by Lisa Lace
He stared at the screen to see for himself. “If there’s life there…”
“That means that the planet can support life!”
This was the best result they’d gotten so far.
“We’ll need to go down and check. There could be any number of factors on the planet’s surface that make it unsuitable.”
His caution wasn’t enough to bridle Bethany’s optimism. She’d grown up in wide-open spaces. She hated living on a spaceship. Even a dangerous planet would be better than this.
Klowix smiled at her. “Maybe you’re right. Maybe this is the one.”
He helped Bethany maneuver herself into the bulky suit that would protect against the elements down on the planet. The small pod took them down, shuddering through the atmosphere. Bethany stared eagerly out the window as Klowix expertly guided them down. He aimed for a flat piece of land, and they came to rest smoothly.
Bethany unstrapped herself and made for the door, but Klowix held her back. “Wait. It is customary to name an unexplored planet before setting foot on it.”
“What are we going to name it, then?”
“I was thinking of giving you the honor.”
Bethany thought for a moment, and it came to her. “Secrena. It’ll be called Secrena.”
She could just see Klowix’s smile through the clear part of his face mask. “Secrena it is, then.”
The door made a faint hissing sound as it opened. Bethany peered eagerly around Klowix’s shoulder. It was bright – brighter than Telion or earth. She squinted slightly until her eyes adjusted. Klowix stepped out carefully, turning this way and that, watching for any threat.
He looked at the meter on his wrist. “Micro gas levels coming in now. Fifty percent oxygen, some nitrogen, some argon – this looks good. It’s a much higher oxygen concentration than we’re used to, so we’ll have to go slow with it. Set your meter to increase the oxygen levels by two percent every hour.”
Bethany did as he said, showing him what she’d done just to check that it was correct.
“Good. We should be able to take off these masks tomorrow, if we haven’t found anything to chase us away by then. For now, let’s see what else this planet has to offer.”
Klowix pressed some controls on the pod, turning it into a land rover. The two of them climbed in, and Klowix set off. They went slowly, letting the various antennae record their measurements. The soil was rich and there were many towering trees and lush vegetation.
Klowix took them to the edge of what looked like a forest and they travelled alongside it for a while. The rover wouldn’t go in there; there were too many trees. They’d have to go on foot. They found a stream and tested the water. Klowix had the rover’s arm pick various fruits and nuts from trees to test them for edibility.
Bethany jumped the first time they saw an animal. It was small and dark brown, with bright eyes and sharp little teeth. At a command from Klowix, the arm of the rover snapped out and pierced it through the neck, killing it instantly.
“Klowix! It was just a cute little fuzzy animal.”
Klowix remained calm. “If we’re to survive here, we’ll need to eat meat as well as fruit and nuts. We need to test the animals here to see if they’re suitable. We’ll also need to screen them for any diseases that could pass on to us.”
Bethany nodded, but averted her eyes from the sad, floppy sight.
“You’ll need to get used to this. We’re all alone out here. If we’re going to eat, we’ll need to hunt, skin, and gut animals ourselves.”
Bethany thought she would be sick inside her mask. She’d never exactly thought that far ahead. She glanced up at the trees around them. “Maybe I’ll start a career in picking fruit.”
Klowix shrugged. “If you prefer. We can work out specifics later. I did tell you this was going to be hard.”
“You did.” Bethany took a deep breath. “I understand. Is the animal edible?”
Klowix looked at the screen that was running a diagnostic. “No, this would make us sick if we ate it.”
Bethany’s heart sank. What if this planet wasn’t suitable after all? She didn’t think she could bear going back to the ship for months on end, not now that she’d gotten another taste of being outside, being free.
The ride went on and on. They found many more animals, plants, and water sources, and Klowix tested them all. To Bethany’s relief, they did find some animals they could eat. By the time the sun started setting, though they’d certainly found possible dangers they’d need to look out for, all indications were that if they were careful and smart, this planet may just work.
Bethany watched as Klowix deployed the drones to search the planet for other intelligent life and anything else that may be relevant to them. She helped him set up the various climate monitoring equipment pieces.
“Can we stay here tonight?” Bethany sounded hopeful.
“We should go back to the ship.”
“I thought the rover could convert to a secure shelter.”
“Yes, but not as secure as the ship. There may be large predators that come out at night. We can return tomorrow.”
She reluctantly acquiesced, giving the planet one last hopeful glance before she stepped into the pod that the rover had shifted back into.
Klowix adjusted the oxygen on the ship before they took off their masks. Tomorrow, they’d be able to go without them.
Bethany barely slept that night, and the next day, she had to force herself to eat before setting off. Klowix had them put on different suits – these ones weren’t mean to protect against possible violent or chemical forces, but were simply sturdy, providing protection and support.
“If all is well, we’ll go into the forest today.”
Bethany crossed her fingers, glad to be using less bulky suits. They spent a good hour on the ground analyzing the results from last night. The footage from the drones did indeed show large predators that came out at night, but after analyzing it, Klowix said that they wouldn’t be a problem, as long as he and Bethany built a secure shelter and were back before dark.
There was a steady breeze blowing – Bethany could feel it against her skin, now that she wasn’t fully sheathed in a suit. It was warmer than she was used to here, but the breeze helped bring the temperature down.
In the forest, vines were hanging down from the tall trees, and the ground was soft and spongy. Bethany saw a variety of flying bugs around. Klowix used a fine net gun to capture them, testing and recording each and every one.
So far, only one was venomous; a bright blue butterfly that Bethany had wanted to let land on her hand. Klowix said that touching it shouldn’t hurt her, as the venom came through its saliva, but he didn’t want her risking it.
It was exhausting, making their way through the thick forest, but Bethany’s hope kept her on her feet. There still wasn’t any indication they couldn’t stay here. Even Klowix was beginning to look hopeful.
As the days went by, more and more data came back from their equipment. It seemed that they were on the warmer side of the planet. Farther west, the winters would be harsh. Klowix said that they may want to move a little further up, since in the height of summer, the calculations showed that the area they were currently in would become swampy, with a possibility of diseases.
He calculated that they could still stay in the milder climate while avoiding possible disease by adjusting their position just a bit. They monitored for seismic activity, wind and ocean patterns, changes in weather – everything seemed fine. Not perfect, but fine. As long as the results kept coming in as they were, Bethany and Klowix would have to be careful around certain things, but they could do it.
Klowix began launching satellites into space around the planet Secrena, finding out more about the surrounding solar system. Bethany was constantly amazed by the advanced technology they had with them, and how it managed to get all of the data they needed. Klowix explained that Evions had been settling planets for some time, and had perfected the art long ago.<
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It took weeks, but finally, Klowix declared Secrena fit to habitation. Bethany leapt into the air and threw her arms around him, kissing him fiercely. Klowix laughed and kissed her back, his face shining like she was sure hers was.
They brought the ship down to the surface and began the hard work of building a home. They moved a little further west, and found a spot sheltered by a small mountain. Klowix said they’d need a sheltered spot, since the wind would get pretty brutal later in the season, but he didn’t want to go into the forest, as there were too many dangers there.
Their new home was built under a small cove in the rock. There was fertile ground between them and the forest – they’d have to build fences to keep scavengers away from their crops. They quickly explored the nearby forest, identifying the trees and bushes with edible and medicinal fruits, roots, and leaves.
Bethany had expected to have to chop down trees and make planks for a house, but it turned out that the ship they’d arrived in was prepared for everything. It spat out brown bricks of some kind of dense plastic. Klowix assured her that they would be well insulated.
As they stacked the bricks on top of one other, a chemical reaction between the surfaces melded them together. Bethany had no idea how to build a house, but Klowix seemed to have no trouble, so she simply followed his directions.
They also made a perimeter, setting down long rods around the area they intended to use, which quickly stretched into high walls. They’d have to wear their protective suits when they went into the forest to hunt or gather, but Klowix managed to divert a nearby stream so that it went through their complex, so at least they wouldn’t have any trouble getting water.
“Once we’re settled in, we’ll need to work on creating antidotes to the known poisons here. For now, though, we’ll just stay away from anything we know is dangerous. I imagine that soon enough, we won’t even need our protective suits in the forest. We’ll learn how to move and what to avoid, and I imagine animals will learn to avoid the area we frequent.”
She nodded, and he went on.
“This may mean we’ll need to range farther for hunting, but it’s a small price to pay to have our gathering areas safe. There’s no shortage of animals around here, and at least one of the edible species won’t range far; their habitat is very specific. As long as we’re careful, we’ll have a good supply of meat for a while to come.”
“What about medicine and weapons?”
“We’ve got enough to last us a good while, but eventually medicines and ammunition will run out. That’s why we’ll need to start creating our own remedies and weapons as soon as possible, so that we’ve got a long-term solution that relies only on what we can gather from Secrena.”
“Do you know how to do all this?”
“I know the basics. The ship has more complex instructions on the finer details. We’ll work it out.”
Bethany nodded. “Any more information on the life forms?”
“Those big cat-like things are still the largest predators we’ve detected. There doesn’t seem to be any other intelligent life, but those little brown creatures we saw on the first day seem to be about the smartest things here.”
“Do you think I could keep one as a pet?”
Klowix laughed. “We’ve got a long way to go on basic survival before we can start thinking about pets. Besides, it would be cruel to steal an animal out of its natural habitat. If you want a pet, you need to find a baby that’s abandoned, or whose parents have been killed. Something young and trainable that would have died had you not saved it.”
“I’ll keep an eye out. We should start establishing trails in the forest. Maybe we can tie markers on the trees?”
Klowix shook his head. “We’ll want to learn to find our way by natural markings. For now, if you get lost, use your navigator, but those won’t last forever.”
Bethany looked out at their swiftly developing complex. “We’re going to be ok, aren’t we?”
Klowix put an arm around her. “There’s no one who can hurt us here. The king doesn’t have a chance of finding us this far away. We’re going to be just fine, Bethany. Just fine.”
Chapter Twenty
“Hello?”
The voice was crackly, but Bethany could at least make out the words. “Hello? Can you hear me?”
“Bethany? Is that you?”
“Culip! You have no idea how good it is to hear your voice.”
Klowix fiddled with the controls, and some of the crackling decreased.
“We were all so worried; we didn’t know if you were alive or not.”
Bethany glanced at Klowix, at the now mostly healed gash he’d gotten from one of the ciatri – what they’d named the biggest predator on Secrena, their biggest threat.
“There have been some moments, but we’re ok. We’ve been here for over four months and it still feels like there are a million things to do.”
Culip spoke quickly. “Tell me everything.”
“Well, we’ve got a good shelter, and safe places where we can gather food and water. Klowix is getting great at hunting with the spears we’ve been making. We’ve also got medicine, though we’re still working on expanding that. Winter is setting in, but where we are, it shouldn’t be too bad.
“The wind will get bad, though, so we’re trying to set up some kind of shelter over our crops so that they aren’t stripped away. We’ll need to use mirrors to make sure they get enough sunlight and so forth. But what about you? How are things in your part of the galaxy?”
Culip hesitated. “Things – they’re not so good. When the king moved against the humans on Telion, it started a war, and it’s not just on Telion anymore, it’s spreading throughout the galaxy. The intergalactic armies have been called in. It’s pretty grim.”
Klowix called from where he was. “How bad is the fighting?”
“It’s really bad in some places; not as bad in others.”
“Can I rely on you to help me?”
Culip nodded. “Of course. What do you need?”
“There are factions set aside for just this sort of thing all over the galaxy. I would know; I contributed many soldiers from the Telion army to such efforts. They need to be brought into this as well. I can give you the passcodes. This will not stand; once all the galaxy’s forces are mobilized, freedom will win out.”
Bethany sounded worried. “Are you safe?”
“Safer than you, I think. You and Klowix are wanted by Telion, wanted very badly.”
But Klowix was confident. “He has no hope of finding us here. While I may not be able to participate in the war as a soldier with a price on my head, I can help in another capacity, apart from giving you the codes. This planet is large and fertile. It’s too far out of the known galaxy for anyone to find, at least not without the coordinates.
“I urge you to come here, Culip, and bring the other girls with you. You’ll all be safe here. We’ll need to be careful about who we trust in order to keep our location a secret, but we can bring refugees here to start a new life.”
Culip nodded. “They could use it. I’ve seen all those displaced by the war so far. Some are hunted simply because they are born human or Evion. It’s madness.”
“Talk to Tolo. He can put together a team and bring help. They’ll need to get hold of a telling device to make sure that none are spies who intend to release the location, which will be difficult, but I have faith in him. Once others start arriving, we’ll need to restrict communication to other planets, at least for a while, until they can be fully trusted. First, though, you and the other girls. If you want to, that is.”
Culip seemed to think for a few moments. “I’ll come. I can’t speak for the others, but I imagine they will as well. We could all do with a peaceful place right now. If you’re going to bring more people than us in, though, you’ll need to take precautions.”
“That’s what I was just talking about.”
“No, I mean more than truth testing and communication. You need
to make sure that no one can ever find your new planet.”
Klowix leaned back, frowning at the communicator. “I’m listening.”
“Space is vast. The chances of someone just happening to bump into you are negligible. The way people will find you is by being given coordinates, and once they’re closer, detecting the planet on their sensors. If you can prevent those means, you can prevent detection.
“Once that’s done, we can even work on shielding the planet so that from the outside it looks like a toxic wasteland, just in case anyone does bump into it.”
“Culip, those are good ideas, but what possible way do you propose we do any of that?”
She sounded enthusiastic now. “I’ve been thinking about it ever since you got that first message through, saying you’d found your own planet. First, we’ll have to make it so that the planet’s coordinates change constantly. Well, not really change, but appear to change.
“We’ll need to do that by manipulating gravitational forces around it. If we can get certain asteroids to orbit in certain ways, it could cause enough irregularity to do it. We’d need ammunition to blast asteroids into new orbits, but that can be done.
“We’ll also need to make the planet invisible to sensors. I’ll have to look at that once I’m there, but that won’t be nearly as hard as the coordinates. We could probably build something that does it, as well as puts out a different physical image. Then it’s just a matter of making all communication untraceable, and the only way anyone will find you is if they crash land there.”
Klowix was clearly thinking hard now. “There are memory modification drugs for that, you’re right. You must get here as soon as possible so that we can begin.”
Bethany seemed confused. “Aren’t you guys forgetting something? With all of that, no one will be able to find us. No one will be able to join us.”
Klowix frowned, but Culip seemed to have all the answers ready. “We’d need to build a specific homing device in a ship. That ship would be able to go back and forth to fetch people, though we’d need to set the homing device to self-destruct if it doesn’t get the correct code from someone on the planet every twenty-four hours.”