But this isn’t Earth, and we need to change the rules to suit our environment. That was the big mistake made by the leaders on Earth. They thought they could change the world to suit them and in the process, they destroyed it. We don’t even know if there is another ship coming with more people. It may not have been built. Someone may have decided it was a waste of time and effort. Or they may all be dead. Earth may be a wasteland where the animals live among the remains of human civilization and chew on the bones of the last to die.
With that grim thought lodged in my head, I change ready to go for the run. As I tie up my shoes, I am well aware they can’t be replaced. Everything I touch is from Earth. There is no way we can replicate some of the technology we have.
How long until we are unable to repair it?
If surviving means taking lessons from the Honey, then we should do it. It will not take much for us to go from spacefaringto Stone Age. I lock the tablet filled with my private notes. Losing our technology will mean losing the ability to search up solutions. And while I’m sure there are some printed manuals somewhere, they won’t be enough to save us.
On the other hand, if one bacterium decides humans make excellent hosts, we’re all fucked. As soon as we can no longer synthesize drugs, we’re fucked. I haven’t felt this hopeless and desolate in a long time.
Not since the day we landed and I realized the vastness of the world we now call home. For those of us used to the confines of a ship, seeing the horizon was terrifying. The ship was the only home most of us ever knew.
I make my way to where we meet. Not all of us always make it. Some are working and some can’t be bothered after a long day of work. I’m surprised to see Patrick, even though I hoped he would be, because he has been working hard on the water situation.
He gives me a hug as if he hasn’t seen me for weeks, not days. “How are you going?”
I take a breath, realizing he’s asking about Sabine without mentioning her name.
We’re not supposed to talk about those people who disappear. Officially, she was one of the people killed by the giant bat creature.
My mouth hangs open as I try to find the words to tell him she is very much alive, and that she is by all accounts happy. “I have been busy. I’m working on a secret project related to the clearing killings."
I keep my voice low and whisper in his ear.
He draws back to look at me, but doesn’t ask anything. We are too close to the buildings where we are too easily monitored. We’ve become more suspicious and suspect much more surveillance than we first thought.
To anyone watching us at the moment, we are good friends and potential children raising partners. There are plenty of women who envy me, without knowing the truth. And that’s fine. I’d rather the illusion remain in place and so would Patrick.
“Is Mandy joining us?”
“She’s in the middle of some data issue.” He glances around. “It might only be us today.”
“That’s okay, shall we start walking to warmup?”
A track has formed near the perimeter fence. The soldiers created it running laps when training, but they prefer to use it first thing in the morning. In the evenings, we have it to ourselves. Not that we run every evening. Once on the track, we walk a little quicker. We have a routine now, where we walk for several minutes, and then we pause and have a good stretch before we do some running. It gives us a chance to talk, because running and talking is not the best.
“So, what is it you're bursting to tell me?”
I smile at him. “You know me too well."
“Well? What have you discovered? And if you tell me that the leaders are liars, I will have to push you over because that’s not an exciting discovery. That’s common knowledge at this point.”
“The talk of aliens is true."
“I already believed it was you’re going to have to do better.” He gives my shoulder a gentle shove, as if he's thinking about pushing me over. I tripped him once in my enthusiasm to hear about something he found, and it's now become a thing. I threaten to do it again and he threatens to push me over. And the one time we both made good on threats we ended up on our asses laughing too hard to get up.
My grin widens. “I have a secret lab beyond the border."
We’re good at this now, and he doesn’t even break stride. He doesn’t even look at me. “You have an alien.”
“I do."
“Tell me everything." He gives me a nudge.
“Humanoid, over two meters tall. Learns to use our technology rapidly. Is talkative and inquisitive. He chose to return to the colony so his fellow warriors could keep the four women they took.”
I didn’t touch Patrick, but he still stumbles. I put my hand out to steady him and he grabs hold. “I’m sorry. For a moment I thought you said you’ve been chatting with an alien about your sister.”
“And he can make an electrical charge.”
