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“Sorry,Briar,Icouldn’t sleep, andIswearI’mso fatiguedIfeel likeIcould crash hard.”

“Haveyou talked to the doctor?Waita minute, do we even have a doctor on board now?”

“No,Ihaven’t, and what wouldIsay ifIdid?Ohhey, my mind won’t shut off.Canyou give me something to help me sleep, even thoughIwas asleep forGodonly knows how long already?You’dthink that as long as we were in those pods dreaming of la-la land, we would never be tired again.”

“True, but the dark rings under your eyes show you are not getting enough rest.”

“Mymind is all over the place,Briar.Ijust can’t seem to focus.Mythoughts seem to flip back and forth constantly.Oneminute,I’mback home, and thenIblink only to realize this is now the new norm.Ihave no idea what to do with myself, and thenIreally felt worthless when they passed around that list.Ihad nothing to offer; no skills of any kind.”

“Ohcome on, skills… really?Hell,I’mon the cleaning squad.Youcan have my spot if you really want it.Theonly reasonIpicked that option is thatIlove to organize things.Beingan interior decorator was one of the thingsIalways wanted to do back home.Isure as shit couldn’t do anything else on that list.Thevery last place they want me is in a kitchen becauseIcan burn water,”

“No,Idon’t want your spot.AlthoughIlike things clean too, that’s not whatIwant to do every day.Imean,I’mnot a doctor or a healer.Ihave no teaching ability, agriculture skills, police experience, or knowledge of managing a large municipality.Foodpreparation was one of the last categories, andIcan fix amean egg sandwich, but that’s the top of my cooking range, so they really don’t want me for that position either.”

“Someoneis going to need a set of hands or help with something, so stop worrying about all the little things.Thiswill work out, it always does.Afterall, you get to look forward to coming home to me every night.Howmuch better can your life be than that?”

Iroll my eyes when she smiles big at me. “You’rea brat.”

“Damnstraight.Comeon, let’s go get a snack.I’vetried just about every button on that replicator in our room and still can’t find coffee.”

“Didyou askANDI?Hehas come to my rescue several times whenIcouldn’t figure out the buttons.”

“No,Ididn’t.Iwas hoping that it wasn’t smarter than me, but it’s 2 and 0 right now, so the machine is winning.”

Therest of the day continues on in this way.Briarseems to go out of her way to entertain me, andIput on a fake smile, doing my best to appreciate all her efforts.Justbefore the lights begin to dim, they announce that we’re to check in with our assigned groups in the morning, as we will be heading planetside for the first day of the rest of our lives.

Itfeels likeI’vejust closed my eyes only to reopen them whenBriargently shakes me. “Timeto get a move on, sleepyhead.”

“I’mskipping school todayMoommmmm, just tell themI’msick if they call.”

Sheyanks the blankets off me, “Thisis how my mom would wake me up, andI’vealways wanted to do it to someone else.Nowget your ass up.Irefuse to be late today of all days.”

Swingingmy legs over the side,Iyawn while giving myself a pep talk:‘Yousaid you were going to be more.Nowquit feeling sorry for yourself and find out where you belong.’

Weeat quickly and then head down to the main dock.Briarwaves as she walks away toward the dropship and the crew she was designated to.Istand there wondering what to do next whenCarlawalks up to me. “Youready, kiddo?”

“Excuseme?”

“Ibelieve theCommanderassigned you to me and his mateKiratoday.We’regoing to distribute drinks and prepare lunch for everyone while they set up the main tent or pavilion, as they call it.”

“YES!Ican do that, thank you.Iwasn’t sure where to go or what to do.Whereis your husband?”

“Jameswill be here in a moment.Eventhough we’re assigned to different areas throughout the day,Irefused to be separated from him on the way up or down.Theycan just wait for him if they arrive there first.”

“Idon’t blame you.”

Someof the other dropships move into position, but it’s clear they’re waiting on something since we’re still standing outside ours.JustasIstart to askANDIwhat we should do, theCommandershows up with his beautiful mate … wife, in tow.

“Sorryfor the delay butIgot sidetracked.Beingcurled up next to this little beauty in the early risings makes it hard for a male to leave his sleeping chamber sometimes.”

Weall laugh when she playfully smacks his arm, “DaR, shame on you.Excuseus for being tardy.IswearIcan’t take this mananywhere.Hi,Iknow we’ve all seen each other from a distance, butI’mKira.I’mso excited to be a part of this new adventure with you guys.”

DaRstands with his arm around her waist as the introductions commence, then motions for all of us to board. “Ibelieve we are holding up progress here,Love.Wecan continue the greetings on board.”

Carlapats the seat beside her asIwalk in, andIfeel grateful that she seems to have taken me under her wing, so to speak.Forthe most part, everyone is all smiles as we wait our turn to launch.Thistime, the drop is not as extreme, andIbelieve it’s becauseI’vedone it before, but poorCarlais not happy.Themoment we land, she’s up and out of her chair.

“Someonelet me out of this pop can.I’monly doing that again if someone picks me up and forces me back inside.”

Jamesis talking calmly to her as we all walk down the ramp together, andIcan’t help but smile as she continues to vent.Thefresh air and the colors dancing in the sky have most gasping as they’ve not seen this before.Itake a moment to close my eyes, trying to soak it all in.Hearingmy name,Iopen my eyes.Lookingover the large field where they’ve landed all the dropships,IseeBriarwaving at me.