Nora scoffed. “Those humans don’t want us there anyway.”
Stella waved her twin down. “Their wishes don’t matter.”
Don’t matter?The longer this went on, the more Anna heated inside.This is how they really see us? Not as equals at all?
They didn’t really. Between the chip discussion, the separate segregated area in the facility. The lack of any meaningful contributions they could do for work. They saw humans as inadequate. Why else were they watching them? The drones above, even now were still hovering.
Anna pointed above her head at one of the drones. “You’re watching us close enough already.”
But Stella’s stare became calculating and hard. “Not close enough.”
They all stood at odds across from each other. A stalemate. The only thing that made this more tolerable to Anna was hearing Atlas defending her to Stella and staying only an arm’s length away.
“Mama?” Tilly’s voice broke it. “What’s going on?”
“We’re just discussing.” Nora tore her eyes away. “Can you go find and get Simon for me?”
“. . . Okay.” Tilly ran off toward the barn.
“Stella. They are fine,” Atlas ground out. “Half the colony is already in agreement with them staying here . . .”
“Half,” Stella hissed. “The rest of us are not. And now they’re out here. We are receiving no data. No integration. And look at them. It’s not like they’re even offering to help, not even offering to think of the people back on Earth. No. They’re here wanting to play house in the forest.”
“That’s not true.” Heat rolled down Anna’s back. “I’m willing to work.”
“Work?” Stella scoffed. “What could you help with?”
Anna shrank.What could I do?Her hands worried in front of her. The cows were in the pasture. “We could help out here? With the animals?”
A laugh went through the androids watching. But Leo tilted his head with a contemplative look.
“Fine then.” Anna put her hands on her hips. “What would make you agree to let us stay here? We can work, grow things, maybe trade knowledge.”
“We don’t need yourhelp.“ Stella’s smile faded. “But if you’re insisting . . . Yes, it could be good to do a trade.”
Anna scrunched her nose. “What kind?”
“A fair one. Knowledge, like you said. We did save your life you know.” Stella took slow steps around Anna. “We were talking on the ride over here about that baby in your belly, Leo and I. So many more lives could be saved with more knowledge.”
“Yeah, and?” Anna said. “I already agreed to whatever medical testing. I can share whatever you want to know about Earth.”
Stella kept circling. A flash of a smile came and went.
“No. No . . .” She said. “You know the basics of the neurochip plan from Atlas here. That is something you can help with. What if. . ." She stopped walking. "In return for staying here, getting to play house, you let us use the implant when the baby is born?”
The entire area erupted. Nora and Atlas were yelling in protest. Anna’s ears rang.No. Not her. Not my baby.
“I’m overseeing her medical care.” Atlas’s voice was heated. “That is not up for discussion.”
But Stella cut across him, “This isn’t strictly a medical concern, Atlas. Your input isn’t needed.” She reached back, nudging Leo. “Right? That would help? We could learn so much.”
“Yes.” Leo finally spoke in a low, calculated voice. “Yes, it would.”
“No!” Atlas yelled between them. “The baby is completely innocent, Stella!”
“Relax; nothing would harm her.” Stella rolled her eyes. “Leo here has a working model. I want insurance. I want to make sure we have something to use if you humans go . . . feral . . . again.”
Time fractured and stood still. Anna’s ears began to ring. The words Stella was saying didn’t make sense.My baby?Sweat gathered on her back. Her baby girl. The voices around her dropped to a buzz. Her innocent baby kicked under her hand.
