Page 6 of Draevan

She paused for a moment. Was there another way?

Another sudden boom in the distance, followed by the building quaking again, seemed to provide the answer she was seeking.

No, there wasn’t another way.

Not only did she need to remain hidden from her stalker, but she also needed to not get killed in the middle of the civil war/revolution that was ravaging her country.

She said a quick prayer before she started filling out the application. Within minutes, she pressed the ‘submit’ button, then sat back and stared at the screen expectantly.

But of course, nothing happened.

No new emails appeared, and her application still said ‘pending.’

She almost laughed at herself for expecting an immediate response.

Keeping her laptop open, she carried it to her music room, deciding to spend a few hours practicing guitar and maybe even finish one of her songs. Anything to distract herself from the wait.

She tried to ignore the worry that she wouldn’t be selected as a mail-order bride to the Vaxxlians. At twenty-five, she was within the required age range, and she’d indicated that she was willing to consummate the mating union with the Vaxxlian male she was matched with. She’d even answered that she was willing to have children with her future mate.

She only hoped the Vaxxlian she was matched with was kind and affectionate. The loneliness of being sequestered in her penthouse for over a year was really starting to get to her. She couldn’t fathom staying here for much longer. The prospect of much-needed social interaction, fresh air, and a community of welcoming people brightened her spirits. She hoped the documentary hadn’t lied about the Vaxxlians or Starzzia. She also hoped it wasn’t just a propaganda piece meant to entice desperate human women like herself to throw caution to the wind and apply to the VAMOB program.

Just as she settled on the plush chair, a notification dinged on her laptop. Her heart skipped a beat. Instead of ‘pending,’ her application now said, ‘more information needed.’

Hmm.

She clicked on the new link that appeared and almost gasped at the additional questions she was being asked to answer.

Do you enjoy being around infants and children?

Do you have any experience as a caretaker for infants or young children?

Would you be willing to take on the primary caregiving duties for an eight-month-old Vaxxlian baby?

Would you agree to refrain from working outside the home until the child, and any additional children you might have with your mate, are older and more independent?

Well. These questions were oddly specific. Cora couldn’t help but assume her application was being considered for a specific Vaxxlian male who happened to be a single father of an eight-month-old baby.

How utterly sad. She supposed his mate had died when the Irrcons destroyed Planet Vaxxlia. But somehow, their baby had survived. A baby that apparently needed a mother.

She stared at the questions, trying to decide how to best answer each one. If she selected ‘yes’ for all four questions, she would have a better chance at being selected as a bride for a Vaxxlian male. She really was desperate to leave Earth.

But… instant motherhood?

Could she do it?

She’d always wanted children. And yes, she did have some experience babysitting, ages ago when she was a teenager. But hey, it counted. She also liked babies and children very much. Before she’d found herself hidden away in this penthouse, one of her favorite things to do was visit hospitals and try to bring comfort to sick children. She would bring them presents, just sit and talk to them, and even sing to them if they asked.

But an eight-month-old baby?

Could Vaxxlian babies talk at that age? Could they crawl or walk yet? There were plenty of differences between Vaxxlians and humans, so it was possible.

Her mind raced and she started to feel a bit overwhelmed.

She realized she was on the verge of making the biggest decision of her life.

If she answered ‘yes’ to these four questions, she would probably find herself quickly assigned to a Vaxxlian male who was struggling to take care of a baby.

Longing suddenly swept through her.