“I think it's time we colonized the planet.”
You have come up to the bridge to talk to .
“, I don't know. I mean, with only three-”
“I think it's time we sent someone planet side. We have six people who know how to run everything around here.”
“Yeah?” chortles. “Lee's just a kid ! What does she know?”
“She spends all her time with you. I bet she knows more than I do about the habitation technology we are going to set up.”
“That's not saying much.”
“Hey!”
“Relax, I'm just teasing. Seriously, I think the only reason she sticks around is to hang out with Mark. I don't think she really cares about this colonization stuff. But I think you might be right about colonizing.”
“Yeah?”
“We are kidding ourselves if we think there is anything else we can do. We have a plan, we have everything set up. Even if Jo pops a couple more out it will be years and years before they can really help.”
“Cool. I'll head down to the planet.”
“Yeah right.”
“What? Why not?”
“Well, first of all, you never did bother to learn how any of this stuff works.”
“Yeah, it's boring,” you say as rolls her eyes.
“And second of all, you're the one making babies around here. Your big head might be worthless, but we have to keep your little head safe,” says. You think you can see a twinkle in her eye.
“Yeah, I was thinking about that.”
“Oh?”
“Well, Mark can take care of that now, can't he?”
“Oh God .”
“Well, he can. Also, we need someone to stay up here to manage the ship and someone on the ground to set up the habitat.”
“Yeah sure.”
“And we can't exactly go back and forth a lot. We want to land the colony ship at some point and need enough fuel to maneuver during the landing.”
“Yeah I guess.”
“So I think Mark and I should take two women each and split up between the ship and the colony. That way we'll have a backup in case anything goes wrong planet side and we'll still be able to grow the colony.”
is scowling at you. “Only you could think like this.”
“Well, what choice is better? It will still be years before we can wean the colony off of stuff from the ship's greenhouse. And it's easy to see who should pair off. Mark and Lee are practically an item. She should stay with him.”
“And I guess Jo should stay with you.”
“And you... well, I'm really sorry about what I did to you.”
“It's OK. It was necessary. I know that. If you hadn't, we wouldn't have Mark.”
curls into a ball as she rubs her temples. You follow her as she drifts about the bridge.
“Yeah," you reply, "I guess things have gotten better between us but I see how close you are to Mark. I think you should go with him.”
“Oh God. I've never even looked at him like that.”
“Like what?”
“You know. Sexually,” says as she aims a kick at you.
“It doesn't have to be sexual. It's just that-”
“Of course it would be you idiot. That's the point. He's going to need to... well, I can't be selfish.”
You grab 's hand. She gives it a hard squeeze.
“Well, it's settled. Lee and I will be with Mark and you will take Jo and Julie,” continued.
“So the last question is 'who goes where?'”
“Ho ho ho,” chortles, “you and Jo handling habitat setup?”
“Well, that's where we'll need the most children. If you were planet side, that would mean you, Lee and Mark...”
“I KNOW. I almost think you get off on the idea. Look, could you send Mark and Lee up? I need to get them ready. We may as well go sooner than later.” |