Gundar Read online

  Darla began to eat her toast as she hurried down the stairwell and across the parking lot to the strip of straggly grass by the side of the road where the bus stop was. Angie as already there and as Darla swallowed the last bite of toast, the bus pulled up.

  “Not a second to spare,” Angie quipped, getting on the bus as the door opened. Darla followed her onto the bus and paid her fare before settling herself into the seat next to Angie.

  Angie giggled. “You got a bit of butter there,” she said, pointing to a spot above her upper lip. Darla swiped at it with the paper towel. “And now you’ve just smeared jelly on your face.. Here, let me do it,” Angie said, reaching into her purse and pulling out a small packet of tissues. Removing one from the package, she delicately wiped the mess off. “There, all gone.”

  “Thanks,” Darla said, her face heating with embarrassment.

  “No problem. Hey, I was thinking, if you get the living allowance too, maybe we can share an apartment! Just us two, I mean. No other roommates.”

  “They give that much?”

  “Yeah, last night I was looking at apartments int he area and if we both got the allowance, we could rent a sweet little one bedroom right by campus. One with a pool and everything.”

  “Wow.” Darla and Angie spent the rest of the ride planning what they could do with their living allowance. All too soon, they arrived at the stop nearest the Bride Registry offices. The two young women walked from the stop to the strip mall. Darla noticed there was a dollar store, a craft shop, and both an Army and Marine recruiter also at the strip mall. Amy held the door open to the Bride Registry Center.

  “Well, here we are!” she said cheerfully. Darla’s eyes widened as she saw a male Mylos stand up from behind a desk.

  “Hello, I see you have returned,” the man greeted Amy. Turning towards Darla, he smiled. “And who have you brought for us today?”

  “I’m, uh, I’m,” Darla found herself at a loss for words. She’d never seen a Mylos before in person. She’d known they were tall, but she certainly had not expected them to stand over seven feet, nor to be quite so mesmerizing.

  “What my awestruck friend is trying to say is that her name is Darla Levin and she’s like to register for the Bride Scholarship just like I did.”

  “Yeah,” Darla said, blushing to the roots of her brown hair. “That. Um, the whole thing, even the Groom Registry part.” Wow, he’s so muscular and I never realized they had scales. I knew their skin looked shimmery on TV, but I didn’t know it was because their skin had those tiny scales. Oh my God, those eyes too. Like jewels, and what with the hair and ears and those muscles, it’s like seeing a hunky elf straight out of fantasy movie.

  “I see. Well, let me start by introducing myself. I am Lavorr and I am this Bride Center’s registrant. If you come sit down here in the chairs in front of my desk, we can begin.”

  Darla took one of the indicated chairs while Angie sat down in a chair by the front door. “I’m just going to wait here and read while y’all do your thing,” she said, turning on her phone and peering at her screen. Darla smiled nervously at Lavorr, who tapped on a tablet for a moment before passing it over to Darla.

  “Please fill in the blanks. As you can see, it wants your name, age, address, that sort of thing. Once you’ve done that, please press ‘next’ and complete the questionnaire to tell us about your hobbies and interest. But first,” he said, taking the lid off of tall glass jar filled with swabs sealed in plastic, “please swab the inside of your cheek. I need a sample of your DNA to go with your responses in order to get a correct match.” He unwrapped the swab and handed it to her. Darla quickly swabbed the inside of her cheek and handed it back to him carefully. He turned and walked to a strange looking piece of equipment. He tapped on the view screen a few times, inputting the requested task. Once done with that, he fed the swab into a slot that opened up on the top of the machine. The machine began to give a low hum. Darla watched fascinated, then remembered what she was supposed to be doing. The Mylos sat back in his desk chair and waited patiently. Once done, Darla passed the tablet back to him. He gave the screen a swipe before presenting it to Darla once more. “Please press your hand against the screen firmly. This will verify that you have done this willingly and swear to uphold the terms of the scholarship bride contract.” Darla did as he asked. “Excellent, thank you,” Lavorr said to her gravely. “Now I’ll just input this into the database.” He stood and made his way back to the strange machine. She watched curiously as he docked the tablet to the machine. It began to hum louder.

  “That’s it?” Darla asked, surprised that it had been so easy.

  Lavorr turned towards her. “Yes, we just wait for this to give us a response and then we can proceed.”

  “How long does that take?”

  “Usually only about ten minutes,” he replied. The machine began to beep excitedly, causing Lavorr to turn and regard it quickly. “Or less,” he added in awe.

  “What’s that?” Angie demanded, hearing the racket and coming to see what was happening. Lavorr removed the tablet from its dock and turned to face the two young women.

  “That is the sound of a match having been found,” Lavorr said in awe. “It’s right here,” he waved the tablet about. “Darla, you are a very lucky girl. You’ve not only been matched, but you’ve been matched with one of our foremost citizens!”

  “I’ve been what?” Darla croaked. No, no, no, this can’t be happening. Odds were against it, remember? Me and Ang here are gonna go to Union together! Eat lunch on the quad, maybe join a sorority, all that.

  Lavorr held out the tablet towards her. “You’ve been matched. You are the fated mate of Commander Gundar, head of the fleet here in this sector.” Darla glanced at the tablet. The screen now held the name and image of the Mylos she was matched to. Darla licked her lips. Damn he’s fine, even if he must be a little older than I’d usually go for.

  “Well, damn,” Angie said, coming to stand next to her and peering at the screen.

  Yeah, that about sums it up, I reckon.

  “The commander will have also been notified,” Lavorr informed them. “Please take a seat. He’ll arrive here shortly.”

  “Wait. What?” Darla hoped he’d clarify what he’d just said.

  “Commander Gundar will have been notified of the match at the same time we were. He’ll be down shortly, so if you just take a seat and relax, the time will go quickly. I can offer you refreshments while you wait. I have the doughnut things here and coffee.”

  “So, he’s coming to meet her like now, now?” Angie asked incredulously.

  “Meet and take her home to mate, yes,” Lavorr confirmed.

  “You can’t just make her go right now! She needs time to tell her folks and to pack and all that shit!” Angie protested, grabbing Darla’s arm and pulling her to the door. The door refused to open.

  Lavorr sighed. “It was in the contract. Upon a successful match, the bride agrees to accompany her mate without further delay.”

  “What did you do to the door?” Angie hissed.

  “There have been panicked brides and angry relatives before, so after a couple of incidents, the computer puts the center in lockdown. It will release once the commander and Darla depart.” Seeing Angie about to make a call, he added, “It also disables the ability to use your cellular phones, sorry.”

  Darla stood numbly. This was happening. She was going to get married today. Well, damn. Might as well eat a doughnut because this looks to be a long day. “Ang,” she said. “Sit down. Mister, uh, Lavorr, any of those doughnuts a chocolate eclair by any chance?”

  He smiled at her, pleased at her seeming acceptance of the matter. “Yes. I always order two of each kind from Dunkin’ Donuts. I can also make you some of their coffee, if you like.”

  “Yeah, sure,” she agreed.

  Angie plopped down in the chair next to her, by the door. “Darla, I am so sorry I talked you into this. I never dreamed you’d get matched.” Her lower li
p quivered and tears prickled her eyelids.

  Darla regarded her friend steadily. “You didn’t talk me into it. My mama suggested it and I decided it was a good idea. I just felt better about it because you’d already done it.”

  Angie sniffed. “Maybe I’ll get matched too, one of these semesters.”

  “Or from the Groom Program.”

  “Yeah,” Angie sniffled.” Look at me, feeling all sorry for myself, when you’re the one about to get taken away by aliens. I should be the one comforting you.”

  Darla snorted. “At least they are super sexy aliens.”

  Angie giggled. “Yeah.”

  Lavorr returned with Darla’s doughnut and coffee. “Would you care for one?” he asked Angie solicitously.

  “Okay. I like the Boston Cream ones. Oh, and a coffee,” she added, eying the latte he’d brought Darla.

  Lavorr smiled gently and went to fulfill her request. Returning, he handed her her food and drink, saying, “I know it seems like everything is ending, but I promise you, it is only the beginning to the very best things.” The two young women stared at him, prompting him to sigh and return to his desk.

  Chapter Three: Darla

  Darla usually adored the chocolate eclairs from Dunkin’ Donuts but today, the one she was eating was tasteless. Her tastebuds weren’t registering the delicate notes of her coffee either. Not only that, but her ears had begun to reduce all sound to mere noise. Her eyes were focusing on nothing. She sat in her chair, mechanically eating and drinking as Angie prattled on, trying to make her feel better, nothing at all fully registering. This is it. I’ve completely lost the plot. My brain has overloaded.

  When the building began to shake, she startled, thankfully not spilling any of the hot coffee on her skin. In that moment, full sensory awareness came rushing at her in brutal speed. First she became aware of the delicious custard, chocolate, and pastry she was still chewing. Second, she was holding hr coffee and had nearly burnt herself. Third, that Angie had said something and she had no idea at all what that was. A split second later, she noticed that Lavorr had risen from behind his desk and was making his way to a door at the rear. A door which she could have sworn wasn’t there earlier but which was now opening, revealing a Mylos even taller and more muscular than Lavorr.

  “Nng,” was all she could manage to say, hurriedly swallowing her mouthful of doughnut and placing her coffee down on the low table in front of their chairs. She and Angie rose to their feet.

  “Commander Gundar! It is most excellent to see you. I had only just informed these lovely ladies that you would be along shortly.”

  Gundar’s green eyes swept towards the young women. His eyes look like cut emeralds, the lighting adding a faceted look to them. And oh my God, lashes like that on a man should be illegal, she thought to herself, admiring the long, dark sweep of his lashes. She raked him from head to toe with her eyes, taking in the long mane of white blond hair, his pale skin marked with creamy opalescent scales, his fine none, strong jaw, firm chest, and... Oh my. Her face heated. He’s not even hard and I can still see he’s seriously hung. She raised her eyes to meet his. Gundar stood looking back at her in amusement, one side of his mouth quirked.

  He turned his attention to Lavorr. “I would have been here sooner, but had to relinquish the bridge and then see to the change of quarters so that all would be in readiness.”

  “Of course, as is proper, Commander. Please, allow me to introduce you.” Lavorr gestured towards Darla. “This is Darla Levin, your mate, and this is her friend, Angela Marcus.”

  Gundar strode to where Darla stood. He reached out a hand, taking her hand into his and covering with his remaining hand. “Fate has smiled upon me at last,” he said, gazing into her eyes. Darla trembled at his touch, shocked at the tingle that started at her hand, went up her arm and traveled down through her chest, pooled into her belly, and settled into her loins. Gundar’s smile grew. “Come, our transport awaits,” he said to Darla, turning and tugging at her hand gently.She began to follow him wordlessly.

  “Wait! Darla, what about your family? What am I supposed to tell them?”

  Darla stopped. Was I seriously about to just chuck everything and follow a hot elf from outer space to his rocket ship and fly off into said outer space?

  “Your family will be officially notified,” Gundar reassured her, tugging at her lightly once more.

  “No! Some things are better done in person,” Darla replied indignantly. “I can’t just let some random stranger go to my house and tell my Mama and Daddy that I’ve gone off to Middle Earth and eloped with an elf to outer space.”

  “Middle Earth? Elf? I do not understand.” Gundar looked quite puzzled. “Are we not in the place known as Tennessee? And I am Mylos, not an elf.”

  Darla tugged her hand free and waved it impatiently in front of her face. “You guys kinda look like a species from this high fantasy... you know what, never mind. All you need to know is that it wouldn’t be right to send a messenger to tell my parents that I’ve gotten married.That is something to do in person. Preferably before getting married.”

  Gundar considered her words. “We shall go, but I shall not claim you fully until we have spoken to your parents personally.”

  That’s as good as I’m going to get, Darla decided. “Okay.”

  Gundar reached for her hand once more. “You will come willingly with me?”

  “Yes. And you promise we can tell my parents before any funny business? Tell them ourselves, not someone else?”

  “Agreed,” Gundar replied.

  “You don’t go telling anyone either, until I let you know I’ve had a chance to tell my family, okay?” Darla called over her shoulder to Angie.

  “I promise,” Angie said, tears evident in her voice once more.

  The rear door opened once more and Darla followed Gundar out of the building. In the rear, a small vehicle the size of a Smart car sat parked. Gundar reached his free hand out and made an upward gesture. Panels slid, revealing pocket style doors. Gundar indicated to Darla that she should climb in and take a seat, so she did.

  Gundar took the seat on the other side. Once inside the vehicle, he made a fist and the doors sealed shut. He tapped the screen of the instrument panel before him. The craft came to life, no sound from the engine apparent. They glided down the back alley, turning carefully into the street that ran adjacent to it. Darla really hoped this thing had turn signals and that Gundar had used them. That thought flew out of her head as webbing formed across their torsos from the seat. She gasped as they accelerated, all the while climbing at an angle until they soared above the trees and buildings and their climbed steepened until they’d cleared the atmosphere.

  She gaped in wonder. Hot damn, I’m in outer space.

  Chapter Four: Darla

  Darla only realized that her mouth was hanging open when Gundar quirked an eyebrow at her, reached over, placed a hand under her chin, and gently pushed upwards, closing her mouth. She felt herself flush with embarrassment.

  “It’s stunning,” she said defensively, glancing away.

  “It is beautiful,” Gundar acceded. “Always different, yet somehow the same, around planets similar to yours. I think you’ll find it even more astounding from the ship where you can see your planet and moon as part of the view.”

  Darla glanced back at the alien officer. “Will we have a window in our quarters?” She desperately hoped that he’d say yes. She thought how looking down on her planet might help her feel closer to those she’d left behind.

  Gundar looked appalled. “A window? No, and I must say, I have always found it astounding that your people place such vulnerable portals into your spacecraft. We will have something much safer, a viewing screen. Also more versatile, as we can use it for communications or change the view.”