Mate Selection Intention Survey

Ivygotmarried.

Toamanshehadnevermetbefore.

Theirunionwasanaccident—Ivyhadcasuallyfilledoutaspousepreferencesurveytoappeasetheinvestigators,evenlistingimpossiblystrictandunrealisticrequirements—

Heightmeasuredtotheexactcentimeter,weighttothegram,specifichairlengthandcolor,eyecolor,bust,waist,hipmeasurements,anoutrageouslyhighsalary,aninhumanlystablepersonality,musclemass,BMI…

And…

Whocouldhaveguessedthatsomeonewouldperfectlymatchallofit?

Whocouldhaveguessedthatshewouldalsoperfectlymatchthepreferenceshehadlisted?

Asanunprecedentedmatch,theirstorywassensationalizedinthenews.Bothsetsofparentshititoff,andbeforeIvyevenhadachancetomeethim,shefoundherselfengagedinawhirlwind.

Duetohisroleasahigh-rankingofficerinaclassifiedproject,hewasawayonaspecialmission.

Ivy,whohadbeenavoidingreality,didn’tevenlookathisphoto.Heronlymemoryofhimwasfromtheirdrunkenweddingnight—apairofstrongyetrestrainedhands.

Afterthewedding,Ivycontinuedherstudies,passedthephysicalfitnesstests,andofficiallyjoinedanexplorationteam.

Consideringherfutureprospectsandpersonalfeelings,shedecidedtoendthishastymarriageandsenthermysterioushusbandadivorceagreement.

Hedidn’trespond.

Atthetrainingcamp.

Theinstructorinchargeoftheexplorationteam’sspecialtrainingwastall,quiet,andexactlyIvy’stype.

Encouragedbyherfriends,Ivymusteredupthecouragetoaskforhiscontactinformationaftertrainingended.

Hepausedforamomentbutstillgaveherhisnumber.

AsIvyentereditintoherdevice,shewasstruckbyastrangesenseoffamiliarity.“Thisseemssofamiliar…IfeellikeI’veseenitsomewherebefore.”

“Yeah,”hesaidinadeepvoice.“Lastweek,yousentmeadivorceagreement.”

Note:ThesettingisafuturisticEarth,wherehumanityhasunitedunderacompletelyfictionalizedsystem.Thinkofitassoftsci-fiorafuturisticcityscapewithstarkwealthandresourcedisparities.Everythingisoriginalandnotbasedonanyreal-worldreferences.Thisispurelyaworkofpersonalpassionandstressrelief,sopleasedon’toveranalyzeit.