Hi Korjh,
Your offer is very tempting. You seem really charming, and I am attracted to you. I understand how and why you became a cyborg. We have many war veterans who have come back from war missing body parts due to injuries. I’m sure they would be happy to have cybernetic replacements. Perhaps the Alliance will share that technology with us so they can benefit.
The videos you sent of your farm remind me of the Australian Outback here on Earth. I’ve never been there, but I think I might like the rural life if I have a husband (mate) to share it with.
I always wondered what it would be like to go to other worlds outside our star system. Until the Alliance announced their presence, I never thought there would be a chance to travel to other planets within my lifetime. But they have always suspected extraterrestrials have been coming here for millennia.
I confess, I’m a little scared and excited at the prospect. I understand why it isn’t practical for us to meet before we decide whether to make this commitment. Some of my family and friends think I should jump at the chance, and others think I am crazy to consider it.
But I have reviewed the data from the Narovian Matchmaking Service. They have a 97% success rate with their matched couples attaining a successful relationship. Those are way better odds than I have on my own of finding a mate for life. According to our genetics, we are soul mates. They have used the same criteria that they used to find soul mate matches for the feline and other races that can actually recognize their soul mates.
Korjh, I am very close to making a decision. Every time I see you on your videos, you pull at my heartstrings, so to speak. When I think of you all alone on that farm without family or close neighbors, I think about the things we might do together if I were there with you. Everything from sharing a meal to what it would be like to be with you as a man if you know what I mean. The possibility excites me.
Hope to hear from you soon. I look forward to getting your videos every day.
See you soon!
Zara.
Zara turned off the camera on her laptop and pressed send. She really didn’t understand the technology of how she could send and receive the videos from another planet in a far-off star system, but she didn’t have to. So much had changed since the Alliance announcement and the Drayid attack last year. More and more people were looking at the prospect of going to other worlds to settle.
Whole families were looking to emigrate to newly opened worlds for settlement. Narovian Matchmaking Services were also doing a booming business. They had assured Zara that each match was thoroughly screened and that Korjh was cleared to be matched to one of their applicants.
Zara took that to mean he wasn’t a serial killer or anything like that. He had never been married or had a long-term relationship. The man was gorgeous. She didn’t understand why women wouldn’t even date him when they learned he was a cyborg. He was a veteran for crying out loud. He deserved respect for what he must have been through.
After the Drayids came to Earth and destroyed whole sections of cities all over the world, she couldn’t understand their blatant rejection of him. He seemed friendly and warm, and he had a sense of humor. Korjh had learned English just to speak on videos to her in her own language. In every one he told her how much he wanted her to come be his life mate.
Zara had read and reread Korjh’s dossier online. She watched his videos again and talked it over with Ellie and her own family. Mom and Dad thought it was crazy. Her brother liked the idea so well, he decided to apply himself. Even Ellie was thinking about it. She and Zara had been friends since grade school. Ellie hated the idea of Zara moving to another planet without her.
“So, on your application, say you want a match on Modonne,” Zara said to Ellie during lunch break at work. “It’s been two months since I got matched to Korjh.” She paused and took a deep breath and let it out. “Ellie, I’m going to miss you terribly, but I’ve decided to marry Korjh.”
“I knew it!” she said, slapping the table. “As soon as you showed me that video, I knew you were going to go for it. I can’t say as I blame you. Only, what if it goes all wrong? You’re going to be in space for three months just getting there. What if he turns out to be a colossal jerk and you can’t stand him?”
“Then, I’m screwed,” Zara said.
“I think you will definitely be screwed,” Ellie replied with a naughty giggle. “It might not be so bad.”
“He is pretty hot looking,” Zara admitted blushing at the vision her mind had flashed of sex with Korjh.
“Yep, you’re definitely going,” Ellie snickered taking in her friend’s pink cheeks.
“I’m going. I have a crush on Korjh now, and I am pretty sure I will fall in love with him,” Zara admitted. “If it doesn’t work, I’ll figure something out. There’s a whole universe out there, and I want to see some of it.”
“Well, since I didn’t see how you could turn down that hot hunk, I already filled out my application a month ago, hoping they might find someone for me on Modonne,” Ellie admitted.
“I hope they do, if that’s what you really want,” Zara said.
Then the buzzer sounded for them to go back to work. Lunch with Ellie every day was the only thing she was going to miss about the place.