the first meeting he had with the humans on the space station. Tasid had shared the recording with the humans when he found out they hadn’t recorded the event. They were showing key points that made the crowd cheer, and he felt himself truly moved to be added into their story.
The lights turned on to light up the arena floor. A procession of people, some in groups of two or three, others in groups of ten, began parading through the stadium, each led by a flag. When the flag would pass them, their country was announced. The people representing that country wore their native garbs and waved to them as they passed, as a greeting was said in their native tongue.
After the last group passed, a cheer rose from around the stadium. The lights dimmed once again, and a huge display of “fireworks” lit the sky above them, synced to more music.
“What do you think of them?” the president asked, and pointed up at the booming and snapping exhibition.
Tasid couldn’t take his eyes off the sky. “No one has ever made explosions anything other than for destruction. You people have managed to make it one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen in all the galaxy.”
Tasid fought to keep the tears from falling. He had never been a sensitive male, but this was truly a sight that pulled at his emotions, after a day that had left him feeling raw and vulnerable. He could feel the rumble of the explosion in his chest, and the sounds of the music amplified its effect.
The display ended with two giant falls of sparks that looked like raining lava, as the last of the fireworks burst overhead.
Tasid stood and clapped enthusiastically, as did everyone else around him. Jurresh leaned over slightly and spoke to the human delegates. “You can add those things as a commodity. Worlds around the galaxy will pay you heavily to provide those at their different events and celebrations.”
Tasid noticed the delegates looked thrilled with that bit of news, as they should be.
On the flight back to the ship, Errim asked him, “So what do you think?”
Knowing he was referring to what he thought of the humans, Tasid answered, “Until now, I didn’t think I would make a good advocate to the humans, because I didn’t believe I had anything in common with them, but tonight I saw a small part of what these people endured, and also what they accomplished. Now I can feel a bond begin to form with them, and I am proud of the title. I feel more confident in understanding what decisions I should make for them.”
Indeed, the thrill of the evening had lifted his spirits enough to actually look forward to the days to come.
****
“And what an event!” Juno heard the announcer say.
“Boy, you said it.” Benny stood up and began taking empty, dirty dishes to the kitchen.
Maggie jumped up to help.
“Remember, nothing breakable or sharp,” Jeri teased her.
Maggie stuck her tongue out at Jeri.
“Hey look,” Kaycee pointed at the TV. “They’re interviewing our governor.”
“What can we expect next, regarding the aliens?” the reporter asked.
“Well, uh, we’re concentrating all of our time and resources on the events following tomorrow’s lottery.”
“Yes, what can you tell us about the lottery?”
“Uh, where to start.” Both the governor and reporter laughed. The governor continued. “Actually, each name given has been run through the system first, to check for any serious criminal records, and such. The names left have been added into a secured computer system, which will pick them at random.”
“What will happen after the drawing?”
“It gets a bit more complicated after that. Each county, in each state, will be responsible for picking the women up and delivering them, and their belongings, to designated areas, to be sorted further, depending.”
“And this will be taking place around the world, in every country?” the reporter asked.
“Uh, yes, but I’m not sure how much their methods will vary. Many are
The lights turned on to light up the arena floor. A procession of people, some in groups of two or three, others in groups of ten, began parading through the stadium, each led by a flag. When the flag would pass them, their country was announced. The people representing that country wore their native garbs and waved to them as they passed, as a greeting was said in their native tongue.
After the last group passed, a cheer rose from around the stadium. The lights dimmed once again, and a huge display of “fireworks” lit the sky above them, synced to more music.
“What do you think of them?” the president asked, and pointed up at the booming and snapping exhibition.
Tasid couldn’t take his eyes off the sky. “No one has ever made explosions anything other than for destruction. You people have managed to make it one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen in all the galaxy.”
Tasid fought to keep the tears from falling. He had never been a sensitive male, but this was truly a sight that pulled at his emotions, after a day that had left him feeling raw and vulnerable. He could feel the rumble of the explosion in his chest, and the sounds of the music amplified its effect.
The display ended with two giant falls of sparks that looked like raining lava, as the last of the fireworks burst overhead.
Tasid stood and clapped enthusiastically, as did everyone else around him. Jurresh leaned over slightly and spoke to the human delegates. “You can add those things as a commodity. Worlds around the galaxy will pay you heavily to provide those at their different events and celebrations.”
Tasid noticed the delegates looked thrilled with that bit of news, as they should be.
On the flight back to the ship, Errim asked him, “So what do you think?”
Knowing he was referring to what he thought of the humans, Tasid answered, “Until now, I didn’t think I would make a good advocate to the humans, because I didn’t believe I had anything in common with them, but tonight I saw a small part of what these people endured, and also what they accomplished. Now I can feel a bond begin to form with them, and I am proud of the title. I feel more confident in understanding what decisions I should make for them.”
Indeed, the thrill of the evening had lifted his spirits enough to actually look forward to the days to come.
****
“And what an event!” Juno heard the announcer say.
“Boy, you said it.” Benny stood up and began taking empty, dirty dishes to the kitchen.
Maggie jumped up to help.
“Remember, nothing breakable or sharp,” Jeri teased her.
Maggie stuck her tongue out at Jeri.
“Hey look,” Kaycee pointed at the TV. “They’re interviewing our governor.”
“What can we expect next, regarding the aliens?” the reporter asked.
“Well, uh, we’re concentrating all of our time and resources on the events following tomorrow’s lottery.”
“Yes, what can you tell us about the lottery?”
“Uh, where to start.” Both the governor and reporter laughed. The governor continued. “Actually, each name given has been run through the system first, to check for any serious criminal records, and such. The names left have been added into a secured computer system, which will pick them at random.”
“What will happen after the drawing?”
“It gets a bit more complicated after that. Each county, in each state, will be responsible for picking the women up and delivering them, and their belongings, to designated areas, to be sorted further, depending.”
“And this will be taking place around the world, in every country?” the reporter asked.
“Uh, yes, but I’m not sure how much their methods will vary. Many are
Similar Books
