Maggie looked around nervously and moved a little closer to Lathim. They’d reached Alpha9 an hour ago and were now exploring the trading post. The crew had offloaded some goods and were bartering for items their world needed, while Lathim led Maggie around to the different vendors. They were selling everything from clothing to food to living beings. Seeing the slaves saddened Maggie, and she knew that could have easily been her fate if Lathim hadn’t found her before the pirates had. She had no doubt the pirates would have passed her around until they were bored and then would have sold her to the highest bidder.

“Something pretty for your lady?” one of the vendors called out, holding up a handful of jewelry.

Lathim paused and looked over the items available. He lifted a golden armband encrusted with jewels. Maggie’s jaw dropped a little as he began to haggle with the merchant over the price. He didn’t really intend to purchase something so extravagant for her, did he? When Lathim shook hands with the man, Maggie knew the deal had been made. She stared up at him, wide-eyed, as he reached for her arm and fastened the band around her biceps.

“Lathim, it’s too much,” she protested.

“I want everyone to know you belong to someone. Perhaps I’ll start something new. All of our mates will wear armbands, in the event my world ever gets so many females we need to differentiate between mated females and single ones.”

She snorted. “You could just purchase a bunch of slaves and take them to your world.”

He paused and looked down at her. “Slaves?”

“It never occurred to you to purchase females? Plenty of males buy sex slaves.”

He growled softly. “We would never do that to a female.”

“And yet you purchase their services from brothels. Don’t you realize those women were sold to those places? They didn’t ask for that kind of life. Visiting a brothel is no different from buying your own personal slave. Except you’d get to have sex regularly.” Maggie crossed her arms. “Did you seriously think a woman would sign up to have many sexual partners every day for the rest of her life, until she contracted some sexually transmitted disease and died from it?”

He paled and cursed under his breath, gripping her hand tight. He began tugging her back toward the ship and his crew. She didn’t know if she’d overstepped, or if he was anxious to impart her words of wisdom. Had they seriously never considered those women didn’t want that type of life? Of course they hadn’t. They were men and all men thought about was sex. If they were happy to have it countless times a day with nameless women, then they just assumed the women felt the same way. Idiots.

He stopped where his crew was loading their new items onto the ship.

“No more brothels,” he said.

The men stopped and stared at him.

“What do you mean by that?” Tenz asked.

“The living females there aren’t there under their own free will. They were sold to those places and don’t want that kind of life,” Lathim said. “It would be wrong to force them to be with us.”

Querrill frowned. “So what do you suggest? That we use sex bots indefinitely?”

“Or find mates,” Lathim said. “I know there are hundreds of us on our world, and no females, but maybe we should start purchasing female slaves and freeing them on our world. Surely they would pair off with someone.”

Maggie tugged on his sleeve. “Are you guys wealthy?”

“We steal from pirates, that includes any currency they might have,” Lathim said. “We just prefer to trade when we’re able.”

“You could purchase brides,” Maggie said.

“Purchase?” Tenz asked. “Wouldn’t that be the same as buying a sex slave? Or using the brothels?”

Maggie shook her head. “There’s a new program called Galactic Mates, where you can browse a catalog of available females. The women selected are an 80% match to most races for sexual compatibility and come from many different worlds. They have to sign an agreement, and in exchange a large percentage of the money used to purchase them goes to their families. They aren’t forced into the program.”

Lathim scratched his jaw. “How much do these mates sell for?”

“It depends on race, education, age… lots of different factors. My father once asked if I wanted to join the program since he knew it was doubtful I’d ever find a suitable mate while living on his ship. I think he was also concerned that he’d be raided and I’d be stolen.”

“I’ll look into it,” Querrill said. “We couldn’t populate our entire planet that way, but we could perhaps purchase a few brides for those who are more… enhanced than others.”

“What does that mean?” Maggie asked.

“When you look at me, can you tell I’m a cyborg? Or my crew members?” Lathim asked.

“There are rumors of cyborgs, with vivid descriptions. From your appearance, I’d assumed that’s what you were, but if I hadn’t heard those stories, I’d never have known any part of you was mechanical if you hadn’t told me.”

He nodded. “Some of our cyborg brothers are not so fortunate. Some of their mechanical parts can be seen on the outside, and the only female companionship they can find are with sex bots. No living female will touch them.”

“Captain, everything is loaded. Are we leaving or are we purchasing slaves?” Tenz asked. He looked unsettled by the idea.

“No slaves for now,” Lathim said. “We already have two females on board that we need to get home. I think it would be best if we were on Xpashta before Jillian wakes up. I don’t know how she’ll react, but she could cause problems on the ship if she’s unstable.”

“I’ll set a course for Xpashta,” Zorlok said. “We’ll be home by the evening meal.”

Lathim led Maggie back onto the ship and went to the command center. When he sat, he pulled her onto his lap and looped an arm around her waist. She leaned against him and felt excitement thrum through her. She was going to a new world, her new home. While she was elated that she’d get to see her new home, there was also a bit of trepidation over being on a world with hundreds of males and no females other than herself and Jillian. She hoped it wouldn’t cause problems for Lathim.

“Captain, we’ve messaged ahead to let everyone know about the two females arriving with us, and that they’ve already been claimed. There may be curiosity, but no one will try to take them from you or Rorwick,” Zorlok said. “If anything, they seem excited that females were willing to mate with us.”

“It gives them hope they won’t be alone forever,” Lathim said.

“Captain, with your permission, I’d like to remain with the ship in hopes that there might be other females out there who would mate with our kind,” Zorlok said. “Permission to ask your female a question.”

“Granted.”

Zorlok focused on her. “Maggie, if you had not been running in fear from the pirates, would you have given Lathim a chance to become your mate? Or would the fact he’s cyborg have made you too afraid?”

Her brow furrowed. “I’ve heard the stories about cyborgs and how deadly and fearsome you are. I think I would have been afraid, but all I would have had to do was look into his eyes to know the rumors weren’t true. I didn’t trust him just as a way to escape the pirates. I saw kindness in his eyes.”

“So, you’re saying if we treat the females we meet kindly, show them we aren’t monsters, then we’ll have just as much of a chance as anyone else to claim them?” Zorlok asked.

“Yes. At least, that’s how I feel. I can’t speak for every woman out there.”

Zorlok hesitated a moment. “Do you think that humans like yourself might be more open to accepting us? I’ve seen reports of your Earth and there are many races living together on your world. Do you think it makes you more tolerant of people who are different?”

Maggie chewed on her lip. “My world is not without its faults. We have prejudices and racism just like other planets. But there are a lot of good people on my world, women who don’t care about the color of someone’s skin or what world they come from. They won’t care you have mechanical parts inside. We have men who come back from war with missing limbs and they’re able to find love, so I don’t see why a cyborg wouldn’t be able to as well.”

“Captain, with your permission, after we’ve offloaded everything and the human females are settled on Xpashta, I’d like permission to use the Mystic7 to find other human females in distress who might be open to mating with us.” Zorlok frowned. “I think they might be more open to it than others, and if they are half as lovely as your Maggie and Rorwick’s Jillian, then we will be truly blessed.”

Maggie felt her cheeks warm at the compliment.

“Permission granted,” Lathim said. “Log the orders into the system so the next captain won’t put up a fight over it.”

Zorlok smiled. “They’ve assigned Milore. He’s been complaining about a lack of mates on our world for a while now. I think he will be open to the new mission.”

“I don’t believe you’ll get complaints from the crew. Rorwick will need to be replaced. Once we know the status of his mate’s health and mental state, we can look at reassigning him to a ship, but for now I think he needs to remain on Xpashta.”

“Agreed,” Zorlok said. “I don’t think he’ll fight you on it. He’s barely left the female’s side since he carried her to his quarters. His duties have been assigned to the others for now. Everyone was eager to help out, and we’re all hoping the female will be all right.”

“Lathim,” Maggie said. “I know you want to show me your world, and I want to see it, but do you think I should spend time with Rorwick and Jillian until she wakes up? She might not be as frightened if she sees another human.”

Lathim’s arms tightened around her. “I don’t know if she’ll try to attack when she awakens. You’re not going anywhere near her until I know it’s safe.”

“Captain, we’re about to fold space. I’ve notified the crew,” Zorlok said.

“Maggie, I want you to take a deep breath, let it out, and close your eyes. Your stomach may flip and you might get lightheaded for a moment,” Lathim said. “No matter how disoriented you get, I won’t let you fall.”

Maggie nodded and did as he said, clutching tight to him as it felt like the ship pitched beneath them. Her stomach flipped and flopped, nausea rose in her throat, and her ears started to ring. She felt like someone had stuck her in a washing machine and put it on spin cycle. The floor rumbled, the vibrations coming through the chair and Lathim to rattle her bones. When it smoothed back out, she gulped in a lungful of air.

“I think I’m going to be sick,” she mumbled, burying her face against Lathim.

He rubbed her back and the nausea settled a little. “It won’t be long now before we’re home, and you won’t have to get back on a ship anytime soon.”

“You’re staying there with me, right?”

“I’ll stay for a while. Eventually, I’ll be asked to captain the Mystic7 again, but for now my priority is you. I will probably be assigned duties on Xpashta for the next few months or so. If the idea of me leaving causes you too much stress, I can request to be assigned to Xpashta permanently.”

She sighed. “You love being on this ship, don’t you?”

“I do, but I like being with you too. If you want me to remain at home, I will.”

Maggie didn’t say anything else and instead turned her attention to the space surrounding the ship. There were planets in the distance, all varying colors. She looked for a pink and purple one, eager to see her new home. The thought of Lathim leaving her at home to captain a ship again scared her, but only because she didn’t know how well she would be received on Xpashta. Zorlok had said the other cyborgs seemed excited that she was mated to Lathim, but she didn’t know how comfortable she would feel on a world full of single males.

They passed several planets, and in the clearing ahead she saw it. Xpashta was stunning with the swirls of pink, purple, and teal. There were a few streaks of white here and there. She leaned a little further away from Lathim to get a better look.

“It’s beautiful,” she said.

“As pretty as your Earth?” he asked.

“Much prettier. How long before we land?”

“About two of your Earth hours,” Zorlok answered. “Captain, your presence is requested in the cargo hold. Maggie may stay here if she wishes. I’ll keep an eye on her.”

Lathim sighed and kissed Maggie’s cheek. “I’ll return shortly. Zorlok is a wealth of information if you have more questions.”

Maggie stood and let Lathim leave the command center. She claimed the seat he’d just vacated and focused on the planet that would be her home from now on. Zorlok turned to look at her.

“I can’t read minds,” he said.

Maggie laughed. “Do you think I’ll be in any danger on your world?”

“From other cyborgs? No. The wildlife on the planet is mostly tame, but there are vicious creatures in the wooded areas. I wouldn’t venture far from the military base unless you have a male with you for protection.”

“How large is the base?” she asked.

“It comfortably houses several hundred cyborgs, and there is still space for more. We have a market where we trade for things we need. Food is free to everyone. You simply select what you’d wish to eat for the week and carry it back to your home. We never take more than we can use so it’s not been an issue.”

“Querrill is a doctor?” she asked.

“Yes, he’s the ship’s medic.”

“Are there others on your world? If I get sick, will there be someone there to heal me?”

Zorlok nodded. “Each ship is assigned a medic, and there are more than a dozen who remain on Xpashta. They take turns being assigned to the ships, but once we start settling down with mates, I’m sure things will change.”

“Some mates might like travelling in space with you. At least until they have children.”

His brow furrowed. “You truly think someone would wish to have children with us? Would you be willing to give Lathim children? It’s something we’ve feared. Even if we found mates, we worried they wouldn’t want offspring from us.”

“I told Lathim I’m open to the idea, but I want time to get to know him first.”

“Then make sure he gets the injection when we reach Xpashta.”

“What injection?” she asked.

“When we were part of the Cy-Con program, they created many serums. One of them inhibits production of sperm for up to three months. Instead of relying on our sexual partners to be on birth control, it was decided that we would be injected to ensure no children were created while we were on active duty. It’s a temporary thing though, and wears off over the course of about three months. There’s no guarantee how long it will work as it varies from cyborg to cyborg. And it’s not like it just evaporates from our systems and suddenly we can have children again. It slowly diminishes and the lower the serum level in our system, the better the chance we can get our partner pregnant.”

“Is it safe?” Maggie asked. “What if it can’t be reversed?”

Zorlok paused. “None of us have had children since entering the Cy-Con program. It’s possible that the injections were not reversible. We’ve continued to get them every few months, for those of us who leave our world. We won’t know for certain until either you or Jillian have a baby if the injections wear off like we were told. We’ve assumed that we’re capable of creating life, but perhaps we aren’t. We could run tests, but I know after everything we’ve been through, going to medical isn’t our favorite pastime. But if the serum works the way we were told, then Lathim should be able to have children with you when the serum wears off.”

“So, there will be pressure put on Lathim and me to have babies?” she asked.

“Perhaps. Our leaders will want to know if it’s possible for the two of you to have children. Jillian was damaged and will be allowed more time before they begin asking questions. With you, they will assume you’re having sex already.”

Maggie’s cheeks burned. “How do you know we aren’t?”

“The captain wouldn’t have come out of his quarters even if the ship were on fire if you were. He’d have holed up in there and kept you sated for days.”

Her cheeks burned brighter. “Sorry I asked.”

Zorlok chuckled. “It’s nothing to be embarrassed over. You have a cyborg mate, and we have lusty appetites. Especially since it’s so seldom we get to be with a living female. The bots have their place, but it isn’t the same thing. They’re essentially synthetic androids.”

“I’ve heard they’re lifelike. The ones on my father’s ship certainly looked real.”

“To an extent. They are programmed to answer questions pertaining to sex, but you can’t really have a conversation with one. They are not sentient beings and cannot learn beyond what they are programmed to do. We could make them more realistic, I suppose, but it still wouldn’t be the same as having a mate.”

“You know, there are cities on Earth where the women outnumber the men. It’s a shame you can’t advertise in those areas that you’re seeking mail order brides.”

He frowned. “Mail order brides?”

“Sending off for a wife, sight unseen, and claiming her as your mate when she arrives to meet you on your world. If only there were shuttles going from my world to yours. I haven’t been on Earth since I was a little girl, but I still hear news from there. Have you heard of Terrans?”

“I am not familiar with a race called Terrans.”

“They’ve set up a bride program on my world. Women apply to be mated to them, and once they’ve been accepted into the program, they’re sent to the alien world to select a mate.”

Zorlok turned to face her fully. “Do you think these Terrans might agree to extend their program to my world? Are there enough human females on Earth who would agree to such a mating?”

“I think it wouldn’t hurt to ask. When you leave Xpashta, see if you can find Earth. Shuttles travel from there to Terran Prime all the time, from what I hear. If your world is too far, maybe one of your ships could meet a shuttle partway and then deliver the women to your world. Just think of how quickly you could find mates then. And I’ve heard the Terrans are purple like you. I had thought maybe you were related.”

“There are many purple races in the galaxies. The closest relation to the Zelranians are Zelthranites. Their ancestors crash landed on Zelran hundreds of years ago and mated with a race of white beings with blue hair who already inhabited the planet. Zelranians today have a lighter color purple flesh than the Zelthranites, and they maintain the blue hair of our ancestors. Those of us in the Cy-Con program have white hair because of all the experimentation. It changed us in many ways.”

“Do you still have contact with the Zelthranites?” she asked.

“No, they live many days from our world, much closer to your Earth. We are allies if war breaks out, but we do not communicate often.”

“It’s a shame. Maybe they know of females who would mate with you.”

“After we deliver Jillian and you to Xpashta, I will seek out this Earth and hope we can enter an agreement with the Terrans. Or perhaps they would at least let us consider the females they didn’t want.”

“You won’t know if you don’t ask,” Maggie said.

Zorlok turned back around and took the controls again. “Brace yourself, Maggie. We’ll be entering Xpashta’s atmosphere in a moment and it might get bumpy. Not much longer and you’ll land on your new home.”

Butterflies rioted in her stomach and she forced herself to relax. She wished Lathim was sitting with her, but her mate didn’t reappear until after the ship landed on Xpashta. Everyone had filed out of the command center except Zorlok, who waited patiently with her. When Lathim appeared, he looked irritated and she hoped it wasn’t bad news.