Extraterrestrial Refugees
Chapter Six

There was concern that there were not enough power reserves to successfully land on Mars. Landing was rough, and the ship was damaged pretty significantly, but they all survived with a few concussions and some sprained wrists. It was the back end of the ship that was wrecked which was easily sectioned off so no oxygen was lost. Unfortunately, it left quite a few people without dorms and their belonging lie scattered across Mars’ rusty surface.

For the first time in two years, the ship’s engines were powered down. Vance lay in his bed, shaken up from the bumpy landing. As was his routine, he pulled out his tablet and tried contacting Gemma. He let it chime for a few minutes while it searched for a signal. Eventually, he gave up and turned off the tablet. He dragged his hands over his face.

He turned his head to the side and looked across the narrow room at Ned. “How long do you suppose we’re going to be stranded here for?”

“Hopefully not more than a day or two,” Ned replied. “Hopefully they’ll be able to actually fix the ship.”

“Like they have the communications system,” Vance mumbled. He knew he was being harsh on the crew. The real problem was that the individual who was meant to be the communications technician decided last minute to be a meant-to-be-er and stayed behind, perishing with the planet. It was just rotten luck that the vessel’s communication system failed and nobody onboard knew how to fix it, try as they might.

Vance sat up in bed. “Well, I can’t just lay around doing nothing. I’ve got to do something.” He slid down from his top bunk and stumbled. He was still out of balance from the turbulence of landing. “Maybe I’ll go out and start building some houses.”

Ned propped himself up on his elbows. “Build houses? On Mars?”

Vance shrugged. “If the Earthlings with their very limited technology think they can even dream of populating Mars, then why couldn’t we?”

“Do you want to?”

“No! Of course not. But I’d like a reason to get off of this ship.”

“Do you think they’ll let you?”

Vance shrugged again and pulled on his shoes. “There’s only one way to replace out.”

Ned sat up. “Are you going to ask them?”

Vance furrowed his brow and bit his lower lip. “I think I will.”

“But, resources.” Ned climbed down from his bed. “Where are you going to replace the resources?”

“I’m a resourceful person.” He opened the door to a narrow cabinet that was built into the wall at the foot of the bed. In it were his few belongings. A few changes of clothes, some special sentimental things such as the farewell letters his parents had written him. He pulled open a drawer at the bottom of the closet. Tucked away in it was a slender space suit. One was provided to each and every passenger, like a life vest on a boat. He stuffed the suit under his arm, closed the closet, opened the bedroom door and stepped out into the corridor, which was mostly empty. Ned hurried after him.

“You’re crazy.”

“Am I though? Look, Ned, I’ve been waiting for two painfully long years to be reunited with my fiancée from whom I was never meant to be separated. At this point, I’m desperate to do anything that’ll make the waiting go by a little faster.”

Ned nodded. “Makes sense. Well, I’m coming with you.”

“Where you guys going?” Hoover asked. He had just come out of his dorm room. He joined them in walking down the narrow hallway. He eyed the space suits that Vance and Ned carried under their arms. “Ooh, am I going to need my suit? Hold up, I’ll go grab it.”

They didn’t wait so Hoover sprinted to catch up. “Right, so where are we going?”

“Vance thinks he’s going to build houses,” Ned explained.

“Houses? On Mars?”

“Sounds like a fun challenge, doesn’t it?” Vance said.

“Um, sure! Albeit a challenging one.”

“Are they even going to let us off the ship?” Ned said.

“We’re passengers, not prisoners. I think we’ve all forgotten that.”

They took the elevator down to the lowest level where the ship’s gates were located. It took some persuasion, but the gatekeepers finally agreed to let down one ramp and open one gate. Vance, Ned and Hoover anxiously waited in the space between the inner gate and the outer gate, fully suited in their space suits. The suits did not have oxygen tanks, but rather a sophisticated filtering system that recycled and reoxygenated the air so that it never ran out until the suit needed recharging, which was only every forty-eight hours. The suits were chrome in color and were temperature regulating, keeping an individual warm when it was cold and vice versa.

Hoover looked at his arms and hands. “We look so cool in these things,” he said behind the window that covered his face. Amazingly, the suits’ radios worked as they were completely separate from the rest of the vessel’s communication system.

“I just hope they work,” Ned said. There was a hissing sound as the gate’s seal was broken. Cold air rushed in around the cracks of the door. It slid smoothly to the side, revealing the red desert landscape beyond. Vance’s heartrate increased as he took a few steps toward the door. He took a deep breath and stepped over the threshold. Hoover was quick to follow. Ned hesitated, but only for a second. Their boots clanged against the metal ramp as they descended.

Vance stepped onto the red dirt. He paused to scan the horizon for a moment. There was a dusty haze on the air, blurring his view of the hill that rose in the distance. The sun cast shadows behind the boulders that dotted the land. He stooped down and took a handful of dirt. He tossed it lightly in his hand, allowing it to slip through his fingers. He stood up and walked forward, taking in his surroundings. He wondered if Mars had a smell to it. He was certain it did. Perhaps one day he would know.

Hoover made a strange screeching sound in his throat. “Guys, this is amazing. We’re walking on ground. Actual ground!”

Ned also paused to run his fingers through the dirt. “Do you think anything could actually grow in this?”

Vance was facing the ship again. “We should gather some up and do some experimenting,” he suggested. He pointed to the ship. “Unfortunately, I think we’re going to have some time.”

Ned and Hoover turned around to see what he meant. Hoover gasped. “Well, that’s not good, is it?”

The back of the huge space ship looked as if a large chunk had been bitten out of it. And it essentially had. During landing, the ship’s power waned a few times. The hind end dropped against a mountain peak at one point. It left a trail of wreckage and peoples’ personal belongings behind.

Vance walked closer to the ship to get a better look at the damage. “Ned, will we even be able to fly with a big hole in the ship like that?”

Ned tilted his head to the side. “I mean, it’s sealed off from the rest of the ship, so theoretically, yes.” The vessel was divided into many, many sections. Each section could be sealed off from the other sections with the touch of a button. Sections within the sections could even be sectioned off. When the gates were locked into place, they were sealed tight. The ship could be immerged in water and not a drip would get through.

Vance bobbed his head. “Huh.” He proceeded forward.

“What are you doing?” Ned asked.

“I thought maybe we could collect some of this stuff and give it back to the people to whom it belongs.”

“Sounds like a nice thing to do,” Hoover said.

“And maybe while we’re at it, we’ll replace some useful stuff.”

“You mean to steal?” Ned knitted his brow.

“No, not the personal belongings—I meant maybe some pieces of the ship that we could repurpose to, uh…to… I don’t know! Do something.” He looked at Ned. “Look, I’m a builder. I’m good at figuring out how to put stuff together. I’m a decent electrician, too. But I’m not too familiar at all with all this techy stuff. I’m just thinking maybe, just maybe, we could construct some sort of an atmospheric-like bumble to live in.” Atmospheric. That felt to him like a super science word to use; a word he could imagine Gemma saying. He looked to the horizon. He didn’t know which direction he was facing, but he pretended he was facing toward Earth and hoped Gemma had made it safely there.

“I’m assuming you know that there was talk of us just coming here to settle?” Ned said.

“Yeah, kind of. Why did they decide against it?”

“For one thing, it isn’t a very beautiful planet.”

Vance shrugged. “Eh, it could grow on me.”

“The lack of an atmosphere is also a serious issue. There’s no oxygen, and it’s cold. I know the suits are keeping us from feeling that, but it’s cold.”

“I feel light as a feather though,” Vance said. He skipped in the air. “So that’s pretty cool.”

“What is with you and wanting to live here?”

“I don’t want to live here. Obviously it’s less than ideal.” Vance bent down to pick up a cream-colored baby blanket. He gingerly brushed off some of the red dust. It had to have been significant, otherwise it would not have found its way onto the ship. Each passenger was limited to only twenty-five pounds of personal belongings. Perhaps that blanket was a baby’s first. He held it close to his heart, clenching it tightly with his hands. All twenty-nine years of his life he had been told their planet was going to be destroyed. Nonetheless, he didn’t imagine his life was going to be like this.

He held up the blanket and shook it. “This is why.”

Ned and Hoover gave him puzzled looks.

“I want to have a family,” Vance explained, looking tenderly at the blanket in his hands. “And with all the horrible things I’ve heard about Earth, I just have doubts that my family will be safe living there, you know?”

Hoover nodded his head slowly. “Right, so you’d rather raise your kids on an uninhabitable planet because that’s so much safer.” His voice was heavy with sarcasm. Vance shook his head.

“Oh, shut up. I know it’s crazy. But if I could somehow make it work—if I could ensure their safety.”

Ned put a hand on Vance’s shoulder. His lip quivered and his eyes welled up. “Nothing you can do will ensure their safety,” he whispered. “But that doesn’t make you a failure.” He gave Vance’s shoulder another pat and used the velocity of it to stride forward. Vance watched him for a second, feeling his heart shatter into a million pieces for his friend. He knew Ned was speaking those words to himself more than he was saying them to Vance. His children, at no fault of his own, did not make it aboard the vessel. His ex-wife, in whose care the children were on the day of boarding, decided last minute not to go. After boarding, Ned had tried to replace them. It was then that he received a message from his ex-wife explaining that she and the children would be staying behind with her parents and she wished him well with his new life.

“What was that all about?” Hoover asked, clueless. Vance shook his head.

“Not really my business to tell.”

Ned cleared his throat. “And I’m not going to talk about it right now,” he said over the radio. He bent down and gathered a handful of various items. “I’m just grateful we’re not going to replace the people to whom these items belong out here.” Everyone had been safely secured in the dining halls on each level of the vessel when it made its landing on Mars. So when the ship collided with the rocks and the dorm rooms were ripped out, nobody was in there to be ripped out with them.

“Me too,” Vance agreed. “I’m sure they’ll be glad to get these things back.”

Hoover looked back toward the ramp. “Check that out—we’ve got company.” Vance turned around to see a group of four people walking down the ramp. “You must’ve inspired them.”

Behind that group, another group of four followed. And then another. Soon, Mars’ surface was dotted with eager explorers. Some ventured courageously out from the ship, while most lingered close.

Vance’s arms were full of belongings. A gust of wind rushed by, nearly ripping the stuff from his grip. “I think we better head back in,” he said. Thin, wispy clouds zoomed by overhead. The sun was setting, and soon Mars’ two moons would be rising. The dust was kicking up from the increasing wind.

“I agree,” said Ned.

“Let’s round up the others.”

Vance was the last to re-enter the ship. The wind was howling now. He had to be careful not to be blown off the ramp. He searched the ground below one last time to make sure there were no more shining chrome suits hiding in the dust. Once he was certain all were inside once more, he stepped through the gate. The inner door did not open until the outer gate was sealed shut. Red dust had been blown in; it was scatted across the floor and gathered in the corners. Vance and his friends began taking off their suits as soon as the inner door was opened. They left the things they had gathered with the gatekeepers then proceeded venturing back to their dorms.

* * *

Gemma tapped on the door. She yawned. She had slept, but not much. There was too much on her mind—too much to do. She had been to the deck and spoken to the pilots. They had been in contact with some of the other vessels. They were now just three days away. Three days. Gemma had three days to get Earth ready to receive approximately six billion refugees.

Gemma greeted Oscar with a smile when he opened the door. “Good morning.”

“Good morning,” he said, returning her smile. He was finishing tucking his white shirt into his slacks. His dark hair was wet. “Just got to grab my jacket and phone, then I’m ready to go.” He slung his tie around his neck and put on his suit coat. He worked on tying his tie while they walked down the hall.

“Did you sleep well?” Gemma asked. She had found a single, empty dorm room for him to stay in. Oscar bobbed his head from side to side.

“Not exactly.” His phone dinged. He dug it out of his pocket and took a quick look at its display. “I spent most of the night on the phone.”

“With whom?”

“My boss, mostly. And the president. Department of Homeland Security. A lot of people.” His phone dinged again. “Thanks for giving me a way to charge my phone, by the way. That was great.” The ship didn’t have standard American outlets. But even if it had, Oscar didn’t have his charger with him. The Tetranese gave him a charging plate though that connected flawlessly with his phone and charged its battery. Not only that—they also figured out how to give his cellphone cell service and Wi-Fi, even though their system was entirely different. They figured out how to adjust it. Oscar’s room was located in the center of the vessel. He wasn’t surprised that he had no cell service in there.

“You should’ve turned your phone off,” Gemma said.

“I wanted to, but my boss threatened to fire me if he did.”

“And what did your president say?”

“Actually, he was hoping to speak to you.”

“We can arrange that. I’d like to speak with him, too. There is much to discuss.” Gemma’s pace was quick. Oscar had to push himself to match it. “First item on the itinerary this morning is visiting Clarence, followed by breakfast. Then a tour of the ship, if you’re interested.”

“Oh, I’m definitely interested.”

“I thought so. After the tour, I thought we’d make an appearance outside again and perhaps you could help us organize some sort of a press conference, or Q&A session? If you have time, that is.” Oscar’s phone made another dinging sound. “If your boss won’t fire you.”

Oscar looked at his phone and chuckled. “This one’s actually from my mom. She’s freaking out that I’m here.”

“Would you like me to talk to her? Would it help reassure her—calm her down?”

“Let’s focus on Clarence first.”

Oscar assumed they would be visiting Clarence in the medical center, but he was already back in his own room. He was sitting on the edge of his bed. A pair of crutches leaned against the wall nearby. He had his foot propped up on a rolling stool. The room was identical to the one where Oscar had slept, only this one had a small, round window. It was very small, but cozy, illuminated with warm light. The floor looked like it was bamboo and the smooth walls were cream colored.

“How are you doing, Clarence?” Gemma asked.

“I’ll be fine,” Clarence replied with a smile. Gemma held out her hand toward Oscar.

“This is Oscar. I don’t know if you remember him from last night?”

“Yes, I do. In fact, I have your belt. It’s in the bathroom. I was trying to get some more of the blood off of it. But it mind be ruined. Sorry about that.”

Oscar shook his head. “No worries.” He tugged at his pants. Having the belt back would have been nice. “Listen, I would just like to apologize in behalf of the United States of America for what happened to you last night.” He didn’t think he actually had the authority to do so, but it felt like the right thing to say.

“I appreciate it. Thank you.”

“Is there, uh, anything we can do for you?”

Clarence lifted his shoulders. “Just try to keep it from happening again?”

“Well, my boss assures me we now have ground control, so I believe you’ll replace the environment outside to be far different from what it was last night.”

Clarence bobbed his head. “Excellent.”

Oscar pointed at a picture hanging on the wall. He stepped closer and leaned in to get a better look. A woman with peppered hair had her arms wrapped around Clarence’s waist. Around them stood three teenaged children—two girls and a boy. “Is this your family?”

Clarence smiled. “Yes. That’s my wife Fern and our children: Kylie, Roger and Lilith.”

“Beautiful family. Are they not here with you?”

Clarence hesitated then sadly shook his head. “No, unfortunately. We had to depart on our mission before they were able to make it.”

“Oh… I’m so sorry. You have my condolences.”

“No, no—not like that. Sorry. They’re fine. They made it on to another vessel. But it’s been two years since I’ve seen them. We have been able to talk from time to time. Sometimes in space communication signals just vanish though.”

“They’re coming here too then?”

“Yes. They should be here in the next few days.”

Oscar backed up until he was standing beside Gemma again. He folded his arms. “Another ship? Just like this one?”

Clarence nodded. “Yes.”

“And is that all? I mean, how many ships are coming?”

Clarence hesitated to answer. He looked to Gemma, who cleared her throat. “Forty-eight thousand in total.”

Oscar’s jaw dropped. “Forty-eight-thousand… Each of them just as big as this giant, flying cruise ship?”

Gemma nodded. Oscar ran his hands through his hair then held them on the back of his head. “That’s…uh…that’s a lot.”

“We know,” Clarence said.

“That’s why we need your help,” Gemma said, placing a hand lightly on Oscar’s shoulder. “That is, if you’re willing to give it. Which I believe you are, seeing at you invited yourself aboard this ship.”

They sat at a long table lined with benches that were equally as long. Oscar looked around the crowded dining hall. Everyone was staring at him as if he were the alien. “So, two-hundred-fifty-thousand—that’s how many people this ship can hold?”

Gemma spooned a mouthful of sliced strawberries into her mouth and nodded.

“But how many are actually on this one?”

Gemma covered her mouth with her dainty fingers. “Far fewer than that. About a hundred thousand.”

Oscar whistled. “Still, that’s a lot of people. It’s a lot of mouths to feed and medical and housing to provide.” He pinched a piece of strawberry with his two fingers and popped it into his mouth. It was bursting with flavor. Looking around, he noticed that what he and Gemma were having for breakfast looked much tastier than what everyone else was eating. Gemma explained to him that although they were able to grow much of their own fresh produce aboard the ships, it wasn’t enough for the passengers to enjoy it in large quantities every day. They received it in small portions in rotation. After two years, much of their food reserves were diminished and although they still had plenty, there was no longer a wide selection of foods to eat.

“Oh, no, no, no,” Gemma said, shaking her head. “We’re not going to be a burden. We are capable of providing for ourselves. We don’t require much. Just a piece of land equivalent to about a hundred square miles. Look at this…” She place a thin tablet on the table. After a few taps and swipes, an animated image appeared on the screen. Gemma explained it to Oscar. “You see, the vessels are designed in such a way that they can be stacked one on top of the other. Each vessel is essentially its own self-contained and self-sustaining city. We just need a little more land to grow some more food and to develop some parks and such for recreation. Look here—the roofs of the vessels on the very top will be converted into rooftop gardens as well.” An aerial view of a functional and aesthetical garden appeared on the screen. Animated people—including families with children—could be seen strolling along the garden paths.

Oscar rubbed the stubble that was growing on his chin and along his jawline. He supposed the spaceship could not be considered a five-star hotel as they failed to provide him with a razor. “Okay, so this is probably a dumb question, but why not just stay in space? These ships are obviously well-equipped; could they not sustain life in space indefinitely?”

“No. Not indefinitely. Years, yes. But never indefinitely—at least not with the numbers of passengers we’ve had to load onto each ship. And here are a few questions for you: What’s the longest amount of time you’ve gone without stepping outside? Feeling the sun and the rain and the wind on your face? The grass beneath your feet? Does it not bring you joy to watch the birds fly in the sky, or to see the antelope prancing through the fields? Do you, Oscar, ever just sit to watch the waves crash against the shore, or step outside in the middle of a storm to listen to the thunder?”

Oscar’s mind was filled with memories as Gemma’s poetic voice carried him away to all of those places.

“We have simulators. Watch.” Gemma tapped around on her tablet until the length of the entire wall was illuminated with a video of the sea. Sounds of the ocean came from speakers placed all around the room. It diverted everyone’s attention away from Oscar. “How about a little breeze?” Gemma said. She tapped another button and some fans kicked on, filling the room with a gentle bluster. It even carried a slight, yet artificial, seaside scent.

“Wow… This is pretty amazing.”

“Would you like to see the rain forest?” Gemma tapped around again until a panoramic video of a lush jungle appeared on the wall. The room was filled with the sound of chattering monkeys and singing birds. The dining hall was filled with a floral smell and a light mist rained down. Some people leaned over their plates to keep their food dry.

“Is all of this scenery from Tetra?” Oscar asked.

“Yes.”

“It looks just like the Amazon. And that ocean—looked like the Pacific Northwest.”

“I think you’ll replace our planets are very similar. We have every climate you have.” Gemma turned the simulator off and apologized to the people sitting closest to them. “The simulators can be turned on in every room on the ship. The people who designed them were concerned about everyone’s mental wellbeing, so they worked with a team of psychologists to make sure the vessels could be delightful places to be. Physical wellbeing is obviously also of great importance. There are fitness facilities located on every level.”

“So, it really is like a giant, flying cruise ship.”

Gemma grinned. “I suppose it is. However, even on a cruise ship, you can go out on deck and feel the wind on your face. Your surroundings change. The simulations are great, but you can’t deny—they’re just not quite the same as being there, right?”

Oscar nodded. The simulators reminded him of the motion rides he used to enjoy going on in his youth, or the virtual reality games he occasionally played. “You’re definitely right about that.”

“So, why not just stay in outer space? That is why.”

Oscar’s phone rang again. “Excuse me, I can’t ignore him again.” He rolled his eyes and answered the table.

“Oscar! What is going on in there?” Charles’ voice thundered in his ears. “I’ve been waiting out here for hours.”

Oscar stood up and stepped away from the table. “We’re just finishing breakfast—”

“Breakfast? I haven’t had a thing to eat and you’re in there dining with them?” Charles snapped. “I want you and them out here now.”

“She was going to give me a tour of the ship…”

“For what purpose?”

“I don’t know. But it’s amazing! I’d love to see all of it if I could. Their technology, their architecture and design—it’s all incredible.”

“Fine. You have my permission to check it out. But they will be detained when they come out again.”

“Why?”

“Why? I’m choosing to ignore that ridiculous question.” There was a pause. “You know what? Never mind. I’m not ignoring it. I’m detaining them for questioning. And for trespassing. And for being a threat to our nation’s security.”

“I’m going to ask you to reconsider, sir.”

“Which I’m not going to do.”

“Sir, these people aren’t soldiers.”

“They could be wolves in sheep’s clothing.”

“What, so you’re going to arrest a hundred and fifty-thousand people, including children?”

“A hundred fifty-thousand?” Charles gasped. Oscar rubbed his right temple. He shouldn’t have said that. “Is that what she told you? Have you seen the supposed children?”

“I’m surrounded by them now, sir.” He looked around at the children seated with their parents eating breakfast. They looked and behaved like any other kids. The teenagers in the group huddled together at one table.

“Cowards. Using them as a shield, no doubt.”

“I think you’re wrong.”

“This conversation is over, Oscar. Check out the rest of the ship and get out here.” Charles ended the call.

* * *

Oscar was a kind and intelligent man. It gave Gemma a glimmer of hope. Maybe the Earthlings weren’t as bad as they were made out to be. She was nearly finished with her tour. Oscar had been taking pictures of everything and sending them to Charles. He had been introduced to dozens of people along the way and it was explained to him what each of their jobs were. It all sounded very complicated to him. The last thing Gemma showed Oscar was the archive of their most culturally-significant and most treasured works of art and historical artifacts. Knowing how Earthlings cherished the arts, she encouraged Oscar to take and share pictures of the most infamous pieces there.

Oscar had been acting a bit strange since his last phone call with his boss. He was fidgety and it seemed like he had something to say, but he couldn’t. Indeed, Gemma knew what it was. All of Oscar’s communications had been tapped into. Barkley had stolen Gemma away from Oscar for a few minutes shortly after breakfast. “They mean to detain us. All of us,” he had informed her. “It’s going to be a disaster just like the situation on their southern borders—families torn apart, children dying in their custody.”

Gemma shook her head and spoked in hushed tones. “I refuse to let that happen.”

“How are you going to prevent it? I’d love to hear your plan.” Barkley folded his arms.

“I’ll go.”

“You might never be heard from again.”

“That’s a risk I’m going to have to take.”

She tried not to let Barkley’s words concern her, but she was nervous as the tour ended and she led Oscar back toward the gate. “So your entire life, you’ve been learning English?” Oscar said.

“Yes. And Russian, German, Arabic, and Mandarin,” Gemma replied.

“That’s seriously impressive. I, uh, took Spanish in high school.” Oscar chuckled sheepishly. “And how old are you, if you don’t mind my asking?”

“I’m twenty-nine.”

“I’m thirty-two.”

“My fiancé is thirty-two as well.”

“Oh, you’re engaged?” Oscar grinned. “And you haven’t introduced me? Is he here? What’s his name?”

“His name is Vance. And I haven’t introduced you because he isn’t here. He’s on another vessel. Unfortunately, it’s been months since we’ve heard from them. But, they should be here with the others in the next few days.”

“Vance seems like a very normal and earth-like name,” Oscar commented. “You know, all these movies and shows I grew up watching, everyone has super strange space names. Like Yoda.”

“And Luke?”

Oscar laughed. “Okay, not that one. But you get what I’m saying?”

Gemma smiled. “Yes, I do. So, all of us actually have two names. Our Tetranese names—which we rarely use—and our earth names, also given to us at birth since we knew this is where we would ultimately end up.”

“Why don’t you use the Tetranese names?”

“Well, we kind of keep them more intimate. They’re only used by those who are close to us.”

Oscar nodded. “I see.” He glanced over at Gemma. “I don’t suppose you’d tell me yours? I promise I won’t use it.”

Vance was the only man Gemma had ever told her name to. She told him the night he asked her to marry him, which had become a somewhat new tradition. Gemma held up a finger. “Only if you promise not to use it,” she teased. Oscar drew an X over his heart.

“Promise.”

“It’s Laersha. Is that weird and spacey enough for you?”

Oscar squinted. “Actually, I think Gemma is a little spacier.”

“Oh, really?”

“Yep. Honestly. Laersha—I know I just butchered that—sounds kind of Polish or Russian to me.”

“Hmm.” Gemma bobbed her head.

They stepped onto the elevator that would carry them down to the vessel’s lowest level. Oscar still had not told Gemma that she was going to be arrested once they were outside. Gemma could only assume it wasn’t actually going to happen. She looked at him while he inspected the glowing symbols on the button pad. “Oscar?”

“Huh?”

“Would you like to tell me something?”

“Oh, um…” Oscar scratched the back of his head then let out a long sigh. “They want to detain you.” The lift came to a swift but smooth stop and the door swept away to the side. They stepped off of the elevator and into the entry hall. “I feel like you already knew that?”

“Yes. Sorry. We’ve been tapping into all of your communications. I should’ve told you sooner.”

“No, honestly it shouldn’t surprise me. I should’ve expected it.” He looked into Gemma’s eyes. “So… what do you want to do?”

“Whatever’s necessary to keep the peace. I’ll go willingly.”

Oscar rubbed his arm. “Aren’t you worried about being abducted and experimented on?” He chortled.

“I’d be lying if I said the concern hadn’t crossed my mind,” Gemma replied with a smile.

“Look, I’m going to do everything I can to make sure you’re taken care of.”

“I appreciate that.”

Gemma asked the gatekeeper to close the gate as soon as they were out. “And keep it closed until you hear from me again.” The young woman agreed, although Gemma didn’t exactly have the authority to give orders like that.

“Gemma, wait!” Clarence shouted, hobbling out of the elevator. “You can’t go out there. Barkley says they’re going to arrest anyone who goes out there.”

“Yes, I understand that. I’m going to go and get this worked out.”

“No, you must let me go instead.”

“Clarence, you’re injured.”

Clarence glanced down at his casted foot. “I’ll be fine.”

“And so will I.” She put a hand on Oscar’s shoulder. “Oscar’s promised to protect me.”

“Uh, actually I—” Oscar stammered.

“Three days, Clarence,” Gemma interrupted him. “In three days, forty-eight thousand vessels loaded with our loved ones will be arriving to their new home, and it’s up to us to make sure Earth is ready for them.” She smiled. “I can do this.”

Clarence’s tired eyes were filled with worry. He looked to Oscar. “How long do these things usually take?”

Oscar’s eyebrows shot up. “Uh, honestly… I don’t know. Probably not fast. Nothing involving our lovely government is fast.” He bit his lip. “I probably shouldn’t have said that,” he mumbled from the corner of his mouth.

Clarence gave Oscar a stern look. “After years of working very closely together, Gemma and I—and the others on our team—have become like family. Gemma’s like a daughter to me. Now I understand your position isn’t a super prestigious or influential one and you just happened upon this vessel because you were in the right place at the right time and just so happened to have the necessary authority, however! If you do not do everything in your power to take care of Gemma and bring her safely back to us, I will personally load you onto one of our emergency pods and launch you on a one-way journey into the deep abyss of outer space.”

Gemma blinked. She had never heard Clarence speak so fiercely, not even to Barkley when he was in one of his moods. She walked over to Clarence and gave him a hug and reassured him again—and herself simultaneously—that she was going to be okay. She trusted Oscar. Perhaps a little prematurely, she recognized, but he seemed genuinely good.

They walked up to the door. Gemma took a deep breath as it slid open.