh yeah, she thought, because I was busy dating. Well, thatâs not happening now.
6. Maddie wasnât the only one working on schoolwork; Klara and Blossom both started studying fairly early.
8. Maddie, meanwhile, headed for the piano once the paper was printed.
She hadnât even tried it out since theyâd moved into the house, and playing it brought back everything sheâd been
missing. Romance was all well and good, but it wasnât the only thing she wanted out of life.
***
9. That night, when Stella stepped up to the telescope to stargaze, she found herself immediately assaulted by bright
lights. She hadnât been expecting an abduction - theyâd told her it would likely be after college before she was
abducted again - but apparently she was needed, and it wasnât her choice anyway.
In seconds, she was gone.
10. She left behind three roommates, all of whom were confused at her abduction.
âI do not believe this is supposed to happen,â Klara said thoughtfully as she looked up at the sky.
11. She went to the telescope and looked through it. She couldnât even see the ship anymore, and there was still no
explanation for Stella being gone.
12. When she went inside, she found Maddie and Blossom at the mahjong table, just starting a game.
13. âSomething is strange about Stellaâs abduction,â she said.
âHow so?â Blossom asked.
âI remember Frances saying, back when Stella was abducted freshman year, that abductions donât usually occur at
universities. I did some research, and he was right. There are absolutely no records of abductions at universities.â
âAt all?â Maddie asked.
âAt all.â
14. Maddie looked down at her tiles, then back up at her friends. âI knew Frances thought there was something weird
about Stella, butâŚâ
âThose things you guys always went to late at night?â Blossom asked.
âYeah. I donât - they were always suspicious of Stella, and, I mean, I honestly think there was reason for them to be,
because sheâs clearly hiding stuff. But they went about it in totally the wrong way. I donât know, thatâs just what I
think.â
Klara nodded. âThat makes sense, yes.â
âWhat are we going to do about it, though?â Blossom asked. âI donât want to scare her off, or force her to tell us, or
anything like that.â
15. Maddie shook her head. âMe either.â
âPerhaps one of us should talk to her?â Klara suggested.
âWho, though?â Maddie asked.
âYou.â
âMe?â
âYou are the closest with Stella. She is most likely to tell the truth to you.â
16. âI guess so,â Maddie said. âSheâs probably my closest friend, especially since I stopped all the dating.â
âWhy did you stop, anyway?â Blossom asked.
âBecause it wasnât working, you know? Flitting from one person to another, dating and not caring what happened,
and then, well, there was all that with Kendra. We wanted different things, and she wasnât right for me. I couldnât
belong to her, not the way she wanted.â
âWhatâs she been up to?â
âHonestly, I have no idea. I havenât spoken to her since she left after I broke up with her.â
Klara yawned suddenly. âItâs getting late, and I have an early class tomorrow. You will talk to Stella?â
17. âYeah, sure.â Maddie looked down at her tiles. âHey, I won!â
Blossom looked at her own tiles, slightly disappointed. âI guess itâs time for bed, then. See you guys in the
morning.â
âWeâll probably be woken by the spaceship dropping her off, like last time,â Maddie said. âSee you then.â
***
18. Stella wasnât expecting an abduction that night. Theyâd said they would wait until college was done unless she put up
a signal, and she hadnât.
She was, therefore, understandably annoyed when she found herself in the abduction room.
âWhat am I doing here? I thought they were going to wait!â
19. âYou are needed in the medical wing,â Pollination Technician 367 said.
She froze. There was only one reason she would be needed in the medical wing.
***
20. PT9 did not look healthy at all. Stella sat down in the chair next to his bed and waited for him to open his eyes.
âHello,â she said, when he finally did.
âHello, Stella,â he said. âThank you for coming.â
âI didnât have much choice.â
âNo, I suppose not.â
21. âI would have come anyway, had I a choice. I am honored to act as your Observer.â
He smiled. âThank you.â
She sat silently, listening to him taking slow, gasping breaths. She didnât want to watch him dieâŚbut she didnât want
to miss it either.
And she hadnât been lying. She was very honored to act as his Observer, despite the pain of the position.
23. At the end of the long night, Stella was the only one left, as was customary. Only the Observer had the right - and the
duty - to watch.
âStella,â he said, stunning her into movement. She hadnât expected him to speak again. âIf you want that girl, go for
her.â
âI will,â she said. âI will.â
âGood.â
25. Stella stayed, sitting by his bed, until she was interrupted by Pollination Technician 71.
âIt is time for you to return,â he said.
âIt is dawn, then?â
âAlmost. If we keep you here longer, howeverâŚâ
âIt will look suspicious. I know.â She stood up mechanically and followed him to the abduction room.
***
26. The sound of the ship woke Maddie, Blossom, and Klara, and all three headed outside in their pajamas to greet her.
They waited for Stella to land, then, after cheering, Blossom and Klara headed back to bed.
27. Maddie, meanwhile, waited for Stella to stand up.
âSo,â she said, âwhatâs with all the abductions?â
âWhat do you mean?â
âYou know Frances was suspicious of you, right? Apparently, the first time you were abducted, he said something
about abductions not happening at universities, and Klara did some research, and, well, I trust her research, cause no
way am I doing it on my own. Youâre the first university student to be abducted, ever, and now itâs happened twice.
This isnât normal. Whatâs up, Stella? What are you hiding?â
28. âI am not hiding anything.â
âDonât give me that, Stella. I thought I was your best friend.â
âYou are.â
âThen whatâs going on with you?â
Stella looked at Maddie, all of the emotions that had been building since sheâd learned PT9 was going to die coming
crashing down on her, emotions that she couldnât let out while on the spaceship.
29.
30. Maddie hesitantly put an arm around Stella. âIâm sorry? I didnât mean to make you cry. Really, I didnât.â
âI know,â Stella wailed.
Maddie patted Stellaâs hand. She wasnât sure what to do in a situation like this, or even what had set Stella off, but
her friend was clearly upset, and, well, what could she do but try and help?
31. Stella just kept crying, though, and Maddie had no idea what to do.
32. âIâm sorry, I didnât mean to say anything. You donât have to tell me, you really donât.â
âItâs not you,â Stella managed to say, in between sobs. âI justâŚsomething happened.â
Maddieâs brow furrowed. What could have happened while Stella was abducted? She decided not to ask, however.
âIf you donât want to talk about it, you donât have to.â
âMaybe later?â
âOf course. Whatever you want.â
33. âThank you,â Stella said. Tears were still running down her cheeks as she hugged Maddie tightly.
âNot a problem.â
34. She pulled back. âI should like to talk tomorrow, I think.â
âOf course. Any particular time?â
âWhenever is good for you.â
âAfter your class, then.â
âThat will work.â
***
35. Maddie didnât have a class until the evening, so she woke up late and took a shower, then waited on the couch for
Stella to get back from her class.
36. When Stella got back from class, she joined Maddie on the couch.
âSo,â Maddie asked, âwhat happened last night? I mean, you got abducted, then came back and, well, you
didnâtâŚyou were crying everywhere. Thatâs not like you.â
âNo.â
âSomething is up with you, Stella, and I donât want to be suspicious. I donât. But something about all this feels off,
and I want to ask you what that is before I do something you wonât like.â
37. Stella stared at nothing. Should she tell Maddie the truth? Did she have a choice?
Her options werenât good. She could tell Maddie it was private, but while Maddie would listen and stop asking, it
would also cause Maddie to be more suspicious, and possibly to do something rash. She could lie, but she didnât have
a good lie prepared - the one sheâd been using clearly wasnât working for her, and she couldnât think of anything else.
Or she could tell the truth.
38. âOkay,â she said. âI have not been telling you the whole truth. You know my cover story - that I am a part-alien
who grew up in Madison, and who is attending university here. None of that is true. I am a full alien, and grew up
on a spaceship. I have been abducted twice because it is the easiest way for them to contact me when I am
needed.â
âWhat are you doing here, then? Why come to LFT?â
39. Stella looked away. She couldnât look at Madeleine while telling her this.
âI was sent to watch you.â
âMe?â
âYes. Your family is considered of interest to the aliens - to my people.â
âBut why?â
âBecause of your history. You are part-alien yourself, Maddie. And part-elf. You have been chased by elves for
generations, and were attacked by witches as a teenager.â
40. âYou know as much about my family history as I do.â
âOnly the facts. NotâŚmy people, they donât understand emotion.â
âWhat do you mean?â
âI didnât realize it until I came down here, and spent time with you, and Klara, and Blossom, and the boys, and even
Frances and the Worthington Society. Itâs very cold up there. Not in the physical sense, but emotionally. There is no
love, no joy, no life. No sadness. I was called, yesterday, to Observe as my mentor died. I could not cry there. I
could cry here.â
âThatâs fucked up.â
41. Stella shrugged. âIt is the way it has always been, for there is no change.â
âOkay, I still donât get that, but I guess it fits with all that sci-fi crap or whatever. But on to more important stuff -
that whole thing about my familyâŚthatâs a bit creepy, you know. Watching us like that and all.â
âIt is, a bit. However, as far as I can tell - and it has never been mentioned, because it would be acknowledging
mistakes - the Council lost track of your family after your great-great-grandfather was pollinated, as they were not
considered important at that point, and only regained knowledge of your whereabouts after the confrontation in
Belladonna Cove. The Dorans have caused trouble wherever they have gone, and the Council wants to watch them, I
believe.â
âCaused trouble? Really? As far as I can tell, weâve been the victims of trouble more often than weâve caused it.
Weâve been chased by elves, the military, witches - and believe me, being spelled silent and told youâre gonna lose
your soul is pretty damn freaky when youâre a toddler - are we going to have aliens coming after us too?â
42. âNot if I have any say in the matter.â
Stellaâs voice was strong and sure, and Maddie looked at her. âHow can I trust you?â
âBy letting me tell you everything.â
And she did. They sat on the couch for two hours while Stella told Maddie about how sheâd grown up, about PT9 and
his death, about her task, and her decision to remain down there even after her task was over.
âI do not know what they will say when I tell them that. The Council has never been inclined to war. Humans are
abducted, but that is because it is necessary in our breeding process, and not to cause problems.â
43. âSo, let me get this straight. Youâre planning on staying down here with or without this Councilâs approval, because
you like it down here better?â
âI hope to eventually convince some of them that their way is not right. But I would like to remain here, yes.â
Maddie nodded. âArenât aliens usually green? Youâve been talking about being an alien, and all that crap, butâŚyou
donât look like a full alien to me.â
âWe are, yes. You have a mirror in your room - come with me.â
44. They headed into Maddieâs room and Stella stepped in front of the mirror. âMirrors always show the truth. It is why
Frances was suspicious of me, I believe. I have not always been careful enough. This is what I really look like.â
45. âI am truly sorry I have lied to you, Maddie,â Stella said. âI was following instructions at first, but there is little
excuse for lying now.â
âYouâre right. Thereâs not.â
âWhat can I do?â
46. âYouâre going to have to tell them. Because, frankly, if Iâm going to have aliens trying to kill me on top of whoever
else is trying to, I have a right to know. And, anyway, at some point you wonât be able to lie to them anymore.
Youâre going to keep putting them off, and theyâll come after you, and Iâll get hit in the fallout.â
âI do not believe they will come after you, though they may not be happy with me.â
âWell thatâs your problem, isnât it? I want to know, and youâre going to tell me.â
Stella nodded. âAlright. I will send a message and ask to be abducted tonight.â
47. Stella immediately went to her computer to beam up a signal asking to be abducted that night.
48. Meanwhile, Maddie joined Klara and Blossom for a late lunch - theyâd just gotten back from a baseball game with
their boyfriends - and told them some of what Stella had told her.
They all agreed to trust her for now, since sheâd told them the truth, but not to trust any other aliens without proof.
***
50. She was quickly ushered into the Council Room, where the same group as always awaited her. There was an empty
seat, however, which PT9 had once occupied, and which no one had filled.
âWhy have you asked for us to meet, 500?â Leader 113 asked.
51. She took a deep breath. âMadeleine Doran has realized that something is odd about me, and told me to tell her the
truth or face consequences. I did not have a lie prepared other than my cover story, and I suspect she would have
determined that I was lying. I told her the truth.â
There was an uproar from the table, and Stella waited for it to subside before pushing forward.
âShe wants to know if you are planning on chasing her and killing her the way the elves have, and told me to ask.â
52. Eyes narrowed. âYou sound very much like Pollination Technician 9,â Leader 113 said. âHe used similar words when
we met to discuss sending you to watch Madeleine Doran.â
53. âBecause I agree with him.â
âWhat?â
Once the words started, Stella couldnât stop. âHe was right. You do treat the humans like experiments. I understand
itâs necessary for breeding purposes, but that only goes so far, and does not explain the infertile who are abducted.
The humans areâŚthey have emotions, and feelings, and lives in a way that we donât, and we take them, get them
pregnant, and then abandon them. Our society is perfectly logical, but that is not enough. There is so much missing,
and the humans have it. If more of you spent time down there, youâd understand.â
Everyone was starting at her, stunned.
âAnd,â she took a breath, âI want it.â
54. That said, she got up, went swiftly around the table, and broke the communications devices.
Sheâd spent multiple rotations training in technology, and took full advantage of that knowledge to make sure they
were broken in such a way that even Technician 296 would need some time to fix them.
Then she left the room and used her security codes to lock and jam the doors.
Without communications devices, the Council would not be able to call anyone to open the doors, and would not be
able to open them themselves.
55. As she stood outside the Council Room, she calmed her heart rate and her face, knowing that appearing rushed would
make others suspicious.
Then she headed to the room where theyâd changed her skin the first time.
She was lucky; it was unoccupied. She set the machine as the Technicians had, then climbed in, changing her skin
back to green.
If she was going to return to Maddie, she wanted it to be as her true self.
56. She walked back to the abduction room, where she found Pollination Technician 367, on shift once more.
âYou are green again,â he said.
She shrugged. âMadeleine Doran has figured out that I am an alien; there is no point in hiding it any longer. I would
rather appear the way I am.â
âIt is time for you to return, then?â
âYes,â she lied. âSend me back.â
57. When Stella left the spaceship, the Council had not even attempted to fix either the doors or the communications
devices yet.
Instead, they were still sitting in their seats, staring at each other, rather shocked by what Stella had just done.
Pollination Technician 9 had not left so dramatically, and he had always stayed in communication with them.
âWell,â Leader 113 finally said, âthat was unexpected.â
***
58. When Stella returned, Maddie was waiting for her.
âHow did it go?â she asked.
Stella sighed. âI possibly may have left before anything was decided.â
âWhy?â
âBecause I wanted to return and was not certain it would be allowed. I like being here, Maddie. I donât want to be
forced back there.â She nervously picked at her dress. âI still donât think theyâll hunt you. Me, perhaps, but not
you.â
59. âSo basically you donât know if Iâm safe or not?â
âI truly believe that my people are not a risk to you, Madeleine. If you have elves chasing you, or Kendra wanting
revenge, that is another story.â
Maddie nodded. âIâll believe you, for now. But if anyone comes after me, Iâm gone.â
âOf course.â
60. âYou know,â Maddie said, âI really like the green. It makes you seem moreâŚyou.â
âThank you. I saw no point in hiding. Not anymore.â
âIâm glad.â
âIt is late, and I have an early class. Iâll see you tomorrow?â
âTomorrow.â
***
61. The next day started normally; Blossom, as the best cook in the house, made breakfast, while the others worked on
assignments.
62. After the morning classes, Maddie cornered Stella. âSo, I said last night, I like the green, but, you know, that hat is
starting to look a bit odd.â
âIs it?â
âItâs not quite the same color as your dress.â
âOh.â
âWant a makeover? I bet youâd look great in a new hairstyle.â
ââŚOkay.â
63. Maddie led Stella into her room and sat her down at the dressing table.
Then she did her hair and showed her how to put on a bit of eyeliner.
64. âDo you really think I look good like this?â
âDefinitely. The long hair suits you.â
67. Later in the afternoon, Maddie was practicing the guitar when Stella decided to join her on the piano.
Sheâd never tried it before, but, well, if she was staying with the humans, she might as well learn more about the
things they enjoyed, right?
In addition, Maddie loved music, and Stella wanted to understand that love.
69. In fact, it was such fun that, when they were done, Stella found herself pulling Maddie into a kiss, to share her sheer
joy at the music.
70. âWhat was that for?â
Stella took Maddieâs hand. âI like you. I really like you. You are beautiful when you play music. It makes you
glow.â She took a breath. âYou said, when I was interested in romance, I should come to you.â
âYouâre ready?â
âI am. Are you?â
71. Maddie reached up and stroked Stellaâs cheek. âI am. Letâs take it slow, though? I think that was a problem in my
earlier relationships.â
âRushing into things?â
âYes.â
âThen we wonât. Honestly, I do not believe I am ready to rush. Slow sounds good.â
âGood.â
***
72. As the year continued, life went on.
Aldric and Almeric both spent a lot of time at the house, often with their girlfriends, though also with the group as a
whole.
79. And Maddie attempted to understand what Stella found so interesting about the robot station.
80. She managed to build one toy robot, but she couldnât quite get the appeal.
81. Maddie and Stella continued to take their relationship slow, though their normal activities that theyâd always done
together started taking on a romantic air.
89. By the time the year was over, they were permanently a
couple, and had made plans to move in together once college
was done.
***
90. Soon enough, everyone had graduated, and the seven of them posed for a group picture in their caps and gowns.
91. âCongratulations on graduating summa cum laude, Maddie.â
âYou too, Stella. Itâs been a great year, being with you.â
âYou too.â
âReady for the party?â
âCertainly!â
92. The party started with all four girls, and the three boys, joining together for a water balloon fight, still dressed in the
outfits theyâd worn to the graduation ceremony.
93. And then, when the fight was done, Aldric and Almeric dropped, in unison, to one knee, and proposed to their
girlfriends.
95. William was the odd one out, but he didnât mind. He had his familyâs business to work in, after all, and an older
brother who already had children, leaving him free from the pressure of having to get married and continue the
family.
If he found the right woman, it would happen, but right then, he wasnât looking.
96. After the water balloon fight, there was a group smustle in the living room.
98. And then Blossom and Aldric, then Klara and Almeric, headed for the hot tub, while William headed back to the party
his sophomores were throwing in his honor.
99. This left Maddie and Stella alone in the kitchen.
As they sat together, talking about inconsequential things, Maddie thought about everything theyâd been through
during college, from Frances and Kendra and the Worthington Society to Stella leaving the aliens and choosing to stay
with Maddie to the proposals that day.
She felt the weight in her pocket, and knew it was time.
101. She sat there, nervous as anything, and realized that she was worried that Stella would say no.
She really, truly, wanted this commitment, and was worried that it wouldnât happen.
How much had she changed in barely four years?
103. After they changed out of their graduation gowns, Stella found Maddie and grabbed her hands. âIâm so excited!â
âTo graduate?â
âNo, silly! To marry you!â
âIâm excited too!â
104. âAnd I think Iâm ready.â
âReady? To get married?â
âTo woohoo with you. Shall we go to the hot tub?â
âNo. Not the hot tub.â
105. âYou never take anyone into your bedroom.â
âI havenât, no. But youâre special, Stella. Youâre the one that I want to be with forever. And I canât promise that Iâll
never notice other people. But Iâll be yours.â
âAs I am yours.â
106. Maddie was gentle, and loving, and made sure that Stellaâs first experience of woohoo was a wonderful one.
And, in the morning, they woke up, and left for their new home.
***
107. When Frances came back to life, the first thing he was aware of was a feeling of confusion.
The second was a feeling of intense anger at whoever had brought him back.
108. The third was Kendra and Francis, looking equally dazed, and also very strange.
It took a moment for him to realize that they were zombies.
109. It took a moment longer for him to look down at his hands and realize that he was a zombie too.
110. âHello,â a cheery voice called. Rosalie came into view. âWelcome back to life!â
All three of them exchanged a wary glance, and Frances was the one to finally ask the question. âWhere are we?â
âOh, a small house I bought in Viper Canyon.â
âWhy did you bring us back?â Kendra asked.
âIâm glad you asked! I want to get revenge on anyone whoâs ever hurt me, and you are going to help!â
111. None of them were happy about this. Clearly, Kendra and Francis felt the same anger toward Rosalie as he did, and
Francis was the one to say so.
âWhat if we have no interest in working with you? You killed us and brought us back!â
112.
113. âAnd I have no problem making you permanently dead.â She looked at the other two. âUnderstood?â
âUnderstood,â Frances and Kendra chorused.
Rosalie smiled, then left the room, taking the gun with her. They heard a âsnickâ and knew theyâd been locked in.
114. Frances collapsed onto a sofa. âWe are completely screwed.â
âOh yes.â Kendra started pacing back and forth, carefully avoiding Francisâs urn, as Frances leaned farther into the
sofa. âIâm not at all happy with you, you know.â
âWhy not?â
âWhy not? You set me at Maddie, knowing that she was sleeping with everyone in sight, didnât you? You let the part-
alien bitch into the society, and sheâs the one who caused all this!â
âOkay, first of all, I thought that maybe you would be able to stop her from cheating. Iâd have dated her myself if
sheâd said yes!â
115. She laughed. âYou tried? Frances, everyone knows youâre gay.â
âI am not gay!â
âYouâre totally gay. Have you ever actually been attracted to a woman?â He didnât say anything and she rolled her
eyes. âYouâre gay. And an idiot.â She sat down next to him. âExplain the part-alien.â
116. âI thought she - well, there was something weird about her. I caught flashes of green in the mirror a few times when
she was near one, when nothing should have been green. She acted oddly and Iâm not sure why. I was going to
investigate, butâŚI got distracted and didnât, after my preliminary searches found nothing.â
âSo we have to look that up, then.â
âI thought you were angry with me.â
âI am. Iâm also terrified of Rosalie, and if we want to deal with herâŚâ
âWeâre going to have to work together. Partners?â
âPartners.â
***
117. âI hate this place.â
Sanar sighed. âI know, Ryelle. Believe me, I know. This sand is horrible. But we have our orders.â
âDo they really think weâll find half-breeds here?â
âApparently.â
118. Ryelle looked at the cheap folding chairs, sniffed, and chose not to sit down. Instead, she pulled out a mirror and
examined herself. âI canât even see my ears with my hair like this.â
âPart of the disguise, Ryelle.â
âI know, Sanar. I still hate it. And this stupid clothing.â
âI agree. But we have our orders-â
âAnd weâre going to follow them.â
***
119. When they moved to their new house in Viper Canyon, the first thing Maddie and Stella did was look for jobs.
The $50,000 Maddieâd inherited from the Landgraab trust, in addition to what she had left in her trust fund from her
grandfather (quite a bit had been used up during college), was enough to buy the house, but not to fully furnish it.
She couldnât find a job in Music, and there wasnât one in Medicine either, so Maddie took a job as a Comic Book
Penciller, and Stella took one as a Fact Checker for the local newspaper.
120. Stella got out of work earlier than Maddie did, so, when she was done, she set up her robot bench and started work
on a special project.
121. Then she attempted to cook dinner.
She was incredibly happy when it came out well.
122. And when the long first day of work was over, they went upstairs and to bed - though sleep was not what they did
first. Maddie took the lead in their woohoo once more, though Stella responded ardently.
***
123. The next day started inauspiciously with a knocked over trashcan, which Maddie was careful to pick up.
She wanted everything to be perfect for the event scheduled later in the day - her wedding.
She still couldnât believe she was getting married, but she also didnât regret it at all.
She did wonder who had knocked over the trash can, however.
124. As she had the day off, she spent it studying and taking care of the bird. She and Stella had taken him when theyâd
all graduated, as Klara would be too busy with work, and Blossom was hoping to travel at least a bit.
She also checked the computer for new job listings.
125. And at four, when Stella got home from work, their friends came over for their wedding.
126. It was a small party. The only guests were Blossom, Aldric, Almeric, Klara, William, and one of Stellaâs coworkers,
who sheâd invited on a whim.
They didnât have much, either - just the arch, a small buffet table, and chairs that would be used for both the
ceremony and the food.
That was fine with them. They didnât need more than that.
127. Their vows were short and simple - to love and to honor, to cherish for life, and to be faithful.
Stella took Maddieâs last name. Terrano was made up as part of her cover story, anyway, and held no real meaning
for her.
Doran, on the other hand, was important, and Maddie couldnât imagine giving it up.
128.
129. After the vows were said, there was cake.
It was not baked by either of them.
130. Maddie shoved a bit of the first piece into Stellaâs mouth, and Stella took it gracefully.
131. Maddie toasted her new wife during the cake eating.
Then, as it got dark, everyone split up to have fun doing various things.
132.
133. âIâm sorry to go, Stella, butâŚâ
âYou have to work?â
âThere was an opening for a Studio Musician, and I want this.â
âI know. Go. Have a good night at work. Iâll be here when you get home.â
135. With Maddie gone and the party over, Stella spent the rest of the evening working on her special project.
***
136. As Maddie worked nights - and had Wednesday off anyway - she spent the day brushing up her piano skills on their
new baby grand.
It had been a splurge, but it was worth it.
137. She was on the bed relaxing when Stella got home from work.
138. She was surprised when Stella took the lead, kissing her like her life depended on it, but she didnât mind. It was
good for Stella to start being more free with listening to her romantic urges.
139. She was even more surprised when Stella insisted on woohooing over and over again.
She wasnât exactly complaining, however.
140. And, well, if the woohoo made them hungry, there was always a late night snack available.
***
141. The next morning started inauspiciously, as Stella woke up early with an intense urge to vomit.
143. Both of them had the day off, which was good, since neither of them felt all that well.
They also both had an intense craving for sweets, and made four cheesecakes until Maddie finally succeeded at
making one that was edible.
Then they lazed around the house, occasionally snacking on some more cheesecake.
144. As night fell, they headed outside to watch the stars.
Maddie enjoyed listening to Stella talk about where sheâd come from, and how sheâd grown up, and seeing all the
stars that sheâd visited - at least, the ones that she could point out.
148. âOw. That hurts.â
âIt is quite painful.â
Maddie looked around the room. âWe got abducted, didnât we?â
âYes.â
âI thought that could only happen if you were at a telescope.â
âIâm as surprised as you are.â
149. A throat cleared and they both turned to look at Pollination Technician 71, who was clearly waiting for them. âIt is
unusual but not impossible,â he said. âTelescopes are considered a signal that the person is willing to be abducted,
and are easy for our sensors to lock onto. However, you both are recognizable, and we were able to find you without
the aid of a telescope sensor.â
âDamn,â Maddie said quietly.
âCome with me,â he said, turning to leave.
They exchanged a glance, then followed.
They really didnât have any other option.
150. As they walked to the Council Room, Maddie and Stella talked quietly. âLet me take the lead,â Stella said. âI know
them better than you do, and they know me better. I can speak in language that they will understand.â
âOkay, but if they start yellingâŚâ
Stella smiled. âYouâll be my knight in shining armor?â
âOnly without the armor.â
âI donât need the armor.â
âI know.â
***
151. The same people sat in the Council Room as had every other time Stella had been there, though, this time, Maddie
took PT9âs seat.
â500,â Leader 113 said, âyou confused us all when you left. Why did you leave so quickly? What about the humans
makes you want to stay with them?â
âI explained that when I left. They live in a way we donât, and I wanted that. I wanted Maddie.â Maddie put her
hand on Stellaâs and smiled. âAnd I was lucky that she wanted me too.â
Researcher 92 was feverishly taking notes, clearly interested in what Stella was saying.
Everyone else sat in silence.
152. âWhy have you abducted us?â Stella finally asked. âAre you going to separate us? Keep us both here?â
An uneasy look was exchanged around the table, and Leader 113 spoke. âNo. Clearly if both of the people we have
sent down have fallen in love with the humans, there is a reason. We are researchers, not warmongers. We want to
know, and to understand. We would like to remain in contact with you and learn more.â
âWhat do you mean remain in contact with?â
âRegular reports via the satellites. Observation. Abduction occasionally to ask for personal observations.â
153. Stella and Maddie exchanged a glance. âCan we have some time to talk about this?â
âCertainly.â
âWhere should we go?â
âRemain here. We shall wait in the control room until you are ready.â Everyone except for Maddie and Stella filed
out of the room, leaving them alone.
154. âWant to make a run for it?â Maddie asked.
âThere is no point. They are probably watching the door, for the control room is just across the hallway. In
additionâŚâ she gestured to the communications devices, which had been repaired since the last time sheâd been
there. âThe communications devices have been fixed. They will be able to hear what we say.â
âFixed?â
Stella blushed. âI may have broken them when I left the last time.â
Maddie grinned. âWay to go, Stella.â Then she sobered. âWell, even if they can hear us, this is as private as weâre
going to get.â
155. Stella nodded. âSo, do we want to report to them?â
âDo we have any other choice? If they can abduct us without telescopesâŚâ
âWe could remain inside all the time? I do not believe they can abduct while someone is inside a house.â
Maddie shook her head. âIâm not willing to live my life like that.â
âNo. I suppose not.â
156. âBesides,â Maddie said cheerfully, âthe reports donât really sound that onerous, right? It could be a lot worse.
Believe me, I know.â
âI know. I am just reluctant to-â
âTo accept it?â Stella nodded, and Maddie patted her hand. âI want you, Stella, and if this is what I have to go
through to keep you, Iâm willing to do it.â
âI am, as well. Shall we call them back in?â
âSure.â
157. Stella went to the door, unsurprised to see that everyone was outside, waiting to be let back in.
The filed in silently and took their seats.
âWe agree to your conditions,â she said, once everyone was seated.
158. âGood,â Leader 113 said. âWe appreciate your cooperation.â
Maddie glanced at Stella, then back at the aliens. âI know youâre curious about us humans. Well, Iâm curious about
you. What is your society like? Stellaâs implied that itâs different, but she hasnât always said how.â
Leader 113 leaned over and said something quietly to Pollination Technician 71, who nodded. âPollination Technician
71 has agreed to take you on a tour of the ship, if you would like.â
âCool.â
***
159. Pollination Technician 71 led Maddie and Stella around the ship, showing them various rooms. Stella had already
seen everything, of course, but she enjoyed Maddieâs reactions to such places as the cowplant growing area, the
rooms studying such things as time/space theory and alternate universes, the living spaces, and the control room.
Maddie was especially interested in the places Stella had spent time, so they also went to the room where Stellaâs
skin had been changed, and the rooms where younglings spent their days.
160. Finally, they arrived at the abduction room.
âYou have already seen this, for it is where you landed. It is the abduction room.â
âSo,â Maddie said, turning to Pollination Technician 71, ânow that youâve abducted me, are you going to get me
pregnant? Thatâs what you do with humans, after all, right?.â
âOh, no,â he said. âNo, there is no need. You and 500 - Stella - are both already pregnant.â
161. They looked at each other, eyes wide, then looked back at Pollination Technician 71.
âWHAT?!â
***