Just one more piece of the Galactic Alliance’s deal.
Adryel glanced at Janae, and they both looked at their wrists. A number shined on their skin through their internal digital chronometers.
“One,” Janae said.
“Two,” Adryel said.
They glanced at each other. “Well at least we won't be in competition,” Janae said.
Adryel smiled. “But who will we be in competition with anyway?” Her gaze darted around. She saw Roemary and was able to make out the number 'one' on her wrist before Roemary started waving her hand.
It looked like her little friend, Sereya, was in group three.
At least those two were separated.
“Looks like you get to deal with that,” Adryel muttered and gestured to Roemary.
Janae nodded. “At least it will get it over with,” she replied. “I can stay on the far side of the group. Let her have the front and center. Maybe it'll mean she'll get picked and it will be over.”
“Shut your mouth. You and I both know we don't want her getting an alien husband. For one, she’s far too spoiled and she’d make every Kantenan she met never forget that she was the first. Then she’d single-handedly destroy any opportunities for future Terran or Nevillian mating. The Kantenans would never let another envoy in if she was their first representative.” Roemary would certainly cause contempt between anyone. Diplomatic, she was not.
Janae nodded. “Maybe I should get picked, I’m the best of both,” she said and caressed her nose.
The Neville ridges went over her upper nose and brow bone, like small cloth pleats. She wasn’t the only female Adryel had met with Nevillian heritage, but she was one with the smallest nose ridges. Her Terran side must have dominated her personal genes.
Adryel was Terran by birth and her red hair was from a relative somewhere back in her family line. At least, that's what her mother told her in a sober moment. She seemed sober at the time, anyway. When she was a kid, she'd always been fascinated by other humanoids and their markings. Ridges, scales, different skin colors.
She always felt plain around others.
Adryel ran her hands through her hair. “What should I do with this crazy mop?” she asked, pulling her hair on top of her head. “Should I put it up?”
Janae shook her head. “With it down, it's more you.”
Adryel raised her eyebrow. “You think?”
Janae nodded. “I am sure of it.”
They smiled at each other, but it was time for them to start moving toward their groups.
“I'm sorry we're not in the same group,” Janae said.
“If we were, we'd be in competition, and we don’t need that,” Adryel said. “Now, we both have a chance at landing a hunky alien husband.”
They both giggled, but it was a more nervous one. Adryel wasn't really ready for this. Her stomach flip-flopped like crazy.
“I'm nervous,” Janae said.
“Just look at the wildlife. See if there are any animals or birds. Looks like we're landing near some green. Maybe you'll see something flying around or some pretty flowers or something. There will be things to see. You don't have to stare at the aliens.”
“Well, they're all so hard to miss,” Janae said. “Red skin. Green horns. Not exactly subtle, are they?”
Adryel chuckled. “No, they aren't.” She glanced around the stark, cold metal bay they had all been herded down to. Graecey moved everyone into their groups, and the energy crackled in the room from the anticipation.
Adryel distracted herself by staring out the windows to see the new world they were about to embark on. And the nature.
Sure, there was the landing pad and the buildings associated with a landing zone, but the technology blended into the foliage around the zone.
And on the far side?
