A week after arriving at the outpost Violet analyzed the latest terraforming statistics and found them to be amazing. The plants continued to thrive.
Dr. Vesper, however, perplexed her. He seemed to be on board with anything she suggested and treated Bren extremely well. Occasionally, he even brought them synthesized coffee. But Bren, on the other hand, always seemed to be on guard around Dr. Vesper.
Regarding the other staff members, Dr. Chandler, although quiet, appeared to be very knowledgeable and proficient. The technicians were always pleasant and helpful. They did their jobs extremely well. So why was Violet feeling such unease? Was it because Bren still seemed wary?
On the morning of her eighth day, she arrived at the lab early and decided to review the leaf specimens from the previous day. Pressing her eye to the amplification lens, she smiled. Although smaller than she would have expected, the leaves were as perfect as all the other days. It appeared Dr. Vesper may have solved the problem of soil rejection. To study the current day's specimens, she made the decision to go to the growing cavern on her own to obtain fresh samples. The technicians were the ones who daily cut what was needed, but she didn't want to wait for them to arrive. With an expectation she hadn't felt in literally hundreds of years, she followed the hallway to the tunnel leading to the corn crop and cut a few leaf slivers to be examined.
Back in her lab she hummed and placed a portion of a sliver under the amplification-scope and crossed her fingers that it would be just as perfect as the day before. She lowered her eye to the viewing piece…and gasped. Something was wrong; terribly wrong. She had seen this in her former life. The plant had been genetically modified. It was not true to nature.
She moved to the other amplification-scope and viewed the leaf from the previous day. It was natural. What's going on?
She glanced at the clock and made a decision. Rather than announce her finding, she would wait to see what the technicians delivered that morning.
Returning to her room she hid the samples she had clipped, and, as if nothing were awry, arrived at the lab at her usual time. Dr. Vesper was already there and greeted her cheerily. "I'm really impressed with the leaf results from yesterday. I only hope today is just as successful."
"Me, too," she responded as the technicians entered the lab with specimens. She and Dr. Vesper set about preparing them for viewing under their amplification-scopes.
When Dr. Vesper viewed his, he exclaimed, "Wonderful! Wonderful! My leaves are exquisite. What about yours."
"Mine are too," Violet said, hoping she sounded just as excited. The leaf she'd examined was exquisite, which sounded alarm bells in her mind.
Agent Jensen entered the lab and said he had just completed his rounds and would be the agent on duty that day. He said Agent Bren was checking the outside perimeter for any security issues and then he was headed to the cave near the elevator to do the same and replenish supplies; he wouldn't return until late that night.
By the end of the day, Violet was frustrated and angry. Something untoward was happening and she didn't have Bren to confide in.
After she crawled into bed she tossed for over an hour before falling asleep.
"Violet, you must do as I say."
"Frannie, what's wrong? You sound anxious."
"I'm concerned for your safety, dear child."
"But I have Bren watching over me."
"Yes, but I see more than he does. You must wake as soon as I leave and pack a bag. It's time for you and Bren to flee the outpost. You must go to his room and tell him that I insist you both leave immediately."
"But why, Frannie? And where will we go?"
"To the red rocks, of course."
"But nothing lives there except scrub brush and weeds."
"Tsk. Tsk, Violet. You are quite wrong. Have you already forgotten about the Spirit Tree?"
Violet started to ask Frannie to explain the importance of the tree, but her grandmother interrupted. "We will speak later. Now you must pack and wake Bren. Tell him I will guide you to the red rocks."
"But what if he refuses because he doesn't believe me?"
"He will not refuse. It is his destiny. Now no more questions. Up with you, girl!"