“Sorry, I don’t speak your language,” a voice replies.
That’s weird—I understand her just fine.
“Ileana?” I ask, unsure.
“Ileana? Is that your girlfriend’s name? Sorry to disappoint—I’m just Neela. Go back to sleep. You’re safe.”
I want to reply, but I’m already slipping back into unconsciousness.
***
A loud rumble snaps me awake. I’m no more lucid than before, but my keen hearing doesn’t lie—something’s off. A foreign sound breaks the calm of the room.
I try to lift my eyelids—and yes, finally, success. I scan my surroundings. Just one bed. The space is modest, the walls a translucent green—the kind the Confederation uses. It must be daytime, because the opacity’s been reduced by half, letting in sunlight. Through the walls, I spot a figure moving in the vegetation outside.
Snippets of recent memories surface. I’m in the bedroom of a twelve-year-old girl.
I lean into the sheets, sniffing for her scent to be able to recognize her. Instead, I wrinkle my nose in disgust. All I smell is me—and it’s not pleasant.
I try sitting up. My heart pounds like I’ve just done fifty push-ups. What the hell?
Whatever. I need a shower. Now. Even if it kills me.
Thinking uses less energy than moving, so I try to figure out where the bathroom is. Got it—left wall, subtle icon indicating the hygiene room. I lift the sheet and yep, I’m completely naked. I’m torn between being mad at the kid for violating my privacy and relieved I don’t have to go through the exhausting process of undressing.
I take a deep breath and push off the bed. Two things surprise me: I feel light, like gravity’s taking a day off, and the short walk takes no effort. Must be a side effect of lower gravity. On thedownside, I’m breathing like I’ve run a mile. Then I remember Azkarra’s briefing: Mars has low oxygen. That explains my rapid breathing. It should pass once my body adjusts.
The rumble again—ah, that’s just my stomach. Right. I’m starving.
Still, pride comes before food. I enter the sleek hygiene chamber and start the shower.
Water. Sweet, glorious water.
I steady myself on the wall.
“There you are!” chirps a voice behind me, completely unfazed by my nudity.
I glare and watch her drop a towel on the sink.
“Don’t give me that look. I know you don’t understand me, but I’m doing my best, okay?”
I ignore her and savor every last second of the shower.
As expected, just like all Confederation systems, the water shuts off automatically after three minutes.
“Sorry, that’s it for today,” she says. “Not your fault—it’s just how the system works. Water’s precious here, we have to ration it.”
She holds the towel out. Her heart rate spikes as her eyes wander across my body.
Another glare from me.
I still don’t know who she is or why she barged in. Is she Neela’s mother? Too young for that. A sister, maybe? Then why leave me in the care of a child?
Under my less-than-welcoming stare, she takes a step back, clearly nervous.
“I wasn’t checking you out! Or... barely!” she blurts. “Ugh, what am I even saying? You don’t speak French anyway, so I don’t have to apologize to you.”
She folds her arms, rallying.
