AFTER SETTLING ROGUE in the retiring room with lots of pats and promises to return soon, Carrie joined the dandrobians at their soirée. It was in a small room. As dusk turned to darkness the aliens lit tall, thin dried plants set in sconces around the walls. The plants burned with a bright, smokeless flame.
She took a sip of the drink a dandrobian pressed into her hand as she arrived. It tasted almost the same as the stuff from the tap in the retiring room, but it gave her an immediate buzz. She relaxed into a seat beside Notos, wishing she had something different to wear other than her too-tight Transgalactic Officer uniform.
After she took another sip, Notos said, “You can relax and enjoy yourself tonight. We’re all friends here.” He poured himself a drink. “Tell me about Earth. What’s
