The first thing teen Ellie did was put on music just loud enough to cover her activities but not so loud it caused her mother to bang on the door demanding she turn it down. She also chose an Earth band, even if she’d rather have listened to a Logic composer. Her...

Goynee dropped Ellie-as-Shree off at the front of Jorseen’s house, wished her luck, then drove away. She sighed, resigned, and entered the house. Jorseen looked up from the book he was reading, took in her despondent face, and rose to grab her arm and lead her to a...

Ellie sat in the car, drumming her fingers on her lap in agitation rather than calculation. She’d tried apologizing. She’d tried reasoning with her mother. She’d tried appealing to her father. But aside from telling them everything, which she was sure she’d not done...

Equestrian studies had been canceled, since school was letting off early so that the girls could get their hair and dresses done just right for meeting their One True Love. However, they all had to at least tend to their steeds, and Ellie had been invited to stay and...

“Why are you doing that?” Natalia demanded. She was staring at Ellie’s hand. For a horrifying moment, Ellie thought her cover was blown. She decided to bluff. “This? It’s just a trick a friend taught me. It helps you keep track of complex variables.” “I know what it...

Ellie Elder was wishing she could be dismissed.  Lunch was a standard Chatwayan affair, but less tasty. Her parents (Hiro and Natalia) had never been able to handle the richness and spiciness of most of the world’s foods, and their cook had adapted the recipes to...

Personal Log, Ensign Ellie Doall, 21st day of Neemsat I’m entering an uncharted part of my own history, and it’s making me nervous. I vaguely remember that I went to school today, and that I was annoyed by everyone talking about the Ball. I’m pretty sure I got teased...

They returned to find Goynee, their servant, waiting. Madame Ambassador had decided Ellie needed to return home to do her homework and extra assignments. She hoped ‘Shree’ would be fine for the evening. Goynee gave her a paycard and told her of some of the events...

Personal Log, Supplemental My parents insisted we stay away from crowds, and I could hardly argue since I wanted to keep a low temporal profile, so we had lunch with Doctor Jorseen, then wandered the nearby park, talking and feeding the ducks. My younger self didn’t...

She let her mother—Natalia—help her dress, feigning ignorance at the buckles and ties that she’d spent nearly three years fighting with as a teen. Her mother, in turn, gave her a crash course on Chatwayan etiquette while she fussed over each ruffle and pull. When...

“So, I’m not in a hospital?” Her parents exchanged glances. “I assure you, Doctor Jorseen is very skilled.” “Oh, I’m sure! I mean, I feel fine, really. I’m just...trying to get oriented.” She glanced around, seeing the room in a new way, as someone’s guest bedroom....

Personal Log of Ellie Doall, Ensign, Intergalactic Date 676592, in my timeline, I think Next time I see the Big Rock Donut of Time, I’m going to give it a piece of my mind. As I thought back to my life, I realized the only place I would have met Jirek was at the...