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The Colonization Mission
🕑 Added 2023-01-08 08:42:29 +0000 UTC
I've been here for over a month running final tests — I, Ignatius, the sole inhabitant of the massive staging ship orbiting Gliese 667 Cb, a large habitable planet in the constellation Scorpius.
The planet is nearly six times the size of Earth and its ground, soil, and atmosphere contain a wealth of extractable resources.
In the central decks, 1000 incubation chambers wait to be switched online, as do thousands of drones and droids below deck in the warehouse.
Sure, it's lonely. My comrades are a large family of lab mice and a rather stuffy AI assitant who I have put on sleep mode indefinitely after he talked trash about beating me at chess.
I've been looking forward to the next supply run. Andy will be by in three weeks. I saw him in Preszkyp on a stopover before beginning this mission.
"Hey, Ignatius. I'm stopping by Zek before I pick up the stuff at base and head your way to 667 — want anything?"
I nodded. "Yeah — beer."
"Beer! Ha ha, look at this guy. You've got every dose available in Zek to blast your synapses and you want a hangover."
"I guess I'm feeling nostalgic."
"Ha! No worries. I'll get you a few pallates of beer just for you. It'll get you through the colonization and then some."
Every day that passes, I taste that beer on my lips, and look forward to chess with Andy and a few laughs.
For now, to occupy my mind, I oil paint — yes, another archaic activity like beer drinking — but it's calming to my nerves. I look out the window, and paint what I see. Lovely Gliese 667 Cb. What will it be like down there?
But this morning, I am working with Annette. She's a mouse. A breeding female who was introduced to the colony. She runs along my fingers as I inspect her. She's healthy and pregnant. We are doing final tests on how Earth life will respond to the atmospheric conditions of Gliese. At this point, there is little concern, but the routine must be followed.
"You look like you're doing well, Annette."
She squeeks.
And then everything slams. Like a car wreck at high speed. A pure collision. A boom that makes my ears ring. I fall to the ground and hold on as the ship spins in place. Alarms sound. The lights flicker. Status messages boom across the speakers and echo down the empty halls.
"IMPACT DETECTED STABILIZING CRAFT IMPACT DETECTED PLEASE SHELTER IN PLACE IMPACT DETECTED"
I feel the stabilizers kick into overdrive. The entire station begins to hum beneath me. Thank goodness. The spin slows and the craft lurches back into a steady orbit.
The sirens stop and a voice comes from the speakers.
"Dr. Ignatius? Are you there?" It's Jax down at Alpha Base.
"Yes."
I pull myself up, my legs are jelly, shaking.
"We have detected a huge surge of energy passing through Scorpius."
"I felt it. It rocked the entire ship."
"Are you ok?"
"Yes." I rub my temples and look at the room. Even for an impact this severe, everything remained largely in place. "Where's Annette?"
"Excuse me?"
"Oh sorry, I mean, the mouse I was working with. I was about to put her back in the colony. What the fuck was that?"
"We aren't sure. It seems to be some kind of fluke energy pulse. We are trying to locate its origin."
I look around me in the lab for Annette, not finder her, and then turn back to check on the colony. "Shit."
"What Ignatius?"
"They're all dead."
"Who?"
"All the mice."
"God."
"And I can't find Annette."
"Well, I think it's cute you name your mouse."
"Shut up."
"It's fine. The tests are all passing. I think this colonization mission is going to go very well. There's nothing to sweat. It's just a few mice."
I frown at this comment and Jax's heartless opinion of life, one typical of many humans.
"So you're good, Ignatius?"
"Yeah. Yes, I'm fine. I'm ready to colonize this planet."
"That's the spirit!"
The feed clicks off.
I lick my hand and quickly brush my hair back. I twitch my nose. I think of Annette but see no reason to search for her.
I'm okay.
I'm all alone now. And there's not much to do. I'll paint later tonight. But first —
I leave the lab and head to the supply closet, stacking blankets in my arms and head back to my sleeping quarters. I spread the blankets out in every direction on the floor. Adjusting them. Moving them into place. Swiftly crossing the room. Making them just right.
I'm not sure why, I just think it could be more comfortable in here. I need it to be.
I stand back and admire my work. I'm going to need more. There's a palate of linens in the aux supply storage beneath the lower warehouse. I'll go now and bring some back and continue building a nice, warm little place for myself in my room.
I think of Andy. I'm glad he'll be here soon. I can already feel in my loins that I'll need the human contact very badly. I think he will find this room very comfortable when I'm done.
I slide my hand from my chest down my sides, my fingertips passing over my hardening nipples and eight new indentations astride my tummy, four on each side, each one sends jolts into my pelvis.
A warmth grows between my thighs.
My suit will need to come off soon.
Thanks for reading! Had a burst of inspiration and decided to do a fun (and different) one for the weekend. Hope you enjoy. - BL
