It never occurred to me that down below within the waves was viable.

I suppose it makes sense. If a culture can travel the stars, then what’s the ocean?

Outside our craft, in the grey-blue murk, swam several green-pink skinned naked creatures. Their green foreheads were high and smooth with eyes close to their long slit of a mouth. Pink skin started around their chins and continued down the rest of their short squat bodies. Back on Earth, we only saw Volardi. Prior to the trip, I never considered there would be other races within their empire. Earth was the latest, but a valued one.

The group of dark male ‘Ryba’ swam in place outside of our ship. Their legs continually kicked against the ocean current. Meanwhile, long gills along their body opened steadily. With every breath, I saw a slice of red as gills flapped open and closed.

There were females behind and to the side of the group. Women didn’t hold my attraction anymore, but I could see how pretty they were. Deep black eyes against grey-green skin. Long blue and red ‘hair’ that swam like seaweed. Their expressions were neutral, but that might be due to no eyebrows. Unlike their short and squat males, they were tall with colorful bony coral along their shoulders.

So unlike Earth females. Too different to be viable for Volardi physiology – both biologically and culturally.

I stared and thought about how different I was. Not just in the bodily sense. I was an adult kid before. Now I grew up mentally. I had a husband and a kingdom to fix. The war that killed most of the Omegas, left the Volardi empire in disarray. The Ryba’s actions varied from simmering loathing to outright hostility. There was so much to do. Our own kingdom bordered one of the more hostile territories.

I wonder what Pa and Becky would think?

Although, I’m pretty sure I knew the answer for Pa. He wasn’t a bigot, but he was of the old world. I was young when the Volardi came and could adapt. My new role proves it. Becky was a pain as most sisters are, but she adjusted.

Pa wouldn’t use their Smart-Boxes, but took their medical treatments. In his words, there’s a difference between being stubborn and dead. Country folk were many things, but practical was one.

My hands scratched away at the gooseflesh. I’m sure my face was solemn and perfect for a diplomatic mission. My body and facial expressions were here, but my mind continually returned to Earth.

Becky admitted via private recording what she did. She discovered the holes I poked in the condoms and figured out my plan. She told me next time to remember to put them back exactly where I found them and to close the door.