In the sterile, white confines of her chamber at the Farm, Ellis reflected on the oppressive silence that had wrapped itself around her life, choking her with its relentless, unyielding grip. Her first attempt at fulfilling her role as a Farmer had ended in tragedy, the lifeless form of a Coreymartin child cradled in her arms, a cruel mockery of the life that she had hoped to bring into the world. The experience had left her hollow, a shell of the determined young woman who had boarded the transport, leaving behind the moon and everything she had known in pursuit of freedom.

Her second attempt had been no more successful, a miscarriage snuffing out the fragile flicker of life that had taken root within her womb. The loss weighed heavily upon her, the guilt and shame festering like an open wound that refused to heal. She had chosen this path, chosen to sacrifice everything for the promise of freedom, and yet, she could not help but feel that she was failing, her body betraying her at every turn.

The days and weeks passed in a haze of numbing sameness, the monotonous routine of the Farm crushing her spirit like the unyielding grip of a vice. The other Farmers, women like her who had chosen to give up their lives in pursuit of freedom, seemed distant and hollow, their eyes haunted by the ghosts of the lives they had left behind.

In the midst of the despair and loneliness, Ellis found herself clinging to the memories of her friends and family, the warmth and love that she had once known serving as a beacon of hope in the darkness that threatened to consume her. She remembered the fire in Lyitem's eyes, the unwavering support of Oudwi, and the stern but loving guidance of Sensei Riker. They were a lifeline, a reminder of the world that she had left behind and the promise that she had made to find her way back to them.

With each passing day, Ellis found herself growing more and more determined to fulfill that promise, her resolve hardening like steel tempered in the fires of adversity. She knew that the path before her was fraught with danger and uncertainty, but she also knew that she could not falter, could not let the darkness swallow her whole.

They gave her a year to recover this time. During that time is when she found out.

The sun had long since set, and the sterile halls of the Farm were cast in a cold, unforgiving light. Ellis' heart hurt, her breath coming in short, sharp gasps as she struggled to contain the fury that coursed through her veins. She had just discovered the cruel truth that the Farm - there was but one Farm for all New Earth - had kept hidden from her and her fellow Farmers: lost children did not count towards their freedom.

Only live, healthy children without any birth defects would bring them one step closer to their release. They were expected to bear and raise each child for three years as a nanny, in conjunction with the allotted family, before surrendering them to the Coreymartin society. The cycle would repeat every four years, culminating in a total of five children. Only after fulfilling these obligations could a Farmer hope to keep a sixth child for themselves, finally earning their freedom.

As Ellis paced the confines of her small chamber, she felt the walls closing in on her, the stifling air thick with betrayal and deceit. The regime had manipulated her, had preyed upon her desperation and desire for freedom, only to bind her in chains more cruel and unyielding than any she had known before. The stillborn child and the miscarriage that had come before did not matter to them, their suffering dismissed as inconsequential.

Her heart ached with a mix of anger and grief, her thoughts consumed by the children she had lost and the uncertain fate that awaited the life growing within her. Was this what she had sacrificed everything for, had left her home and loved ones behind to endure? The thought of spending the next twenty years of her life trapped within the confines of the Farm, her every breath and heartbeat shackled to the whims of a cold, uncaring regime, was almost too much to bear.

As her thoughts turned to her loved ones, she impulsively reached out to her twin brother, Oudwi, initiating a clandestine video call. The screen flickered to life, revealing his familiar face, a mixture of concern and affection.

"Hey, sis," Oudwi greeted her, his brow furrowed with worry. "You don't look so hot. What's up?"

Ellis sighed, running a hand through her hair. "I'm just... really struggling, Oudwi. These bastards won't count my lost children towards my freedom. Feels like I'll be stuck here till the end of time."

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Oudwi clenched his jaw, his eyes burning with anger and empathy. "That's messed up, Ellis. I'm so sorry you gotta deal with this crap. But you know what? You're a hell of a lot stronger than any of them realize. You saved my life, and that wasn't easy to do. You got this - and I'm here if you need me."

As Oudwi spoke, Ellis noticed that he seemed distracted, his eyes darting around the room as if he were searching for something. "Yo, O, what's going on? You look like you're on edge."

Oudwi hesitated for a moment, shifting his gaze back to the screen. "Well, uh, I found something in the archives... nevermind. I can't say much right now, but I want you to know that I'm working on something. I thought I could trust Master Archivist Wavaders, but that was a near-fatal mistake." He let out a bitter, joyless chuckle. "Listen, I gotta run, gotta get my workout in. Love you."

Ellis felt a surge of hope, mixed with concern for her brother's safety. "Oudwi, for real, just watch your back, okay? Whatever you're up to, don't get yourself in too deep. Love you, too."

Oudwi grinned at her, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "You know me, Ellis. I'm always careful. But I promise I'll do everything I can to help you out. You ain't in this fight alone."

Before ending the call, Oudwi added, "By the way, I tried this amazing fruit the other day. It's called a mango. Have you ever had one? It's like a mix of a peach and a melon. And it's incredibly juicy." Ellis laughed, grateful for the brief moment of levity. "No, I haven't, but it sounds delicious."

Touching base with O helped. She was feeling better about things, better about being able to make it through this successfully. She started thinking about Lyitem again. They only talked on occasion, and those talks were becoming more and more perfunctory. She decided to be honest with herself - and with him. She still loved him, but it was the love of a best friend... and she was sure he felt the same.

She pulled his icon up on her glove and clicked it, expecting it to go to a messaging system, he was so busy all the time in the gladiator ring, and when not fighting for entertainment, policing with the Wardens.

To her surprise, he answered.

"Ellis!" Lyitem's face lit up on the screen, his eyes wide with surprise. "Didn't expect to hear from you. What's going on?"

Ellis took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves. "Hey, Lyitem. I just... I needed to talk to you. Is this a good time?"

He glanced around, the sounds of the training arena echoing in the background. "Yeah, I've got a few minutes. What's up?"

She hesitated, swallowing the lump in her throat. "I've been doing a lot of thinking lately, and I just wanted to be honest with you about something. It's about us, and how we feel about each other."

Lyitem's expression softened, his eyes meeting hers with genuine concern. "Go on, Ellis. You know you can tell me anything."

"I know, and that's what makes this so hard," she said, her voice trembling slightly. "I still love you, Lyitem, but it's not the same as it used to be. It's more like... the love of a best friend. And I think, deep down, you feel the same."

There was a pause as Lyitem took in her words, his face unreadable. "I... yeah, I think you're right, Ellis. Our lives have taken us down different paths, and we've both grown and changed. I'll always love you too, as my closest friend."

A bittersweet smile tugged at the corners of Ellis' lips. "I'm glad we can be honest with each other, Lyitem. It means the world to me."

He smiled back, warmth radiating from his eyes. "Same here, Ellis. And hey, no matter what happens or where life takes us, we'll always have each other's backs, right?"

"Always," she agreed, her heart swelling with gratitude for the bond they shared.

They talked for a few minutes longer; Lyitem had some leave coming up and he promised to visit. Ellis mentioned the mango Oudwi had told her about, and they shared a laugh, reminiscing about the strange foods they'd tried together over the years.

As their conversation deepened, they found themselves discussing the state of the world and their roles within it. "Sometimes I wonder," Ellis mused, "if Earth will ever be reborn, you know? Like, will the planet find a way to heal itself?"

Lyitem nodded thoughtfully. "I've thought about that too. Maybe it's up to us to help make that happen – to fight for a better future, not just for ourselves, but for the generations to come."

As they ended the call, Ellis couldn't help but feel a sense of relief. Her room felt a little less lonely.

As the silent night enveloped her, Ellis retreated to the narrow beams of starlight piercing through the darkness of her chamber. In a murmured prayer to the infinite expanse beyond, she beseeched the universe for the strength and fortitude to face the ceaseless trials that lay ahead. For she was but a frail and insignificant speck in the vast and incomprehensible world, beset by endless obstacles and inscrutable forces beyond her control. Yet still she whispered her supplications into the void, hoping against hope that some higher power might hear her cries and lend her aid in the face of such insurmountable adversity.