I stand amongst a large group of people, there had to be all one-hundred-fifty of us here, waiting uncomfortably in the square. We watch the three-story building in front of us. I narrow my eyes and I can see dark shapes moving behind the privacy-fogged glass windows. I couldn't be more intrigued when I see one shadow throw their hands in the air and walk away from the area of the window.

Finally, the three other shadows move and walk out of the front door on the third level, the windows clearing to show inside the building. I'm too far away to see what's inside in detail, so I focus on the people who now stand on a balcony on the third level.

"Hello, everyone!" The man in the middle steps forward, his voice resonating through the square. He's an older man, the majority of his hair grey, but he retains a strong physique, he must be part of the GTA's military. "Welcome to C3-G12, you are the first wave of many colonizers to come to this planet. You should all be proud of yourselves for being chosen to be the start of a great planet."

He pauses, letting his words fill the air. "My name is Colonel Bartlett; my colleges are Majors Cavanaugh and Halloway. We are in charge of keeping you all safe," He motions to the man and woman on either side of him. "And help the starting leadership of this planet."

I phase his words out to white noise in the back of my mind as I look around, twisting the bracelet around my wrist. The square is surrounded by multiple buildings and courtyard-type areas separating them. Small paths lead to larger streets and each building I can see.

My bracelet catches and I frown, looking down at the mix of silicon and metal. The bracelet is too small to come off my hand, but too large in that it slides halfway down my forearm depending on how I move it.

"And now I'll turn it over to Major Halloway." The Colonel steps back away from the railing on the balcony and Major Halloway nods as she steps forward.

"Greetings, we're almost ready to release you to your designated housing burrows. But first, you need to know where to go!" A few people in the crowd chuckle. I shift on my feet, accidentally hitting a girl next to me with my parasol.

I mutter an apology and look back to the Major who holds her hand in the air, pointing at the band on her wrist. "On your wristbands, there will be three colors. The first color of your housing burrow. For example, if your color is red, you'll be in the red burrow.

"The middle color pertains to your recommended occupation. After you get to your housing burrows, someone will come by and show you and your housemate to your designated workplace. You'll work there for a week then determine if you'd like to stay there or try another occupation. While your occupation is determined by your aptitude test, the final decision is up to you.

"The last color, however, is a little different. There are only two colors, grey and green. These colors differentiate between the people chosen to be the leaders of the colony. Those chosen will have the color green, everybody else will have the color grey."

I freeze, keeping my eyes from the band on my wrist. I clench my jaw and move my parasol to the other hand to hold up my wrist.

Yellow.

Blue.

Green.

"Thank you for your patience. Everybody with grey for their third color may head to your housing burrows. Simply follow the signs and if you have any questions, ask someone in a GTA uniform. Everybody with green for their third color, please make your way to the front of the building and inside."

I stand still, watching as Major Halloway steps away from the balcony to talk to her colleges. People shuffle around me, searching for signs to find their way while I remain rooted, looking on at the building. Me, chosen to be a leader?

I will air into my lungs and walk forward to the building, having seen a few figures enter. Everyone walking in has their backs to me and I can't tell much about them, other than the fact that I'm the only one of leaders in need of a parasol and heavily tinted glasses.

When I reach the door to the building, a tall man my age holds the door open for me. These glasses distort color a little, but there's no mistaking the rich dark brown of his eyes. He motions with his free arm to go in, so I lower my parasol and close it, feeling the hot heat of sunlight on my skin through my heavy robes. "Thank you."

I walk into the building, seeing a group of people standing in the front room before the door shuts and it's too dark to see anything with these glasses on. "Serina?!"

I'm forced to take a step back as arms wrap around my neck and a body presses to mine. "I—uh, yes?" The person steps back and I take off the glasses, dropping my head and blinking to allow my eyes to adjust.

When I raise my head, I see a petite girl with dark brown hair, hazel eyes, and a large familiar smile. "Astrid?!" She nods and it's my turn to throw my arms around her. "Oh my God, what are you doing here?"

Astrid pulls away again and shakes her head trying to come up with words. "I let the GTA decide what to do with me. I couldn't decide whether to stay on Reonerth or to join my sister, so I thought that would be best. I can't believe—wait," She frowns at me and I bite the inside of my cheek, feeling small under her gaze. "Why are you here and not on A1-C23?"

"I—" I start to tell her about my transfer denial, but I'm cut short.

"Great to see that you've all made it." I turn at the waist to see Colonel Bartlett hold out his arms, a smile stretched across his lips.

"I'll tell you later." I whisper, nodding down at her wristband, noticing the matching indicator color for housing burrows.

She dips her head, acknowledging that she understood so I step back and around, positioning myself at her side with my arms crossed, parasol hooked on my arm, and dark glasses clutched in my hand. My eyes scan the others in the room while I keep my ears trained on what the Colonel is saying.

"You eight have been chosen, out of the pool of transfers this year, to be the starting leaders of this here planet." He pauses his words, letting them sink in as I look at the first person of our group, a tall girl with blonde hair and light brown eyes. Something I first notice is her immaculate appearance. Her makeup looks perfect despite not having done it since before she went into cryo, there's no way she'd have had time to redo it all in the ten minutes we had to prepare ourselves from waking up before reaching the surface.

I move my eyes along her body, analyzing her posture. She has one arm crossed over her waist with the other propped on it, hand up and twisting a strand of hair. My eyes move more and I note her slacked hips, leaning her body to her right, away from the boy who stands next to her. My gaze drops again, and I look at her feet, the leg that holds the majority of her weight is straight while the other is turned out at a forty-five-degree angle. Overall, I feel a bored, get-this-over-with vibe radiating from her.

I look back at the Colonel and raise an eyebrow. "You're saying that we," I look around the room. "Will become the first Elders of the planet?" I hold back a laugh, my second eyebrow joining the first.

He smiles at me and nods. "That is correct, Ms. Barringer." I bristle my name, the use of my last name back on Aoria was typically reserved for when people spoke down to me. I drop my gaze to hide the irritation I feel and clench my jaw. "You each have been recommended by your planet Elders and the testing committee of the GTA, for various reasons, to lead this planet—this colony—and to set the pace for the future."

I pick my gaze up off the ground, having reined in my temper and look at the second person in our group, the stand just to the left of Blond-Beauty. He has a long face, rich brown hair, and shockingly blue eyes. Those blazing-blues shift in the light as he watches everyone as I do, only more openly than I. There's not much to note about him other than his hands that sit in the pockets of his faded blue jeans, thumbs hanging out, pads skimming the seams on his pants. A nervous tick?

What do you have to be nervous about, Blue-Eyes?

I watch his eyes and the direction they're pointed. He makes rounds between all of us, including the three GTA personnel, and after watching him skim his eyes around a few rotations, I notice that his eyes hesitate on another boy who's standing to my right, close enough that I can practically feel his presence in my personal space. Gay, maybe? If so, he must come from a stricter planet. I know while Aoria was completely open, believing that the body is simply a husk to the soul, there were plenty of planets that thought otherwise.

My eyes flick to the Colonel before moving onto the next person, the boy with rich brown eyes. "Each of you will have a different occupation and will represent it as its council rep. Should you choose to change occupations at the end of the week, things will be a little more difficult for you." My eyes freeze on Door-Holder's cheekbone, having been scanning his expression. I force myself to stop focusing on his face and watch how his whole body and demeanor change. I watch one of his hands rub at the back of his neck, seeming uncomfortable with the idea of not having the possibility to change professions.

"Why would it be harder for us?" Asks the boy next to him. He catches my eye with his hair, a shade so between blonde and brown I can't tell if it would be classified as dirty-blonde or light brown, his blue eyes, and the thin layer of stubble that lines his face. Considering that our bodies aren't touched by time in a cryo-cell, I'm led to think that this thin layer is intentional, of course, I don't oppose.

He stands with his arms crossed, a dark tee straining over the muscles of his arms. Something compels him to meet my eyes and he looks at me curiously before moving his eyes down the length of me. When his eyes raise again, he seems unimpressed and I curse these robes and silently swear off the clothes of my previous planet. He seems like he could be fun. We could be trouble.

I grin briefly, having set my sights on the interesting playboy looking guy then look again to the next person. "Each class of occupation must have a representative. Should you want to change professions, you must first convince one of the fellow reps into trading occupations." Many jaws drop at this, including the girl I look at now. Her mouth stays open for a short time before she closes it and scowls.

"What if there's nobody that wants to trade?" I hear Astrid's voice and watch how this new girl nods, ignoring Playboy's gaze on me. Scowler has shoulder length hair, a light brown color with a few almost blonde highlights. Her pointed nose and dark brown eyes alone are enough to capture the attention of anyone, not to mention the seemingly perfect curves that grace her body. It seems like her temper is her downfall, something I can relate to. She holds herself tall and exudes a badass vibe I commend.

"Then you're either stuck with your occupation, or you can appeal for an election to choose a new rep for your profession and move on as a meaningless drone." The Colonel's voice is matter of fact and his face bland. I look at him then move my gaze to the floor in front of me, watching the boy to my right through the corner of my eye, looking at him would be too obvious considering how far I'd have to turn my head.

His hair has a slight red tint to it as does the stubble on his jaw, again most likely on purpose. He flashes Blonde-Beauty a lopsided smile and I hold back the need to roll my eyes. Everywhere has at least one man like this, the ones that look good and know it. The ones used to girls falling at their feet begging them to instead fall into bed with them. I watch him a little longer, giving him a moment to redeem himself but then he winks at Astrid and I give up.

"We've spent plenty of time talking for now. A GTA member will come around and escort you to your occupation, then afterward, to your cabins. Everybody should already be on their way to their profession and will be debriefed on who you all are. Have a good evening, we'll have our first official meeting tomorrow morning." Colonel Bartlett bends slightly at the waist then walks away, heading further into the building.

Eight cadets appear out of nowhere, each heading over to a different person. "Rina,"

I glance at Astrid as our cadets come closer and I nod. "We'll talk later." With that, I turn and follow the cadet towards the door.

"This way, Ms. Barringer."

"Serina."

The female cadet a step in front of me glances over her shoulder. "I'm sorry?"

"Call me Serina. On Aoria, calling someone by their last name is reserved for talking down to them."

She reaches for the door and I rush to put my glasses back on before I'm blinded. "I'm sorry, of course, Serina." She steps out the door then holds it for me to pass. I shoot her a small smile and nod.

We walk in silence, though it doesn't last long because after three short turns, we've arrived. "Here is the infirmary. There will be a short orientation about what to expect and I will be back after to show you to your cabin."

"Infirmary?"

"Yes, because of your aptitude test and your personal experiences, you have been assigned to the infirmary as their council rep and eventually lead doctor. The blue on your wristband means that you're a health professional."

I feel the blood drain from my head and my face pales. Nobody knows about that, not even Shawn.

Medical dictionaries and anatomy books cover the floor of my bedroom.

"Ms.—Serina, are you okay?"

I take a deep breath and smile. "Yes, of course...I'm sorry, I never got your name."

"First Lieutenant Michelson."

I chuckle and shake my head. "No, your first name. I may technically be a higher authority than you, but I am a decent person."

She smiles and fiddles with her right cuff. How are these people not burning up? It's sweltering out here. "Maggie."

"Thank you, Maggie. I'm sure you have other duties to attend to for now, I'll see you later."

Maggie gives me a salute then turns on a heel and walks back the way we came. Once she disappears, I look back to the entrance of the infirmary. It's time to go in, why delay the inevitable?

I approach the twin doors and they slide open silently. There's a large group of people standing in the middle of the room and the four people at the front that speak to them go quiet when they see me.

I take the glasses off and take a few steps in. "Welcome, Ms. Barringer. We were just telling everyone about you."

"All good things, I hope." A few people laugh and I watch the crowd. There are many people that blatantly stare at my blue robes.

"Of course, here, follow me. I'll show you to the locker room so you can put your things down." The one man of the four instructors steps forward and starts to walk to the back of the infirmary.

I follow him quietly and he stops in front of a black door. "This is the woman's locker room, there will be a locker with your name on it. I'll be here to lead you back to the main floor when you're ready."

"Thank you, but I'll manage." I wave the door open with the sensor next to it and walk in.

I walk down a few rows of lockers until I see my name. Serina Barringer. It's engraved on a silver plate and I notice a few swirling designs that I can't make out until I get closer. Once I stand in front of the locker, my heart stops. My name is set over the curves of the "B" that sits upon our family rings.

I bring a shaky hand to my lips and the other moves to trace the curls. "Is everything alright in there?" A voice calls from out the door and I clear my throat, surprised by the noise.

"Yes, I'll be out in just a second." I force myself to ignore the sudden feelings the simple letter brings and open the locker. I set the glasses and parasol down to strip my robes off. Then, I set all three into the locker and shut it, making sure I look away before I see the front of the locker again.

Now in my basic blues, I can breathe easier. My feet carry me out the door and I find the man still standing there. I guess he gets a few points for being a gentleman.

We join the group on the main floor and I go to join the mass, but he gently steers me so I walk to the front. We join the other three on a raised platform and they smile at me before addressing everybody.

"Everyone, meet your medical rep for the council, Elder Serina." That makes me feel old. I can guarantee that there are people older than me in this crowd. "She is who you will come to with any requests about working here or even about transferring to a different profession." The lead cadet starts to clap, prompting a pitiful set of applause to move about the room.

"Now," The lead cadet raises her hands into the air and gives the crowd a large smile. "Time for the occupational orientation."

"Are you ready to go, Serina?" I walk out of the locker room, glasses atop my head, parasol and robe over my arm. I look behind the few people in front of me and see Maggie.

I shoot her a smile and nod. "Lead the way, Maggie."

Soon, the two of us are out in the sun. The rays feel hot on my bare arms and I can all but feel my skin burning. "As apparent by your wristband, you're in the yellow housing burrow. You'll be living with another Elder."

This excites me. "Astrid?"

"Well, yes. How did you know that?"

"I saw her wristband and made an educated guess?"

"That makes sense." Maggie nods with a thoughtful look. I laugh at her innocent look. "What?"

I shake my head and set a hand on her arm. "You have a young heart is all. It's not often to meet people with those anymore."

"Oh...that's a good thing, I hope."

"Yes, it is."

We walk down the road, gravel crunching under our feet for a good five minutes until small buildings with yellow roofs surround us. I continue to follow Maggie until she walks up the steps to a cabin, noticeably larger than the others. "Welcome, to your new home."

I walk inside a notice Astrid and her escort moving around the cabin. Astrid turns when we walk in and gasps in excitement. "Rina! You won't believe this. This place is a-ma-zing!"

I turn to Maggie and give her a smile. "I think she'll be able to show me around just fine. Thank you, Maggie."

"Of course, Serina." Maggie salutes then almost skips out the door.

"Lieutenant Rosewood, I think I need some time with my best friend." Astrid waves at her escort and gives her a smile.

"Of course, Ms. Jakeman." A quick salute later and she's gone as well.

Astrid and I look at each other from across the room in silence, too stunned to move. Soon, squeals fill the air and Astrid comes running, throwing her arms around me. "This is totally great! We are going to live to—wait," She pulls away and crosses her arms. "You're here. Explain."

I look down at her, crossed arms and all. I purse my lips then look around the room we're in. The den is a large room with a couch and two chairs. I motion to the couch. "Better sit down, the story is a bit long-winded."