Her fists went against my arm several times in quick succession and I screamed. She pushed me, and I fell back on the table. Plates, silverware and other things I couldn’t see behind me clanged to the floor.

It was less than ten seconds for my Pa to run into the kitchen. Becky put her hand on her breasts and cried. “He hit me! Oh God, why did you do that? Why there?” She bent down into a fetal position and tenderly touched her breasts. Her hand flinched back as she scowled.

Oh, come on...

My Pa stood there and licked his lips while he thought. The narrowed eye gaze told me I already lost.

He turned his head toward Becky and his voice softened. “Tell me what happened honey.”

I stood there while Becky told him how I said she should marry Nate for money.

Jeez, when you say it like that.

His face turned. “Boy... we don’t hit women in this house. We don’t attack them outside either but especially not in here.”

My voice was low. “She was the one saying I should offer myself to the Volardi.”

Pa’s eyes narrowed, and he turned back to Becky. Her eyes widened. “I was just joking.” She leaned in. “I would never suggest someone,” her eyes turned toward Pa, “’get with’ someone just to save the farm.”

Pa closed his eyes while he breathed out slow. “So that’s what this is all about.” He opened his eyes and stared at the scattered utensils, plates, and paper napkins. “The farm is done, and that’s the way it is.” His eyes lingered on me. The will said it went to the oldest male and then Becky.

Kind of a moot point now.

He smiled and held it way too long for it to be genuine. “Becky honey. I don’t expect you to marry Nate.” He drew out the next first word, “And... I don’t expect Peter to carry an alien’s child.” He shook his head. “Jeez, Almighty. Never thought I’d say anything like that.”

Becky spoke fast, “They pay ten thousand.” She turned to Pa, “Wouldn’t the bank give you more time if you paid off a third?”

“Well… maybe,” he said. “But that ain’t the point, honey.”

My forehead scrunched. “I’m not getting pregnant for ten thousand.”

Her tone turned mocking. “How much would you charge then?”

I yelled, “Nothing!”

“Then you’d do it for free?” She batted her eyelashes. “I’m kidding. It’s for the tests stupid. All you have to do is agree to take it.”

“I’m not turning myself into one of their Omegas. No way, no how.”

“Nobody said you would.” She held up her hands until they were almost claws. “Although you should, so you’d be useful.” Again, she pointed a finger up. “They’re so friggin’ rich, ten thousand is nothing to them.”

Her idea was stupid, but she had a point about that.

Nobody on Earth knew how long the Volardi observed us before making contact. They knew plenty about capitalism though. Some stuff like minor food units and energy allowances they gave away. Other things they sold. VR Gaming systems that were better than anything we can make ourselves. Hover cars that were self-driving and needed no gas. Tiny robots that cleaned the house. The list was long and the whole planet was their customer. Some suggested we were junkies to an extraterrestrial drug dealer.