Mission Day 5

DATE: 08/30/12119

TIME: 08:00

I was startled awake by the sound of Geo's alarm. With a sharp intake of breath I opened my eyes and took in the brightness of the room. I noted that my deep breath didn't send me into another volley of coughs which must mean the medicine is working. I still felt tired and weak, likely a mixture of the illness and for being in hibernation for so long. If the pod accepts me I must get back into shape.

Thinking about the pod just makes me anxious. I don't know what life is like here, what is important or useful. I'm afraid to find out what they will do to me if I am not useful. I was so wrapped up in my thoughts that I didn't notice Geo standing next to me until he tilted my face up with his slender, cool fingers.

I instinctually moved by head back away from his hand. "What are you doing?" I exclaimed, the irritation in my voice obvious. He keeps invading my personal space!

"I was talking to you, but you didn't respond. I thought that your illness might have gotten worse again," he said almost clinically, but I could detect a little worry in his voice.

I shook my head to clear it. "I'm sorry, I was busy thinking."

"About what?"

I hesitated. I knew what I wanted to ask, but I didn't know if I wanted the answer. "It's nothing."

Geo did not look convinced, but instead of pushing it further he took a small light out of the medical drawers and steadied it in front of me.

"I'm going to do a few tests to check your reflexes and recovery, ok?" I nodded. He shone the light in my eyes and was satisfied by how they responded. He had me follow his finger with my eyes, checked my throat, a typical exam. When in this mode he is very professional and brief. He had me sit at the edge of the bed and tapped my knee to see it react. I watched him as he focused on my exam and whispered, "what happens if I am not useful?"

His hands stopped what he was doing and he looked up at me. Our eyes met for a second before he turned back to the exam. "Those who are not useful to the pod are left to fend for themselves. Some try to survive on Ilterra, but it is dangerous and difficult. Most find a way to hitch a ride to the Labyrinth. It is a large trading port where someone can maybe find work. But most sell themselves into slavery."

I realized that I was holding my breath and slowly exhaled, my eyes cast downward in an attempt to hide my worry. It wasn't a guaranteed death, but it wasn't much better.

Geo finished with his exam and stood up, towering over me with his lanky tallness. "Try not to worry about it," he said as he placed his hand on my shoulder. The weight of it made my heart skip a beat and I began to wonder if my illness was kicking in again."It's hard not to," I confessed.

"I think you have skills that will be useful here. Your background in plants could be helpful now that we are terraforming Ilterra." I looked up at him and smiled a little with hope. "And besides," he said with a small smile, "you will have me to defend you."

My face was flushed pink after he said that. I looked down to the ground to hide my blushing cheeks. "And why would you risk defending me?" I asked coyly. My heart began to race a little while waiting for his response. Perhaps this long, blonde, blue-eyed man is starting to develop feelings for me, and I can't say I don't like the thought!

"Because I woke you. I am responsible for you now," Geo replied in a flat and serious tone. The pink immediately flushed from my face as my heart seized up with cold. Of course that is why he is giving me so much attention. He feels responsible for me, especially since he went against orders. It doesn't mean anything. And why would I be interested anyhow? I never once considered dating back on Earth, and while yes a lot of time has passed since then, for me it's only been a few days! Maybe I can blame these sudden new feelings on the hibernation as well?

My lips pursed a little and I looked up at him sharply. "I don't want to burden you-"

"-this is my doing. I am responsible," he said matter-of-factly.

"Please let me finish," I said while trying to mask my irritation. "After the trial, if we are both allowed to stay, we will go our separate ways. I don't want to burden you or anyone else. I will figure out a way to manage on my own," I stated with all the confidence I could muster to hide the insecurities rattling within me. I survived on my own after my family died on Earth, I can figure out how to do it here.

Geo's eyes narrowed and jaw tightened as we stared each other down, both stubborn and unwilling to back down. "We will discuss this after the trial then. I did not wake you just to have you end up dying from stubbornness!"

"Who said anything about dying? I will be fine!" I argued back.

"You don't know anything about this life! I am taking responsibility to make sure you are safe and well. You would think that you would show some sort of gratitude," he huffed.

"I am grateful, but I am not completely helpless! And I am not some baby chick that imprints on the first thing it sees!"

We glared at each other, and as Geo opened his mouth to begin a new series of arguments a light turned on behind the glass window. A young woman with a familiar shade of blond hair watched us with her bright blue eyes. Her white ship's uniform accentuated her very long limbs as she crossed her arms with a look of disappointment.

"Fantastic," Geo muttered under his breath.

The intercom in our room made a slight pop as it was turned on. "What was that, brother?" the young woman asked, her voice dripping with irritation. "You don't know what you've done, and I don't know if I can save you this time!"