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“You’renot the only one;I’mrunning out of places to damage.Wheredo you want me to start?”

“Actually, we could use some water to wash all this up with later.There’sa small creek just on the other side of the tent that should work, but you might have to hunt for a slightly deeper part to fill these containers.DaRdug out one of the motorized carts earlier for us to use.It’ssuper simple, just push the handle forward and it will go on its own.Justdon’t go passed the fence.”

“Ifwe don’t have any predators, what is the fence for?BecauseIhate to inform everyone, but it’s the only fenceI’veever seen that only has poles.”

“It’san energy field.DaRhad to explain it to me as well.Thereare sensors placed on the poles simply to monitor anything coming in or out.Hedid tell me that it would provide a slight shock to theSuetin the area if they approached.DaRguaranteed me that would be all that was needed to get them to turn away.Also, even though we don’t really want to think about this part of it, unless it’s someone who is authorized to be in the settlement, it will put them in a containment bubble.Thiswill give the ones in charge of securing the area, likeRickyorOwen, time to intercept anyone who thinks the settlement will be easy pickings.”

“Whowould be trying to sneak in?”

“Lacie,I’mnot gonna lie to you, and there’s more bad than good in this part of the world.I’mnot going to get into my story, butIwas taken fromEarthagainst my will, losing everything in the process to the pointIalmost died.Humansare very valuable to collectors, as we were … are considered exotic and rare.However, when captured, most of us are not wanted for our personalities, and few find the experience pleasant or to theirliking.Runif you ever see a person or thing you don’t recognize.Don’tthink about it or try to be a hero.Getthe hell out of there, and if for some reason you’re taken, know in your heart thatDaRand his sons will never stop looking for you.Butthings never happen in a hurry, and the damage done to something as beautiful as yourself could be irreversible.Now, enough of all that bad stuff!Hereare all the water containers.Getgoing so you can get back quickly because we have a million things to do today.”

Ittakes me a few seconds to figure out the little cart, but its large wheels seem to roll effortlessly over the uneven ground all around us.Imake my way through the tall blue grass, thankfulIclearly remember the way to the creek simply becauseIwas shocked whenSCOUToffered me his hand whileIwas crossing it during our first visit here.Hiscaring nature was shocking.

AsIget closer to the creek,Ican hear saws and a few other sounds nearby, butIdon’t see anything close by.Enjoyingthe weather,Iglance up at the sky and the huge planet occupying so much of the skyline.Itscolors swirl in the distance, and distractedly,Ifind myself standing at the edge of the water beforeIknow it.Takingthe containers out of the cart,Ileave most of them where they are untilIcan find a deep enough area to fill them up completely.

Seeinga place that looks deep enough,Ibend down, enjoying the sound of the water as it runs across the rocks.Runningmy fingers through the coolness of the silver-tinted water,Ilower the container all the way under the surface until it’s full.Iend up struggling with the weight of the water, so ultimatelyIend up leaving the container on the edge of the bank whileIgo back to get the cart.I’mjust pushing it further downstream whenIfeel the earth shake under my feet and then a tremendous gust ofwind hits me, knocking me off my feet and right into the creek, face-first.BeforeIcan react or even push myself up, huge hands grab me around the waist, lifting me high into the air.Gasping,Ifight the soaking wet hair clinging to my face, only to open my eyes to see another pair glowing brightly before me.

“Female, are you well?”

“Wehave got to stop meeting like this.Whatthe hell just happened?”

Onceagain,Iam set down on my feet abruptly whileMeKshakes his hands like he just touched poison. “Youput yourself in direct harm again, is what happened.”

“IDIDNOT!I’mnowhere near the forest or any of the major construction areas.”

“Ifyou had been paying better attention, you would have seen that this area is being cleared and would have picked a different location.”

“Unlessmy eyes are deceiving me, there’s not a tree in sight.”

“Female, you are in a direct fall area.Haveyou looked up?Thattimber is immense.”

“Yeah,Iget it, the damn trees are big as hell.WhatIdidn’t know was the effect they were going to have when they fell.”Heactually snarls out his next words, andIfeel myself stepping away from him.

“IfIhad not seen you in the distance, you could have drowned.”

“Ok, …Imight be having a couple of bad days here,Misterbut unlessI’dbeen knocked out completely,Iwouldn’t have drowned.Thankyou for grabbing me so quickly.Iappreciateit.Butdon’t worry,I’lltake this as a lesson learned and pay more attention from now on.I’msure you have something more important to do than watch over me, andIneed to get this water back toKira.She’sprobably worried whyI’vebeen gone so long.”

“Whyare you packing water this way?”

“Well, because the last timeIlooked,Icouldn’t find a spigot or a sink with running water anywhere.Youknow, it’s a flaw with many new planets.Youhave to rough it for a little bit, until shit can get built.Myapologies once again for getting you wet, and thank you again.”

Iswear,Iwish he would just go away.I’mliterally biting the inside of my cheek to keep from crying.Itseems like humiliation is going to be the norm for me in this world, especially if this guy is around.Ican’t imagine what is going through that large head of his and probably don’t want to.Sinceonce again, he’s looking at me likeI’ma bug that needs to be squished under his shoe.Ringingthe water out of my hair,Iundo my ponytail and twist my wet hair up into a bun asIturn away from him.

Bendingback down,Istart to pick up the water container, only for him to take it out of my hands.Quickly, he fills all the containers and loads them onto the cart without saying another word.Thecool air blows around us, andIcan’t help but shiver as my clothes are dripping wet for the most part.

Hestands next to the cart, his hands on the handle like he’s going to walk back with me, only to stop and look back toward the wooded area where he had been working.Ican tell he’s torn, that is, until he looks back at me. “Female, you need new garments, and this cart might become stuck with the additional weight of the water now loaded on it.Come, we must make haste; you are putting me behind schedule.”

“Myname isLacie.Myfriends call meLace, not female.Thankyou once again, butIdon’t need your help.Goback to whatever it was you were doing.Ican manage the rest of this task fine on my own.”

Hisbright eyes flash momentarily, andIcan tell he is not used to anyone questioning his direct orders.

“Really,I’vegot this.You’vedone your good deed for the day and you’re free to flee the scene of the crime.”

Onceagain, he turns and walks off.Nota ‘you’re welcome’ ... ‘see you later’, nothing, just complete indifference.Shivering,Istand here watching his massive form stomp away from me until the wood line seems to consume his presence.Sighingwearily,Igrab hold of the cart and slowly push it forward.Afew times, it takes everythingIhave to shove it out of a random hole, not to mention unwinding the tall grass that keeps getting stuck in the wheels.WhenIfinally make it back to the pavilion,Ifeel likeI’vewrestled a gorilla and lost.Kiralooks over at me from a huge pot she was stirring asIwalk in. “Lordchild, what in the world happened to you?Youlook like a drowned rat.”

“Yeah,Ifeel like one.Wheredo you want this cart?”

“Overthere will be fine, but we need to find something to dry you off with.”