Page 1 of Uprooted

Elowen

It's possible I have underestimated my ability to deceive.

I don't think of myself as a fraud, but there is no other explanation.

I have somehow managed to fool my boss into believing I deserve to be here.

I search everyone's faces, looking for any sign that they know the truth: I don't belong here.

“The Apollo Treaty marks the beginning of a special relationship between Earth and j'Tilak,” he says, butchering the pronunciation of the planet's name, saying “Jay-Tilak” instead of using the soft J. You’d think he would learn the right way to say zhuh-Tilak.

“This mutually beneficial agreement will provide military support to our new allies while enabling us to research the most imperative environmental issues we face. The Earth Galactic Alliance has selected our botany department to lead the research that could help solve the pollinator crisis that has threatened a global famine for the last few centuries. Together with a team of geneticists, they hold our future in the palm of their capable hands. ”

No. Pressure. I shift my weight back and forth to give each foot a break from my pinching shoes. I can’t be the only one who wants this to wrap up. The monotonous hum of his speech pauses and everyone turns in my direction.

Oh shit. What did he say? I zoned out there for a second . I smile at the applause directed toward me and hope he doesn’t call me up on stage. The six steps leading up taunt me.

Cedrik nudges the small of my back, putting some distance between me and those standing nearby. I stumble a little from his touch. He doesn’t notice and enthusiastically adds to the applause.

“Congratulations, Elowen!” A stranger roughly pats me on the back and the champagne in my glass sloshes with the impact. I wish people would keep their hands to themselves. I’m going to end up face down on the floor if they keep this up.

“Dr. Andi Kahn and Ms. Elowen Carson, please come up and say a few words!” My stomach drops.

This is a nightmare. My vision narrows and I numbly climb the stairs, clinging to the handrail for dear life.

By some small miracle I reach the stage without falling or fainting, or both.

I’m saved by my boss. She takes center stage and thanks the EGA and the University for the honor of being sent on this important mission.

I hold my smile and swallow down the stage fright that has creeped up.

The bright lights on the stage blind me from seeing far.

It’s a small comfort. At least I can’t see anyone’s judgmental faces.

I'm sure they are asking themselves why I’m up here.

Dr. Kahn is a world-renowned botanist who has dedicated her life to addressing food scarcity.

She’s the youngest program director at the University.

At 35, she’s built the botany department into something so impressive we were selected for this task.

Standing next to her, it’s hard not to feel like a total loser.

I’m only six years younger than her and I’m just finishing up my postdoc.

Dr. Kahn steps back from the lectern to make room for the wretched man who called us up here. “You don’t mind that I did the talking? It’s not too late to say a few words,” she says quietly through a clenched smile.

“Nope, I’m staying right here.” My cheek twitches from holding my fake smile so long .

“And finally, I want to thank the representatives from all five noble houses of j’Til…

Hycea 34 for coming to celebrate this momentous occasion.

Your incredible courage and leadership have made this all possible.

We commit to being good allies and working to win the trust of those who are skeptical.

” He gave up on the planet’s name this time, opting for the universal registration instead.

The crowd turns and claps for the group of Tilaks at the far end of the room.

They stand out in the ballroom with their various shades of blue skin and tall stature.

In addition to their physical contrast to humans, their clothes make them stand out as well.

They are all wearing the same light gray formfitting shirt.

An asymmetrical seam runs from the high collar down to one side with cords draped across their chests indicating house and rank.

Their black hair is styled differently. Some have it long and tied back, others keep their hair short.

At nearly seven feet tall, they tower over everyone else in the room.

And no species I’ve ever seen compares with their broad muscular bodies.

The alien delegation is surrounded by fawning humans whose blatant attempts at getting their attention are giving me second-hand embarrassment.

“We’re all counting on you!” a woman says, leaning uncomfortably close to my face the moment I descend the stairs.

Cedrik comes back to my side as I step away from the close talker.

I position myself to put his lean frame between me and the crowd.

I wish he was just a little bit taller so I could fully hide behind him.

“I feel like I’m dating a celebrity.” His intended compliment falls flat. I smile and pat his arm. Maybe once we’ve got all the research we need from Hycea 34, and we come back with a viable solution for pollination, then I’ll be worth all this fuss.

I spot my dad at the far end of the room and make my way toward him with Cedrik following closely behind.

Dad’s easy to find in a crowd. Just look for the middle-aged man in the middle of a cluster of people hanging on his every word.

I catch his eye as I approach, and he acknowledges me with a wink.

He’s enjoyed every moment of notoriety his job has brought him.

He’s one of those people that was born to command attention.

His career has been equal parts hard work and luck.

His expertise in water conveyance systems combined with the political issues that inevitably arise during a drought have catapulted him into being the most famous hydrologist in the universe .

“Dad’s holding court, per usual,” my mom says, intercepting me on my way. She moves with ease in her long dress. She has a lot of practice with events like this.

“I wonder which story he’s telling this time,” I whisper in her ear. He’s got the greatest hits, but every once in a while he’ll surprise us.

“I bet it’s… flash flood on Tarune,” she says.

“Good guess!” I reply, countering with, “I’m going to say Draconis 5”.

We join the crowd surrounding him just in time to find out. “Believe it or not, there was not a single casualty.” We suppress our laughter when they reward him with a polite applause.

“You owe me five credits,” she whispers. I can probably tell Tarune's story better than he could at this point.

“There she is! The woman of the hour!” He directs everyone’s attention to me with dramatic flourish.

“Dr. Carson, you must be so proud,” a finely dressed stranger tells him.

“I couldn’t be prouder of my baby girl. She is the greatest botanist of her generation. Did you know Dr. Kahn handpicked Elowen for the team?”

“Dad.” I scold him for outright bragging.

“Don’t be modest, sweetie. This is a big deal,” Mom says, taking his side. Traitor. I give her the same look. Silently begging her to stop.

“It’s an amazing opportunity. I’m just grateful to be selected,” I tell the crowd. Hopefully that is enough to redirect their attention back to my dad.

“There’s no one better for the job.” He puffs up with pride.

“If only you weren’t retired,” an eager fan of my dad says. I’m not offended by her obvious preference. She probably thinks I’m a nepo baby.

“Oh no—my exploration days are over. Time for me to pass the torch to the next generation,” Dad says graciously.

The crowd seems to sense that the storytelling portion of the evening is over as they wander away to fill drinks and talk to others in the crowded ballroom.

My eyes linger on the group of Tilaks. One smiles back and raises a glass.

Embarrassed at being caught staring, I look back to my mom who is now talking to Cedrik, my soon-to-be-ex-boyfriend .

My dad hands her a fresh glass of champagne with a charming smile. She lights up from his attention. Over thirty years of marriage and they still look at each other with googly eyes. It’s gross. And annoying. And a little bit sweet.

Certainly something I don’t anticipate having with Cedrik. He’s a nice guy. Emphasis on nice. We met in the lab and fell easily into a comfortable relationship. He was always around. We could spend hours in the lab in a companionable silence.

However, the decision has been made. I’m going to break it off with him before I leave. I’ve put it off for too long. I considered doing it before tonight, but he was just so excited about coming. This was my little act of kindness, postponing the inevitable.

Our relationship is more casual than my mom would like. Over the last few years, her gentle prodding about my love life has gotten less subtle. I’m looking forward to the temporary reprieve from her well-meaning meddling. She can save up all her hints about future grandchildren for when I get back.

“There’s Dr. Napier. I’m going to introduce myself,” Cedrik tells us and heads towards his target. He’s been hoping for the opportunity to speak with the department head of Agricultural Science.

“He’s a nice boy,” Mom says once we’re alone.

I look around to make sure we aren’t within earshot of anyone. “I’m going to break it off tonight,” I tell her reluctantly.

“Are you sure? I get the feeling he would wait for you,” she suggests, squeezing her eyebrows together.

“It’s better this way. I could be gone for a long time, and I just want to focus on my research with no distractions. And after that, I might not even stay on Earth.”

“I never minded moving around. Maybe Cedrik would want to as well,” she says.

“It’s way too early to suggest something like that. A clean break is better for both of us.” Our conversation is cut short when Cedrik returns.

“How did it go?” I ask.

“He told me to stop by his office to discuss the fellowship!”

I look over to her with my best “I told you so” face. Maybe now she sees Cedrik has his own career aspirations that don’t include following me around from planet to planet .

“That’s great!” I’m genuinely happy for him. Even though I’m calling it off between us, I still want the best for him.

With all the speeches done, I think I've found my opportunity to sneak out unnoticed. I lean closer to my mom and whisper, “How much longer do I need to stay?”

She’ll know if I can get out of here without accidentally offending someone. I’d hate to trigger an interplanetary outrage over something as simple as me wanting to get back to my sweatpants.

“Have you spoken with Chancellor Mietner yet?” she asks as she scans the room for notable figures I am obligated to talk to.

“Yes, right when I got here.”

“Dr. Brunell?”

“Done.”

“Mrs. Gates?”

“Yep.”

“Then you are free to go, my girl.” With a quick kiss goodbye and a promise to talk tomorrow we part ways.

“Want to share a porter?” Cedrik asks, oblivious to what’s coming next.

“Let’s walk. It will give us a chance to talk.” The streetlights reflect off the wet pavement. I dodge the puddles trying to keep my feet and the hem of my dress dry.

“What’s on your mind, Babe?”

I’ve told him repeatedly over the last year that I hate being called Babe. No point correcting him now.

“I’ve been thinking about this a lot… I think it’s for the best if we go our separate ways.

I’m leaving and you’ll be here. It would be too hard to try and make it work long distance.

” I take a deep breath and wait for his response.

I can’t bring myself to look up from my feet.

I count our steps until he finally breaks the silence.

Cedrik lets the news sink in and says slowly, “Wow, okay. I’d be fine with waiting for you to get back. It’s not like you’re leaving forever.”

“Trust me, you don’t want to wait.”

It’s been effortless and easy with him from the beginning.

We got along just fine, and in the year we’ve been together we never argued once.

If I weren’t leaving Earth in a few days, there wouldn’t be a need to break up.

The fact that it’s more effort to break up with him than to stay together is not lost on me.

But I can’t find it within myself to fully commit to someone at this point in my life. For better or worse.

“Well, then I guess that’s it. I hope it all works out for you,” he says with a bitter smile. “I should have asked you for an autograph back there. Now it would just be weird,” he jokes. I appreciate his attempt at lightening the mood.

“You don’t hate me?” It’s not fair of me to ask, but I do it anyway to ease my guilt.

“We’re good.”

“You can get that autograph when I get back.” Cedrik is a class act. He’s let me off the hook so easily. I probably deserve to be cursed at or at least be called heartless. He deserves someone a lot nicer than me.