Colony One Read Online Free PDF

and working together because this is not a short trip.”
    Lucinda looked like she might say something, but Skylar stopped her with a look. It was not an unpleasant look – quite the contrary. It was a friendly kind of reproach.
    Skylar looked up and gestured, “I see there are still many unclaimed bunks. What is the objection to choosing one of those?”
    Lucinda’s demeanor shifted dramatically and she hesitated to answer. Demetri watched her expectantly. After a lengthy silence and after it was clear she could not go without an answer, she finally admitted begrudgingly, “I have a fear of heights, alright.” She blushed and looked away, trying to maintain her tough exterior.
    “And you voluntarily boarded a space ship ?” Demetri’s first response was knee-jerk and he immediately regretted it as Lucinda’s cheeks flushed a deeper red. His dubious look softened as he observed the woman’s shame and the others looked on disapprovingly. “Sorry,” he apologized in a short, abrupt burst. “It’s fine,” he conceded and bent down to pick up his bag. “The bunk is yours.”
    “I don’t want pity,” Lucinda reacted with narrowed eyes and crossed arms.
    Demetri shook his head, “Let’s call it a peace offering.” He paused, and then continued, “Lucinda.”
    The woman wet her lips and finally nodded after a pause, “Lucy. You can call me Lucy. Thanks. And sorry about the…” she gestured to her head, indicating the scuff of hair on his that had been disturbed by the scuffle.
    “Okay, Lucy. I’ll be right up there if you need me.” Demetri pointed to a vacant bunk on the opposite side’s second level and made his way through one of the gaps in the center table to begin climbing the ladder. The spectators moved out of his way and began to disperse with the détente.
    Skylar nodded her approval of the resolution. She watched the other passengers – their looks reticent in response to the rocky beginning to their journey.  “This is all just temporary, folks.” She assured, “Remember that.”
     
    ɸ ɸ ɸ
     
    Across the ship, Alexa and her group hadn’t bothered with bunk assignments. Instead, they sat at the common table at the center of their compartment – Luca leading the conversation with enthusiasm.
    “It all still feels like a dream!” Another passenger admitted. “From getting the acceptance notification to the fact we’re in space this very moment.”
    Alexa only half listened. In her semi-focused state, she noticed the woman with the silk hair was sitting apart from the main group. She recalled that she had not seen this woman speak, or interact with anyone, really. She seemed like a ghost of herself – only able to observe what was happening. “Hey,” she interrupted whoever had been speaking by calling out to the woman. “What’s your name?”
    She looked up from her trance-like state of staring at the metal table. Everyone turned their attention to her. She blinked at Alexa for a moment before speaking her name – “Jia.”
    “Hi, Jia. You okay?” Alexa asked, feeling her field training bubble to the surface. The look on Jia’s face reminded her very strongly of post-traumatic stress disorder. Jia looked at the faces watching her and nodded meekly.
    Luca, trying to help, added – “So why’d you sign up for this trip, Jia?”
    The look on the woman’s face could only be described as trapped. She glanced down, and then back up, “Please excuse me,” was all she said as she stood. The group watched as she made a quick exit.
    “Maybe she’s space sick?” Someone guessed.
    “Is that even a thing?” Another asked.
    “Well, I know when I first heard…” Someone else took up the question and Alexa felt her focus drift again to her own memory of when she’d first heard of the colonization effort.
     
    ɸ ɸ ɸ
     
    She had woken abruptly to loud banging on the door of her loft apartment. The sound ripped her from a deep, whiskey-induced sleep. ‘Loft’ was a