It wasn't long after Remus, Oberon, and Belenus left that the rescued prisoners started appearing—most in critical condition. Anyone with medical knowledge or powers was called upon to help stabilize and tend to the injured. It took the better part of the day to stabilize everyone we could, but we still lost some.

We expected more to come, both in body bags and in better condition, but they never came. It wasn't until they took Loki that we knew something went wrong. The horrible news he brought back was worse than any could imagine.

To experiment on children?

Turn them into weapons?

Unconscionable.

The teams working on terraforming Mars and evacuating us there are working overdrive. Making contingency after contingency, depending on what is likely to happen and what seems impossible. We can no longer accurately predict either the human's or Ra's actions. We have to be ready for anything, even the impossible.

There are only three days left.

Many of us have been working for over a week to implement plans for our survival. We don't have the time for a break, but we can't afford not to take one. We are far past diminishing returns. Everyone needs a few hours.

It is as I collapse on my bed that I hear the vibration.

Vulcan's watch was entrusted to me when they found Vulcan was still in contact with Ra. It was believed if anyone could persuade Ra to our side, it would be his mother.

Truthfully, I feel I was the worst choice.

The watch buzzes again, and I click the button to allow communication.

"You missed your check-in. Report." Ra's voice sounds through the small watch speaker. It sounds just as I remember it.

"I doubt Vulcan will be checking in again," I say intending to sound bold and resolute, but my tone comes out soft and slightly disappointed like it was when he was a child.

"Mother. Truthfully I never expected to speak with you again."

"When you left, you agreed not to interfere with our experiment. Yet I have found many instances of your interference."

"The humans are dangerous. Greedy. A virus on this world and any other they contact."

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"So were we, when we were young. You are too young to remember how we were before the signal. It united us. Suddenly, it made more sense to be a united world in a sea of other life than divided countries and races squabbling overabundant resources for bragging rights."

"You believe the humans will unite when faced with extraterrestrial life when they experiment and torture life they deem as 'other' on their own planet? I took you as smarter than that."

"And I thought I had taught you enough for you to lose that naivete."

"I believe it is you who are naive."

"The humans will respond to the signal soon."

"And then we will come to annihilate them." Ra's tone brooks no argument. I would bet the ships are already stocked and ready to depart.

"Why?"

"I have told you why."

"No, you have told me what you rationalize as why. Did I not teach you there are always multiple reasons people do everything. There is the external reason, the one which everyone will accept; and the internal reason, which is often to selfish to be spoken. I want the internal reason. Why are you doing this?"

There is silence on the other line. He was never very good about opening up.

"Ra, I will not be angry, I simply wish to know."

"Why are they always more important to you than me?"

"They aren't. No one is more important to me than you."

"That isn't true. I was always second. The humans need help, you come running. But when I need you? You are never there."

"When you were young, the human race was even younger. It was my responsibility to mediate negotiations between nations so they would not inadvertendly destroy precious resources."

"So I was just less important than your job?"

"I did my job for you. So that you might grow up in an easier world than I did. So you would not know hunger, pain, or bordom."

"I would have happily gone hungry if I had your attention."

"As someone who has known true hunger, I have to disagree."

He is silent for a moment, "If I said I needed you now, would you come? Would you give up your position and leave for my planet."

I ponder how to respond. He does not need to know I have already given up my position. "Yes. But I would ask that in return you leave the solar system alone and let us handle first contact."

"You protect them, even now."

"I protect the balance of the planet. A balance the humans are now an integral part of."

"And what of our people? Will you allow them to continue taking and torturing them? Are they to be left to die?"

"No. A plan is being put in place as we speak to protect all our people."

"Here is what is going to happen: when the humans send their signal, I am going to come. If I am satisfied with your protection measures, and you provide me with what might be an equal fight, I will take you and leave. If you do not show an ability to protect yourselves if it comes to war, I will obliterate the humans for our people's protection."

"You truly want to kill them?"

"I truly don't see another way. Taking all of you with me would upset the balance as humans continue murdering the planet. Force me to accept another way, Mother, and I will let them live for the pleasure of your company."

The line goes dead. We not only have to evacuate our people and terraform Mars, but now we also have to prove we can defend ourselves against Ra.

There isn't enough time.

I get out of bed and head to the door, glancing at the clock on my way. It is two in the morning.

I lay back down. This can wait until six when we are all fresher.