Page 5 of Rok's Captive
I go blank. “Do love languages count? You know I don’t speak any other languages, Jaqs.” But then, with a grin filled with mischief, I remember one thing. “Hasta la vista, baby.”
Jacqui bursts out laughing. “I’m going to guess you just used the Terminator line, just from the way you smirked.” She’s laughing hard now as I nod. “I heard it in English.”
“Wow.” I reach up and touch the little earbud. “That’s some technology. If the Xyma are sharing tech like this, no wonder everyone is scrambling to find something to pay the bills.”
Jacqui shakes her head. “If this is any indication, maybe this won’t be so bad after all.”
I laugh then, some more tension leaving my shoulders.
“DISAGREEMENT WITH THE TERMS HIGHLIGHTED IN THE LITERATURE WILL RESULT IN REMOVAL FROM THE PROGRAM,” the automated voice says again and I’m jolted back to reality. A hush goes through the bus as we’re all reminded this isn’t a holiday. We’re here for work. Lifting the flyer, I start reading at the same time that Jacqui pushes her shades up to balance on her forehead.
“Let’s see what we’re actually signing up for,” she whispers.
“The EXA Environmental Adaptation Research Program,” I read out loud. “An out-of-this-world experience awaits.” I scoff. Bet a human wrote that part.
The literature in my hand depicts planet Earth on the front of the flyer, facing what I assume is the planet the Xyma came from. It’s tan and looks like it’s filled with rocks and sand. Nothing like our little blue ball. When I open the flyer, I realize it isn’t a regular flyer at all, but that it has several pages folded inside. More like a manual than anything else.
Jacqui chuckles. “Who the hell is going to read all this?”
The bus turns a corner, and we join the line of traffic heading out of the city. Whoo. We’re really doing this.
“Says here participants will be placed in a controlled environment for the research period to test human adaptability,” I murmur, brows furrowing as I read. I flip through more pages. “And then there seems to be a list of…rules…” My frown deepens as I try to read the fine print. “Rules for duration of the research.” I read the title aloud. “No outside communication permitted during testing phases.”
“Makes sense for a controlled experiment,” Jacqui murmurs, her gaze skimming the manual. I see her eyebrow quirk. “Wait, are they saying we’re starting today? Like, right now? I thought this was just orientation.”
I’m staring at the manual, trying to skim fast to find where she saw this particular information. I see more rules as I go.
“Physiological monitors must remain adhered for emergency response protocols. All specimens, organic or otherwise, are property of EXA and will be reclaimed upon project completion. Voluntary withdrawal is only permitted prior to Phase 1 commencement. No unauthorized biological samples. No documenting procedures. No deviating from assigned schedules. No refusing medical examinations.”
“Fuck me now,” Jacqui utters and I’m sure I hear the bus driver growl. When my gaze shifts to him, his gaze flicks to us even though he should be watching the road. It’s unnerving. “Look at this.” Jacqui thrusts the last two pages of the manual into my face and a series of images greets my eyes. There are images of some harsh desert landscapes and what appears to be some kind of habitat dome.
“I get it now,” Jacqui says. “They’re taking us to the Arizona facility and they’ve probably set up some kind of habitat. We’ll live there during the research period in some simulated biome thing. Kind of like those habitat zones they used to test how humans would endure life on Mars.” I can almost hear her confidence increase the more she reasons out loud. “It says we’re starting immediately upon arrival.”
“Wait, what? We don’t have any of our things!” I protest, flipping back through the pages. “There’s gotta be some mistake.”
“Damn,” someone in the seat behind us mutters, and I glance over my shoulder to see a woman scowl at the lengthy fine print. With a roll of her eyes, she pulls a pen from her bag and simply signs. “Who the hell has time to read all this?” she mutters, glancing up at me. “But yeah, it definitely says immediate start. All necessary supplies will be provided.”
I feel a wave of panic rise within me. We can’t back out now; we need this job. But I’m wearing heeled sandals, for God’s sake. How am I supposed to survive in a research facility in these?
I shrug, trying to calm myself. We’re on the interstate now and moving fast.
“It says we’re supposed to be pleasant in all interactions and there…” Jacqui’s still reading. She brings the paper right up to her face, squinting at the fine print. “Hmm…there’s a data privacy thing here, too. At the end of the document. It says that by signing, we’re permitting the EXA as the only one dealing with our data.”
“Well, that’s a given. Why would we want them to share our data?” Scanning the flyer again, my gaze shifts to the road outside. What will we be losing? The few pieces of clothing left in our closet and the leftovers in the fridge? If we’re lucky, this will be a month of free room and board.
Fuck it.
I shrug, taking my pen out. My signature looks huge on the tiny line, but the moment I lift my pen from the paper it feels like it’s all settled. We’re in it now. Gaze shifting to the window, I watch the traffic go by. Here, in the coolness of the bus, the heat outside almost looks unreal. Beside us is a family in a station wagon that probably looked new two years ago. Now it’s packed with their belongings on top and what looks like three kids screaming at each other in the back. A lot of people have been starting over. Moving from the city to try living off grid so they can provide for themselves.
That would be me and Jacqui, too. But even that you need money to do.
As Jacqui signs and hands me back my pen, the automated voice sounds again.
“ALL CONSENTS SIGNED. THANK YOU FOR JOINING THE EARTH-XYMA ALLIANCE ENVIRONMENTAL ADAPTATION RESEARCH PROGRAM.”
I turn to Jacqui, brows slightly raised, as I look around for the camera. But just like the speaker, I can’t locate it.
“PLEASE SETTLE IN. IT WILL BE A LONG TRIP.”
