“With all this being said, please do not try to launch any further air squadrons at our

ships,” the Hoo-Meerian Elder said with a polite wave of his hand. “Resistance against the Matchmaking is futile, and only delays the progress of wholesome cuteness and romantic connection.”

“Sure thing,” Chief Master Sergeant Morris said with as much subtle reluctance as he

could muster. He wanted nothing more than to unholster his pistol and blow the blithering idiot’s brains out of his alien skull. But he and the entire US military had orders from the President himself. All personnel were to stand down and not fire a single shot at the Hoo-Meerians. There were a number of reasons for this, the main one being their superior teleportation technology. Every time an aircraft carrier or air base had tried to scramble fighters, the aircraft had been teleported right back to the runway.

So close, and yet so out of their reach. Morris fumed. Their first contact with alien life,

and it just had to be with aloof, naive cowards whose form of conquest involved matchmaking.

“Wonderful!” the Hoo-Meerian Elder said, clapping his hands. “Well, I believe we shall

be returning to the ship then. Good day to you, Chief Sergeant Borris!” The Elder and the four guards with him disappeared from sight in a flash of blue light, leaving Morris to ponder just how the people of Earth would reclaim their planet.

The Hoo-Meerian segregation of the young from the old hadn't been all bad, thankfully.

Children with disabilities had not been separated from their caretakers, and placement of things like national monuments, military bases, prisons and most cities remained unchanged. Morris had also seen headlines of the Hoo-Meerians bringing more advanced medical technology and aid to developing countries. Humanity's diverse tribes, nations, and cultures were still being respected. Which would serve to lessen civil unrest.

But still. This country, this world, was Morris’s home. And he just had to live with being

taken over due to some fancy teleportation technology that had emerged from the sky only twenty-four hours ago?

His musings were interrupted by the thumping of boots towards his office door, and he

turned to see Staff Sergeant Courtney enter the room.

“All aircraft are grounded and the base is back at normal condition, Chief Master

Sergeant,” Courtney reported. “Do you have any further orders?”

“No. Tell the airmen that they are released,” Morris replied. “We all need to

regroup after today.”

“Thank you, Chief Master Sergeant. I will let them know at once.”

Staff Sergeant Courtney turned briskly on her heel and strode from the room. The day

was over, but the fight had only just begun.

………………………

Jonathan yawned as he stretched on couch in his living room. Day one of the Hoo

Meerian takeover wasn't looking so bad, which was surprising. He'd slept with one eye open the entire night, half expecting some armored alien guards to snatch him from his sanctuary and infect his mind with some kind of artificial intelligence. But no. It seemed everything was still normal for now. Except of course, for the absence of his mother, who would've chastised him for putting his stocking feet up on the couch by now.

“At least they didn't seize my armies of Lego Star Wars and army men,” Jonathan thought

with relief. “I really would've lost it if that happened.”

On one hand, Jonathan was glad to have the house to himself. But on the other hand, why

did he and the others have to be separated from their parents? Was matchmaking occurring wherever they'd been put by the Hoo Meerians, or were the adults left alone?

These and many other questions plagued Jonathan's mind as he read through the pages of

Edgar Rice Burrough’s sci-fi novel, Tanar Of Pellucidar. It had proven to be quite a riveting read, really. And, as he usually did with books featuring an upstanding macho male protagonist, Jonathan imagined himself to be the said character as he read. Rippling muscles, unshakable courage and all.

His reading was interrupted by a vibrating of his phone, and at first Jonathan hissed with

irritation upon hearing it. How dare someone interrupt his reading! But upon seeing Bill's name on the caller ID, Jonathan reserved his spot in the novel with a bookmark and picked up the phone.

“Bill?”

“Ay wassup man,” Bill said. “So I was just talking with Garruck and I guess overnight,

they re-established cell phone lines and set up a designated communication room for us to contact our parents under guard. It’s in Darius’s house. Wanna go over there so we can check on them?”

“Oh, sure,” Jonathan said, surprised. “Why do we have to be under guard?”

“Oh, something about, ‘the matchmaking must not be interfered with’ or something like

that,” Bill shrugged. “Anyways, meet me at my house in ten minutes.”

“Abandoning your video game den for once, ay?”

“Oh trust me, I'll go right back to it after we talk to our parents.”

“I'd expect no less, bro. See you soon!”

Jonathan hung up the phone, not even realizing he'd completely forgotten about how

service had been out all day yesterday. Not that the shock of their takeover (even if non-violent) had overwhelmed his mind.

And of course, getting placed next to Helen, the most dangerous girl in his school…

He shook that thought from his mind and slapped his face in an attempt to wipe away the

blush that was creeping across his cheeks. No use fretting about that now. Donning his heavy-duty Halo 3 T-shirt, laser-proof black jeans, and hater-repellent blue sneakers, Jonathan ventures forth out of his front door and into his neighborhood-turned-Matchville.

Or, more accurately, a Chaos-ville, filled with rowdy classmates that were currently

taking full advantage of their newfound freedom. A group of boys wearing black tank tops and red hats zoomed down the street on their skateboards, while others waged out-of-control Nerf wars with cardboard shields and motorized dart guns. Jonathan took a deep breath to recollect himself, then continued onward to Bill's house.

The arduous pilgrimage of five blocks did much to bolster Jonathan’s spirits, for he always enjoyed casual strolls outside. Arriving at Bill’s house, he knocked on the door and awaited his arrival. Sure enough, Bill strolled out, ready to face the day dressed in his medieval garb and with a plastic sword strapped to his side.

“You were playing Skyrim again weren’t you?”

“But of course, my valiant comrade!” Bill said with a lopsided grin. “Shall we?”

The walk to Darius’s house wasn’t very long. However, when the two nerds-in-arms arrived, they saw a line of about ten other teenagers going out his door. Some were people Jonathan recognized from his school, while others were just other teens from other parts of the neighborhood. Jonathan and Bill were never short on topics of conversation though, and the two friends spent their time talking about things such as video game mods, Minecraft, military history, and more. The teens within earshot of them were not quite as appreciative of their lengthy, detailed ramblings. But Jonathan and Bill did not care, for the opinions of the feeble-minded peasantry did not matter to them.

At long last, the time came when it was Bill’s turn to enter Darius’s house, and the young man followed the Hoo-Meerian guard into the dwelling as he was escorted downstairs. Jonathan leaned against the doorpost as he waited, admiring the sunshine and listening to the chirping of the birds. Bill’s call only took about ten minutes, and he gave his friend a handshake as he stepped off the front porch.

“Catch you later man,” Bill smiled.

“Name, please?” the Hoo-meerian guard said in a stoic, formal tone.

“Jonathan Hendrix, son of Carissa Hendrix,” Jonathan greeted, standing at attention. Then he cringed at himself. What was he thinking addressing the guard like this?

The Hoo-Meerian guard just raised an eyebrow, and beckoned the eager teen to follow him inside. Escorting Jonathan down the stairs, the guard led him to a dimly lit room in the basement, which had nothing more than a table in the center with an odd, black pyramid-shaped device on top. Blue buttons glowed with warm light on the pyramid’s front side, and the Hoo-Meerian guard’s fingers flowed gracefully over the keys.

“Contact the Parent-Ville where Carissa Hendrix is housed,” the guard instructed the device.

The pyramid beeped and hummed with activity, and before long a hologram of another Hoo-Meerian guard appeared. Jonathan was in awe. He’d only ever thought he’d see technology like this in his favorite sci-fi movies, yet here it was right in front of him!

“The son of Carissa Hendrix wishes to speak with her,” the Hoo-Meerian guard informed his compatriot.

“Very well,” the other guard replied, stepping out of view. In just two minutes, Jonathan’s saw his mother’s familiar face in the blue hologram and he breathed a sigh of relief.

“I will be standing at the door,” the Hoo-Meerian guard nodded, walking over to his post.

“Jonathan!” Carissa Hendrix exclaimed, bringing her arms up for a hug out of instinct. “Oh my goodness! Are you hurt? Are they treating you okay? Did you find all the leftovers I had in the fridge?”

“Yes, mom,” Jonathan said, wiping away a tear. “I’m fine.

“Oh thank the Lord,” Carissa smiled. “I couldn’t even sleep last night because I was so worried about you.”

“Yeah, I figured,” Jonathan said again with a meek tone.

“Did you remember to turn the stove off after we were separated?” Carissa asked her son.

“Yes mom,” Jonathan groaned.

“And are you still doing your laundry?”

“Yes mom,”

“Please keep the kitchen clean until I get back okay?”

“Mom-,”

“And the flowers in the backyard will need-,”

“Stop it mom!”

Carissa was taken aback.

“Stop reminding me about every single little detail that I already know!”

Carissa’s surprise was replaced by irritation as she chastised her son.

“Now Jonathan, I understand you have a lot to adapt to right now. We all do. But you will never speak to me that way again, do you understand?”

“Like the way you spoke to dad on the phone the night he got into that accident?”

Again, there was silence between Carissa and her son before she spoke again.

“Jonathan, that’s not fair,”

“Neither were you!” Jonathan shouted, angry tears now streaming down his face. “It’s

bad enough I’ve had to grow up without dad, and now you’re gone?”

Carissa opened her mouth, but had no reply. She’d done her best to make sure Jonathan maintained his good academic standing and upright, kindhearted nature. Day in and day out, she had made sure to comfort, guide, and mentor him the way her husband would’ve thought was best. Had she been guessing wrong this entire time?

Jonathan seemed to sense his mother’s sorrow, and wiped away his tears.

“I’m sorry mom,” he said. “I just don’t know what to do.”

“It’s okay, Jonathan,” Carissa sniffed, wiping away her own emerging tears. “I’m not sure

about everything right now either. So please just call me whenever you want to, okay?”

“Okay mom,” Jonathan nodded.

“Would you like to speak to your grandpa?” Carissa said.

“Wait, he’s with you?” Jonathan replied.

“Yes. He got put with me in our ParentVille and he was hoping to get in touch with you.”

“Yes please,” Jonathan said.

“Okay, I’ll go get him,” Carissa smiled at her son. “I love you, Jonathan.”

“Love you too mom,” Jonathan smiled back, even if his smile was small.

Just a couple minutes passed before Jonathan’s grandfather, Henderson, stepped into the

main frame of the holoprojector. Henderson’s crinkly eyes and warm smile were a stark contrast to his hat which read ‘USMC Veteran’. Jonathan immediately felt a strong sense of comfort upon seeing him.

“Hey bud,” Henderson greeted his grandson. “How are you doing over there?”

“I’m okay grandpa,” Jonathan assured him. “Most of the other teens in my Matchville are already doing stupid skateboard stunts and crazy Nerf wars.”

“Ha! Seems like you all aren’t bored, that’s for sure!” Henderson chuckled. “Over here, we spend most of our time praying for y’all. I’m sure you know this, but your mother would give everything to be back home with you.”

“Yeah, I know grandpa,” Jonathan chuckled back.

“So, who’d ya get put by in your Matchville?” Henderson winked.

“Grandpa, seriously?”

“Come on, I’m just curious!”

“Ugh, fine. Her name is Helen. I know her from English class.”

“That’s the spirit!”

“Oh come on!” Jonathan exclaimed.

“What? I’d give everything to go back to the time I met your grandmother in high school!” Henderson laughed.

“Grandpa, this isn’t right!” Jonathan argued. “You talk to me all the time about how your fought for freedom while you were serving. What these aliens are doing is an attack on our freedom!”

“How dare you!” the Hoo-Meerian guard at the door snapped. Jonathan ignored him.

“Yes, grandson, you’re right, it is an attack on our freedom,” Henderson agreed. “But my fighting days are far behind me! You on the other hand…,”

Now it was Jonathan’s turn to be taken aback. “Are you talking about me?”

“I don’t see anyone else here!”

“Grandpa, come on!” Jonathan argued. “I’m the scrawniest kid in my class, with no fighting skills and no army!”

“Then adapt and overcome, as I had to!” Henderson countered.

“Grandpa, I can’t do this!”

“Yes you can, Jonathan. I believe in you. And so does your mother. If you want things to change, you will need to act sooner or later.”

“You ungrateful dog!” the Hoo-Meerian guard interjected. “I shall–!”

“Oh piss off, you discount-Predator looking freak!” Jonathan snapped at the insufferable alien.

“There ya go!” Henderson laughed.

“Dad!” Carissa called from out of the frame. “Someone’s here who wants to see you!”

“I have to go now, bud. Talk to you soon, okay?”

“Sure thing grandpa,” Jonathan said. “Love you too.”

Jonathan gave the Hoo-Meerian guard his best death glare as he stomped out of the basement. Perhaps his grandpa was right.

If he didn’t stand up, who would?

………………………………….

“I swear on my honor, esteemed elder Garruck, that the boy Jonathan Hendrix is resistant

to our perfect rule!” the guard said as he recounted Jonathan’s words to Garruck. “If we do not report this to His Highness the Emperor, it could mean disaster!”

“Thank you, guard,” Garruck nodded. “I will notify the Emeperor of this insolent talk at once.

“Thank you, esteemed elder,” the guard said before turning on his heel and marching out of the Main Guard Tower.

Garruck waited for the guard to get s good distance away before pulling out his holo-pad. Keying the encrypted communication code, he filled out the report to the Emperor and made sure to mark it ‘No Discrepancies’.

After all, there were none…

Garruck had been waiting for this opportunity for centuries.

Chapter 5: To Be A Man

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