Page 3 of Alien on the Moon

“I want to go. To the research station, you know, on the moon. I think I can help. I mean, I know I can help!” she rambled out, ending with a wince.Way to play it cool, Elena. “What I’m trying to say is, it’s not like I’m being useful here, and if you’re low on resources…” She looked at Stiya, who nodded hesitantly. “I could finallydosomething,” she ended lamely.

Stiya looked at Arccoo. “If she’s as brilliant as you say, my liege, we certainly could use a fresh perspective.”

Arccoo nodded thoughtfully. “Thank you, Stiya. We will advise you of our plans before you depart.”

With that, Stiya left. After a moment of loaded silence, Carmen and Sofia spoke at the same time.

“What the hell?” Carmen asked Arccoo.

“I’m going with!” Sofia exclaimed.

Elena almost laughed at the matching expressions of shock on her brothers-in-laws’ faces. Before either of them could respond, she cut in. “I’m going alone, and hush, big sis. It wasn’t Arccoo’s idea.” She narrowed her eyes at her sisters.

Elena ignored Sofia’s petulant expression, though she couldn’t stop the slight smile at seeing Zaraq’s clear relief.

Carmen huffed. “What if it’s not safe?” she asked, more to Arccoo than Elena.

Elena rolled her eyes.

“Oh, like how jumping on a foreign craft and traveling through space with no experience wassafe?” she said, her voice rising at the end. “And how taking down a crime lord with some half-baked plan wassafe?” Elena raised her hand to stop Sofia’soutraged mumbling about her “well-thought-out and smoothly executed plan.”

Arccoo leaned back, regarding Elena. “How much experience do you have in terraforming?” he asked.

Elena calmed somewhat. Arccoo’s tone was steady, not judgmental at all. He was genuinely interested.

She sat down carefully, thinking. “Not huge amounts,” she admitted. “I did a semester on biodiversity during my masters, and my thermodynamics and chemistry classes gave me a good idea on what to look out for.” She took a deep breath. “Besides that, I’ve done a lot of reading on the theory of terraforming. As you know, Earth has its own struggles.” She ended with a shrug.

Arccoo looked at Carmen, slightly apologetic. “I think it might be a good idea. Stiya is one of the best, and if she’s losing hope… Like she said, maybe a fresh perspective is exactly what we need.”

Carmen chewed her lip. “But… you’d have to leave tomorrow! Don’t you want more time to think about it?”

Sofia snorted. “What’s to think about? A new place to explore, new people, possible ghostly moon-men?” Zaraq nudged her. Still new to the family, he had kept silent until now.

“I don’t think it’s a decision for anyone but Elena,” he said.

Elena beamed at him, completely contrary to the daggers flying from Sofia and Carmen’s eyes. To his credit, he took it in stride.

“I’ve seen what carelessness can do to a planet,” he said sadly. “Manmade or otherwise. If Elena thinks she can help, it’s worth a try.” The sisters’ glares softened, and Sofia laced her arm through his.

“He’s right,” Elena said. “Don’t you see? This is how I can finally contribute.”

Once again, a rare moment of silence consumed the dining room until her sisters let out matching sighs.

“Let’s go pack your stuff,” Carmen said, jumping up and holding a hand out to Elena. Elena’s shoulders sagged in relief. She by no means needed her sisters’ permission, but knowing they disagreed with her decision would have grated on her.

Carmen and Sofia kept her up late, claiming they needed to fit in bonding time before she went away. Once they left, Elena fell into a restless sleep and woke hours before she was due to leave. Finally, she stood with her pack over her petite shoulders. The hum of transport pods and spacecraft surrounded her family.

“You’ve got your snacks?” Carmen asked, gripping Elena’s hand tightly.

“Stop ‘momming’ me, sis.”

Sofia pushed past her older sister. “Camera? Comm device? I want to know everything, you hear me?” Elena shrugged off her tight embrace with a smile.

“Stop. I’ll be fine, and I’ll send pics.” She nodded to Arccoo and Zaraq, who both smiled encouragingly.

“I’ve sent word ahead, so Rylan, the head of the team, will be expecting you. I know you’ll make us proud, second sister-in-law,” Arccoo said.

Elena’s heart grew warm.

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