Eric reaches into his pocket and pulls out a watch-like unit. “This is our communicator. You wear it on your wrist and then say into it who you wish to communicate with. It will dial them directly, and it also allows people access to you. You can use it for regular communication, and there’s a meeting mode too. There’s no need for anyone to have constant access to you, so just push the button on the side if you do not wish to be interrupted.” Again, he winks at me. Ok then, Grandpa, becausethat’snot creepy at all. He passes it to me, and I grab it with my other hand. Looking between the two, I can’t seem to think of what to say. It’s all a little overwhelming.
In the silence, William swipes his own card through the slot on the wall next to the door, and the light on the handle turns green. He opens the door, revealing a fairly large room, and gestures for me to step inside. It has a huge bed that takes up a large amount of space. The comforter on it is purple, pink, black, and blue with silver streaks, with the Galaxy Circus emblem in the middle. On the wall behind the bed, there’s a door on either side.
William pushes past me and points to each door. “Bathroom and closet,” he explains. Turning, I survey the rest of the room. There’s a small desk and chair to one side, and sitting on the desk is what looks like an iPad. William walks over and picks it up. “This is the control for your climate and entertainment unit. It can also work as a communication device, but it gives you a visual as well—similar to Earth’s FaceTime. We have also loaded it with all the information on the acts we currently have working with the circus. We’re going to have you do time with each of the acts and the tech teams, so we’d like you to familiarize yourself with what is there. We don’t want you walking in completely blind.”
Eric walks into the already crowded room and pushes William out of the way. “You need to think very carefully about the Skar water,” he says to me. “It will benefit you greatly and help you with the ins and outs of the circus. If you decide to take that step, we would like you to drink it at our little celebratory dinner we’re having with all the crew to welcome you tonight. We’ll also discuss your role further, and you can ask us any questions you need to.”
My stomach rolls with nerves at his words. Woah, no pressure or anything, just going to throw me in the deep end and hope that I can swim. Well, lucky for me, I’ve always been a strong swimmer who can easily adapt to new environments. It comes from living in lots of different foster homes as a kid, and right now, I guess it’s going to help me keep my head above water with the aliens.Never thought I’d think something like that.
“Okay, I’ll think about it while I have a break and freshen up,” I promise him. “I’ll also have a list of questions about a mile long about everything once my brain catches up. I want to know about possible powers the waters might activate, and a ton of other stuff. Right now, it’s just… a lot, so I’m going to take a few minutes for myself.” He looks pleased at my response and gives me some space, joining John back in the corridor. I throw the swipe card on the top of the desk as I wander around the room, taking it all in.
“Oh, and Lila,” William calls, and I turn to him. “Most of our performers are aliens. We only take performers who have a humanoid form, as it is hard to explain non-humanoid appearances, but some of the performers have three forms—humanoid, their natural form, and half-forms. They’ll likely wander about in other forms since this is one of the only places they’re free to be out of their humanoid shape, and we want them to be comfortable.” His face becomes stern as he cautions me, “I’m warning you now so you can get your game face on. At dinner, there are going to be sights that are out of this world, and we know it might be rough, but they’ll be watching for your reaction.” With that, he turns and leaves. Before he can shut the door, John pushes past him and bundles me into his arms, his firm hug soothing my emotions almost instantly. I sag against him and bring up my arms to return the embrace. I can’t remember the last time someone hugged me or showed me any other kind of affection apart from Susie. Mark tries, but I get this icky feeling every time he touches me. No matter how much she encourages me or how starved for affection I am, I just can’t bring myself to allow him to touch me.
“Hang in there, Lila. I know it’s so much to take in, and it’s going to get worse before it gets better, but the Galaxy Circus is your birthright. This is where you would have been if it weren’t for the tragedy that stole your parents from us all.” He gives me a kiss on the temple and pulls away, gently closing the door behind him, leaving me feeling like a wrung-out sponge. I’m not sure I’ve got any emotions left to feel. I’ve certainly run the gauntlet of them all today.
I flop backward onto the bed, controller in hand, a big breath escaping my lungs.
I’m an alien.Well, fuck my life.
Since I have the communication device in my hand, I decide to give Susie a call to let her know I’ve arrived safely. It doesn't take long for it to power up with a big Galaxy Circus logo appearing on the home screen, needing only the push of one button. It’s the same logo that was on the wax seal on my letter and in the middle of the comforter on the bed. Pressing the phone icon, I dial Susie’s number.
“Lila! It’s about time, bitch!” Susie shouts after she answers on the first ring. She must have been sitting on the phone. “I’ve been so worried about you.”
“Hello to you too,” I sigh, holding the device away from myself. She’s so dramatic. “It hasn’t been that long. Stop getting your panties in a twist. It’s not like I could’ve teleported here.” Whoops, probably shouldn’t use that word. I’m going to have to be very careful what I say around her.
“I’m sorry. I just miss you so much already,” she whines. “You’ll be too busy to miss me.” I roll my eyes at her antics.
“You have to pack up the apartment and move all your shit into Mark’s. Does he really know what he’s getting into with asking you to move in? Does he know you have more clothes and shit in storage?” I ask, hoping to distract her. It seems to work, as the frown starts to look a little guilty.
“Ah no,” she says, “I’m going to move all my stuff from here and then slowly, day by day, empty the storage unit. He’ll never even notice, and if he does, I’m just going to tell him it’s yours.”
Laughing, I shake my head at her. “I’m not sure that will work, but hey, no harm in trying. Look, I just wanted to check in and let you know I’m okay. I have some reading I need to do before dinner tonight, so I’ll call you later in the week and give you all the deets then.” Knowing what that crinkle between her eyes means—there’s an argument coming—I interrupt before she can speak. “Love you, miss you, talk soon!” I hit the end button on the device.Phew, that was close.I may have to do a voice-only call next time. If she asks something I can’t answer, she’d take one look at my face and know I’m lying through my teeth.
Throwing the device on the bed, I get up and walk through the door on the left. I know William had told me what they were, but he didn't say which was which, meaning I accidentally walk into the closet instead of the bathroom. Well, might as well be productive while I’m here. Going back out, I grab my suitcase and carry it into the closet, opening it up and shoving my clothes into the built-in drawers. When that’s done, I store the suitcase on a shelf above a clothing rail that already has outfits hanging on it.I guess they wouldn’t put me in here if I wasn’t free to poke around.That in mind, I browse through the clothes and find some very space age-looking black jumpsuits with the Galaxy Circus logo on them. How veryStar Trek, I hope they have size tits and ass. Shaking my head, I ignore my self-consciousness, sure not all the performers are tall and lean like the grandpas, Phillip, and Fiona. Although I didn't really pay attention to what anyone looked like as we walked down the corridor, nothing stood out as different. Which is strange because the grandpas gave me that warning. Maybe all the people I saw were Skarrians like my family members? It’s probably a good thing that I didn't see anything too crazy because I might not have gotten the poker face in place quickly enough.
I keep flicking through the hangers, realizing feathers, sequins, satin, and lace dominate the space. A huge grin crosses my face; this is a little girl’s dress up fantasy. A squeal leaves my mouth when one particularly mind-blowing costume catches my attention. On the hanger sits a ruby red corset top that has boning and lacing, guaranteed to push my boobs to the sky. Over it, hangs a black and white-striped jacket with tails. There’s a pair of black hot pants and a pair of fishnet stockings hanging over the corset. Underneath, a pair of black knee-high boots with gold embellishments up the front and a four-inch platform heel round out the ensemble.
Holy guacamole, I would lookhotin that. I flick a little further and see the same outfit in different color combinations, so it seems a safe bet that this’ll be the “uniform” for one of the roles I’m supposed to undertake. Probably the ringmaster if any of the human circuses I’ve attended are to be trusted. There are also some other costumes on the rack, but I don’t stop to take a good look. I don’t really have the time, so I wander past the rack to a set of cubby holes. In the first one, I come to a ruby red suede top hat, and lying next to it is a black cane with a luminescent, opal-like oval jewel sitting in the handle, stamped with the Galaxy Circus logo. The other cubbies contain the matching top hats to the other color combinations.
With a sigh, I move away from the treasure trove and back into the main bedroom, choosing the bathroom door this time. To the right of the doorway, there’s a mirror with a sink and cabinet below it. Directly in front of me is a huge shower big enough for four. I would like to live in that shower. There’s no bath, but I guess the jets in the wall of the shower will make up for it.Where does a spaceship get its water from?On the wall next to the shower setup is a panel, and when I look a little closer, I realize the shower has a few functions. Score!
There’s another door to the left, which I open to reveal a separate toilet, but then the reality of my thoughts just hits me.Spaceship!Holy fuck. I sink down onto the closed lid of the toilet as the situation finally catches up to me. Aliens, spaceships, traveling through the galaxy. My grandpas aren't human, and neither am I.I’m not human.
Blowing out a deep breath, I try to get my racing heart under control and make sense of my chaotic thoughts. Finally, I go to the sink and turn on the cold water, cupping my hands under the cold stream. The water pools in my hands before I splash it onto my face. Grabbing the towel off the railings next to the shower, I pat my face dry. I hadn’t bothered with makeup for the flight, so that is going to be as good as it gets for now. Hanging the towel up, I walk back into the bedroom, pull the door to the bathroom closed behind me, and flop down on the bed.
Looking around the room but not really taking in anything, I think about all I’ve learned. Why am I so ok with all of this? Why haven’t the panic and worry set in? I should be running,screamingin the opposite direction, yet I sit here, fairly relaxed. Is it because the few vague memories I have of my parents make this feel familiar? That the bedtime stories they used to tell me prepared me for a future of aliens and outer space? Pulling myself onto the bed, my body sinks down into the softness. I can feel my eyes closing, jet lag catching up with me.I’ll just shut my eyes for ten minutes then get up and read the rundown on the circus.My eyes become heavier and heavier until darkness descends.
* * *
The next thing I know, someone is repeatedly pressing the buzzer on my door. Oh, fuck! Shit! It’s seven in the evening; I must’ve overslept, and I haven’t read any of the information. I fell asleep before I even climbed under the covers. Major failure on the first ever job that my grandpas have asked me to do. Moving off the bed, I walk over to the door and press the intercom to see who it is. Of course it’s William. I can see him looking at the camera in the door, his lips moving like he’s shouting.Hmm, the rooms must be soundproofed, good to know.I push the handle and open the door, rubbing my eyes at the same time.
“William.” I smile at him sheepishly. “How nice of you to come and get me. I’m afraid I must have fallen asleep. Jet lag and all that.”
His face softens marginally. “Yes, well, it’s dinnertime,” he grunts. Ahh, back to grunting. “Come along then.”
Just as I step through the doorway, I’m forced to backtrack, grabbing my swipe card before putting it around my neck and walking out the door. I follow William further down the corridor. I wasn’t paying much attention when they first brought me to my room, but now that I have the opportunity to look around, I notice there are numbered doors on either side of the corridor.
“Are these all bedrooms?” I ask as we continue along the same path.
