by Luna Hunter
Now, with all of these changes, the Rift, these dreams? I’m not so sure I can commit.
In fact, I’m not sure of anything anymore.
“Oh, it’s healing nicely!” My mom says, jolting my attention back to the room. “I’ll help you rinse it out.”
“What about your rations?”
“Never mind that, we’ve got plenty.”
When the wax is finally rinsed out I thank my parents profusely before slipping out the door. I pick up a rock and hold it tightly in my palm, in case the Rinjin show their faces once more.
Luckily, I make it home without any incidents.
I crash down in my bed, ready for a night of deep, blissful sleep… but the Anshi have different plants. The songbirds are settling into a night of avian lovemaking, casting disturbingly graphic shadows on my walls.
A poignant reminder of my own sex life. Or lack thereof.
I’ve had a few boyfriends here and there, but seasonal aid workers don’t stick around. For them, it’s a boost to their resume, while for me, it’s a way of life.
Perhaps I should spread my wings as well. See what life is like on Earth, or on Corlis Station.
Or hell, on New Exon. Even though I’m sure they won’t have a ‘half-blood’ like me.
So many choices… and my time is running out.
Chapter Four
Davor
“Esteemed elders! I am proud to present my findings to you! If you look at this slide, you’ll see…”
I turn around, and my voice catches in my throat. The auditorium is half empty, and the monks that are here are either snoring or zoned out completely. It seems like last night was filled with more Lovespore experimentation. I trust my fellow monks, but at times like these I can’t help but wonder if they’re not taking this too far. Are they not losing sight of their spiritual duties?
There is a prophecy that I’m close to uncovering. My body is going through rapid changes. My Zorashi symbols are glowing. My dreams are vivid and strange, and leave me filled with longing.
My body itself aches with desire. Whenever I close my eyes, all I see is her curves, her captivating smile, her gorgeous jade eyes. I want to reach out and touch her, to sink my fingers into her skin, to feel her warmth, to feel her lips press against mine…
Control is the most important thing for a warrior monk like me. And it’s that control that I’m dangerously close to losing. Every day that I’m not with her, a tidbit of my sanity slips away.
I need to get to the bottom of this. If I don’t find her, I fear I might go feral. The pressure that is on my (now winged) shoulders is simply immense.
And I haven’t even mentioned the Rift yet, the mysterious vortex that has appeared several times over New Exon already only to disappear inexplicably moments later.
These are real, pressing problems. I don’t have the time to huff spores, no matter what ‘plane of existence’ they might help me reach.
I clear my throat.
It doesn’t help.
With a heavy sigh, I fight my way through my presentation, offering my interpretation of the ancient text I discovered last night in the archives. Alas, no one seems to care.
Except… except for that one figure, way in the back.
I take a moment to study the Zoran male. To my surprise, he’s wearing a first-generation robe. Those have been phased out decades ago. How is that possible? Did he steal it from the museum?
I wrap up my speech as quickly as I can before heading towards the back of the room. Unfortunately, the stranger is a pace quicker than I am, and he ducks into a side room. I follow, only to the find the room empty.
What?!
The strange encounter weighs heavily on my mind. With the pressure that I’m already putting on myself, mysterious visions are the last thing I need. I already see enough of them during my sleep.
And those are the type of visions I prefer: Warm and cozy.
Or hot and heavy, depending on the night.
Last night was especially hot. I woke up coated in sweat, my cock hard enough to cut diamonds, and it felt like I could still taste her on my lips, as if her fragrance still surrounded me…
I finished myself off, cumming with an angry roar as I clung on to the memories of my chosen mate. By the time I hit the showers, my dream was already a distant memory, to my regret.
If only my dreams could last forever…
That evening, one of the elders sees me stewing during dinner in the mess halls and joins me at my table.
“Elder Burim,” I greet him, lowering my knife. “How might I help you?”
“By telling me what’s on your mind, Davor,” he says. “There’s no reason for such dark clouds.”
I bite my bottom lip. Can I trust him? I realize that, with these changes that I’ve been going through, I’ve retreated from the outside world. I’m a tournament champion, I’m used to the limelight, but now I’m facing a problem I can’t fight my way out of.
“I had a strange… vision today,” I tell him, weighing my words carefully.
Elder Burim nods thoughtfully. “Then your studies are going well.”
“How so?”
The older Zoran smiles kindly. “This place,” he says, spreading his arms wide, gesturing at the temple walls all around us, “It is made of Ua clay. These walls were forged with it. They attract ancestral spirits, who guide the most accomplished monks to new truths. Perhaps you will see your mysterious visitor again.”
If so, you better believe I’ve got some questions for him…
Chapter Five
Leah
The Rinjin are laying low today.
That doesn’t help ease my nerves. If anything, it only makes me more nervous! It’s the enemy you can’t see that I fear the most. What are they planning?!
I clutch a rock the entire day, ready to fling it at them, but they don’t show. Instead, I fill the Luba’s feeding-baskets without incident.
The Luba are large, wide-eyed herbivores, who have just absolutely stolen my heart. They are a little cautious at first, but I have won the trust of the entire herd. While they can be fierce if you hurt their young, they prefer grazing and cooing. My mom says they remind her of oversized Earth cows with the enthusiasm of Earth dogs, but I wouldn’t know — I’ve lived on Garna my entire life.
My morning duties complete, I head over to one of the GAC pods for lunch, where I run into Larry. He’s a kindhearted man, if a little scatterbrained at times.
“Morning, Leah,” he says. “How are the Luba today?”
“Lovely, as always. How are the Delmek?”
“Sluggish and unmotivated, as always,” he chuckles. He’s cutting some Arlar roots, a high-protein, beefy root thats become our main source of food here on Garna. We don’t hunt the animals because, well, we are here to rescue them, not eat them!
I go ahead and grab some Dorna leaves from the cooler and wash them, and together we prepare a mighty fine lunch, if I do say so myself.
“You heard about the meeting tonight?” Larry asks as he takes a bite.
“No,” I say, my ears perking up. “What meeting?”
I know that I’m a hard worker and that I haven’t made a mistake in years (not since my first week actually working for the GAC when I forgot to lock the door of the storage Silo behind me and the Anshi ate a months worth of rations, oops), but whenever I hear the words meeting I instantly think the entire Galactic Aid Corps has gathered to talk about how much they’re disappointed in me.
I know that it makes no sense.
They are galactic. It says so right there in the name. I’m just Leah Booker. A young girl in charge of a herd of Luba on the backwater planet Garna.
Not someone worthy of attention.
And yet, I strive to be perfect. I strive to be the very best I can be. I think it’s because of my heritage — my father is Zoran, and even though he’s shown me nothing but love, I feel like I have to prove myself to him. That I have to prove I’m not a… mistake
.
And that is why my heart is racing and my palms feel sweaty when I ask Larry about this ominous meeting.
“Apparently, they’re looking for a manager. Someone to oversee Garna.”
“Oh,” I say. At first my heart rate drops, before it’s jacked up again a second later. He’s talking about a job opening!
“What about Overseer Klun?”
“I think he’s quitting,” Larry answers with a mouthful. “He’s retiring to Corlis.”
“Corlis? Corlis Station?” I ask, eyebrows raised.
“The very same.”
“Can he afford that with a GAC salary?”
Larry shrugs, brushing his long hair out of his face. “Apparently. You coming to the meeting?”
My eyes flutter down to my plate. Could I really be overseer? Do I have what it takes? Could I shoulder all that responsibility?
“Maybe.”
“You should come,” Larry says confidently. “You’d make an excellent overseer.”
“Do you really think so?”
Larry throws his head back and laughs warmly. “You are the most hard-working, kind-hearted person on the entire planet, Leah,” he says. “You’ve helped cover up my fuck-ups more times than I can count.”
“That’s not true.”
“We both know it is,” Larry says. “Don’t deny it. You check the electric fences every night, don’t you?”
“Well—”
“Even though that’s my job. And you clean the communal kitchens every week, even when it’s not your name on the roster, right?”
“I can’t say—”
“I bet you even don’t use all of your daily water rations, just so there’s more for the rest.”
I sigh. “Guilty as charged,” I concede.
“You’d be the perfect overseer,” Larry says. “And if they don’t see that? Well, then they’ve got Rinjin dung in their eyes!”
Larry’s gotten me to chortle, and for a moment I’ve forgotten about my worries. Maybe this is the universe giving me a sign.
Perhaps I am right where I’m meant to be.
I rummage through my drawers, desperately looking for something to wear that makes me look managerial.
I took a nap when I came home, and suddenly half a day has passed. Stupid! I used to be so punctual, but since the Rift, even my own internal clock is out of sorts.
A white tunic will have to do. All my other clothes are stained with grass. Or is that what the GAC brass will want to see? That I’m a hard worker who is not afraid of getting their hands dirty? Ah, decisions!
There’s no time left to decide. I slip on the tunic and head out the door, while my head is swimming with thoughts. Am I doing the right thing? Should I stay with the GAC, or should I go out and explore the galaxy?
I’m so lost in thought I forget to take my trusty rock with me.
And then they appear.
The Rinjin.
They peek their little heads out over the tall grass, stopping me dead in my tracks in the middle of an open field. I had forgotten all about the crafty buggers, and I can see from the devious glint in their eyes that they are going to make me pay for that. Dearly.
“Buzz off,” I say. “I’m running late as it is!”
Wrong answer.
They have mud balls clutched in their tiny little paws, and my heart jumps.
“What are you… oh no, no you don’t!”
Too late.
The furry creatures pelt me with mud. Their leader, the biggest and meanest Rinjin I’ve ever seen, hits me square in the face with a clump of dirt. Seconds later, my white tunic is hit by a dozen other sloppy glops of mud.
I do the only sensible thing.
I reach down, grabbing big clumps of mud straight out of the ground and fling them right back at the monkeys.
“Take that!” I scream. “And that! And that! And this!”
I’m not match for them, as they are a dozen strong, and I only have two hands. I am forced to concede, roaring with laughter despite my anger, as I run back to my pod. My tunic is ruined and my hair is filled with thick clumps of mud. And I don’t have enough water rations left for the day to wash it all out.
You have won this battle, little monkeys, but you will not win this war!
Chapter Six
Davor
“What troubles you, young man?”
Elder Dalmat is looking at me smugly, barely hiding his contempt. Some of the elder monks don’t think too highly of anyone who participates in the tournaments, and Dalmat is definitely one of them.
“You,” I say, not bothering to hide my irritation.“You trouble me. What is the Sacred Order really achieving by huffing Lovespores every night?”
I barely slept last night. The sounds from the underground caverns kept me up, ruining my connection with her.
The mystery woman my mind is drawn to, again and again.
We were so close, it felt like I could touch her. Like I could reach out and draw her into my arms, and hold her there.
I’ve never wanted anything more.
With this anger still fresh in my mind, I couldn’t stop myself from accosting Elder Dalmat in the hall.
He closes his eyes, a bemused smile on his thin lips. “The higher the bird ascends, young monk, the sharper its vision. It can land on a Zokari cow with a beak that lacks the force to penetrate its hide.”
With that poetic nonsense spouted, he nods and wonders off, leaving me mystified.
You’ve got to be kidding me.
No one gives me any straight answers. It’s all platitudes and nonsense. Am I such a sorry excuse of a monk that I can’t grasp the meaning behind his words, or am I right in thinking it’s all a steaming pile of Zokari shit?
I wander into the gardens, my fists clenched. I need to let go off some steam. In the back of the gardens I find a spot without an audience where I can shadow-spar in peace.
I launch into my movements, working up a sweat as I focus on the routine I’be been practicing day-in, day-out since I enlisted in the Sacred Kazimir Order.
Normally I can slip into a trance at will, but today, my mind remains clouded.
I was so close last night, so close to… her.
I do not know her name, I do not know her face — I only know her eyes, and how her presence makes me feel: Perfect.
Absolutely, completely perfect.
I barely know how to put it into words, or even thoughts. Our connections transcends even that. Her beautiful figure haunts my dreams, and every time I wake I am angry. I am furious! Who is keeping me from her?!
Perhaps that is why I blew up at my elder, why I challenged the wisdom of their ways, why this pent-up aggression fills my very soul.
I must find her, and I must find her quickly — before I do something I regret.
Chapter Seven
Leah
“Why weren’t you at the meeting last night?” My father says. The disappointment in his voice is as clear as day.
“I was held up,” I say.
“By what?”
The thought of admitting that a pack of Rinjin had gotten the best of me makes my stomach knot up with shame. That’s not the daughter my father wants, I’m sure. He’s a Zoran, he’s tall, he’s buff, he’s strong.
All the things I’m not.
I glance up at my mom, looking for a way out of this conversation, but she just smiles back.
“If there’s anything you want to tell us, you can trust us, honey,” she says.
“It’s not important,” I say.
“Are you renewing your contract with the GAC?” My father asks point-blank.
Wow, so much for beating around the bush.
I avoid his gaze and focus on my breakfast cereal instead. This is why I’ve been avoiding them lately: My parents always want to talk about my future, and I just don’t have the answers at the moment. I don’t want to have this conversation, not without having a good answer. In a way, leaving Garna would feel like betraying
my parents and all that they’ve worked for.
I swallow my pride and answer the man.
“If there’s another meeting, I’ll go. I was delayed yesterday, the Luba were… anxious.”
“It was Larry, wasn’t it? Did he screw up again?”
“No,” I say quickly. I won’t blame Larry for my own mistakes. “No, it was me.”
“Hm. Well, you’re in luck. There’s a second meeting tomorrow afternoon, before the overseer’s retirement party.”
“Good,” I say, forcing myself to smile. “I look forward to it.”
That evening, I visit the make-shift bar the GAC-workers have built, scraping together leftover materials from a discarded shipping container. As I down a few drinks I wonder what’s next for me.
A new contract will keep me here for five whole years. What if I’ll regret it?
And what about the changes, the hair, the symbols, the headaches, the dreams?
My god, the dreams. Last night was another doozy. I think I woke up while humping my blankets… am I glad I live alone!
I love the Luba, I love my job, but somehow, it doesn’t feel like… enough.
It feels like there’s a piece of the puzzle missing. A piece of me that I’m missing.
The next morning I rise early, with only a slight hang-over. I didn’t find any answers at the bar, but I did have a pretty good time, all things considered.
I head over to the Growhouse kitchen, avoiding the Rinjin for now, and help my mother prepare dinner for tonight’s retirement party. The air is filled with fresh, scrumptious Garnan food, and I have to shoo Larry away from the finished dishes several times.
It reminds me of my childhood. A simpler time. Back then, my mom and I were always in the kitchens, preparing the food for all the aid workers.
There weren’t as many private silos back then. Most of the aid workers slept in bunks, ate together and used the same showers. It was all very cozy.