Excerpt from My Alien Manumitter

80K. HEA. Standalone.

Reid

“Sir,” my communications officer says, “There’s a message for you from the medical center on the Onali Space Station.”

“I’ll take it privately,” I reply and move to my private room adjacent to the bridge. The doors unlock for me automatically. I enter and sit at my console. Once there my DNA activates the computer instantly and I see an Imperial doctor on the other side of the 3D screen.

“Doctor,” I say acknowledging him.

“Commander Reid,” the Imperial doctor replies haughtily. “You cannot claim this human as yours.”

I relax back in my chair. “I’m her manumitter. It’s my right.”

The doctor sighs. “It’s part of your job to save trafficked citizens. You were paid to save her which strips you of your right as her manumitter under Galactic Law, which also includes trafficked humans even though they are not part of the Galactic Confederacy. You cannot invoke Lyran exceptions and Galactic Confederacy laws at the same time.”

While he is still speaking, I send over a document. I enjoy watching his jaw clench as he reads it.

“You refused your payment for the liberation of Baha Zoo?”

“Doctor, I told you,” I smile but it doesn’t reach my eyes, “I’m claiming the right of manumitter to the human.”

The doctor shakes his head at me.

I don’t need his approval just his medical opinion. “Is she physically and mentally fit?”

“Physically she is fine. The zoo kept her in good physical form. If only they had looked after her mental well-being as well. I would highly recommend sending her back to Earth. I’ve done what I can so far, but she has suffered greatly from loneliness and from the trauma of abduction. I think it would be wise if you gave up your claim on her…” the doctor stops talking as if his thoughts are interrupted.

I consider his suggestion not because I’ve any intention of letting her go; it is physically impossible now, once the connection of potential mates between Lyran Metamorphs has been made, but I contemplate his words to try to figure out his angle in all of this. Imperial people always have another agenda rather than the one they state, especially where humans are concerned. They lose their minds over humans. At the moment though, I cannot discern his secondary plan, so I buy myself more time. “Even if it were possible to return her to Earth, which we both know, legally it is not, you’d recommend sending her back? I’m no doctor, but wouldn’t that be worse? Her fellow humans who are shielded from knowledge of aliens would deem her insane, not to mention, how would she explain the lapse in time during her disappearance? I know her abductors used an illegal worm hole to travel the great distance from Earth back to this side of the galaxy. At least fifty to one-hundred years would have passed on her planet by now.”

“It’s possible to wipe her memory of everything that has happened, starting with her abduction.”

“I know that you Imperial doctors can erase bits and pieces, minutes, hours, possibly a few days from patients’ memories, but she was in captivity for over two Galactic Years. Unless there has been a leap in Imperial medicine I haven’t heard about, I doubt you would be able to do anything more than confuse her or drive her completely insane.” I pause to let my words sink into his arrogant Imperial brain.

“Speaking of memories, you’ve already illegally taken some of hers.”

“To help her,” I say firmly. “From the moment I decided to take on the role as her manumitter, I couldn’t let her suffer all those burdens alone.” I normally wouldn’t admit something so personal to a stranger, but he is a doctor and I need him to help Libby. As Imperial doctors are telepaths and actively use that ability to heal, I must set aside my personal beliefs and be honest.

“And you traded her memories for some of yours,” the doctor says and it’s not a question. His tone makes it out as if I have committed the gravest of sins instead of what it really is, a favor between bonded mates.

“Yes, of course. One cannot simply take memories without replacing them,” I say as if he is an idiot. “Is she aware of my memories?” When Libby’s head had been resting against my chest, listening to my heartbeat, I was reminded of my childhood. Instinctively, I traded many of her most horrific memories from her imprisonment in Baha Zoo with my pleasant childhood memories. But I didn’t take any memories that she would need to inform doctors or Galactic Law enforcement of what had happened to her though.”

“No, she’s unaware you gave them to her,” the doctor replies tightly, “but your memories are giving her a false inner strength that surprises even her. She thinks it’s because of her newfound freedom.”

I smile at that, bearing my canine teeth, which presses the doctor to glare back at me. Besides my red hair, as long as I don’t open my mouth, I could pass for an Imperial person and they don’t like to be reminded that I’m not Imperial, “I’m pleased that I am still able to bring her comfort even though I cannot be with her now. And it’s not a false inner strength, those are her memories now. Unlike Imperials we don’t rescind our gifts.”

“Imperial culture will always be a mystery to those less civilized,” he replies.

“More laws don’t equate to being more civilized, it’s usually the opposite,” I shoot back.

The doctor takes and exasperated breath. “There’s something else. She is changing. Your medallion on her arm and your memories are altering her physical form so you must take them back,” the doctor says. Now I understand what has been really bothering him.

“Doctor, that’s nature. I did nothing except my job. You’re a religious man. You know how Fate chooses. Libby from Earth is mine. Respect that.”

The doctor ignores my reply. “I’ve slowed down the transformation process. It might be possible for her to live a full-life…”

I interrupt, “A full-life, insane, and on Imperial medication, you mean.”

“But a full human life, nonetheless. I know what you are thinking, Commander, and I won’t stand idly by while you murder her in some ritualistic mating practice. You Lyran Metamorphs, always thinking you can play with mortals and that our lives don’t matter.”

“The galaxy has spoken,” I raise both of my hands, palms up, to prove my point in Fate. “Her transformation has begun. Imperial medicine cannot stop it. That will only make her ill. Fate and her transformation will happen whether you agree or not. Fate has chosen and there is nothing you, Libby or I can do to change it. Go pray and congratulate yourself that you even have a role to play in this event.”

“I’ll not let you kill her if you decide she is unfit for your purposes,” he says forcefully. “Oh yes, I know about the mating challenges she must endure to be deemed worthy. But she is not one of yours. She is human. If she cannot return to Earth, she should be given the option to live in the Empire. I will contact the GC Refugee Comm…”

“Ah there it is,” I admonish. “You want her for yourself. Unfortunately for you, the human has already physically attuned herself to me. A Lyran Metamorph. We have begun the mating process. We have further bonded ourselves by trading memories.”

“Trading memories, also illegal and which you forced upon her, I will …”

“It is illegal only in the Empire and for Imperial citizens. Libby and I are neither Imperial citizens nor residing within the Empire. Moreover, she is my responsibility as her manumitter. You either heal her enough to allow her to be a member of galactic society or just send her over to me and I’ll attend to her and do what’s right. Sending her back to Earth isn’t an option, that’s just as illegal and would be even worse than death. I’ll not sanction an appeal, so don’t even bother filling in the documents.” I take a minute and ramble at the insanity he is suggesting, “Half memories of aliens which no one on her planet would believe, unexplained time lost and anybody she ever knew or cared for long dead. And, of course, the issue of her not being fully human anymore. How would she explain that? She’d become a zoo exhibit on her own planet and that would be a fate worse than death. No. I’ll not allow her to suffer like that nor even give her the hope returning to Earth will ever come to fruition. I’d also like to remind you that I have the weight of the Galactic Confederacy behind me as well.”

“Then allow me to stop the process of mating and allow her to live in the Empire, among her own people? It is the kindest thing you can do. No human wants to live among Lyrans.”

“Tsk tsk, Doctor. That’s not a nice thing to say. And as for ‘her own people?’” I echo him sarcastically. “You’re referring to Imperial people who until recently kept humans as pets for breeding? Illegally diversifying your gene pool because of your own turbulent domestic issues of murdering your own women when they wouldn’t give men equality. I don’t think so. As far as I’m concerned, Imperial people gave up their claim on humans when they put leashes around their necks.”

“One hundred years ago isn’t recently,” he counters. “Libby could be a member of Imperial society with her own kind.”

I raise an eyebrow. “A hundred years ago was just yesterday in galactic terms, and you know it. Besides, I’d never allow her to go to the Empire. There’s no way to stop her transformation, only slow it down with mismatched measures, but even that hurts her, because it’s unnatural and you know it.” I pause wondering what the doctor will say next, when he remains silent, I ask, “What are the chances that you can help her make a full mental recovery in the next two weeks?” I wish there were another doctor familiar with humans to take over this task. But unfortunately, he’s one of the best doctors for humans in the entire quadrant. The only alternative would be to take her to the Empire myself and that is not something I want to do.

The Empire is still wildly unhappy with the Galactic Confederacy’s decision forbidding Imperial citizens to keep humans as pets, because now they have to do it illegally. As a result, the Empire is trying to devise new laws to claim humans as their own through genetics. However, to the dismay of the Empire, the Galactic Confederacy is claiming that humans have to agree to the Empire’s inheritance claim and that they can’t just deem humans to be their citizens. But the big problem for the Empire is, not only is Earth not a member of the Galactic Confederacy, but most humans also don’t even acknowledge intelligent life anywhere but on their own planet. It is all very messy.

“I would say, it’s about a fifty-fifty chance she makes a full mental recovery, ever. What you are asking of her is to accept that after being kept in isolation an alien zoo, after a traumatic abduction, that you a shapeshifter are changing her into a Lyran Metamorph. Without a doubt I am doing the best I can to straighten out her emotions, perceptions and understanding but only time and interaction will heal this. Her recovery is uncertain and that includes,” I think I see the doctor shudder, “the boosted mental connection through your physical bond and traded memories with her. It would be better if you were here, of course. I’m surprised…”

I cut him off, “Surprised I have to finish my mission before taking her to Lyra Prime? Doctor, I thought I was leaving her in the most capable of hands this side of the galaxy. Am I not? If you cannot heal her then I’ll assign another doctor that can do the job.”

The doctor shakes his head once, dismissing my threat, and changes the subject. “I thought only Lyrans could mutate to become Metamorphs? Or is Lyra diversifying its gene pool with humans as well? Will she become a breeder of Lyran hybrids, that is, if you don’t kill her first?”

I let his insults roll off me. “I’m switching to secure mode,” I say. The secure mode flashes red every ten seconds on our transmission and it ensures that what is said between us cannot be repeated or else he will lose his status as a doctor and serve time in Galactic Prison or be given the option of becoming a slave for a certain amount of time to redeem himself in society.

His frown at the new communication status satisfies me. I have his complete attention now.

“Is this necessary?”

“I take my potential mate’s life very seriously, as should you. I didn’t feel that you fully appreciated my words before. Now, in secure mode, I think you can hear me more clearly.”

“I heard you before,” he replies, but doesn’t move to switch the secure mode off.

END OF EXCERPT

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MANUMITTER

n. Someone who frees others from slavery or bondage.

LIBBY

I was abducted while walking home.

Sold and then sold again.

Rescued.

My manumitter says I’m his wife, almost.

He says if I return to Lyra Prime and marry him, he will set me free.

The more I know of him, the more I fall in love with him,

and the more I question my own reality.

Is it possible to love an alien?

REID

If being my wife was something galactic women could apply for, they’d happily die for the opportunity.

Shockingly, this human female only wants to return to Earth.

I fear she will not pass the three challenges to become my wife.

I must woo her and inspire her.

This human must succeed.

If she fails, we both die.

Our destinies are intertwined.

We must be victorious.

Is this female strong enough to conquer the marital challenges to save us both?

HEA. 80K. STANDALONE.