The texts started rolling in almost immediately.

Wtf is happening Addy???? --Alicia

Nat said men came and grabbed you?!!?! Said they were Val'Dornn?!? --Gabby

I'm getting Landon and I'm going straight to a lawyer. They can't keep you. You signed those documents while under the influence. They can't keep you --Petra

I'm calling the others. --Nat

We'll figure something out. Stall as long as you can. --Petra.

Everyone but Charlotte had sent some kind of text. They must have spoken to her, though. She was the only one that knew about our drunken escapade.

My phone vibrated away in my pocket, overly loud in the small car as the two males drove us over the bridge we all lovingly called the Frankenstein. Supposedly your life expectancy on this bridge outside of a car is 2 minutes, or something egregiously short. For a moment I genuinely consider the option of throwing open the door and making a run for it or maybe jumping over the side into the bay.

I glance back at the two hella cut males. You wouldn't make it two steps, Addy. You're better off staying in the car and remaining...not dead...for however long that lasts.

The locks on the doors clicked. I noticed both their gazes shift away from me when I looked up at the rearview mirror.

The longer I wallowed in a miasma of sadness the more distressed they both looked. My skin crawled and my stomach was roiling. The dread was going to eat me alive and I couldn't figure out what would've made it better. I don't think I wanted either of them to talk to me, but being left alone with my thoughts in this car on the way toward an unknown fate was just unbearable.

We turned into the city proper just as my phone began to ring in my pocket. I pulled it out. To hell with being polite. "Hello?"

"Addy? Are you alone?"

The sound of Petra's voice calmed some of the panic that was threatening to choke me, "No." I noticed the two males share a look, probably wondering if they should ask me to hang up the phone.

"Do you think they can hear me?"

"Maybe? I don't know."

"Fuck it. Landon called the lawyer. It's been too long there's no way to definitively prove that you were drunk when you signed the documents. We've gone to the media and reached out to that Bird girl who runs that blog. We're doing everything we can. We love you. Stay strong."

Tears stung my eyes and I couldn't keep them from spilling down my cheeks, "Love you guys too."

"We'll see you again. Do you understand? We're gonna do everything we can, alright?"

"Alright, Petra."

"Stay strong."

"I will."

With that, she hung up the phone. I sucked down what I had hoped was a steadying breath, but it just ended up sounding more like a sob.

"Ms. Kane. Please remain calm." The larger of the two males half-heartedly tried to console me from the front seat.

I only cried harder, "What's going to happen to me?" I felt weak. Shame burned in my chest. I sounded frantic even to myself. I fucking hate crying.

"The packet should have detailed what a genetic match would entail."

"A-all it s-said was that I-I'd be t-taken for f-further testing a-and I-I couldn't c-come back." I genuinely wanted to bite my own tongue off. The hiccupping sobs made me sound like a child.

Both the males looked horrified, "It what?"

"It was v-vague. We still d-don't know what is going t-to happen." Slowly, I was getting myself under control, but I don't think I'd ever quite be able to live down this public display.

The two males looked confused, "Forgive us, but we will get this matter sorted at the Genetic's Lab Ms. Kane." The silver one murmured as we pulled into the parking lot. It was surprisingly busy, filled almost to the brim with cars.

"Will I ever be able to come home?"

They both cringed, "I'm sorry Ms. Kane. But, that is one aspect of your description that was correct. You will be considered a female of our race once we finalize the paperwork."

I swallowed back the urge to cry. You knew that already, Addison. This isn't a surprise. There's are no need for more tears this was something you were already prepared for. To distract myself instead, I turned my gaze out to the people milling around the parking lot, "There weren't this many people here when I came to join the lottery. It must be much busier during the day."

The silver eyed male opened my door. I expected them to lead me to the front doors, but instead, he took up a protective position behind me. Keeping me close to the car itself, "It's never this busy."

A prickle of unease skittered down my spine.

Suddenly there was a rush of activity. Voices were yelling calling out my name and there was a crush of bodies surging toward us.

Between one second and the next, I was standing near the car and then suddenly I was hoisted up and over someone shoulder. "Hide your face, Miss."

Thousands of flashes went off at once.

"Addison Kane!"

"Addison!"

"Have you been taken against your will? Addison, please comment."

I could feel tears streaking down my cheeks again.

"She's crying! Addison, were you mistreated?"

The crowd of people followed along behind us until the larger male body blocked them at the sliding glass doors.

There was a flurry of workers waiting just in the door. The silver eyed male handed me off gently, before running back to the sliding doors to help his friend, "Get the paperwork finished and get her up to the ship. She's distressed. The ruling power has been purposely vague about what the Temani Bercari entails."

One of the workers visibly paled. The humans in front of me all looked like they were at a loss. None of them expected anyone to be taken. I'm the first, they're probably not even sure about protocol.

The man who paled at the Val'Dornn's words was only slightly taller than me with all-around average features stepped forward, "Ms. Kane, please follow me. We'll take you to sign some legal documents and will get you on your way away from the mess outside." He walked fast, his pace eating up the distance down the hallway. I almost had to jog to catch up.

He led me into a clean room with warm brown paint. It was likely intended to be comforting, but I was far from being comforted at this point. He shuffled through some papers on the nearby desk, setting three in front of me.

Pointing at the first paper, "This is just verification that you are Addison Kane, please look over the information listed and sign to affirm that it is, in fact, all correct."

I read through the paper. Everything was right much to my dismay. Everything from my blood type down to a graph of my genetic ancestry. "It's correct." I signed the paper and almost immediately he whisked it away and filed it.

"The next paper details your legal change of citizenship from Earth female to Val'Kier."

"Val'Kier? Shouldn't it be Val'Dornn."

"'Val'Dornn' roughly translates to 'male of the Val species'. 'Val'Kier is the word for females of our species."

"...Our?"

The man froze for a second and cleared his throat, "Please sign this paper to finalize your change in citizenship."

He looks human. He looks entirely human. "What are you? Why don't you look like the others."

"My name is Sian. I apologize, Ms. I'm not...supposed to be planetside. I was sent to make this transition easier on the females that were called up. However, we seemed to have overlooked the possibility that the information we had wanted in that legal packet could be changed. Truly I am sorry that you are so ill-prepared and this exchange has been stressful. I don't know the best way to inform you of everything that you should already know without stressing you more. All I can say is that in our culture this moment is often dreamt of and most consider it the highest blessing." He tapped the paper in front of me again, "Please sign this paper. It is merely a formality as your citizenship has already been transferred we would just like the notification that you understand."

I signed it and maybe that made me foolish. "So some of you look completely human?"

He filed away the second paper immediately and slid the third and final paper in front of me, "As a race, we do look similar, but no we do not look completely human. You are only seeing what I wish for you to see. I have Kylosk ancestry. It allows me...to change how others see me or change what others see in general, but that is something you will learn later. For now," he tapped the final paper and looked sad, "this form details that you understand what the Temani Bercari entails. It is...woefully under-representative and I am sorry. Because of this unique situation do know that steps will be taken to accustom you to your new life on the homeship. Again this is just a formality we can take you up to the ship, now, however, we Val'Dornn felt that these few extra moments and assurances would put you more at ease, yet it seems some things have fallen through the cracks as is common apparently with any fledgling Temani Bercari

I signed the paper and let Sian lead me to the back of the building into a clean white room.

He positioned me in a very specific space on the smooth white flooring, "There will be slight discomfort. We are going to use molecular transport to send you up to the ship. Plea--"

"Excuse me? Is this safe?!" I began to move and he moved me back to the space that he has indicated.

"Entirely safe as long as you please don't move again." He smiled indulgently, "We have used this technology for many years. As I was saying, discomfort is normal on the first transport. If you do end up feeling sick it is entirely common and those that are waiting to escort you shipside will expect some manner of illness. Please let them know if you have any problem and they will assist you to the best of their abilities. Are you ready?"

"I don't think I'll ever be ready, Sian." I tried to joke, but it sounded too much like honesty.

For only a moment Sian looked incredibly sad. "You are a brave woman, Addison Kane. I'm sorry this joyous event has been tainted with uncertainty because of your government. Be well, and congratulations on entering into the Temanus Ilharus."

"Entering into what?" But, before he could answer me the world spun and I immediately knew I would puke when I got up to the ship. In the blur of the movement and upheaval, I could see for one moment a male standing where Sian had been with skin like dark onyx. A faint pattern of lighter pigment along his shoulders flickered, and then suddenly I was rushing up into the darkness toward their sleek silver ship.