Page 16 of Whoops-A-Mate From Outer Space

“Correct. You understand that intercourse impacts the brain?”

I laughed. “I should hope so. My specialties are in reproductive physiology and changes to reproductive DNA due to time or environmental factors.”

He grinned. “That is great news!”

I cocked my head to the side. “How so? My impression was that they really needed somebody who specialized in genetic migration.”

He leaned in, eyes sparkling. “Of course, that is what they think is important. Their focus is on how long until this becomes an issue for the public, not on how both species will be impacted long-term. We have run projections, but it will be impossible to know how the genetics will change until children are born.”

I gaped at him.

“Back to mating,” he said. “Because it is so intense, the changes to the brain cement the emotions.”

“And nobody breaks up?”

“It is extraordinarily rare. The desire to remain together is stronger than that to part, so much effort is made to resolve problems.”

“Wow…”

He nodded, then sighed. “I imagine there was much heartache when the Lalylltiar and humans first interacted because of it.”

“Hmm? Why?”

“The lifespans were vastly different. The humans were shielded from diseases that would have existed on Earth at that time, and records show most lived around sixty Earth years. However, the Lalylltiar lived for close to three hundred Earth years.”

“Three hundred?” I squeaked.

He nodded. “According to records, yes.”

“If… if you’re a hybrid…” I started, letting my voice trail off.

He laughed. “My age is eighty-six of your years.”

My jaw dropped. “Did you say eighty-six?”

He grinned. “That is correct.”

I shook my head. “My initial thought was either late forties or early fifties.”

He laughed again. “Our average lifespan is between one hundred and twenty to one hundred and fifty Earth years, with some living even longer.”

“Wow…”

“But you, of all people, should understand that longevity is only part of youthful appearance. Medical science and lifestyle are also important.”

“You have a good lifestyle? On… Lyll?” I asked, tongue tripping over the unfamiliar word.

He gave me a sad smile. “I was happy there for many years.”

Something about his tone told me there was more, but it also seemed like something he didn’t want to talk about.

“So what happened to the Lalyllsh…” I paused, trying to remember the pronunciation.

“Lalylltiar.”

“Yes. You speak of them like they don’t exist anymore.”

“That is because they have been extinct for nearly three thousand years… Earth years.”