Chapter 1: Introduction
I was floating, for a moment, when everything went black. Then a thud jolted pain through my head, and, a pang of sorry for that pot of homemade peppermint tea I'd left brewing back at the test site. Afterwards, the weightlessness seemed to spread over me like an astronaut's first-time buzz. Momentum surged and dragged me across the ship's pocked metal floor, slamming right into a console.
Oh well, wasn't the first time I'd broken something.
I shifted, wincing at the sprain setting in along my ankle, when an indulgent, crooning voice reached me: "Ah, finally, you awaken!"
From my crash-down vantage, I could make out a pair of shiny, amethyst eyes: those of a figure with a muscular build and scales instead of skin. It methodically inspected my spaceship, grumbling, muttering to itself - its voice rippling like a body of water disturbed.
Then it returned its gaze to me, violet eyes gleaming with curiosity. "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Xyrx, of the Valzarian species."
It offered me a scaly hand, which I took gingerly. "And I am Kiki. Human. From Earth."
Xyrx furrowed his scaly brow. "Earth? Ah yes, the sand world. I am aware of it, but we rarely have visitors. We were unprepared for your arrival.
Our most ancient missions involve contact with advanced organics, but you do not seem prepared for our way of life." Xyrx's eyes twinkled with amusement.
I took in my current appearance: half-naked, covered in dirt, my hair wildly disheveled. "So, uh... how late do you guys stay up? I mean, here on this alien planet?"
"Our days are long compared to what you know. As the son of the planet's Valzarian leader, I am tasked with exploring and understanding the culture of any newcomers.
And here I find a lone human female, her spaceship seemingly incapable of movement."
"Well." I pushed myself up, testing my weight gingerly on my ankle. "That's my cue to move along, then. It's been a pleasure meeting you, Xyrx - or rather, a pleasure to be knocked unconscious and brought here."
Xyrx's mouth opened, and closed again, eyebrows slightly raised. "Wait! We might need assistance from you with a minor issue."
"What kind of minor issue?" I asked cautiously.
After all, I was stranded on this alien planet, unfamiliar with their laws, culture, and intentions. Not to mention, my body screamed with every movement, my head throbbed and the risk of fainting lingered.
Xyrx gestured at a group of Valzarians, who looked similar to him but varied in color, size, and eyes. "One thing you should know: Valzarians are insatiable when it comes to pleasure and are drawn to the unknown, foreign entities.