The garment was a shirt. But longer. A dress, Romy realised with a thrill, grinning at Thrym. It faded. He was sitting, casting furtive glances at her when he thought she wasn’t looking. Was there something wrong with her? She tried not to fidget under his looks.

Slipping the dress over her head, she fastened the criss-crossing ties at the front and then twirled. Once she’d read a book called Cinderella. She felt exactly like the title character, except the dress Romy wore only hung to her knees, and had an orange floral print.

“Pretty,” Thrym grunted.

She wasn’t sure about not wearing pants. This was a completely new sensation for her. But it was exciting to be in Earth clothes. “Thanks.” She smiled. Thrym blinked before spinning his chair the other way.

Elara and Romy shared a long glance.

Houston told the four they weren’t to leave their bungalow before he came for them. Phobos was barely dressed when a loud booming knock sounded at the door. Thrym got up to open it. Houston charged through the door before her knot mate could get there.

“Good sleep, little aliens?” he asked.

Romy worked to keep her smile at bay. Everything that came out of his mouth was so offending, but for some reason she couldn’t dislike him for it. Thrym, however, didn’t look like he appreciated the digs.

Houston didn’t wait for a response. “Atlas wants to talk again, now you’ve had a chance to scrub up.” He slid his glasses down to the end of his nose, observing Elara. “You didn’t like the dress? That’s a shame.”

The knot exchanged confused looks. This man had intended the dress to go to Elara? Elara’s face turned Mars-red.

Houston coughed. “Before we go, cover story. You’re a research team from the Orbitos. You are learning human behaviours to better integrate them into space life. Capisce?”

“Ca—peesh?” Phobos said slowly.

Houston blew out a slow breath. “It means, do you understand?”

Romy nodded in agreement. The plan worked to their advantage also. It meant the knot could ask questions without raising suspicions.

“Atlas told the settlement you had trouble adjusting to the ground.” He spoke to Romy, waving them through the door.

His eyes rested on the dress Romy wore and he shook his head, casting doleful looks at Elara. The surge of anger she’d felt earlier reappeared. It was so intense it stopped her in her tracks, causing Phobos to smash into her.

“Watch it,” he snarled.

His face melted into shock at his outburst. Was the same thing happening to him?

Houston observed them with sparkling eyes. “Can’t wait to explain that. Come, come.”

The doctor prattled on as he led them on a dancing walk through the buildings.

“So. ‘Aliens’ is hilarious and all, but originality points equal zero. I thought I’d run some names by you, if that’s okay. . . .”