Page 24 of The Planetary Systems Preservation Committee Decided We Needed a Nanny

“Why always ‘scary?’” I wonder, playing with a lock of his hair.

“Because it is scary when aliens come to your planet and take over. We are a military force, and we impose the will of the galactic alliance on species that are unaware of the wider galactic community. It would be disingenuous of us to not recognize that we are terrifying, and we decided millennia ago that as an occupying force, we would be truthful and transparent with our charges.”

I can admit that I have had more than a few moments of terror when face-to-face with him since his people arrived, so I guess that’s a valid descriptor. “Well, even if humans are inherently rebellious against authority, I think you couldn’t have arrived at a better time, and you’re doing a great job keeping us alive.”

Lora pats my butt and presses a kiss to my forehead. “I agree with you.”

“So what’s next on your agenda? Do you have to go back to work?” I ask, since we’re really winding down on that conversation and I actually have a new job to start too.

“I have some reports to upload to the database, but first I plan to take you to the medical center, introduce you to the person you will report to, and assist while you become familiar with your new contribution.”

Oh goody. “It’s like we’re always on the same page,” I laugh, sitting up, excited to start my new job.

Lora pokes my soft belly, rubbing it like it’s precious to him. “I do enjoy that aspect of our friendship.”

The look of possession in those dark eyes tell me that friendship is only one aspect of this relationship, and I can’t say I’m upset about the desire in him to claim me. How fucking cheesy is that?

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

This is so cool. I’m not the kind of person that likes his job, because who likes working? But this is cool.

The robotics room where Lora takes me is as large as a really big house and filled with shelves full of the cleaning bots I’ll be working with. It’s pretty amazing that yesterday I wouldn’t even recognize one bot from another, and today I’m literally a theoretical expert on them. I haven’t had any real-world experience, but the simulation taught me everything I need to know to get started.

The person I’m working under is another ScaryDarkAlienVampire, but this one is significantly different from Lora and Dr. Randy.

“Ollie, this is ValiantExceptionalReliableAxiomatic,” Lora says by way of introduction.

The person gives me a close-mouthed smile before replying. “I have heard of your way of reducing our names to acronyms, and I am happy to be called Vera.”

“Hello, Vera. It’s nice to meet you. If you don’t mind, what are your pronouns if you have a preference?” I ask because it seems polite when I can’t tell from appearance what would be appropriate.

Vera shoots Lora a disapproving look before looking back to me. “I am a parent, and it would be appropriate to use she/her for my pronouns, but I don’t think I would be offended by any personal pronouns as long as you do not reduce me to a thing by using ‘it’ to describe me.”

“Thank you for letting me know,” I say sincerely, since I do not want to offend my boss in the first minute of meeting her.

“You are welcome. I will show you what your duties will be now, and how to access the network that will give you control over the bots that you will supervise. Lora, you do not need to remain here.” She immediately switches to their language, talking to Lora and sounding a little snarky if not outright pissy.

Lora responds, clearly apologetic, and Vera grunts at him, a very reluctant acceptance, then Lora turns to me, switching back to English. “Vera is a competent supervisor. If you need anything, she will assist you. I will return at the end of your contribution shift.”

I step up before he can just disappear, placing a hand on his body and lightly tugging. “It would be appropriate for you to kiss me goodbye,” I tell him, making my voice firm because I am not living my life without some PDA, especially goodbye kisses.

Lora rattles approvingly, and he bends over, kissing me softly. It’s such an intimate moment, comforting and sweet, then he pulls back two inches and disappears without a single word. Just like how he ends a call.

I laugh at his abruptness, shaking my head as I turn back to Vera. “I’m pretty excited about my new job,” I tell her, ready to get down to it.

Vera’s expression is scrunched up like she might be confused or disgusted, but I can’t tell which until she speaks. “Do you not find it logistically impossible to share sex with him?” she asks, clearly confused.

I shake my head and then shrug too. “Not really, but we’re not able to explore penetration yet, so ask me again in three weeks.”

Vera dips her chin and rattles an acknowledgement, then she grabs one of those digital vambraces off a work surface and hands it to me. It’s sized appropriately for my arm, thankfully. “This is yours now. You may wear it all of the time, but it is programmed only for operating the bots assigned to you. If you prove competent and capable to take on more responsibility, your—” She pauses like she’s checking her mental dictionary the same way Lora does sometimes. “—personal digital assistant will be updated to assist you with your new responsibilities. It gives you teleportation access between here and your home. You may teleport to either of those locations from anywhere in the galaxy, but it will not teleport you anywhere else.”

If the smile that spreads across my face is wicked, it’s only because I’m thinking about how convenient it would be to vacation in Italy and not have to spend a boatload of money on the return flight. Not that money is a thing anymore, and we all know that Lora would take me anywhere I want to go, so the teleportation access is a little redundant for me. Still. It’s nice to have it, even if it is limited.

“Why does your face look like that?” she demands gruffly.

I laugh as I slip the vambrace on and it self adjusts to fit my forearm. “I’m just thinking of how convenient alien tech is and how spoiled I feel.”

Vera rattles again, this time approving. “It is good you recognize how we are helping your species.”