Chapter 2: Welcome to the Love Trials
1089 Words
I had officially hit rock bottom.
Correction: I had crashed through rock bottom and kept falling.
After getting fired from PulseCorp (technically "forcibly resigned" to avoid legal complications), I spent two weeks wallowing in a haze of bad decisions. My diet consisted of instant noodles and regret. I ignored messages from friends, dodged calls from my mother (who was already planning to set me up with an “acceptable” husband), and tried not to think about the disaster my life had become.
Then, an email appeared in my inbox.
A job offer. I looked at it carefully. Maybe it was a prank email or one sent by mistake. I gasped as I read the email. It seemed too good to be true. A research position on Eos-9, a luxury space station operated by NovaGen Industries. The pay was good. It was a six month contract with accommodation and feeding included. Was this really happening?
Although I didn't know much about the company NovaGen, at this point, I wasn’t in a position to be picky about any Job.
So, with nothing left to lose, literally, I packed my bags and got on the next shuttle to present myself at the company as the email had requested.
About two hours later I arrived at Eos-9 Space Station. The shuttle docked smoothly inside Eos-9’s massive, high tech hangar. From the outside, the station was made of beautiful rotating glass domes. On the inside, it was all white hallways and intimidating security bots. One in particular kept staring at me and I could have swore it flashed red one time pointing a laser at me for a second. But then I blinked and it was as though nothing happened.
I kept walking towards the entrance, adjusting my company-issued uniform which surprisingly was my perfect fit.
A cheerful blonde woman in a sleek jumpsuit was waiting for me, holding a tablet. Her nametag read LINA.
“Dr. Voss! Welcome to NovaGen!”
“Uh, thanks?” I eyed the massive WELCOME TO NOVAGEN INDUSTRIES! sign overhead. Underneath, in smaller print, it read:
By entering this station, you waive all rights to personal litigation against NovaGen. This contract is binding. No refunds, no take-backs.
I squinted. “…No take-backs?” That doesn't sound right.
Lina ignored that. “Let’s get you settled in for the experiment!”
I frowned. “Experiment? I thought I was here for a research position?”
Lina’s smile was way too bright. “Oh, it’s both! NovaGen is conducting a groundbreaking study on human emotions, and you’ve been selected for a very special program.”
My stomach dropped. “What exactly do you mean by ‘special.’”
Lina turned on her heel. “Follow me!”
That was not an answer. Something was fishy.
I hesitated, then followed her down the corridor. I had already come this far so I had to at least see what the job was about before leaving. As we walked, she passed a glass walled observation deck filled with aliens.
Not just any aliens.
Aliens staring at me like I was the main attraction at a very weird zoo.
Some had tentacles. Some had exoskeletons. Some were floating blobs of goo. One had three eyes and was taking notes.
“Uh, Lina?” I slowed my steps. “Why are there so many....”
“Here we are!” Lina cheerfully interrupted.
The doors ahead slid open, revealing a futuristic lounge with posh seating and neon lighting.
A group of people...humans and aliens...were already inside.
And that’s when Lina dropped the bombshell.
“You, Dr. Voss, have been selected for NovaGen’s exclusive Love Trials!”
My brain short-circuited. “I’m sorry. The what?”
“The Love Trials!” Lina repeated. “An intergalactic dating experiment where you’ll be matched with five scientifically chosen partners to test our new emotion enhancing nanobots!”
I stared at her. This had got to be a joke right? I waited for her to stop smiling and tell me it was a joke but she just stood there, still smiling.
Well I had certainly had enough. I chuckled as I turned to leave.
Lina blocked my exit. “I’m afraid your contract is non refundable.”
“What the hell does that mean?”
“It means you either complete the six month program or pay the 500,000 credit termination fee.”
My eye twitched. If I still had my previous job I could manage to get that in maybe a year. Hell if I still had the job I wouldn't be here in the first place.
“I don’t have that much credits.”
“Then congratulations! You’re officially part of the Love Trials!”
I was about to start screaming at the top of my lungs when I heard a familiar voice.
“Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me.”
I froze.
That voice.
That infuriating, condescending, makes-me-want-to-throw-a-lab-equipment voice.
Slowly, very very slowly, I turned and found myself face to face with the last person I ever wanted to see again.
Dr. Ethan.
My nemesis.
My career rival.
The man who stole my promotion and ruined my life.
And judging by the absolute horror on his face, he was just as thrilled to see me.
“You,” he growled.
“You,” I hissed back.
Lina clapped her hands. “Oh, fantastic! You already know each other! That’ll make things so much easier.”
Ethan looked like he was about to self destruct. “Please tell me this is some kind of bad joke.”
Lina beamed. “Nope! You’re both official participants. You’ll be living in the same research suite and completing daily romance based trials together!”
My entire body locked up.
Living together?
Romance based trials?
Oh God I was going to die here.
Ethan ran a frustrated hand through his hair. “I demand to speak to someone in charge.”
“Dr. Faros will explain everything during orientation!” Lina chirped.
“I don’t need an explanation.” I clenched my jaw. “I need to not be here.”
“I feel the same way,” Ethan muttered.
The automatic doors hissed shut behind them.
I turned back to the room of expectant aliens and humans.
This wasn’t a job.
This wasn’t a research position.
I had just accidentally signed up for a six month intergalactic reality dating show… with my worst enemy to top it off.
This was, without question, the worst decision of my life.
- Writer
