Alpha Centauri

It’s a two-day trip to reach the network node, and the first one is a long one. Cleve gets us moving before the suns are up, wanting us to be burning oxygen when the air is clearest. But if we rest mid-morning, we risk miasma drifting in when none of us are alert. So we … Read more

“It’s not like moons here pop in and out of the sky—I assume. Someone here has to know at least for the next week,” Cleve says as we leave Takuto’s bedside. We go to the main scientist around here, Dr. Citali, even though astronomy and meteorology are not her specialties. I start by asking her … Read more

I catch Roze one day when they’re not busy. “Hey, Roze, you have access to the datalinks from the ship. Can you look up Sylvia Stanton for me? That was the dead body in our module.” “You want to pull up information? Yeah, sure, that’s an easy thing.” They roll their chair over to a … Read more

///Before Cleve can head back out into the strange wilderness of this new planet, he needs a working rifle. Roze sits with him in Data Haven’s basic machine shop as he wipes and brushes and scrubs. They advise him to keep the gun coated, and he asks for recommendations on miasma-resistant oil. He’s worried about … Read more

Data Haven makes a snug home, but my closet with a cot isn’t that much less spacious than what I had to call my own back in LA. And although there are concerns about how much food is left, the 3D printer can turn out a wide variety of smaller items. Someone had the foresight … Read more

Dr. Citali takes me to her lab rather than guiding me to living quarters, so that hot shower has to wait a little longer. Ostensibly, it’s to tell me about the experimental treatment that will let Corazon come with us. Given that her organization is rumored to be ecoterrorists, I’m not sure how gray Dr. … Read more

Once I’m in the elevator myself, I immediately recognize it as part of Unity. Like our module, this one is also embedded in the ground, just with trained briar beasts above it instead of wild wolf beetles. Everything is just slightly canted, probably enough to make wheeled chairs annoying, but not enough to otherwise interfere … Read more

Alone on the surface, I sit down, stretching my aching leg out in front of me. I’m not worried, not really. Detox sounds severe, but Roze has a flair for the dramatic, so hopefully it won’t be too bad. I resume my sketch of the briar beast, and this occupies me until the elevator returns. … Read more

///As the elevator begins its descent, Cleve vouches for Mariah with Roze. “That guy had my back a couple of times. If you have any sway here, which I’m guessing you do—” “Sway yes, but I don’t run this place. Nobody runs it, you gotta understand.” “—yeah, he could use a medic, for sure.” “I’m … Read more

“The years have been good to you. You look great, man!” says the person in charge of all the gun-toting new arrivals with a giant smile. Cleve’s face bursts out into a matching grin. “Tech Sergeant Roze!” So this is Cleve’s friend who left him that message about Morgan. They are of slight build, but … Read more

“Plant beast!” Cleve calls. Corazon and I startle at that and spin around to see an actual mobile plant, not just one that flails tendrils or closes its jaws like a Venus flytrap. The briar beast—I’m guessing that’s what this thing is—has vines for arms and is pulling itself down the hillside. And not at … Read more