Chapter 1
Dumpster fire. That’s how I would describe earth. It became a literal dumpster fire. From a young age it was just me and daddy. He was too old to fight in the war any longer and momma was taken from us when a drunk driver hit her head on. Daddy was different than most of the men on earth.
He hated the wars and fighting. He spent his days building things and creating. He was an architect. One of the best. And at age six he began to teach me everything he knew about building things and making them beautiful. He took pride in his work and in his only daughter. Together we would build beautiful things.
Daddy died when I was off at college. He was held at gun point in the grocery store parking lot over a can of potatoes and a diet coke. To this day I can’t touch either of those.
Not that it matters. Not now that I am so far from home on a foreign planet with giant men who are looking to procreate with any woman who smiles at them. So I make sure never to smile or even look them in the eye. I don’t want to be a piece of alien meat.
Daddy loved mama and I wouldn’t settle for anything less than the love I saw. I know how rare it is. I know the odds are stacked and I will probably never have that.
We have been here just six weeks and I tried to keep my head down. But now that they want to build dwellings for women and soon to be big families they want the best.
They sent us all through several rounds of testing on the Ark while we waited to assimilate. I was dumb enough to show my hand. I got bored and when they offered to teach me their numeric system I obliged. I am still a novice but it passes the time and it’s pretty cool to see how they think when constructing buildings.
Now the king has summoned me. He wants my expertise on this project. Asa, an older guy who has been tutoring me, escorts me out of the Ark and into a vehicle. We ride quietly to the palace. I’m so wrapped up in the architecture that I don’t even attempt for nervous conversation.
We walk through opulent halls with doors so tall I wonder who ever needed one so large. Did these aliens descend from giants? There were stories about angels who came down and married daughters of the earth. I snort to myself at the irony. Maybe it was prophecy. Asa raises a brow but doesn’t ask. He’s used to my quirky personality.
The guard leads us to a big office where two men are talking animatedly. The dark complexion and amethyst eyes belong to the king. I have heard whispers and seen the photos of the striking alien.
He looks up and smiles warmly. I relax a little. His eyes look kind. I am usually a good judge of character and I know I can relax. He’s rumored to be courting the pretty girl on the broadcast who convinced me to hop on board.
“You must be Adira.”
“Your majesty.” I greet him with as much warmth as I can muster.
“How are you adjusting to Amazulu?” He asks as he motions for me to join him and the man next to him at the desk.
I avoid looking at him out of habit.
“It’s good so far,” I shrug. “Nice place.”
“Thank you. I hear you are quite brilliant. Asa has told me he has personally seen your architectural work. This is why I brought you here today. To meet my favorite architect, Evander.”
Evander extends a hand my way and I force myself to look at him. He’s got tan skin and callouses on his hands. This tells me he works with the crews on site. Back home many architects were too good to even show up to the work site.
The first thing I notice though is his arms. My eyes travel past muscular biceps and up to his face. I miraculously hold in my nervous giggle when I realize his hairy arms are a complete contrast to his head. The term follically challenged pops into my brain and I want to laugh at my own joke.
He’s still your averagely handsome alien. Broad, tall, and taking up half the room. His eyes are very pretty. The most unique color combination I’ve seen yet. Which given the fact I avoid eye contact with these guys is not saying much. They are citrine and onyx. And absolutely gorgeous.
These alien eyes always fascinate me. I look at Asa a lot. He’s older and not chasing down a wife so I can relax with him. Their eyes all seem to hold a depth that exceeds a humans. Like living jeweled windows to their souls.
I realize that we are still shaking hands and I sheepishly retract my own. He seems to be as intrigued by me as I am him. Both of us an anomaly to each other.
“Evander is the best architect we have. I am hoping you will agree to partner with him in creating living spaces for the women and future families here. A human perspective is important for the project.”
“Sounds like a fun challenge,” I admit.
Evander motions for me to step closer to the very large desk. He has notes neatly arranged but I can’t read them.
“I have some ideas about what I would like to do but I need some human perspective. I know next to nothing about what humans like or need. These families are going to be much different.”
“Before you focus on families I think we need to focus on getting these women settled in their villages. Some of the women are older and some may not want to have families. They have been through a lot of trauma. We should focus on building small, temporary homes that we can later add on to.”
Both men look at me like I have grown two heads.
“I feel very bad that I did not consider this.” Caleb mumbles.
“It’s okay. Your priorities are populating your planet. Theirs is survival and safety. I know that some are growing restless on that Ark. We need something more permanent.”
“Indeed. I have an appointment to go to with a close friend. Can you two manage without me? I’ll expect an update in three days with a plan and crews ready to move.”
Evander and I nod in reluctant agreement as Caleb rushes out the door. He seems almost as wary as I am.
“Shall we have some lunch while we discuss the project?”
“Uh, okay.” He looks at me as if I should explain my lack of interest so I sigh.
“This place is a bit much,” I motion to the opulent palace around us as I compare it to the utilitarian Ark. Its layout is much less complicated and ritzy.
He smirks and leads me out the door and down the steps. I’m wondering what’s so funny what we reach a vehicle unlike any I have yet to see.
“It’s a truck!” I am giddy with excitement.
“It’s a work vehicle designed for—,”
“I know what it is! We had these where I was from. I drove a black one. It ran on gasoline instead of solar power.” Mine didn’t have the hover option but he doesn’t need to know that.
“Well it’s nice to know our species is compatible in more than procreation I suppose.”
I sputter out a laugh at his comment. He opens the door for me and I wonder if he realizes how respectful it is. I can’t keep my eyes off the gadgets in it. The seats are already cooling my back and the truck pulls away into the traffic.
“Why were you smirking earlier when I complained about the palace?”
His hands squeeze at the steering wheel and he steals a look in my direction. We are stopped at a crosswalk in the market district while they unload supplies for the day.
“Because I designed the office you were complaining about.”
