* * *
They gather on the bridge for the last time, and they are much more relaxed with Wilford now. He has just explained that after they land, Expectation will be their base of operation and shelter until they can build suitable permanent shelters, and green houses. Expectation will never fly again, but it’s comforting they have it for an emergency shelter.
Their chairs are now facing towards the front of the ship, as they watch the ever larger view of Galaxaura, as Wilford describes what they are seeing. At regular intervals, the main image is replaced with other zoomed images of the empty snow-covered plains. They see an ice-covered river two kilometers from their landing zone, and strange six-legged white rabbit-looking creatures scampering in seemingly random patterns across the snow. Wilford explains they will offer a constant source of protein, and even displays actual rabbits from long-ago Earth for comparison. In Lara’s eyes, there isn’t much, except for the long ears. Wilford talks about fish, or things resembling fish, which swim in the rivers, and are good for protein. Overall, their mood is exhilarated.
“We are now two hours away from landing,” says Wilford. “Please take this time to gather your warm clothes and equipment, including pulse weapons from the armory, for self-defense.”
They stare at each other, not knowing until now that they even had an armory.
“Your carts are programmed to take you to the armory…it is now unlocked. Hurry now, we have much to do, and the rest of today will be exciting indeed!”
The fourteen crew members are strapped into fortified landing chairs, situated at the edge of the garden. This happens to be the closest point to the doors they will soon exit. Wilford explained that by allowing them on the bridge during the landing, they would be a distraction. As a compromise, Wilford has activated a video screen in front of them, so they can view the landing. Because of the huge size of Expectation, Wilford explained that anti-gravity alone will not be enough to slow the ship. They will likewise use rocket engines, which will be loud…and they are that!
Lara’s mind wanders ahead to their landing. She has no idea what cold feels like, but by the thickness of the heavy clothes they will soon wear, it must be uncomfortable.
“This is so awesome!” says Lani, without fail. “Are you as excited as I am, Lara? Imagine being able to walk wherever or how far we wish, and not running into a wall.”
Lara is excited, but is tempering her enthusiasm with reality, knowing that there will be many challenges ahead. She is under no illusions that they will not suffer; despite their technology. Lara realizes Lani is looking at her expecting an answer.
“Yes, I am excited that our long trip is over, but anxious about our new life.”
“Oh, brother!” responds Lani, using one of his other favorite phrases, then following it up with, “You are such a buzz kill!”
Lara looks back at the viewer, and is surprised to see that they are much closer to the ground. She is surprised she is not adept at judging closing distance versus speed of decent.
“We will be landing in five, four, three, two, one…” speaks Wilford, and then the falling stops, the engines slow to a stop, and nothing but silence awaits them. Lara isn’t sure what she expected, but imagined a jarring sensation as they landed. The commander unstraps himself from his seat and is the first to rise, motioning for the others to do the same. The fourteen pilgrims to this new land gather at the table where their clothes are stacked, pulling them on over their white one-piece suits. They are excited, but share Lara’s apprehension, as they prepare to face the unknown.
These brave explorers are soon dressed, including headgear with face masks, as the adults pick up the weapons and strap them to their hips. The commander picks up the handheld computer they will use to keep contact with Wilford. They will need the entire array of Wilford’s sensors to warn them of impending danger.
Movement catches their attention, as the inner door opens, and they shuffle into the air lock. The inner door slides shut behind them. Now, the outer door opens, and the harsh cold hits them with a force that is new to them, but their clothing is adequate. Even though the light from the planet’s suns is dim, compared to the inside of the ship, it is too bright, so will take a while for their eyes to adjust. They hear the outer door shut behind them. On faith alone, the commander walks out onto the frozen ground, and they follow. When they are a few meters from the ship, they are startled to see that they are surrounded by hundreds of broad, but squat white-fur-clad aliens. The aliens stand eerily still and point long shiny silver with gold inlaid weapons at them from two of their three arms. Like the rabbit-like creatures, whose fur they are now wearing, these aliens have six legs, ending in wide and flat feet, also covered in white fur. How did they get there, and how did Wilford with his advanced sensors not know they were there?
The commander pulls his weapon, pointing it at the closest alien and pushes his fire button, and nothing happens, followed by the other adults who do the same, with the same affect. The aliens never reacted through any of this, telling Lara the aliens fully expected these results. Lara now studies the aliens as she and the others huddle into a tighter group. They have three large black spider-looking eyes, complete with fully-closing eyelids, no noses, and large, open mouths with protruding sharp teeth, and long snake-like tongues sneaking out of their mouths as if testing the cold, then retreating back into warmth. Their skin is light-yellow, and ridges of bone run from each eye downward to their bony chins. The rest of their bodies are covered by fur garments, including their hands, or whatever passes for hands under the fur. They stand silent and still, as if they are in no hurry: the outcome already decided.
Wilford’s voice breaks the silence, “Commander, and your crew, submission is imperative, so do not resist; you must not be damaged. These are the Soksin, a warrior race. Two months ago, they discovered Expectation in the fringes of their space. They boarded our ship, erased your memories, and then gave you new ones. They reprogrammed me to become their ship, and make sure our cargo got here safe…”
“What are you saying?” asks the commander, with misery and panic in his voice. “We trusted you! What is to become of us?”
“I was keeping a few facts from you Commander, but keeping these secrets was essential to the success of our mission. First, there was no uprising by insurgents on Expectation; nobody died. Fourteen people began this mission 250 years ago, and you same fourteen people completed the mission. People…that is not entirely correct. You are synthetic replicas of people, created to take care of the young humans, and you will live thousands of years; barring injury of course, so do not resist.”
Lara knows she is having a nightmare, as her pulse races, and she starts to hyperventilate. Her ancestors used to experience nightmares, and then she realizes humans were never her ancestors, and this thought leaves her so empty and full of desperation, she doubts she will ever recover.
The commander asks in a wooden voice, “You said you had a few facts…”
“Yes, yes, yes, there was one other secret, wasn’t there? The Soksin are rather adept at capturing other races to be used as slaves, and as meat, when their regular supplies run low. You, my dear commander, along with the other thirteen synthetics, will be the caretakers of the 4,857 children, who are now the newest slaves and food source of the Soksin. Since you are synthetics, you will not be eaten, but you can still be destroyed.”
There is the sound of a large door opening at the rear of the ship, and then hundreds of thick-clothed children begin stumbling out the door. As soon as they see Lara and the others, they begin to walk, and then run, toward them. Hope leads the large group, smiling and waving as she slides over the ice. Before long, most of the children are running across the snow, with smiles and waves of their own. They are far too innocent to recognize the threat of the Soksin…and far too trusting of Lara and the other synthetics.
Lara thinks she is as disconsolate as she can possibly be, but as she looks at these young and hopeful remnants of th
e human race as they trundle towards their doom, synthetic tears run down her face unnoticed. She recalls a verse from a book called The Bible, “I will bring them down like lambs to the slaughter.”
The End
AGE QUEST
Michael K. Eidson
Wind 66, Slide 8 Day 3, Luck-Day, 415 AC
Willem didn’t know why his master was so sad. She usually was sad when she or someone she knew did something wrong. When that happened, the person who made the mistake would ask for forgiveness and everything would be all right again. His master never did anything wrong to Willem, but if she ever did, of course Willem would forgive her.