CHAPTER 2
Jennifer’s cell phone beeped. Glancing at it on her upper arm, she flicked the read button. Smiling at the irreverent invitation for their besties to meet up at Rose’s to talk about hunks, her mind was drawn momentarily away from the transaction. As the customer fussed over the details of each garment, Jen mulled over her need for some good quality girl time. It had been a seriously shitty day.
The woman in front of her walked around the four models, inspecting Jennifer’s latest designs. “You’re certain these are appropriate for a formal wedding on Naxon III?”
Gesturing with her hand, she pointed out the elegant details that would communicate the outfit was formalwear. “See the high-curved collar. This is only used on formalwear. The waistline as the traditional three-pleat design at mid-back. A Naxion would have a tail bone protruding in this area. Though that is a nonissue for humans, the pleats are still expected to be in place for formal occasions. The lack of pleating communicates unfamiliarity with their anatomy. Since the Naxion are very body proud, a lack of appropriate pleating might be construed as an insult.”
“It sounds like nonsense to me.”
“Have it your way. If you don’t want my designs, I’ll simply sell them to someone else. No hard feelings.” Jen was careful to keep her voice calm, professional, and polite.
“Don’t be touchy. I like the designs. I just don’t know why aliens have to be so different.”
“Maybe because they’re, you know, alien.”
The woman held up her wrist phone and scrolled to her credit account. Jennifer invoiced her for the garments and the woman hit pay. “Transaction complete. Thanks for shopping with JenEl Designs.”
Nodding politely without taking her eyes off the designs, the woman herded her models away. Only then did it really hit her that the woman hadn’t made eye contact with her once during the entire transaction. The now too-familiar feeling of being a person of little importance settled over her again.
Wrapping her arms around her stomach, she headed home to get ready for her evening of visiting Rose in her penthouse. Navigating the vast underbelly of the city-sized cave complex was always cause for concern. Only people who couldn’t afford to live on the upper levels resorted to squatting in every corner of the service tunnels. It was the quickest way to access any area of the city and no one stood at every juncture to collect a toll, like on the upper levels.
Jen scurried along with the hood of her cloak pulled up to cover her fiery red hair. She ignored the people around her and made her way to access thirty-three. They didn’t look at her, and she paid little attention to them. The section was a relative safe haven for dozens of scruffs, mostly women. They were crammed into every dark corner, their hungry faces turning away as she passed. They tended to hide, fearful of the officers tasked with gathering them up. Fewer and fewer raids had been executed since the economy tanked. Jen guessed Earth Gov no longer had the capacity to care for or relocate them anymore.
Realizing she was most likely going to be stay the night at Rose’s, she motioned a familiar face to follow her. The slight form of a woman moved forward, holding a small toddler to her breast.
“Sara, do you have a place for the night?”
“Nothing. Do you have space for us?”
“For the night only. Come.”
“Thank the gods for you, Lady Jen.”
Nodding uncomfortably, Jen turned on her heel, knowing the woman she barely knew would follow. Do what you can, as you can. Her father’s words rang in her ears as she walked. There were so many in need and she had little to give. It was enough to pull her out of her good mood. She climbed the steps one level to a cluster of tightly packed efficiency apartments. Jen slid her thumb over the keypad, entered the darkened apartment, and headed to her tiny alcove.
Tossing off her dark brown cloak, she sat on her tiny bed. Laying back, she relaxed into her soft blankets, feeling lucky to have a home at all. Unlike the unlucky woman waiting in the hallway, Jen had been fortunate enough to learn a skill and was good enough at it to support herself. Personal space was at a premium underground. She didn’t even care that she shared her apartment with seven other people; this tiny area was all her own. Each person had a small square cubicle and shared a tiny bath and kitchenette. She’d been careful to decorate her cubicle over the years in an eclectic style that reminded her of home.
Her parents had died when she was young and she’d been raised in an orphan bank. Remembering all the long, cold nights lying awake listening for signs of danger, left her feeling chilled. The child banks were long dormitories housing up to a thousand orphans at a time. Jen was one of the few kids to have lost both parents to death. Most of the others had been given up or were born to parents who already had a child. She spent the better part of her life wishing for the few years of happiness with her parents back again. The closest thing to a family she’d managed to find was Rose’s home. Being with her friends was about the only time she didn’t feel like the forgotten orphan she was.
Stripping off her clothing, she spent a few moments in their tiny sonic shower before carefully dressing in one of her favorite creations. Her short flirtatious skirt was topped with a body-hugging half shirt. Sighing, she covered her charming outfit with her dark cloak and headed out for her evening of fun.
Stepping into the hallway, she motioned the woman and child forward. “Sarah, you know the rules. Shower, sleep, use the nutrient port but don’t mess with my things.”
“As always, I agree to your terms. Me and my little one thank you.”
Jen smiled wearily. “No sense in my bed sitting empty all night while you sleep on the ground. Perhaps one day Earth Gov will be able to provide for all its people equally.”
Arriving at Rose’s home, her spirits picked up to see the get together was in full swing. Wading through the throng of women in the huge custom-designed suite made her smile. People touched her and called out to her as she passed, making her feel welcome. Plopping down beside Rose on her huge wraparound sofa, she looked over at her smiling friend.
“What’s up, girlfriend?”
“Earned enough to support myself for the next several months today.”
Rose’s smile grew to a huge grin. “You’ve got talent. I want you to work your magic on me. I need something special to wear to meet the Krylon delegation.”
Jennifer turned to her friend. “Don’t tease me. Did your father invite you to the initial greeting?”
“Yep, and I don’t have a thing to wear.”
Smiling, Jen bit her bottom lip. “I have some ideas.”
“I knew you would. I’ve just been thinking about this whole Krylon offer.”
Jen teased her overly studious friend. “I’m sure your gears have been working overtime. Tell me what’s been eating at you about this.”
“They want to trade us for all kinds of nifty stuff Earth needs. I’d say bring on the hunks but hells bells. We don’t know a freaking thing about them. What if they have two dicks, three tongues, or poop out their elbows? We gotta get more information.”
“Can’t you just ask your dad? He’s the ambassador handling the negotiations. If he doesn’t know, he can definitely find that kind of thing out.”
“Girl, are you even hearing the words coming out of your mouth. Like there is a small chance in hell I’m going to have a conversation with that man about an alien’s genitalia. He’d keel over dead.”
Eden stumbled over giggling, clearly intoxicated already. “She’s got a point.”
“I just want simple information, like if they kiss.”
Jennifer stated in a loud clear voice. “Computer, initiate query.”
“I already tried that.”
“Maybe you didn’t ask the right questions. Computer pull for ALL KNOWN SOURCES of information on Krylon mating practices, specifically any references to kiss, kissing, kissed, mouth mating, lip lock, or lips joined together.”
“Processing. Processing. Processing…”
“Stop giving processing update. Speak again when finished processing.”
“Acknowledged.”
Holly pressed a drink into her hands. It was huge and electric blue. Taking a sip, her toes curled. Everyone noticed and laughed.
They talked about the rumors they’d heard. Of all the women present, none were anything less than excited about the possibility of Earth and Krylon striking a deal that would give them the opportunity at a better life. As the drinks flowed, the girl talk got progressively more outrageous.
Rose slid to the floor in front of the sofa and turned, propping her chin on her arms. “I want to spend every weekend laying on a sandy beach. Can you even imagine swimming in a real ocean?”
Jen grinned at her tipsy friend. “I’m tracking one hundred percent with that plan. I’d enjoy strutting this stuff in a nice old-fashioned swimsuit. With my luck, it’ll be illegal to show skin or something on the Krylon home world.”
A small voice chimed in, sounding a little awe struck. “I’ve heard that people come from all over the galaxy to trade with the Krylon. There are luxurious shops and no such thing as money, so people can have whatever they want.”
A petite Asian woman interjected quickly, “I don’t believe that’s accurate information. Every alien culture I’ve studied has some monetary system in place. There’s no reason to believe the Krylon are any different, Cara.”
Jen deadpanned back. “In that case, Maiko, we’ll have to make sure we get rich husbands.”
The woman’s eyes got big. “You’d really go and mate an alien?”
“Sure would, if it got me off this dead rock. I’d take sunshine and beaches over living underground and wearing a respirator to breathe outdoors any day. Wouldn’t you?”
The woman looked crestfallen. “It hardly matters. The imperial father would never allow me such an adventure.”
Rose looked up at the woman. “He let you come here to study. Maybe, if we found you someone super special to marry, he’d go for it. Someone befitting your station.”
The woman rolled her eyes. “You’ll have to enjoy it enough for both of us. I may be able to talk him into a visit.”
Rose bit her bottom lip. “I never said I wanted to go.”
The woman laughed and sat beside her. “You didn’t have to. I can tell because you’re so curious and switched on. I can practically see the excitement coursing through your body.”
Jen teased playfully. “That’s not excitement related to a possible adventure. It’s sexual frustration; she hasn’t been laid in about a million years.”
Rose snatched up a toss cushion and threw it at her snarky friend. That set off a pillow fight with three of the younger sisters. They were all under sixteen and adorable when they got silly.