Ramliel by A.M. Griffin
Chapter Three
Ramliel sat in a seat that was too big for him. He’d claimed it as his special chair. His father had one and Ramliel wanted one as well. His legs weren’t long enough to allow his feet to touch the floor. Instead, they swung in the air. He didn’t mind. Soon, he would grow to fit into the chair. Just as his father fit into his chair.
Ramliel studied his father. He wasn’t upset. He was more…hm, what was the feeling displayed on his father’s face? Apprehensive? Saddened? Concerned?
Ramliel’s father, Este, was a big male, as were most of the Yatur males. He wore a red and gold tunic that stretched across an expansive chest and broad shoulders. His arms were left free and open to the air. One of his father’s arms was as large as Ramliel’s whole body. Tan, short hairs covered the bulky limbs and brown nails curled from the tips of long fingers. His loose pants were gold with lines of red threaded for color throughout.
His father’s shoes were plain compared to the rest of his outfit. Black and devoid of any markings or special designs. His feet reached the floor comfortably. Ramliel couldn’t wait until he could sit in such a way.
“Ramliel,” his father’s voice was deep and stern. Another thing Ramliel couldn’t wait for. As it stood, Ram’s voice was too high, almost like a female’s.
“Yes, Father?” Ramliel said, making sure to lower his voice as well.
His father leveled dark eyes on Ramliel. “Do you understand what I’m saying to you?”
Ramliel didn’t, but he also didn’t want to admit that. “Yes, Father.”
His father let out a sigh and sat back. His stomach was rounder than Ramliel remembered. Maybe Ramliel’s stomach would get round too?
“Ram?”
“Yes. Father?”
“Let’s review again, just in case you have questions.”
Yes, that was a good idea. Ramliel nodded.
“Do you understand why you record weekly messages for the Earth female?”
“She’s going to come here, one day when I’m older.”
“Right. Her spaceship is traveling over great distances to come here. By the time you’re an adult she will finally be here.”
He’d been studying about the planet Earth during his lessons. It was a watery planet with backward people, but they’d needed the humans help to supply them with females. For generations now, more males than females were being born. The scientists had tried to combat the unusual phenomena by altering genders in the womb. That had resulted in females who weren’t able to bear children.
The scientist looked at other solutions but nothing worked. The only solution they could conceive of was to find compatible females with their genetic makeup but whose offspring would have a predisposition toward Yaturs. They had to search far and wide, finally stumbling upon the small planet and after secret genetic testing, found the human females were a match.
Luckily, the humans agreed on the bride program in exchange for technological advancements. It was an experiment to see if the human woman could produce female children as the scientist hoped. A gamble, his father had called it because it cost a lot of time and credits to go get them and bring them to Teague.
“That is very good for her. She will like living on Teague. It’s the best planet in this sector. Probably, the best in the universe!” Ram boasted with pride.
“Yes, yes. The very best planet,” his father agreed. “But do you understand why you are leaving her messages and why she is coming here?”
Ram made a face. “Because Earth is horrible and when she arrives to Teague, she will need a friend.”
His father scrubbed a hand down his face. “Your mother didn’t want us to go too deep into the particulars of what was going on, but I think you’re ready now.”
Ramliel straightened in his seat. He was X age and definitely old enough. This sounded very important and he liked hearing important things.
“The female that you’ve been leaving the video message for is your mate.”
Mate. Ramliel frowned. “Nadi is going to be my mate.”
His father shook his head. “I’m sorry, son. Nadi can’t be your mate. We’ve already completed the paperwork and signed the marital contract. The human known as Mia Brown is yours.”
“But I don’t want her.”
“But you will. That’s why you are learning so much about her. When she finally arrives, it will be like the two of you have known each other forever.” His father sat back and smiled, looking at Ram warmly. “I can’t wait to have my grandchildren surrounding and climbing all over me. How many girls will you have to carry on our line and preserve our species?”
Ram pouted and crossed his arms. “None.”
“Oh, my son. I hope many and I will spoil each and every one.”
“I want Nadi,” Ram burst out in his first show of defiance toward his father.
“You cannot have her.”
Why not? It was unfair! Love matches were rare, but not unheard of. Ramliel was sure that one day his and Nadi’s match would eventually grow into one. He liked her. She was nice, pretty, special and most importantly, she had kissed him and he’d liked it.
He straightened his back and squared his shoulders. “I can have her and I will.”
“No, the deal we made to acquire Mia Brown is sealed,” his father returned sharply.
Rage coalesced in his belly. “I hate Mia Brown.”
His father tilted his head to the side. “Son, you don’t know her.”
“It doesn’t matter. I hate her.”
His father sighed again. “When she comes, you will claim her and you will honor our family with many children.”
“I don’t want children. I want Nadi.”
His father ran a hand down his face again, and blew out a weary breath. Lines of exhaustion marred his features. He slapped his hands on massive thighs. “Ramliel, don’t shame your mother and me. Right, now go and leave Mia Brown a message. You’re overdo.”
Overdo. How was he overdo to leave a message to someone who was still in stasis? She would get them all when she woke up so technically, he was ahead of schedule.
“I don’t want to.” Ram fought not to pout.
“You will,” his father growled. “We had to go through a very rigorous process to secure you a spot in the mating program. Only four thousand males on Teague were selected to participate. We were lucky. Well, not lucky, we had the right connections. We have to take full advantage of this opportunity.”
Ram protested. “I don’t want this opportunity.”
“Ramliel. Do you understand what this means for us? For our family? For my legacy?” At Ramliel’s silence his father continued, “My great-great grandmother had nine children. Her female children averaged three to four children each. Their children averaged two. Now…we are lucky to have a female child born in one union.”
“Our scientist will figure out what the problem is,” Ram countered. Teague scientists were the smartest in this sector.
“They’ve tried Ramliel.”
“But the news networks said—”
His father glared and slammed a fist on the desk between them. The look his father settled on him made Ramliel squirm. He didn’t like squirming. His father didn’t like squirming either. “They say whatever is necessary to calm the masses. The only way around our breeding problem is by mating with these human females. They are compatible to us and any offspring born of the union will genetically be more Yatur than human. We need this and we’re counting on you to continue our family line.”
Ramliel stopped squirming and raised his chin. Fine. Ramliel pushed to the edge of the seat and placed his feet on the floor. He left his father in his study and went to his room. That’s where he’d recorded the other messages for Mia Brown.
He’d told her about his life. His schoolwork. Things he liked to do for fun and what he thought she would like to do once she arrived. But tonight, he would leave a different message.
He sat in his chair. The one that fit him comfortably and hit record and stared into the camera. He wanted Mia Brown to know how he felt about this contract and this union. When she came to Teague she wouldn’t want him and he would be free to mate with Nadi.