3 Years Later

“Oi, bring me those metal pieces Peewee!” June sits at the workbench into of her pod, working on welding various mpieces of metal she cast specifically as pieces for the rover. Peewee picks up a piece of the metal and brings it to her.

The holographic files and panels float around her as she drags them one after another onto the workbench's internal systems, casting projects of her blueprints onto the workbench for my precise and accurate engineering.

Hours pass as the duo works on the blueprints, mainly setting together the individual parts for the whole thing. “Alright, Great work Peewee, let’s take a break for now and have some tatties” Peewee hops down off of the desk and waits by the counter.

June gets everything around around for dinner, casually chatting with Peewee and making baked tatties with some fresh berries, and some white grape juice brought with her on the pod.

“Alright lil buddy, let's take a real quick look” She snaps her fingers and her suit projects a screen while being hung up on the wall next to them. She swipes into a couple of different apps and pulls up a scanning app to make sure everything made there is safe for both of them to eat.

After checking everything and the signs coming up good, June turns over to Peewee and says, “I know I Know, You're a wee bit hungry, so am I little buddy. But I gotta double check that after cooking these things that they don’t become toxic.”Peewee cocks their head to the side and looks up at her, “Hey, I know the thing is supposed to check for that stuff the first time but I’m tryna be careful. Now, let's dig in”.

During the meal, June realizes it’s been years since not eating a meal alone. The last time she can remember was the last day before leaving the foster home. The feeling of eating alone was always peaceful. Loneliness was comforting, so whenever being asked to hang out with coworkers or to eat with them she would always decline.

This thought made June kinda question the last few days she has spent with Peewee. She hadn’t realized it yet but she’s spent more time with Peewee than any person since she was 16. Companionship and the idea of it loomed over June for the rest of the meal.

The meal wraps up and June starts to clean up the dishes. “Soooo, how was it?” June smirks over looking for Peewee’s response to her question. A few clicks and squeaks emit from Peewee’s mouth, a satisfied look melts over their face as Peewee takes some time to rest on the bed. “That’s what I like the hear” June giggles.

Turning her head over to look out the window above her sink, she sees a reflection that resembles a familiar silhouette standing behind her next to the table just as she blinks, opening her eyes immediately to see that there was nothing there.

June looks over at Peewee who doesn’t seem to react at all, and then turns back to the window and then down to the dish in her hand. Her head feels hazy for a moment. She shakes her head, takes a deep breath, and gets back to washing the dishes.

After some time goes by they relax and let their food digest, the two of them get back to work, getting pieces ready and setting up a metal pad outside for when she gets the vehicle terminal installed. That terminal will allow her to repair and maintain her rover easier, while also projecting to put everything exactly where she needs it.

“Oh that’s right, Peewee, Y’know what I forgot about?” She starts rushing to the computer, “I can’t lift this crap by myself, I need a tool for this!” She hastily swipes through files and downloads software, looking for almost an hour as she gets lost in her search.

Year 2222

Project: BC Space Station of Science

“June, this is where we are with everything, the days are ticking and soon you’ll be headed out to ZX7. What final things would you like me to try and get ready for you?” A tall and skinny man with thick and wavy black hair covering most of his neck, looks back at June from his chair. His name tag reads “Eddison”.

“Ya know Eddy, how's that progress on the anti-gravity research coming along? Any big, new breakthroughs? I’d love to help ya guys with the research, Y’know you could use me.” June grins as she slaps the man on the back, his white lab coat flooding with the pressure.

“June-, You, I mean-” He starts the stutter over his own thoughts “The last time I let you help us, the higher-ups chewed me out because you're not on the research team, you're a part of the scout team. They want you to focus on training your body and getting ready with the training modules for extraterrestrial survival!” Beads of sweat form on Eddison’s forehead.

June looks partially annoyed but keeps up the attempt at a convincing demeanor, “Awww but c’mon Eddy, those modules suck! The bawbags higher up just follow protocol, a bunch of bloody drones. I’m strong as ever, ya know I’m not lying!” She giggles as he starts to rub the spot where she smacked him

“I know June but, I have no power. I know you're the one sneaking those blueprints. I haven't told anyone, but because of your talents and how helpful they’ve been, No one has questioned where they came from. We’ve collectively taken credit when the higher ups ask about our progress. This is why they’re letting you go alone, your amazing at everything June!”

A Cheeky smile masks June's face “Aww shoot, I know ya think I am but don’t flatter me so much!”. Eddison looks back at June with an anxious tone, “Anyways the anti-gravity research could potentially be in a prototype by the time you arrive on ZX7 but, it won't be ready by then and certainly not in the next couple of months before you leave.”

“Aw well, guess I’ll have to figure it out when I get there.” Confidence radiants from June. It's clear, she thinks what she’s saying is true. “June You're great, yes, but even you can’t do something like that. It’s been forever since the first planet was explored and still anti-grav tech is out of the entire company's reach.” Eddison turns his head to the computer and starts to drag things along, pinching the holograms as he talks.

“Whatever you say, Eddy. Either way, When you hear I’ve arrived, send me whatever you’ve got on it, three years of research should be enough for you balloons. Then I’ll finish it there”

Eddison looks back at June, clearing his throat, “Of course, I’ll do what I can”. June pats him on the back again, smiles, and sticks her tongue out at him as she walks away. He scrambles for a second and barely manages to speak “Uhm, June? I was wondering. A couple of the research team members are headed to that bar on 5th Ave later. Would you like to maybe tag along? It’s called Stanley’s, I’ve heard that the booze and food are good. Do you, uhm, drink? I’m not sure I’ve ever asked.”

He rambles on for a second as June pauses for a few moments. After some light awkward silence, she snaps back and somberly says while facing the door, “Nope sorry Eddy, ya know me. I got training and modules to do or whatever.” Unease begins to leak through her usually cheeky and upbeat demeanor. “Thanks for the offer though, hope you all have a good time. Later Eddy” She waves and walks out the door.

Sitting at her computer, June jolts back into reality, looking down at Peewee waiting by her side to continue working on the rover. “Shoot my bad buddy, I got lost there for a bit. I just remembered something that might just help me here. That ballon better not have forgotten about me”

June swipes through, into her Emails, searching up “EddisonLyswell404@ProjBC.org” and sees a message sent the day she arrived over a week ago now. “That bloody bastard, he really remembered,”.

As she opens up the message, she sees it's a video. Confused, she clicks to open the video. “Hey June, If you're reading this it means you’ve arrived on ZX7 and just remembered about me. If this takes ya more than a week to watch don’t feel too bad” He starts laughing to himself, “I understand,”.

“In short, I just wanted to see how everything was going and update you on how I’ve been over the past couple of years. Everythi-” june pauses the video and stares at it. She sits for almost a minute, a twisting in her gut. She looks to see an attachment on the email, closes the video and opens the attachment.

“Aw haud yer wheesht ya damn balloon. I ain’t need to hear allat. I just asked ya for the updated research. That’s it, nothing else. Knew I shouldn’t have taken 'em up on that offer the night before I left.”

Lightheaded, she feels the room spin around her. “Ugh, look now. A panic attack? Why?” Peewee, seeing June in distress, rubs up against her leg. June looks down and runs out the door as her stomach feels like it’s being turned inside out.

A bit of time passes and Peewee follows her out. Her heavy breathing and rapid heart rate begin to subside as June looks out across Bonnie's vast landscape. “Oh-, Bonnie. How are ya beautiful” The Unresponsiveness calms June enough to think a bit clearer.

Looks down next to her, and she sees Peewee curled up on the grass next to her. Looking down at Peewee and back at the landscape she starts to feel the sense of adventure swell again, breaking through the anxiety little by little.

Through deep breaths June looks down at Peewee and says “Alright tomorrow we finish what we need, get supplies around, and we go out and seek the missing materials, whatever they might be.”