1
Lola stared up at the large screen, as the man spoke, his blue skin intriguing. His hair was beautiful and long.
His message? Less enchanting.
“Welcome Earth Peasants,”
She frowned deeply, watching him smirk down as he backtracked.
He smirks down at us. “Ah...perhaps that word doesn’t quite translate. I am Anith. I’m from a planet a few galaxies over. We’ve come, with...permission from your government, to invite you to our planet.”
Lola glanced at her friend Roxanne who listening with rapt attention. “What? Is this an invasion,” she grabbed her hand. “Roxanne, this is scary.”
“Shh...they said they came with permission. Let’s just listen.” Roxanne shot her a kind smile.
She squeezes Lola’s hand softly, their eyes naturally being drown to the charismatic man on screen.
“Our planet is called Iohiri 653, and we lack something Earth has an abundance of: women. Let’s be clear, this isn’t a takeover. It is an invitation.”
The man on screen smiled, his long white hair, falling in his face as he cocked his head, opening his hands.
“You are welcome, women of earth. Your government has allowed us to send a few of our bravest, noblest warriors to your planet.”
“If any of you shall find them desirable, seek him! We will be here for two years. At the end of those two years, we will go home, and any of you who wish to join, may. There are applications at your local government offices to engage in this...shall we say match making?”
Lola’s stomach turned. “This can’t be real. I mean...I knew we had a shortage of men but...to go to another planet...” she shook her head.
Space? To go to some unknown world with a literal alien? She dismissed it out of hand, but her eyes drifted to Roxanne who was smiling.
She’s made her mind up, obviously. Lola shifted. “Roxanne...you’re not considering—?”
Roxanne glanced at her at the broadcast went off.
“Lola this is my chance. My chance to get off this rock. Legally. Of course I’m considering.”
Lola sighed, her head pounded. Roxanne was a sad person, but she wasn’t a bad woman. Usually.
“Yes but, don’t you think it’s dangerous?” They began resuming their walk home.
Roxanne snorted. “Of course not. Nothings more dangerous than me stay here right now.”
Lola grabbed her arm. “You know I really think if you were to explain the circumstances and your intention,” Lola murmured, “this could all be resolved.”
“Of course you think that Lola,” Roxanne said, “But you’ve never been inside a federal holding facility, and I have, and thus, we have to wildly different opinions about what the government is capable of.”
Lola pulled her back once more. “Roxanne...I’m worried about you. What if they hurt you? What if this is all just some elaborate scheme?”
Roxanne paused, before smiling down at her smaller friend.
“Don’t worry about me, Lola, really. Elaborate schemes are what I live for, remember?”
Lola shook her head worriedly, but Roxanne was convinced and nothing would change her mind. She decided, she should meet one of these men, just in case.
She went home, gathering the paperwork. It was about ten pages of questions. Basically a personality quiz.
She giggled at that. It made her think of an old teen magazine.
She submitted it, sighing. Maybe it was a scam. Maybe it was a joke.
She’d find out.
• • •
Fineth stared down at the paper work.
“It’s your match,” his commander said gruffly.
Fineth frowned, looking over it. Nothing about her was matched with him. He shrugged.
“Whatever,” he murmured.
“Go see her! I’m not choking on smoke on this planet for nothing.”
Fineth glanced at the address on the paperwork he’d discarded, making a note of the address.
He stepped out of the headquarters, starting to walk. His English wasn’t the best, but as she spoke, he’d pick it up.
Match making huh? He sighed, the woman would be handful. She put exclamation points at the end of every sentence.
They were nothing alike.
He stopped at the house. Had he gotten lost? Maybe not. It was...dilapidated. He knocked on it.
He’d just say hi to say he’d been here and go back home. Wait out the storm, till he could go home.
The door opened. He frowned.
“Look a little lower,” a voice chirped. She grinned. “I’m not even that short,” she said. “Are you my match?”
Fineth nodded.
Lola sighed. “Come in, come in.”
Fineth stood at the door shifting. Lola raised a brow. Her hair was curly and big, it framed her face. She was smaller than him. Most humans were, but her especially.
“I didn’t imagine you all were real, actually,” she chattered, pausing as he rode the doorway, refusing silently to come in.
She raised a brow. “Aren’t you coming in?”
Fineth shook his head.
She approached him, standing in front of him. “You know English right.”
Fineth shrugged. “A bit.”
Lola narrowed her eyes. He didn’t want to be here. “I see.”
“I think there’s been a mistake,” Fineth murmured. “You seem...nice. But I don’t think we’re a match.”
Lola felt herself getting upset. His face was flat, no expression on it, as he spoke lowly, and infrequently.
“You don’t even know me,” Lola said simply.
Fineth turned around. “I think I know enough.” He paused. “I don’t mean to rude, creator. I don’t want...to waste your time. Gods be praised.”
She watched him walk away, with a small frown.
She decided she didn’t like him very much, and that he was right. They weren’t a match.
