Chapter 6 #2
Picking up my bag, I frown when I find only six protein bars inside.
My mind instantly goes to the amount of water we will need, so if the water doesn’t freeze, we can get what we need from the sink in the refreshing area.
At least that is one thing we should not have to worry about for a tic, but Briar needs sustenance.
She is constantly hungry and her belly is always rumbling.
Walking over to where I know those rivets aren’t fastened correctly, I take a moment, trying to see if I can force the viewer open.
But even if we could get out, it is not like we can get in anywhere else if they are all locked down as well.
Worry and aggravation have me holding back a growl, as I do not want to worry Briar more.
“Here, slide this over your head. It’s not much, and we won’t win any awards at the fashion show, but it’s all I can find, and I have a feeling it’s not going to be enough.”
I lean down to help her get it over my horns.
This must have been a floor covering for the refreshing chamber, as it’s so small it barely reaches the top of my pants, but thankfully, it is blocking some of the cold from my exposed skin.
Every thought that flows through my mind is quickly discarded.
When I see Briar shiver, the feeling of helplessness practically tears me apart inside.
I hit my comm unit, and instead of trying to contact ANDI, I hit the emergency frequency for MeK, and I do not think I have ever been so grateful to hear his voice.
“BuK? Are you with Briar? I have been comming everyone with no answer.”
“MeK, I do not know how long we will have communication, but Briar and I are stuck in pod thirty-one with no supplies. The pod has not even been energized yet, so there is no heat or other essentials. We are in desperate need of everything.”
“Since we are the closest to you, I will send our personal cargo bot with what essentials I can to your location. It seems like the bots are not locked down, just the organics. My only worry is their hydraulics and I hope this cold doesn’t freeze the liquid before it makes it to you.”
“I will be on the lookout as well. There is a viewer here that the rivets are not installed correctly. Is there a way for me to seal them from the inside?”
“Not really, so stuff anything you can find around the opening. I have a sealant on my ship, but it is useless to us right now. If you can, relocate to the smallest area and shut all the inner doors. Your body heat alone should warm up that room temporarily.”
“Will do. Have you been able to contact Father or ANDI?”
“No, and it is not like we have not tried. We are on our own for now. ANDI does have an override key, and the aspheric suits would survive the cold, but I do not believe he has anyone on board who could help us out. From my understanding, all are planetside. You are already cutting out, so before we are completely disconnected … On the lower level … There is an override … but only use it … under the panel … blue wire ..ut.” MeK’s voice fades out, just as he was telling me how to get us out if I must.
“That didn’t sound promising.” I did not realize Briar had been standing behind me, listening this entire time.
“No, but at least others know we are here. MeK will do his best to get what he can to us, and until then, we need to carefully consider what we have, as it could be the difference between life and death. Take all your cleaning rags and stuff them into the holes where you feel the strongest cold air coming in on this viewer. I am going to see if I can get that padded bench out of the wall in the main sleeping chamber. I also think there was a chair that needed to be assembled for the dining area in the back room. When I am done, I will bring everything into this main area, and then we will take these tarps and stretch them across the other openings before sealing their doors shut. We need to do everything we can to seal up this smaller area.”
“BuK honey, I can go without food for a few days, but I don’t handle the cold well at all.
I mean, I knew we would have a few weeks of being stuck indoors, but I planned on turning up the heat, then binge-watching some old TV shows, reading the books I put on my list over the past few weeks, and snuggling on the couch with a blanket and a replicator full of my favorite snacks.
You know, hibernating in full fashion in a nice toasty area.
Hopefully, an adorable pink alien was even going to crash with me. ”
“This situation is not desirable, but we are not helpless yet. Your last words … crashed with you. Were you referring to me breaking something, since I am the only pink … as you call, alien around?”
“Ohh, the joy you bring me in the craziest times. No, silly rabbit … what I meant was, I was hoping you would stay with me while the cold snap was going on. It just dawned on me that I have no idea where you’ve been staying this entire time.”
“I have a small tent located on the back side of the communal area.”
“What? I thought you had your own shuttle like DaR and KyT, and MeK.”
“No, I initially arrived with MeK but brought my own provisions.”
“So, you have been pretty much camping all these months? Why didn’t you come up and stay on ANDI? I’m sure there were plenty of rooms you could have used.”
“I was never asked, and I came to help, not to hinder. I have everything I need with me. The communal ionizer and refreshing chambers provided what I lacked.”
“BuK, I feel like a complete ass. Here I’ve been staying in that big ass pod all by myself, when you are practically homeless.
I can’t believe I didn’t know this, and shame on your father for not providing better for you.
Ugh, this makes me so mad. You have no idea how many times I started to ask you to stay with me, only to think you would probably prefer your own personal shuttle. ”
“You were going to ask me to stay in the same dwelling as you?”
“Yes, why does that seem to surprise you so much? BuK, you have to realize how much I care about you, and that’s not just because we work together.”
Her words make my heart leap, and I can tell from the look on her face that she expects me to say something back, but I am scared my need for her will frighten her away. My silence and the cold air blowing through the room must have distracted her.
“You’re right, we need to get busy and we can do this as long as we’re together. I’ll start on the viewer; luckily, I always pack more towels than I need. Are you sure you don’t want me to help you tear up Vedece’s house?”
“No, we each have things that need to be accomplished quickly, and anything I need to tear up, as you put it, we will repair at a later date.”
“I’m just teasing, I’m sure Vedece couldn’t care less.” Briar smiles, but I can see the worry she is trying to hide from me.
Walking around, I grab my tool belt and start unloosing some of the permanent fixtures, piecing together what I can so that Briar will be slightly more comfortable until supplies come.
I refuse to consider the cargo bot not arriving, as there is nothing in this dwelling that can even be burned, especially as long as the water is working because the sprinklers would click on, and all we need is to get wet.
The wall seat pulls out easier than I imagined, and I hoist it onto my shoulder, carrying it into the main living area.
Then I go back to get its foundation because I do not want it to have direct contact with the floor, as the metal will get cold and uncomfortable quickly.
Briar found a larger rug somewhere and has laid it out, and I move the seat …
bed thing next to it. I then move into the sustenance area to assemble the single chair that was ordered for that space, and even amid all of this, I think that is very sad. Why would Vedece only want one chair?
Several times, I glance up at Briar, who is using the end of one of her brushes to push the material into the holes.
The air is steadily getting colder in here, and I catch myself constantly looking out the viewer for the cargo bot.
Carrying the chair into the room, I frown at what little we do have as the ground continues to whiten outside.
Pulling out one of the sustenance bars from my bag, I motion for Briar to join me. She flops down on the small bed, folding her legs beneath her, and I hand her half.
“Should we be saving these?”
“I do not think it is going to make any difference if MeK is not able to get some sort of heat source to us, and the temperature keeps dropping like it has been. It will be in the negative marks before half a rising. I do not need to tell you what happens to an organic that is not properly dressed to deal with such low temperatures.”
“Ray of sunshine, aren’t ya? I’m already so cold that I’m having to fight to keep my teeth from chattering.
I’m a beach girl, not a mountain goat. Cold and I have never been friends.
It’s always been so depressing to me, since it’s always cold, dark, and gray for what feels like the rest of your life at the time.
The winters in Kentucky lasted only about five months, but it seemed like it just wouldn’t let go; it loved to tease you.
We would get that pretty, sunny, deceptive day that looked like it should be in the seventies, only to walk out and find the air so cold it felt like it was cutting you in half.
Then, there were cloudy days that were so humid you couldn’t breathe.
Toward the end, there was no rhyme or reason; things that should only bloom in the spring were blooming mid-winter.
The temperature changed so drastically from day to day that you had no idea what to wear, and the storms were terrifying. ”
“Do you miss your world?”
“YESSSS, and … no! I love the fact that this world is untouched. Back home, there was no such thing as a new idea; the world was crowded, loud, and moving a million miles an hour. Here, things are more relaxed, even though we are starting from scratch, and working every day is just different. Now, don’t get me started on food right now; that’s the last thing we need to be thinking about as we eat these pieces of cardboard, but … I miss my family the most.
As a daddy’s girl, I’m the first to admit I was spoiled rotten, but I promised myself that if I survived, I would not spend the time I’ve been granted by grieving them.
I was one of the lucky ones; I didn’t have a bad childhood.
I was never neglected, I was always well cared for, and I knew I was loved.
My parents were always standing in the crowd, cheering me on.
That alone is more than most can say, so I will thank the Lord for them and live for all of us.
Now, don’t get me wrong, there have been days when it was hard, especially waking up facing all of this on my own.
But finding you and Lacie has really helped.
I may have lost mom and dad and all that I had ever known, but I was granted a chance that few others received.
I think if I’d been older, it would have been worse, even harder to adjust. However, the opportunities and friendships we are all forming now will follow us and our children for years and generations to come.
Things could have turned out so much worse, and we all know it. ”
“You have never spoken of younglings before.”
“Ughh, kids! I mean, things happen and that’s fine, but I’m in zero hurry to experience or try to raise a little one in a world that is so unstable. I mean, look at us right now. Can you imagine the horror you would be feeling if a child were with us?”
“Your words are true, but the worry is no less simply because it is only us. It is obvious to me that you are trying to hide your shivers and discomfort.”
“There’s nothing either of us can do, so I’m trying not to think about it or complain. I need to pee, but the thought of pulling my pants down right now is the only thing making me hold it. Do you think MeK will be able to send us what we need?”
“We both know if anyone can, it’s MeK. Come help me hang these tarps. Moving around will help keep us warmer.”
“Let me go pee first before my ass freezes to the toilet.”