Colin kept Genevieve busy all day in the lab. He worked in his office most of the time but check on her often. By the time she finished giving the evening round of nutrients to the plants, she was feeling pleasantly tired and satisfied with what she’d accomplished.

Colin came into the growing room, just as she was finishing up. “I have to go into town to sort out the supply shipment. The others are planning to meet at the platform to relax and talk.” He shifted his feet and stuck a hand into his pocket. “Do you want to come with me? You must be missing your friends from the ship.”

That made her perk up though she felt a little conflicted about it. It had been a while since she’d had any social engagements, but would the other humans like her? Would they ask questions she couldn’t answer? “Sure, but can I get cleaned up and change before we go?”

“Of course.”

So, after a quick trip back to the housing unit, they flew to town in the transport instead of walking. Colin said he normally walked to town get some exercise but that Genevieve looked far too pretty to be trudging through the dirt. Because she hadn’t arrived with any clothes of her own, she’d put the gold dress back on.

Colin said that she might be a bit too dressed up for the occasion, but she didn’t care. It felt good to wash her hair, let it loose, and put on something similar to what she’d worn back home. Clothing was a flection of one’s inner state of being, she explained to him, not about the opinions others might form of it. Though she would do her best to get along with the other humans, she decided here and now to continue being herself. She might be losing everything she knew in her home dimension, but she would retain all she was on the inside. Everyone was just going to have to accept that, the same way she was going to would have to accept them.

As they flew in, Genevieve had more time to focus on the landscape now that she was getting used to riding in the transport. Now she could appreciate the beauty of the planet itself. Its shades of orange and red had an artistic quality to them, as if someone had painted it all there. The clean lines of it all, and the relief of gazing across its surface as far as the eye could see had a soothing effect to it. It was like a clean slate imbued with exciting and hidden possibilities.

Never in a millennium had she thought she would like such a thing. But then, she rarely left Tarmange’s hustle and bustle. Most Jinn felt no need to travel. What could possibly outshine Tarmange with its flamboyant architecture and artistry? They had the best of everything there. Compared to human standards—or what Jinn called sub-par standards—it could only be described as a barrage of luxury and elegance. Jinn loved to display their power through the manipulation and creation of their environment, so precious metals and jewels often encrusted large swaths of surfaces.

But still, here from her birds-eye view, she had a new appreciation for Garrulus Four. It was as if all of the gaudiness she was used to had been stripped away to expose what was real, to the soul that lay beneath.

In contrast, the town was distasteful. Though the shapes were interesting in an alien sort of way, there was very little beauty to it all. Colin explained what the various buildings were that she’d glimpsed before. It turned out that each dome and square structure in the small cluster of had a dedicated function. Apparently, they were temporary buildings that held dormitories, offices, farming supplies, and common areas for recreation or times when they needed to work on terminals together as a team.

The farming labs were spaced far enough apart on the most promising soil for each crop so that they would have room to expand later, and also so that the infrastructure for the planned city could be laid out in stages. From what Colin said, that part usually went fairly quickly once sustainable crops took root. He spoke in strict mathematical terms though about their growth, which Genevieve had a hard time keeping up with. It seemed that the cities only expanded according to the population size it took to work the crops. Water supply was a factor as well. A percentage of the food and water source was allocated to the colonists, but the rest was shipped off planet support Eardia, space missions, and some connecting space stations along the way. It didn’t sound like a lot of people when Colin was able to recite the list so quickly and succinctly, but Genevieve knew better.

At the far end of the square as Colin called it, he steered the transport to a smooth landing behind the platform, which now had stacks of packages and containers covering three-quarters of its surface. In the remaining space, an assemblage of chairs, stool, and boxes made up a sitting area where people had already started to collect. Genevieve followed Colin from the transport to join the others. Off to the side, she saw that they’d also created a sort of bar where various clear jars and vials were scattered across its surface which contained fluids with bright colors. In contrast to the dull landscape, town, and people, the collection of fluids was like un unexpected rainbow in their midst.

Next to that two men sat playing music. One blew into something that looked like a white ball with holes and buttons randomly positioned on its sides, and the other picked at something that looked like a collection of spiraling silver wires. Together, it was as if a melodic wind blew across a meadow that had been constructed of fairy chimes.

As she and Colin drew closer, the chatter suddenly silenced and all heads turned in their direction. She could see that he had been right about her dress. Most of the men wore the same coveralls Colin had on, and the majority of the women were clad in pants and boots similar to what Genevieve herself had arrived in. A couple of them had changed into other garb, but none were as elegant as Genevieve. She held her head high and remained poised, used to being stared at for one reason or another, and she almost laughed when she saw more than one woman jab their new men in the ribs with an elbow.

Colin led her to a small circle of men and women sitting and drinking from low cups. She was a little jealous at first of the warm greeting Colin received from his peers. He seemed to be well-liked and respected by the others, and there was a camaraderie among them that she herself had never enjoyed. When she was young, some warmth had been extended her way back home. But as she’d grown older without a single trace of expressed power, she’d become more and more of an outcast, a novelty that everyone fully expected would soon be dispatched to Earth. So, for most of her life, she’d been received with cool cordiality, skepticism, and reluctant tolerance.

She braced herself for more of the same when Colin introduced her. But then, she was completely taken off-guard, as one-by-one the men gave her warm smiles of greeting and the women did as well.

One of them, a blonde named Jileen, commented, “I thought I knew all of the women on the ship, but I don’t remember seeing you.” She scanned Genevieve’s features thoroughly with her wide blue eyes as though trying to place her. “Strange, isn’t it? How you can spend so many months in space and think you know everybody, but somehow you missed one, especially someone as beautiful as you. If we had met, I would definitely remember.”

“I have a habit of keeping to myself,” Genevieve said, hoping the lie would suffice.

Jileen laughed in a light, tinkling way. “Well, easy enough to do on a ship that size. You’ll have no trouble doing that here. This planet was built for solitude. Plenty of space. An open canvas for us to create the life we always wanted. I like it already.”

Genevieve found herself returning Jileen’s easygoing smile. “I do, too.” Never in her life could she remember anyone treating her with such open and easy friendliness.

“Genevieve, this is Brace,” Colin said, gently interrupting to introduce a man who’d just come to stand by his side with three smoking neon-pink drinks in his hands. “He works on the orchards just east of here.”

Brace was a broad man with unkempt brown hair, whose neck and cheeks turned red as Genevieve gave him her full attention. “Oh? What sorts of trees are you growing?” she asked.

“We’re focusing on Usilian Jerines right now,” he said, passing two of the drinks to Colin. “But I wouldn’t call them trees as of yet, or an orchard.” He chuckled and Colin laughed along with him.

But beneath it Genevieve could detect a bitter edge in their laughter. The tinge of disappointment. “What’s wrong with your trees?” she asked.

“Having the same trouble Colin’s crop is.”

“It is?”

Colin sighed heavily. “It’s driving us all crazy,” he said and handed her one of the smoking pink glasses. “But let’s not get into that right now. It’s time to relax and forget about the challenges of the day. Actually, Jileen, would you mind keeping Genevieve company for a little bit? I have to sort out the shipment.”

“Sure, I would love to,” she said.

“Do you mind?” he said to Genevieve. “It won’t take long.”

Though she would much rather have gone with him than be left with a group of strangers, she nodded, remembering that she wasn’t the only one new to the group. Jileen’s helpmate, Aardin stood and offered Genevieve his seat.

“By the way, I absolutely love your dress!” Jileen said.

“I do, too,” a woman named Mihna said, moving closer to them. She was short and voluptuous with warm eyes that reminded Genevieve of a puppy. “Did you bring it with you?”

“No. I didn’t have anything with me. Um, Colin gave it to me,” she said, not wanting to have to give a full explanation to these women she’d just met.

“Wow!” Jileen said and fingered the fabric of the skirt. “It must have cost a fortune.”

Genevieve made a non-committal noise and took a sip of the strange drink in her hand, which turned out to be deliciously sweet and tangy. “Mm. What’s in this?”

“Be careful with those,” Mihna cautioned. “They’ll sneak up on you. They’re made with Ibinean isochol. It lingers in the body longer than the regular stuff.”

“It’s called a Supernova. Definitely not for beginners,” Jileen said. “So how are you settling in?”

“Good,” Genevieve said with another cautious sip of the pink liquid. It reminded her of a liquor they had back home, and it made her suddenly worry if she ever would see home again, and for how long. “I helped Colin in his lab today.”

“No way,” Mihna said. She wordlessly asked permission to share Jileen’s box before lowering herself to perch her round bottom on its outer edge. “In the middle of this time warp to deadline? I can barely get Scathan to stop working and eat meals with me right now.”

“A time warp?”

“Colin didn’t tell you?” Jileen asked. “The day we arrived, the team leaders were all handed a deadline by the Demarcation Council. Things have gone from worse to ... well, way worse. The allocation is tightening down, if you can even call it that. There’s just not enough food to go around. People are going to start starving. Or, what I should really say is that there’s about to be starvation of a much greater magnitude than there already is.”

She and Mihna looked worried.

Genevieve knew Colin had told her some things about the problem, but she hadn’t thought this deeply about it. It was far beyond her scope of imagination, coming from a dimension of obscene abundance as she did, to be in a reality where there was no food. How was that possible?

“Anyway, they have to show significant progress in five days—”

“Four now. Today was one of the days,” Mihna cut in.

“—or the mission gets scrapped and we all get shipped off to a new world. Can you believe it?”

“New world...” Genevieve was suddenly terrified. A new world? Where? How far? If she was moved would Chin-Sun and Itembe be able to find her again? And why hadn’t they still noticed that she was in the wrong scenario? Enough time had gone by that they should have. It seemed so long ago since she’d flown into the island on the rickety plane and ages since she’d walked through the luxurious property to the swanky bar and met with her hosts. How long did they intend to leave her here and what was would become of her five days from now? A week from now? She started to think about a year and her heart began pounding furiously—

“Genevieve. Genevieve!”

“Huh?”

“You okay, hon?” Jileen said. She and Mihna were both looking at her curiously.

“Yes. I’m fine thank you. I think you might be right about this drink.” She tried to mask her feelings she set it down on the low box in front of her. They both laughed.

“Don’t you worry,” Jileen said. “As helpmates, we’ll all be going along wherever they go. It’s part of our contract.”

“Which means we won’t have to worry about starving like the others. If there’s one group that’ll be at the top of the allocation list, it’ll be this group, and us by default.”

“As long as everything works out,” Jileen added.

“I’m not worried. I already have a good feeling about Scathan,” Mihna said, her white smile reminding Genevieve of a half moon. “He’s my helpmate,” she explained to Genevieve.

“Me, too,” Jileen said. “Aardin and I seemed to click even during the bidding.”

“Don’t worry, Genevieve,” Jileen said, reaching over to pat her on the hand, obviously mistaking what she was worried about. “I have a good feeling about you and Colin, too.”

“I’d say you have the least to worry about,” Mihna said. “It’s obvious the man is smitten with you and wants to keep you near. He’s already got that special glow in his eyes.”

Smitten? If only they had witnessed their argument that morning... But Genevieve didn’t bring it up. She just smiled and nodded, pretending to be flattered. If the other women knew the real reason Colin was keeping her close, they wouldn’t be so confident in their presumptions. Because there was a big difference between wanting to look at her and wanting to keep an eye on her.

*****

BY THE TIME GENEVIEVE and Colin arrived back home, she was a little stunned at how welcoming everyone had been. No one really knew anything about her and yet she’d received a variety of invitations from the other women to meet for lunch, dinner, or go for walks as well as future couple-style get togethers once the men weren’t under such a tight deadline. There had been a great deal of camaraderie and good humor among the group of humans with much laughter and light-heartedness despite the serious issues that loomed. It was nothing like what Genevieve was used to. Among the Jinn, it didn’t matter how festive or casual the occasion was. They were elitists. And as such, the competitive awareness of status constantly infused everything.

After such a long day, Genevieve was exhausted and tipsy. Despite Mihna’s warning, she’d finished the first Supernova and had a second, so she didn’t even bother trying to fight with Colin about the bed. She simply went into the room, peeled back the covers, and began to remove her dress. At this point, she could care less about the human custom of modesty. Jinn were free with their bodies and had no problem with nudity. Besides, she was tired and she just wanted to go to sleep.

Before she’d pulled her arms free from the garment though, Colin appeared by her side with a discreet cough, holding something out to her with his face turned away. “I hope this will do to sleep in. Sorry I don’t have anything nicer for you.”

She took it from him and held it out before her. It appeared to be one of his shirts. It was made of some kind of silky smooth black material and was large enough that it would fit like a dress. “Thank you,” she said.

She could hear his soft footsteps as he left. By the time he returned, she lay beneath the covers on her side with her eyes closed. There was a rustling of covers as he got into bed and the light went out following his spoken command. “Goodnight,” he whispered.

But she didn’t answer because she was already drifting into the twilight of sleep. However, instead of continuing on into the realm of the unconscious she stayed stuck there for several minutes because all of her worries took the opportunity to crowd to the front of her awareness demanding resolution.

When would this nightmare end? Why had the Mahrid done this to her? Knowing the Mahrid, she could not bring herself to believe it was a mistake. Did they have something against her family? Jinn in general, could hold grudges for centuries and often wreaked revenge upon the offender’s following generations. But no one in her family had ever mentioned a rift with the Mahrid. Most Jinn did their best to stay at peace with them. And what of the tribunal? To simply disappear and not make her final declaration would bring the shame of cowardice—the ultimate weakness—down upon her family.

Now, in the quiet, with her hopes waning away, she felt the full impact of what her future would be like. For a long time, her mother felt that perhaps marriage to one of the lesser Jinn would be a good solution because Genevieve was quite beautiful and came from a good family. That still meant living at the very edge of society though. And even the lesser Jinn were reluctant to engage in what would be viewed as a mixed-race marriage, despite the prestige of such a connection and the remote possibility of a latent talent being passed down to children.

But Genevieve had spurned all her mother’s efforts at match-making because an alliance like that would be the final admission that she was lesser in every way, that there was something wrong with her. But now, she chastised herself for her behavior. Moisture welled in her eyes and spilled out through her closed eyelids. This time she didn’t bother to stop them. Why hadn’t she listened to her mother? If she had, access to her home would still be possible, however minimal. But cast out to Earth, she would have nothing and no one.

She knew deep down that her family loved her, but Jinn valued the purity of the community even more. There would be no visits, no help extended to her, because nobody wanted the stigma that would come of such an association. At the very least, it was her duty to put herself, an individual, second to the highest good of their entire race. At the very least, she wouldn’t rob her family of claiming she was altruistic.

She wiped at her eyes with the bedcover and the material scraped her skin, reminding her that she would never again enjoy the magically enhanced materials of home. That made her cry harder, and she finally surrendered herself to a one-time indulgence. Though she did her best to remain silent, she could do nothing about the shaking that the sobs caused.

“Genevieve? Are you crying?” Colin rested his hand on her shoulder and turned her toward him as he pushed the button for a dim light above his head.

Her pride forced her to say, “I’m just tired. That’s all. There’s been a lot of change in my life lately.” But the words came out wet and wobbly, betraying how she really felt and making her ashamed to have been caught in a moment of weakness.

But compassion and understanding glowed in his eyes rather than judgment. “That’s completely understandable after spending weeks in space on a crappy ship, and arriving here with nothing but the clothes on your back. That would do it to anyone. I’m surprised you made it this far without breaking down. You’re braver than most.”

She chuckled wetly. “Brave? Stupid is more like it.”

“Are you kidding?” he said, stroking her arm and making warm tingles skitter across her skin. “Most are so comforted by their daily routines that even the smallest change upsets them. But not you. Here you are, far from home, trying to start a new life. I’m sure you were scared even before you left. And I’m sure you knew how uncomfortable it would be for you.”

“Well, I had some idea I guess. But doing it is different than thinking about it.” She turned to face him, noticing that he’d put pillows in between their bodies as he’d offered to do before. He ran his fingers through the hair at the crown of her head, starting a whole new series of delicious sensations.

“I know. It’s normal. It’s going to be okay. You’ll see.” He gave her a small smile that reached all the way to his eyes and wiped a tear from her cheek with his fingertips.

It was nice and comforting, and she couldn’t help but notice how full and soft and inviting his lips looked from this close. But somehow his kindness and understanding just served to unlock another floodgate of tears. However embarrassed she was at the way she could feel her face scrunching up, there was no stopping the wave of fear and self-pity that now consumed her.

“I’m sorry,” she wailed. “I can’t seem to stop. Just give me a minute.”

“No,” he crooned. “You need to cry. Looks to me like it’s long overdue.” And with that, he yanked the pillows out from between them pulled her into his arms. “Just go ahead and let it out. I’m right here for you,” he said, then he shut out the light.

She stiffened at the contact at first. But then, the strength of his warm embrace and the comfort of his understanding silence broke her resistance. There, tucked against his firm chest, the entirety of her worries pressed vividly into her mind. It’s so unfair! Why did all the other Jinn except for me get powers? What did I do to deserve being left out? Based on her lineage, she should be one of the most powerful, one of the most sought after by Jinn men.

But she wasn’t.

And she’d come to Reverie Resort to have a good time, to take her mind off of it all, to have one last wonderful memory to take with her when she left her dimension. But she wasn’t even allowed to have that. Instead, she’s been thrust here in this horrible spot. Perhaps it was simple discrimination that had made the Mahrid switch things at the last minute. Jinn she didn’t even know treating her like trash just because they could... There were some who did it to humans all the time. But the thought that they would do it to her, knowing who she was, made her ill.

And now, with no ability to free herself from it all or to get revenge, was just too much. She wanted to scream her frustration. But instead, it came out in low, keening moans of pain and a torrent of tears that soaked the front of Colin’s shirt. She had no idea how long she blubbered. She just knew that, through it all, Colin continued to slowly and gently stroke her hair, murmuring comforting words until she fell asleep.