the body from the government, but also the astronomical fees for cremation—an option only for the wealthy.
“Shaddup and listen,” Doug grunted, his thick arms crossing over his chest. The gesture and warning glower effectively silenced the brothers.
“What does it mean for us now?” Mathews continued. “Twelve hours ago, we initialized phase one habitat drop. Four temporary habitat capsules were dropped through the atmosphere. Upon touching down, the droids contained within them will erect the basic structure of the habitat dome, including residential buildings. You each have an assigned residence in your file. When the ship enters the atmosphere, it will break down and divide into four colonial pods, each directed toward a different settlement. Upon arrival, you will meet with me in the public commons and receive your residence card. You will be further directed at that time. Your assigned tasks will be based on what your strengths are determined to be, and how you will best serve our colonization efforts… There will be no contesting your duties. As you know, a colony needs many things to survive, to provide us with our basic needs and comforts. Laborers, cooks, launderers, entertainers, hunters—they are all valued positions to hold within our colony,” he announced with the broad smile of a showman. “Be prepared to disembark in six hours.”
Charlie stiffened as several men laughed and cast looks upon some of the more attractive women among them as they speculated on what sort of “entertainment” they could coax from them. Her fingers balled into tight fists. A heavy hand settled on her shoulder.
“Easy, Charlie,” Doug mumbled as the sector head stepped down from the podium. “Don’t get riled up over anything that bastard says. Just keep your head down and work. You aren’t as flashy looking as some of the other ladies to be leered at in the entertainment sector. You’ve got a strong build to you. They’ll probably put you in the fields like the rest of us.”
She tried not to wince at the unintentional insult. She knew she had a little pudge because she loved to eat, plenty of solid muscle, and the misfortune of not being leggy to compensate. She was built sturdy. She wouldn’t break during a hard fuck, but didn’t turn many heads either. On the Delta Stargazer, she hadn’t been terribly broken up about it. Nor was she about to complain if she managed to get out of attracting unwanted attention in the colony. However, that didn’t make the observation hurt any less.
Sighing, she rolled her neck to loosen the strain and jerked a thumb in the direction of their cabin. “Let’s go get our gear and crap together. Shithead is going to expect us to be ready to put feet on the ground the moment we land, knowing him.”
Doug grunted, his footsteps thumping loudly behind her as they pushed through the crowd. At the corridors, Jace and Ben broke off to head to their own cabins, leaving Charlie and Doug to continue alone. As they got farther from the common square, the air became darker and more oppressive.
“I hear gravity is lower on the planet we’re going to,” Doug said. “At least the air is breathable, unlike this swamp.”
“I hope so,” Charlie replied. She was tired of breathing in the damp, recycled air.
Doug’s footsteps seemed to echo more in the silence of the corridor. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see him shifting, looking in one direction and then the other. His voice was quiet, carrying just enough to be heard from where she stood.
“I’ve got to tell you, Charlie—I think the sector head was lying. I don’t think those men are waiting for us. He smiled like he does when he’s lying out his ass. We don’t know anything about this planet outside of a few vid clips that took years to transmit. My brother works as part of the guard staff for Darvel Exploratory, and he tried to buy my number out of the lotto when he heard that we were going there. Said he saw the full vids firsthand and that the wildlife gave him nightmares. It’s raw in ways that Earth hasn’t been for generations, even after re-establishing the perfectly contained wildlife parks.”
She glanced up at him with a grown. “What are you saying?”
“This place is dangerous. Just stay on guard. This planet won’t like us intruding,” he said.
Wiping her sweating palms on the pants of her TRS, she grimaced. “I sure hope your brother was exaggerating.”