So she was hurt before.
“I knew it,” Atlas snarled. “I’m happy he’s dead. I can’t imagine her still being there, stuck with him.”
In fact, the thought made him see red on his sensors, contrasting with the peaceful farm scene. Rage with nowhere to go, as Paul was already dead. There was nothing you could do to a memory.
“There you go. See?" Simons said. "You care in the right way.”
“If anger is the right way, then yes I do.”
The hover shifted as Simon pushed off its side. He stood directly in front of Atlas and crossed his arms. “Alright, Atlas. I need you to be honest with me.”
“About what?”
“I need to know.” Simon said. “Will this be enough?”
His forehead creased. “Enough for Anna? We are going to fix everything out here for them. They should be comfortable living here.”
“No, not that." He waved his hand. "I’m talking about the deal Anna just made. Will that be enough that we are left in peace? I can see there are secrets being shielded from me. I need the truth.” His voice grew low. “Because my loyalty is with Nora. Where’s yours?”
“. . . With Anna,” Atlas whispered immediately, meeting Simon’s eyes. No hesitation. The rage in his body agreed. If hecouldn’t fight Paul’s memory, he could at least fight for Anna’s future.
“Good.” Simon crossed his arms. “So are we in any danger? Stella is acting extremely cagey—I saw her ranting earlier.”
“No. No direct danger. I am unhappy with this monitoring plan, but that is all that has been agreed on.”
Simon glanced upward at the still drone free skies. “It was brave of Anna to volunteer. But I’m hoping her agreeing isn’t a slippery slope.”
“Yes.”His jaw clenched. “I’m worried they’ll push further.”
Simon’s eyes flashed. “With Anna’s baby?”
“They won’t.” Atlas balled his hands. “I will not allow it. It’s completely immoral. After all, the humans born here on Mars, in the colony, were not. We need to raise the baby differently.”
“Exactly. You’ve experienced it with the humans here.” Simon grimaced. “They aren’t violent, but something isn’t quite right with them.”
“Ria, Pearl, and the others are stunted in a different way. Here we spoiled them, almost.”
“You think?" Simon chuckled. "Humans attach and then become shaped as they grow.” He paused. “And I notice it happening with myself too the more I’m around them.”
In the distance one of the drones hovered, slowly inching back into range. Simon glanced up. “Speaking of nurturing humans, I need to charge some and return to Nora. Today was taxing. You should rest as well. There’s extra space in the barn.” He tilted his head. “Or, I know of someone who might have space for you as well.”
“Ah,” Atlas sputtered. “I don’t think that is wise yet.”
“Soon then. I think maybe you’re starting to see that is the answer.” Simon clapped him on his shoulder. “I’m glad they have us to help them.”
“. . . I agree.” A sense of rightness settled over Atlas. Something that couldn’t be exactly quantified with either logic or math. He lifted his head to look over the distance to Anna’s new home.Love islike an invisible tether. He felt it tug even now, pulling him towards the small warehouse. “I wish the others could see that.”
“They don’t want to.” Simon sighed. “They’ve blocked me out and aren’t accepting my input.”
“I’m not surprised. Stella is trying hard to control the narrative.” Atlas rubbed his chin. “Since they have discovered I have feelings for Anna, I’m not completely unbiased now either.”
“Alright then. I’ll take my biased self inside.” Simon started to walk toward the barn. “Nora wants to try to work here. I’ll take her to see the cows tomorrow. I know better than to try to dissuade her.”
“Goodnight.” Atlas watched him leave. He knew from the journey over that Simon held Nora every night when they slept.
Thinking hard, he stayed in the spot by the hover. Attachment. Bonding. Both were natural.Everything bonded in nature to make progress. All the way down to atoms. But that was such a clinical way to think of it, when really . . . he looked toward the warehouse. There was a light on in the distance in that direction.Attachment? Attraction?
He frowned. Was Anna still awake? Should he go to her and check? His feet walked the path anyway, each footstep echoing in his mind. He scanned the area. Anna was not outside, but a light was left turned on in the storage room, illuminating the inside.
