I pull out another one of the odd-looking weeds trying to choke a nearby root vegetable. Thank goodness calluses are forming on my palms. The initial blisters were a pain, but now I can yank the weeds out easy enough. And it's a good thing too.

Everything that grows wild on this planet is trying to make a home in the small farm we've managed to build in the sandy soil. The fields stretch out from the opening of the large cave, a testament to our determination to succeed.

I pull out a few more of the scraggly, tiny-leaved plants. They don't have any nutritional value, but they manage to suck up a lot of our scarce water. We made the mistake of not pulling the weeds out promptly before and they almost took over, sucking up resources from the roots, berries, and other vegetables we've been able to cultivate through hard work.

The climate of Tajss will never be comfortable to live in, even after taking epis. Epis, that precious plant, helps us adapt to the conditions here. Without it, humans wouldn’t survive the heat. The glaring light of the two red suns bakes the surface of the sand and us with it. The dry heat saps out any real color apart from the red and white striations of stone and sand. Except for the oases scattered far and wide along the rippling dunes of the landscape, the only other source of water is the moisture that occurs in the caves where epis grows. Those caves are the homes of the dangerous subterranean worm-like creatures known as the zemlja.

That epis-enriched water is what we've directed to the small farm. It's nourishing for the produce we're growing, but it’s extremely dangerous to actually use it. That special water is present only where the zemlja live, and it’s accessible only through caves where the bat-like vampire creatures called sismis like to dwell. Sometimes I think that every living thing native to this planet is competing to kill us.

All except the Zmaj. They’re nice.

The sweat and labor involved in figuring out a way to irrigate our crops is worth it. With the epis-water and the rich sand gathered from the closest oasis, we now have enough food to supplement the meat the hunters bring back.

The Zmaj, the native people of this planet, helped us set up the farm for our mixed group. Along with the other human women, I help tend it. Since the Zmaj are the ones who go out and brave the danger for us, hunting for food, I figure this is a more-than-fair trade off. The Zmaj don’t really want most of us out there hunting anyway. Compared to them, we’re not even close to having the size and strength needed.

Wiping the sweat off my forehead, I sit back on my heels to take a much-needed breather. The small of my back is aching, and the muscles of my arms are burning from the effort. Using the flat of my hand to shield my eyes, I look out and marvel at the progress we've managed to make. We're in a much better state than we could have been.

The Tribe's area is protected by a rock wall that was painstakingly built to keep out the very real threats. Everything from the pirates who were the original cause of our ship crashing, to the wildlife that consists of fierce apex predators and venomous creatures—the only animals strong enough to survive in such a harsh climate and terrain. The Tribe decided to build their home base here because the cliff face is easier to defend than the open desert. The farm is situated so it extends out from the front of the main cave. That cave leads to others and also the tunnels created by the zemlja. It’s not easy, but we can get the water from the places the epis thrives because of the layout of the caves and tunnels.

When I stretch my neck, I can see across the roughened rock face, up to the two other levels that we’re using. The Zmaj widened the natural fissures in the rock to build separate homes on those other levels, carving out a ramp that zigzags across all of the levels to make them easily accessible.

The reality of my life still hits me out of the blue sometimes. I never thought I’d be living like this. I never expected that our ship, the only home I'd ever known, would be taken down by the Zzlo, space pirates that we later found out were slave traders.

The attack compromised our ship, landing us on this Vulcan-wannabe of a planet that has since almost killed us—the last remaining humans—more times than I can count. It definitely would have if it wasn't for the Zmaj who helped us. The few remaining males of their race knew that the epis would help us adapt, literally adjusting us on a genetic level to make us more suited for this place. Sure, their original motivation was that they didn't have any Zmaj females left, and so they want to keep the women alive. I don't see that as any reason to look a gift horse in the mouth.

We are alive because of the Zmaj and because of the epis.

In any case, I never expected to set foot off the ship that I was born on. I thought I would live out all of my days well before we reached the planet we were going to colonize. Now I’m living on a planet I never heard of—and in such a primitive way! Though, to be fair, I could have went back with Rosalind and the other freed gladiator-slaves when they left for the city.

The city wasn't in the best shape when we first arrived, which was understandable considering how long it had been unused. Together, we and the surviving Zmaj, have made a lot of progress restoring the advanced technology that was already in place. The most important part is the dome that’s a killer defense against every brutal thing on this planet. It’s a lot more effective than the wall protecting the Tribe, though the wall does the job pretty well.

When Rosalind left, I did consider going back with her. After all, the ruins of the city were my home for a long time, I just didn't feel right about leaving Ryuth behind.

Who would care for him if I left? His brother Ragnar would do the best he could, but I know Ryuth will do better if I’m here too.

So I stay.

"If you're looking for a certain blue police box, I'm sorry to say you're shit out of luck," Delilah says dryly. "We're stuck in this place."

I chuckle, glancing over and taking in her sweaty face, her dark skin gleaming in the light.

"Nah," I deny. "I was looking for the Serenity. I need more elbow room."

Delilah snorts.

"We have all the elbow room we need right here," Astrid remarks, leaning forward to pull out a particularly large weed with enviable ease. It's kind of irritating that she's barely even sweating, her blond hair in a perfectly smooth ponytail. Then again, she's built like an Amazon, both in her frame and in her muscles. I'm pretty sure she could pick me up and throw me straight over the wall if she had a mind to.

Weeds are nothing.

"Forget elbow room," Penelope chimes in. In contrast, she looks like she's expending effort, her long, thin frame, short blond hair, and huge emerald eyes give her a delicate, fairy-like appearance. There's a sharp intelligence behind those eyes that belies that impression of fragility. "What I want is a shower. Why couldn't we be stranded on a rain forest planet with a waterfall around every corner? I'd take Waterworld and fish people even!"

I chuckle, shaking my head. "You say that now, but if all we had around us was water you'd probably just complain about sea sickness."

"I would not!" she argues indignantly. But then she sighs, nodding. "Yeah, maybe. But you could let a girl dream, you know."

"There's not much point in dreaming," Astrid points out. "We're here. We need to deal."

"Thanks for that excellent pep talk," Delilah mutters, rolling her eyes. "Maybe we should have gone to the city too. Sure seems like it would be a lot easier."

We all murmur our agreement.

"We still can," Penelope points out. "Now that Gershom is exiled."

That is true. And good riddance. Couldn't have happened to a more deserving person. Gershom's desire to keep the humans and the Zmaj separated wasn't just bigoted. It was downright idiotic when the natives here are so much better adapted to this place.

The city itself was built by them to begin with! Gershom’s belief reeked of a sense of entitlement and stupidity. Because of his ridiculous racism, he almost starved the human sympathizers who stayed with him, unable to provide even the basic necessity of food.

Even apart from their inability to function without the Zmaj, that fight was bound to fail when the Zmaj males and human women were coupling up and having children together right and left. Perhaps that intermingling really does signal the eventual end of the human race, at least in the form that we know it. If that means the future generations here are more likely to survive, I can’t see that as a bad thing.

Change isn't just inevitable, it's necessary for survival.

Ragnar's partner Olivia is heavily pregnant. She stayed behind because it isn't safe for her to travel, plus Ragnar would never leave the Tribe anyway. The last two months of gestation are particularly hard since the half-Zmaj babies require more time in the womb than a human child. Olivia is really feeling it, with the bed rest wearing on her.

"I'm glad Rosalind made it back safely," I comment, reaching for another weed. "We're all lucky she did. Who else could have taken on Gershom?"

The others murmur their agreement of that assessment.

"Yes," Penelope agrees. "And weren't those other aliens a trip?"

"They were definitely...unique," Delilah agrees diplomatically.

"Anyone who counts the Zzlo as their enemy is due a fair shot in my book," Astrid says. "No matter what they look like."

"Agreed," I murmur along with everyone else.

The fact that slavery exists in this galaxy is horrifying. Those poor people deserve the chance to build happy lives after being forced to fight for others' amusement as if they're not thinking, feeling beings who deserve respect.

The fact that Rosalind and Visidion not only survived their own enslavement but managed to free the other slaves and return to Tajss is amazing. Though if anyone is capable of a feat like that, it's Rosalind. The former Lady General of the ship's security is scarily capable and she has an empathetic streak a mile wide. She was born to lead, really.

"The real question is . . . who's going to hook up with a Zmaj next?" Penelope says, glancing around at us with a twinkle in her eye.

It's a fair question, considering how many Zmaj and human pairings have happened so far. Though it still makes me a little uncomfortable.

Ryuth's handsome face crops up in my mind.

I can see why so many of us have paired up with Zmaj. Large and muscled, with those pretty scales, they have protective instincts that lead them to care for their women in a way we've never seen from our human counterparts.

Yes, I can definitely understand the appeal.

"I wouldn't mind finding out how those two penises work," Astrid says calmly.

Startled silence.

Then we all burst into laughter.

It isn't like we haven’t heard about it, after all. Apparently, they have two penises. One tucked under their tail. Meaning they can literally perform twice, back to back.

If anyone says she hasn't thought about it, she’s lying.

"I'm more interested in those ridges they apparently have running down the top. They're supposed to feel amazing," Delilah says with a grin.

"Don't forget how big they're supposed to be," Penelope adds, exaggeratedly wagging her eyebrows while she mimes a truly ridiculous size with her hands.

I know I'm blushing as I laugh along with them.

"What about you, Mei?" Astrid prods, smiling at me. "Have your eye on someone?"

"Not really," I hedge.

Penelope frowns."Maybe you're spending too much time with Ryuth," she points out. "You need to spend some more time with the other Zmaj guys."

"Hmm," Delilah agrees. "He was so out of it when we saw him before. Isn't he scary?" she asks, a touch of concern in her voice.

"No, he isn't scary," I say firmly, my desire to protect him rising. Ragnar's brother has been through enough. He doesn't need to be the subject of speculation too.

The women look at each other.

"We're just worried about you being near him so much," Astrid finally says diplomatically. "I mean, he did attack us with the Zzlo. That's enough to show he's not exactly in his right mind. And he's just as big as the rest of them. He could snap you like a toothpick."

She isn't wrong.

But Ryuth is more than a crazed creature like everyone wants to make him out to be. I know he is.

"I appreciate your concern," I finally say, landing on the most neutral answer I can think of. "But I'm very careful."

Luckily, they move on to another topic when they realize that's all I'm going to say about it. I follow along, but now my mind is on Ryuth. He takes up a lot of my thoughts lately. I just want him to get better so badly. I know he can, I just have to figure out a way to reach him.

It feels a little like I summoned him when Ryuth's brother Ragnar suddenly appears. His tan scales with the blue and yellow edging shine in the sunlight, and his lightweight clothing is particularly suited to the heat. He looks worried, his face set in tense lines.

I stand as I see that concern, frowning. "What is it?" I say.

"I need to speak with you about Ryuth," he says grimly. "Now, if you can, Mei."

I feel my stomach flutter and my mouth dry up.That doesn't sound good.

Not at all.