Bachelor Battles Spinoff Vote
I’m considering a spinoff to the Bachelor Battles where all of those scarred, scared, lonely males get to pick a new home. It will be a bit like a dating service, but the Bachelors get to pick their soulmate. Here's a very rough draft of the basics:
Bachelor's Choice is an exclusive retreat where changelings go to be matched with a man now that slavery and the lottery has ended.
Siri is being forced to settle for a polished coward to appease her family, but she doesn't want a husband. She's terrified of hurting him.
Damien is a rebellious bachelor being married off so he is someone else’s problem. He is polished, but he longs for the chance to make history. He doesn't want a wife. He wants a life.
“You will obey me on this, or you will no longer be part of this family.” Elanore pointed at her rebellious daughter. “Save those rants. Go to the bachelor bank and pick a husband!”
Siri tried not to cower under her mother’s fury. She had managed to put this moment off for two extra years. All of her sisters were married and breeding. They were doing their duty to fix the world. Siri was still resisting her fate. “Can’t we-”
“No! I’ve had enough of your deals and bargains.”
‘But I hate going down there! It still feels like I’m picking a hell hound from the pound.”
“Then use the retreat.”
Siri stared at the older, muscle-lined matriarch of their family. “You’re joking.”
Elanore sighed. She forced a smile, trying to show emotion to her eldest daughter. “The males there are specially trained to fit into the life of the woman they pick. Bring home someone we can tolerate; have a few children over the years. You don’t have to love him to do your duty to the future.”
Beaten, Siri nodded, shoulders slumped. “Okay, mom. I’ll go next week.”
“You’ll go in an hour. Get packed.” Elanore spun around and left the room, holding her fancy skirts out the way all of her friends did.
Siri scowled. She was trapped. “James!”
The timid male servant eased into the room. “Yes, Miss?”
Siri’s frown grew. “I need a bag packed. I’ll be gone for a few weeks.”
“One bag, Miss?”
She nodded kindly. “And one for yourself if you’d like to get away from this mausoleum for a while.”
James grimaced. “I chose to stay with your family, Miss. I’ll stay now.”
Siri went into the small bathroom without replying. She felt bad for the men who wouldn’t embrace freedom. After the Pruett’s defeated the Network, they’d eventually freed the men, but many of them had refused to leave their known lives for making their way through the world alone. The men who went to the retreats wanted the old goal--a loving owner. Siri wanted an equal partner who could withstand her rage. So far in her life, she’d never met a man who wasn’t terrified of her.
Siri opened the shower door and turned on the water, mind settling into the ugly duty she’d been given. “My life is about to change again. I didn’t like it the first time.”
The Pruett’s had found a vaccine to prevent future generations from going through the Change, but the shots to help those already infected had been less than effective. Rage Walker’s disease had mutated so many times that only 27% of women were now considered cured. The battle with the disease that had almost killed all of the men on the planet was still ongoing. The birth numbers were finally rising, encouraging the new government to make breeding a priority. They were offering credits and rewards for matches resulting in births. Both genders were cashing in on it, but Siri didn’t want a husband. “I might hurt him. That would be unforgiveable.”
