"The who-now?" My arms cross and brows rise.

            "The Celxians, Ms. Barr—" Colonel Bartlett goes to continue but I hold up a hand and shake my head.

            "Serina. My name is Serina." I meet his gaze, challenging him to argue.

            "The Celxians, Serina," The Colonel tilts his head, raising an eyebrow in question. I raise my chin in acknowledgment and he continues, "Are the native people of the planet."

            "So you're saying that we're colonizing an already inhabited planet?" Scowler—Lorna, speaks up and she seems to tower over everyone with her confidence despite being the second shortest person here, narrowly beating Astrid.

            "That's correct. When the GTA first came to this planet, we spoke to the Celxians who agreed to let Humans colonize, so long as they made terms with the leaders of the Humans that would be colonizing. They agreed, but they will only negotiate with you eight."

            "How could you agree to such a stipulation when the GTA didn't know who the leaders would be until only a few months ago, depending on which of us is the youngest?" The Colonel sizes up Raiden and takes a deep breath, seeming to consider his answer.

            "The GTA has been watching each of you, as have your planets' elders. We knew everyone who had the potential to become an elder, it was just a matter of waiting to get your application questions back to get the final answer."

            "So the questions on the application weren't random? I talked to people back on the substation and they didn't have questions on their applications." Astrid speaks up and the rest of us nod, seeming to think the same thing.

            "Major Halloway?" The Colonel folds his hands in front of him and glances at the female major.

            "That's correct, though, only the first question truly mattered."

            I shake my head, trying to get my brain to go back to the application questions. You see a spider stuck in a web in your shower. What do you do? "The spider question?" My voice hitches in my confusion.

            "Yes, the others were simple and just filling space. The spider question, however, was vital in determining who would lead, and who would follow."

            "How?"

            "The GTA wanted this colony to be different. We didn't want a council full of type A control freaks." Halloway smiles, seeming to be speaking from experience. "We wanted people who won't assume that they know what is right for others. We wanted people who wait to know what their people want and need before acting."

            "I don't understand."

            Halloway looks at us all. "What did you all answer for the spider question?"

            "C," Our voices can all be heard. All eight, in varying strengths and pitches, ring together in the room and send chills down my spine.

            "' Do nothing and leave it alone.' Each one of you chose to let the spider be, why Serina?"

            My gaze flashes between the people around me and I struggle to think of a logical explanation. "Because we don't know what the spider wants. It may be in our shower, but we don't know if it wants out, nor do we know if it wants us to put it out of its misery, therefore, we leave it alone."

            "Exactly," Halloway points at me, then points at each of the other seven. "You all chose to let it decide for itself. None of you assumed you knew what was best for it. This is the type of people the GTA wants to lead C3-G12."

            "Thank you, Major."

            "Of course, Colonel."

            "Now that that is covered, may we continue?" We each nod and the Colonel smiles. "Excellent.

            "The Celxians, as I've said, are the native people of the planet. They are a monarchy with a royal family who has ruled since the origin of their people, which is why it is critical you all find yourselves on their good side. The Celxian Royals are powerful, but it will be difficult to persuade them because you will not meet them until you've won over the ambassador assigned to teaching you all their customs and values.

            "We've explained that you all will need time to adjust to the planet," Colonel Bartlett glances at me. "Some more than others," I resist the urge to roll my eyes and simply look at the floor and my white shoes. "This is why the Celxians have agreed to give you a week to acclimate before the meeting."

            He pauses and an eerie silence wraps us in an embrace. "Only a week?" Elena squeaks and I think to laugh at her nervousness, but then I remember her occupation, human resources. Not only does she have to worry about everyone here in the colony, she now has to worry about winning over aliens.

            My blood runs cold, they aren't the aliens, we are.

            "Yes, one week." Halloway looks at us with a slight purse of her lips, trying to hold a professional look on her face when her pity is seeping through.

            "Okay...how are we supposed to get ready for the meeting?" Will asks, crossing his arms.

            "Well, to start, you will all find your place and become comfortable with your positions as occupation reps and elders. From there, I say to contact your families, get to know your fellow colonists, and focus on your work." Bartlett claps his hands together and smiles. "You're all free to go. Enjoy your first night."

            "I would like to mention something really quick." We all look at Elena and she flashes a bright white smile. "Tomorrow night, there will be a welcome party of sorts. We'll have a bonfire, food, and lots of alcohol. Tell each of your divisions."

            An excited buzz moves about the room from all of us, excluding the officers. A welcome party does seem like a good idea, it's a chance to meet people and relax after the stress of moving planets. With that, we each begin to move to the door, ready to go back to our cabins and unwind for a bit.

            As Astrid slips her arm through mine, two tall, well-built frames appear in front of us. Will stands across from Astrid and Raiden across from me, each with their hands in their jean pockets. "Ladies," Raiden's voice is deep, his lips turning up at one end in a lopsided grin as his eyes focus on me. Will simply gives Astrid a loose smile, dimples forming dips in his cheeks.

            "Well," I give Astrid a look then glance back at them. "If it isn't Door-Holder and Playboy." Astrid snorts and the boys' smiles seem to disappear for a moment before they find their composure again. "I'll tell you both the story some other time."

            Astrid subtly pinches the arm she's holding, and I shift my weight, making sure to draw their attention to me specifically. "Listen," I look up at the boys through my lashes, meeting Raiden's eyes longer. "It's getting late and we have important stuff to do, so, if you'll excuse us, we'll be on our way."

            Before they can get in our way, I pull Astrid around them and open the door, Maggie appearing to our right out of nowhere. I lower my glasses and give Maggie a smile, Raiden's voice chasing our backs. "What could be so important that it can't wait?"

            "Well, certainly not the both of you." I look over my shoulder and shoot them a smile. "Bye, boys."

            Astrid covers her mouth, trying to stifle her giggles and as we walk, Maggie narrows her eyes in a confused way. "What did I miss?"

            I grin and pat Astrid's hand. "Sweet-Baby-Astrid here saw a cute boy who obviously thought she was cute back and it made her all giddy and embarrassed."

            Astrid skids to a stop, completely serious now. "Hold up, that so didn't just happen." She crosses her arms and scowls.

            "It so did, A. You went completely silent when they came over, and you're almost never silent. You so have a thing for this guy."

            Her scowl seems to deepen, and her hands turn to fists. "You want to say that again?"

            Uh-oh. I know that look, I've seen that look from one end of a projector when she's just found out one of her siblings broke something of hers. "Maggie, I need you to start running ahead to our cabin, okay?"

            "What?"

            I slowly start to walk backward from Astrid, raising my hands in front of me. "Start. Running." I can hear the gravel crunch as she starts to pick up speed. My eyes scan the area, looking for a distraction and finding the boys as they start to walk out the door. "Aye, Will!" They look over at us and Astrid pales. "My boo, Astrid, here thinks you're hot!"

            With my words coating the air, I turn and start to run as quickly as I can, following far behind Maggie. Astrid makes a screeching noise in the back of her throat and her feet pound on the ground behind me.

            We turn corners at dangerous speeds, gathering eyes of colonists that we pass on the street. "Serina!" I laugh and have to adjust my sunglasses to make sure they stay on my face. "I'm going to kill you!"

            As we zoom past, people pick up on Astrid's threats and my laughs, joining me with their laughter and occasionally hollering at me to run faster.

            Before I know it, I'm bounding up the steps to our cabin, Maggie holding the door open for me. She gives me a bright smile and I do my best to return one as I pass. I have to hop around a few items in the den of the cabin, mostly the couch, to avoid face-planting and getting a mouthful of hardwood. Once I reach my room, I reach for the sensor next to the door opening and watch it slide closed as Astrid's pounding feet sound from the den.

            I back away as pounding on the door begins. "Serina! Open the fucking door!"

            "No, thanks, babe. I think we need some time apart, you know, make the heart grow fonder."

            "Rina, screw your heart. Open. The. Door."

            "Well," My hands sit on my hips and I raise my brows. "Tell me how you really feel."

            "Screw you, that's how I feel!"

            "You know, I really do only bat the one way. Though, if you need to get something out of your system, I'm sure Will wouldn't mind helping you with that."

            An extra hard pound on the door seems to shake the room and she screams. Finally, stomping footsteps move in the direction of her room and my body relaxes. Damn, does it feel good to get in sibling-type arguments again.

            Thinking of siblings, I walk over to the nightstand, set the sunglasses down and grab my Link from the charger. It felt odd to go somewhere without my Link, but it seemed even weirder to take it to a meeting like that, so I left it here on the charger.

            I settle myself in the middle of my room, sitting with one leg crossed under the other. With my Link propped up in front of me, I wait patiently for the video connection to go through. My stomach does flips in my abdomen while I watch the loading screen float a meter away.

            The hologram shutters and a petite woman greets me with a smile. "Hello," Her eyes shine, and she gasps. "Serina?! I—I mean, Ms. Barringer?"

            I frown at the recognition, I have no clue who this woman is, however she seems to know who I am. "I—uh, yes."

            She struggles to say anything for a moment then stands up abruptly. "I'll go fetch your bother."

            She disappears from view and I blink, taking a minute to process what just happened. This woman, probably about Shawn's age, seems to have recognized me without having ever met.

            I wasn't expecting a celestial to grace me with her presence.

            Ah, she probably heard about the last time somebody else picked up one of my calls. Though, having a brother of such high authority will do that. As the time I stare at an empty communications room stretches on, I find myself fiddling with the hem of my skirt.

            "What are you wearing?" My gaze rises to the hologram and a ragged yet smiling Shawn stands hunched in front of the projector.

            "I—it was in my closet, Astrid picked it out."

            "Astrid? As in best-friend-from-across-the-system Astrid?"

            I smile and drop the thread I found. "Yeah, she ended up being sent here also."

            "Speaking of here—there," He lowers his brows and frowns slightly. "Where is here—there?"

            "The planet is called C3-G12." Shawn nods and adjusts his projector so he can sit down. "And before you ask any other questions, I have to mention that I technically out-rank you." I semi-sing the second portion of the sentence and do a little happy dance.

            He chuckles and gives me a confused look. "What do you mean?"

            A sudden wave of embarrassment courses through my veins and I look about the room. "As I told you before going into cryo—"

            "Four months ago!"

            "Yes, I told you that I was going to be one of the first one hundred and fifty people on a new colony."

            "Like the group a year ahead of me."

            "Yes, but would you stop interrupting me?" Shawn pulls his lips into his mouth and nods. "Anyway, not only am I one of the first colonists, I'm one of the eight most important..."

            There's a moment of hesitation while Shawn waits to see if I was going to continue. "You're what?"

            I take a deep breath, a foreign excitement warming my body. "I'm one of the eight chosen to be the first elders of the planet."

            The words leave my mouth and silence wraps around us like arms in a sickly tight embrace. In the void of sound so deep, you could hear a mouse sneeze if you paid close enough attention. My stomach drops and I try to think of something to say, but soon Shawn is up, running around and yelling.

            "My sister is an elder! Jonny, my sister is an elder!" He crosses the view of the screen and yells again. Then he comes back on screen and skids to a stop, gasping. "Jada!"

            After a short pause, the woman who originally answered the call appears. "What? What happened?"

            Shawn grips her shoulders and a large smile brightens his face. "Serina is an elder of her planet!"

            This woman, Jada, with her ebony skin and tight black curls gasps and covers her mouth with both hands. "No," She bounces up and down a few times then looks into the projector. "Really?"

            Shawn looks at me also, curiosity and excitement shining in his eyes. A smile spreads across my face and I nod. They both scream, Shawn running around the room again. I pull my knees to my chest and cover my ever-growing smile. Their excitement sends a wild feeling through my body. This is the first time I've seen Shawn this excited since I told him that I was going to apply for a transfer to A1-C23.

            "So, what are you all having to do now? All elders have some big problem to solve at the very beginning of their sovereignty." Jada holds her hands against her chest, her question prompting a very long sigh from me.

            "We're charged with having to win over the native species' ambassador then their royal family to ensure that we are allowed to stay planetside." There's a moment of silence as both Jada and Shawn stare at me, mouths open wide in shock. I frown and shrink in on myself. "What?"

            They share a look then Jada clears her throat. "That's just a lot that you all have to worry about. How long until you meet the ambassador?"

            "A week."

            "Oh, dear Lord." Shawn moves a step back, holding a hand to his forehead.

            "Shawn," Jada reaches out and sets a hand on his shoulder. "Calm down. She's your sister, she'll be fine." There's a slight sparkle in her eyes and I hold back a shout of excitement. Shawn never had a good time with girls back home, he had always struck out when he tried to speak to one. Seeing someone with a shine in her eyes and a smile on her face as she looks at my brother, is the single most amazing thing that I've seen.

            "We love you, Astrid!" I look back toward my door, hearing muffled voices from the other side. Astrid must be speaking to her family.

            "Spongy?"

            "Hmm?" I raise my brows and meet Shawn's gaze.

            "I'm really, really proud of you." Tears shine in his eyes and I swallow down tears of my own.

            I look to Jada and rub my eyes. "I can't even look at him or else I'm going to start crying. Shawn, I love you and Jada, it was really good to meet you."

            "Likewise." Jada gives me a large smile as I wave the call away.

            The hologram shifts into the main screen and I rub at my eyes and cheeks. I release a shaky breath and drop my hands into my lap. "Serina? Can we talk? I'm sorry that I got so upset..."

            I'm silent for a moment and set my chin on my knees. There's something else I have to do first. "Give me a minute, there's someone I have to talk to first." I yell through the door then lower my voice. "I just hope he can talk."

            I flip through my Link a few times and select Micah's number, the connecting screen blinking with every second. After the screen has sat there, blinking for a few minutes, I frown and pull at my hair. I've braided a headband from the right side of my head to the left, like my mom had done for me when I was little, and have almost finished it when the screen finally shifts and a familiar face appears.

            "Hello?" Micah's gaze scans what he can see through the hologram and smiles. "It said Serina was calling, although it doesn't seem like she's there."

            I laugh and readjust how I'm seated so I face him head-on. "Shut up, you dork."

            Micah joins in my laughter. "It's good to see you, Rina. Of course, it's only been like a day for us."

            "I wish you were here with me. It feels wrong to be so far apart." I tuck my feet beneath me and tuck the unfinished end of the braid behind my ear. "Where did you end up?"

            "You wouldn't believe how perfect it is. It's a new colony on the planet H2-K8 and the main colony is stationed on a dormant volcano with an active volcano only a few days from here." His whole face lights up.

            "Wow, that's great. So, you were approved for volcanology?"

            "Yeah, but that's not too important. What about you, where did you end up?"

            "I'm at a new colony on the planet C3-G12." I hold up my bracelet and point to the middle color. "The blue means that I'm a health professional."

            "Really? That's great, Rina. I know you did a lot of research and studying after your parents passed."

            "Right...but that's not it."

            "What do you mean?" Micah sits down and I twist the projector so he's sitting in front of me.

            "I'm not only a health professional, but I'm supposed to eventually be the lead doctor..."

            "Oh my God! Rina—"

            "There's more..."

            "...huh?"

            "I'm kind of an elder..." My voice is a quiet mumble under my breath and I resist the urge to hide.

            "Say that again."

            "I'm one of the elders for this colony." This time, I speak loudly and with a sound of confidence that surprised even myself.

            "No. Way." I nod and he runs a hand through his hair. "My best friend is an elder...how cool is that?!"

            "It's actually a little scary."

            "You shouldn't be scared, Rina. You're one of the kindest, wisest, and most reliable people I know. You'll make a great elder."