Memory transcription subject: Daniel Stat, human virologist

Date [Standardized human time]: August 24th, 2148

[Day 17]

It was almost time. Governor Maulo emailed me about a shuttle to take me and Silvon off-world. I just had to get her out of the hospital first. The nurse that helped stitch her back up earlier wheeled in a chair and began unplugging all the wires keeping track of her vitals. The flatline when the heart monitor was pulled made my head feel fuzzy.

I helped lift her from the bed into the chair, careful to keep her comfortable. “Thanks, Danny,” Silvon smiled up at me. I gripped the handles of the wheelchair and began rolling her down the hall. I desperately wanted to just start running. I needed to get my feet off the tiles beneath me before I sunk down into the depths.

“Are you alright?” Silvon asked, noticing the vacant look on my face as I wheeled her forward on autopilot.

My eyes focused on her, “Yeah, sorry, just thinking is all,” I answered.

“What’re you thinking about?”

“What we’re gonna do on Leirn,” I lied, “We’re bunking with Tinasi for a while, not sure if we’re gonna have a lot of privacy,” I tried to smile.

Silvon tilted her head, “As if privacy ever concerned you,” she giggled. We were both thinking of when Nulon interrupted us the other day. We broke into hysterical laughter. My mind was finally off the nightmares, if only for a bit.

“I’m sure we’ll find the time for each other,” Silvon assured me as we stepped out of the clinic’s door. The chair bumped over every crack in the sidewalk, but she didn’t mind much. There was an interstellar shuttle parked just off to the side of the building, identical to the one me and Maulo rode.

As we approached, the trunk popped open on its own, as well as the side doors. “Alright, you ready?” I asked.

Silvon nodded and I lifted her out of the wheelchair bridal-style and set her down in the seat with a kiss. “I’ll be right back,” I said, retreating to fold up her new wheels and stick them in the trunk. Once all was ready, I climbed in and sat down next to her.

“You have no idea how nice it is being out of bed,” she said.

“Oh, I’d bet. But imagine how much nicer it’s gonna be using your legs again.”

Silvon squeezed my hand and whispered, “Anything’s nice when you’re with me,” then kissed me.

I broke away after a few seconds and peered through the little window to the front of the shuttle. Nobody was in the driver’s seat, it was all automated. The doors clicked locked and we took off.

~~~

Memory transcription subject: Lewis Blake, human refugee

Date [Standardized human time]: August 23rd, 2148

[Day 16]

Porter was quickly moving people out after breakfast. I could tell he was tired from his night shift, but I pieced together that he felt he was the only person capable of keeping the place safe. It was pretty admirable. Charlotte kept talking to that little human kid, who I learned was named Jeremiah. He was Mason’s kid and real kind. The pair shared a set of crayons and scribbled on takeout menus and napkins while everyone else got ready to move out.

“Lewie! Look at this!” she exclaimed, handing me a sheet of crumpled and stained paper. It was a drawing of three people, a big guy with a gun, and a skinnier guy holding hands with a tiny venlil. All of us were smiling, and the scribbles above translated to ‘happy humans’.

“Aw thanks, Char!” I smiled warmly, “I love it!” I ruffled her fluff, carefully folded the drawing, and slipped it into my pocket. “I’ll keep it safe.” She beamed a flat-toothed smile and bolted off to draw more.

I was scared though. After hearing what Porter said the exterminators would do to her, a child no less, it was nerve-racking. I kept an eye on her at all times, if anything happened to her I wouldn’t be able to forgive myself. Funny, I guess, I only met the pup a week ago, but I’d give anything to keep her safe.

Ivan strode up to me, gun slung over his shoulder, and smiled warmly. “Lewis, are you ready?” he asked. I nodded, keeping my eyes on the pup who was happily scribbling away. Ivan followed my gaze, then patted me on the shoulder.

“She’s real lucky to have you, y’know,” he said. I gave him an inquisitive look.

“What?”

“She’s lucky. You’ve known her less than two weeks and you’re already practically her father. You could’ve told me you had kids and I’d believe you,” he stated. I thought of last night when Charlotte was having that dream. Maybe it was stupid, but I almost believed she called me ‘Da’.

I chuckled, returning my gaze to her, “I guess so. I’ve kinda always wanted kids. Little goobers to hang out with and all that,” I said.

“Well, you’ve certainly found your goober,” Ivan chuckled.

“Yeah, I guess I have. I don’t really know what’s going to happen after all this though. If we make it to Dayside, get her help and everything… I doubt I’ll ever get to see her again.”

Stolen novel; please report.

“Nonsense,” Ivan said, “If I were a parent, I’d be thrilled someone took care of my daughter during times like this.”

“Yeah, I guess that’s true. I’m not even sure if she has parents anymore though. I found her in the aftermath of a stampede, alone and crying. What if she has nowhere to go?” I asked.

“If she has nowhere to go, you give her somewhere,” Ivan answered. I smiled wearily.

“Ivan!” Charlotte bounded toward us, carrying another piece of art. This one was of Ivan in mid-air jumping through one of the domes.

“Oh! Excellent work, little lady!” he took the piece and examined it carefully, then mimicked the jumping pose, “You certainly got my good side!” the pup giggled and bounced in place.

“Alright then, we’re all loaded up,” Porter called from the kitchen.

Jeremiah ran over and hugged Charlotte, “Bye bye Char,” he said.

“Byyye!” she called after him.

We followed behind the group as Porter ran ahead and started assembling a little stairway up to the window out of bins and dumpsters. He hopped through the dome first, then helped bring all the children down. We watched the group slowly disappear into the dome before making our next move.

I pulled out my holopad and highlighted the quickest route to the north border, it would take us up past my old apartment building and through a few business blocks before we could start moving through the woods.

“You ready?” I asked. Ivan nodded. I retrieved the exterminator suit we had Charlotte in and got her into it. “Keep that rifle handy, and pray we don’t gotta use it,” I said.

We moved quickly down the sidewalk, ducking in and out of every alley along the way before we arrived at our first intersection. In the direction we had to move toward was the charred corpse with the crushed skull. There was a pool of formerly melted silver around its right hand, fused to the sidewalk.

I covered Charlotte’s visor as we skipped past. We were right alongside my apartment building now, the charred shell of its former self was desecrated with xenophobic spray paint from both sides. Humans proclaiming the venlil undeserving of our help, venlil proclaiming humans pull the government strings behind the scenes.

It was eerily quiet here too. Every step sent ash spiraling around us. We continued sliding behind cover and keeping a lookout before progressing, taking it one city block at a time. As we dove behind a dumpster next to my apartment, Ivan spotted a glint up ahead.

An exterminator strode down the street, flamethrower in hand. It didn’t notice us immediately and looked like it would walk past.

“Lewis,” Ivan whispered, “Do you still have that knife?”

“Yeah?” I said, unsheathing the blade and handing it to him.

“Don’t look, little lady,” he told Charlotte, who dug her face into my chest. The exterminator walked past, catching us in his peripheral vision, and spun around. But it was too late. Ivan lunged forward, driving the knife through the neck of the suit. Orange spurted from the exterminator and his flamethrower clattered to the floor in a puff of ash.

The radio in the suit peaked, and a crackled scream rang out but was quickly snuffed as Ivan drove the knife deeper. he fell to the floor writhing and gagging as more blood poured from the ruptured suit. He coughed heavily, wheezed, and grasped toward us, gurgling.

“One less problem. Let’s move,” Ivan said breathlessly.

“Oh god…” I muttered, keeping Charlotte close and her vision obscured as we moved away from the still-writhing exterminator.

We ran further, finally breaking into the business district. Across one street was a bank with broken windows, but a mostly secure-looking interior. We hopped inside, keeping our eyes on the streets outside for patrols. “Are you okay, Char?” I asked. The pup nodded her helmeted head.

“Okay,” I breathed, “Good, good, we’re okay,” I sighed.

I hugged her, more to console myself. I still wasn’t over any of the dying I’d seen the last few days. The sounds that the exterminator made while he choked on his own blood… god…

Charlotte’s helmet radio crackled softly, and I leaned in closer, “What’s that, Char?” I asked.

The crackling intensified, and then I registered the horrifying truth: She was coughing.

~~~

Memory transcription subject: Tinasi, yotul lab assistant

Date [Standardized human time]: August 24th, 2148

[Day 17]

There was a knock at the door. I hopped up from the couch, excitedly bounding to answer.

“Dr. Silvon! Dr. Stat!” I exclaimed. The couple looked well enough. Silvon was in a wheelchair but seemed to be recovering well. She had a bandage wrapped around her lower abdomen from the bullet. I hoped it didn’t have any lasting effects on her.

“How are you?” I chirped, stepping aside to let Dr. Stat wheel his fiancée inside.

“We’re great, Tinasi. Glad to see you again,” he replied, helping Silvon out of the chair and onto the couch. “You comfy, hon?” he asked. The venlil nodded and yawned.

“Oh if you’re tired I got the guest bedroom set up for you,” I said, helping Danny fold the wheelchair up.

“It’s okay. I want to get used to the day cycle here. I’ll just rough it ‘til nighttime,” she replied.

“Well, are you guys hungry?” I asked.

Danny patted his stomach, “I could eat,” he answered.

“Great!” I exclaimed, “I’ve been waiting for someone to come by that I could share some recipes with!” I retreated to the kitchen and clattered through the fridge for some baked goods I prepped the night before. Mama had a recipe for this really nutritious bread that I’ve been trying to replicate. I think I did a pretty good job with this latest batch, but I’d let my guests decide that.

I pulled the bread out of the fridge and set it up on the dining room table. “I hope you guys don’t mind a local recipe,” I said, then stopped dead.

“What are you-?”

Dr. Silvon was standing, on very shaky legs. Danny was helping her along. She was toddling like she was taking her first steps. “The doctors said she’d be able to walk when we got here. The lower gravity will help her recover faster,” he explained.

Silvon tugged her arms away from Danny and held them straight out, balancing on uneven feet. She almost tripped but managed to land herself in a chair at the table, grunting from her injuries.

“Great job, hon!” Dr. Stat cheered.

“Danny, please, I’ve spent 24 years walking around, I think I know how,” she said.

He raised his hands, “Alright, you’re the boss,” he grinned. “I’m still proud of you though.”

“Oh shut up,” she snickered. I began cutting apart the giant loaf of bread and dishing everyone out. I was excited to be working with the two again, but more so to just get to know them better. They were adorable together, feeding each other the slices of bread and just enjoying each other’s company. It made my home feel more lively too. Like how Mama and Dad were.