Name: Evelien Yves

Space-native was a term rarely used. It referred to someone from space, born off-planet and without a planetary home. Very few creatures truly lived planetless. The term was most often appropriate by teenagers trying to seem cooler than they were. Many of those who used this term were actually born in space, as it wasn’t uncommon for early pregnancy to end up happening in transit. The newborn baby was almost always rushed planet-side, and other than an origin story they could use to finesse potential mates, they were no different than the planet born around them.

Evelien Yves was part of a very small group who were truly space-native. She was space-born, but that was only a tiny part of her identity. They say if you go back far enough, everyone’s lineage comes from the same planet, though few records of that planet existed, and none could trace their family tree that far. The Yves had not been able to trace their family line back far enough to any planet at all. As far back as anyone had records, there was no mention of any planetary citizenship. That being said, if evidence was found, it might not have been accepted, as the Yves had come to some kind of proud belief that they originally came from space.

Over the generations, as this pride grew, it became a matter of principle to avoid land altogether. Evelien’s grandmother had been the first Yves to spend her entire life without once setting foot on land. Evelien and most of her generation were following in grandmother Yves’ extraterrestrial footsteps. Their society and technology had evolved over time to suit these space-natives’ unique way of life perfectly, making this strange way of living not uncomfortable.

Evelien was content never to leave the fast vacuum of her home “land” and likely would have been the third generation to spend a full life without stepping a foot on a planet if it were not for the Collective. The new Speaker of the Collective was organizing a census of the entire galaxy. Everyone was required to submit to government registries on their home planet. Those without a registered home planet must submit to the galactic registry bureau on Laruta, where they will be assigned an appropriate home planet.

This simple final point sent shock waves through Evelien’s community. It seemed the Collective was purposely trying to end the free semi-anarchistic existence of the space-natives. Opinions varied on what they should do. Many wanted to join The Militia to go to war for their home space, while some seemed to accept the hopelessness of the situation and a future stuck on the ground.

Evelien Yves didn’t know if she wanted to join some militia she’d never heard of, but one thing was certain. If she ever stepped foot on Laruta it would be for a fight.