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“You’reso bad.”

“Yeah, but you love me!Lace,Iknow you had a rough day, but it’ll get better.”

“Ifyou say so, butI’mnot looking forward to tomorrow at all.”

“Atleast things were getting sorted out, and we know where to report in the mornings and evenings since they put that big ass tent up.Istood next to the dropships for a good thirty minutes waiting to leave when someone yelled that we all had to gather there for a head count.Eventhough it’s juvenile,Iunderstand the reasoning behind it.”

“Yeah, whileIwas held hostage in the makeshift medical ward for wandering idiots,IheardDaRtellKirathat the tent would be the centralized area used for all meals, meetings, and assignments.They’regoing to put up a board with our jobs on it each day so that after we eat breakfast, we’ll know where to report.Ithink that’s just temporary until they get the power grid up.Healso mentioned something about a comm unit being issued to each one of us, butIhave no idea what that is.”

“Lace, if you were stuck inside all day, you probably didn’t get to see those robot things. ‘Freaky’ isn’t even the right description.Theyhad multiple arms and things going in ten directions at once.Ithink they’re working on a perimeter fence or something.Nobodywas around to ask, but if there’re no predators on this world,Idon’t know why we’d need something like that.IfIthink about it,I’llask on the way down in the morning.Webetter get showers and turn in for the evening.I’malready dragging, and it’s only been one day.”

“Goahead,Ialready jumped in.I’mjust gonna sit here for a minute before turning in for the evening.”

“Nomore pouty face, things will get better.Todaywas just your turn.”

Ismile and nod my head yes becauseIknowBriaris just trying to make me feel better.Mentallyand physically exhausted,Idecide to go ahead and crawl into bed.Iturn on the small fan above my bunk and settle in, but of course, my mind won’t calm down.EverytimeIclose my eyes, allIsee is that damn hammer and those angry eyes flashing asMeKsets me away from him.Rollingover onto my side,Ipunch my pillow, trying to make it more comfortable, only to end up staring at the wall.

Ihear more than seeBriarsettle in the bunk below me as the lights darken in the room.Itry everything from singing songs in my head to counting unicorns …Imean, why count sheep?Thatmakes no sense to me at all.Imust’ve dozed off at some point becauseIjerk straight up whenBriarsays my name.

“DamnLacie,Ithought you were gonna pull anExorciston me there.Iswear, if your head starts spinning on your shoulders,I’mjumping out of the closest airlock.Isthis look of terrornormal for you in the mornings, or is it something else?Didyou sleep at all, or do we need to have you looked at?”

“I’mfine, and it’s too early for a hundred questions,Briar.ButifIdon’t get any sleep tonight,Imight try jumping out of the airlock myself.Ihave no idea whyI’mso jumpy.”Runningmy fingers through my hair,Ilean forward, resting my head between my knees, trying to center myself.I’venever been someone to overreact or let things weigh me down; what’s wrong with me?

Iwait untilBriarcomes out of our small bathroom before sliding down the ladder of my bunk to take her place.JustasI’mpulling my hair back into a ponytail, she knocks on the door. “Comeon in,I’malmost ready.”

“Quick,Lacie, change into this.Ieven picked out the colorIthought would look the best on you.”

“What’swrong with whatIhave on?”

“Howmany sets of jeans do you have to spare?It’snot like we can run to the mall and grab another pair.Iheard one of the guys saying yesterday that we needed work clothes so we can save the ones we brought with us when he tore a hole in his, unloading a crate.LookslikeANDIcame to the rescue and made us some.”

“Ihate jumpers,Briar.Everytime you need to pee, you have to take everything off.I’llwear my jeans, but thanks.”

“No, look.”Briarturns, showing me a clasp in the back. “See, there’s a cool closure right here that unhooks so you can pull them down without playing striptease in the jungle.”

“Ok, you talked me into it.”Briarthrows them to me, andI’vejust gotten them on whenIhear the buzzer sound for all of usto head to the dropships.Briarhands me a breakfast bar on the way out the door, and even thoughIseemed to like it yesterday, today it tastes like dirt.Still,Imake myself eat it anyway.

Thingsare more organized this morning than they were yesterday as everyone heads straight to their teams.WhenIstart walking toward the oneIrode down to the planet yesterday,IseeCarlawaving for me to come to the one a few ships over.

“Lacie,Iwas worried they were going to leave without you there for a minute.Apparently,DaRandKirawill be headed down in his personal shuttle, so they added us to this one from now on.Letme take a look at that hand.”

Ihold it up for her, and she grimaces at its delightful shade of black.

“Oww, that hurt the baby.Weneed to find you something to do today that won’t damage you any further.”Idon’t have time to respond beforeJamesmotions for us to get in our seats, as some of the other dropships are already repositioning themselves for their descent.

Sittingnext toCarla,Ismile whenIseeJamesreach over and take her hand in his.Weall know how much she hates this part.Thankfully, she does much better this time, and poorJamesdoesn’t have to console her for twenty minutes after we land.

Weall make our way to the main tent, andI’mamazed at how much has changed overnight.Thecrates and items that were scattered everywhere yesterday have been sorted and are now sitting in designated locations.Ican hear saws and other equipment clearing trees and underbrush in the distance, making me wonder who is working here?

Iwas especially surprised that theCommanderandKirawere already here, soIrushed to help her pass out drinks and breakfast bars to the people who didn’t know to eat onANDIbefore coming planetside.TheCommanderhas been walking around talking to several of the groups, but when he raised his voice suddenly, we all turned toward him.

“Attentionall!Beforeyou head out to your assigned positions, there is an itemIwould prefer you keep on your person at all times.Thisis a comm unit; it has a traceableGPSthat can also be used as a communication device.Thereare two different versions, so please pick whichever you prefer.Theseare to be used exclusively for your safety until we get the infrastructure set up.Furtherways to use it will be on your personal holo pads for later reference.Asof this moment, the only thingIneed you to know is how to operate the panic button on the side.Youmust press the red button three times for it to activate, and then that signal will be sent straight toANDIandSCOUT.Beforeyou leave, please go ahead and activate yours.ANDIwill shut it off when he has set your location in his system.Letone of us know if yours is not operating correctly.”

Istart to get in line whenKirareaches out and grabs my arm. “Igot you one already,Lacie.Doyou want the watch style or the bracelet?”

“Thebracelet is fine.Thankyou for thinking about me.”

“You’revery welcome.Ihad a feeling you’d want the bracelet, and they always go the quickest.I’llgive this one back toDaRlater since we need to get started on lunch.Andplease don’t thinkI’mblaming you becauseI’mnot, butI’dprefer not to have another day like we did yesterday.Weall spent more time tripping over our feet than actually fixing anything.”