Page 29 of The Program

Libby and I backed away slowly with our hands raised, palms out, when Karmella snapped her teeth at us. The clacking sound echoed throughout the stone structures from all directions, the effect disturbingly eerie. When she realised we weren’t about to try to attack or steal her baby she ceased her aggressiveness, though she still maintained her posture ready to defend or attack if we posed a threat.

If this continued it was going to get old quick.

Libby grabbed my arm and yanked me along behind her in her haste to get us as far away from the scary lady as possible. We passed the giant creature that we were almost finished fencing in on our way back to our makeshift kitchen to grab some dinner for ourselves. The past couple of days had been spent carving bowls out of rocks, making weapons and teaching the women who needed it how to hunt. The amount of snares and spears we’d accumulated was impressive, and the girls caught on quickly. The only ones who weren’t participating were Karmella and Driselle, though no one much minded them keeping their distance.

Overall, despite the setbacks we’d already faced while setting up our little community, some aspects had been smooth sailing. It gave me hope that wecould work through our issues to become a truly cohesive unit that could raise their children together in peace.

I also had the feeling that once we had everyone’s kids back they would calm down enough for real progress to be made. Progress that wasn’t dependent on our immediate survival.

The redhead was Francesca, and she was currently our designated chef. Her partner was the blonde lady that had helped start the fire our first night here. Both women sat by the fire morning, noon and night to ensure any meat we caught was cooked and prepared into meals that were, quite frankly, delicious. Especially considering we didn’t have the same ingredients or facilities others took for granted. It was my understanding that even those from the Border System were provided kitchen equipment, even if they were of low quality. The means to make meals was a universal right within the Intergalactic Union, and though we were managing, it was clear we were going to have to create a better kitchen system if we were to survive, even more so with our growing numbers.

Francesca already had bowls waiting for us which she handed over when we approached. Steam rose from the broth and I breathed deep, inhaling the scent of meat and herbs. On our first hunting trip, a few of us had discovered some patches of herbs that we’d recognised and were sending out pairs daily to forage for more. There were also some root vegetables that looked promising, but none of us were willing to test them out. We’d taken note of the ones the local wildlife seemed to eat without any issue, but the problem was that we couldn’t trust that what was safe for them was safe for us.

So we settled for meat that Francesca boiled with the herbs. There was an abundance of those ingredients, at least. When I left to rescue the children, I was also compiling a mental list of items that I could bring back if I got the chance. Vegetable seeds was one. If I could find some grain to plant I wouldn’t say no, either. Freshly baked bread would go a long way in lifting spirits around here.

I was already mapping out areas we could use as farmland. We wouldn’t be able to do anything too extreme for fear of pointing a flashing neon arrow directly at us for The Program to locate us. Instead, we would need to create planters we could store inside the cave. If I could steal a few mirrors, I couldset them up in one of the tunnels that let in some sunlight to create a space for plant growth.

I had yet to check out the downed spaceship, but I had a feeling there were quite a few supplies we could use in there. For now, I was going to settle for fixing it up enough to fly. Picking it apart could wait until I came back with the kids.

‘Thanks Franny,’ Libby said, purposefully needling the other woman. I liked what I knew of Francesca so far, so I didn’t understand why Libby was poking at her.

As expected, the redhead didn’t react kindly to the horrible nickname. ‘It’sFrancesca,you pea-brained dimwit,’ she snapped. ‘Call me that again and I’ll spit in your food.’

‘Pea-brained dimwit. I like that. It has a nice ring to it. And you can spit in my food any time you like,’ Libby shot back, the response oddly flirtatious. I wondered if there was more to her teasing than she was letting on. I’d have to ask her about it when we had a moment alone. I wasn’t sure if she was attracted to men, women or both, but I was getting the sense she had a little crush. Of course, she’d never had a crush before so I had nothing to compare her current behaviour to, but she certainly wasn’t treating any of the other women the same as poor Francesca.

We took our bowls to the ledge so we could eat with a view. On the left was the forest, lush and brimming with life. To the right the trees thinned out into grassy hills surrounding a river of the mountains’ melted runoff. And then there was the mountain range. The valley was wedged between two of the shorter mountains, and from our vantage point we could see the peaks of the larger rocky masses over the top and continuing in a jagged line in both directions.

What made this particular view so fascinating was more than just the stunning wildlife, but the mountain’s rocky material. Dotted throughout were vast crystals of varying colours, from pinks and purples to blues, greens, yellows and reds. An entire rainbow of shades glistened under the sunlight and reflected off the river, giving it an ethereal, multi-hued shimmer.

Unfortunately, Libby chose that moment to break through the peace. ‘So… do you wanna talk about it yet?’

It was the same question she asked me every day, barring the last few while we were in the company of the others. I thought I’d gotten out of her barrage of questions about my time at Nova Academy, but it seemed she was still going to hound me for details.

Ever since we’d been reunited the day Bal was born, she’d known something was up with me. She saw a melancholy in me that was different from the hopelessness I’d exuded while in captivity before my escape and she’d latched onto it with a vice grip and refused to let go.

‘Nope,’ I said, popping the P.

She nudged me with her shoulder while holding her bowl, and a drop of broth spilled out and onto my leg that she ignored. I, however, threw her my most unimpressed glare. ‘Oh, come on. Something happened. Or someone. Was it T? How come you won’t talk about him? I know he’s the one who caught you again and everything, but you can’t bottle it up. It’ll just explode out of you at the worst possible time, you know that.’

I huffed, turning back around to face the horizon in the distance. ‘There’s nothing to talk about.’

‘Liar. Come on, tell me. I can’t help if I don’t know.’

‘Libs, there’s nothing you can do to help anyway. Just let it go.’

She scoffed. ‘Not happening. Spill.’

‘No.’

‘Yes.’

‘No.’

‘You owe me.’

Fuck.Why did she have to pull the guilt card?

‘Fine. Ask.’

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