Free Unknown Futures by Jessica E. Subject Page B

on the station had been able to pronounce her name without it sounding vulgar in his or her language.
    The Ginnunian stepped forward and surprised her by reaching out to shake her hand—not a custom for his people. “Hello, I’m Frey, and this is my wife, Carrie.”
    She shook his hand and then his wife’s, trying to hold in her excitement at meeting someone from home.
    Frey moved to the side, revealing the petite woman behind him. “And this is Jewel.”
    V squealed. Unable to hide her exhilaration any longer, she wrapped her arms around Jewel. Not only was she from Earth, but she looked to be only a couple years younger than her. All the Terrans on-station were her parents’ age. For once, her unwavering loneliness would ebb, at least for a few days.
    But her hug wasn’t returned, only met with a gasp. V stepped back. “I’m sorry, did I hurt you?”
    Jewel shook her head, but wouldn’t make eye contact.
    “I think she’s a little self-conscious about her scars,” Frey said.
    V winced. Why did he have to mention them? Sure, she’d noticed, but she had friends with fins, feathers, and elephant ears. A few scars wouldn’t stop her from being social. Was that why she’d been asked to entertain Jewel during her stay?

 
     
    Chapter Three
     
     
    Jewel tagged along behind the rest. V’s hug had taken her completely by surprise. Smiles, now touching? She thought she’d been prepared to go on a one-night stand, to have sex with a strange woman, but maybe she wasn’t. Sure, her traveling companions hadn’t made her feel like a freak, but Carrie had married, and was now pregnant with, a blue alien. Imagine what Jewel’s neighbors would say if they saw Frey on the street.
    Leaving the concourse, they traveled down a long hallway. V stopped and placed her hand on a pad beside a metal door, which slid open. “Frey and Carrie, this is your suite. There is a buffet every evening in the dining hall, down the corridor and to your right. If you need anything at all, press the front desk button on the communication panel.” She gestured to the screen inside the door. “Enjoy your stay at the SS Hotel, where everyone in the universe is welcome.”
    Wait! Everyone in the universe? This place is filled with aliens . Jewel’s head spun. Is that why Madame Evangeline sent me here? Because no one on Earth would want to date me? She cringed. The elephant and the blue women had been somewhat attractive, but she hadn’t noticed a difference between the male and female bug people or the blue blobs. Her vision blurred with the onset of tears. I’ve made a horrible mistake .
    Something touched her shoulder and she jumped.
    “I’m sorry I scared you.” V startled her again by reaching to wipe moisture from her cheek. “I wanted to make sure you were okay. I know this place can be overwhelming when you first arrive.”
    That’s for sure . She couldn’t imagine living there. “So, will you show me to my room?” She yearned to hole up like she did back on Earth, lose herself in a story until she went on her date with the alien. Except for V and Carrie, she’d seen no other humans on the space station, and she wasn’t supposed to meet her date until tomorrow night. Sure, the idea had excited her in her books, but none of the humanoids and other beings she’d seen were fashionista beauties.
    She’d gone through a week of emergency procedure training at a top-secret facility even she wasn’t allowed to know the location of, with the couple who traveled with her. All of that packing and training for one night with a space creature whom she’d never see again? During that week, they’d met with the director of the space station, an odd character as well; why hadn’t she objected then?
    V put her arm across her shoulders. “You’re staying with me.”
    “I am?”
    “The director thought it might be easier on you, since my suite is set up for people from Earth.” She guided Jewel down the hall. “I have an extra