Melissa Landers: Alienated

Cara Sweeney wasn’t the root of Aelyx’s concern, but he was grateful that Stepha thought so. Aelyx would face exe­cution if the ambassador discovered his treachery, and he preferred to return home alive.

“How fortunate,” he replied aloud. Deception was impossible through Silent Speech.

“Before we board,” Stepha told the three of them, “I want to warn you that humans have unusual standards for sentimental expression. Try not to be offended by their ways. Integrating with them will be a challenge, but I know you’re fit for the task. You three are the finest in your Aegis. Remember that and be patient with your hosts and their peers. We’ll all benefit from an alliance, both humans and L’eihrs. Do you understand?”

They all nodded, avoiding one another’s eyes.

“Excellent.” Stepha swept his hand to indicate the boarding platform. “Then we’re ready.”

Aelyx glanced out the port window again. The sun had just begun to eclipse L’eihr in a brilliant pinprick of light that forced him to shield his eyes. Right now the Aegis would begin to stir, the communal washrooms filling with his yawning peers. Vero, the house pet, would awaken in an empty bunk and wonder where his master had gone. Would he remember Aelyx when the exchange was over? Probably not.

Syrine tapped his forearm, returning his attention to present company. She must have sensed his agitation. It was one of her many gifts.

We can do this, she promised, then gestured out the window and added, for them.

I know. After all, the sh’alear had been his idea, and when the rest of the Aegis had learned of his plan, they’d declared him a hero. But that didn’t mean Aelyx looked forward to spending eight months on Earth among savage aliens. He shook his head and glanced once more at his home planet before assuring Syrine, You’re right. We can do this.

The two of them followed behind Eron and Stepha, making their way toward the main ship. The station was virtually empty at this early hour with the exception of a lone vendor peddling his wares near the boarding gate. A hiss of steam from the spaceport’s ventilation system punctuated the echo of clicking boots. Aelyx noticed the recycled air had a distinct odor to it, akin to the stale scent of H’alar cave, his favorite hiding spot as a child. How many hours had he and Eron spent exploring those narrow, frigid passages? Hundreds at least.

The memories sent a prickle of worry through his chest. Humans would ruin it, just as they’d destroyed so many of their own natural wonders. Mankind didn’t regulate their population growth as L’eihrs had done. Aelyx had studied human history. He knew what would happen if these aliens ever settled on his planet. Something American humans called “Manifest Destiny.” They’d take whatever suited them and outnumber the L’eihr within decades. He couldn’t let that happen.

“Here, brothers,” the vendor called to Aelyx and Eron. “You can’t travel to Earth without these!”

“I’m certain that I can,” Eron said with a laugh.

Aelyx glanced at the man dangling a black cord from his fist. A twinkling object reflected the overhead light, and upon closer inspection, he found the man had affixed a faceted ahib to the cord as some form of adornment.

“What’s this?” Aelyx asked him.

“A necklace.” The vendor brought the cord to his throat in demonstration. “I’ve heard that human females cannot resist shiny objects. They wear stones around their necks and even embed them into their ear flesh. If you buy this for your hostess’s Sh’o v ah Day, you honor the Sacred Mother while presenting a fine gift to your human.”

Aelyx pressed his lips together to contain a smirk. He doubted a common pebble from beneath his feet would impress anyone. Not even humans were that foolish.

“It’s true,” Stepha said. “Stone jewelry is considered the preferred gift by many females, though they don’t observe Sh’ovah. Instead, they celebrate the anniversary of their birth.”

“Interesting,” Aelyx muttered. Perhaps he should bring a gift. It might give the impression that he cared. “I’ll give you thirteen credits.”

The man wasted no time in wrapping the necklace inside a fabric pouch. Aelyx extended his wrist for the vendor to deduct the credits, and after a quick scan of the data embed­ded beneath his skin, he pocketed his “treasure” and jogged to catch up with Eron and Syrine.

“Earth girls really covet stones from the ground?” Syrine asked in disbelief. “My human’s a male. I wonder if he’d enjoy a nice satchel of dirt.”

“Or perhaps a parcel of animal droppings,” Eron added with humor in his eyes. “What odd beings.”

As Stepha shuffled within earshot, Aelyx quickly changed the subject, asking Eron, “Is your l’ihan aboard this transport?”

“I wish,” he said. “But no. She’s assigned as medic on the—” Eron bit short his reply as Syrine broke into a sprint. Her boots rattled the metal grates beneath their feet, ponytail swinging between her shoulder blades as she left them behind.

“Fasha ,” Aelyx swore, watching her disappear through the ship’s doors. Maybe Syrine’s affections for their roommate ran deeper than he’d thought. “She’s still upset about you and Elyx’a?”

Eron dropped his gaze. “They were friends once. I think that makes it worse.” He glanced up just long enough to add, “If you and I wanted the same female and she chose between us, I imagine we’d become enemies, too.”

“Don’t be so sure.” Aelyx had never felt that level of attachment for anyone. He elbowed Eron lightly in the ribs. “Perhaps I’d show mercy and simply let you have her.”

Eron laughed, but still he looked troubled. “Syrine cares for you,” he said as if probing for a reaction. “Maybe not the same way she feels for me, but you could—”

“Wait,” Aelyx interrupted. “Are you saying I should make her my l’ihan?”

“No! Well, perhaps. Just think about it. Sooner or later, we all have to choose. Why not her? You know the two of you are compatible.”

Why not Syrine? Aelyx couldn’t say with any degree of certainty. He simply didn’t see her that way. “First of all, you assume she’d have me as your substitute.”

“A poor one at that, but yes, I think she would.”

Aelyx shot him a burning look.

“And second?” Eron asked.

“It would feel unnatural. You might as well ask me to partner with a human.”

Eron shuddered and opened his mouth to speak when the ambassador interjected from behind, “Keep an open mind, brother. There are worse things The Way could ask of you.”

Aelyx gripped the icy railing with both hands, feeling his eyes widen to the size of sh’ad patties. His friends were right—the Elders had spent their wits. If he’d ever felt a moment’s hesitation about his plan, it was gone now. Aelyx closed his eyes and focused, slowing the rush of blood to his head and steadying his pulse. In a deceptively calm voice, he assured Stepha, “I will follow The Way to glorify Mother L’eihr.”

Thursday, September 3

Greetings, Earthlings!

Welcome to ALIENATED, your exclusive source for close encounters of the nerd kind. I’m Cara Sweeney, and I’ll be your intergalactic tour guide this year. As I host the nation’s first L’eihr exchange student, I’ll be dishing out all the juicy tidbits you always wanted to know about L’eihrs but were afraid to ask. And nothing’s off-limits, folks. When it comes to unearthing a story, I’m not afraid to boldly go where no girl’s gone before! It all kicks off in two weeks, so check back soon and check back often. Want my posts delivered to your inbox? Subscribe to my RSS feed! In the meantime, please join me in extending a big Homo-sapiens welcome to Aelyx, who should be piercing the ozone right about now.