Page 2

Iris

Nervous excitement fills me as the huge ship that’s been my home for the last two months finally settles onto solid ground.

I still can’t believe I left Earth for an alien planet.

Of course, there was nothing there for me and even though I didn’t trust what the government said about what our lives would be like on Tavikh, I had to believe it couldn’t be worse than the life I was already living.

I’d had another opportunity to leave Earth almost eight months ago through a bridal lottery for a different planet, but of the twenty women whose names had been called, mine hadn’t been one of them.

Maybe it’s a good thing I hadn’t been picked to go to Bohna as a bride.

What would have happened to me if I’d gotten all the way there, the men had taken one look at me, and every single one rejected the idea of becoming my husband?

What then? I don’t really want to think about it.

Luckily, I don’t have to since I’m not on Bohna.

I’m on Tavikh. Here, I don’t have to worry about impressing a potential husband.

There’s no reason for me to try and be anyone other than who I am.

Not that I can hide it, even if I wanted to.

I doubt there are others here with a birthmark covering half their face or who lack one of their hands.

The captain had given instructions right before landing, but I’m glad there’s a small crowd for me to follow because I’d been too nervous to listen.

We wind our way through the darkened ship, the recessed bulbs offering the only light—artificial as it is—I’ve seen for months.

Until now. Even from my place in the middle of the pack, I can see the bright sunshine up ahead from the open cargo hold.

Not only that, but there’s a partially obstructed view of…

trees. Except they’re not like any trees I’ve ever seen.

These are towering ones with thick black trunks the color of coal.

Which isn’t necessarily odd if not for the bright purple leaves in full bloom.

The shade is a stunning contrast to the lavender sky, but both complement the yellow grass of the field spread out before us.

The dirt-packed earth beneath the soles of everyone’s shoes kicks up small puffs of dust clouds with each step we take. Despite the vast differences from my planet, it’s weirdly beautiful. And quiet. A breeze doesn’t even blow. I’ve never been in the presence of such stillness before.

A body knocks into mine causing me to stumble and a harsh voice releases a curse. “Don’t just stand there, freak. Get moving.”

I clutch my small handbag tightly to my chest and hurry out of the way, biting back one of many smart ass remarks.

Just like every other day of my life, I can feel the stares of the surrounding people.

Hear their whispers. I spent most of the trip alone in my cabin, leaving only to dart into the cafeteria to get food before taking it back to my room to eat. It was better that way.

Growing voices reach me and I circle around to the other side of the ship, only to come to a complete stop.

Almost seventy people stand staring, no doubt seeing the same thing I’m seeing.

There’s a giant, concrete brick enclosure with two thick wooden doors parted wide exposing what’s on the other side.

A snort erupts from me. Followed by a giggle. I quickly cover my mouth, but it’s too late. Several people turn and shoot me a death glare. That only makes the giggles come faster until I can’t hold them back. Tears of laughter spill down my cheeks and I snort again.

Two men approach from the doors. Each carries a spear. They reach us and cast me a narrow-eyed glare as I try to rein in my amusement.

“Welcome to Tavikh,” one of the men greets us. “I’m Gary and this is Adam. We’re the ones in charge of the human settlement.”

Settlement . I’m not sure that’s the word I would have used, but it’s an apt one. Whispers grow louder as people share confused glances. I’ve barely gotten my laughter under control and it threatens to spill out again. An older man steps forward from the crowd.

“What do you mean settlement? Where are the houses and land we were promised?”

I snort again, because I can’t help it. I’ve been told time and time again that because I’d never have beauty, I at least better have brains.

I might be the most well-read person in the entire bottom tier.

If not for the fact I’m a bottomer, I could have probably graduated from any of the best universities on the planet.

I don’t say that to brag, merely to state a fact.

Before either Gary or Adam can reply, I speak up.

“The government has done everything they can to get rid of citizens, especially those of us in the bottom tier.” Nearly everyone turns to me, and I swallow, then force myself to continue.

“Why would the government spend money on housing for bottomers on a different planet if they wouldn’t even piss on us if we were on fire back on Earth?

We’re here—all of us—because we were so desperate to get away from that place and those in charge know that. You all were conned.”

Grumbles and rumblings filter through the crowd and many people shift.

Whether it’s from defeat or because they’re ready to lay into me for daring to burst their hope-filled bubble, who knows?

I stand rigid and still, scanning the faces of every man and woman who stares back at me, almost daring them to contradict anything I just said.

They can’t because as much as I might disgust or frighten them, they have to admit I’m right.

Gary throws his arms up and pulses his palms toward a group of people that are slowly unraveling. Some look like they’re about to get rowdy. “Everyone needs to relax. Let’s help unload the ship and put things in storage. Then we’ll have a meeting and discuss how things are around here.”

The people aren’t happy, but unless they plan on stowing away onto the ship and catching a return ride to the one place that doesn’t want them anymore, then they have no choice. I’m the first to move and walk to the cargo hold where crew members have begun unloading crates.

A uniformed man glances at me, takes a second look, but quickly turns his gaze elsewhere before handing me medium-sized metal box without meeting my eyes.

It’s lighter than it appears although there’s still some heft to it.

I head toward the settlement, passing Adam on the way. I pause for a second.

“Where’s this go?”

Just like my whole life, he stares at me with mild horror. I can tell how hard it is for him to maintain eye contact. “I’ll show you.”

He walks toward the settlement and through the open doorway to an as wide as it is tall, concrete brick building with a single door flung wide. Adams stops just outside of it and gestures.

“We store similarly sized containers with each other. Just stack it on top of whatever pile you find that matches.”

I nod. “You got it.”

Inside, it’s cool, despite how brightly the sun shines and warms the air around us. I find a place to put the container easily enough and nearly collide with someone coming in as I’m leaving. I jump out of the way and sneak out once they’ve gone past.

On my way back to the ship, I pass the other passengers with their arms laden with crates on their way into the settlement.

When I get close to the cargo hold, voices reach me.

They sound like they’re trying not to be overhead with how low-pitched they are.

Too bad for them I’ve always possessed a keen sense of hearing.

“—attacked us yet.”

I pause. Are we in danger? Would I be surprised to find out we were? Not in the slightest.

“I wonder if the Tavikhi wiped them all out?” A second man says.

“Do you think it’s possible?” The first man asks. “I can’t believe the settlement is still standing or that they all aren’t dead by now.”

Unable to contain my curiosity, I close the distance between us. “Why would they all be dead?”

The two men jump apart, guilt flashing on their faces. Both of them sputter.

“For goodness sake, quit acting like your mother caught you with porn.”

They turn even redder, but finally the one who appears slightly older gathers himself.

“There’s a vicious tribe of aliens who have attacked the ship every time it’s landed here.

A lot of people have been killed. They’ve done the same to the settlement after we’ve left as well and more people have died.

But the Krijese are usually here by now.

In fact, so are the Tavikhi. Since neither are, I can only assume that the Tavikhi warriors got rid of them. ”

Maniacal laughter threatens again. “Let me get this straight. There are two vicious groups of aliens on this planet that ambush and murder the humans who come here, but since neither have shown up to kill us all, then you think one group is now extinct because the other group annihilated them?”

The men exchange glances. “Well, no.”

I sag with relief but question my sanity, because I swear that’s what they just said.

“Only the Krijese are the vicious ones,” the younger of the two clarifies. “The Tavikhi have protected the humans.”

Because that’s better.

“So one vicious group of aliens have murdered the humans, but since they’re late, all is well?” Do they not realize how ridiculous they sound?

The older man clears his throat and scratches at the back of his neck. “I mean, I don’t know if they’re late or if they no longer exist.”

Commotion outside the ship makes the hair on my arms stand and the two crew members rush around in search of…

something. Finally, they grab blasters from a cabinet and race toward the noise.

Do I hide? Do I try and make a run for it to the settlement?

Did I finally escape from the drudgery of the bottom tier only to die on some godforsaken planet filled with aliens?

I wait a moment too long to decide when a pair of bare feet appear in my line of sight. Bare lavender feet. Large , bare, lavender feet. Panic grips me. I’m on the verge of hyperventilating. Apparently death it is.

“Female? Are you well?”

Okay, that doesn’t sound like a blood thirsty alien hell bent on slaughtering me.

“Female?” Those large, bare lavender feet move closer.

“Babe, what did I tell you about waiting for me? She’s probably freaked out.” A boot-clad pair of feet join the bare ones. Small, almost dainty boot-clad feet. And that voice was definitely female. A female that spoke distinct, proper, most certainly from the upper tier English.

Slowly, I creep to the end of a large stack of crates and peek around them. The lavender feet are attached to a full lavender body covered in black lines that swirl in various patterns along his torso and arms. Golden hair flows down his shoulders, longer than mine when I have it down.

I blink at the sight of his humanoid face. Well, if I don’t count the flat bone where a nose would be or the bones angled above his eyes that sort of remind me of eyebrows but aren’t. It’s the yellow and purple feline eyes that trigger me.

“Shit, shit, shit.” I flap my arms in panic and twist back and forth at the waist while my brain short-circuits and I can’t figure out what to do or where to go.

“Hey, it’s okay. No one is going to hurt you.”

I hear the woman’s voice, but it’s not doing anything to quell the flight-or-fight instinct. A blurry figure steps directly in front of me, and some part of me screams that it’s time to fight.

Using strength I didn’t know I possessed, I throw a wild punch that doesn’t connect. My arm is stuck in mid-air and the lavender alien holds my fist within his directly in front of the face of a tall, slender human woman with thick, black hair tied up in a messy bun at the top of her head.

What tells me that I’m already dead, or dying, and this is just some death dream I’m having is the wide grin on her face.

“Fuck yeah. You’re a fighter. I like you already.” She takes a step back and holds out her hand like she wants me to shake it. “I’m Remi. And you are?”