Maggie's Story (Intergalactic Matchmaking Services) (6 page)

Ambassador Pacer and Daxon both rose and headed to the rear of the office. Claire was relieved the Nordonians were at least willing to consider allowing Maggie to keep her cat. She didn’t want to lose Maggie as a candidate for the program over the simple matter of a pet. As soon as they saw how clean the animal was, and how well Maggie took care of her, they should be more understanding.

Claire called Maggie right away and set up the meeting for Wednesday after school. She couldn’t wait to see Maggie’s expression when she saw the Nordonians for the first time. While they were attractive in their own ways, they were still different enough from humans that they could not pass as one. They had no hair on their bodies except for eyelashes which were usually quite pale. Their eyes were a bit larger than most human eyes, too, with less range of colors. She had only seen them with eyes of black, gray, dark blue, and dark brown. The vertical pupils were another way they stood out. Personally, she believed their pastel-hued skin was attractive. Their noses were flatter and broader than many humans, but were not unattractive, either. The first meeting between candidates and Nordonians was always interesting.

☆★☆

Daxon de-cloaked their small space vessel after looking around the alley to make sure no humans were present. This was a point when things could go wrong; it would not be safe for them to be seen coming and going. The ambassador and Daxon quickly entered their vehicle, closing the side door and re-engaging the cloaking device.

As the ambassador took his seat, he said, “I wish you would give this program a chance, Daxon. I care for you like one of my own sons. I think this would be a great opportunity for you to find a mate.”

“I don’t want a human mate, Pacer, you know this. I have resigned myself to the fact that my family line will probably stop with me. I’ve watched enough human media to know these humans do not treat matings with the same reverence we Nordonians tend to.”

“And I have told you that you should not put so much stock in their media sources. I knew your parents. I understand the kind of relationship you think you want. But at least
try
to give the humans a chance to show their worthiness.”

Daxon only grunted in response. He was tired of talking about this with the ambassador. He had seen how his fellow Nordonians would get themselves anxious when a new human woman would visit the starship. He also saw how many of them were disappointed when the woman would decide she could not give up her life on Earth. Going through that himself held no appeal. Why put himself through it, he thought. Surely there are other races that value home and hearth as much as Nordonians.

Daxon remembered his parents fondly. Dizon and Binda were happily mated for 40 years; they were soul mates, made for each other and no one else. They had a strong relationship built on respect and faith in each other. When his mother, Binda, died after the chemical attack, his father was devastated. Dizon pulled himself together for Daxon’s sake, since he was only ten years old at the time.

The ambassador, however, was not willing to let Daxon get lost in his memories.

“You know how important this program is to our survival, Daxon. I am only asking that you give it a chance to succeed.”

“Yes, I understand the importance. But I also feel this approach is too clinical. And I am not sure we Nordonians can find soul mates in other races, especially humans. Take this latest human, Maggie Cline. She seems to only want security, not a life mate. She could find the same thing in a bodyguard!” exclaimed Daxon. “She comes with too many complications for us.”

Ambassador Pacer sighed. He really wanted this program to work and he wanted to see his friend’s son happy.
He is too serious for his own good
, thought the ambassador.

CHAPTER 10

Maggie was nervous about the meeting the next afternoon. She wasn’t sure what to expect, but she was willing to be open to such a new experience; a matchmaker. At lunch, she mentioned the meeting to Shirley.

“A matchmaker service? Are you sure that’s safe?” asked Shirley. She didn’t have the best track record when it came to choosing men herself, but she wasn’t sure about using a matchmaker to make a romantic connection either.

“Of course it’s safe. I’ve met the matchmaker, her name is Claire, and she is a very professional person. I’ve even had a physical that was paid for by her company.” Maggie was happy there were no problems with her test results. Good news in any form was always welcomed these days, considering her daily anxiety. The Snake gang members were continuing to watch to her apartment. “I promised to keep you in the loop, so consider yourself informed,” said Maggie with a smile and a laugh.

The teachers made their way to their respective classes to finish out the afternoon of teaching. At the last bell, Maggie escorted her students to the bustling loading zone for the buses and parents picking up the children. After the last student was safely on his way, she returned to her classroom, collected her belongings, and headed home. This trip home each day was not as enjoyable as it used to be. She no longer noticed the beautiful Cascade Mountains to the east, and she no longer looked forward to the Tulip Festival in the spring. All she could think about was what she would find at home. The knot in her stomach seemed to tighten and turn the closer she got to her block.

The same three Snake members were on the street corner, watching her pull onto the cross street and then into her alley. Maggie rushed inside the building and down the long hallway to her apartment door. She felt lucky there had been no further acts of vandalism against her.

“Mamzell, I’m home! How was your day?” asked Maggie as she engaged the door locks.

“
Mrawr
!” called Mamzell as she dashed into the entryway, blinking sleepily.

“Let’s get your dishes settled, then how about a nice quiet evening of TV, hmm?”

Maggie continued to tell Mamzell about her day, while she took care of the cat’s food and water dishes. After seeing to the cat’s dinner, she decided she only felt up to making soup and a sandwich for her own dinner. Maggie took her food to the living room, sat cross-legged on the sofa, and turned the TV on to watch the news while she ate.

“The police have identified the body that was found last week in the Mount Vernon Cemetery. The young woman was 20 year old Jessica Middleton. She was scheduled to testify this week in a trial against three known Snake gang members. Funeral services will be held this weekend. The police are asking for help from the public in identifying who murdered Jessica. If you have any information, please call the number on your screen.”

Maggie sat staring at the TV in shock. She couldn’t help but think about how she would be expected to testify against Juan Santiago if the police were ever able to bring him to trial for the shooting Maggie witnessed. That could be her that was found in the cemetery. She was upset the detectives had not called her personally to warn her about this discovery. Is this why the Snake gang members were hanging out on her block? To intimidate her to the point she would not be willing to testify against their leader? Maggie wanted to do what was right, but she also realized how alone she was here. She had isolated herself by ignoring her personal life. There was no one for her to share her fears with; no one to hold her when she was scared. She had spent so much energy in furthering her education and career, she had no emotional support network.

Maggie held Mamzell to her chest and cried. She cried for the young woman who had lost her life while trying to do what was right and she cried for herself; scared that she wouldn’t be able to do the right thing herself without ending up like Jessica Middleton.

After the tears were all cried out, Maggie set Mamzell aside and took her dishes to the kitchen. Coming back to the living room, she walked to the living room window. She didn’t even try to hide behind the curtain this time, she knew they would still be out there watching her apartment; she only wanted to confirm it. Sure enough, the three youths were still there. Maggie realized her home was beginning to feel more like a cell every day.

With another evening of grading papers and watching TV behind her, Maggie made her way to the bedroom. She wished she had someone to hold her tight as she drifted to sleep.

CHAPTER 11

Wednesday morning came bright and early. Maggie was slightly surprised she had been able to sleep at all. She had expected to be haunted with nightmares of the shooting and the young woman from the cemetery. After her usual morning routine of readying herself for school, and seeing to Mamzell’s needs, Maggie headed to school. Today was going to be busy; the students had projects to finish for Halloween, which was the next day, and she had her meeting with Claire after school.

Maggie wasn’t surprised to find the Snake gang members watching her alley as she drove out of it to school. She wasn’t even surprised when one of them made the sign of a gun with his hand again. How sad was it, she thought, that she couldn’t even be shocked by this any longer? She didn’t want this to be her new normal. Oh well, she just needed to get through her day with her students and then come home and meet with Claire O’Donnell.

Maggie arrived home a few minutes before four o’clock and dashed through her usual greeting with Mamzell and got the cat situated with dinner. Just as she put the water bowl down, the doorbell chimed, causing Mamzell to dash off to the bedroom. The cat was not usually comfortable with strangers, so more often than not she ran to the bedroom when the doorbell sounded. Maggie looked through the peephole and saw Claire. She unlocked all the door locks and waved Claire inside.

“Hello, Claire, it’s good to see you again.”

After seating Claire in the living room and making the usual small talk, Maggie decided to get to her mental list of questions. Hopefully tonight she would find out about the word
intergalactic
!

“Can you now tell me about the word intergalactic in your business name, Claire?” asked Maggie.

“Of course, Maggie, but I have one request, please. I ask that you keep an open mind while I do my best to explain more about our service. First I have a question for you. Do you believe there are other life forms in the universe?”

Maggie smiled and laughed. “You mean like little green Martians in UFOs?”

Claire smiled, too, but for a different reason. That was the same question every candidate asked at this point in the conversation. “I’m serious, Maggie. The Intergalactic Matchmaking Service is operated under the supervision of the U.S. government. The U.S. became aware of a race of aliens about three years ago. These aliens, the Nordonians, have been searching for other races that would be compatible with them for continuing their race. You see, about thirty years ago all of their females, both adult and children, were wiped out by one of their enemies in a chemical warfare attack of their planet. This means there have been no new Nordonians born for thirty years. And never will be, unless they can find other races of humanoids they are reproductively compatible with.”

Maggie didn’t know what to say. Surely Claire was joking! She just blinked, staring at the matchmaker.

“I know this is a shock, but I promise you it is all true, Maggie, and I
can
prove it.”

“So you are looking for human women to
breed
with aliens!” exclaimed Maggie.

“Not just for
mating
, Maggie. The Nordonians also understand the need for companionship and they share many things in common with us. They build families like we do. They form monogamous relationships just like we do here. With no women of their own race, they no longer have females to share their long lives with.”

“This can’t be real,” said Maggie as she rose from the couch. She began to pace back and forth in the small living room. “You’re telling me the U.S. government has teamed up with aliens, for heaven sake, to allow them to use humans like breeding cows? And you want me to buy this story? Unbelievable! I thought you were a legitimate matchmaker, not a nutcase!”

Maggie knew her voice was raised, but she couldn’t help it. This was just too much of a shock considering everything else that had happened to her the last few weeks. She really thought Claire was there to help her find someone she was compatible with, someone to share her life with.

“You are focusing too much on the reproductive part of this equation, Maggie. It isn’t all about that, I promise. Remember, they want the companionship and caring that comes from relationships, too, the same as you. They believe in soul mates, and hope they can find them among other races.”

“This can’t be true. Little green men don’t exist. This isn’t Roswell!” exclaimed Maggie. “What does the U.S. government get out it? Why would they agree to something like this?”

“The Nordonians are teaching us about other races, some that would want to harm us and some that would not. They also use their technology to help our government locate natural resources, which you know is a major concern for most governments. I meant what I said when I said I could prove this, Maggie. Would you like for me to do that now?”

Figuring Claire would pull out doctored photos of little green men, she said, “Sure. Prove it to me.” Maggie resumed her seat on the couch, crossing her arms.