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DATE: Year 308-B, Sol 460

LOCATION: Sky City 7 (Medical Bay)

The refugees and the squatters at the settlement ended up getting along. The Marley’s engineers were already patching the atmospheric shield. The smell of real cooking, rice and synthetic meat, wafted through the vents. They had so much rice.

Phoenix stood in the doorway of the medical bay. He had not been able to keep Market a secret from the refugees once they’d landed, but the squatter leader, who everyone just called The Welder, had given him a private room. Phoenix surmised anyone who’d actually talked to Market would’ve gotten spooked.

Himalaya was sitting on the edge of a sick bed. He looked thin. The scars on his chest were now quiet, thin lines against his skin.

-How’s the head? Phoenix asked.

-Quiet, Market said.

-You saved us up there, Phoenix said. That scream, I’ve never heard anything like it.

-It was a distress call, Market whispered. The device, it’s scared, Phoenix. It knows it’s far from home.

-So are you, said Phoenix. We have to get this thing disconnected from you, he said, tapping on the Black Box. Which means we have to get you home to Jupiter.

-What do you mean? Market asked. I have to stay here. I promised to get them home. Maybe this is home for them, and for their children it can be Earth.

-You got them home. And we need to get you home. The Saganites are the smartest people in the solar system. Your people. They can fix you.

-I don’t know Jimi. The refugees…

-They don’t need a prophet anymore, Phoenix said. They need farmers. And engineers. Can you do those things? They need to stand on their own.

-But going back to Jupiter? Market asked. He’d become a flipper six cycles ago, leaving the Jupiter Sagan Cities and its destiny for him in favor of joining the EZM and playing space hero. He never looked back.

-Listen, man. I trusted you. You have to trust me.

Phoenix left Market to pack and walked down to the newly established hydroponics bay.

He found Bit sitting under a UV lamp, digging in a tray of soil with a plastic spoon. The Welder was sitting next to him, showing him how to space the seeds.

Phoenix cleared his throat.

-Hey, kid.

Bit looked up. His face was smeared with mud. He grinned. Look! It’s green!

He pointed to a tiny sprout pushing up through the black soil.

-Yeah, Phoenix said, kneeling down. It’s growing. That’s what things do here.

Phoenix took a breath.

-Bit, we need to talk about the flight plan.

-Where are we going?

-You’re not going anywhere. I’m going to Jupiter, with Market.

Bit stopped moving. He looked at Phoenix, his dark eyes wide. And me.

-No, buddy. Not you.

-Why? Bit demanded, standing up. I’m the co-pilot! I pull the lever!

-I know you do. You’re the best co-pilot I ever had. He was the only co-pilot Phoenix had ever had.

-This is a much longer trip, and I don’t know where I’m going after it. Kids don’t deserve to be space bound. You need to grow up on ground.

He reached out and took Bit’s small hands.

- our bones, bit they’re growing. Strong. Let them keep growing.

-I don't care! Bit shouted, tears welling up. I want to go with you!

-I know, Phoenix whispered. But I can't let you. My job was to keep you safe. And safe is here. I’m not a family. I’m not a father.

He gestured to the bay around them.

-Look at this place. There’s air you can breathe. There’s food growing out of the ground. There are other kids.

The Welder placed a hand on Bit’s shoulder.

–He’s right, Little Bit, she said softly. We need you here. You’re a great fixer. Who else knows how to make the recycler stop making that thumping noise?

Phoenix reached into his pocket. He pulled out his prayer beads. He unwrapped them from his wrist and placed them in Bit’s hand.

-You keep these for me. Three times for a miracle, right?

Bit clutched the beads. He threw his arms around Phoenix’s neck and buried his face in the pilot’s shoulder.