Chapter 32: Aisha & Quinton

AISHA

“Where are we going?” Aisha asked as Quinton pulled on a shirt.

“You’re going to see the other Rictorians. And I’m going to see the other operatives.”

“Why?”

“It seems things have come up. Zibry needs to speak with us. And apparently his companion wants to speak with you—and the others.”

Aisha raised her eyebrows. “Brenda?” She frowned. “I wonder what she wants.”

It didn’t really matter. The thought made her excited—to see them all again. It had been a while, and with things moving along so quickly with Quinton…

She looked up and watched him as he straightened his shirt. Her heart skipped a beat.

“Come,” he said, turning with a smile and reaching out his hand.

Aisha stood and took it.

Quinton walked slowly to keep pace with her. She recognized the direction he took. They were going to the helmet room.

She stood before the door, excitement humming through her veins.

Quinton opened the door and they stepped inside. Heads turned her way. Brenda stood with a smile.

“I’ll just be around the corner,” he said, nodding toward the mirror. “With the others.”

Aisha watched him go, then turned to the others. There was Chloe, Alexis, and Juan. Myeong hadn’t arrived, and she doubted Karina would.

They were all smiling at her. Two benches were pushed together, so they were sitting facing each other.

Brenda touched her shoulder as she sat down next to her. “So, how’ve you been?” She spoke in English, and it made Aisha jolt in surprise. It was strange how…~alien~ it sounded.

“G-Good. B-better.” She was folding and unfolding her hands in her lap. She glanced toward the mirror. Why did she suddenly feel nervous?

Brenda looked around the group. “I’ve asked that we should meet together—touch base to make sure we’re all okay.”

“Couldn’t be better,” Juan said.

Alexis was leaning in her seat, looking content, her long white braids spilling down her shoulders.

Aisha didn’t realize she was staring at her until the woman raised her yellow eyes, and Aisha looked away with a start.

“What about you two?” Brenda said. “How are you doing with everything?”

Aisha looked up and quickly covered her face with her hair as Brenda’s green eyes darted between Chloe and herself. She felt herself blush.

Immediately, she got the impression that this meeting wasn’t about the group at all—but about her and Chloe. The unbonded. The ~virgins~.

Aisha couldn’t speak. Chloe was looking down at the bench, her hair hanging around her face, when there came the sound of the door opening.

They all looked up to find Myeong. Aisha’s heart leapt into her throat, then sank into her stomach. She was changed. She was bonded. Another one!

Behind the woman, the giant Zibon clasped her shoulder and squeezed it, his eyes darting over each of their faces before turning to leave.

“Myeong!” Juan cried.

He raced over to give her a hug. She hugged back, laughing. He stood back, holding out her arms. “You’ve done it!”

Aisha tried to think what was so different about her but couldn’t figure it out. There was nothing obvious. She was just…different.

As though she was somebody else that looked like Myeong.

Brenda was on her feet grinning. Alexis was smiling up from the table. Chloe looked stricken. She glanced at Aisha. Their eyes briefly met.

Myeong came over and sat. She looked radiant. Happy. Glowing. She couldn’t stop smiling. Aisha hadn’t seen her smile before. She looked beautiful.

Aisha pulled the hair further over her face and shrank into herself.

She felt strangely isolated as she watched the group of bonded talk and laugh together. Both she and Chloe remained quiet.

Aisha hung her face lower as she shifted awkwardly in her seat.

Finally, the greetings were over.

“I’ve come with a present,” Brenda said. “Well, not really a present. And not so much for you, Juan.”

Aisha looked up. They all watched curiously as Brenda reached beneath the bench and pulled up a bag.

She emptied it onto the table. “Pads for everyone,” she said. She sighed. “No tampons, I’m afraid. And they’re not really comfortable. The Zibons had to make them quickly.”

Aisha picked one up. It was folded over, looking heavy and huge.

Juan was snorting with laughter as he picked up another and studied it. He shook his head. “I’m so glad I’m not a woman.”

Alexis picked up one with her fingertips, holding it away as if she didn’t want to touch it. “It looks like a diaper.”

“Well,” Brenda bit her lip, “I guess it kind of is. With no underwear…” She shrugged.

“Yikes.” Alexis dropped it, a disgusted tilt to her mouth. “I’m not wearing that.”

“Well, it’s either this or nothing.” Brenda leaned toward them with a frown. “You know I had to explain to them what a period is?”

They all looked at her in surprise.

“What?” Alexis snorted.

“That’s right. Apparently, their females don’t menstruate.” She twisted her mouth as she struggled not to laugh. “It scared the hell out of Zibry.”

Alexis craned her neck to try and see into Brenda’s lap. “So, you’re wearing one?”

Brenda grimaced. “And I’m afraid it looks as awful as it feels. But it’s only temporary!” she added at Myeong’s frightened look. “Until they make something better.”

Chloe was gazing in horror at the nearest “pad.” She poked it with her finger. Aisha felt an insane urge to laugh.

“And that’s why I asked for this meeting,” Brenda said. “They know almost nothing about us, and I just want to make sure that nobody has any questions.”

Her eyes lingered a little too long upon Aisha and Chloe. Alexis was looking at them too. Aisha glanced toward the mirror.

“I—I have no questions,” Aisha lied. How could she speak in front of them all? It was already embarrassing enough for them to suspect her history.

For them to know what was lying ahead for her. It made her feel uncomfortable as a woman. As a ~woman~. She’d never really felt like a woman before.

Chloe was blazing red in the face. Her hands were behind the table, but Aisha could imagine her twisting them over and over in her lap.

“Chloe?” Brenda said. “Are you okay?”

Chloe looked at the redhead, then down at the bench. She lowered her head so her hair fell in front of her face.

Myeong leaned forward. “Chloe? You can talk to us. Tor…”

The girl jerked up her head at the sound of her alien’s name. “…is he treating you right?”

The girl nodded quickly.

Inexplicably, Aisha’s face turned hot. Her whole body was turning hot. She bit down on her lip, hoping against hope that she wouldn’t fit.

But the feeling didn’t get worse. She’d had another injection earlier that morning.

~Injection.~

~It doesn’t matter. You’re my match. Once we’re bonded, nothing like that will matter.~

She saw an image of Quinton seizing on the floor, his handsome face screwed up, his huge body all tensed.

“Aisha, are you all right?”