With my notebook in hand, I wonder the halls, lost again. I thought I could find my way to the dining room but even in the light of day, I can't.

Rounding the corner, I collide with someone hard. My body tumbles back but before I can fall, I'm grabbed, and effortlessly lifted from the ground.

"Your body is very small," I look up to find the grumpy one that brought us here holding me tightly with one arm wrapped around my chest. His signature scowl etched into his face, of course.

"I'm sorry, I didn't hear you coming." I steady myself and let go of his arms.

Scooping up my notebook and pen, I almost hope that he will continue on his way. When I've gathered my belongings I give him a tight smile. Shit. Now I'm going to have to tell him I'm lost.

"The Commander attempted to gather you from your quarters this morning. He is searching for you now." His grouchy face has a confused furrow between his brows.

"Oh, wonderful." I sigh.

"Come," he turns on his heels and begins walking down the hallway. I jog beside him to keep up with his long strides.

"What is your name?" I question breathlessly. No one has asked our names, we have to ask them first. If we don't ask, they don't offer the information freely. I figure I might as well meet him officially.

He stops and I run into his back. He doesn't even flinch, like an ant bumping an elephant.

"I'm Nicole," I hold my hand out to him when he turns.

He frowns and grabs my hand between his thumb and pointer finger like one would hold something gross that they don't really want to touch.

"Um, no. Sorry. I... like this," I pull my hand out of his grasp and put them together. "This is called a handshake. It's how you introduce yourself on Earth. Do you have an introductory custom?"

He pulls his hand away from mine. "We only share our given name with familiar relations. My title is Elite Navigator. You may call me that."

"Oh," my cheeks heat. I wonder if they think I'm rude. I've been so hyper-focused on his bad manners, I've not considered my own.

He told me I could call him Ronan...

My shoulders slump as we continue walking. I know everyone is busy but maybe Olexa or Gaia can spare a moment to discuss social etiquette. They never offered their titles.

He stops again, turning to me, "you are unhappy." He's not asking.

"N-No, I just... I didn't know. I hope I didn't offend you before..."

"My name is Macsen."

"Thank you, it's nice to meet you formally. I will continue to call you Elite Navigator if that is what makes you the most comfortable."

He nods and begins to walk again. "What is your title?"

I'm surprised he asked...

"Doctor."

"You are a medic?" For the first time, the irritation on his face slips away, replaced with shock.

"I wasn't a practicing physician. I worked as a medical scientist."

When we turn the corner, I recognize this hallway. We're next to the dining room. I should draw a map in my notebook.

He slides the door open and I follow him in. Clarisse, Santi, and Olexa are already sitting at the table. Ronan and Gaia enter the room just behind us.

"Thank you, Elite Navigator, I appreciate your help."

"Doctor," he tips his chin down and leaves the room.

As I sit down, I force my eyes down. Don't look at him. Instead, I wish everyone a good morning and begin to put fruit on my plate.

"I'll take some of that, please," Santi holds his plate up and I serve him several fruits then put several on Clarisse's plate too. While I place the dish down, he fills my glass with water. Clarisse takes a different dish and adds things to all of our plates.

As I bring fruit to my mouth, I catch Olexa and Gaia sitting across the table, staring at us in confusion. My eyes automatically peek toward Ronan. He has the same expression as he stares at us.

"Is this customary human behavior?" Olexa is the first to speak.

"What?" The three of us look at one another, trying to figure out what we did wrong.

"Filling the plates and glasses of your companions..." Ronan actually sounds slightly angry.

"Oh, in family-style dining, like this, it is not uncommon to serve others, no." I don't know why the look on his face is bothering me so much. He looks upset.

"On An'eo, this is a highly respected way to express intimate love. In a male and female union, the male serves his female, only." He looks between us, his agitation growing.

"On Earth, it is not practiced only between intimate partners." Santi tries to ease this awkward tension. It seems to work with the women but Ronan still seems angry as we move on to other topics of discussion.

"Is your diet exclusively vegetarian?" Clarisse asks as, once again, there is no meat on the table.

"What is vegetarian?"

"Plant-based. No meat." As the words leave her mouth their faces wrinkle in disgust.

"Meat? From what?"

"You know... animals or fish..."

I want to melt into the ground. They look absolutely horrified.

"Meat and eggs are a good source of protein," she doesn't look even a bit concerned by their grimacing faces.

"If you seek more protein, we have this," Gaia picks up a dish and passes it over the table. The brown, jiggly slices of... whatever that is looks as appetizing as the dish it's sitting on but we each take a slice anyway.

I continue to eat around it, hoping to avoid it as long as I can.

"You have not tasted it." Ronan tilts his chin toward my plate.

Plastering on a fake smile, I take a bite and swallow it down without chewing. I feel it sliding down my throat, coating my mouth in the unexpectedly garlicky flavor.

"Wow," I continue smiling, "I wasn't expecting it to be so viscous." With my jaw clenched, I slice another piece, eating it under his watchful gaze.

"Or... to taste so strongly of garlic," Clarisse croaks.

"What are your titles?" I decide to change the subject. I don't want to force down any more of this slimy brown jello.

"I am Chief Engineer," Gaia sits a bit prouder.

"I am Elite Combatant," Olexa usually softer features look more serious.

"Is that how you would prefer to be addressed?"

"No, you may address me by my given name," Olexa smiles and Gaia nods in agreement.

I can feel Ronan's eyes on me. As we finish breakfast, I mentally map out the route back to my room. Down the hall, take the first right, then a left at the dead end, then up... then at the top of the stairs... I'm almost sure it's another right.

"Now that our meal is finished, I would like to show you the grounds," Olexa offers with a smile and I'm quietly filled with relief. Ronan says something in their language and Olexa tips her chin.

"You will join me, Nicole. I will reunite you with the others momentarily." He turns to me and despite my best efforts, my face falls. I don't want to be a petulant child but my feelings are hurt. I thought we were becoming friends and he thinks I'm a spineless weakling who does nothing to stop the injustices of the world.

"You are angry at me," he looks surprised.

"N-No, not angry." I'm not angry, upset maybe, but not angry.

"Why?" Olexa looks back and forth between us.

"I'm not angry," it feels warm suddenly.

"You have avoided my direction today."

"I have also noticed," Gaia adds and I grit my teeth. Cool, everyone has apparently noticed that I stare at him.

"Did he do something?" Santi sits forward, looking furiously between the two of us.

"What? No!" I can't say that I don't appreciate his immediate anger over Ronan possibly stepping out of line but, nothing could be done if he had. Ronan would squash Santi like a bug with very little effort.

"You seem unhappy about my suggestion that we speak before you join the others, why?" He is really going to keep pushing this in front of everyone.

"How would you feel if I blamed you for everything wrong with your society, then decided that no, it couldn't be your fault because you are too weak to be blamed? It's not my fault that humans have wars and I don't want to be blamed but I also don't appreciate being called effectively useless."

"It would be preposterous for you to call me weak, as I am not. You are. It is factual..."

Wow, so he's doubling down on this then.

"What the fuck?" Clarisse mumbles.

"That is what she said last night, what does that mean?" He looks at Clarisse.

"It means... it's an expression of surprise," Santi steps in when we don't answer.

"You are surprised? Do you not know your physical limitations and fragility? I doubt you could even hold one of our weapons, let alone use it against an enemy." His brow furrows further.

"It's just not a very nice thing to say to someone, like commenting on their weight or appearance... calling someone weak is... rude." The realization of how ridiculous this conversation is, hits me.

"I did not realize it was ill-mannered to mention your lack of strength and power." He nods.

Clarisse huffs and shakes her head in disbelief. "He really keeps digging deeper, doesn't he?"

I chuckle, waving my hand, "it's fine. Let's forget it. I'm not mad." This past hour has felt very long and we're only just starting the day. Etiquette lessons all around. I'm exhausted.

Elite Navigator enters the room and speaks quickly in their language. Ronan and Gaia stand and quickly excuse themselves without much word. Everyone looks worried.

"We will begin our tour," Olexa smiles but I can see that she's distracted.

We walk for miles and we never leave the building. I can't imagine venturing out into the city. She explains how only the sovereign family and the warriors live and work in this building. We are shown libraries, offices, meeting halls, and ceremonial rooms. It's a lot to take in.

"Is everything alright?" I walk beside Olex as the others look over the vast collection in the library.

"We are constructing another city to the north. We received word that there was an accident where three An'eo were injured."

"Oh no, are they alright?"

"I do not know." She suddenly looks very upset.

"Do you know them?"

"One of them. She was Gaia's... she and Gaia were once..." She looks riddled with guilt.

"Do your people play instruments or listen to music? Are there singers?" Clarisse and Santi come back, completely unaware of the conversation we just had.

"We have instruments..."

"Do you put on music and dance?" Santi starts to hum and move his feet.

"No, we do not do that." A smile tugs at her lips.

He lunges forward and grabs me, humming a rhythm while he spins me around. Now that they bring it up, I realize how much I miss music. There is nothing like turning on the radio and singing at the top of your lungs in the car...

When he spins me again, my dizzy vision catches someone in the doorway. Ronan and Elite Navigator are watching us.

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