The Galactic Bride

Akihiko saw shame cross Lani's face. She pulled away and found her bottoms. Before she put them on, she used some tissues on the office desk to clean herself off, then offered him the same treatment. When they had gotten dressed, she helped him to his seat again, then took one herself on top of the desk.

"I pray that you don't hate me now." Lani was saying. She was definitely speaking in her own language, and Akihiko understood everything she was saying.

"Did we just have sex." He asked the obvious questions.

"Y-Yes … and no." She looked down. "I was ordered to make you learn our tongue the quickest way possible. So I preformed the transfer."

"Let me guess… that thing I felt going inside me and bursting… that was one of your seeds, wasn't it. But instead of it being a baby, you encoded it with your language."

She looked at him in surprise. "You figured that out pretty quick. Do the creatures on Terra-3 preform similar acts?"

"Not really. I just worked it out." Akihiko told her. "I also get the idea that what you did isn't very conventional."

"I-It's not. The transfer is usually revered only for wives." Lani looked away from him again. "It's a law that we never force a transfer on another. One may not want their thoughts stolen from them, or they might not want thoughts given to them as well. What I did was a horrible invasion. But… but I had no choice."

So he had been raped, was what she was saying. Perhaps if he had known the significance of it before hand it might feel different, but he didn't feel violated anymore. "What would have happened if I refused you?"

Lani looked at him quickly, then just as quickly looked away. "Please don't make me answer that."

"I can't make you do anything."

"You can now, at least for a few turns." 'Turns' he knew meant hours. How he knew it must have came from the transfer process. "We're connected now. You can ask me anything and I would have to answer it truthfully. So as you can see… what I did to you was very wrong. Transfers aren't meant for strangers."

"I'm sorry that you had to do that." Akihiko told her respectfully. "I could tell it was hard for you to do."

"Yes… now I only have 2 seeds left."

This surprised him. The Nimba must only have a limited amount of seeds they could use. Suddenly the whole royal heir issue made more sense. With a small amount of seeds going around, it really was important to sure up your linage. The General had forced Lani to give up something very precious. Another item went to the list of things he was tallying up against the General Anura. Poor Lani. She literally had to give up one of her babies for him.

He got out of his seat and gave her a tight hug. She stiffened but hugged him back. He could tell she wanted to cry and was holding it in. He wanted to cry for her. So he wasn't the only one who got raped in this deal, Lani had as well.

"I am sorry for what I have done, but let's try to make the best of it. If you can forgive me that is."

Akihiro pulled away and tried not to cry. "If you can forgive me, you mean."

"It's not your fault." Lani whispered, then stood up and walked around the desk and took a seat behind it. "S-Shall we begin with the lessons? Or are you too tired?"

He was tired, he still hadn't fully recovered from the pod. But it seemed like an insult to say he wanted to go to bed after Lani just gave him one of her seeds. "We can continue for a little while."

Lani smiled a soft smile then cleared her throat. "Language, reading, and writing are out of the way. Mathematics as well. You should be a proficient as I am after… after the transfer. So what I'm going to teach you now is culture and how things work in Nimbonian society. I apologize beforehand, because this might be difficult."

"How so?"

"Well, for one, I'm not of Noble birth. So I can't really tell you everything on that end. And two… I'm not sure what I can and can't explain. So I think the best way to go about this is if I explain things to we as go along. We'll arrive at Musa Minor in less than a Sub-Cyle (month) so that will be plenty of time to get the basics in. That is, if you think that's a good idea… if you still want me as your instructor…"

"You're the only Nimbonian I don't hate." Akihiko told her truthfully.

"Don't say that." Lani looked a bit bashful. "I think you're being too hard on everyone. We all have to follow orders, even General Anura."

"She didn't have to kill my best friend." Akihiko murmured. He'd never forgive that.

"Maybe not. But the General has been under a lot of pressure lately. Collecting Hidden-Seeds from other worlds is hard work. Especially on a Planet like Terra-3. If you can believe it, your old planet wasn't the only stop we've made on this voyage."

"You mean, there's others like me on board right now?"

Lani nodded. "Just one. Please don't ask me who, as I'm not allowed to say. But since we're still connected I'd have to tell you anyway."

"Okay. I don't want you to get in trouble." Akihiko held his hands up, seeing her panic a little. Then he asked a different question. "If you can, tell me why your ship is collecting people like me."

Lani opened her mouth and shut it. He could tell that she was having trouble with this one. Maybe it was one of those things he wasn't allowed to ask. But if that were so, she would have told him like the did before. "I'm afraid your opinion of my people will not get better once you find out."

"Just tell me."

She breathed in, looking sorrowful at him again. "The galaxy used to be a dangerous place. There are five powerful species who contend for control over everyone else. There's us, the Nimba, the Tyro, the Tarfulles, the Mari, and the Wahco. For centuries there was fighting among us. Finally, 298 cycles (years) ago there was an truce. The important families signed a treaty that insured the fighting stopped and that top noble house families ruled together in a Parliament. The Minister of parliament, and thus the Galactic Confederation, is voted by everyone else. These alliances stay strong by inter-marriages from each species. A Wahconese lady won't attack a Tyrian lord if her daughter is wed to the Tyrian daughter and so-on."

"Hold on…" Akihiko was processing all of this, but a little detail stuck out to him. "So none of the five races have males?"

"I hate to be the one to tell you this… but there aren't that many sentient beings that have two genders. Only lower forms of life, like animals, do. Your planet is unique in this aspect. There are other worlds like yours who have male genders. But from my experience, Terra-3 seems to be the most advanced of the bi-gender races."

"So… no men." Akihiko couldn't believe that. Then again, he just went through having weird alien mind-sex, so why was the thought of the universe being dominated by females any less strange?

"Up until a few rotations ago, you were the only male I have met." Lani giggled slightly at him. "Please don't be offended."

"I'm not… it's just…" he shook his head. "Go on. You were about to tell me how I come into all this.""Oh, yes. The ruling family right now are from the Mari clan, House Rola. In a less than a sub-cycle the Minister's daughter will be of marrying age. So all the important families want that alliance, and noble children like yourself are being gathered. Most are born and raised on the planet they are from. A few like you were hidden."

"So everyone is forcing their children on the Minister?" Akihiko asked, but was mainly just repeating the information for himself so he could get it all. "With how things are going along in your lesson, I'm pretty sure the Ministers daughter doesn't choice on who she was wants to marry, right? Her mother does."

"No. If the Minister were to pick the bride herself, that would might lead to gossip. People talking about how the Minister is biased towards one clan over the other." Lani finished then took a deep sigh. "This is the part where you'll hate us more. The Nobles are gathering as many heirs as they can to compete against each other. This is called 'The Contest'. It's not very fancy, but it gets the job done. Whoever wins will take the Minister's daughter's hand. Naturally, the noble with the most children in the Contest has a better shot of winning. Which is why putting hidden-seedlings like you into the fray is beneficial to your family."

Akihiko laughed a bit. "There's no way I can win. I know nothing about your culture and traditions. I'm just a number."

"The Contest… the Contest can be won by anyone, Kezri." Lani looked down. "It's not civilized like the rest of our society. It's brutal. This is why I said you will hate us. One only person may win this contest. It's not a sporting event, or an quiz, or game. It's a fight to the death."

At first Akihiko thought she was joking. Then he remembered how she had to answer truthfully for the next few hours. She was dead serious.

"What?! No way! You mean I might be killed fighting over some girl I've never even met?" Akihiko stood up. He would have paced, but the office wasn't that big. "And for what, so my 'family' is in good with the Minister? Screw that!"

"It's not just for prestige." Lani clarified. "While parliament often votes for the Minister, the important families often take the seat. This means that offsprings from the previous Minister's family are usually popular candidates. Almost always the person who takes over as the new Minister has either been in her family or is associated with her family by marriage. So we're not just talking about bragging rights, it's a power game between the Noble houses."

"I'm going to die…" Akihiko sat back down. "I'm going to be killed. I thought hidden-seedlings were supposed to be insurance for families that lost their heirs? How does this make any sense?"

"It's a waste." Lani was looking down, not being able to face him. "But… but in a rare event like this, risks are taken. This time around most of the Nimbonian Nobles don't have marriage-aged heirs that can compete. Only a few. And to top it all off your house, House Grajin, isn't that large. So some houses have had to pull their hidden-seedlings into play so that they stand a chance. I'm so sorry about all of this."

"So… you gave up your seed for nothing. I'm just going to die in some stupid alien tournament." Akihiko felt defeated. Why didn't they just kill him back on Earth and get it over with.

"I didn't give up my seed to a loser." Lani whispered. "You are going to win."

"You're just saying that."

"I have to believe it." Lani's voice was shaking. "You and I are now connected. I don't want to see you die."

"I've gotten into fights before, but…" Akihiko looked at his knuckles, expecting to see the bruises that were still there when he was taken by General Anura. Of course they were healed up when his hands had been reformed in the pod.

"It's so much to ask of you." Lani told him softly. "But you must try to live. If you win… then maybe you will be able to visit Terra-3 again."

Akihiko felt dizzy. The amount of time he had been active and the influx of information was too much. "I think I'm tired now."

Lani stood up, went around the desk, and stopped at his chair. She offered him her hand. "I will help you win in any way I can." She reassured him. "We will win this together."

There was something in the way in which she said that which really made Akihiko nervous. He briefly wondered if she had an investment in all of this. Other than her military obligation that was. If she was part of the Grajin family she'd need him to try his best. But he didn't have the nerve to ask her. He didn't want to think badly of his only friend.

"I'll take you to your cabin." Lani's hand was still reached out to him. "You need your rest and… and I think you'll be happy for it."

He rised and realized that walking was still difficult. How long would it take for him to get used to his new body? If he was this worthless than his prediction of dying on an alien world wasn't that far fetched. Then again him winning a fighting tournament wasn't all that believable either.

Lani led him down a few winding hallways, down a lift, and more hallways until they reached his cabin. She pressed her palm on a wall panel before the door and they opened up after the scan. As and after thought she pressed his own hand on the panel, even though the door was already opened. It scanned it. When it was done she withdrew it.

"Only you, me, and General Anura can access this room now." Lani told him. "Go on in. Do you need me to show you around?"

"Uh… no." Akihiko wanted to be alone for now. His brain was starting to hurt as much as his body was.

"I understand. I'll come back later. If you want to call me, there is a similar panel by the door. Just tell it to call Lani. Wherever I am, I'll get your message."

"Okay."

"Please rest up." Lani looked at him worried. "And… and thank you for being so gentle with me before."

He wasn't sure what she meant by that at first, then remembered the Transfer. How he was gentle, he didn't know what was going on? Still he felt the need to say something. "No matter what, I'll never hate you, Lani."

Lani's eyes started to water. "T-Thank you."

She left. Akihiko looked at his small cabin a bit before heading for the bed. It really was just a room for a bed, a dresser and small bathroom. There barely was any room for anything else. He went and sat on his bed and groaned, his body aching. Then when he leaned back he felt something on his back. He turned around and saw a lump in the bed that he hadn't seen when he entered. When he poked it again, the lump moaned. Pushing the covers off the lump he saw it was a girl, and not just any girl. A bi-racial tan japanese girl.

"H-Hana-chan?"

Hana Takei sat up, sleepy eyed and looked at him. There was a moment of confusion on her face, then she took a wary smile. "So you've finally woke up. I was so worried Aki-chan."