Read Online Candidate (Selected Book 4) by Robin Roseau - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Robin Roseau
Tags: Fiction, Science-Fiction, Literature & Fiction, Gay & Lesbian, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Genre Fiction, Lesbian, Lgbt, Lesbian Fiction
Ads: Link
bunch of males clustered around me while I'm swimming naked. If they want to speak with me, they must convince Administrator Brighteyes I may dress properly, and they still must not crowd me." I paused. "Did you understand everything I said?"
"I understand your words. I do not understand everything you said."
"You understand I do not want to be here."
"That I understand."
"You understand I find the males deeply intimidating."
"You do not find me intimidating?"
"Not at the moment, no. You understand humans feel especially vulnerable when undressed."
"I understand this as a fact, but I do not understand why."
"Then I think you understand enough."
She made a head cocking motion, and then she turned, raising her voice. She spoke rapidly in another language. At a pause, I said, "I'm going to swim."
But she put a hand on my arm. "Please wait." Then she finished what she was saying to the males. I have no idea how they felt about it, but they left me alone. Then she turned back to me. "May I swim beside you?"
"I bet you swim much faster than I do."
"May I?"
"Yes, if you like."
Then I turned, kicked off the end of the pool, and began swimming another lap. An instant later, the alien was beside me, swimming the same pace I set.
* * * *
She stayed beside me for the rest of my time in the pool. Periodically we stopped so I could catch my breath, and then we talked. I learned her squad was one of several assigned to the ET delegation at the United Nations. "We're here for two years," she said.
"Where do you go after that?"
"We'll find out," she said.
She asked about me, and we compared notes about family. She'd left her family to come to Earth, but she had her squad mates. She wasn't mated. "But surely some of the men on your squad are interested in you."
"That is bad for morale," she replied.
"So whom do you date?" I had to explain that concept.
"I have not, since leaving our home."
"Oh," I said. "That doesn't sound fair."
"It is not about fair," she said.
We swam a little longer, then the visor warned me I had an hour until dinner. I came to a stop. "I'm running out of time today. Could you ask them to turn their backs when I get out?"
"Of course. May I talk to you more another time?"
"I'd like that," I said. "Thank you, Jessica."
She changed languages and spoke for a moment. The males were actually nice and turned their backs. I made a dash for the towel, wrapping it around me, then grabbing the robe. By the time I turned, some of the males were watching me again. I tried to ignore them and headed for the locker room.
* * * *
Everything I needed was there. I washed thoroughly, which felt good. But there wasn't a brush, and I realized I should have asked for one. I tried running my fingers through my hair, but it was going to end up drying like this. I sighed and headed for the locker.
It opened for me, and inside I found a very small amount of clothing, but there was a brush and hair dryer. I was surprised by that, but I made use. When I was done, words appeared in front of me.
You may take the brush with you, but leave the hair dryer here.
I moved back to the locker, stowing the hair dryer. Then I stared at the clothing. "Are you watching me, Administrator Brighteyes?"
Dress in the clothes provided. Leave the robe.
I sighed. The undies and camisole were new. But it was just a camisole. I couldn't believe she was making me dress like this.
"Where is my sports bra?"
Laundry.
"Will I get it back?"
We'll see.
After that, I stalled, working slowly. I hung the robe up. I put the towel in the damp towel bin. I poked through the locker in case new clothes suddenly appeared.
Hey, they had advanced technology. I didn't know what they could do.
I didn't find out whether they could materialize fresh clothing. It was clear this was all she was going to give me.
"Will you talk to me?"
A moment later, her image appeared. "What can I do for you, Ms. Hayes?"
"You could call me Andromeda."
She paused for a
"I understand your words. I do not understand everything you said."
"You understand I do not want to be here."
"That I understand."
"You understand I find the males deeply intimidating."
"You do not find me intimidating?"
"Not at the moment, no. You understand humans feel especially vulnerable when undressed."
"I understand this as a fact, but I do not understand why."
"Then I think you understand enough."
She made a head cocking motion, and then she turned, raising her voice. She spoke rapidly in another language. At a pause, I said, "I'm going to swim."
But she put a hand on my arm. "Please wait." Then she finished what she was saying to the males. I have no idea how they felt about it, but they left me alone. Then she turned back to me. "May I swim beside you?"
"I bet you swim much faster than I do."
"May I?"
"Yes, if you like."
Then I turned, kicked off the end of the pool, and began swimming another lap. An instant later, the alien was beside me, swimming the same pace I set.
* * * *
She stayed beside me for the rest of my time in the pool. Periodically we stopped so I could catch my breath, and then we talked. I learned her squad was one of several assigned to the ET delegation at the United Nations. "We're here for two years," she said.
"Where do you go after that?"
"We'll find out," she said.
She asked about me, and we compared notes about family. She'd left her family to come to Earth, but she had her squad mates. She wasn't mated. "But surely some of the men on your squad are interested in you."
"That is bad for morale," she replied.
"So whom do you date?" I had to explain that concept.
"I have not, since leaving our home."
"Oh," I said. "That doesn't sound fair."
"It is not about fair," she said.
We swam a little longer, then the visor warned me I had an hour until dinner. I came to a stop. "I'm running out of time today. Could you ask them to turn their backs when I get out?"
"Of course. May I talk to you more another time?"
"I'd like that," I said. "Thank you, Jessica."
She changed languages and spoke for a moment. The males were actually nice and turned their backs. I made a dash for the towel, wrapping it around me, then grabbing the robe. By the time I turned, some of the males were watching me again. I tried to ignore them and headed for the locker room.
* * * *
Everything I needed was there. I washed thoroughly, which felt good. But there wasn't a brush, and I realized I should have asked for one. I tried running my fingers through my hair, but it was going to end up drying like this. I sighed and headed for the locker.
It opened for me, and inside I found a very small amount of clothing, but there was a brush and hair dryer. I was surprised by that, but I made use. When I was done, words appeared in front of me.
You may take the brush with you, but leave the hair dryer here.
I moved back to the locker, stowing the hair dryer. Then I stared at the clothing. "Are you watching me, Administrator Brighteyes?"
Dress in the clothes provided. Leave the robe.
I sighed. The undies and camisole were new. But it was just a camisole. I couldn't believe she was making me dress like this.
"Where is my sports bra?"
Laundry.
"Will I get it back?"
We'll see.
After that, I stalled, working slowly. I hung the robe up. I put the towel in the damp towel bin. I poked through the locker in case new clothes suddenly appeared.
Hey, they had advanced technology. I didn't know what they could do.
I didn't find out whether they could materialize fresh clothing. It was clear this was all she was going to give me.
"Will you talk to me?"
A moment later, her image appeared. "What can I do for you, Ms. Hayes?"
"You could call me Andromeda."
She paused for a
Similar Books
