“Mrrh?”
Mandy’s shoulder was being gently, if insistently, shaken.
“Hey, wake up. I have something to show you.”
“Wahd ime is it?” She shifted in the bed, propping herself up on her elbow.
“Where?” Jay laughed. “On Diana it’s just before dawn. Now, come on – get some clothes on.”
Diana. The only planet naturally habitable they had found in the last century.
The powers that be decided that it would be a good idea to have the people decide the name. It was a close call, and those who voted “Paris” and “Lohan” swear blind the vote was fixed.
The president was most indignant, being heard to say “If you can name a planet after a damned cartoon dog, why not after a celebrity socialite?”
It had taken Mandy 4 weeks to travel here, at speeds that meant she was younger then when she left and that the 5 credits she put in the bank would now have made her a millionaire. Or…something.
She hadn’t wanted to come. She wasn’t a traveller. Jay had told her it was just like a cruise – but she’d never been on the Desert Ships, the Atlantic Savanna to Neuropa wasn’t on her lists of things to do.
But she had missed him.
Seeing her home disappearing out of her portal window was heart breaking. The brown planet receding in the distance. Some of the bio-domes were big enough to be seen from orbit.
She had cried a little, remembering pictures her grandmother had shown her when it was still blue and green. But colour didn’t matter. She was leaving, and seeing, home for the first time.
She hadn’t seen anything of Diana on her trip in. They arrived at night – night being two earth days long.
“How long did I sleep? And where are you taking me?” Jay was holding her hand and leading her up a hill. It was dusty, she could see it kicking up, but there was something growing on it – like iGrass, but more matted.
“You slept most of the night, which is good – you’re going to need to adjust.”
At the top, Jay unrolled a blanket, got out a flask and sat down. “You’re going to love this.”
He poured a cup of something hot and handed it to her.
Mandy sniffed it. The air stung her nose. While it was oxygen, the composition was different. Her mind froze. “What..I have..what IS this?”
Jay grinned. “It’s new. We don’t have a word for the aroma yet. Taste it.”
She cautiously took a sip. “Oh..oh wow. This is…” She floundered.
“Yep – the closest thing we’ve come to coffee. Tastes like it smells.”
“Better!” She went quiet. “Is this safe?”
“It’s not killed the lab rats…” Jay watched the horizon. “It’s starting! Watch.”
The horizon was getting brighter, the inky purple sky was lightening. Soon a blue white light pushed against the horizon. For what felt like an eternity it pressed against the line before breaking forth.
The sky was white, and the landscape visible. Mandy shielded her eyes to look.
“Here.” Jay handed her a pair of goggles. “Just until you get used to it. You won’t need them often. We think that in 3 generations the kids will have evolved to handle it.”
He was grinning. “Our grand kids will be Aliens, Mandy.”
“Ours?”
He blushed. “Keep watching.”
In the light, the landscape was harsh. Everything was outlined, shadows were harder and the light bled the colour out of everything. She sat and watched, mouth open.
The sun climbed into the sky for about an hour when Jay nudged her. “Look over there.”
Off to the side a pinky, orange glow was forming at the horizon. “Wha-?” A new bulge pressed at the line, warmer, and soon the top of a deep orange sphere was pressing against the line.
Mandy’s breath caught. “Binary system.”
The second sun broke free to a cacophony of alien sounds. “Wild life. All home grown.”
Mandy blinked. Blinked again. She watched the colour rush into the world. The … She sighed and opted for “grass” until told otherwise … she sat on was a deep mauve, the dust red. She looked up at Jay.
Ahead of her, small tents and huts appeared as colours reformed.
“It’s beautiful.” She gulped a mouthful of the drink Jay had handed her. Even cold it was amazing.
“So, you staying?”
“What do you need an archaeologist for, Jay?”
He stood up. Taking her hand he pulled her to her feet, turned her round, and pointed.
“Well, we need to know who built those. How, and why.”
Mandy’s eyes grew wide. “Oh, I’m staying.”
