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“ Attention all! Before you head out to your assigned positions, there is an item I would prefer you keep on your person at all times. This is a comm unit; it has a traceable GPS that can also be used as a communication device. There are two different versions, so please pick whichever you prefer. These are to be used exclusively for your safety until we get the infrastructure set up. Further ways to use it will be on your personal holo pads for later reference. As of this moment, the only thing I need you to know is how to operate the panic button on the side. You must press the red button three times for it to activate, and then that signal will be sent straight to ANDI and SCOUT . Before you leave, please go ahead and activate yours. ANDI will shut it off when he has set your location in his system. Let one of us know if yours is not operating correctly.”

I start to get in line when Kira reaches out and grabs my arm. “ I got you one already, Lacie . Do you want the watch style or the bracelet?”

“ The bracelet is fine. Thank you for thinking about me.”

“ You’re very welcome. I had a feeling you’d want the bracelet, and they always go the quickest. I’ll give this one back to DaR later since we need to get started on lunch.

And please don’t think I’m blaming you because I’m not, but I’d prefer not to have another day like we did yesterday.

We all spent more time tripping over our feet than actually fixing anything. ”

“ You’re not the only one; I’m running out of places to damage. Where do you want me to start?”

“ Actually , we could use some water to wash all this up with later. There’s a 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.

DaR dug out one of the motorized carts earlier for us to use.

It’s super simple, just push the handle forward and it will go on its own. Just don’t go passed the fence.”

“ If we don’t have any predators, what is the fence for? Because I hate to inform everyone, but it’s the only fence I’ve ever seen that only has poles.”

“ It’s an energy field. DaR had to explain it to me as well.

There are sensors placed on the poles simply to monitor anything coming in or out.

He did tell me that it would provide a slight shock to the Suet in the area if they approached.

DaR guaranteed 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.

This will give the ones in charge of securing the area, like Ricky or Owen , time to intercept anyone who thinks the settlement will be easy pickings. ”

“ Who would be trying to sneak in?”

“ Lacie , I’m not gonna lie to you, and there’s more bad than good in this part of the world.

I’m not going to get into my story, but I was taken from Earth against my will, losing everything in the process to the point I almost died.

Humans are 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 their liking.

Run if you ever see a person or thing you don’t recognize.

Don’t think about it or try to be a hero.

Get the hell out of there, and if for some reason you’re taken, know in your heart that DaR and his sons will never stop looking for you.

But things 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! Here are all the water containers.

Get going so you can get back quickly because we have a million things to do today. ”

It takes 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.

I make my way through the tall blue grass, thankful I clearly remember the way to the creek simply because I was shocked when SCOUT offered me his hand while I was crossing it during our first visit here. His caring nature was shocking.

As I get closer to the creek, I can hear saws and a few other sounds nearby, but I don’t see anything close by.

Enjoying the weather, I glance up at the sky and the huge planet occupying so much of the skyline.

Its colors swirl in the distance, and distractedly, I find myself standing at the edge of the water before I know it.

Taking the containers out of the cart, I leave most of them where they are until I can find a deep enough area to fill them up completely.

Seeing a place that looks deep enough, I bend down, enjoying the sound of the water as it runs across the rocks.

Running my fingers through the coolness of the silver-tinted water, I lower the container all the way under the surface until it’s full.

I end up struggling with the weight of the water, so ultimately I end up leaving the container on the edge of the bank while I go back to get the cart.

I’m just pushing it further downstream when I feel the earth shake under my feet and then a tremendous gust of wind hits me, knocking me off my feet and right into the creek, face-first. Before I can react or even push myself up, huge hands grab me around the waist, lifting me high into the air.

Gasping , I fight 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?”

“ We have got to stop meeting like this. What the hell just happened?”

Once again, I am set down on my feet abruptly while MeK shakes his hands like he just touched poison. “ You put yourself in direct harm again, is what happened.”

“ I DID NOT ! I’m nowhere near the forest or any of the major construction areas.”

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

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

“ Female , you are in a direct fall area. Have you looked up? That timber is immense.”

“ Yeah , I get it, the damn trees are big as hell. What I didn’t know was the effect they were going to have when they fell.” He actually snarls out his next words, and I feel myself stepping away from him.

“ If I had not seen you in the distance, you could have drowned.”

“ Ok , … I might be having a couple of bad days here, Mister but unless I’d been knocked out completely, I wouldn’t have drowned.

Thank you for grabbing me so quickly. I appreciate it.

But don’t worry, I’ll take this as a lesson learned and pay more attention from now on.

I’m sure you have something more important to do than watch over me, and I need to get this water back to Kira .

She’s probably worried why I’ve been gone so long. ”

“ Why are you packing water this way?”

“ Well , because the last time I looked, I couldn’t find a spigot or a sink with running water anywhere. You know, it’s a flaw with many new planets. You have to rough it for a little bit, until shit can get built. My apologies once again for getting you wet, and thank you again.”

I swear, I wish he would just go away. I’m literally biting the inside of my cheek to keep from crying.

It seems like humiliation is going to be the norm for me in this world, especially if this guy is around.

I can’t imagine what is going through that large head of his and probably don’t want to.

Since once again, he’s looking at me like I’m a bug that needs to be squished under his shoe.

Ringing the water out of my hair, I undo my ponytail and twist my wet hair up into a bun as I turn away from him.

Bending back down, I start 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.

The cool air blows around us, and I can’t help but shiver as my clothes are dripping wet for the most part.

He stands 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.

I can 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.”

“ My name is Lacie . My friends call me Lace , not female. Thank you once again, but I don’t need your help. Go back to whatever it was you were doing. I can manage the rest of this task fine on my own.”

His bright eyes flash momentarily, and I can tell he is not used to anyone questioning his direct orders.

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

Once again, he turns and walks off. Not a ‘you’re welcome’ .

.. ‘see you later’, nothing, just complete indifference.

Shivering , I stand here watching his massive form stomp away from me until the wood line seems to consume his presence.

Sighing wearily, I grab hold of the cart and slowly push it forward.

A few times, it takes everything I have to shove it out of a random hole, not to mention unwinding the tall grass that keeps getting stuck in the wheels.

When I finally make it back to the pavilion, I feel like I’ve wrestled a gorilla and lost. Kira looks over at me from a huge pot she was stirring as I walk in.

“ Lord child, what in the world happened to you? You look like a drowned rat.”

“ Yeah , I feel like one. Where do you want this cart?”