Chapter 9 - Uncharted Territory
Time passed on since the Primusian Captain had his meeting with the race council. For a couple of weeks, not much development occurred that was out of the ordinary. From the slave scout Fiona's reports, her target did not deviate away from what orders and expectations were given by their master for the host-family program. As for Aerialus, she ventured more with the host family. Attending more places with Sue, she also got to visit Harold's workplace. Continuing on going out more with the family, she went with Robert to visit the college he attended as a student. Arriving on campus and beginning their walk, he began to point and explain each establishment.
"Each building is held for one subject?" the female Baklavaian asked. "Is there a lot of information for each that would require thee large buildings to hold it?"
"Mmm...not so much that information needs a lot of space. It is more the administration and instructor offices as well as the classrooms," he explained. Pointing at one building, he began to explain what was usually on each level.
"How many offices and classrooms can be fitted in them?" Aerialus wondered after nodding to his descriptions.
"Depending on the subject, there can be a few to many. For example, a science subject that requires a lab will take up to two classroom sizes."
"How big is a classroom in this case?"
"Hmm...about the living room, dining room, and kitchen combined at the house."
"..." she reacted with surprise. "Sounds...massive."
"It does...but each classroom has about 60 students...sometimes they try to squeeze up to 70."
"Wouldn't that be...cramped?"
"It can be at times. But after a while, you get use to it...sort of," he stated then gave a nervous laugh.
Seeing her nod her head a little, both continued walking a little bit more. After exploring a bit and going inside the structures for his classes, she got to see that the rooms were industrial. None had a personality like the family's home did. Instead, it seemed bare like a factory. The flyers, posters, and boards of information just provided a face covering to how overall the building felt. Exiting out of the building they were in, both headed in a direction that was more towards the center of the campus.
"Hey. Let's grab something at the food court and take a rest," Robert mentioned.
Gesturing to his right, there was a circular structure which had a flare of artistic architectural design. Not sure if had a functional purpose, it did make the place stand out from the others' rectangular and symmetrical layouts and framing. Nodding to him, both headed over to the entrance. Entering the cafeteria, there were a few people inside. Asking the alien if she would like something to eat and drink in particular, Aerialus looked around. Seeing many different kiosks, each offered a different theme and entree towards a meal. Feeling somewhat indecisive, she looked at him.
"...I can't...really decide. Sue took me to a couple of different cafes. Despite seeing that each offered something similar in food and beverage choices...I was unable to make choice. She ended up getting me the same thing that she would order," she informed. Upon reflex, her body made a slight turn as if she was going to be disciplined.
"The amount of choices here...is still a bit much for me...I'm sorry Robert."
"Ah...o-okay. No biggie," the male student responded with a nervous smile. Waving his hands mildly at her and telling her to not worry, he looked around. Stopping at one, he pointed to her of the one that was a couple of counters to the left.
"Let's go to that one. I'll order you the same thing I'll get...unless you'd like something else."
"No...that will be fine. Thank you," the female Baklavaian responded with a relieved tone. Leading the two to the kiosk with American ballpark food. Ordering and waiting to get their meal, both sat down at a nearby lounge and table sitting area. Seeing her relax a little from sitting down, the young male sat across from her. Feeling that the atmosphere was still comfortable between them, he continued with their Q&A.
"So...how has integrating into our society been for you so far?" he asked.
"At first...it was difficult. Being a slave for so long, the aspect of freedom to move around and not be punished or ridiculed seems rather hard to believe," the alien woman explained with a blink. "Now after what seems like...graces from my masters...I feel more comfortable doing what you and your family does on a regular basis."
"Do you still believe in the back of your mind that you are enslaved? Despite the limited freedom you have been given?"
"Yes," she answered without hesitation. Nodding her head, she continued.
"Though I am given freedom in the host-program, it will end once the time-period is over. Then...I will have to go back to the Primusians as a slave."
"That's not right or even fair," Rob mentioned with some empathy. "You would think that being in this program that at the end...you would be able to choose to either stay or go back."
"..." Aerialus replied with looking at him. Appreciating his words, she gave him a smile.
"Yes...it would be nice to choose my own fate."
"..." the man reacted taken aback from her smile.
"My I ask you something Mr. Robert?"
"Wha?" he spoke caught off guard. Blinking and recalling what she said, he cleared his throat.
"Oh, yeah! Sure sure! Ask away. Oh and uh...Robert or Rob is fine."
"...okay..." the Baklavaian began then leaned a little forward. "I noticed that not many students and humans seemed to be bothered by my appearance."
"...?" the male blinked then watched her. Seeing her mildly glance around, only one or two individuals were looking in their direction. Overall, people were minding their own business.
"Oh. Well, that is because this college is one of the few selected to host intergalactic students. The race council, formed from the CCIUS, established this a few years ago. So it accepts people from different worlds in space in order to educate and assimilate extraterrestrials to human society...and cultures."
"Really!?" the female asked a bit astonished. "Why would your people do that? We are strangers from distant stars...you don't know if we are friendly or not."
"Well...as far as I know, aliens made first contact in wanting a council with Earth's world leaders. From what's stated in the history books, this event was one of the rare times all leaders were committing to a singular goal. Creating an environment for both humans and outer space species."
"What helped push this further was the two main groups in human society. One group is pro-alien and the other is anti-alien. Each group has opposite views on how we should perceive and deal with those coming from different plants and systems. The organization in favor views equality and wanting to share with all. To create a global connection and community. The opposite views aliens with fear, suspicion, and wants nothing to do with them. We even have student organizations and clubs of both group types at this college too."
"...wow...but isn't treating people you don't know with open arms...risky?" she asked amazed and skeptical at the same time.
"Mmm-hmm," Rob affirmed with a nod. His readily agreement made her blink and pause a little.
"Rob, order for 2. Your food is ready," the attendant at the counter announced. Seeing him get up and retrieve the food, he came back with a tray. Putting in the middle of the table between them, both meals were already positioned to be in front of them. Taking a sip of his drink, he spoke.
"I'm for treating people equally, but I am not a zealous follower of the pro-alien movement. Sure, you guys are strangers to us; but, that doesn't mean we can't communicate and get along with each other."
"Regardless of how all aliens appear compared to humans?" Aerialus questioned more. Seeing him beginning to unwrap the yellow parchment paper around the prepared food, she did the same. Based on its shape, it was a sandwich of some kind or something similar.
"That depends on the person. But some people do judge base off of appearances. You could say that about any race towards another. Wouldn't you say so? Humans are not guilt free from that."
"..." the female answered. Looking down at the open packaged, she didn't focus on it. Lost in thought of what he said, she brewed about it.
"..." Robert paused opening up a ketchup packet and looked at her. Blinking and taking the open opportunity to stare, his mind was speaking freely in his head.
'Ever since she has been with us, she's been looking healthier. Getting out of those slave jumpsuits and into good clothes, she looks cuter.'
"..." he flinched a little from what he just thought. Shaking his head a bit and staring at the opened burger, he dispensed the red condiment on the meat patty.
"...I would have to say so too..." the alien woman spoke. Looking up at him, his eyes immediately looked up to face her.
"Though I haven't interacted with any other race before...I would imagine I might judge them at first glance."
"T-That's normal. We all do that to different degrees. As long as we keep our opinions to ourselves unless asked, it won't cause problems to others."
"...understandable."
"Let's eat before our food gets cold."
"Yes."
Eating their lunch in mild silence, Robert asked if it was okay. Seeing her nod, they focused back on the meal. After finishing, Aerialus drank her beverage through the straw. Her eyes drifted noticing that more students had entered. There were a couple of people that were closer to each other than others were. People of different and same gender were holding hands and having their faces close to each other.
"Something wrong?" Rob asked. He noticed her staring around them and seemed fixated on a couple or two.
"Wh-What? N-Nothing!," the female reacted being caught. Embarrassed and looking back at him, she moved her eyes to the table.
"...?" he saw her lean forward a little and whispered.
"How...do people accept that?"
"...accept what exactly?" the young man questioned. Watching her sneakily move her hand to point in a direction, it was at the couples. Looking at them for a second or two, he turned his eyes back to her.
"Oh...that? Society has accepted that long before I was born. I guess I'm not too bothered by that since I have seen it growing up."
"...I see..." Aerialus spoke and tried recomposing herself. "I don't know if my race had done that practice in the past. Most of the history and culture of my people has been buried since we became enslaved to the Primusians. Only the elders tell tales of our home world and what it was like."
"That's a bit harsh," the male responded feeling sad. Moving his hands together at the table, he nervously rubbed one thumb against the other.
"...so...despite not remembering much of your race's past and stuff...what is your take on love and relationships?"
"Love and relationships?" the Baklavaian repeated. Looking back down and saying the question in her head again, she failed to see the other table occupant's body language. Narrowing her eyes in concentrating, she answered.
"For what I know and have been told...my race did practice communions. However, it was more of arrangements between families. Other than that and being a slave for as long as I can remember...I am foreign to those subjects."
"Would the slave traders do anything to you or other women?"
"...other than abuse us and make all succumb to their will, most do not violate us," she answered relaxing her eyes. Oddly, the subject matter was not causing her anxiety or worry. Surprised from feeling that way, she continued.
"I know other women and men that have been tainted...if they chose to or did not, I wouldn't know. It is known amongst all slaves that we are powerless against them and don't try to revolt when the masters decide to get physical."
"I see," the young man spoke. Feeling bad about asking the question, he leaned forward to grab her attention.
"Sounds like a painful memory and environment to be in. I'm sorry if I made you remember terrible things and feel bad."
"What? N-no no...it is okay," Aerialus commented. Lifting her hands a little and waving them in front of her, she gave a sympathetic face.
"It is not a great remembrance...but I don't feel bad. I just never have told anyone about it outside of the ship...Talking about it to someone like you...made me feel kind of relieved."
"Yeah?" he asked feeling a bit relieved. Looking down at the table, he fidgeted with his hands a little.
"That's good. Hopefully being with me and my family can replace those painful memories. A-And show you a positive side to relationships and marriages."
"...it has Robert..." she agreed. Seeing him look up, she gave him a pleasant looking smile.
"Staying with your family has given me a greater sense of being cared for by others...from that experience, I would say I love our family and the relationship it has become."
"..." Robert stared at her. Feeling his insides tighten a little, he stiffened his hands together. Uncomfortable about proceeding with the conversation he was leading, he dug his right thumb nail in to the palm of his left hand. The pain only helped a little to battle his anxiety.
"That's nice of you to say...h-hey Aerialus?"
'...why is he...nervous?' she wondered and blinked. 'Is it because of the others that are over there? He said he was fine with them...Is it me?'
"Y-Yes?"
"I'm going...t-to ask you a question," Robert began. Looking up at her, he had mild redness on his face.
"I-It's okay to say no to it if you don't feel comfortable...or if ya don't want to. We'll stay a family regardless. S-So...yeah...um."
'...is he becoming sick...he's making me concerned,' the female pondered and felt her nerves tensing.
"I-I understand...g-go ahead and ask Robert."
"..." the man took a slow breath in and exhaled out. Putting on a determined face, he opened his mouth.
"W-Would you...become my girlfriend?"
"..." Aerialus reacted with blinking a couple of times. Staring at him and seeing him slowly look tenser, she gripped her skirt a little.
"I-I'm sorry Robert..."
'...shit...I should have known,' he thought feeling the pins and needles of defeat. Looking down a little, his shoulders remained rigid as ice.
"...am I...not your girl friend?"
"...?" the son perked his head up. Immediately thinking it was a second wind, the mild confused look on her face made him recoil a tad.
"...what?"
"I-If I understand...human language correctly...and based on my gender...I hope that being in the host-program and living in the same house...we had grown...close...was I assuming...wrong? If I was, I am terribly sorry," the Baklavaian spoke quietly. Already having her head down to be disciplined and appearing meek, she didn't see the odd expression on his face.
"H-Hold on...I didn't mean it like that," Robert spoke. Lifting his arms and reaching to her hands, he gently placed his on hers. Seeing her flinch and look up, he cleared his throat.
"L-Let me try a different way...if that is okay with you...or should I stop?"
"..." she looked down at his hands on hers. Not feeling tension in them, she began to relax a little. Not moving them from his, she looked up and gave a small nod.
"It's okay...go ahead again."
"O-Okay! Um...so I agree with you. I think of you as a friend as well that is a part of my family. Mom and dad like you a lot and want to support you like their daughter."
"..." Aerialus gave an embarrassed smile. His face turned a little red, but didn't move from his position.
"I want to support you as well...and I was asking you...to use your people's terms...if you would like to have a communion...w-with me."
"...!?" the female alien reacted becoming red in the face.
Staring at him like he said something unfathomable, many thoughts were racing her head. The complications it would make with her masters, intergalactic relationship reception for both humans and alien races, the potential conflict of interests, the high probability of jeopardizing her position in the host-family program, and other aspects. After moments of silence of both staring at each other, the only sound between them was the background noise of others around them and mild equipment running. Looking down at the table, her eyes lasered on their hands. Viewing them and trying to find an answer to clear her mind, only uncertainty generated in her.
'...I...it isn't...' Aerialus said in her mind. Looking slowly back up at him, he was still looking at her with a determined face. However, she could detect that he was getting embarrassed as well.
'...that I don't like him...I feel comfortable...yet I don't know what will happen...'
'...the slave traders never mentioned about...being against or for forming communions with other races or our own kind...' she continued feeling tension growing.
"A-Aerialus?" Robert asked quietly.
"Y-Yes!?" she flinched and blinked several times.
"Are you a-alright?" he continued. Seeing her look down, he slowly eased off holding her hands. Seeing her react a little, she did not veer away or moved her hands. Retracting his hands and looking at her, his asking her out seemed to have caught her off guard a lot.
"I-I...um...y-yes...I'm...a-alright," the female alien answered nervously. Still not moving from her spot, she kept her hands in the same place on the table.
"...you sure?...you seem pretty...shook up," he stated not sure how to proceed forward. Overall though, he was feeling less confident and unsure based on her reactions so far.
"...y-yes...y-you could s-say so..." Aerailus replied with a slow nod. Looking at him and seeing how his body behavior was, her insides were turning on itself. Trepidation and guilt stabbed at her from causing the expressions on his face. Ungluing her hands from the fixture, she slowly began to fidget with her fingers.
"I-I've...never been...asked if I wish to form...a communion before," she continued and leaned a little forward. "...s-so...I a-am just...s-surprised."
"..." Robert acknowledged her with a small head nod. Her statement neither relieved nor worsen the cliff hanger he felt he was on. As if he was on top of the highest part of a rollercoaster to which it was suspended. Waiting for the drop and sudden rush, it hanged on what her answer she would give to him.
"I...um...how do I say t-this..." the Baklavaian began. Looking down at her hands and seeing her play with her fingers more, it only seemed to heighten the mental onslaught she was having with herself. Opening up her mouth to speak again, she closed it from being unable to concentrate.
"...if...what I asked is too much for you Aerialus...I can...understand," the male human spoke with a softer tone.
Leaning back and resting his hands on the side edge of the table, he interlaced his fingers. Pushing his thumbs together, he stared at them with a mild defeated look. Observing him and seeing that she caused him to become in his current state, irritation at herself festered. The wildfire in her mind began to cause more strain to which made her seem incapacitated. Gripping and digging her nails into her fingers, she clenched her teeth together. Deciding on making a choice regardless of the ramifications, he opened his mouth again.
"...I'm...sorry to ask you...it seems to have cause you-"
"N-No," Aerialus cut off. Reaching her hands and gripping the tops of his, it got his attention. Seeing him stiffen and look up at her, she gave an unsure smile.
"I-I...don't know if...I will be good as...human females...or if this will cause...p-problems...b-but I...would like to try...at b-being...your girlfriend Robert."
"...!" Robert reacted with raised eyebrows. Blinking and staring back, relief started to sink in. Looking down at their hands, he moved them slightly to hold hers.
"Y-You sure? You looked...kind of disturbed when I asked."
"You...did catch me...off guard," she agreed and tried to relax her face. "I wasn't...expecting this at all."
"Would how you feel from me asking...correlate to your experience...on the slave trader ship?"
"..." the woman reacted with looking down. Squeezing his hands a little, she forced herself to continue.
"...one of the officers...tried to force a communion with me against my will...it was many of your Earth years ago...when I was much younger...it wasn't very pleasant."
"I can imagine it wasn't...you said tried...meaning it didn't happen at all? Or was it intervened in some way?"
"...by some fate, it was intervened due from the officer getting caught with crimes," the female alien explained then looked up at him. Seeing him giving her his full attention and still holding her hands helped her calm down. Not sure why, she reasoned it was the act of being in physical contact with her family that seemed to give her support and strength.
"Geez...he must have committed something serious to get it removed."
"Yes...for a Primusian to have their selected communion removed of a Baklavaian slave...it was very serious."
"Is he still on the ship? Or did he get thrown into jail somewhere else?"
"He was...ejected into space...with no vacuum suit on."
"Eeee," Robert reacted with a grimace. "That's smarts. I'm glad that you got out of that bad situation and were relatively unharmed."
"...yes...thank you...for listening to me," she commented with a small smile. "It still feels odd...to talk about myself...yet...it is...pleasant to have someone listen."
"You're welcome," the man said with a smile. "But you know you can talk to me, my mom, or my dad about anything. Right?"
"...yes..." Aerialus nodded with a bigger smile. "Sue makes note to tell me...more than once on our own ventures."
"Heh. Sounds like mom...but listen," he spoke and leaned a little towards her. "When you feel comfortable enough...I would like to know more about you. If you have any worries or dreams or things you want to do...let me know. Since we agreed to being in a relationship...let's do more things together."
"..." the outworld female reacted with staring. Feeling her mind begin its discorded frenzy again, she mentally shook her head hard. Pressing through the emotions that were trying to hook and claw her back to reality, she gave a slight down and up movement of her head.
"...I...will try...Robert," she made out as normally as possible. Seeing his face light up a little, he gave a bigger smile.
"G-Great! Let's go back to touring the campus!"
"Y-Yes. Lets."
Getting up and putting their trash in the waste bins, both left the food court building. Walking back on the sidewalks and continuing through the campus, the human male proceeded where he left off from explaining subjects in buildings. Listening and walking beside him, she was only half listening. Unable to stop her mind, a flurry of thoughts overtook her brain. Despite debating with herself of what ramifications would occur from what she agreed to, the unknown of the future seemed to shake her stiff. The aspect of being ripped away from becoming attached also gave her mental and emotional turmoil.