The Galactic Bride

Avoiding his family the next day was a harder task than ending dinner as quickly as possible. The previous night all the Grajins had appeared in the officer's mess, but the parents only stayed long enough to be polite before the left. It was clear they had ordered they daughters to stick around to get to know Aki. But Aki was sure that at least for two of them, this wasn't really a problem. Rima and Lama were both fascinated with him while Kalra just wanted to hide in a cave herself.

But on going to Sheplam for the Winning ceremony meant he couldn't shake them. The public was there, and the appearance of a happy family needed to be set. Aki played along, but kept Hana and Lani close as buffers. Only he and Hana of the group wore Mari attire, (other than the Mari themselves) so once again the aliens stood out. But when it came down to Aki having to meet the families of the contestant he killed, his own family melted away into the crowd.

Some of the victims families didn't show up. He couldn't blame him. He didn't want to be there himself. It felt wrong to celebrate the meaningless deaths of the others. And for the parents to come and watch everyone congratulate the winner must have been like rubbing salt into the wound.

For Aki's part, he personally went over to all of them and apologized for his part in their deaths. Genuine tears came down several times with more emotionally distraught parents. On the whole, they didn't blame him for what he did, but they couldn't forgive him either. Some because he survived. Others because he was responsible for the death. Rondo's family were the only ones that said he deserved to win. But Lew's family… that was hell.

But by far the worst one out of the lot was Anura's family. He came over to apologize, but the parents didn't want to hear it. They understood that he had to give the finishing blow to Anura, and for once they actually thanked him for ending her pain. He wondered if they bought the love story angle because they seemed more concerned about his emotions than they were about their daughters death.

When Aki had apologized to the parents anyway, he turned to the younger sister. It hurt his heart to look at her. She was a bit smaller, in both size and weight than the General, but she looked to be almost younger copy. Her chest was almost as big, and her hair wasn't as long, but it could have been the same woman.

Reaching into his top, he handed over the wrapped up leaf bundle to her with shaking hands. The sister took it and tears streamed down her face. She whispered a thank you, then carefully placed the seeds into her own top, as if showing a connection to Aki in that away.

When they departed, Aki excused himself then went to the restroom and vomited. It all came back to him after he gave up those seed. The faces of the murders he committed. He had been able to bury those images most of the time, but seeing the relatives and pouring his regret to him just re-opened those wounds. After he vomited, he fell to the bathroom floor and sobbed. This time Hana was there to hold him. Those that were there ignored him. He didn't care. All he could see was Anura's head pop off her neck, and feel the pressure of it from the phantom ax handle on his hands.

"Is she okay?" A Tarfulles girl asked when she came in and looked on the scene.

"She just met the families of the people she killed, how do you think she is?" Hana shot back rudely at her.

And that ended that. After a good cry, Hana helped Aki freshen up, then they rejoined the celebration. His whole body felt clammy and he felt sick. The mood in the room had changed. It seemed everyone knew that he had a small mental break down. He didn't care, this was all the result of this crazy engagement process. They should feel uncomfortable.

After a meal, which looked very delicious but Aki couldn't eat, the Minister herself showed up to give a speech. Aki couldn't remember a thing she said, but on seeing the woman for the first time, Hatha's words in the cave returned to him and gave him strength. All this was the Minister's fault. Someday he would figure out a way to get back are her for the pain she caused.

When the speech was over, it seemed the party was as well. The Minister came up to him with a politicians smile and shook his clammy hand. "Hello Lady Kezri. I'm Minister Were, the mother of your new fiancée. From now on we're family so let's try to get along."

The Minister looked to be in her early forties. Like most of the Mari he had seen, she had tan skin and dark hair. Her's was a chocolate brown, and looked more like a shaggy mane than a specific hair style. Her horns were tall, proud-looking goat horns that curved back slightly as they went up. If it wasn't for that fake political smile she gave, she could look approachable and outgoing.

"Minister." Aki bowed slightly. He wasn't told he should do that, but he figured some reverence was required.

"I tried to cancel this celebration, but of course the public would not have it. Everyone is so curious to see you." Minister Were said. "The Wedding events will be less uncomfortable. The loser's parents don't have to come if you don't want."Aki didn't like that the Minister called the dead contestant losers. "I think that if they want to come, they should be allowed. I don't want them to feel left out simply because I feel uncomfortable."

Minister grinned sweetly. "How very diplomatic of you."

He wasn't sure what that meant, so he let that go. "Minister Were, I don't want to sound rude, but I don't even know my fiancée's name. When will I meet her? I'd like to see the girl I-"

But he stopped. He was about to say "I'd like to see the girl I murdered several people to marry." but he felt that wasn't very tactful. Still he got enough out that it was obvious that that's what he was going to say. At first he thought the Minister would find this remark repulse, but she still kept that political mask on her face. Completely sweet and unreadable.

"All in a matter of time. Tomorrow there will be a Kal'mar celebration, as according to Nimbonian tradition. You'll meet her officially then. As for Mari tradition, she will be hidden until the actual ceremony. We're trying to combined the best of our worlds, you see."

Aki nodded, understanding that somewhat. "So I'll meet her tomorrow then."

"After that, there are the bachelorette parties, then two days after that the Wedding and the reception. If there is something you feel you'd like to add, please tell me. The schedule is tight, but I'm sure if it's reasonable we can work it in."

Aki glanced at Hana and Lani, wondering if there was something he should add, but neither of them seemed to be too helpful at the moment, so he shook his head at the Minister.

"Splendid. Just leave everything to us. Oh, and you are welcome to stay at House Rola before and after the marriage. I understand that now might be a time you'd like to spend with your family, but I thought I'd offer."

This time Hana did tug at his hand. Aki knew what she wanted. "I think I'd like to stay at your place… at least for all the wedding plans. It'll just be easier if I'm there, I think. No one has to find me and such."

"What a keen mind you have. I never thought of that. Well yes, but all means, you and your companions come stay at my house. Just don't go looking for my daughter!" With that she laughed a fake politicians laugh.

"I won't." Aki promised, trying not to sound put off.

"Well then… if all that settled, why don't you ride with me? It'll allow me to get to know my daughter-in-law better."

Aki saw no reason to disagree with that. So he, Hana, and Lani left with the Minister to her vehicle. Aki wouldn't describe the land vehicles as automobiles in any earth way, but that's what they were. They were carriages of sorts, and used wheels to move. The Ministers looked like a long silvery yacht, but most other vehicles looked like long pointed cigarette boats with jets looking engines in the back or the sides. When the Minister referred to them as chariots, he thought it was as good a term as any.

"If I've read your biography correctly, this is your Nimbonian fiancée and your concubine, correct?" The Minister spoke in a very chit-chat manner.

"Yes. This is Major Lani and Hana Takai." Aki introduced them.

"And your concubine is from Terra-3?"

"She has always been with me. She started off as my childhood friend. But things got more serious when we got older." Aki explained. "The day General Anura came to collect me, she was there. She didn't want me to be alone-"

"What a brave girl you are." The Minister interrupted the story, clearly not interested.

"Minister Were, I can't part with these two. They've helped me in ways I couldn't explain. They helped me prepare for the Contest, and helping me cope with the aftermath. I can't live without them."

"I'm not asking you too." Minister Were quickly back peddled from her apparently apathy. "But I would hope that their affections don't come before my daughter's. Even though this marriage is arranged, I still want my little girl to be happy."

"There's no way I'd purposely go out of my way to make her unhappy." Aki said, then stressed. "But you are marrying her off to a murder from a backwards world. I can't guarantee she'll be happy in the company of a savage."

The Minister's face flickered. For a brief moment the mask slipped. Lani shifted in her seat uncomfortably. The tension in the cabin had increased. Aki had crossed a line, and everyone knew it. But he was sure that even if he did, at this point the Minister was committed to this stupid plan of hers. He was a hero to the galaxy, she couldn't do anything to him worse than he had experienced on Musa Minor.

"But you are not as savage as you think you are." Minister Were regained her composure. "In many ways, it seems Terran culture and Mari are the same. For instance, my daughter also has a concubine she grew up with. And we both hold great honor for the bravery of the fallen..."

Aki didn't know where she drew that comparison. The only way Humans and Mari were the same was that Sheplam looked like some fictional city straight out of Aladdin. He wasn't going to debate her on the fact. She already got the message that he wasn't just going to blindly go along with things and that he disapproved of the Contest in general.

When they arrived at the Minister's house, Aki wasn't surprised to see it was really an elaborate on par with Versailles, only with arabic domes and curvy architecture. Still, even though he'd expect such a huge build fitting for the ego of the Minister, it was impressive. Despite himself he found himself in awe of it. It was such a beautiful building he felt like he didn't belong.

"Ah, yes. Rola Palace is the jewel of Sheplam. There are beautiful buildings all throughout Sheplam, but here, in the city of Kiev, there is no better. Of course I'm biased."

As they went inside, it was just as breathtaking as the exterior. Suddenly Aki felt very small. Such a house was designed to show the visitors the power and wealth that House Rola had. Even if they weren't Ministers, they'd always have power in some shape or form, that much was true.

Minister Were clapped her hands, and a Mari servant came forward at once. "Please see to it that room are made for our guests. These women will be part of the family soon, so see to it that they are comfortable."

"Y-Yes Ma'am!" The Mari girl bowed low.

The Minister smiled sweet at the servant then turned to Aki. "If you don't mind, I have to take my leave. I have a busy schedule, and now that the party is over, it's back to work. I hope you don't find it terribly rude of me."

"Not at all." Aki tried to sound confident, but in truth he was still shaken by the size of the building.

"Splendid." The fake smile returned. She knew she won this little battle. "Then until I see you tomorrow, Lady Kezri."

She walked off, and soon disappeared in a sea of people, all surrounding her importantly with documents and the like for her read through. Aki glanced at Lani and Hana, and they seemed to have the same impression he did. They were stumped for words after the power of the mansion.

The servant called other servants in the meantime, and the three were ushered to the east wing of the castle, up some stairs, and down a long series of hallways until they shown into huge guest room. It was the size of his whole house on Earth. The room itself was separated unto a main room, bathroom, and bedroom. Everything felt so ornate that Aki almost didn't want to touch anything, including the rugs, which seemed to follow mythical Earth-like Arabia.

Then he went into his room, the bed was so big that it might as well have been four king-sized beds stacked side-by-side and front-to-bottom. Then something he saw on the floor made his stomach turn slightly. On the floor next to it, was a fluffy comforter and folded on top of that was his own bear-skin blanket.

She had planned all of this. She must of manipulated the conversation to where he'd agree to come to her place instead of House Grajin. Perhaps she knew of the tension he felt toward them, which made it easier. She knew he'd come to her palace, where she could awe him into submission. Then when he got there, she prepared this little message for him. "I know everything about you."

"So that's how it's going to be." Aki looked down at the bear-skin blanket.

Hana saw it too. "How did she know that you slept on the floor?"

Lani had a theory. "Aki is famous now. Ever since the ship has orbited around the Moon, our crew have been hounded by reporters. It wouldn't be that crazy to think they leeched information from what they've seen or heard us say. Aki's discomfort with his family was for all to see, and his sleeping on the floor… I'm sure that Hana probably talked to the mess staff about that."

"I can't remember." Hana looked worried. "Aki-chan, I'm sorry if I gave away something private."

"No, it's fine. Let them play their political game. I don't care."

"But-"

"In the end, what does it matter? They know I don't like the folks who just dropped me off on Earth and that I sleep on the floor. Big deal. She also knows I don't appreciate the Contest system and that because of her, she created a celebrity hero who can embarrass her policies in public. She can play it like this, but she can't go over a certain line."

"Aki-chan" Hana blinked.

"Don't worry." Aki told her. "Even if this place is bugged, don't worry. She's thinking about her career and her daughter. What will a loose cannon like me do if I'm not happy?"