Alien Breed

My jaw drops. “You’re not saying…"

He nods. “When we get back, it’ll be the future. Our families will be dead. The institutions we hold dear will have changed or crumbled. Everything we have come to know and love will alter.”

Well, so much for staying positive...

Next to him is Roy, another member of the weary crew. Running his hand through his peppered, unkempt beard, he gives a gruff laugh and shifts his weight to one side. “Good riddance.”

My throat feels tight. “Does any of this matter?” I ask. “We lost communication to Earth months ago when our relay interceptor died on us, remember? We are one day away from touching base on Avalon. Whatever you think about time as a concept is meaningless to the job at hand. We have instructions to mee

t with the first team. We’ll go over the briefing together.”

“And what, pray tell is that mission, Naomi?” Fassbender asks.

The condescension in his tone is just enough to drive me crazy.

“Construction,” I say. “We’re building a new tomorrow. That starts with a heavy sample and land analysis. We have the chance to hold a deeper understanding of this universe. With our help, people will live on Avalon. They’ll give birth and start families. Cultures will blossom. It’ll be marvelous.”

He can scoff all he wants, but it’s true. We’re the ones who are laying the foundations for the new world. Historians will write us into the history books.

Maybe that doesn’t matter.

On Earth, no family waits for my arrival. I used to have people, but I let them all go.

At any rate, I like to tell myself I let them go. An accident stole them away from me. Nothing extravagant. Just a simple car crash.

I remember the impact. White powder caking and stinging my eyes. I remember blindly reaching out for my parents as a man pulled me from the backseat.

The flashing lights. The tears. The understanding that it was all going to end.

Our peaceful little family was in shambles.

The vehicle’s steering chips malfunctioned. Impeccable automation led us right into oncoming traffic. It was a miracle I survived, but it felt like a curse.

I spent years in therapy. There wasn’t a foster family that could understand my pain.

They tried, I’ll give them that.

Everyone wanted to fix me, but there was nothing to fix.

The company recalled the vehicle and gave me a small relief fund. I was lucky enough to receive it when I turned eighteen. I had to fight real hard for that, but that’s another story.

I used the money for school. Some of it went to other things I didn’t need but wanted. A fancy dress or two. Things to make me happy. Things to make me forget.

I proved I could be the best in my class. I was going to travel to the moon and back.

I grew up. I flew to Avalon.

Today marks the twentieth anniversary of their death. It’s not something I’ve told the others. Frankly, it’s none of their business. It’s something I bury deep within my chest.

From my peripheral, I can see Halloway staring at me. His eyes dart as soon as I motion my head.

“What is it, Captain?” I ask.

“It’s nothing. Just pre-landing jitters, I suppose,” he mutters.

He suddenly appears sick with dread. He’s the captain, but he’s not always so great at keeping his cool. Hell, I don’t blame him. This journey has been difficult.

They won’t write about space madness in the history books.