Total pages in book: 109
Estimated words: 103211 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 516(@200wpm)___ 413(@250wpm)___ 344(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103211 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 516(@200wpm)___ 413(@250wpm)___ 344(@300wpm)
This confirmed Nox’s assumption, but he wanted to know more.
“These males…do they worship the Goddess?”
“The Mother of All Life? Of course,” Commander Bairdida said, frowning. “Why would you ask that?”
“Well…because in our universe, the Kindred are 95% male,” Nox explained. “But it is good to know that the Goddess remains the same.”
“You’re really 95% male?” Commander Sylvania asked, looking startled. “How extraordinary! How do you manage to keep the Kindred as a species going without dying out?”
“By searching for mates throughout the universe,” Nox told her. “How do you keep the species going?”
“Well, it’s easier for us—we really just need sperm donors,” Commander Bairdida said casually. “Though we do like companionship as well.”
“Do you form soul bonds with your mates, the way the Kindred do with their wives in our universe?” Seline asked, sounding interested.
“Yes, of course—if we find a male worth mating with.” Bairdida sniffed. “Lately there have been a shortage of those.”
“You might find some men down on Earth,” Seline offered. “Of course, you’d have to get through the Scourge first.”
“That is what we are considering,” Sylvania told them. “There are many, many warriors in the Unmated Females section of the Mother Ship. Though some are happy just to be artificially inseminated and have a child that way, many long for companionship and warmth with a mate.”
“We’d like to find a mate,” a new voice said. Nox looked up and saw two new female warriors walking over to them. Both were tall but one was slightly taller, with black eyes and hair while the other was about an inch shorter and had golden brown hair and green eyes.
“Oh, this is Commander Loves Deeply and her twin, Commander Locks Tightly,” Sylvania introduced them.
“Are these the two from another universe?” Commander Loves Deeply demanded, her black eyes flashing.
“Yes, and in our universe, all of you are male,” Seline told them. “In fact, you two are known as Stabs Deep and Locks Tight and you’re both mated to one of my best friends—her name is Kat and she’s a woman from Earth, just like me!”
“What? Male?” Loves Deeply and Locks Tightly looked at each other and then back at Seline in surprise.
“It is true,” Nox said, wanting to back her up. “In our universe, the Kindred are 95% male and we know and work with your male counterparts. Commander Sylvan, Commander Baird, and Commanders Deep and Lock.”
“That’s the weirdest fucking thing I’ve ever heard!” Bairdida growled, frowning. “I don’t like the idea of being a fucking male! No offense,” she added quickly to Nox. “But most males are weak.”
Nox shrugged.
“No offense taken. You all seem exceptionally strong—I can see why most males would fail to satisfy you.”
“Tell me—am I mated in your universe?” Commander Sylvania asked.
Nox thought her voice had a wistful note in it.
“Yes—to a very sweet Earth woman named Sophia, but everyone calls her ‘Sophie’,” Seline told her. “Of course in this universe, Sophie might be a man down on Earth. I don’t know what his name would be, though. Sylvester, maybe?”
“So you’re saying our mates are waiting for us on Earth?” Locks Tightly asked hopefully.
“We cannot say that for sure,” Nox cautioned her. “We can only tell you how things are in our own universe—which we are trying to get back to,” he added, to remind them of the reason he and Seline were there.
“Oh—of course. Forgive me.” Sylvania nodded. “Please, come into my office and we’ll discuss the matter.”
She led them down another short hallway and the other three female warriors stayed outside as they went into her office. It was nearly identical to the one Commander Sylvan occupied aboard the Mother Ship in their own universe, Nox noted.
Seline seemed to think so too, because she stared around with wide eyes.
“This is surreal,” she remarked, as they seated themselves in front of the desk while Commander Sylvania took a seat behind it. “Just a few days ago, Nox and I were sitting in this very office and Commander Sylvan was sending us to go bargain for the other half of the Far Box.”
“It seems you were successful,” Sylvania remarked. “Since you have the artifact with you.”
“Yes, and we believe it is responsible for sending us to this universe in the first place.”
Briefly, Nox explained the circumstances of how they had ended up in an alternate universe—how Seline had been holding the Far Box as she spoke about a universe where the Kindred had not come to Earth and defeated the Scourge and how the fold in space had turned from red to green and the box had glowed.
“And then we found ourselves here, where almost everything is the same, but with a few crucial differences,” he finished.
“Such as the gender of most of the people you know being switched?” Sylvania raised her eyebrows.
“Yes, exactly!” Seline said eagerly. “The powerful Mistress we went to see turned out to be a horrible Master.” She shivered. “We barely got away with our lives. I would still be stuck there, on Beselex Station if Nox hadn’t rescued me!”