ASSIGNMENT NOTIFICATION
Participant: Juniper Sutton
Host: Goraath B’Tavaas
Location: Remote ranch, northern territory
Distance from colony center: 47 kilometers
Terrain classification: Mountainous, isolated
Note: Limited community access. Host lifestyle primarily solitary.
* * *
The words blurred. She blinked, read them again.
Remote. Isolated. Solitary.
Forty-seven kilometers from town. From people. From any of the other women.
“I got someone named Daax.” Aida’s voice sounded distant, like Juni had water in her ears. “Colony center. He’s the chief engineer.”
“Thayn. The medic.” Autumn’s voice was soft, relieved. “Also colony center.”
Finley looked up. “Kaael. Botanist. He works at the hydroponics facility near town.”
They kept talking, comparing notes, and every single one of them was close to the colony center. Close to each other. Close to people and shops and community and everything that made a terrifying alien planet feel slightly less terrifying.
“Juni?”
She looked up. Val was watching her, those sharp grey eyes missing nothing.
“Where’d you get assigned?”
The question made everyone go quiet. Five pairs of eyes locked on her.
She swallowed and tried for a smile. It fell flat. “Northern territory. A ranch.”
“How far?” Anja’s question came fast.
“Forty-seven kilometers.”
“Oh, shit.” Aida set down her datapad. “That’s… that’s really remote.”
“No, no… It’s fine.” The words came out too brightly. Juni cleared her throat, tried again. “It’s fine. I like quiet. And ranches. I’ve always wanted to see a ranch.”
She’d never seen a ranch in her life. She’d grown up in housing blocks, surrounded by concrete and crowds and the constant hum of city noise.
“What’s his name?” Autumn’s voice carried gentle concern that made Juni’s eyes sting.
“Goraath.”
Finley was already pulling up information on her datapad, fingers flying. “Goraath… okay, I’m finding basic registry info. No occupation listed beyond ‘independent rancher.’ No community affiliations. No—” She stopped. “Oh.”
“What?” Juni leaned over. “What ‘oh’? No ‘oh’. I don’t like ‘oh’.”
“He voted against the Mate Program.”
