Chapter 19
Chapter nineteen
Anna
Anna sat with a fork in her hand, trying a little piece of everything but pushing the rest of the food around on her plate. It is rude to not eat it all, right?
The table rang with conversation and small talk clearly designed to keep the androids busy while they ate. And observed.
The plates piled high with a feast just for them was giving her anxiety.
Would the food go to waste? People were literally starving back on Earth.
And here she was, unable to even eat more than a few bites.
My stomach. Her whole abdomen seized up with the thought of another bite.
Anna slowly pushed the plate away. I’m going to be sick if I try to eat any more.
Wouldn’t that be a great first impression?
Anna rubbed her front; the baby was kicking up a storm.
Here we are, the first new humans at this facility in so many years.
First real meeting. And I come in and yak all over the carpet.
Saliva was thick in her throat. This would be way worse than throwing up on the ship.
But maybe it would show them that they really weren’t dangerous?
She debated the question by forcing down another noodle bite.
“Can I offer you any more?” A female android with braids down her back held out a dessert tray. She was similar in her features to that nurse, Alice, who sat next to Sterling at the table. Only her dark eyes were a lighter shade and her hair had a copper color woven into the braids.
Anna glanced at the tray. The desserts were works of art, just like every meal presented. Everything had swirls and embellishments beyond the ingredients.
“No, thank you. I’ll have some water.” She quickly picked up the glass, which had a fine decorative print, and took a sip.
The android moved to Nora while another swooped in to fill her water again from the sip she just took.
Everything tasted wonderful. It was too bad it all sat in her stomach like lead. Anna watched Tilly as the little girl sampled one of every dessert. There were some spices that she had experimented with enough to recognize. But mostly everything was foreign.
As the meal carried on around her, Anna instead examined the hall. Along the walls were very familiar bags, lined up and arranged. Anna knew those bags. She knew that fabric. In fact, she had a nightgown made from that back on Earth.
Anna, though, sat back and counted the bags. There were hundreds. Thousands. The sight of them made her tear up.
It all felt unreal. She was on Mars. In the place where the drops were carefully constructed.
Literally her whole life back on Earth had hung on those shipments.
She could see pallets of the bars she remembered and rolls of fabric with familiar patterns.
Her hands shook, making the water in the glass shake as she put it down.
I don’t want to disappoint them, but I don’t know what they’re looking for.
What do they want me to do? Every time she looked up there were different androids present, walking stiffly, openly staring.
It made it even harder to focus on eating and chewing.
Another came by, presenting a different fruit tray.
The pressure of the room did not match the gentle music that played. The tempo layered into a headache that matched Anna’s nausea. The dishes were perfectly arranged and the glasses kept full. And it all added up to a test she didn’t fully understand.
“Anna? Are you feeling well?” Stella’s lips were pulled in a mock frown.
Leo, that dark-haired, brooding android by her side, also never took his eyes away.
Maybe most of the androids care, but I don’t trust either of these two. The thought came suddenly. Which was surprising, as Stella was the one who initially welcomed them on board.
“I’m fine.” Anna churned her fingers in her lap, under her napkin. “This is all new. And I’m not used to eating this much. It’s all so much nicer than Earth. Some of these things I’ve never seen before.”
“Oh,” Stella said. The one-word response seemed to ripple down through the androids sitting there with them at the table.
Anna swallowed. Was that wrong to say? She tried again. “You all are trying so hard. I’m sorry, the baby makes it difficult for me to eat sometimes.”
Leo finally broke his intense gaze. “This is understandable. Sterling? Is there anything different she should be having?”
“Oh no.” Anna waved her hands. “I’m fine overall.”
“This is normal for humans,” Sterling said. “I’ll do another checkup in the morning tomorrow.”
Both Leo and Stella settled at those words, returning to their plates and the carefully manufactured small talk.
But Nora leaned over and patted Anna’s arm. “Don’t worry, I’ve been eating for you. And Tilly.”
“Thanks, Nora,” Anna mumbled, pushing the food around. Finally, she put the fork down. “Thank you, but I can’t eat any more.”
She folded her hands on her lap and tried taking deep breaths to settle her stomach. The nausea rose, punctuating every kick her baby gave. Her throat felt slimy. I am not gonna throw up. Not here. Not now.
“I think . . .” Simon pushed back from the table. “It has been a long day. We should get some rest.”
Even Tilly looked like she was fading. Her eyes were glazed, even though more sweets had been put out in front of her.
“Good idea.” Nora rubbed the little girl’s head. “We should go before we fall asleep right here.”
Anna rose with them, thanking and exiting. As she did, she again tried to find Atlas. He was not present for any of the dinner.
Instead, Stella was at her side. “Of course. It’s been a busy day. I’ll bring you back to your quarters.”
Anna followed, Stella leading the way. Her stomach flip-flopped with every step.
Stella smiled as they entered the common room, which looked exactly the same as when they left. No sign of either Ria or Pearl. Where do they sleep? Maybe on the other side of the area, or maybe near the glass room where the other humans were being kept alive?
“That went well,” Stella chirped, patting a stray hair on the top of her head back into place.
“Dinner did.” Simon’s eyes tightened. “But Stella, I had been meaning to speak with you. The other humans do not want us here.”
“Yes. Well. They’ll come around. You are all human.” Stella said in an offhand tone. “I’ll see you in the morning for breakfast?”
Anna exchanged a glance with Nora. She really thinks that?
Tilly was yawning. Nora pushed her ahead, toward the rooms they claimed. “I’ll get her to bed, then go to sleep myself. It’s been a long day.”
“Simon?” Stella reached out to Simon, who started to follow. “You’re welcome to join us while they rest. Several others want to speak with you more.”
“I already spoke with them while my hardware was being upgraded. We will speak more in time. For tonight, my place is by Nora.”
Stella’s eyes tightened. “How sweet.”
“Thank you, Stella. For bringing us here,” Simon said. “The nature outside is like it was on Earth so many years ago.”
“Oh. You don’t have to thank me. It was a communal decision.” Stella smiled wide before turning around to exit. “Sleep well. And if you need anything, there are intercoms on the wall. Just press a button.”
Anna glanced upward. And video feeds above. There were no cameras in the personal bedrooms or bathrooms at least.
Simon seemed to have similar thoughts as his eyes darted instead side to side.
Once Stella left, he waved to Anna. “Let me walk with you to your room.”
With the door closed behind them, Simon came by her side and spoke low. “No cameras in here, so let’s talk for a moment. I know Nora is having trouble adjusting. How are you doing?”
“Alright, I guess.” Anna settled herself on the bed and let the forced smile fall off her face. “The nature area was beautiful. But everything in this facility feels off to me. But other than the other humans, the androids have all been nice. Weird, kinda creepy, but nice.”
His lips flattened. “The other humans should not have treated you like that.”
“Are they like you remember?”
“Yes and no. But closer to them. Far closer than you or Nora ever could be.”
“I don’t understand them.” Anna tugged on her chin. “Something still doesn’t feel right here, does it?”
Simon sat on the chair at the desk. “I agree.”
“They are trying too hard.”
“It’s almost like they’re overcompensating. But nothing seems hostile.” Simon paused, then sighed. “I still cannot access all the data. Right after they did the upgrades I could see more of the facility and plans, but some areas are still off-limits to me.”
“Are they still keeping you out of areas?”
“Frankly, I’m unsure.” Simon’s eyes took on a faraway look. “Regardless, I told them trying to modify humans in any way is a terrible idea.”
“It’s terrifying.” Anna shuddered. “There are ones at the end of the hall being kept alive too.”
“Ah . . .” Simon stood up. “I had forgotten that was common in my time. They do love their humans, I guess.”
The way he said it slid around her. It felt wrong. “I guess that could be love.”
“Love is the scariest force of nature.”
“What?” Anna snorted. “Can I tell Nora that?”
“No. Like I said. Love is scary.” He gave a forced half smile. “Try to get some sleep. I’ll connect tonight and see if there’s any more information I can gather now that I upgraded. There are so many more connections here than on the ship. A lot fewer firewalls as well.”
Before Simon could leave, Anna reached her hand out. “Wait.”
“Yes?”
“Can you connect to Atlas for me?” Anna rubbed her stomach. “I don’t want to really use the intercom, and I don’t know how to call him otherwise without making a big deal.”
Simon peered at her face. “What’s wrong?”
“My stomach is off.” Anna said, her tongue thick. “Can you ask Atlas if he can bring me some crackers or something? I hate to bother him, but all that weird food earlier didn’t sit right.”
Simon frowned. “Oh. Yes. I hate it when Nora has that happen. She got sick a few times when we first met and it made me so nervous.”
“I’m not sick.” She rubbed down her front. “This is just the baby. Pregnancy is not magical.”
“I beg to differ.” Simon stilled, his eyes fading into a faraway look. “Okay. I let him know. He will come down in a few moments. Do you want me to stay with you?”
The room started to feel hot as her stomach swam. “No. I need a little privacy, I think. I’ll relax and see if that helps.”
“Come to Nora’s room if you need me. Atlas should be here in a few moments though.” Simon closed the door behind him.
Anna sighed when he left. Finally alone for a minute.
Night settled fast, and she spent a few minutes staring out the window at the black forest outside.
She pulled her legs up, sitting against the headboard as her stomach churned.
Exhaustion pulled at her, weighing her down like lead. I wish I could sleep.
And her stomach. Ugh. It really was rejecting everything from that dinner tonight. She pressed her sweaty forehead against the headboard. She rubbed on her stomach even harder as bile rose. If I only had a little stockpile of something simple to eat.
A cold sweat began to run down her back. Sick. She couldn't. . .
Finally, she ran to the bathroom, lightheaded and stumbling. The nausea won. Violently. She flung herself in front of the toilet, throwing up everything from the dinner earlier. Then she pushed back, leaning against the wall.
When she could stand again, she went to the sink and washed her red face, marveling at the indoor plumbing that cleaned everything away.
Afterward, she came back to the bed and leaned back up against the headboard, feeling sweaty underneath her hairline. At least I didn’t do that in the middle of dinner. She glanced at the door. And Atlas didn’t have to see it either.
The pillow behind her was cool when she lay back, staring at the white ceiling.
I do feel a bit better though. Tomorrow she would need to be more selective with the food she ate and not give in to the pressure to try everything.
Maybe I can cook some stuff for myself too.
There had to be a balance she could find.
What time is it even? She looked around. Maybe one of those televisions in the main room would have the time? Anna got up and waddled to the couch in the common room, then tried working the remote.
She swallowed thickly, stomach still off, while flipping the channels.
The lights flickered before her eyes as she randomly pushed buttons on the remote.
Everyone in this feed is dead. Dead. Dead.
But in a weird way, she was mesmerized by the hair styles, the way they talked, and the commercials of all the things they used to buy.
In the ruins of Earth they had scavenged parts of these products, but to see them not aged by time was surreal.
The feeling of unreality went up to another level when she turned to a medical documentary program, seeing another Atlas model on the screen talking about a medical condition, dia-beet-us.
She quickly turned the channel to a nature program, letting the drone aerial footage wash over her.
Only it was not Mars; the picture was an ancient scene of Earth.
Places beyond the dusty, destroyed desert that she grew up in.
It was like the jungle scene from earlier.
She put the remote down, letting the channel play.
In an odd way, the television feeds were like company. In fact, after time stretched, Anna began to see the point of it. She slumped down on the couch. It keeps me from thinking at least. She left the nature feed on. There was something comforting about how it played as she closed her eyes.