A bit of atmospheric turbulence shakes the transport, but other than that the trip is smooth. Our harnesses unlatch when we land, and then I wait for the nausea to burn my stomach. Glacia looks afraid to move, too. Orcher walks into the chamber, medicine in hand. I look up at him—and the movement is too much to handle. I keel over my tube and vomit, spitting the sour chunks of my late breakfast off my lips. Acid soaks my tongue. I groan, but Orcher chuckles.

Yeah, real funny.

After we drink the medicine, Orcher leads us to the exit hatch and I take my first steps on an alien world. The sunlight burns my eyes because they are still adjusted to the dim halls of the station. My nose, however, works just fine. So when I take my first breath of this new air, a sour, almost fruity scent floods my nostrils. The aroma tickles my brain. I inhale through my mouth—and oh! I can taste it! Does the whole planet smell like this? Undil smells like dust and dirt, and who wants to breathe dirt? Not me, no sir, no way. But this… I could drink this stuff. Fill me up a glass, pronto.

I grin at Orcher. He—wait. Why’s he looking at me weird? He seems concerned. Too concerned. Isn’t he happy? Come on, Orcher. Look around! The trees! The hills! The gra—woah, the grass is orange! And what’s that big gray thing beyond the trees? Is that a mountain? It’s huge! And look at the clouds! They’re white and puffy and keep changing shape and—hold on. The sky is light pink, not blue.

“Feeling all right, Mr. Lance?” Orcher asks.

Am I all right? Ha! What a silly question. I’m on top of the world! Orcher is just being Mr. Sourpuss. Come on, Orcher. We’re on Belvun. Cheer up! You don’t have to—

SMACK!

I’m suddenly looking sideways, my vision swimming. Heat floods my cheek where something thwapped my face. Where did that come from?

SMACK!

“Pull it together, mister.”

Now both my cheeks are throbbing, but the pain is sort of…distant and…far off…like when your arm goes numb. Yeah. Like that.

“Mr. Lance, I suggest you listen to Miss Haverns.”

Orcher laughs and Glacia’s mouth curls into an evil little grin. I smile at her, a big, goofy smile. She’s so gosh-darn cute. I laugh right in her face. She rolls her eyes, tosses her hair back, and—

SMACK!

Ow. There’s the pain. Ow. My jaw stings. My cheeks flush. More people are laughing. Who’s laughing? I spin around and see four Officials watching me. One even salutes. I’m the center of their fun. Yeah. Hilarious.

Glacia raises her hand a fourth time.

“Stop stop stop,” I say quickly, cowering behind my arms.

She lowers her hand, looking a bit disappointed.