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Chapter One
CAMMIE
Space Hub, Planet Procyon
I stood under a sea of stars as my mate Rone Azulim addressed the crowd of Wanderstar Fleet troops and the interplanetary civilians who gathered for the official launch of the new space hub. All eyes were on the bronzed, seven-foot-tall alien overlord, including my own.
“We’ve reached a new chapter in our journey to protect the galaxies from threat of invasion.” His rich voice carried over the crowd of onlookers. They applauded him as he began his speech. His horns spanned out from his head of gold hair. Maybe I was a little biased, but I thought he looked regal standing there in the ceremonial military uniform.
This was a momentous occasion. The opening of the space hub signaled that another area in this solar system was safer from enemy aliens. For the past two years, the Wanderstar Fleet worked to secure this galaxy and my own home planet Earth from renegade Quareks.
That’s how Rone and I met. We had an interesting start. I worked as a diplomat’s assistant at Earth’s space station. We humans needed a strong ally to help us keep our planet safe. When I first saw him step foot on the space station, my life had never been the same since. I never imagined I would find myself millions of light years away from Earth.
“We have my mate Cammie Azulim to thank for the original idea of the space hub. Without her, this wouldn’t exist.”
The crowd applauded again, this time for me. Nearly a couple years into this and one would think I'd be used to the interstellar politics and being put on the spot. I wasn’t. I nodded to the crowd, hoping my stage fright didn’t show through.
Rone turned to the side and our eyes met. He gave me a little smile. I caught the spark within his amber-gold irises. I knew that look. My body responded deep inside, filling me with a slow-moving warmth.
The people of planet Procyon gave me non-hostile, curious stares. At this point, I was used to it. Humans were a rare breed in this solar system, although more and more of us chose to work with the Wanderstar Fleet military and branch offices.
Rone moved forward with his speech. Behind the silent crowd were the stalls and shops of the hub, closed until after the ceremony when they would open to travelers from across worlds. My chest filled with emotion, but it was more than pride at what the Wanderstar Fleet achieved. I thought about what Rone and I achieved together.
The speech concluded. As the crowds dispersed, the agents in charge of the space hub stepped forward to speak to Rone. I used the moment to slip away from the stage. After standing for a good hour or so, my feet started to ache.
A lieutenant in the Wanderstar Fleet moved towards me when he saw me exit the stage from the back. “May I be of assistance, overlady?”
I liked how the soldiers treated me with courtesy. Their use of the title overlady, not so much. “I think I’m going to head back to the ship and wait for Rone.”
“The ship’s being refueled. It’ll be another forty minutes to an hour.”
I looked beyond him at the expanse of cool desert. I saw a patch of rocky outcroppings, likely leftover from a dried oasis. “If your commander asks for me, would you mind telling him I’m right over there?”
The lieutenant cast an awkward glance at the spot where I pointed. “No one else is over there.”
I almost admitted that was the whole point, to sit and take a break from being around so many people in one day. But I knew it wasn’t the most tactful thing for me to say. I operated in the role of Earth’s ambassador, even though there were times I wanted to be a little hedonistic. “I’ll just be behind the rock. My com link will provide a strong signal if anyone needs to speak to me.”
The poor lieutenant bit down on his purple lips. “If you’re just going over there to rest, I don’t see how it could be a problem. Please don’t do any more than that, though, or the commander will have my head on a stick.”
“He will do no such thing, but I'll ensure your head stays completely attached to your neck. You won’t get into trouble.”
He looked relieved. “I’ll keep an eye on you until Commander Rone is ready to leave.”
I snuck away from the stage before anyone else had a chance to see me. The cool desert evening wind whipped at my legs as I made footprints in the glittery sand.
Being on this planet was like some sort of dreamscape. Once I was away from the site of the space hub, all I had before me were stars above and the black sand mixed with its pristine clear crystals at my feet. There was no line on the horizon to mark the land and the sky. It all looked as though it were one, and I was one being, floating in space.
I reached the rocky outcropping. There, I bent down to scoop some of the sand in my hand. It glided, cool and fine, between my fingers. I breathed in the air and listened as the activity grewquiet behind me while the stillness of the planet increased in volume.
It was in these small moments when I felt at one with the universe. The only other time I felt like this was when I tapped into the bond Rone and I shared. It was quiet at times and very present in others, but it was always there.
I found a place to perch on the rock. The wind moved in my hair as I closed my eyes. I was so far from my original home, but home was anywhere Rone and I made it.
“I didn’t realize you decided to take up meditation.”
My eyes snapped open once I heard the deep, pleasing lilt of my mate’s voice. It was one of the traits of his Zol species. I stared up as Rone stood over me. “I didn’t even hear you.”
“I know you didn’t.” The stars reflected in his golden eyes. His skin had a subtle glow in the moonlight. “I’m not exactly a stealth soldier, either. You must have been deep in thought.”
