Chapter 2

Chapter 2

EiT (Empress in Training) Kuroi Uchuujin of Taurns
"If you're a strong female, you don't need permission."

I don’t understand these creatures. I’ve been here for weeks now, but I’m still at a lost for these beings capacity to change themselves, physically and mentally, for the pleasure of others. They shed their birth appearance, dying their hair, hiding their eyes under contacts, all to "fit in" or "stand out" as they put it. Why someone would change themselves is beyond my concepcion.
Even though it’s my duty to blend in with these humans, I haven’t changed much of my appearance, only hiding my obvious Taurnsian staples and accenting any humanoid features my anatomy possesses.
Although, sometimes I wonder if I could have done something more to blend in, but I couldn’t bare to disguise my natural features. My shiny silver hair that fell in perfect curls everyday caught the eyes of everyone, then once their eyes were on me, the next thing they noticed were my lavender eyes that spiraled around my navy pupils like the creamy yogurt I sold at the amusement park, Long Drop.
Yes, it was while I stood behind that small cart full of plum and strawberry yogurt in the middle of Long Drop, the most technical wonder I’ve ever seen, that I received the most comments on my appearance. Many people believed I wore a wig or contacts, but how could humans actually conceive the fact that I was who I was.
My eyes and my hair make me royalty on my home planet of Taurns. It’s a different process then what I’ve learned here on Earth. Our rulers are not voted into power, nor born into a certain family. They’re just born. The stars bless a child every fifty Earth years or so with the silver locks of an exploding star, and the lavender eyes of Venus. That child, whether male or female enters training to rule Taurns. I am to be Empress Kuroi Uchuujin.
Unfortunately for me, my training will be the most intense of any past ruler’s. Mine training, involves me saving my planet. Late last year, our life source, the Lutian Crystal burned out, and as Empress in Training, I was sent across the universe to find another source of life. I only have roughly three months to find technical engineers who can return home with me and build a life support system. Fortunately for me, I landed here on Earth right next to Long Drop, the most technical advance place I’ve ever seen.
As I walked over to yogurt cart, I slipped on my fingerless gloves and pulled at my teal long sleeve. It was burning hot by the Earthling’s complaints, but within my core lays my Cooler which regulates my body temperature no matter the heat or freeze I’m living in. Running my finger over the part of my thumb hidden under my black gloves, I could feel my own life source draining.
It’s a lovely contrast to my caramel skin tone, which I was happy to see some humans sport. The cream ring, I mean. Underneath my gloves, circling both my thumbs, is my cream-colored ring. Connected to those rings were lines like the tail of a comet traveling up my covered arms and conjoining right along my spine. This is my life source. It connects to all of my nerves, every Taurnsian has one.
They’re why I have to this planet’s best engineers.
I walked over to my cart like I did everyday, but this time, Mr. Lee, my boss, came over to me.
"Wendy," he said to me, using my human name. I got the name from the place I had my first Earth meal from. The place I believe is classified as "Fast Food."
"Sir?"
"I’m going to have you work over on the Looking Up At The Stars ride today," he began, taking my shoulder and guiding me away from my cart.
"A ride?" I asked. "I’ve never worked on a ride."
He nodded, but kept walking me toward the ride. "All you have to do is let the kids in and tell their mothers to wait for them on the left."
Fear settled into my mind. "But what if they’re with their fathers? Or siblings? Or Gorgans?"
We stopped walking and he looked at me. "Gorgans?"
I froze. A Gorgan is considered a parent of a parent. I racked my mind for the term humans used for Gorgans.
"Grandparents," I blurted.
Chuckling, he set me next to the entrance of Looking Up At The Stars and patted my head. "Any adult they are with, you direct over to the left, the exit. Anymore questions?"
I shook my head. This ride wasn’t anything as spectacular as the roller coaster on the other side of the park, but I’m sure the person who created this ride could easily save my planet.
Looking Up At The Stars consisted of the children sitting in a cart and being drove around by a computer on a metal track, looking up at man-made constellations, planets, and galaxies. I was disappointed when I first rode it, trying to subside some homesickness, because I had seen the real thing, and this was nothing but lights. They don’t even compare to the real thing.
A line began to form, snapping me out of my thoughts of the real stars in the sky. I smiled at the kids who seemed scared by me.
"Mommy," I heard one boy whisper, "What’s wrong with her hair?"
The mom quickly shushed the boy. I just smiled and directed her to the left and allowed the boy into the fake universe.
As the line grew shorter, I glanced up at the park and saw the food girl walking around. I never learned her name or ever spoken to her, but I knew she worked at all of our food stands. I wanted to wave, but a another girl, about 17 Earth years walked up to me and blocked my view.
"Where’s Dylan?" She asked. Actually, it was a demand, not a question.
"Who?" I asked.
She scoffed at me. "He works here!"
I shrugged. "I don’t know many of my co-workers."
Her hands curled into fists and I thought she was going to hit me, which would be bad on her part considering a ruler has to go through warrior training, but she didn’t. Instead she turned and stomped off.
The next person in line, a boy about 18 Earth years and dazzling greens eyes, stepped up with the hand of his little sister and flashed me a big smile.
If I could have, I would have melted. I don’t think I’ve ever received a plain old human smile from a boy who wasn’t making fun of my looks.
"Go right in Star Dust," said to the little girl. To her brother I said, "If you could wait over by the exit, that would be Bossa Nova."
"Bossa Nova?" He questioned, stepping to the left, but only a few inches. The veins under my cheeks disconnected with my internal Cooler and began to feel the heat of the day.
"Just an old saying of mine," I admitted sheepishly. And it is. Something my Gorgans and their Gorgans have said since the beginning of my world.
"It’s cute," he commented, then he did something I’ve only permitted my boss to do.
He touched me.
No one touches an Empress.
I sucked in large breath of oxygen as he ran his fingers through my other worldly hair.
"I love the color of your hair," he added. Then his touch left my skin and a chill washed over me as my internal Cooler kicked back into gear. He turned away and collected his sister and then disappeared into the crowd.
Too bad an Empress didn’t find love.
I didn’t allow myself to think of the human boy anymore. Instead, I focused on all the other little Star Dusts and their guardians.
"Your eyes are gorgeous," one little girl told me after I directed her mom to the side.
"Thank you," I replied as she disappeared.
"She isn’t lying," another voice told me. Although this one I knew.
I looked up to the roller coaster operator, Allie.
"Allie! How are you, Comet Tail?" I asked, happy to see one of the people who would be returning with me to Taurns to save my planet. I haven’t told her yet, but as an Empress, she couldn’t refuse.
"I’m fine Wendy. How about you, moving up from yogurt expert to line mogul?" She replied. There was a soft place in my heart for Allie. She was a strong female who had been through the worst a human life can dish out, but somehow she’s alright. I respect her more than some of my advisors back on Taurns.
"It’s different," I said.
"Well, to be fair, you’re pretty different," she countered.
I finger-combed my perfect hair and ran my finger around my thumb’s circle, feeling my life in one swipe.
"This is very true," I laughed.
"Allie!" Mr. Lee shouted, walking briskly over to us. "Get back to work!"
I cringed. I hated seeing Allie get in trouble.
"I’m on my break," she retorted, never backing down, especially in the face of a male.
Mr. Lee jabbed a finger in my side and growled, "She isn’t. Now go!"
And with a roll of her eyes and a quick good-bye, Allie turned on her heel and walked away.
I turned my attention to the line and resumed my job. Mr. Lee glared at me, but turned and stormed off. I shook my head at his ridiculousness and looked over to the food stalls.
My Cooler growled, also being what humans refer to as a stomach, it was empty. I waved over Evan, the only guy who’s name I knew.
"Can you take over for me, I need my break," I said in my sweetest tone.
He sighed. He was drenched in liquids. "Yeah, no problem."
"Bossa Nova Comet Tail!" I sang, stepping toward the food area.
"I really wish I knew what that meant," he shot back. All I did was smile and wave my gloved hand.
Evan and his friend would also be joining Allie in the attempt to save my planet. And as I turned toward Boo’s Burgers, I saw the food girl and the cook boy.
I decided I might as well try and make friends with them, they could be useful, so I fluffed my already fluffy hair and strolled over to the counter.