Chapter 8
EDIE
I lay here looking up at the ceiling, lying in a soft bed with thick blankets cradling my body.
The room is beautiful with soft lighting, I’m warm and comfortable, and I can’t sleep because of it.
After years of sleeping on the ground in a pile of grass, this seems odd.
I don’t know if it’s the silence, the smells, or maybe it’s the mild vibrations I feel from time to time.
The one thing I’ve learned the hard way is that if it seems too good, just wait ten minutes.
So pretty much, I’m just laying here waiting for something bad to happen.
For years I prayed that someone or something would come along.
Nothing good ever showed up, so I think after a while, I made peace with what had happened and where I was.
I got into a routine and found something to keep my body busy so that my mind couldn’t think about all the yesterdays.
Now, here we are and I wonder if I should have stayed.
I mean, Qwin and Ember were great saleswomen for the human race, and the thought of being left behind at the time was terrifying.
But I’d be lying if I didn’t admit to myself how scared I am now.
Planetside, we knew what was expected of us and rarely did something shake the norm.
Now, here we are once again, going in blind; eyes open without seeing what’s ahead.
I keep seeing Falon’s face when he saw me standing behind Ginger with my bag in hand.
He went from searching the crowd to panic mode in seconds.
He said he was going to die without me and I thought that was just a bad pickup line, but what if he was just speaking the truth? Did I leave him back on Deapra to die?
What kind of person does that? I mean, we wouldn’t have worked out, but I don’t wish death on him. Even though I could never love someone like him, I’m sure mam and his brothers do.
Curling onto my side, my eyes catch the ever-changing mural on the wall.
Strange worlds slowly pass by, but then something familiar pops on screen.
A picture of a couple laughing on a beach …
on Earth. It’s then that I realize no matter how much I wish it were different, I’m never going to step foot there again.
Tears that I thought were long gone drip down my cheeks as I try to get a grip on the new changes my life choices have forced upon me.
Since I’m so restless, I finally get up and take some sort of shower …
with no water. If I hadn’t felt clean afterwards, I would’ve been convinced Destiny was lying to me when she showed me how to use it.
I start to grab my bag off the counter when a large door opens. Hesitantly, I look inside to find a closet full of outfits hanging in neat rows.
“What in the world?”
“Good rising Mistress Edie. I took the liberty of ordering a few basic items for you, as I know you haven’t had time to familiarize yourself with the holopad.
They should all fit well and have been altered to your specific measurements.
In the drawers below are more intimate apparel, as well as hair accessories, and a makeup station, if that is something you would like to use. ”
“This is very nice of you, Destiny. I haven’t had a variety of choices for so long that I forgot it was normal. Most of us learned to clean and make our own clothes when the material was available, but I’ll say I was to the point of wearing rags.”
“Basic necessities will never be an issue again, as the Commander would never stand for it. He would dress you all elegantly every rising if that’s what you wished.”
“This DaR guy seems almost larger than life. How long has he been in charge?”
“His story is a tale within itself, but I promise you could not be in better hands. The Commander is dedicated to his people, no matter what species, his mate, and his sons, all twenty-three of them.”
Twenty-three is the only thing that seems to stick with me; apparently male whores are common here. I’m sure there’s more to it, but I really just don’t care.
I pull out what looks like sweatpants and a long T-shirt, then flip through the panties until I find a high-rise pair and a sports bra.
Once dressed and feeling the most human I have in years, I look over at a mirror on the wall.
Except, I sure don’t look like the girl I was the last time I looked into one of these.
This version of me has haunted eyes and her face is covered in freckles, something I did my best to prevent when I was younger.
She looks ancient and feels much older than my twenty-eight years.
Flipping my long hair over to the side, I’m in the process of braiding it when I walk into the main living area with the other girls.
Tracy and Laura are at a table eating, but Kristen is sitting on the back of the couch playing with what looks like a Kindle.
“Morning.”
Tracy points toward a box on the wall. “Edie, there’s coffee! I mean, the real shit, too. I almost fainted when Destiny told me it was on the menu. I’ve already had three cups, and I plan on drinking more until I’m sick.”
“Lord help us all, we’ll never survive a more intense Tracy.
” She sticks her tongue out at me. “We’ve not had any in so long, I’m sure it will be a shock to the system.
Honestly, I don’t know if I’m willing to go through the withdrawals again or not.
I may just stick to water for now. Kristen, what are you looking at? ”
“Clothes and lodging. Apparently, this world we are heading to has what they call dwelling pods, and Destiny told me to start trying to figure out what I or we would like in one.”
“You mean like a house for all of us, or individually?”
“I think that’s up to us. Personally, I’d prefer we all stay together, at least for a little while.”
“Same, … me too, … you guys are not leaving me now.” … Everyone voices their opinions at once.
“Together it is, which helps as it keeps asking me about bedrooms and closet spaces.”
I’ve just sat down with what I think is a bowl of cereal when Destiny pops up, practically sitting on the end of the spoon in my hand.
“Greeting ladies, I hope you all got some rest last darkness. I have a few things for you to do this rising. Master Lex has requested you all come to the med bay for a checkup.”
Laura gets up and puts her bowl in a slot on the wall. “It never dawned on me that you would have a medical area, but I guess a ship this large you would have to. Come on girls, we might as well go see the doctor and make sure we don’t have a brain-eating worm in our heads or something.”
“I hate worms. Why the hell did you have to say worm? Now I’m convinced I just felt something crawling behind my eye. Thanks, Laura!”
“Oh, you’re welcome, Trace. You know, now that you’ve mentioned it, there is something funky going on with your eyes.”
I can’t help but laugh when Tracy picks up a piece of bread and throws it at Laura. Not feeling hungry, or maybe because I’m not used to having the option to eat this early, I take a couple of bites, then get up.
“Guys, leave this here. I will eat the rest of it when I get back.”
“Mistress Edie, you do not have to save that for later. We are not on any rations, and I can provide you with whatever sustenance you require.”
“That’s going to take some getting used to, Destiny.
We’ve spent almost every day since we woke up just trying to feed ourselves and everyone else.
Now I feel bad for Mam and the others we left behind.
New clothes and basic medical care being available were rare and food was definitely not something we ever took for granted. ”
“This is a concern I had not been made aware of. If it eases your burden, I will speak to SCOUT and see if we can send a supply ship with provisions. No organic should go hungry when we have an abundance of resources.”
“You would do that for a race you know nothing about?”
“If I house and feed an enemy, why would I not provide for a friend of another? I will work on this issue while you are in Master LeX’s care. He is expecting you, so if you ladies will simply follow the bright green light strip on the floor, it will take you to the med bay.