Human capitulation came right after the aliens threatened to annihilate the entire population of Earth in the same fashion if we didn’t surrender.
As Trevin pointed out, the Kealans left the coalition in charge of Earth’s administration, not getting involved much in our politics or our way of life. They built two facilities, one on each of Earth’s poles, and implemented mandatory annual medical evaluations for all humans aged eighteen to sixty.
Other than that, it was easy to forget with time that Earth had been conquered at all.
“Please take a seat, Isabella.” Trevin’s stare carried a power I found myself unable to disobey. I sat at the table across from him, folding my hands over the large red strawberries printed on the plastic tablecloth. “About a week ago, the coalition received a request from the Kealans. They demanded you be handed over to them.”
“Me?” I repeated, stunned, a fog of confusion and denial settled over my brain. “There must be some mistake . . .”
“No mistake. They want you,” Miller bit off.
Trevin leaned in, resting his hands on the table. “We were able to negotiate some time to discuss the situation last week. However, this morning, their request was made urgent—” A sudden thought appeared to flash through his mind. “When was your last medical examination?”
“Yesterday,” I replied, clutching my hands tight. “What do they want with me?”
The exams were done by the local doctor, for free and with no known health consequences observed. Alien robot-drones delivered the test kits and collected the data obtained. After nine years, the global medical exams had become the norm. By now, hardly anyone questioned it, begrudgingly accepting having to go see the doctor once a year as something that had to be done—kind of like renewing one’s driver’s licence, or filing taxes.
“You had one done yesterday?” Trevin exchanged a knowing look with the other men at the table. “That may explain the urgency.”
“How?” Even more perplexed, I moved my gaze from one face to another. “What do they want?” I asked again, since no one had answered me the first time.
“Well.” Trevin leaned against the back of his chair, stretching his neck and obviously stalling his answer.
“Your current physical state may be of some importance to them,” Carter joined in.
“What do you mean? When will I be able to come home?”
Carter glanced at Trevin. Something in the expressions of the two sent a chill of trepidation down my spine.
“I will come back, won’t I?” I insisted, louder.
“The extraterrestrials offered you Kealan citizenship. Through marriage.” Trevin shifted in his chair, making it squeak. “To that extent, they also agreed to honour our traditions and have a proper wedding ceremony—”
“What wedding?” both Mom and I said at once.
Rolling his eyes to the ceiling, Miller leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms over his chest. “Yours,” he explained, with a dramatic sigh of exasperation. “The aliens want one of them to marry you.”
“Which is a good thing when you think about it,” Carter rushed in. “It could be presented as a gesture of good will—”
“Presented to whom?” I jumped from my seat. All of it stopped making any sense whatsoever. “What are you all talking about? I’m not going anywhere. I’m perfectly fine where I am. Why would the aliens want me anyway? I’ve never met them and don’t want to.”
I’d watched the news broadcast of the few official visits of the Kealans with the coalition. The images of their tall figures, draped in black cloaks, hoods drawn low over their faces, left an unpleasant impression on me, bringing the Grim Reaper to mind.
“And . . . a wedding? Really?” I wrung my hands, pacing in front of the table, as if moving could help me wrap my mind around all of this.
“Miss Bruno . . .” Carter jumped out of his seat, too.
“This is just stupid!” Skipping down the stairs, my sister, Mary, barged into the room, her son Luca under her arm. “His diaper is changed.” She handed Luca to my mom, who put him on her other hip, opposite to his twin. “Honestly, guys.” Hands propped on the tabletop, Mary stared down Trevin and his escort. Less than two years younger than me, she had always been the more assertive and outspoken one. “Just listen to you! An alien wedding? What the hell are you talking about? Is this some kind of a joke for reality TV or something?”
“It will be televised,” Carter announced, brightly.