Free WashedUp by Viola Grace Page B

body attacked the implants."
    She was getting a very uneasy feeling. Charon had an exceptionally straight face.
    "Your body will die within the week. We have sent a signal to the Coalition, but they won't be here for over a month."
    She swallowed, tasting the seawater. "What are my options?"
    Charon came forward and patted her hand. "The same as the rest of us. You can either die, or you can fight for your life."
    She wished that she could sit down and he must have seen it on her face.
    "Come here and we will speak in the gardens. It is a much more soothing environment."
    He took her hand and steered her through an archway at the back of his office and into the gardens. Ajax remained behind, leaving her some privacy to get her death sentence.
    "My people are an experiment in survival. We were created by being altered volunteers selected based on our suitability."
    "What does that have to do with me?"
    "We have an option that will allow you to live, but it will involve you being fairly aggressive." He gave her a solemn look. "Are you willing to do what it takes?"
    "It depends." She measured her words in her mind before forming her sentences. "I will not hurt someone to save myself."
    The smile he gave her was beatific. "Exactly what I wanted to hear. You have to find a husband and become part of our colony."
    She blinked in shock. "What?"
    "The only way we are allowed to make permanent changes in your body is for you to have a social position here. To do that, you need to take a husband."
    "I don't…I mean…I have never…I am a pilot!" Her mental voice ended in a whine and she winced.
    "And we have no need of pilots, but we do have need of women. Based on the physician's reports you have at least three days of health to find your match. Ajax will assist you in meeting as many men as you can."
    She frowned and looked to the archway where Ajax lurked. "He will be my pimp?"
    "He will be your guard. At no time will you be left alone with one of the men in case he decides to take advantage of you. Ajax will protect you."
    She felt a little uneasy. "Are you sure that I will be in danger?"
    "You are a stranger here. We want to make sure that you can find a place in our society to keep. To do that, Ajax will make sure that you are introduced to men who are acceptable and who will not abuse your introduction to our society."
    She sighed and smiled when it transferred to the psychic plane. "Better safe than stupid?"
    "Precisely."
    Ajax entered the gardens and caressed a sea anemone that trembled at the light touch. "You know what is going on?"
    "I have three days to find a husband or I am going to die."
    He winced. "That sums it up. I have a few candidates in mind. Do you want to begin now?"
    She lifted her chin and met his dark gaze. "I am running out of time. I can go as long as you can."
    A peculiar expression flickered in his eyes. "I will hold you to that. I am known for my stamina."
    Charon was looking at them with a horrified amusement. He waved them off and turned to enjoy his garden view.
    Safi couldn't stop her blush but she straightened her shoulders and floated toward the archway that they had entered by. Ajax wrapped his arm around her waist again and took charge of their travel.
    "The first male for you to meet is Bron. He works in construction and has a lovely home. All he needs is a wife and he has expressed an interest in meeting you."
    "So, they all knew I was here and what was coming? How long was I out?"
    "Over ten days. When I pulled your pod from the wreckage, the medical centre was standing by, but you were still injured beyond anything they had seen before. Your survival was something that the whole colony was interested in and as such a number of suitors have expressed an interest in your hand. All you need to do is to choose one."
    "This seems too easy. What is the catch?"
    "This is a lifetime mating. We don't divorce here. Instability is far too dangerous in our kind of colony."
    "Why are you interdicted