“Medium non-fat white chocolate mocha,” Ellie called out, setting the steaming cup up on the counter before turning back to the long list of drinks waiting to be prepared. 

Brushing a strand of her sandy blonde hair from her blue eyes, she set about pulling more espresso shots.  It was mindless work, but stressful in the morning when impatient suits ordered ridiculously complex drinks and expected that they be done immediately.  Then add in students from University of Texas – Austin cramming for finals, rich housewives watching their figures, and the confused few that had never been to an actual coffee shop, it made for a busy few hours of nearly constant lines.

Still, she was glad for the morning rush.  It kept her body moving and her mind occupied on her tasks rather than the chatter of students about their classes or the businessmen and women about their careers and upcoming deadlines.  It saved her from feeling the pang of jealousy and regret over the life she had once had or thinking the angry thoughts that had been keeping her awake at night for months.

“Um, miss,” a voice called out from the counter, impatience lining every drawled syllable.

Looking up she was met with the scowling face of a thirty-something man, his crisp white shirt making his tan look even darker than it probably would.  Without stopping her quick movements, she put on her most pleasant smile.  “Yes?”

“This drink isn’t right.  I wanted an extra shot of espresso and caramel syrup.”

“And that’s what I made you.  A skim latte with an extra shot, caramel, and two sugars.”

“No, you didn’t.  This does not taste like what I normally get.”

“Sir, I made it just as you ordered it,” she replied, setting another drink on the counter.  “Large green tea latte with soy.”

“No.  This is definitely wrong.”

Sighing, she stopped her movements and looked at the man.  He came in nearly every day and still didn’t know any of their names.  He ordered the same drink every time he came to Froth Coffee and almost every single time he had some issue with the drink.  Some days it was too hot, others too cold, or too sweet, or not enough caramel.  No matter what it was never right and she would be forced to remake the drink the exact same way she made it the first time to appease him. 

“If you want a new one you’re going to have to wait a minute.”

“Wait?  No!  You screwed up my drink and are making me late.  You need to fix it now.”

“And your constant complaining is making other people late,” she snapped, unable to keep her temper as he continued to look at her as if she were nothing more than an insignificant bug. 

“Are you kidding me?  No, I’m the customer and you need to fix your mistake.  I mean, come on!  How hard is it to make a drink right?  Did you even finish high school?”

On any other morning, Ellie might have been able to keep a level head and not let the condescending remark get to her, but today she was the third that she had barely slept.  Hell, if she didn’t have daily access to unlimited espresso, she probably wouldn’t be functioning at all.  As it was, she felt the erratic irritability that came from exhaustion and constant caffeine.  She didn’t even think of the consequences as she grabbed the drink from the man and threw it in the sink behind her.

“I’ll have you know that I finished high school,” she spat, her voice growing louder as she pulled fresh espresso and threw it in a cup.  “In fact, I have two bachelor degrees and a masters, you egotistical bastard!”

The man stared at her, his tan face quickly turning red.  “I want to see your manager.”

Without a word, Ellie slammed down the drink she was working on and stormed into the backroom.  “Jeanne!  A customer wants to speak with you,” she called to the poof of cherry red hair that was her manager.

Jeanne popped up from her desk, her bright lipstick almost matching her freshly permed hair that formed a halo around her pudgy face.  “Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, what’s the issue now, Eliza?”

She only could shrug, her energy leaving her as quickly as her temper had flared.  The older woman brushed past her and soon came the horrible noise of accusations met by Jeanne’s twang sweetly assuring that all the problems would be fixed.

“I’m going to get fired,” she muttered to herself, wrapping her arms around herself.  “Shit.”

“Shit is right,” Jeanne huffed as she swung into the back room.  “I just had to give that prick a weeks worth of free coffee because of your smart mouth.”

“I couldn’t help it.”

“Oh yes you could have, missy,” she snapped, rubbing her penciled eyebrows so hard that they smudged.  “Do you know why our company policy is not to hire people that are over-qualified?”

“Keep the price of labor down?”

“No.  It’s to keep situations like this from happening.  If you were like any one of our other employees it wouldn’t bother you to have someone ask about your education.  Hell, half my girls that work here had their first baby at sixteen.  But you, Eliza, you’re different.  You’ve got brains.  Yet you came here begging for a job tellin’ me you wouldn’t mind working for almost minimum wage.  You said all your fancy degrees didn’t matter yet here I am cleaning up your mess.  Now where does that leave me?”

“In a hard place,” she answered, hanging her head slightly.  “I’m sorry Jeanne.  I never meant to cause you trouble.”

“Well this is your last warning.  I like you, Eliza, but I can’t keep having issues.  If you can’t watch that tongue of yours you’re gonna just have to go find a job somewhere else.”

“I understand.”

“Good.  Why don’t you take the rest of the day?  I need to cut hours anyways and you look like you need a good sleep.”

Ellie just nodded, not wanting to argue that she really did need the hours after having her job spared yet again.  Grabbing up her things, she threw off her apron with a feeling of pure exhaustion.  The long nights of lying awake were finally catching up with her, taking the fire right out of her.  It felt like years since she had the energy to fight or the pep to enjoy life.  Even her once bright eyes looked dull when she bothered to look in the mirror. 

With a sigh, she pushed the dark thoughts from her mind as she found her car and began to head to the small apartment she had rented a few miles away.  It wasn’t much in the way of comfort, but it was cheap.  She had been able to fix it up so that at least it was clean and fresh looking, though it was still a far cry from the little condo she had claimed as her own just a year earlier.

Flopping down on her couch, she flipped on the television and clicked through a few channels before shutting it off.  She wasn’t use to having much downtime, but ever since leaving the life she had built in California she found that more and more often she was sitting alone in her apartment with an uncomfortable silence that led to her mind racing. 

Looking at the clock on the wall it was barely ten, leaving at least twelve hours for her mind to run through every what-if and I-should-have-known at least twice.  “Well, now what?”

The ticking of the clock was her only answer, the quiet of her building not even giving her the excitement of a noisy neighbor or the drama of a dysfunctional family.  Instead she was left with the memories of California and the pain of a broken heart and wounded pride.  She had lost her friends and colleagues when her relationship had gone sour, leaving her with the horrible feeling of being alone in a very big and cold world.

I could call my sister, she thought, glancing at the clock again.  She probably was busy at work, but Portia was the last person Ellie had in her life that she felt she could actually confide in.  Heaven knew that her so-called best friend had joined the rest in mocking her and questioning her credentials when her sleazy ex had left her high and dry.

Without a second thought, she grabbed her phone and dialed her sister’s number.  “This is Dr. Anton,” her sister answered, the sound of rumpling papers filling the background.  “Can I help you?”

“Portia?” she asked tentatively, part of her wanting to confide in her sister while the shame and embarrassment keeping her quiet.

“Ellie?  Aren’t you still at work?  Is something wrong?”

“Nothing, nothing’s wrong.  I just felt like talking.”

“Oh, well if it’s nothing then I’m about to start a meeting.  Can I call you later?”

“Yeah,” she said quickly, pushing back the need in her voice.  “Yeah, just call me when you can.  I’m home for the rest of the day.”

“Alright.  Wait, actually I wanted to get together with you this week.  Why don’t you swing by my office around four and we’ll grab dinner?”

“Okay, that sounds good.”

“Good,” her sister finished, hanging up the phone without so much as a goodbye. 

Ellie tossed her phone onto the couch next to her and sighed.  At least she had something to look forward to as she flipped on the TV, letting a soap opera distract her from the regrets that had been following her for the last year.

2: Chapter 2

The terrain was rocky and dusty despite the trees that dotted the canyon that lined a winding river.  It had seemed like an ideal place to land, free of the habitants that he had been sent to observe yet close enough to one of their cities that he could easily slip into their unnatural habitats once he was properly disguised.  

“Humans,” he said to himself slowly, trying to make the sounds of the unfamiliar word as he had heard it from the primitive data that the blue and green planet had bouncing between satellites.  He had spent nearly a month streaming information from the creatures’ database that they called the Internet, learning about their culture, their language, and what exactly they were like.   

They looked like variants of his own people, biped, mostly hairless, with little in the way of natural defenses other than what their minds could invent.  Of course, they were shades of creams and browns, rather than his race’s pale blue that came from the rich silver deposits that made up his planet.  Still, it would be easy to create a hologram to cover his skin and shrink down his large golden irises that took up a significant portion of his eyes.  

Flipping through files of photographs he had taken from the humans’ Internet, he studied the appearance of the males, carefully searching for other differences he would have to account for. 

“Their ears are rounder,” he muttered slowly in what appeared to be one of the main human languages.  It was much less complex than his own native tongue, the direct and choppy nature of English lacking any of the subtle inflections that could change the meaning of a word.   Still, he found some of the phonetic combinations difficult to reproduce perfectly.

A long beep interrupted his thoughts as the screen that had been flashing the pictures suddenly shifted to the stern blue face of his commander.  He was the youngest to ever be put in a position so high, but Commander J3974 had proven to the Planetary Council and dwindling population that he was a genius when it came to strategy and war.  Sitting up straight, he looked into his leader’s dark eyes and respectfully waited for him to speak.

“What is your progress with the planet, Captain K1283?” he said, his deep voice spouting off the lyrical words of his home planet that was so different from the humans’ English.

“The humans appear to be in the primitive stages of intelligence and innovation.  They are approximately at the same stage our people had attained two-thousand years ago, sir.”

“Hmm, and they truly look like they did in the satellite we found?”

“Yes.  They are very much like us.  Different coloring and a few other features that are to be expected with the level of light their star provides, but otherwise quite similar.”

“That is intriguing,” his commander said, his eyes sparkling slightly as he fell silent.  K1283 could almost see his thoughts as a small smile played at his lips.  “You must do a full genetic analysis.  See how closely we are matched and if you think our bloodlines could mix.  This may be what our people have been searching for.”

“Yes, sir.”

“What is their atmosphere like?  Will we be able to survive without the aid of equipment?”

“It is very similar, sir.  Their soil seems to be more abundant with heavy metals other than silver, but from their primitive scientific investigations their vegetation is not so unlike our own.  I am confident that we should be able to survive naturally.”

“And what is their society like?”

“It depends on the region.  I have seen reports of areas basing leadership on age, money, claims to some sort of supernatural power, bloodlines, or by votes from the populace.”

Commander J3974 frowned.  “Do they war amongst themselves?”

“No more than we did two-thousand years ago.”

“Yes, and those wars killed half our population and irreversibly damaged our planet,” he said darkly.  “I was hoping to find a peaceful population.”

“There will be more peace on this planet than trying to share with the Eloians,” he replied. 

“Do you truly believe that, K1283?  Will these creatures be open to our immigration?  Or will they fight and eventually hate us like the Eloians?”

Thinking for a moment, he wondered what the humans would think of their people coming to their world.  It was difficult to predict.  On one hand they seemed to want contact with others that shared the universe with them.  Why else would they send out a satellite with pictographic information directing others to them?  Yet, he and his people had seen what happened when two different races tried to coexist on a single planet.  The Eloians had grown hateful of their presence only a few centuries after they had fled the toxic wastes of their home world.   It had led to constant warring between their races and left the Rullans searching for a new home.

“I can’t say for certain until I have studied them longer,” he finally answered.  “I have almost mastered their language and am working on a hologram so I can infiltrate their population.”

“Let me see what you have so far.”

Complying, he lifted his left wrist and quickly tapped the small little keys that lined the metal wristband.  All Rullans wore a similar piece of equipment, having the amazing bit of technology implanted almost immediately after birth so it could fully integrate into their nervous system by adulthood.  Still, even with a lifetime of use he found the tingle of the device running down his arms uncomfortable as it tapped into his bodies natural electric energy to maintain his disguise.  Looking down at his hand, he watched as his blue skin was covered by a thin silver light that morphed into a creamy tan color that matched what he had seen in many of the human pictures. 

The tingling moved through his body until every inch of him was covered by the hologram.  Looking up, he saw his eyes had taken a brownish hue and looked strangely small, while his normally pointed ears appeared rounded under his dark hair.  “My name is William Hunter,” he said carefully, testing out the name he had chosen in the human tradition.

“William Hunter?” his commander said slowly, his voice straining to make the sounds.  “What number would that be in Rullan?”

“They don’t use numbers like we do,” K1283 explained.  “They create nonsensical sounds for their names that hold some sort of cultural meaning.”

“Really?  That is strange.  They must have a small population then if they are able to have enough unique names for themselves.”

“Actually, there are many with the same name.”

“The same name?  How odd.”

He nodded, feeling that it was just the beginning of strange things the humans would do.  From what he had seen, the humans focused on physical appearance and rectangular sheets of paper as a marker of success and importance.  Nearly everything mentioned money or the way a person looked, often disregarding those that didn’t meet societal standards.  He wasn’t quite sure why these were viewed as more important than physical strength or the power of the mind, but he was sure he would learn it.

“What does their military look like?” his commander said, pulling him from his thoughts.  “Will they be a threat?”

“They have enough technology that they can defend themselves for some time,” he answered, thinking of the videos he had watched of guns, explosives, and nuclear weapons.  “They even have created a bomb similar to the one that killed Rulla.”

“So they are a destructive people.”

“Yes.”

“Do you think that they will be aggressive towards us?”

“They seemed to want contact so I can’t imagine they would unless given a reason.  Still, their weapons are no match for ours.  They would eventually be annihilated should their intentions be war.” 

“Tread carefully.  We cannot afford more war at this point.  Learn what you can.  I will check back weekly for updates on your progress and further instructions.  The Council has made it very clear they will be seeking out the leaders of this planet should your reports be positive.  I don’t think I need to stress how important this is.”

“I know,” he answered, his mouth forming a grim line.  “I will do my upmost, sir.”

“See that you do,” he commanded before the feed was cut and the screen returned to the information he had been reading. 

Leaning back, he sighed and rubbed his hands across his eyes.  A lot rested on his mission.  His people were dwindling in number with the continued war with the Eloians, making the future of their race seem grim.  They needed a new home, one where the current inhabitants would not be determined to destroy them, but allow them to live amongst them in peace.  This Earth was the first planet that they had found that would support life and they only discovered it because of the humans attempts at contact.  He would be responsible for determining what their relationship with these humans would be and if the planet would be ideal for his people’s relocation.

Turning his screen to the world around him, he blocked out any negativity he was feeling over the assignment.  This was the last hope of his people before the war irreversibly destroyed them.  Bringing up the map of the area, he felt the uneasy pull of uncertainty over what was to come.  The satellite they had recovered had markings of the country known as the United States.  He had to hope that they would be friendly and open, but something told him that they may not be as happy to have visitors as the Council hoped. 

Looking down at his bronzed hands, he focused on the first city of his reconnaissance mission.  Austin, Texas.

3: Chapter 3

Ellie waited outside the door to her sister’s office, the muffled voices behind the doors sound serious.  Normally, she wouldn’t be caught dead at the university, preferring to meet her sister someplace that didn’t remind her of how much of a failure she had become.  Yet after her day and all of the stress she had been feeling, she would have met Portia barefoot in a bar bathroom.

“So the signals picked up by our satellite aren’t from a solar flare?” she heard a man say, his annoyance clear.

“No,” her sister’s authoritative voice answered.  “It’s not any signal I recognize from anything in our solar system.”

“You’re absolutely sure?”

“Yes.  Why are you so sure that it’s coming from space?”

“Our satellite has been tracking it for some time now and thought it was interference from something.  But now…”

“But now it’s coming from Earth,” her sister finished.  “I’ve picked up this signal on my equipment as well.  I wouldn’t rule out a strange radiation signal coming from a meteorite.  We have confirmation of a hit out in the desert.”

“I know your research lately is focused in a different direction, but I hope you understand what our concerns are with this.”

“I’ll investigate it to see if there is any link to our project.  I don’t think you have to worry.  If it is debris that made it through our atmosphere the signals will die down.”

“And if it’s not?”

“Then I think we’ll see some strange patterns.  If it’s foreign I’ll hopefully know by the end of the week.”

“See that you do.  Call my direct line with anything that you find.”

The sounds of chairs scrapping the floor shut out anything else they would have said.  Ellie leaned back on her chair as the door opened and a stern looking man in a military uniform appeared.  He gave her a sharp look before silently moving down the hall.

“You’re early,” her sister said from the doorway as the man disappeared around the corner.

“And I thought you were done working with guys like that.  Didn’t you promise mom and dad that you were getting out of that business?”

“I told them I wouldn’t agree to going abroad.  I still consult for them,” she said, ushering Ellie into her cramped office that was filled with satellite images of space and complex mathematical equations.  She had always been jealous of Portia as a child, watching her genius sister be proclaimed a mathematical prodigy and be vaulted onto a fast track that eventually led to her employment by NASA.  Ellie had never been able to compare, even though she too had started college early and excelled at her field.

“It’s not dangerous is it?”

“No, but you know I really can’t be talking about it.”

“I don’t like that you’re still doing this.  What if they order you to leave again?  What then?”

“It won’t be like last time.  I’m consulting, not employed.  They can’t order me anywhere and if they do they can’t tell me I can’t contact home.  Don’t worry.”

“I just think you should be focusing on your research, not doing who knows what for the military.”

“Like the way you’re focusing on your research?” Portia asked, as she grabbed her things and give her sister a dark look.

Ellie felt her cheeks go red.  “That’s different.”

“Different how?  You should be working on your doctorate right now, not working for minimum wage at some coffee shop.  What do you think mom and dad would say about that.”

“Dad would think it’s great.”

“Yeah, if you were a sociologist.  You’re a geneticist.”

“Evolutionary biologist.  There is a difference.”

“An evolutionary biologist that focuses on genetics, not a high school dropout,” her sister said with a wave of her hand. 

Ellie frowned, knowing that her profession had always seemed a little soft to her sister who was in the hard sciences of math and physics.  Portia without fail would introduce her as a geneticist rather than an evolutionary biologist when it came to interacting with her colleagues.  She had no idea what her sister said now that she had left California and put her doctorate work on hold.

“What happened, Elle?” her sister said suddenly.  “Why are you here?”

“I was homesick,” she said lamely, avoiding her sister’s sharp, blue eyes. 

“If that were true you would be in Minnesota, not here.”

“You’re here, so this is home.”

Portia sighed and gave her one of her classic big-sister looks.  Ellie could remember even as children her sister had looked at her like that whenever she was doing something illogical or childish, which was fairly often.  Their mother had even said on many occasions that Portia acted more like a mother to Ellie than she did.  It was probably because Portia was never treated like a child, her innate intelligence placing her in college courses at the ripe age of ten.  Still, it didn’t make it easier on her younger sister who, though smart, was not a prodigy by any means and would never see the world in the way her big sister did.

“Are you going to fess up?  What’s going on with you, Elle?”

“It’s nothing.  I just needed some time away from everything.  I missed being around family.”

“I get that, but it’s no reason to quit your life and waste away in Austin, of all places.  Mom and dad wouldn’t want you to be doing that.”

“Can you just lay off?  God, I came to see you for some company not for a lecture.”

“I’m sorry, it’s just hard when you’re throwing away your life.”

“Enough, Portia!”

“Fine, but don’t expect me to let up.  You’re a smart girl, Elle.  I just don’t get what’s going ton with you.”

“It’s…it’s nothing.  Really, Portia.  I just needed a break.”

Her sister gave her a stern look.  “That’s just what I wanted to talk to you about.”

“Really, Portia, can’t you just drop it?”

“No, I can’t.  Like I said, I’m not going to let up.  You belong in a lab, doing research and getting published.  If you need a break so bad from your doctorate work then at least do something valuable.”

“I’m keeping people caffeinated.  That’s valuable.”

“I have arranged for you to have a position in one of my colleague’s lab.  I know you aren’t well acquainted with physics, but you can read data and can write a decent algorithm.  You’ll start Monday.”

Ellie stared at her sister, her mouth falling open.  “Are you serious.  Where do you get off telling me where to work?”

“When you started spinning in a downward spiral!”

“I’m not some addict, Portia.  Don’t start talking to me like I’m some sort of child.”

“You are a child!  You proved that when you ran away from your career and your responsibilities.”

“You’re not mom!” she shouted, standing and giving her sister a final, disbelieving look.  “You have no right.  None at all.  I don’t even know why I came here.  I knew what I would be getting.  You just can’t let me do what I want.”

“No, I can’t let you wreck your entire life.”

“That’s not for you to decide,” she spat, moving to the door.  “It’s my life and I can do what I want to do without needing your approval.”

“You’re making a mistake.  You’ll regret what you’re doing in a few years when your data is outdated and your research has already been done by someone else,” her sister called out after her.  “I’m doing you a favor.”

“Whatever, Portia,” she muttered to herself, her feet carrying her quickly down the faculty hallway, her jaw clenching tightly.  “I don’t need you’re help and I sure as hell don’t need your handouts.”

4: Chapter 4

It was hot.  Not the kind of hot that K1283 was use to on his native Rulla, which was more like a warm caress from its tiny star.  No, Austin was hot.  It was the kind of heat that made his skin feel like it was on fire, causing sweat to create a film over his body.  Even removing his full body suit in favor of some human clothes he had managed to find did little to help with the heat.  Soon, the black polo felt like it was sticking to his skin while the grey pants didn’t help the situation. 

He had known, of course, that the planet he was exploring had a much larger variety of temperatures and environments, but he had never experienced heat like this ever in his life.  Pulling at the collar of his shirt he couldn’t help but wonder at how the humans survived here.  He was practically naked by Rullan standards and felt like he was dying while those around him acted like nothing was wrong.  Even those dressed in things called suits didn’t seem to mind the temperatures despite the layers of cloth they wore. 

“Is there no planet besides Rulla that has a moderate climate?” he muttered to himself as a group of human females that his research told him were classified as girls pushed past him.  Unlike the adult humans who were dressed conservatively in dark colors, the girls wore tiny, blue colored cloth that only covered the smallest fraction of their legs while their arms were completely bare.  He stared at them for a moment, his mouth falling open at the unbelievable lack of modesty.

Shaking his head, he felt that this would be one of the many cultural things that his people would have to come to terms with if they were going to settle on the humans’ planet.  If they didn’t, it would likely cause the sort of racism they were experiencing on Elon, which in turn started all of the other problems they were having on the Eloians.  Slowing his pace, he quickly composed his first field note for his commander.

Earth:  As unbearably hot as Elon is cold.  Humans seem to have no problem with this heat by some unknown biological adaptation.  Further research into their genetic code will be needed to determine if this is a learned adaptation or a genetic variation.  My current working hypothesis that it is something close to what the Eloians have developed to survive in their tundra and ice fields.

Wiping his brow, he stopped his aimless wandering and watched the humans that moved around him.  They reminded him of what his people had been like before their numbers had dwindled to an all time low.  No one really looked at anyone else or acknowledge those that passed by them.  It was the luxury of having so many of their species wandering about that no one person could possibly know everyone.  His people no longer had that luxury, making the small population very close and open with one another in all daily interactions.  Turning back to his note, he continued with his observations.

The humans seem to be unconcerned with others of their race in their daily interactions.  They do not greet one another as they walk past and often focus on some sort of electronic device that I have seen called a cellular phone or tablet.  They also seem to lack modesty in their bodies, as wearing clothing barely fit for the bedroom is as common as being completely covered.  Thus far it seems more the younger humans participate in the practice of showcasing their skin. 

I have yet to engage in conversation with one of the creatures, but will attempt to make some sort of contact later today or tomorrow.  They currently seem unaware that I am different from them.  It may be possible to start a small colony with proper training in human etiquette prior to making our presence fully known.

Reading over his brief analysis, he quickly sent it off through the relay he had set up with his ship.  He had at his command some of the best of their military technology so that despite distance he was from Elon, Commander J3974 would have his preliminary report within the hour.

With a small sigh, he forced his legs to carry him on while he did his best to focus on his job rather than how uncomfortable he was.  He studied the tall buildings and interesting plants that dotted the sidewalk.  He took in the smells of food coming from restaurants and the sounds of furry animals some of the humans led around on a leash.  Yet the thing he found himself most fascinated by was the way the humans traveled.  They used minerals from the ground to power their vehicles rather than harnessing a much more abundant source of energy, showing that either they lacked the technology or the intelligence to create something that would make traveling easier.  He quickly made multiple notes on how the Rullans could introduce new technology that might make the humans more apt to peacefully allow them to settle.

“They sure do like to be flashy,” he muttered as he moved towards a short building used for refueling, taking in all of the different colors and shapes of the vehicles.  He felt his feet slow at one bright yellow car that didn’t even have a top on it, the man driving it giving him a brief nod.

“Excuse me,” a woman called from behind him, pulling him from his thoughts of what it would be like to ride in something that wasn’t completely enclosed as the woman walked passed.  Turning, he noticed for the first time that what he thought were merely large windows were actually doors that opened whenever a human approached them.  It was a very primitive version of things both his people and the Eloians used, but what truly interested him was the cool air that drifted out whenever they opened.

Without a second thought, he walked into the building, sighing as the cool air tickled his skin.  “Hot one out there,” the human standing behind the desk commented.

K1283 nodded at him, his heart thumping at the unexpected contact.  I should have spoken, he thought as the man turned to another customer.  The words, though, seemed to fail him in his panic.  He had never felt that way when in Elon prior to their immigration there, but then again the Rullans and Eloians had been in contact with each other for centuries.  There was no added pressure to blend in seamlessly when he had been assigned to head his people’s negotiations in seeking refuge.

Next time you’ll talk, he told himself as he moved around the store.  Slowly he walked up and down the shelves, slightly surprised at how many things the humans were selling were similar to pieces exhibited in the old museums of Rulla.  The packages were strange and colorful while the words were foreign, but it appeared the humans had perfected manufacturing artificial food.  They were no longer dependent on their planet to provide them with sustenance. 

Still, as he picked up a bag that was filled with something called cheese puffs, he couldn’t help but frown at how disgusting the food looked.  Setting the bag back down, he continued to roam the aisle watching the humans that moved in and out of the gas station from the corner of his eye.  They, like those on the street, were preoccupied with their electronics, talking on cellular phones, writing messages, looking at things on their Internet.  The technology, although primitive, had a striking resemblance to the early pieces of their own technological revolution.  It was clear that the humans were on the cusp of the next stage of their civilization.  It wouldn’t be long before they moved beyond their cellular devices and into holograms.  Their cars would be replaced with the particle deconstruction and reconstruction that made teleportation possible.  That is, they would if they weren’t as violent as some of the videos he had watched suggested.

Wandering up to a small display with mirrors, he carefully looked at his face and was happy to see that the hologram was holding.  He looked human, complete with dark hair, brown eyes, and a creamy-tan skin tone.  It was odd how the smaller eyes of the humans made his cheek bones look more prominent and his jaw more square.  They hadn’t changed, of course, but the new face did change his perspective a little. 

I wonder what I would look like with one of these things on, he thought somewhat amused, picking up the odd little glasses the humans used to keep the sun from their eyes.  It was far inferior to what they used on Rulla, but it wasn’t a bad solution to the problem.

Trying on the first pair, he laughed a little at the way it made his forehead look massive compared to the rest of his face.  The next pair did the exact opposite.  Yet it was the third pair he tried on that he truly loved.  Not only did they seem to smooth out his angled features, but the blue tint of the lense made the humans take on an almost Rullan appearance.  For a moment, he could almost imagine that he was watching a movie set in the old times before the technologic boom. 

“These are brilliant!” he said, looking over the top and then back through the frames.  Sure, everything else was tinted blue besides the humans, but he could live with that if it meant that he could at least pretend he wasn’t the only one of his kind wandering the planet.  Feeling more secure than he had a few minutes prior, he smiled at the young man behind the counter and handed him the glasses along with a few counterfeited bills.

“That’s too much for these,” the man said in an accent that made it difficult to understand.  “These aren’t Ray-bans.”

“Oh,” he answered, shoving the money away.  He didn’t know what Ray-bans were, but he assumed that they must cost more than the cheap blue glasses he had just purchased.  “Can I ask you a question?”

“Shoot,” the man said, handing him some coins and a piece of paper. 

“What?  You have a gun?”

“What?  No!  I just meant shoot.  Like ask your question.”

“Oh,” he answered a little flustered.  “Oh, well I was…wondering?  Yes, wondering if there was anyplace people can go to just sit that’s not so hot.”

The man gave him a strange look.  “You could try Froth Coffee.  It’s just across the street.”

“That building there?” he asked, pointing to a tall building that had a shop at its base. 

“Thadda be the one.”

Nodding his thanks, he quickly moved from the refueling station to the store across the street.  He recognized the picture of a cup, but other than that he had little idea of what Froth Coffee was or what they did.  He assumed food or drink might be involved, but he decided it didn’t matter much so long as he could watching the humans from the comfort of a cool room with a nice chair.

Walking in, he was immediately met with the gratifying burst of chilled air followed by a cheery “Afternoon” from the blonde woman standing behind the counter.  Looking up, he felt his breath catch as he stared at her.  Through the blue glasses her skin took on the healthy glow that he was use to seeing on women who spent their days out in the sun.  It had been years since he had seen any Rullans with their version of a tan.  Elon was just too far from their star to make lying out possible.  It was just a small thing that he hadn’t noticed for years.  Yet, the memory of women with tans led him to think of all the other things the females of his race no longer had, like laughter and smiles.  The familiar pang of longing filled him as he thought of all he and his kind had lost from their own stupidity as he watched the woman move about her work, her silky hair waving across her lean back with each movement.

Pushing away the dark thoughts that began to cloud his mind, he moved towards the counter recklessly, unsure of what exactly suppose to do but determined to speak to the woman.

“Can I help you?” she asked, her voice not as heavy with the odd accent that seemed to predominate the city.  He smiled, feeling the relief of finding someone he could easily understand.

“I’m not sure,” he started, taking in her eyes, which were larger than the other humans he had seen up close.  It was yet another trait that made him think of his own people, causing a small rush of homesickness move through his chest.

“Have you been to Froth Coffee before?  We’re really similar to Starbucks if you know what you get there I can probably make it.”

“No, I haven’t been here before and I have never been to Starbucks,” he said, the last word feeling clumsy as he said it.

“You’re not from around here, are you?” she asked with a smile, her eyes sparkling as her face brightened into something beautiful.  He couldn’t help but stare at the little dimple that appeared on her cheek, turning her strong chin and angular features into a softer, more delicate version of themselves. 

His heart started drumming in his chest with a strange mix of nervousness at not blending in with the humans and a very odd anxiousness that seemed to only increase as she continued to stare at him.  “What makes you say that?”

“Well you don’t have a twang for starters.  Are you here on business?”

“Something like that.”

“We get a lot of people that come through here from out of town.  Where are you from?”

His hand moved to the back of his neck as he tried to clear his thoughts from the odd pull he felt for the woman.  “Far from here,” he answered slowly, unable to come up with the name of an Earth city quickly enough.  “But I haven’t been home since I was a boy.”

“Bit of a rolling stone, huh?” she smiled again, that dimple causing his heart to flutter while his eyes felt locked to hers. 

“You could say that.  So what’s good here?” he asked, knowing that he had to get away from the personal questions she was asking.

“Do you like sweet or salty?”

“Sweet?”

She laughed, the sound making his own mouth pull towards his ears in a large grin.  It was unlike any laugh he had ever heard.  It was so happy and carefree, not containing eveny a hint of the bitter disbelief that he was use to hearing from his people.  Maybe there had been a time when his people had been carefree and able to take pleasure in the small things in life, but those times were long past.  The Rullan spirit was defeated, their numbers dwindling and their planet gone.  There was no more laughter.

“Alright, are you sure you like sweet?  You sound a little unsure,” she grinned, her blue eyes dancing with some sort of joke. 

“To be honest I really have never had any specialty coffee.”

“A man after my own heart.  Simple needs and simple tastes.  I’ll make you my favorite!”

“Thank you,” he answered, moving down the counter as she turned to a set of machines that began to pour out a dark liquid.  Her hands moved in a whirl, adding things a to a cup without much thought.  There was something appealing to the way the lean muscles in her arms moved under the thin white material of her t-shirt and how her legs looked in her tight pants as she did her job.  She had curves that Rullan women lacked, her full chest and hips a far cry from the famished look he was normally surrounded by. 

“Here you go,” she said suddenly, pulling him from his thoughts as she set a hot cup of something in front of him.

“What is it?”

“A dry vanilla cappuccino.  Taste it.  Bet you it’s the best coffee you’ve ever had.”

 He did as she asked, bringing the odd cup up to his lips and taking a quick sip of the hot liquid.  It was like nothing he had ever had before, the sweet almost making him gag while the rest of whatever was in the drink seemed to make his mouth go dry.  It definitely was not like the delicious wines and teas his people typically drank, the bitterness of the dark brown liquid biting at the back of his throat.

“What do you think?” the woman asked expectantly, her eyes following his every motion.

“It’s great,” he lied, forcing his face to smile.  “I’ve never had anything like it.”

“Good!  I was hoping you would like it.  I think it’s a nice break from just a regular coffee.  Spices life up a bit, huh?”

“Yeah, I guess it does.  What’s your name?”

“Eliza.  I like to go by Ellie, but my boss is a stickler for us to use our proper baptismal names.”

“Does that mean anything?” he asked, trying to grasp the strange naming system the humans employed.

“My mom was an English lit professor and named me after Eliza Doolittle, you know, from the play?“

He smiled, pretending that what she said meant something to him.  “Ah, I see!”

“Yeah, not sure I appreciate being named after her, but it’s still better than what my sister got.  She’s named after the Merchant of Venice.  Just imagine the childhood she had constantly having to tell people how to say Portia.”

From the way she was looking at him, he felt that she was looking for him to agree with her.  “Yeah.  I just don’t understand the whole unique name thing I suppose.”

“So I take it to mean you have a regular, boring name?  Like Bob or Ralph?”

“William,” he said, giving her another smile as her grin made her dimple deepen.

“Well, William.  Enjoy the drink.”

“Thanks,” he answered, “I will.”