On Earth…
The last woman sitting in the waiting room, Judith forced herself to remain positive. This had to work. She focused on projecting calm, competence, and sex appeal. The first two came naturally, but the last one had proved elusive in the past. Finally, the Space Brides Minneapolis manager called her name.
Once they were both seated, the interviewer began looking over the application details on her computer screen. Judith took time to study the woman, Pamela James, who was stick-thin with short brown hair, and a no-nonsense demeanor.
“Cutting it a little close on the quarterly deadline application, Ms. Sutherland. I see yours came in just before midnight last night. Are you a procrastinator by nature?” she asked. “And your photos look like selfies, not the professional headshots we encourage.”
“I’ve been contemplating my decision for several months, actually. You can appreciate, I’m sure, one shouldn’t rush into such important life decisions. So, no, I am not a procrastinator.” Judith smiled brightly and hoped she’d rehearsed her lies enough to be convincing. She knew how things worked, as she usually asked the provocative questions to shock people. “I chose selfies because I find they represent the real me.” That part was true. She liked the photos she’d used showing her dark brown curly hair framing her face with a summer tan accenting her blue eyes. The angle softened her long face. She knew she wasn’t a stunning beauty, but she looked happy in those photos and it made her more attractive.
“What is your main reason for signing up with Space Brides, LLC?”
“It’s hard to pick just one. I’m looking for some adventure in my life. I’d like to do it with a compatible life partner. I understand your company prides itself on having a match-making algorithm with a ninety percent success rate on the first try, which is an amazing accomplishment.” Determined to show she’d done her homework, Judith hid the fact she’d only researched Space Brides a few hours ago.
Pamela relaxed for the first time and leaned back in her chair. “That’s correct. No other companies even come close to our numbers.” She leaned forward again and concentrated on the screen. “One lack I see with your application is you haven’t any of the background or experience we often look for. You have a degree in journalism and grew up in a suburban setting. You don’t have any military, trade school, or agricultural background indicating you can handle tools or deal with tough situations, either physical or mental.”
Judith herself leaned forward. “I do have physical and mental toughness. Journalism has shown me I learn quickly and I’m not afraid to ask the difficult questions of important people.” Judith forced another smile as she thought about certain questions she’d asked a few weeks ago, causing her to run for her life. “I fully expect, whatever situation I land in, I’ll be able to master the details within a short time. Who knows, maybe my new community would appreciate a journalist to help record their struggles and accomplishments. As time permits.”
“Well, I must say I was skeptical about your application before meeting you. Let’s see if the program thinks there are any possible matches.” She tapped her screen a few times and scanned the results, while Judith kept an eager, hopeful expression plastered on her face.
Finally, Pamela looked up and said in a puzzled tone, “Yes, there are some possibilities, but the algorithm is withholding details pending your test results. If you pass the testing phase, you will have prospective husband profiles to view.” She paused and shook off her uncertainty. “I’m confident you’ll find one of them to be a wonderful life companion. Welcome to Space Brides, Ms. Sutherland. You’ll be helping to build the future of humanity in space.”
Three hours later, Judith found herself on a jet with about thirty other women heading to Houston, Texas, where Space Brides, LLC had the nearest intake center. The shuttle up to the interplanetary ship would leave from there. Judith settled into a window seat. The woman behind her sat down next to her and promptly introduced herself.
“Hi, I’m Kaj Vang.” She had Asian features, shoulder-length black hair, and a friendly grin.
They shook hands. “I’m Judith Sutherland. Nice to meet you.”
Kaj made small talk as they sat waiting for everyone to find a seat and strap in. Half listening, Judith offered short responses as she watched the line of women file in. When the flight attendant closed and latched the cabin door, she couldn’t help but let out a sigh of relief.
Kaj looked at her and nodded. “Me, too. I half expected my father to track me down and drag me off the plane.”
Judith wondered if she needed more of a backstory than just wanting some adventure in her life. She started by asking Kaj, “I take it your family wasn’t thrilled with you wanting to do this?”
“No. I mentioned I was looking into it to my mother, and she went into hysterics. They’ve had their eye on a ‘nice Hmong boy’ I went to school with. I really don’t want to marry him. They think I’m visiting a friend in another state. I’m going to wait to make sure I pass all the tests. If I do and I like one of my candidates, then I’ll email them just before we leave. I can’t stand the drama in my family. How about you?”
“Not having any luck with relationships here. I think the change will do me good.” Judith tried to hide a yawn without luck and then apologized, “Sorry, it’s not you. I’m just wrung out. I’m going to take a little nap. Wake me when we get to Houston?”
“Will do.”
An hour later, Kaj woke Judith by shaking her shoulder. “We’re about to land in Houston.”
“Thanks,” Judith responded. An hour hadn’t been enough to make up for not sleeping at all last night. She forced herself to sit up and stretch. Soon they were wheels down. Instead of parking at a terminal gate, the plane taxied to a building off by itself on the edge of the airport.
The flight attendant announced, “Ladies, as you get ready to exit the jet, check your area and make sure you have all your personal belongings. At the bottom of the stairs, walk between the yellow lines and go into the Space Brides facility. Wishing you all lots of luck on your adventure helping to build the future of humanity in space.”
The group of women deplaned and entered a large steel-framed building. The facility had a simple, almost spartan, feel to it. A map in the lobby showed a complex which included small dormitory rooms, a cafeteria, an auditorium, classrooms, and a gymnasium. Judith, Kaj and the others spent the rest of their day with official registration, room assignments, and looking over the packed schedule. Two more groups joined theirs, bringing the total number of women to around a hundred.
After dinner in the cafeteria, everyone gathered in the auditorium.
A Space Brides VP, Linda McLaren, stepped up to the podium to welcome them. A statuesque redhead, she wore jeans, a sequined top that sparkled under the lights, and a cowboy hat. She had a native-Texan voice.
“Ladies, right about now y’all are asking yourselves—” she paused dramatically. “What the hell am I doing?!”
Most everyone laughed, as intended.
“I’ll tell you what you’re doing.” On the large screen behind her appeared the company’s slogan. “Read it with me!”
The crowd responded with enthusiasm, “Helping to build the future of humanity in space!”
“That’s right! Consider yourselves pioneers, just like some of your maternal ancestors might have been here in North America. There’re lonely men out there on the Moon, on Mars, in the asteroid mining camps and beyond. They want love and companionship. Quite a few even want to start a family. The next few days are to make sure you are up to the challenges of space travel and living in unique environments. If you pass your tests, then comes the fun part of looking through your potential spouse profiles, viewing their videos, and making your own acceptance videos to send. Then you will be on your way!”
The room full of women burst into applause and excited chatter. Linda gave them a minute to settle down.
“I know you gals have had an exhausting day, so I’m not going to stand up here and blather at you. I have a short video for you to watch. Afterward, we’ll send you off to bed so you can dream about the new lives awaiting you.”
She tapped a button on her console controls and the video started. The eager group watched a photo montage of happy couples interspersed with short clips of women talking about how they loved their new married lives and how fulfilling it felt to build businesses and families on this new frontier. The whole show ran for about ten minutes and when it ended, the group applauded again.
Linda stepped back up to the podium, “I wish you all the best luck on your testing. Good night and sweet dreams!”
On Mars….
Carson Landry tried to minimize what was on the computer screen as his brother Glenn barged in unannounced.
“Carson, did you finish—what are you viewing on the screen?”
Sighing, Carson pulled up the screen again. “I told you, I don’t plan to remain a bachelor who sits around staring at you every night.”
“Yeah, but I thought you meant to find somebody from around here.” Glenn scratched his beard.
While they shared the same dark blond hair and gray-green eyes, Carson knew he and his brother were very different. Short, muscular, and the elder, by two years Glenn rarely stopped talking. Taller and leaner, Carson had heard their mother describe him with the old phrase: still waters run deep.
“The women around here are too young, too old, or too married already,” Carson retorted. “I looked into Space Brides. They have a great reputation and they guarantee success. You fill out a questionnaire. They show you women their computer algorithm says will be compatible with you.” On the screen a gallery displayed a half dozen women’s photos. As they watched, one more popped into the line-up.
Glenn came over and put a hand on Carson’s shoulder. “Are you sure this is a good idea? I mean, is it fair to the woman you pick, with your situation and all? Say, that one’s cute. I’ve always been partial to redheads.”
“Glenn, what was it you came to ask?”
“Hmm? Oh, did you finish cleaning all the filters on the nutrient pumps?”
“Yes, I did.”
Glenn continued to scan the photos and short bios.
Carson waited for a few minutes, before losing patience with his nosey brother. “If you don’t have any other objections, I’m going to pay the credits and find a wife. Are we good on that?”
Although Glenn was technically in charge of the family business they had inherited, he didn’t usually try to boss Carson around. He shook his head, a look of concern on his face. “I’ve got my doubts about how smart a mail order bride is, but I understand.” He grinned. “I’m going to be your best man, right?”
Once Glenn left, Carson went back to considering all the bios. Strangely enough, he felt most drawn to the newest candidate named Judith. Her photos showed her in a lush, green outdoor setting. No wonder she looked so happy. Her profession as a journalist concerned him. She had indicated on her application she was open to new jobs and helping existing businesses grow. His finger hovered over the screen before he ranked her number one. He pondered how to rank the others.
On Earth…
By seven the next morning, the women had filed into the auditorium again, eager and nervous for the testing to begin. Linda McClaren and three others stood on the stage holding tablets and discussing arrangements. Once all the potential brides took a seat, Linda began speaking.
“Good morning. Here with me are your guides for the next few days. They will take you through the stages of testing and, if you pass, will help you with the rest of the process. Good luck!”
They divided the candidates into groups of thirty to thirty-five and assigned each group a guide. Deena Langley, a tall brunette who gave off a drill sergeant vibe, quickly had Judith’s group lined up and focused.
She had a deep voice and a matter-of-fact manner. “Good morning. Our group is going to start with the actual physical. Follow me to the med labs. None of this should be new. I’m sure you’ve all have physicals before.”
Sure, Judith had been through physicals before, but none this thorough. The med staff weighed and measured, poked and prodded. The lab techs took biological samples to check for genetic defects, pregnancy, and STDs. As they each completed the process, Deena escorted them to benches in the hallway to sit until the entire group finished.
Judith’s group waited patiently with some whispered conversations. When the group finished their physicals, Deena checked the time and told them, “Next is the psych evaluation.” She led them into a room with enough computer stations for all. They put on special headsets with built-in stress sensors and began answering question after question on the computer screen.
They got a break for lunch and an hour to relax. Deena collected her group and took them to the gym. The huge space contained numerous exercise machines and weight stations, along with an apparatus for testing g-forces.
“We need to know your bodies can handle the stress of space travel. We will work our way through these exercises and scan stations. If you make it through these tests successfully, you’ll be on to the next stage of looking at prospective husbands. So hang tough and show me what you’ve got!”
Judith liked to think she was in pretty good shape. By the time she got to the g-force machine, perspiration covered her body and her muscles trembled from fatigue. A tech strapped her into the seat, and the machine began whirling around, faster and faster. She remembered the advice to clench her lower body and managed to make it to the end without passing out. She got a thumbs up from Deena as she climbed out and tottered over to a bench.
That evening, the women were quiet and subdued during dinner. The various tests had eliminated about twenty percent of them. Those who were left, Judith could tell, were exhausted. When the meal ended, Linda McLaren came into the room.
“Congratulations, Ladies. You have passed all your tests. Tomorrow, you’ll meet the video versions of your prospective bridegrooms. Next, we’ll have a day of space travel training and then you’ll be on your way to a new, exciting life you’ve been dreaming about.
~ * ~
“The moment you’ve all been waiting for has arrived. Please find a seat at one of the computer stations. Use the log-in information we gave you and meet your potential mates,” Deena instructed. The second round of women to cycle through the computer lab, Judith’s group had waited with giddy excitement.
Once everyone claimed a computer, Deena continued, “There is a great deal of information about to come your way. The one thing Space Brides, LLC doesn’t want you to think about when selecting a husband is financial status. We verify each potential husband has gainful employment. Other than that, we don’t ask how much they have in a bank or what’s in an average paycheck. I want to emphasize again, you should go into these relationships expecting to do some type of productive work. Out on the space frontier, every person needs to contribute. If you have questions or need help, let me know. Go ahead and put on the headsets.”
Judith took a deep breath and let it out slowly, adjusted the headset, and then logged in. Within moments, two folders popped up on the screen, quickly followed by a third. Each folder contained a photo with some basic facts: height, weight, hair and eye color, age, and location. She studied just the photos to start with. She found all the men attractive. The first two were similar in appearance with short dark hair, average builds, and pleasant faces. The third man was tall, had long hair, and a lean face.
She clicked on the first candidate. Jacob Dunlap. In a professionally done video, Jacob walked through his living quarters talking about himself, then at his jobsite as supervisor at a nuclear power facility, and finally through a concourse in Mars’ largest city. He seemed nice. An information file provided lots of other details, including: he would like to have children and had a passing grade on the genetic defects scan.
She tried the next person, Yoshi Takeda. He worked as a maintenance supervisor at one of the bases on the Moon. She watched his video all the way through, but knew she should get farther away from Earth if possible.
Judith clicked on the last folder. She met Carson Landry. He had the most intense gray-green eyes she’d even seen. Six foot and change, he had straight, dark blond hair pulled back into a tail, and a wiry physique. She smiled as his video started and he said, “Sorry, I know they recommend having a professional do this, but it’s easier doing it on my phone.” She liked his voice, not too high, not too low, but very masculine. She could listen to him talk all day. His video showed him mostly with a backdrop of green, growing things in his family’s aquaponics business. He came across as intelligent, hard-working, and maybe a little shy. His video, much shorter than the others, seemed to her more natural. She immediately liked him.
She sat musing for a few minutes. Something about Carson pulled her back to his details, time and again. She felt a tap on her shoulder and found Deena standing there. She pulled off the headset.
“Any conclusions?” Deena asked.
Judith nodded. “This is the one, Carson Landry.”
~ * ~
Fortunately, space travel agreed with Judith. She didn’t experience any stomach problems. She took to the grav boots easily, and found plenty to do during the three-week trip to Mars. As she regained her sense of safety, she also fell back into her natural routine of talking to people and drawing out their stories. She wandered the ship, asking questions about how the crew handled their jobs and getting to know the other women. She wrote a dozen stories in her head, repeatedly realizing she no longer had a news organization to submit them to.
Judith also spent time reading everything in the ship’s computer library about aquaponics. She gained some knowledge, yet knew it probably just scratched the surface. Once a day she took time to rewatch Carson’s video. She definitely found him attractive. The thin scar that ran down the left side of his face didn’t bother her, but did make her curious about how he’d gotten it.
Her conflicting emotions chased each other around in a catfight. She felt hopefulness for the future, panic at leaving behind all she knew, amazement he’d chosen her. Also guilt. To escape a serious problem Judith knew she was using this man. She planned to put a strong effort into making the relationship work. She wanted adventure in her life and a man to share it with. She knew half a dozen people who had met their spouses through a website. Using Space Brides wasn’t much different. Was it?
She and Kaj spent lots of time together. Kaj had found her match on Mars as well, but not in the same city. They started making plans to be in each other’s weddings, and to visit afterward.
“I don’t want to jinx this. We really should give ourselves the full two weeks they suggest for meeting and getting to know these guys, before we start making real plans,” Kaj commented as they sat in a lounge looking over an array of wedding dresses on the large computer screen.
“Yeah. It’s more fun to look with a friend. How can we not look at dresses during this trip? Oh, that one’s gorgeous!” Judith paused on a knee-length dress in a tight white material with some sparkly bits arranged in a swirling pattern. “It comes in lots of colors, too, if you don’t like white.”
“Yep, that’s a nice one. Let’s bookmark it for you. I think I want something a little more traditional. You realize we’ve only got two more days until we get there. I’m having trouble sleeping at night, I’m so excited. I hope he’s as nice as he sounds in his video.”
“We all do, Kaj. Like you said, we’ll have some time to find out.” Because heaven knows we aren’t all honest about everything. Just look at me, Judith thought uneasily.
On Mars…
Carson found himself waiting in a private lounge at the shuttleport with eleven other guys. Every one of them chewed gum, tapped toes, or paced while they watched the airlock lights. Carson opted to lean against a wall and tap his foot. Finally, the indicators turned green and the doors hissed open. A short, matronly-looking woman with a data pad shepherded a dozen women through and into the room. The men all came forward, staring intently to spot a familiar face. The women began looking through the group of men as well. Some gave a shy wave when they recognized their match from the video.
“I’m Madeline Brown of Space Brides, LLC. This is such an exciting day, one I know all of you have been looking forward to with eagerness and a touch of nerves. We’re going to start with a group luncheon and then a tour of Cassini City. For dinner tonight, you’ll dine alone with your prospective spouse. We have other activities planned for the next few days to give everyone time to get acquainted and comfortable. Please remember, it will take time. It’s not a race.”
She paused to consult her datapad. “I’m going to say the name of one of these fine women and her prospective husband. When I call your names, please come introduce yourselves. Sit and talk for a few minutes until everyone has been paired up. Kaj Vang and Johnny Bowman.”
Kaj stepped forward with a big smile on her face and sparkling eyes to meet her guy. Johnny was only a couple inches taller than Kaj, with short sandy hair and even some freckles. He came up and gave her a chaste kiss on the cheek and took her by the hand to go find some seats. Kaj looked back at Judith and grinned.
Madeline kept calling names and matching people up. She called Judith’s name last along with Carson’s. He came forward tentatively and put out his hand to shake. “Hi, I’m Carson. I’m really glad to meet you.”
Judith shook his hand and smiled. “I’m excited to be here and to meet you.”
He hung onto her hand and guided her to a seat as far from the other couples as he could. They sat and he shifted as if uneasy. “How was the trip? Was it your first time in space?”
“Yes, my first time off planet Earth and the trip went fine. Very interesting too. Nice to be out of grav boots. How about you? Have you been off Mars?”
Carson hesitated, taking a deep breath. “I spent some time out in the asteroid belt when I was younger. I much prefer it here on Mars.” His mind raced trying to find a question. “What’s your favorite food? We’ve got all kinds of restaurants to pick from. Italian. Thai. Chinese. There’s even an Ethiopian place.”
“I like a variety, but the Italian sounds good,” Judith responded. “If you mean for tonight?”
“Yes, tonight.”
The awkward conversation continued as Carson forgot all the things he had rehearsed to talk about. Fortunately, Judith asked lots of questions. He knew he wasn’t holding up his side very well. When the Space Brides chaperone finally announced time for lunch, he felt relieved.
He continued to hold her hand as they walked with the group to a nearby catering center.
“It’s interesting what the algorithm finds in people’s backgrounds,” Judith observed. “It surprised me to read in your bio you’d lost your parents in your twenties. Is that one of the reasons the algorithm thinks we’re compatible?”
“It is a bit unusual, isn’t it?” Carson agreed. “It’s not something I talk about much. They died in a rare shuttle accident. How about yours? If it’s not too painful?”
“Similar, a car accident, an AI glitch. Still makes me sad at times.” She glanced his way. “Knowing you’ve been through the same thing makes it easier to talk about.”
He gave her a rueful smile and squeezed her hand gently.
~ * ~
After the long, exciting day, Judith relaxed when Madeline finally took them to their lodging, the Cassini City Grand Hotel. Judith realized it was people like Madeline who made Space Brides successful. The woman helped ease them into their new relationships, smooth over rough patches, and organize the actual weddings. Even before landing, her main advice had been, “Do not feel under any obligation to fall into bed on the first night with your prospective husband. Take all the time you need to get to know him. Make sure you feel comfortable with him. You are all going to have private rooms for when the time is right.”
Judith just wanted to fall into bed and sleep. Kaj insisted they go to the group meeting with Madeline in the hotel bar. Judith and Kaj entered the dimly lit space and joined the others at their table.
Madeline raised the fancy drink in her hand to salute them, “Good, now that just leaves Erica.”
Someone snickered. “She and Roy really hit it off, if you get my drift. She said not to wait on her.”
Madeline sighed and smiled. “Well, I hope the rest of you feel just as excited about your matches. It’s such a relief to get the first day over with. It’s usually the most awkward. In my experience, things get better and better from here. Obviously, for Erica, things are already ‘better’. If you’re honest with the computer, the algorithm does a wonderful job.” She paused to sip her drink. “Alright, any concerns? Anything you want advice on?”
The women looked around the table happily with shrugs and smiles. They shared with each other compliments about the men they’d met earlier.
Judith raised her hand and Madeline nodded at her. “I think Carson’s the quiet type. I feel like I did most of the talking today. If I was interviewing someone, I could badger him for answers by restating the question over and over. In a budding romantic situation, I need a better strategy.”
Madeline took another sip and replied, “Focus on open-ended questions and be patient. I will send all of you my list of the fifty best questions to start a conversation.” Madeline fussed on her phone for a minute and sent off the list.
“Thanks, I’ll look these over for ideas.”
Madeline continued, “The other thing to consider, though, is sometimes the computer detects patterns we don’t. The algorithm may have figured out a particular person doesn’t talk much, but does enjoy the comforting hum of conversation from a partner. I’ve known couples like this. One enjoys talking and the other enjoys listening.”
Madeline paused to see if there were other questions. “So, you had your dinner dates solo this evening. Tomorrow morning, we’ll all meet at the Mars History Museum for a tour. Your matches have been encouraged to plan the rest of the day for you. Might include more sightseeing or be a time they arrange to meet the family. It could be anything. I’ll be here every night if you want to stop in and get advice or share how things are going. I always enjoy hearing about your progress. And of course, I’m available by phone at any time.”
A few minutes later, the group broke up. As she headed to her room, Judith puzzled over what she hadn’t felt comfortable telling Madeline. She’d noticed Carson carried a concealed weapon.
~ * ~
Carson thought their first few days had gone well. Judith showed enthusiasm for everything about Mars. She’d loved the museum and the restaurants. She especially liked their group trip in the rovers out to the site of an early scientific expedition. Somehow, she had helped him come out of his shell. He couldn’t quite put his finger on it. He found it got easier to have real conversations as the days went by.
He finally felt ready to introduce her to Glenn and show her the business. They were on the tram out to the company his parents had built, Aquarius Aquaponics. They got off the tram and he guided her to the right slide-walk.
“I told Glenn we’d be coming today. He’ll probably try to put me to work. He grumbled a bit when I told him I was taking time off.”
“If he needs you today, I don’t mind. I could watch or maybe even start learning how to help,” Judith told him.
“We’ll see,” Carson hedged. “Neither one of us has taken a vacation in the last few years. Maybe he’d like to take a few days off once you and I get settled. I know I hadn’t been to the museum or on a rover trip since I was in school. It’s been lots of fun, especially having you to do it with.” He smiled and they held each other’s eyes for a long moment before he bent down and kissed her lightly.
The slide-walk brought them to a large concourse where they stepped off. Carson guided her down a tunnel and into a smaller concourse. “Our business is this way.” He headed to a set of large double doors with a video sign proclaiming: Aquarius Aquaponics. He waved an id card at the wall scanner and the doors opened.
They entered a small office area with desks, computers and a few chairs. “Most of our business is done by computer, but occasionally a new customer wants to come see the product before ordering. Through here takes us right into the heart of our operations.” He headed for another door on the other side of the room.
Carson swiped his id card again and they went through. He paused there for Judith to take in the size of the operation. They had entered a large room filled with vats, grow beds and towers, a variety of pumps, and kilometers of color-coded tubing running in all directions. A catwalk ran around the room halfway up the walls with more grow towers. Control panels blinked in a complex display of colored lights. Above the mechanical noises, a faint strain of music played over speakers.
“Wow! This is like entering your own mini jungle. How do you have room to move around?”
“On Mars, you’re paying for the cubic meters, not just the square meters. We have to make use of every last bit of space we’ve got. You get the hang of it.”
“I thought it would smell bad, you know, very fishy.” He watched her take a sniff. “I can smell soil and scents I can’t even identify.” She paused. “What’s the music?”
“Oh, something my mom always did. She played old Earth classical music for the plants. Claimed it helped them grow better. We keep doing it to honor her memory. Honestly, I don’t know if it does anything, but our customers love our produce.”
Still holding her hand, he began leading her down a row of grow beds. “Let’s see if we can find Glenn. He’s supposed to be here. Glenn?”
They were halfway down the row, when something zipped by Carson’s head. It impacted a grow tower of tomatoes causing bits of plastic and almost-ripe tomatoes to explode next to them. He jerked them both to the floor and cursed.
As he reached for the gun he kept in an ankle holster, Judith grabbed his hand and whispered, “I’m so sorry! I didn’t think they’d find me. Maybe if I leave, they’ll follow me and you’ll be safe!”
Carson looked at her in stunned confusion then commanded, “Crawl under that grow bed and stay quiet.” He pulled out his handgun. Still crouching, he moved down the aisle.
He’d gone a cautious ten meters, when another shot rang out, deliberately hitting a fish vat. Water began leaking out onto the floor. The voice he’d been expecting called out, “Show yourself Carson Landry! Or I’ll put some more holes in your stupid fish tanks. Or better yet, maybe I’ll put some holes in your brother. After all, you killed my brother. Why shouldn’t I kill yours?”
Carson peered over the top of a grow bed full of pepper plants. At the far end of the room, Richie Maguire climbed up a metal staircase to the catwalk. He’d always been a short, scruffy man, yet, deadly. Carson watched as his brother, bound and bleeding from a head wound, got forced up the steps.
“I killed your brother in self-defense, Maguire. A court ruled it was justifiable. You were trying to hijack my load of ore.” As he finished talking, Carson scuttled over a couple of rows. Sure enough, Maguire drilled a shot into where he’d been crouching, using some fancy gun with a laser sight.
“I don’t give a damn what some court said. You killed him and you’ve been a dead man walking ever since.”
Carson called, “How did you get out of prison so soon? I thought you were locked up for ten years?” Again, he moved quickly, crawling forward under the tables.
“Got out early on account of good behavior. Took me a little time to find the credits to get here. I’ve been looking forward to killing you for a long time. It’s going to feel so good putting a bullet in your knee, and then your belly, and finally your head.” Maguire shot several more rounds into the fish tanks.
Carson risked another peek over a grow table. Glenn still served as a human shield. On the far right side of the room, a supply rack fell over. Maguire swiveled and shot in that direction.
He could only assume Judith had toppled it on purpose. Next, he heard a pump alarm begin wailing. He could see Maguire frantically searching the room and getting off a couple more random shots. He tried not to worry about what she must think of him right now. They needed to survive. He could deal with the fall-out later. However painful.
Carson took advantage of her distractions to angle himself more to the left. He could hear Maguire yell about something. He couldn’t figure out the words over the noise. He had moved far enough now to have a clear line of sight at him. Maguire held Glenn incredibly close. Could he make the shot? He hesitated.
As he waited, half-ripe tomatoes started sailing through the air.
In his efforts to dodge the hard green fruits, Maguire lost hold of Glenn. His brother did the smart thing and dropped to the floor of the catwalk. Carson finally had a clear shot.
His three bullets all took Maguire through the chest, sending him tumbling down the stairs. Carson stood up and ran over to the body oozing blood. He kicked the gun away and looked up at Glenn. “Are you okay?”
Glenn managed to sit up and lean against the railing, his hands still bound behind him. “I’m okay. Is he dead?”
“We’ll let the first responders figure that out.” He turned and yelled, “Judith! Judith, it’s safe to come out.” He ran up the steps to help Glenn. Pulling out a pocketknife, Carson cut through the bindings. Next, he pulled out his phone and called emergency services. It suddenly dawned on him; he hadn’t seen Judith.
“Judith! Where are you? Are you okay?” He left Glenn rubbing his wrists and started searching for her.
~ * ~
As Judith armed herself with more tomatoes, she heard three quick shots. The shots seemed different somehow and they hadn’t come anywhere near her. She stayed crouched down, holding her breath in dread.
Carson yelled her name.
Relief and despair coursed through her. She’d heard Carson and the man talking. The confrontation hadn’t been about her at all. Carson knew, from what she’d said earlier, she’d run from something. She doubted he’d want her problems, too.
She heard him start calling her name again, more frantically. Taking a deep breath, she willed herself to her feet and opened her mouth to answer, when he appeared.
“Judith! Are you all right? Are you hurt?” He ran his hands all over her to make sure she wasn’t hit. He took her in his arms and kissed her with the passion that comes with facing death and surviving. She couldn’t help responding to him. With her response came the bittersweet realization that she had fallen in love with him.
“I’m so glad you’re alive, Carson!”
“You were amazing!” He kissed her again. “Your distractions helped me save Glenn. I hate to think what would have happened if you hadn’t been here. Oh! You’re shaking! I know the adrenaline rush is great while it lasts, then you crash.” He tightened his arms around her.
“Is your brother okay?” she managed to ask.
“Yes, he’s a little banged up, but otherwise all in one piece. Emergency services will be here soon. They can check us all out.”
She started to pull away, looking everywhere but his face.
Suddenly, he held her at arm’s length and fearfully asked, “Are you mad at me?”
She looked up briefly, “No, but you must be mad at me. Carson, I lied about why I wanted to join Space Brides. I’m running away from a serious problem back on Earth.” She took a breath before continuing. “I thought that first bullet was meant for me. I used Space Brides as a quick way to escape. I wrote about a politician and his brother and all the corruption in his administration. My editor refused to run the story. I snuck it into an email blast we used to supply story updates. I was fired and had some suspicious close calls. I knew I needed to get as far away from Earth as possible, and as quietly as possible. This seemed like the best bet. I’m sorry. I came to you under false pretenses. It’s not fair to expect you to go through with this. I’d better go.”
She tried to move. He gently held on. “Wait, Judith. Listen to me. I’m the one who should be apologizing. Look around us! Your life was in danger because of me! I knew Richie Maguire wanted me dead because of what happened out in the mining camps. I thought I had many years before he’d be out of prison. I foolishly hoped he’d cool off by then and realize he was in the wrong. We can see how that worked out. Please don’t go!”
“Are you sure?” she asked, finally holding his gaze.
He gripped her shoulders more firmly. “I’m very sure. After just seven days, it’s hard to imagine my life without you. I love you, Judith. I want to marry you and have you by my side. Please stay and be my wife.”
Judith felt her eyes welling up. “The most I thought I could hope for was to like the man the algorithm picked. I’m happy to say I’m in love with you, too. If you’re sure, I want to stay.”
“I’m sure. Let’s get married as soon as we can!” He pulled her back into his arms.
Glenn limped up to them and clapped a hand on his brother’s shoulder, “Aren’t you going to introduce me to my new sister-in-law? After all, I am going to be the best man at the wedding, right?”
~ * ~
Somewhere in the heart of a quantum computing farm, the algorithm gave the equivalent of an electronic chuckle.
~ * ~ * ~
Laura Hilse has enjoyed writing since her distant youth. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies from Northwestern University and a Master’s degree in Montessori Education from Xavier University (Cincinnati). She has worked as a public relations assistant, a copywriter, and a Montessori teacher. Currently, she is self-employed as an Orton-Gillingham tutor for dyslexic children. Part-time work and an empty nest leaves her time to get back to writing fiction and the occasional haiku.
She had an idyllic childhood growing up in a small northwestern Pennsylvania town. A resident of the upper midwest for many years, she misses the rolling hills of her home state. Visits back to her hometown inspired the setting for her current work in progress. This story is an urban fantasy about a tattoo artist who, in delving into her past, discovers magical abilities, dangerous enemies, and a long-buried mystery she is destined to solve.
The author is a devoted reader of many genres, most especially fantasy and science fiction. Some of the authors who have entertained and influenced her the most are Elizabeth Peters, Barbara Hambly, Wen Spencer, and Lois Bujold. In her free time she likes to garden, read, birdwatch, and knit. She lives in northwestern Wisconsin with her husband.