The sea made a quiet background noise as gulls trilled overhead. Mango trees further inland from the beach were host to many other birds and monkeys that added their voices to the ambiance. Althea and Ticualtzin were at the front of a group of people, with a religious person officiating their union. They had already gotten the paperwork done in a city office in Santa Onofre last month, but Ticualtzin wanted things done “right.”
Althea had to admit that this felt very “right” as she held Ticualtzin’s hands and looked into her hazel eyes. Dressed in a white, black, and lavender Mechanese formal tunic and pants combo with wide sleeves, she had her hair unbraided and flowing free in all its fluffy glory. She was sure under all the makeup that she was solidly cat-patterned as her emotions were running extremely high.
Ticualtzin wore a formal cream-colored wedding dress with a sweetheart bodice that exposed her shoulders and tattoos. Her arms were covered in matching sleeves, and a tiered skirt led up to her waist. It contrasted with her beautiful nut-brown skin and her long black hair down her back. After the two women placed the rings on one another after the vows, the priest looped a rope of flowers over their shoulders and bade them kiss. Althea thought her heart would burst at all the new emotions that flooded her with Ticualtzin in her arms.
Clapping from the crowd reached her as Ticualtzin broke the kiss. “Tonight, dulce,” she said quietly. “We have a reception to go to and deal with my family.”
Nodding, Althea turned and faced the crowd. About fifteen of Ticualtzin’s family were on the left side facing the altar, and about the same were from various friends and compatriots of Althea on the right. Ticualtzin’s family was eyeing Althea’s mixed group with apprehension. “I do not think they are comfortable with my guests or me, ba mebî,” Althea said quietly.
“Maybe we should…?” Ticualtzin began when a younger cousin on her dad’s side got up and walked over to a girl on the other side of the aisle. She was one of the more normal-looking people, with her light brown hair in a ponytail and conservative dress that contrasted with a cyber arm.
“Er…” Althea started as she overheard the conversation between the two, resulting in Mousey grinning like an idiot. The boy looked surprised and had his hand grabbed by her.
“I like him. He’s mine!” Mousey declared, making the people on her side laugh. The boy grinned and gave a thumbs-up to his family, and they relaxed visibly.
“Who?” Althea asked Ticualtzin, her ears drooping a bit.
Ticualtzin pulled her close, “Oh, that’s Yaoticue. He’s a cousin on my dad’s side from his sister. The baby of the family. He likes bad girls.”
Althea’s eyes widened slightly, “Will his rearers not object?” She had heard that humans placed a great deal of emphasis on the lineages of their mates.
“His father, Phillip, doesn’t care, but Salma might be annoyed,” Ticualtzin said with a placid smile on her face.
“Oh, like your mother and me?” Althea asked quietly. The woman had made a few snide comments to Althea already, but her husband seemed calmer. Consequentially, the Mechanese was worried about what would happen when she had to spend more than a few minutes with Sen ̃ or and Sen ̃ ora del Valle in passing.
Her bride made a face and pulled Althea closer as they walked the twenty feet to the crowd, including Ticualtzin’s parents and their new Bosses, the Garzas. “Be nice. Mother means well. She’ll be your mom now too. She just wants what’s best for me. Also, don’t flinch if she calls me by my old name.”
Althea cocked her head quizzically, “Old name? What old…?”
“Raphael! My son! ” the older woman with perfect hair and a patrician face named Rosa Celicia del Valle declared loudly as she glided to the two. Besides being short and wearing a perfectly tailored designer dress, she looked like what Ticualtzin would when she was older. Rosa gripped Ticualtzin’s hands and pulled her closer, kissing the younger woman on her cheeks and hugging her. Althea noted that Ticualtzin was wearing the fake smiling expression she used when dealing with an unpleasant superior.
“Mama!” Ticualtzin replied. “You know I go by Ticualtzin Andrea. I’m your daughter now,” she replied in a tone that said she knew that her words would be ignored.
“Oh, nonsense,” Rosa replied and held Ticualtzin at arm’s length. Then she looked at Althea, who drooped her ears and blinked at the woman. “And you must be the woman who turned my Raphael straight.”
“I… What is…?” Althea stammered, blinking and having her ears pop up in surprise.
Veremundo Segarra de Valle, a taller man, touched his wife’s shoulder. He also wore a perfectly tailored suit that spoke of money. “Do not torment the woman, Carmina,” he said smoothly. “You know she’s not from our country nor our Reality.”
“Fine, I won’t pester her too much for being a bumpkin. She did turn Raphael straight, after all,” Rosa said with a little sniff. She looked Althea up and down, “I guess you’ll do as a daughter-in-law. Though your friends do leave a bit to be desired.”
Althea looked at the woman and back at Ticualtzin, who looked like she was in mild emotional pain. The emotional scents swirling in the air were complicated and very odd, too much for her to figure out. “Umm... Thank you, I think?” Althea said after a few moments.
Rosa brightened and said, “I’d better meet your employers, the Garza Clan. This is one of their villas, after all, and I’d be a poor guest if I didn’t thank them and who wants to wake up dead?” Then, she glided away toward Jose and Tio.
Veremundo leaned closer to Ticualtzin and Althea with an apologetic smile, “I apologize for your Mother. She is very traditional and stuck in her ways. Honestly, she acts more like your great-grandmother did.”
“Papa,” Ticualtzin started before Veremundo put his arms around her and hugged her tight.
“I am delighted to be at my daughter’s wedding!” he said loudly and lifted her up, twirling her around with a whoop. Then, putting her down, he turned to Althea and said, “You are both beautiful brides.” Then, smiling widely, he hugged Althea. She paused in surprise, then hugged him back. “You can also call me ‘Papa’ or ‘Father,’” he said with a wink.
“Now let me go make sure your mother doesn’t offend one of the largest Landholding families in the state and lock us out of business deals,” Veremundo said with a wink and walked quickly after Rosa.
“I? What?” Althea asked, looking at Ticualtzin.
Instead of answering, Ticualtzin kissed Althea on the lips. “After we get seated at the reception, I’ll explain. Hopefully, with Mother busy, I’ll be able to.”
What followed was greetings and introductions to The fifteen members of Ticualtin’s extended family. Uncles, aunts, cousins, and her two older brothers, Sebastian and Alejandro. They were pleasant but teased Ticualtzin a little that she had needed to become a woman to land someone as hot as Althea.
Handsome and thin like his father, Sebastian swept in and kissed Althea’s hand before hugging his sister. “It’s a pleasure to meet you finally,” he said. “You have made an honest woman out of my tomboy sister.” Ticualtzin made a scoff of mock rage and hit him on the shoulder.
Alejandro was shorter than both his siblings but was squat and muscled. “Bro…” he began, and Sebastian gripped his shoulder painfully. “Er, Sis! Sorry, sorry.”
Althea looked at them both and shook her head. “I do not understand why you keep switching between genders for my wife,” she stated.
“We grew up with her, and some habits are difficult to change,” Sebastian said. “Though usually only for the more pigheaded,” he pointedly looked at Alejandro.
“Hey, she was a guy before she went into the army,” Alejandro complained.
“And now she isn’t one. Get a clue, my brother,” Sebastian said.
Althea looked back and forth between them and at her wife, “So she has changed caste. This is simple, change the designation like you acknowledge that I am now her wife. It is the same.”
Sebastian nodded, “That’s what I tell Mother and him, but you know how traditional some people are.”
“She doesn’t,” Ticualtzin finally interjected. “I have to teach her a lot. She almost got sold into slavery at least three times in Santa Onofre.”
Althea looked away, saying quietly, “I read all contracts carefully and was never in danger.”
“Sure, that’s why you were surrounded and chased that time,” Ticualtzin said, looping her arm around Althea’s and leaning against the taller woman.
“I... There was no footage of that,” Althea said, stammering.
Ticualtzin grinned and kissed Althea on her cheek. The way Althea looked away and drooped her ears let Ticualtzin know how utterly embarrassed she was at the moment, making her heart swell. She leaned up and kissed Althea on the tip of her drooping ear. A sharp intake of breath from Althea made her laugh even more.
“Tiki!” Althea said somewhat loudly with an embarrassed look as she turned her face towards her new bride.
“Oh wow, it’s true. You do have expressions,” Alejandro said quietly. “Damn, that’s a new one.”
“She makes even more adorable expressions when we….” Ticualtzin started.
Althea squeaked and pulled her close to kiss her to make her stop. Ticualtzin returned the kiss gladly and giggled at the embarrassed woman.
“So, when did you become chummy with the Garza clan?” Sebastian asked when they broke their kiss. “We’re a little influential, but they’ve been one of the biggest landholders since the Anglo waves hit us back in the early 2000s.”
“Oh, when Texico was founded, and the remnants of the United States fled here from the GmbH?” Althea asked.
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
“Ah, you know a little about our history and the Little America enclaves here and there?” Sebastian replied.
Althea nodded, “Their hamburgers and hot dogs are weird. I also dislike the horrible smell of their apple pies. It smells of body odor.”
Sebastian laughed and said, “I prefer churros and caramel plantains myself. However, I would like to learn about Mechanese history and geography. Can you teach me some of your Mechanese traditions?”
She nodded to him, “Of course I can. You are my brother-in-law now. I will answer any questions about my home that are not dangerous.” Then, tilting her head, she asked, “Why are you interested in my employers? They seem like nice people. I like my friends, even though they do some er.. less than legal things.”
Ticualtzin rolled her eyes, “Did you ever ask why he was avoiding us for three years?”
Althea nodded, “Umm, after the incident, since he gave you his codes to reactivate the drone control center, he was worried that they would charge him for the damage caused and also the damage to the drones.”
Ticualtzin blinked and went, “Huh? Never thought of that.”
Alejandro laughed, “Why would they charge them for an accident?” His brother and the two newlyweds looked at him. Then, wrinkling his nose, he replied, “Hey, that’s what the news said it was.”
Sebastian shrugged, “You know the news makes up stories they want us to believe. The truth is probably in the article, just enough to allow them to weasel out of slander and libel charges.”
Althea said, “Besides, we are not supposed to talk about what happened. Especially if I want to contest my discharge status.”
Ticualtzin’s face grew dark, “This is our special day. We will not speak of that.”
Althea gave a slight smile and nodded, “Yes, Tiki. I am sorry for bringing it up.” She quickly kissed the smaller woman’s hand, which brought a smile to her face. “Instead, shall we make the chit-chat and talk of your youth and listen to your mother call you by the wrong name while you gently correct her?”
Sebastian laughed, “She tells bad jokes too?” Then, he grinned at Ticualtzin’s covering her face with her hand. “I am going to like her.”
“She’s worse than grandpa,” Ticualtzin said.
Althea perked up, “I am better than any other Mechanese I know at telling jokes.”
“You’re the only Mechanese that tells jokes,” Ticualtzin replied, then winced.
“Thus proving my point,” Althea said with a ghost of a smile. “Now, let us cut the cheese for everyone.”
“Cheesecake, love. Our wedding cake is a cheesecake,” Ticualtzin gently corrected her.
After a weirdly uncomfortable reception that included Mrs. del Valle being led off to sleep away her alcohol by her apologizing husband, Althea, Ticualtzin, and the Garzas were sitting in the living room of a bungalow of the resort compound. Tio puttered around and made drinks from the stocked refrigerator while Jose sipped a fruity drink.
“So, shall we talk? I know you want to get your honeymoon started, but you requested a meeting with us,” Jose said quietly.
Ticualtzin took in a breath of courage. She was out of her wedding dress, wearing a casual top and skirt for the occasion, “Yes, I have a lot of questions about your company. I know my love vouches for you, but she’s slightly naïve about how things are done.” She looked to Althea, who was alternating between brushing her hair and using makeup wipes to remove the foundation that had covered her skin for the ceremony and reception.
Althea shrugged, “I do not know the nuances of your culture, but I have gotten good at spotting indenture clauses. They have none.”
Jose nodded, “That is true, but I understand you might have questions. Please. I want you to come into my employment with your eyes wide open.”
Ticualtzin nodded and sighed nervously, “The first time I met Tio, he was running a bar. How did he go from that to your second in command?”
Tio piped up, “Ah, yes, I was running a bar! I was teaching my no-good cousin how to set up a proper restaurant because he had ruined the place I had sold him.”
At Ticualtzin’s wrinkled brow, he said, “My Jose’s family owns many, many restaurants all over. You may have noticed that Texican cuisine and, more specifically, Nicaraguan cuisine restaurants are everywhere now.”
“Yes, but?” Ticualtzin started.
He held up a hand, “This is not just because we Texicans are the most hard-working and unrestrained of Erde’s inhabitants. Which we are!” he laughed and took a sip of his Michelada. “It is by design.”
“Design?” Ticualtzin asked. She looked at her wife, who was worrying at a knot in her hair with the brush. Then, in frustration, she turned and started to help her. “Not going to let you tear your hair out,” she muttered.
Jose said quietly, “You know how there are Fess-T-Burgers and Yoronotaki bars in the weirdest places?” Then, at Ticualtzin’s nod, he continued. “That is also by design and not just because they are popular because they certainly are.”
“What do you mean by design?” she asked as she finished working on Althea’s hair. Her wife turned and kissed her before taking the brush and offending knot of hair to the trashcan.
“Clandestine intelligence gathering stations, mostly,” Jose said. “Safe houses, drop off areas, training centers. Things like that. Now they aren’t the only kind of place like that, but they are the agreed upon venue for such things.”
Ticualtzin looked at Jose, alarmed. “We can’t get involved in espionage,” she said quickly. “I’m a mechanic, and Althea is....”
“An excellent soldier, but no spy,” Jose completed.
Ticualtzin nodded and then squeaked when Althea, having finished cleaning her brush, walked over, picked her up under her arms, and hoisted her into a princess carry. She then sat down in Ticualtzin’s seat and lowered her wife onto her lap. Then, turning to Althea red-faced in embarrassment, she shouted, “Hey! I don’t care if you’re super strong! I’m not a doll!”
Althea shared one of her rare smiles and held her to her. “I know, Tiki. I am just very happy.”
“I’m trying to have a serious conversation!” Ticualtzin complained.
Althea nodded and leaned back, holding her wife. “I would like to be part of this conversation as well,” she said quietly, and Tiki relaxed while Tio started to laugh.
“From what they told me, I will not be part of any state-sponsored clandestine operation except recovery of objects and personnel in unknown or not formally contacted realities,” Althea stated, focusing on Jose. “Was this not correct, Mr. Garza?”
He blinked and looked at the two women and then at his husband, who was still laughing at their exchange. “Ahem. Yes, it is. I was merely explaining the restaurant situation.”
Althea nodded and pulled Tiki closer, “Thank you. I just needed to calm her down before she said something untoward.”
“I. Would. Not!” Tiki retorted hotly, and Tio started laughing again.
“Oh, to be young again!” he laughed at them. “You remind me of when I would do that with Jose!”
The other man colored, “Tio, hush.” He composed himself and said, “As I was saying, restaurants are a normal waypoint for clandestine operations. The other two are examples of State-sponsored operations, and you can tell. This is because they are often not busy.” He looked at them seriously. “You have seen a Fess-T-Burger in a neighborhood with no traffic and no patrons? The place is run down, and they actively discourage customers?”
Althea tilted her head, “I have never seen a Fess-T-Burger like that. That would disgrace Festus.”
Ticualtzin made herself comfortable on Althea’s lap. “I have. There were a few places around my neighborhood when I was growing up. I always wondered why they were still in business.”
Jose nodded, “Yes, places like that are getting their money from elsewhere. Be that organized crime, a state organization, or even a rich uncle. They aren’t profitable and are most likely a front for something else.”
The newlywed woman nodded, “That’s in all the spy movies. So it’s kind of common knowledge.”
“True. However, it still happens often enough,” Jose said and sipped his fruity drink. “Texico, as a rule, does not follow the pack. It’s not profitable, and the State has its own ways of dealing with bad actors. So instead, they contract with trustworthy groups like ourselves, who are not only legitimate businesses but also independent contractors.” He sniffed, “Unlike the others, our restaurants only open where there is a demand for high-quality food and a good chance to collect information. Edelweiss, as backwater as it was, was a great place to get information from the oil tanker crews that travel between the colonies and unaligned Realities.”
Tio piped up, “I go and make sure the places are running right and make money. Then, if we lose money, we fix it or leave, like a real restaurant. Plus, it gives all our cousins, nieces, and nephews places to work and a chance to travel all over the Realities. So it’s a good opportunity.”
“Spies for hire and caterers?” Ticualtzin scoffed.
“Somewhat. People will tell a bartender their most intimate secrets. If we happen to run across information that may be useful for Texico or the League, we can then pass it along to the right places,” Jose said. “We also run our missing persons, assets, and insurance fraud investigations through them. An employee transfer for a week or an ‘inspection’ is not considered suspicious in most places.”
“You would not believe the amount of insurance fraud that happens. A great deal of money is involved, and people try very hard to cover it up. In that case, we have to sneak in and get the information to prove it. So we hire agents like your wife.” Jose continued, “Your wife is specialized to get into an area, complete an objective, and leave unseen. In fact, she’s done several superb jobs in retrieving evidence of insurance fraud.”
“Althea!” Ticualtzin turned on her, “You told me you didn’t leave Erde’s Reality!”
Althea nodded, “I did not. I went to some shipyards, took photos, retrieved documents, and got confessions when security was lax.”
Jose nodded, “That is true. I held her to the promises she made to you. Althea has never left Erde. She is a valuable employee, and I want to keep employing her in larger and larger jobs.” He looked at Ticualtzin. “I know you come as a package deal, and I need someone to fix some of the small Gate engines we have in our possession.”
Ticualtzin blinked, “Wait, you have private Gate engines? I thought those were restricted to government ownership.”
Jose and Tio looked at one another and grinned before looking at Ticualtzine and Althea. “What the government doesn’t know won’t hurt it,” Tio said with a laugh.
Jose shrugged, “They’re old and decommissioned. I want to see if you can fix them.”
“Why?” Ticualtzin asked, her eyes narrowing.
Jose sighed and shrugged, “We have an on-again-off-again contract to recover some lost ships and crews when their insurance and recovery beacons go off. Unfortunately, although our navigators are good at finding the beacons, some are in Realities that are more... How should I put it?” He tapped his chin. “Unfriendly. Yes, they are violently unfriendly to violations of their airspace.”
He continued, “We almost lost a crew last month and had to call off the recovery of the passengers. Then we had to send a request to the League with coordinates so they could go in. By then, some of the crash survivors had been killed. A few had to be rescued from the local scientists.”
Althea said, “I have been trained to deal with that situation, Tiki.” The Mechanese woman hugged her closer.
“I still don’t like it,” Ticualtzin said.
Jose nodded, “I understand your dislike of the situation, but if we manage to get this going, I think we can save lives the few times it happens.”
“And avoid the port fees,” Tio chortled.
“Hush you!” Jose admonished with a smile. He then looked to Ticualtzin. “Please think about it. I can use you as an ordinary mechanic, but I need you as a Gate engineer. Your lovely wife, Althea, would be perfect to be part of a rapid rescue squad when she’s not stopping insurance fraud.”
Althea looked at her, and Ticualtzin sighed, “Fine. I doubt you’ll be doing anything nefarious. I couldn’t find anything bad about your company on The Network.” She paused and tilted her head. “How did you make Tio disappear so thoroughly anyway? Even Althea couldn’t find him.”
Althea nodded, “Yes, all mention of Mr. Garza-Sanchez is gone after the Edelweiss incident.”
Jose let out a small smile, “Oh, we got a favor from someone called The Bartender. We now owe them one in return.”
End Book 1