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Chapter Two

LACIE

Following a few others down a long hallway, I find the room I’ve been assigned. Opening the door, I discover someone else already there. “ Hi ! You must be my new roommate?”

“ Hello . I’m Briar … I just got here myself. Do you prefer the top or the bottom bunk?”

“ I’m Lacie , and it’s great to meet you. I would’ve been here sooner, but I volunteered to help with the other pods; however, they didn’t end up needing me. Wow , your hair is amazing! We are like the sun and the moon in coloring.”

“ Yeah , it looks like you’re right, but I’ve always heard blondes have all the fun.

I was a little worried when they first told us we were gonna have to bunk with someone else, but I think we’ll do just fine together.

It will be nice to have someone closer to my age to talk to, none of that ‘when you get older, you’ll understand’ nonsense! ”

We both stand in the middle of the room, looking around awkwardly. “ I couldn’t care less about which bed, to be honest. I’m just happy to have woken up in one piece. Considering how we got here, it makes all these other worries and concerns seem petty.”

“ So weird, isn’t it? It’s like we went to sleep one day and woke up here the next.

Even though I’m stiff all over, I’m shocked by how well I feel.

Especially if we were in those pods for as long as they said.

If you’re sure you don’t care, I would prefer the bottom bunk.

I can see my future self falling off that ladder every time I have to go pee at night. ”

“ Go ahead, I’ll just throw my bag on the top for now.”

She bends down to touch a blinking light under the bunk, and a set of drawers slides out.

“ Ooh , it looks like there are places under the beds for most of our stuff. You’re lucky to have found your bag; I couldn’t get the cabinets open on my pod.

One of those talking robot things said it would retrieve it and bring it to me later.

It scared the hell out of me when it started talking like a person.

I have a feeling that’s going to happen a lot, you know, the shock factor. ”

“ In all honesty, Briar , I think I am in shock. I feel like I’m in a sci-fi movie or something.

And the only reason I have my bag is because I had it tucked between my feet.

There were a few things I simply didn’t want to be separated from.

When he dropped me off at the center, Papaw insisted that I not let it out of my sight.

It pretty much contains all I hold dear, as depressing as that sounds.

I was able to bring a few bags of clothes with me, but my pod was damaged too.

So , I’m not sure what made it and what didn’t.

Wow , this place is a lot nicer than I’d imagined it would be when they told us they didn’t expect to find all of us and that we’d have to share a room with someone else.

They seemed so concerned, I just assumed it was going to be bad. ”

“ I haven’t had much time to look around, but I think over there is a mini kitchen, and that door hopefully will lead to a bathroom. Lord knows I’m in need of a bath; I feel sticky all over.” Briar had no more said that than we both jumped when a voice suddenly surrounded us.

“ Greetings , Mistresses . Let me take a moment to introduce myself.

I am the sentient AI , the Destroyer ; the brain of the ship you now reside upon.

I am honored to have you on board. My goal at this time is to help you adjust as seamlessly as possible to your new surroundings.

First , I have placed holo pads under the pillows on your sleeping platforms. Once you sign into that device, it is yours.

No one else can access it without your code and thumbprint.

I have placed a few files on the opening screen to help explain how you were found and the events that have occurred since your launch from Earth .

I will warn you ahead of time that not all the images are pleasant or well-received.

If you believe these will be upsetting, you can skip the installed video.

If you follow the lights on the floor, I will show you how to use the ionizer and waste disposal in the refreshing chamber.

Once you are comfortable with their controls, we will head toward the replicator in the small sustenance area.

This device is not programmed to provide you with your main sustenance.

Those larger meals will be served in the dining chamber, but it is perfect for snacks and refreshments in between meals.

Once we get everyone settled in, I hope to return the personal property that was sent along with you.

In a few rotations, I will open a screen on your holo pad for questions and any other concerns or needs you might have.

Captain EvO has been forced to ration garment requests, but we are currently well stocked on everything else.

I suggest you take this downtime to educate yourselves about the new worlds, their habitats, and species that we are heading to.

After all, knowledge is power, and all you need to know to feel comfortable in your new surroundings is available at your fingertips.

Please do not hesitate to shout out if you need me. ”

Quickly , the Destroyer shows us how to operate everything, and even though I will miss a nice hot shower, that weird steam thing doesn’t seem bad.

Briar and I were both unpacking the few things that had been brought in when suddenly, I feel fatigued all over.

Crawling up onto the bunk, I just lay there looking up at the white ceiling in a daze.

When a buzzer sounds with an announcement for all of us to gather in the dining chamber, I can’t seem to make myself move.

I know I should be reading some of the stuff on this pad, but Briar’s swollen eyes and the sniffles I could hear while she lay beneath me on her bunk tell me all I really need to know. Nothing on that device is good news. I’m honestly shocked when she gets up since she seems so upset.

“ Hey , you gonna go eat?”

“ Nah , go ahead, I don’t really feel like peopling.

That’s not like me either. Normally , I’m very outgoing and prefer being with others more than being alone, but my mind is all over the place right now.

I’m simply lying here trying to talk myself into looking at the holo pad.

I know I need to know as much as I can about what happened and what’s to come, but until I see it for myself, I can deny it.

Papaw always told me not to put myself in situations I didn’t have a way out of, and boy do I feel like I’m in one now. ”

“ That’s almost funny … it seems we’re complete opposites, Lacie .

I tend to hate crowds and prefer staying home with a book.

My friends always teased me that I was going to become an old cat lady when I got older, and I probably would’ve if I weren’t allergic to the little beasts.

Go ahead and rest, we’ll have plenty of time to get to know each other and meet everyone else. ”

I turn to my side, watching as Briar walks out the door.

Her long black hair flows around her hips as she looks both ways before stepping into the hallway.

Suddenly , the room seems quieter with her gone.

Damn , I don’t think I’ve ever felt this alone.

I stare at the dark screen of the holo pad lying beside me as my mind flips back to the moment I opened my eyes here, only to find Qwin standing over me.

At the time, it was a relief. That is, until the doors opened, and they walked in.

I thought I’d prepared myself, but knowing there are aliens out there and seeing them in all their glory is slightly different.

Talk about an eye-opening experience; this entire day sure has proven how wrong and ignorant we are as a species.

After Qwin helped me out of the pod, I just stood there in a daze, staring at them, my mind not truly believing what it was seeing.

I mean, the one in the middle looked like he had been split right down the middle, with two completely different things living in one huge body.

The one they introduced to us as the captain was so dark purple that he could easily blend into a shadow, and you would never see him.

Now , the yellow one looked like someone had outlined him like you would a picture with a crayon, only with scales instead; his hair was amazing.

One thing no one could miss was that they were all very male.

The yellow one was slightly smaller than the others, but there was no overlooking the muscles rippling under the tight shirt he wore.

At this point, I’m running out of colors in my head to label those I’ve already seen.

I passed a bronze guy in the hallway on the way here who was so beautiful I almost tripped over my own feet.

He walked past all of us as if we were invisible.

And if they’re all so brightly colored, I can understand why we wouldn’t even stand out to them.

Since Briar left, I’ve read everything on the opening screen except the info marked Earth .

Hesitating , I open that app. It gives me two options: I can skip the intro that starts when we were found, or I can watch the actual day of our launch.

My heart jumps into my throat no matter how many times I try to recall Papaw’s words.

Then it’s like he’s suddenly standing right next to me.

‘ Rip that Band - Aid off girly, and let the grief run its course. Then pick yourself up and start your life. Promise me you will live for me and the others.’ The loss of never seeing him again has left my mind blank.