Claimed by the Alien Prince

Chapter 1

Carys

I touch down on Verus, my boots crunching against the gravel of the makeshift landing pad. The forest looms ahead, a wall of green and glowing vines that stretches upward like a living skyscraper. My heart races, but the bored officials lounging nearby barely glance my way. They shift their weight from one foot to another, impatience etched across their faces.

“Dr. Quinn,” one of them finally grunts, pushing back his sunglasses. “You’ll want to follow us inside.” 

Inside the research center smells of paint and something acrid. I step in and glance around—new walls but an old feel, like it’s already resigned to abandonment. A faint hum of machinery fills the air as I look past the trio in lab coats, who shuffle papers with eyes darting toward the exit.

“Is it always this… lively?” I quip, trying to break through their monotony.

One of them shrugs. “Not much going on here.” 

“Yeah? Can’t wait to see what’s out there then.” I gesture toward the door with a flick of my wrist.

They exchange glances as if weighing whether or not they should humor me. Finally, one speaks up again. “We’re moving operations soon—too many restrictions in this area.”

“Good thing I’m not bound by your restrictions,” I retort, pushing past them into the open air. The colors outside are wild—hues no artist could ever replicate swirl together as though nature lost its mind.

I pull off my goggles, allowing the warmth to bathe my face. The forest feels alive beneath its vibrant surface; I can almost hear it breathing. The towering trees stretch high into an indigo sky flecked with glimmering stars that pulse softly like distant hearts.

“Todd!” I call out as I fumble through my gear bag.

A moment later, he buzzes out from a pocket and wobbles into view—a glossy little sphere with his single green sensor eye blinking nervously at me.

“Todd is here!” he chirps in his high-pitched drone voice before veering slightly to the left and almost crashing into a rock. 

I chuckle at his antics; Todd’s become more of a liability than an assistant lately—just like my ex. “What are you doing? Keep it steady!”

“Balancing! New signals causing ineffe—”

“Don’t blame your lack of coordination on new signals.” 

He spirals back into control for a second before diving too close to some purple vines that shimmer like liquid glass.

“Watch out!” I shout, grabbing him just in time to prevent an embarrassing entanglement with a tendril that looks all too eager to ensnare anything nearby.

“Apologies!” Todd’s eye blinks rapidly as he stabilizes himself again. “Todd wanted to scan.”

“Just don’t make it worse than it already is.” I roll my eyes and look around for signs of life among the flora surrounding us. Everything feels charged with energy; even the air crackles with potential discovery.

Ignoring the officials behind me packing up their gear for departure feels easier than usual—because out here, there’s no telling what waits among these trees or under their sprawling canopies. 

A flash catches my eye—a bright violet flower unfurls from a nearby cluster, petals glimmering under sunlight that filters through branches above like stained glass.

“There’s something,” I murmur, stepping closer as Todd hovers near my shoulder, his sensor eye widening in curiosity.

“It looks amazing! Let Todd scan!” His voice carries excitement despite his usual jitters.

“Just don’t get zapped by those vines again,” I warn him without looking back as I kneel beside the flower. My fingers brush against its delicate surface—the texture surprises me; soft yet firm, like nothing from Earth.

“It’s alive,” Todd beeps out in awe before darting forward for closer examination.

I smirk at him while marveling at how alien everything feels yet oddly familiar all at once. There’s something about Verus that stirs something deep within me—a wild call echoing through branches and leaves waiting just beyond reach...

I lean closer to the violet flower, captivated by its ethereal glow. The petals shimmer under the sunlight, and I can almost feel them pulsing with life. But the moment is short-lived.

“Dr. Quinn!” One of the officials barks from behind me, his voice cutting through my wonder like a knife. “You need to report to your designated quarters.”

I straighten up, annoyance bubbling within me. “What’s the point? You’re moving operations soon anyway.” 

He narrows his eyes, not impressed by my sarcasm. “That’s not your concern.”

“Right,” I mutter under my breath, turning away from the flower and heading back toward the research center. 

The walls close in around me as I enter the cube-like quarters that feel more like a prison than a place of innovation. Modest furniture fills the space: a small desk, a narrow bed, and a window that offers nothing but a view of concrete and steel.

I drop my gear on the desk with a thud, frustration gnawing at my insides. This isn’t what I signed up for—the thrill of exploration reduced to this bland box in an uninspired corner of Verus. I came here to make a name for myself in the Colonial Research Corps, not to be exiled away from any real flora.

“Todd,” I call out as he hovers nearby, still buzzing with energy despite my sour mood.

“Yes?” His green sensor eye flickers with anticipation.

“Let’s get you programmed for perimeter mapping.” I plop down at the desk and pull out my data tablet while Todd zips over to perch on my shoulder.

“Mapping! Exciting!” His voice crackles with enthusiasm as I tap commands into the tablet.

The drone's whirring fills the air as I input parameters for scanning beyond these sterile walls—a realm where plants might still thrive undisturbed by human interference. 

With one last glance at the dull quarters surrounding me, I shove aside thoughts of disappointment and turn my focus back to Todd.

“Let’s find something worth writing home about,” I say, determination pushing aside my internal conflict for now.