I press record on my wrist comp again, “this is Duane Bishop. Dr. Duane Bishop, formerly of The Galactic Federation,” I find it important to record my thoughts in this moment. Leave a recorded history of who I am, what happened here and how it all ended. I can’t think of what to say., and stop the recording.

I wanted to record my thoughts on life, and share my understanding of events. I simply can’t do it. With Marshall’s corpse on the opposite side of the roof I can’t seem to think. I was going to record my thoughts, send it out and jump from the roof. I’m not brave enough to shoot myself but I can close my eyes and walk forward until there’s nothing but air.

I was just going to jump, but then I decided to record my thoughts. It’s as if the ghost of Marshall is towering over me, not letting me end my own life, but I’ve got nothing left. I’m never going home, I just killed a true friend and the love of my life left me for dead this morning. I don’t even know what my philosophy on life is. I can’t believe I wasted time with Marki and Marshall recording the last moments of their lives. A morbid obsession and nothing more.

I check the status of the civilians on my wrist comp, and the numbers are dropping down. If Aaimina and her crew are out there, they won’t last long. I’m curious if the soldiers just began shooting or if there was some kind of talking beforehand. Either way, they won’t last long. I’m sure Draven had a plan for wiping everyone out or did whatever felt natural to him. I wish I could say I was surprised by the callousness of humanity, but after what I’ve seen here I’ll never be surprised again.

Never surprised again, I suppose that means I’ve given up on suicide. Maybe if I had been bitten instead of Marshall he could have turned that whole battle thing around. It isn’t far from here, about five miles, an open field in the center of the colony. It’s the place where people would be dropped off when they joined the colony. If I had the rover I could make it, but by the time I got there on foot everyone would be dead and I would be just another corpse on the pile.

“This is Duane Bishop,” I speak into my radio. “Is there an update on the evacuation,” there’s a long pause. “This is Duane Bishop, is there an update on the evacuation,” I ask again. Still no answer, I repeat once more, “This is Duane Bis-”

“We know who you are damnit,” a voice booms through my radio with a symphony of war behind it.

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“Thore?”

“Yes, we are being attacked. It was a trap. We got your message, there are many other survivors here, but we’re being slaughtered.”

“Is that Duane,” Niko’s voice comes through clear. “Duane, buddy, I’m sorry. Come get me,” he doesn’t sound like he’s joking.

An explosion goes off and I lose connection with them for a moment. “Don’t come here,” Aaimina voice comes through when the connection returns. “Don’t come here. They’re going to kill us all,” she doesn’t sound fearful at all.

“Shut up,” Niko yells at her. “We need all the help we can get.”

Thore shouts at the two of them. “I’m sorry, it was my idea to leave you two. I thought it would increase our odds of survival if we left you. We could use the two of you.”

“It’s just me,” I respond.

“Where’s Marshall,” Thore asks.

“He got bitten, not long ago. We got attacked too. Used some grubs to kill the attackers, one of the grubs got Marshall too,” I pause, thinking of how to share the rest. “He didn’t make it,” I couldn’t say I killed him, or even that he killed himself. I don’t want him to be remembered that way for some reason. Almost as if I think it’s shameful. Maybe I think it’s more shameful that I couldn’t protect him.

“I’m sorry you lost your friend,” Niko speaks.

“I considered him a friend as well. If we make it through this, we’ll drink and mourn him together,” Thore speaks.

“Do not come here,” Aaimina keeps shouting.

“We need the help,” Thore shouts.

She hasn’t said anything but I think she’s regretful, sorry and just can’t say the words. I don’t need to here her say the words, I’d come if she asked me to. I don’t even think she needs to ask me to, I’m desperate to go. Desperate just to see her again. Touch her again.

Marshall’s words just repeat themselves in my head, “there’s no point in focusing on work all the time, and never making time for love.” More prominently, “you’re going to be one hell of a leader for the folks out there looking to rebuild.”

“What’s the plan when this is over,” I ask, an odd question for a group in the middle of a gun fight.

“We do what humans have always done in the wake of destruction, we rebuild,” Thore responds.

That’s the only answer I needed, “I’m on my way.”

“We’ll try not to die before that so get here fast,” Niko responds.

“I said don’t come here,” Aaimina keeps yelling.

I pretend not to hear her as I head towards the ground floor of the building. I don’t know how much help I can be as just one person but I need to go. I don’t have any battle strategies or anything like that. Wait, yes I do. I quickly head back to the rooftop, and quickly download all the data on Marshall’s wrist comp. Now, I’ve got some. I’ll study them on the way over, I just need a way over. I think I have an idea but it’s a long shot. Still, it’s the only option I have.