Page 1 of Falling for the Orc Alien

Chapter 1

Vanessa

My apprehension grew as Zoe led me to the brightly colored shuttle destined for Xyron, the pleasure planet.

“Zoe? What the hell is this thing?”

Zoe blinked innocently at me, carrying her litan, a bulky string instrument she hauled everywhere. “What is what?”

“This…this eyesore.” I had to blink to clear the bright colors from my eyes. “Gods, it looks like some sort of acne commercial for teenagers.”

The shuttle was a riot of color with its sides in bright shades of pink, purple, and blue. Swirls and stars were painted all over the craft in a disco-like pattern, mixing with neon colors that glowed under the artificial lights of the launch bay.

The interior was just as vibrant as its exterior, with seats trimmed with sequins and blinking LED lights along the baseboards. The console was a wild array of buttons and knobs illuminated by an electric blue light that seemed to respond to my touch. Several large screens around the cabin displayed colorful advertisement images that glowed against the walls when in use.

I couldn’t believe such an outlandish design existed. It seemed so out of place yet so exciting at the same time! By that point, I was wondering what I had gotten myself into.

I had always been a cautious person. I was a daughter of careful parents who instilled a sense of decency and attentiveness in me. But there I was, clutching my handbag like a lifeline, about to embark on an adventure that felt anything but safe. I was missing the comfort of T’rra before I had even left it.

“Come on, Vanessa, it’s going to be fun!” Zoe chirped, her eyes sparkling with excitement. She was everything I wasn’t: spontaneous, carefree, and daring. Her wild red hair danced around her face as she tugged me forward, urging me to relax and enjoy what she believed would be a life-changing experience.

I stepped onto the shuttle, feeling my stomach twist in apprehension and anticipation. Everything seemed to be happening so quickly that I could hardly wrap my head around it all. Zoe was already strapping herself in and taking off her shoes. Her enthusiasm was barely contained by the confines of her seat.

The hum of the engines filled my ears. I felt a wave of nausea wash over me as we lifted off, wondering if I had left any of my essentials at home. What if there was a problem at work? How would they cope without me? I closed my eyes tightly, trying to shut out the sound of Zoe’s excited chatter filling the air around us.

“No one better fiddle around in my drawers when I’m away,” I stated firmly to Zoe.

“Someone better fiddle in mine when we’re away,” she giggled in her girlish way.

Soon enough, we came upon a beautiful expanse of stars twinkling against an inky black sky. It was like nothing I had ever seen before, and for a moment, I forgot all my worries about where we were headed and if we were going to crash. But, if we did, I was sure I’d have the necessary skills to survive on a distant planet. I’d build myself a shelter first, then a campfire, then spend my days hunting down creatures I would roast over the fire. Yes, I’d be amazing.

“Can I have your Zapnuts?” Suddenly, Zoe interrupted my scenario with her cheerful voice.

I handed her the packet. “Yes.” I never did care for Zapnuts. Awful chewy things that got stuck in your teeth for days.

“I love ‘em,” said Zoe with her usual excited flair as she wolfed down a large handful.

Sitting in the corner of the shuttle was a Lumarian, his eyes trained on me in a way that made me uncomfortable. His wrinkled skin and elongated features were illuminated by the faint blue light of the console, and I couldn’t help but take note of his oversized ears and strange, gaunt face. He kept looking at me, not saying anything, not even blinking. Just staring and smiling.

I felt a chill run down my spine as I returned his gaze with an uneasy one of my own. Whenever I thought I had looked away, he would shift his position slightly and catch my eye again, making it difficult for me to concentrate on anything else. Then he winked and licked his lips. I tried not to vomit.

So, for the rest of the trip, I tried to focus on the little screen in front of me playing bad soap operas and, even worse, Zuktian music videos. They weren’t natural dancers, that was for sure.

Finally, the shuttle touched on Xyron, and I stepped out into fresh air. The sun was shining, and the sky was a brilliant blue with white clouds streaking across it. We had arrived in paradise.

We hailed a taxi from the shuttle port to our hotel, and the driver seemed to have an uncanny ability to sing along with whatever music he was playing. It wasn’t terrible singing either. In fact, it was pretty pleasant. Zoe hummed along with him as we drove through streets lined with trees, gardens of vibrant colors, and buildings made from earthy browns and reds. Everywhere I looked, exotic birds perched on rooftops, chirping their happy songs, while children ran through the streets chasing each other in blissful play.

Zoe practically sprinted towards the karaoke bar after we settled in at the hotel. She’d always been drawn to music. Her voice was like a siren’s song that captivated everyone. With a grin, she grabbed the microphone and began belting out an old T’rra tune. Her enthusiasm was contagious, and soon enough every drunk patron in the spot was singing with her.

“Vanessa, why don’t you join me? Singing is the perfect way to unwind!” she called out, dancing and twirling around the stage as the crowd cheered her on.

“Maybe later,” I muttered, knowing full well that I had no intention of leaving my comfortable seat at the bar. I nursed my fruity cocktail, feeling utterly out of place among the throngs of party-goers and colorful alien species.

As Zoe continued to enchant the audience, I couldn’t help but feel a pang of envy. How did she manage to be so fearless, so uninhibited? It was as if she’d been born to thrive in this chaotic, vibrant world while I remained tethered to my fears and inhibitions.

“Zoe’s right,” I whispered to myself. “I need to relax.”

The bar’s neon lights flickered, casting colors across my face as I pulled out my phone. The moment it lit up, a barrage of work emails flooded my screen.

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