Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

First thing he realized he felt when he came to was pain. A groggy kind of pain. Like, his head was going to kill him, his legs were bruised, but he wasn't going to feel it until later. The second thing he realized is the pod stopped moving.

His eyes opened to a smoke filled compartment. The computer interface was smashed, and he realized they must have taken more damage than expected on the way down.

Thomas Patel reached out and stretched his arms. They were sore, but not broken. He tried to look down at his legs, but he was still strapped to the pod's chair. He reached for his buckle and undid it.

He could barely see out of his helmet. It was his first time as a pioneer, and he was unsure how long it took other pioneers to get used to it.

He reached up and pulled the emergency release hatch. The door hissed opened, but it failed to open completely. Cursing, he pushed harder and the door creaked open.

Thomas fell out onto the ground. He was happy to see grass on the planet. Maybe the air would be breathable after all?

Looking up, he was relieved to see a fairly normal terrestrial planet. The drop pod had landed in a field with grass and wild flowers. They were on the edge of a forest, with tall trees stretching into the sky. Beside him he could see more patches of forests further on. A large mountain loomed in the distance.

He looked to the sky, and his heart dropped. The sky was all wrong. Looking into the sky he saw a massive, looming planet. A star blazed in the sky. He couldn't see the satellites. The Space stations. The massive starliners!

He looked around him. There is no way. Is that why there was so little snow? His heads up display read it was almost 25 degrees Celsius!

Was he...?

Behind him, a hiss and a spurt of compressed air jolted Thomas back to the pod. A side door was tossed aside, and crashed into the grass not far away. A body fell from the door, plopping onto the ground. Thomas gave a startled yehlp, but composed himself better.

The body moaned, and slowly the arms moved to lift themselves up. They were wearing a standard ficsit pioneer suit. Thomas sighed.

"Uhm, hello!" said Thomas, before shaking his head and turning on his speaker system so his voice would travel beyond his helmet, "Uhm, Hello there! You."

"Oh?" the person stood and stretched, "Aren't you a sight for sore eyes. I thought I'd be alone!"

"Excuse me," said Thomas, "I'm not seeing the... base. Where's the response team?"

"You tell me, Foreman..." the figure looked Thomas up or down, "Wait a damn minute. Are you a man?"

"I... uhm..." Thomas stumbled at the question, "Of course I am."

"Aww.... shoot. I thought all Pioneers were female!" said the figure, "What are the odds I'm assigned the only other male in lightyears!"

"Wait, I'm not a Pioneer," said Thomas, "No, wait: If all Pioneers are female.... aren't you a female?"

"I'm not, but nobody double checks paperwork, partner," said the pioneer, "You see, Pioneers make more, get cooler equipment, and spend years out alone at the far reaches of space. Just them and their projects, their foreman, and.... each other. I was hoping to get lucky, or at least get paid a ton."

"You can't be serious," said Thomas, "Look, I don't think we're on Abraxis-7."

"Haha, nope!" said the figure, "What kind a foreman didn't read the mission statement before getting in the pod?"

"I'm not a foreman," said Thomas, "I am Thomas Patel, PHD. Doctor, if you would."

"Ah, medical man," said the person, "Could be useful."

"No... I'm a psychological analyst by trade," said Thomas, "Look, you said 'nope' earlier."

"What use do we have for a psycho on this job?" asked the figure.

"I'm not a... I'm with HR." said Thomas, "Assigned to Abraxis-7. I am needed at the installation to overlook the advanced proc-"

"Again! Abraxis-7? Wooo-Weee. Do you know where you are?" asked the man.

"NO!" said Thomas, "But I was assigned-"

"Boy, you done messed UP!" said the man, "You are a long, long way from Abraxis-7. Boy, this is Massage-2!"

"Massage.... 2?"

"Massage-2(A-B)b, if yer fancy," said the man, "You, sir, are are the Horizon of humanoid space. You are apart of 'Project: Assembly' now, son."

"Wait, like... Pioneer-Pioneers? The Project: Assembly?" Thomas' heart started to race, "I... no there's been a mistake! I can't be here!"

"Oh, crapola," said the other man, "You really ain't a foreman at all? Shoot. We must've landed with another pod or two. Must be a big team."

"Wait, wait!" said Thomas, his breath coming quicker, "I... I can't be on the frontier! It's... dangerous! There's supernovas and astrological events and creatures!"

"BUGS!" said the other man, "Big-uns if we're unlucky."

"I... I have to leave!" said Thomas, "There's been a mistake!"

"That there has, pencil-pusher," said the other man, "But there's no 'going back'."

"What do you mean?"

"God, didn't you listen to any of orientation?"

"I didn't TAKE orientation!" said Thomas, "I'm not supposed to BE HERE! I took my HR orientation before going into stasis and they were going to touch on the rest when we touched down!"

"Well, let me give ya a little crash-course, amigo," said the man, walking closer and putting his heavy gloved hand on Thomas' shoulder, "The ship is gone. They got other stops ter-make. They dropped off a team, or two, and left. We got a few years to set up a hub, build a space telescope to connect to the satellite link in orbit-"

"What? No!"

"And start the collecting of resources fer Project: Assembly."

"It can't be!"

"Now, we wouldn't've been ejected if there weren't a foreman awake and conscious to authorize our landing trajectory, so there has to be a foreman somewhere on this rock close by."

"I'm going to die out here."

"Now we gotta bulk up, fortify, and prepare to make a journey," said the man, "Don't worry, now. I mostly paid attention in class. I got the gist of what we need to do."

"I'm going to die..."

"This here drop pod has everything we need to build a hub and start gathering resources for expansion," said the man, "Ours is a big boy, several spaces for crews and the like. It means there's gotta be a big team, our foreman apart of 'em."

"Please... no..."

"Now just take a breath and we'll figure out how to open the hub and get our bearings. If we find the Foreman, they will have everything we need to get to work."

The man slapped Thomas on the back, and started walking to the pod.

"We can do this! We're apart of the greatest space ferring company to underbid all others in the pursuit of human space interests!" said the man, "I won't let you die, Thommy boy! We got our whits. We got our training. We got Mike Gunn, legendary driller of oil, and of ladies!"

"I'm so fucked..."

"and we got only... a few hours until it gets dark," said the man identified as Mike, "Before we're dinner for some critter in that, there woods."

"Critter? Dinner?" Thomas turned around, and stared, terrified, into the shadows of the trees.

"Of course, lookit all these trees and stuff, life makes the greatest resources, friend," said Mike, "There's bound to be critters running around of one size or another. But there's nothing to fear! We're both manly, burly men types. And we will dominate this world! We'll soon be the masters of this planet, and soon.... drill her into birthing out beloved baby of Project: ASSEMBLY!"

Thomas was shaking like a leaf. His eyes darted all around him. The visor of his helmet began to fog. His knees quaked.

And right in front of Mike, he slowly leaned back until gravity took him and he crashed down to the ground behind him. He was out cold, lying there.

Mike looked down at him, before looking around at the forest.

"Oh, boy," said Mike, "This... this is not how I pictured this in muh head. Not... quite..."

Chapter Text

When Thomas came to, Mike was kneeling above him, slapping him at the side of his helmet.

"Mmm?" was all he could muster.

"Aw, he's alive! Oh, thank Space Jesus," said Mike, "Thought we nearly lostcha there, compadre. Welcome back to the land of the living!"

"It's not a dream?"

"A dream... vacation!" said Mike, "Now as much as I understand you are going through-"

"I have to get out of here," said Thomas, "Look, there's been a grave mistake. I cannot be here! This isn't what I signed up for!"

"Easy, now, easy," said Mike, "Lookit here, son, we've been through this. The ship is gone and won't be returning for some time. We're expected to survive and be productive while we're here."

"But I'll die here," said Thomas, "This is too much space. Not enough already-established Ficsit worlds or stations."

"Now, now, hold yer horses," said Mike, "Listen here, Thomas. You are here, now. Time to fortify. Buck up, and let's get to work. We gotta space elevator to build, and build it right. Along the way, there's gotta be some sort of radio or summit we can build to letcha call corporate and-"

"CORPORATE!" said Thomas, springing up to a sitting position and looking to the pod, "Radio! I'll just call and-"

Thomas sprung to his feet and made his way to the drop pod, but it looked like a smoldering wreck.

"Now, Thommy boy," said Mike, "Looks like the computers are fried. I already tried gettin' them to work while you was out, but I'm afraid without help we'll be out of luck. We'll have to build the Ficsit hub to figure out where to go from here."

Thomas sighed, looking over the wreckage of his little pod where he awoke. He was begining to see how stuck he truly was.

"Alright," said Thomas, "We build this hub and call for help. Now, how do we start."

"Well you didn't go through orientation," said Mike.

"You did?" asked Thomas.

Mike shrugged, "Not in a helpful way. Our best bet is finding the foreman."

"Foreman?"

"A foreman is in charge of all Ficsit operations on a planet or location," said Mike, "They would have additional training and all the plans and schematics of our portion of Project: Assembly. Their authorization would've been needed for us to be podded up and ejected onto the planet. They would've been in charge of our decent and landing zone."

"So they are down here with us," said Thomas, "And they know what to do?"

"Exactly," said Mike, "Can't be too far."

"Alright, so how do we find them?" asked Thomas.

"We can ask Aida for help," said Mike, "Hey, Aida?"

"Aida?"

"Oh, sure," said Mike, "Our computer helper. Artificial Director of Assistants or something."

"Wait... Artificail Directory and Assistant? ADA?"

"Well... yeah."

"It's pronounced 'ADA'."

"It sounds wrong when you say it like that," said Mike, "Hey, Aida. How do you say your name?"

The two stood there for a little while, in silence. Thomas rolled his eyes.

"Computer? ADA? Status report."

Silence again. Thomas felt his heartbeat vibrating in his chest, but he tried to take deeper breaths and stay cool.

"Well... that can't be good," said Mike.

"Alright, so we got to find this foreman," said Thomas, "They must've landed nearby, right? Would they be looking for us?"

"I don't know," answered Mike, "They might think we're dead. Computer problems. No Aida. Hell, you or I might not even supposed to be here."

"Ugh!" Thomas hit the pod.

A clink caught his attention, and he looked inside. A small compartment released, and a tool appeared to be sitting on a holder. It looked like a small gun.

Carefully, Thomas lifted it out of the holster. He held it in his hand, and he felt a little better.

"Alright," said Thomas, "We go out, we find them, and we build this hub."

"Whatcha got there?"

Thomas held it up, "I believe I have a weapon."

Mike clapped his hands, "Well done, sir. Brilliant! Do I have one too?"

"Go check."

Mike rushed to his area of the pod and looked around, but when he returned he just shrugged.

"That's alright," said Mike, "You seem to be more worried than me. Why don't you give it a try, let's see what it can do!"

"Alright," said Thomas, who aimed into the woods ahead, "Say your prayers..."

He pulled the trigger. The device made the faintest of clicks, but nothing happened. Both men stood their, in utter anticipation. Thomas pulled the trigger a few more times, nothing happened.

"Well, ya broke it," said Mike.

"I didn't break it!" said Thomas, "It just isn't working."

"Maybe it's not a gun," said Mike, "Look at this thingy at the front. Maybe it's a flashlight."

"Gah! Let's see if there are any weapons in this thing," said Thomas.

"Not in mine, I've already checked," said Mike, "But, I did have this. Bug zapper!"

Mike produced a long, rectangular item from his pocket with two nubs at the end. With a press of a button on the side, an arc of electricity zapped between the two nubs with a bzzzrt.

Thomas jumped.

"What is that? Where did you get that?"

"Bug Zapper," said Mike, "It was in my side, right there."

"That's a taser, not a bug zapper."

"It zaps bugs," said Mike, "Every planet with life eventually develops bug like creatures. If they are out there, I got a zapper for the bugs. Bug-Zapper."

"Look, you are not going to be able to zap anything from out there. We need something a little more-"

Thomas had stopped short. He was pointing out into the forest around them when he stopped dead. His pointing angled upward, towards the sky.

"Look!" he shouted, "Smoke! Black smoke!"

Mike and Thomas looked off. Further into the forest ahead, a small, thin line of black smoke rose, steadily, into the sky.

"Woah," said Mike, "What do you think it is?"

"It's close!" said Thomas, "It has to be another drop pod! You said we would've all fallen around the same place, right?"

"Those do seem like words I woulda said..."

"If the foreman is around, they have to be gathering up their team," said Thomas, "Which means they are either heading to us, or they are heading to another pod. What better one than the one billowing black smoke?"

"I... suppose," said Mike, "Look at you. Getting your taste of adventure. Let's go, before the aliens get 'em!"

"Yeah," said Thomas, "We can find them and they'll- Aliens? Wait, you don't-"

"Let's GO!" shouted Mike, rushing into the forest, "I'll race ya!"

"Hey, WAIT! No" shouted Thomas, heading after him, "This isn't a game! Slow down! We need to be careful! Mike! Michael! MIKE!"

---

Thomas was at the end of his rope. The forest made many sounds he had never heard before. His eyes had him constantly scanning all around him, nearly passing out from dizziness a few times.

Mike, in contrast, waltzed through the forest like a mighty adventurer. His hand passed along flowers and bushes. He touched every tree. He boldly swatted away sticks and swatted away flying bugs.

He had no concern as they made their way through the forest. However, the smoke could still be seen jutting up ahead, and it wasn't long until they found themselves approaching a clearing in the woods.

Branches and entire trees were strewn around. A few broken stumps could be seen. A smoldering wreckage sat in the middle, a plume of black smoke jutting into the sky.

Mike wen to step out and Thomas grabbed his shoulder, holding him back.

"What are you doing?"

"I... was going to look for survivors. Or a foreman."

Thomas looked around nervously, "You were just going to walk on out there? What if the crash attracted some sort of creature? What if they are dead?"

"What if they are not?" asked Mike, "I'll check real quick."

Mike turned and put his hands to his face plate.

"Hallooooooo. Anybody over here?"

"SHH! MIKE!" whispered Thomas frantically.

Mike stepped out from the tree line, approaching the wreckage, "Ya'll alright in there? Or you dead?"

Thomas carefully came out of the tree line as well, looking around very carefully. Mike put his hands on his hips.

"Hello?" tried Mike again.

Suddenly, a figure leapt up onto the wreckage. They brandished a rifle, and wore Ficsit Pioneer suit as well. Mike jumped back, brandishing his taser. Thomas jolted, letting out a defensive cry of panic.

"State your business," came a gruff, accented command.

Mike sighed, and so did Thomas.

"Great, we thought you were dead," said Mike.

"Look, we're Ficsit," said Thomas, "We all appear to be here by mistake."

"You the foreman?" asked Mike.

The figure lowered their weapon, and sighed, "Well, well. Welcome to the planet, Lads. I'm shocked to hear more male voices. I thought all Pioneers were women."

"They are, normally," said Thomas, "Look, I'm not a Pioneer. I'm not supposed to be here."

"But you are, laddie," said the man, jumping down from the wreckage, "I'm Clint Mackinlay. I'm the foreman of this little operation."

"Well, howdy!" said Mike, "Now we got a foreman!"

"Great, you by any chance wouldn't happen to-" Thomas was interrupted.

"I need yer names," said Clint, "Role call!"

"ROLL CALL!"

From behind the wrecked pod, another figure rolled out into view. As with the others, they wore a Ficsit Pioneers suit. They stopped on their butt, and raised their hands in a ta-dah motion.

"Expert- Simone Tadungo, here!" cried out the Pioneer.

"I already got you!" said Clint.

"Woah! A girl!" said Mike, "Wait, did you say Simon or Simone? Are you a lady?"

"Oooo" Thomas stepped forward, his finger raised, "Actually... Ficsit regulations on Self Identity and mutual respect state clearly they do not look at a protected status like Race, Gender, Social Status, Subscriber Count, Sexual Orientation, or Religious Misinformation preference. Thusly, you actually cannot ask that question of a fellow coworker. You can only ask Work specific-"

"I'm FEMALE!" cried Simone, "And that's OK! There's nothing wrong with that!"

"No there is not," said Mike.

"No there is not!" said Thomas, "Still- we need to mindful of keeping a productive and safe workplace-"

"Alright! Enough!" shouted Clint, "Names, now."

"Simone-"

"NOT YOU!"

"I'm Thomas. Thomas Patel. There's been a-"

"Patel, Thomas. Alive and accounted for," said Clint.

A metallic voice rang out from Clint's Helmet, "Patel, Thomas. Accounted for. Status: Alive."

"WOAH!" said Mike.

"Name," directed Clint.

"Mike Gunn, Driller extraordinaire!"

"Mike... Mike..." mumbled Clint, looking back and forth as if he was reading something in mid air, "Ah, here we are. Gunn, Mike. Alive and accounted for."

"Gunn, Mike," came the robotic voice, "Accounted for. Status: Alive."

"What is that?" asked Thomas.

"What is what?" asked Clint.

"The voice?"

"That's ADA," said Simone from not far away, slinking onto her stomach and peering intensely at some type of insect crawling along the ground.

"Aida," corrected Mike.

"What kind of landing did you lads have?" questioned Clint.

"We couldn't... really get ours to work," said Thomas, "Is it a.... foreman thing?"

"No you wee git, just turn her on," said Clint, stepping forward and grabbing hold of Thomas' helmet.

With a faint click, Thomas' helmet was alight with graphics and words as a startup program began to run. Clint went and did the same to Mike's helmet. Thomas was lost as his Hud.os booted.

Suddenly, his helmet was full of a metallic female voice, "Hello, I am ADA, also known as Artificial Directory and Assistant, tasked to support pioneers, such as you, in their mission."

"H-Hello, ADA," said Thomas.

"I am connecting you to your work site database now," continued the voice, "Pioneer Nine-Two-Two-Seven-Six-Five-Three-Three-B. Please report to foreman: Pioneer Nine-Two-Two-Seven-Six-Five-Three-Three-A for your tasks and milestone goals."

"ADA, belay that," said Clint, "I'm nae going to be able to hear myself think with all that ruckus. Please reclassify employee designation to given names on file upon joining the work site."

"Confirmed. Pioneers reclassified as: Pioneer: Thomas Patel and Pioneer: Mike Gunn."

"Alright, that's settled. ADA, crew manifest," said Clint.

"Hey, what's that accent you got, there?" asked Mike.

"Gaaaah, Mr. Gunn!" said Thomas.

"Oh, Mike will do fine."

"I must insist you stop with the personal questions," said Thomas, "Ficsit Incorporated terms of conduct clearly state-"

"Alright, Alright," said Mike, shaking his head.

"Alright. So Pioneers Anderson and Chao are dead on arrival," announced Clint, "Pioneer Flink's pod is missing. Pioneers Escobar and Gbeho are Missing From Action."

"Good lord!" exclaimed Thomas.

"And... Pioneer Duvalle is labeled as 'Reassigned'," Clint nodded, "That leaves us. I think this is it for now. We'll have to board up somewhere and prepare for our main goals."

"Main goals?" asked Thomas, "Actually, Sir. If you will, there's been a mistake. You see, I'm actually not supposed to be here."

"Are you not?" said Clint, "Well, let me just snap my fingers and get you a ticket off this rock."

"I would appreciate that a whole lot," said Thomas.

"Are you thick? There's no leaving! We're here, lad," exclaimed Clint, "I'm afraid mistake or not, you're assigned to the team, now."

"I... but I'm not a Pioneer," said Thomas.

"Are any of us, really?" said Simone.

Clint looked around, tapping the bottom of his helmet as if it were his chin, "You may be on to something, there."

"I'm a Pioneer," said Mike, "Like my mother before me and my grandmother before her. Yessir."

"I... I think there is a good argument to be made you are a glorified stow-away," said Thomas, "I'm sorry, Mike, but lying on your paperwork?"

"Lying?"

"No, I'll have to stop your gabbin' right there, Patel," said Clint, "I'm afraid we need to call a boar a boar, here. In all of Ficsit Incs operation there are maybe a handful of male Pioneers or exploratory staff."

"Sounds sexist," said Mike.

"However, in this little group alone we're looking at... six? Seven? Plus Simone."

"Times Simone," said Simone to no one in particular, before she gasped, "Times New Roman!"

"We got ourselves a liar," said Clint, "A Failure. A Mistake. And a loony."

"I... I don't know who I am in that," said Thomas, "But I think it's my place to remind you that you are technically our supervisor and thusly you really can't be-"

"We were dropped down onto a planet, and everything has gone wrong," said Clint, "Faulty equipment. Insufficient training. Outright incorrect deployment of Ficsit human resources."

"You think this might be a punishment?" asked Thomas.

"Not quite," said Clint, "But I think this was a little more than a coincidence. Perhaps we should prioritize the building of a long range radio."

"YES!" said Thomas, "We should. Excellent idea. I'm sure once Ficsit learns of their mistake, they'll gladly send out a ship to return me to my actual assignment-"

"Ha, ha! Hold your horses, there, Patel," said Clint, "There's a long way to go. You may be a mistake, but the paperwork is in order. The rest of us have a job to do, here. We need to make our way to the assigned location and set up our Hub."

Thomas started at the sudden pop up on his visor's mask. ADA had created an objectives list.

The voice of ADA read the words as they appeared, "New objective: secure the intended operational starting point and construct the Habitat and Utility Base out of Dropship remains."

"Fancy," said Simone from her place on the ground.

"Next, we can'nae get the means to build a long range radio without a satellite, which is in orbit right now. We need to begin working on our main mission, Project: Assembly. To do that, we need to construct the base for the Space Elevator."

"A... space elevator?" said Thomas, "Wait, that could take... years."

"Depends on the pioneers," said Clint, "But without that space elevator link, we can'nae begin to consider an interstellar transmission."

Clint flapped his hand down on Thomas' shoulder, "Now. Fortify, laddie. There's a long road ahead and we'll need all hands to complete our goals. If I have to babysit you, we'll be here months or years before we can make contact with Ficsit."

"I'll babysit him," said Mike.

"We'll need all our skills, together," said Clint, "Now, Let's get to work! We'll start with your pod. Pick up some tools and supplies, and head out to the location. I was able to spot it on the way down, we aren't far. Now let's do it! Gunn?"

"I'm ready to go!" said Mike.

"Tadungo?" said Clint.

"Put me in, coach," she said, leaping to her feet, "I think I'll make a full recovery!"

"Alright..." mumbled Clint, "Patel?"

"I'm going to die..." mumbled Thomas.

"That's the spirit!" said Clint, "We can do this!"

---

It had been a few hours, but they finally arrived at the location. Clint gestured out into the clearing with his rifle.

"There we are, lads and lass," he said, "Welcome to initial site: Alpha. Home, for the next few weeks."

Thomas let out a moan. He got stuck carrying a bunch of panels from the drop pod. He almost collapsed as he let the steel sheets fall to the ground. He looked out into the plane.

It was a wide open space. Not far off, a river flowed out from the trees and down into the medow. He could see a rock formation sticking up not far away. However it was mostly just grass and alien flowers.

In the distance, a grand rock formation jutted out, breaking their horizon. Even further out, a mountain reached into the sky. The star for this world was threatening to set soon, and the large, distant planet loomed in the night sky.

Thomas had to keep from shivering at the sight. He was far, far from where he expected to be.

"Well, sure is purdy," said Mike, "I think we can make a wonderful base out of this area."

"I can see it now," said Simone, "We just haven't put all the nature trash in the right arrangement yet. But it's beautiful."

"Now... let's hop to it," said Clint, "It'll be dark soon, and I don't want to know what kind of beasties roam the surface at night. Let's make a shelter, set up a perimeter, and get ready to start making the HUB in the morning."

"I hope you enjoyed day 0, amigos," said Mike, "Tomorrow, the real fun begins!"

Thomas hugged his own shoulders, starring ahead at the vastness of this alien world.

"We're all going to die," he whispered.

In his fear, Thomas didn't even notice the crunching of twigs in the forest beyond them. From the bushes, two sets of eyes blinked at the strange new creatures that had landed in the forest.

Chapter Text

Day 10.

With the next twist of the screwdriver, the screw snapped off all together. Thomas cursed, again, and fought the urge to not jab the screwdriver into the iron plate.

He could tell Clint had noticed, again, but he didn't say anything this time.

The framework for the HUB was almost complete. Thomas was now the sole person working on the constuction. All around him, parts from the pods had been dismantled and scattered about. Instructions for hand assembly had been found, and now they rushed to try and make what didn't survive the crash.

Not far away simone hammered away on a makeshift work bench. She hummed along to herself, entirely off beat to the hammering she was doing.

Off from the group, Mike had found an ore vein of iron. Clint had been very excited, as this would be the start of their operations. Mike had been chiseling iron off ever since. He mumbled to himself as he did so.

That left Thomas alone to "finish up". He was begining to lose patience after spending days on this planet.

"Hey there, Tom," said Clint, "Can I call you Tom? Do you prefur Thomas?"

"Can I help you, Clint?"

"I just can'nae help but notice we're... well... ten days behind quota for... set up of a HUB."

Thomas sighed, and turned to look at Clint's faceplate.

"What are you talking about?"

"Well I was going over some projected timelines with ADA," said Clint, "And I am really confused. ADA claims the average number of Pioneers have a HUB built and operational within the first few hours of landing. Many are even capable of being set up within the first hour."

"I think it is safe to say I am not like most Pioneers," grumbled Thomas, "I am not supposed to be here. I am a Human resources Representative. I have Masters in corporate psychology and a BA in Middle Management."

"Well... use one of them fancy degrees to build faster, perhaps," said Clint, "Everyone else seems to have pulled their weight along quite nicely."

"Well, I would love to, but I can't help the quality of these... janky screws," said Thomas, "No offense, but they are hand made."

"Excuse me!" came the cry of Simone not far away, "Do you have any idea how hard it is to hammer rocks into metal bars? Hmm? And then to hammer those metal bars into metal rods? Hmm? And then turn those rods into hammered screws? Hmm?"

Thomas threw up his hands, "I am not saying it is easy. I am simply saying none of this is easy or typical and is going pretty slowly!"

"well, I got a lot better!" Simone came over and plopped down a blue container full of screws.

"I'm not saying you didn't get- Woah," Thomas reached in and pulled out a stubby screw from the container, "She is not kidding. These are way better. Inhuman. How are you doing this?"

"Practice!" said Simone.

"There, now. Teamwork," said Clint, "ADA. Please reward merit points to Pioneers Tadungo and Patel for excellent team work!"

ADA's voice filled the helmets of the trio, "Ficsit Merit points have been added to the accounts of Pioneers designation: Simone Tadungo and Thomas Patel. Please remember Ficsit merit points have no financial value and cannot be traded or sold. Thank you for continueing to be productive Ficsit employees."

Clint nodded, "Now, if you'll excuse me."

"And what are you doing?" said Thomas, "May I ask why you aren't over here assembling a hub?"

"Everyone must wear multiple hats, Patel," said Clint, "And one of mine, as foreman, is that of 'supervisor'. However, I'm not one to pass the buck of manual labor onto others. I am currently taking stock of our supplies, building materials, and surrounding area to determine how to best prioritize our future goals to ensure our survival."

"Sounds like supervising with more steps," said Thomas.

"And I'm the only one with a gun," said Clint, "So I'll be checking the perimeter. As I do so, I will be gathering local supplies for our needs. Fire wood. Leaves for bedding. Things of that nature. I can assist you when I get back, sure, but do you really want me concentrating on this when a big bad beastie could sneak up on us?"

Thomas quickly looked around the clearing, his faceplate scanning the treeline and the field behond.

"I figured not," said Clint, walking off, "Rest easy, Tom."

Thomas sighed, looking back to Simone, who just shrugged at him.

"You wanna help me build a hub?" asked Thomas.

"Nope!" said Simone, "I got to fufil an order from Mike first. He needs a bunch of rods and iron plates for some reason. He's got plans for a thing!"

"Fine," sighed Thomas, "Thanks for the screws."

"Nooooo problem!" said Simone.

-----
Day 15.

"I DID IT!"

Mike's voice carried over the base camp. So much so, that even Clint took notice.

When Clint walked around the other side of the hub, Thomas was stepping away from the computer terminal and Simone just put down her hammer at the crafting bench. They approached the equipment workshop with speculation as Mike stumbled out of it holding a massive orange box.

"Prepare to be amazed!" he said, "My project is complete!"

Thomas was fiddling with that broken gun thing he had been carrying around, "It's a box?"

"It's not just a box, good buddy," said Mike, walking towards his Iron Ore vein.

"Mike, I am concerned," said Clint, "You by any chance have'nae be using Ficsit time for personal projects, aye?"

"No! This is Ficsit business," grunted Mike, setting his box down on the ore vein, "Got the blueprints straight outta Aida."

"Alright," said Thomas, "What do we need with a box?"

"It's not a box," said Mike, "Let me introduce you, to the power of DRILLING! Ah-Ha!"

The three Pioneers just stared at Mike in silence. Mike did not let this bother him as he began to run his hands along his box like a used car salesman.

"Yessir. This here drill is the miner of the future, boys and girl. No more chiseling away at this here node fer me! This baby is capable of getting roughly 40 square pounds of ore per minute! Once activated, it can dig so we don't have to! I'll have free hands to aid with construction and inventory management!"

"I..." Thomas stopped himself short.

"Well, words are cheap, lad. Let's start the show."

Mike excitedly grabbed a switch on the side and, with effort, cranked it to the up position. He stepped back, as the box began to vibrate slightly. However, it didn't seem to be doing anything. With an embarrassed laugh, Mike quickly kicked out and landed a hard kick with his boot.

The box jumped into motion. Four long legs extended into the ground, lifting the box into the air. At the same times the plates on the body began to shift and turn. Opening, the box revealed a sharp drill, which was spun downward so it faced the ground. The contraption began to put and spurt, and the drill slowly began to spin. All at once, when the drill had picked up speed, it dropped to the ground, and the drill dug into the ore vein.

It began to whir and sputter, drilling into the ore vein and tossing loose rocks and dirt everywhere. Mike, however, was standing with his arms outstretched in a ta-dah motion.

"Holy cow," said Thomas, "How... how?"

"I toldja," said Mike, "I just followed the Ficsit diagrams. It took some time and trial and error, but I got this nice little drill a working. A few more of these puppies and we'll be all set!"

"Brilliant," said Clint, "This will help save us time for sure."

"I love the pointy box!" said Simone, "Now we'll need to get the furnace up and running so I don't break my spirit hammering rocks forever!"

"Wow," said Thomas, "Can I just say that you two are, like, very good at making stuff with your hands. How did you even do this?"

"I just... followed the schematics," said Mike.

"You had iron rods," said Mike, "And Iron plates. How is it even running? Is it clockwork? Is it spring powered? Do I hear a motor? Does it need to be refueled?"

"I think you are overthinking this a bit too much, Thomas," said Clint, "He followed the Ficsit schematics and it works. Are you surprised?"

"Yes."

"Well, this is enough chit-chat. We're already hopelessly behind!" said Clint, "The furnace frame is assembled and we need to get the kiln mounted before nightfall! And don'nae even get me started on the constructor."

"How do we keep being so far behind schedule?" asked Simone, "Isn't the quotas designed around... one person? Doing it by themselves?"

"I don'nae know what to say to that," said Clint, "But we are down more than half of our original crew. Maybe all those extra people would've made one hell of a difference."

"Maybe we should make some weapons and go out and find them?" asked Thomas, "There were several names marked as 'missing'. Maybe if we can figure out how this gun works and make some more weapons we can plan a search party and-"

"On an alien planet? This far behind alright?" said Clint, "I'm sorry but if we have any hope of making our quotas we can nae waist any more time on a Gowk who missed the landing zone. I'm afraid I must insist we all get back to work."

Thomas looked longingly at the gun in his hand, pulling the trigger to no affect. With a great sigh, he holstered it on his utility belt and turned back to finishing the HUB.

---

Day 17.

It was quiet. The common room sat dark. The bunks were cleanly made. The only sound wafting in was the distant whir of portable miners.

Suddenly, the interior lights turn on. The computer screens turn blue and a distinct hum of electronic booting up. Interior fans begin to spin. The external terminal outside flashes on, running through some bios code before quickling displaying the Ficsit logo.

The HUB came to life. Programs were running their startup dialogue. And ADA's crisp voice rang out.

"Congratulations. You have activated the H.U.B. and now have access to its resources."

"Yeeeeaaaaaasss!" came the triumphant screams of Thomas.

"In order to increase productivity, please note the main terminal which will provide you with suggested milestones based on your work site's specific goals-"

"YES! Take that! WOO-HOO!"

"- and the needs of Ficsit Inc's Project: Assembly."

Clint and Simone made their way over from the Furnace, which was close to being completed. Mike ran over to get a look at the completed hub.

"I did it, me!" said Thomas, pointing at the group, "I did it. By hand. MYSELF! Take that, you stupid planet!"

"Calm down, ya nugget," said Clint, "You are easily in the bottom 1% of all time building of a Hub."

"I was impressed," said Simone.

"Ah-HA! Amazing!" cried Mike, "I just won 20,000 credits!"

"Huh?" said Thomas, "How on earth is that more impressive than-"

"Additionally," continued ADA, "Please stand clear for the Ficsit freighter assigned to your work site. Satellite has launched your freighter at the activation of your freighter beacon."

"Well, I am impressed you did it, but moreover you bet me 20,000 credits you couldn't do it," continued Mike, "But I knew you had it in you all along, good buddy!"

"I... what?" stumbled Thomas.

"Ficsit Freighters are used to deliver much needed supplies to the satellite in smaller intervals allowing it to expand into much needed Pioneer support," Continued ADA, "And in smaller, more targeted quantities to Space Elevator shipments. They also allow Ficsit Inc to monitor Pioneer progress and keep you focused."

"It's a ficsit approved wager, friend," said Mike.

"Enough out of you two," said Clint, "We now have a hub, finally. I can check off something on my list. ADA, what's this about a freighter?"

"Incoming..."

At ADA's prompt, the whole team turned and looked up. Sure enough, descending from above a dot was circling their base. Quickly, it fell from the sky. Thomas took a worried step back.

The freighter was a large spacecraft capable of breaking out of the atmosphere and launching to the satellite in orbit. It was boxy and small compared to other craft, but it was quick and powerful. As it approached, the two thrusters jutting out of either side of the freighter's body adjusted and increased thrust to slow down the speeding vehicle.

It circled once more, now hovering just over the treeline. It positioned itself above the HUB, and it lowered relatively quickly down on one of the sides. With the thrusters adjusting in automated real time, the shuttle was brought backward, and rested down on two supported that fir the shuttle perfectly. The thrusters cut off, and the shuttle was docked.

"The foreman for the site may chose a milestone for the team to work towards at the outside terminal," said ADA, "Completing milestones proves your productivity, and Ficsit will reward productive workers with blueprints and recipes for new, more advanced equipment and technology utilizing the resources you have mastered at the work site."

"WOO HOO!" shouted Mike, "Well I'll be!"

"Foreman? That is me!" said Clint.

"Alright, I guess you'll have to look on the computer to see if there is any sort of radios or... distress beacons," said Thomas.

"I told you, we're behind," said Clint, "I got our milestones, right here. We need power. We need constructors. We need this furnace built," said Clint, "We can'nae get a long range radio transmission without that space elevator operational! Let's get our machines up and running and we'll be fine."

"FINE! Fine," said Thomas, "What do we need to build this space elevator thing, anyway?"

"I do'nae know," said Clint, "Haven'nae looked it up yet. Probably some iron plates, some iron rods, some concrete... wire."

"Some iron rods?" asked Thomas.

"Fine! A lot," said Clint, "Very likely a lot of materials. Which is why we have got to get working, lads and lass. No time for chin wags."

Clint headed off, and Simone followed, falling into a cartwheel behind him. Mike patted Thomas' back and gave a thumbs up before returning to his task. Thomas sighed.

"Ficsit wager conditions met," said ADA over Thomas' helmet, "Your account has transferred 20,000 credits to the account of Pioneer: Gunn, Mike. Ficsit thanks you for your cooperation."

"Are you kidding me?" asked Thomas.

In the distance, Mike's "Woo-HOO!" rang out, and Thomas flopped onto the ground, banging his head into the dirt.

He was so preoccupied with his own misery, he didn't even notice the two pairs of alien eyes, spying on them from the tree line. A small chirp escaped the critter, and it curiously watched the strange being continue to burrow into the dirt with its face.

Chapter Text

Day 34.

"ADA."

"This is ADA, how can I be of assistance?"

"Inquiry," grunted Thomas, turned the socket wrench once again with great effort, "I don't understand how these conveyer belts work without power."

"This was extensively covered in Pioneer orientation," said ADA, "Please reference Module: Conveyor Belts, Chapter: Perpetual Motion, Paragraphs: Three through twenty-eight."

"ADA... I do not have access to those modules," whined Thomas.

"Pioneer: Patel, Thomas," said ADA, "All Pioneers have access to the orientation material through their ADA link. If you are having difficulties with your virtual account, please reach out to your Human Resource representative or your foreman in the absence of a representative."

"WAIT!" Thomas stopped wrenching and grabbed at his helmet, "ADA, ADA, who is the registered HR representative on this site?"

"The registered Human Resources Officer for this site is: Vacant," said ADA, "The only viable candidate according to site roster is: Pioneer: Patel, Thomas."

"Ah-HA! Yes," said Thomas, "ADA, does that mean I can become the HR representative? How do I get myself listed as one?"

"Your application for Human Resource Officer for this site has been received," said ADA, "No appropriate management on site for evaluation. ADA will calculate based on your file."

"I... I don't understand," said Thomas, "Does this mean..."

"New rank, achieved," said Ada, before a click denoted the channel had been switched, "Attention Pioneers. The vacant position of: Human Resource Officer... for this work site has been filled. Please join Ficsit in silently congratulating... Pioneer: Patel, Thomas... who has accepted the vacant position. You have been emailed their contact information, and a reminder on Ficsit Human Resource protocol, for your convenience."

"All right!" said Thomas, "ADA, so now do I have the power to assign orientation training to myself for Pioneer?"

"Please observe the Human Resources Orientation packet emailed into your inbox," said ADA.

"ADA, can I assign Pioneer Patel to Pioneer orientation or new hire training?"

"Pioneer: Patel, Thomas, does have such authority," said ADA, "Please use the office computer in the HUB to properly assign and take such training. The foreman of the worksite will be made aware of the change in schedule to allow you such training time."

"My GOD!" said Thomas, standing up, "Finally!"

A chat window popped up on Thomas' visor. The image was that of Mike, standing by one of his portable miners, thumbs-upping at whoever's video feed this image was taken from. The window was him sending an instant message to Thomas.

-Congratulations, man. I knew you had it in you.-

Thomas rolled his eyes.

"Instant Message, Gunn," said Thomas, "You do know this is what I am supposed to be, right? By trade. I was supposed to be an HR rep? Send."

His words were put into text and sent off.

Before Thomas could react, another message came in from Mike.

-Hey, Tommy. 'Mere.-

Thomas shook his head, mumbling, "'Mere'? What is that?"

Thomas stood to his feet, deciding that he needed a stretch, anyway. He could see his line of conveyers leading from the furnace. Ingots of iron metal interspersed with a few copper ingots littered the conveyer leading out of the exit port.

He couldn't spot Mike around. He sighed again.

"Instant Message, Gunn," said Thomas, "Is that 'come here'? Where is 'here'? I have to make progress on these belts."

Thomas cleared off some dust from his suit's pants before heading towards the HUB. While he waited, he might as well log in and get set up to actually perform some of the duties he knew how to do. And perhaps going through orientation and some Pioneer training can help him better get a grasp on this whole crazy situation he was stuck in.

-Fine. I can come to you. I have a congratulatory gift!-

Thomas rolled his eyes again. By the time he had made it to the HUB office and sat down, Mike came running up and sliding into the doorway.

"Hey there, you little rascal," said Mike.

"Shhh," hushed Thomas, "I'm pretty sure that's Simone on her scheduled sleep time. How can I help you?"

"Oh," whispered Mike.

Thomas' eyes widened and he leaned away from Mike.

Dripping from his helmet was a thick, red, gooey substance. It was chunkiest and dripping from his mask filter's hole closest to his mouth. Through Mike's helmet speakers, it sounded as if he was actively chewing something.

"What the heck is on your face?" asked Thomas.

"Shhh, I'm pretty sure that's Simone trying to get some shut-eye," whispered back Mike.

"Mike!" Whisper-yelled Thomas in a hissing motion.

"What's on my face?" asked Mike, "Did I get a little messy with it?
"With... what?" asked Thomas.

"Well... I gotchu a little something," said Mike.

He pulled one of his hands from behind his back and thrust it forward. In his hand was a large, bulbous fruit with a resemblance to berries. It was roughly the size of a Cordaxium Orange and had a distinctive pinkish-red heugh of a rose.

Thomas was amazed at it. However, he couldn't help but look on horrified at Mike's face.

"Mike... did you eat this?" asked Thomas.

"Of course not, not a bite, see?" said Mike, turning the fruit around in his hands.

"Mike... did you... is it... dangerous?"

"Oh course it is," said Mike, "I've done already tasted it myself. I wouldn't offer you some weird alien garbage. They are sweet and perky. Perhaps even caffeinated. I feel amazing!"

"Mike... did you test these?"

"I just said I did," said Mike, "Had three already. If they were bad, I'd've already been in that toilet over yonder already."

Thomas closed his eyes, but accepted the strange alien fruit, "No, I mean... did you scan it? How did you know this wasn't poisonous? Or you wouldn't have a negative reaction to it?"

"Well the MAM ain't finished yet," said Mike, "And they sure are sweet. Nothing bad for you can be so sweet. Yessir."

"I cannot believe you had three of them!" said Thomas, "Where did you even find this?"

"Just over yonder," said Mike, "Thataway. Come on, I'll show you."

"I'm coming too!" said Simone, slinking out of the bunk as one would expect a serpent to do.

"You're sleeping!" said Thomas.

"Can't sleep with all this ruckus," said Simone, "Besides, I want to have some sweet Pale Berries!"

"Pale Berries?"

---

They all surrounded the odd plant. Out towards the edge of the field, right before the tree line, a single plant sat. It's flowers were pink with white stripes. On the buds, additional berries hung at various sizes.

"And ya just gobbed it down, did ya?" asked Clint, looking from the plant to Mike's messy helmet.

"It wasn't so bad, I suppose," said Mike, "Seemed like the right thing to do at the time."

"It does seem to reach out and grab one's attention," said Simone, "I bet it makes a fine jam."

"We're not making jam with it," said Thomas, "We need to... analyze it."

"ADA," asked Clint, repositioning the rifle he held on his arm, "What's Ficsit's stance on cataloging plants and fruits and the like?"

"Ficsit Incorporated encourages curiosity in Pioneers on their own time," started ADA, "Such attributes have lead to the discovery of many exploitable flora and nutritional sources. However, your assignment to Project: Assembly does limit the effectiveness of such discoveries to 'elective- personal' status."

"There we have it," said Clint, "We can scan the wee things once we've built the M.A.M. and can properly observe the benefits. But we've wasted enough time on this site meeting."

"Not fair!" said Simone, "Mike gets to eat the sweet berry?"

"He does nae get to, he already did," said Clint, "I can't fix stupid, lass. Now, let's go."

Clint turned his back and walked away. Mike picked an additional fruit and followed him, squishing the berry into his mask, and making chewing noises through his helmet.

Simone went to grab one as well, picking it off the stem. Thomas quickly stepped forward and snatched it from her hand.

"Did you not hear what we just talked about?" said Thomas, "There could be parasites in this thing. You could have a reaction!"

"Your denial of the sweet poof only makes me desire it more," said Simone, who crouched down and began to scuttle sideways back towards the hub, "You must sleep sometime, berry man!"

"I'm just-" stuttered Thomas, "Why are you... what is going on? Ugh!"

Thomas looked at the second berry in his hand. With frustration, he reeled back and chucked it to the tree line. The berry seemed to hit the ground and roll slightly, but did not burst. Thomas lifted up his original, gift berry.

He wondered if he should throw it as well. Perhaps it was worth it if the analysis worked out. He looked back towards the hub. He found himself hoping Mike was all right.

A reptilian squeal broke the silence. Thomas nearly jumped out of his suit, he started so hard. His fist closed so hard on the berry in his hand it exploded, covering him in berry matter.

Wiping at his helmet visor, Thomas turned around. A reptilian creature roughly as tall as Thomas' knee had clunk out of the forest. The creature was a long, reptilian looking thing. It had the head of a snake, or a dragon, with two sets of beady eyes. Its scales were a light orange, making it stand out against the greens and blues of the trees and bushes. It appeared to have a stripe of white going from its face down its belly. The carapace on its back was segmented. It had four legs. It had a pair of long, floppy appendages that looked like ears. It's back scales and tail brought Thomas' mind to a earth shrimps.

With an excited cry, it opened its mouth and slurped out a long, blue tongue and wrapped it around the berry Thomas had thrown. In moments, it was chomping down on the berry, spreading its juices everywhere. It quickly gulped.

With its mouth left open, red juices staining the lizard skin around its mouth, it turned its four eyes onto Thomas.

Thomas let out a scream, but it came out has a horse, dry wheeze of fear. His legs wobbled.

"H-H-H-Help," was all he managed to say.

The creature's ears seemed to perk up. It made a bird-like chirping sound. Soon it was trotting towards Thomas.

Thomas' heart was racing. He turned to run. He took only a few steps before his boot slipped in the grass and he tumbled onto his face. On the way down he saw the discarded remnants of the berry that had exploded onto him.

"Oh my GOD!" shouted Thomas, flipping over onto his back.

The creature was closer now. And was actually picking up speed. Its mouth was open. The long licking the air.

"HELP!" screamed Thomas, for real, "HELP!"

"Hello, this is ADA," said ADA, "Please design-"

"ADA! Emergency! ALIEN!" shouted Thomas, slowly attempting to crawl backwards, "Help me! CLINT! CLINT!"

"Please prevent damage to Ficsit property," said ADA, "Your foreman has been alerted to possible imminent damage to Ficsit Pioneer suits and equipment."

"OH MY GOD!" shouted Thomas, "It's headed straight for me!"

The beast was galloping now, running straight for him like some sort of dog. It gave a small leap.

Thomas desperately reached for his broken gun, but his hand was too slippery from the jam.

By the time Mike, Clint, and Simone ran back, it was too late. They came upon the side of Thomas, crying and screaming in intervals, with some sort of large, reptilian creature on top of him. It's long, blue tongue raked across his body, licking up every ounce of the berry.

"I can't get a clear shot!" said Clint, lowering the rifle, "I'll hit the lad!"

"Wait, you can't risk it," said Mike, "I'll beat the thing to death!"

"Stop!" said Simone, stepping in front of the other two, "Look at him! It's a PUPPY!"

"A... Puppy?" questioned Clint.

Sure enough, the group looked on. Whatever the creature was, it was licking happily at Thomas' skin and helmet. Despite Thomas' blubbering, there was no sign he was actually getting harmed. Even the creatures feet seemed totally devoid of claws or spikes. Simone's assessment of "Puppy" might've been accurate, as with the tail wagging and enthusiastic licking, it resembled more of an Earth pet than of an alien menace.

Thomas still whined from underneath it. His arms were raised in an attempt to shield his face, but that only lead the creature to locking the berry juices off his arms.

"Aren't you going to help me?" he cried, "Get if off!"

"What is it?" asked Clint.

"It's only the cutest little DOGGO I've ever seen in my life!" said Simone.

"Hell, it's goin' to town on you, Tommy!"

"Get it OFF!"

Clint approached, lowering the rifle and getting a better look at the creature.

"The beastie appears nackered at that berry stuff," said Clint, "Now, what are you doing covered in jam, Patel?"

"It wasn't on purpose," said Thomas, "He burst out of a bush and came right at me! He's eating me!"

"Naw, he ain't eating you," said Mike, squatting down next to Thomas, "Dang critter is licking you clean of this berry stuff!"

The creature turned its head for only a moment. It eyed Mike, before lashing its tongue out and cleaning his faceplate of the berry remains he had. When it had finished, it turned back to Thomas.

"Well hot-dog!" said Mike, "See, that didn't hurt!"

"It's eating me!" whined Thomas, "Guys... you don't even care! What if its spit is acidic? What if it lays its eggs in me?"

"That would be a sight to see," said Clint, "And you're not dead yet, lad."

"He's only the best little lizard pupper on this side of the Milky Way!" exclaimed Simone, "Aren'tcha boy? Aren'tcha?"

"Is it a boy?" said Clint.

"For the sake of the egg theory?" said Mike, "We better hope not."

"Girls lay the eggs," corrected Simone.

"H-Help ME!" cried Thomas again, "You guys are doing nothing! All this egg talk is NOT HELPING!"

"I second this," replied Clint, "We're losing precious time! I'm frankly disappointed in you, Thomas. We got work to do! Stop playing with your wee beastie and get back on those conveyor segments!"

"Shoot it and I will!" said Thomas, in less of a cry and more of a whine.

"Don't shoot it!" said Simone, "He's the bestest doggo! We got to keep it. For science and stuff!"

"Science and stuff?" asked Clint, "I fail to see the profit in this."

"ADA," asked Simone, "Is the good little doggo here discovered?"

"Unable to positively identify species matching visual description," said ADA, "Would you like to create a new entry?"

"OH! For the Lizard Doggo!" said Simone, "What should we name it?"

"Ooo, Ooo," said Mike, "Let's call it the Berrisaurous Rex! And we can name 'im REX!"

"I... I don't see it," said Clint, "More of a Space Kelpie to me."

"Why don't we name it, 'Can someone quit dicking around and get it off of THOMAS' Lizard?" grumbled Thomas.

"I like the 'Tadungosaurus'," said Simone.

"Name recognition approved. No creature by the submitted name," said ADA, "New designation: 'Lizard Doggo', discovery made by: Pioneer Tadungo, Simone."

"Awwww," went Mike.

"Oh well," said Simone, "Serves me right."

"Excuse me," said Thomas, "Discovery made by who? Not the person who is being attacked by the dang thing?"

"Discovery bonus of 25,000 credits added to your account," said ADA, "Pending verification for full amount of 75,000 credits."

"Whoohoo!" said Simone.

"Unbelievable!" said Thomas, "I hate today!"

"What should we name them!"

"Well, we gotta figure out if it's a boy or a girl," said Mike, "Does it have any dangly bits? Tom, feel anything jabbing you?"

"Gross," came the cold response of Thomas.

"Hey! That's no way to tell," said Simone, "It's a brand new species. We'll have to think of a better name."

"We are not naming it," said Thomas, "It's not a pet."

"It could be our mascot!" said Simone.

"We'll name him, Berry Potter," said Mike.

"No! Pick a genderless name," said Simone.

"We've wasted enough time on this!" said Clint, "It's Thomas' pet. Let him name it and get back to work. And Thomas, stop playing around!"

"Shoot the thing!" said Thomas.

"I will nae waste the bullets I have on a pet," said Clint, "Get up and get over it! Before the generators run out of leaves!"

Clint turned around and walked away.

"That's a good point," said Simone, "My vote is for Mashaka. My grandparent never settled on a gender they liked. That is the one they chose."

"That's a boy's name," said Mike, "General Mashaka Umbobo of the Saturn war of independence. Mashaka Smith of the Talos Explorers. Great band."

"Oh yeah? Mashaka Uunta of James Bond meets the Avengers?" asked Simone, "Mashaka Osman, first woman to hit ten trillion subscribers. How about Mashaka Zellon, the villain of Die Hard, twenty-five two, Multiverse of Die Hard!"

"I still think it should be a boys name, like Jordan, or Alex, or Drew. Or if we think it's a girl, why not Taylor, or Parker, or... Cameron. You know... solid names. Easy to remember."

"If I name the stupid thing," interrupted Thomas, "Will you get it off of me?"

"Can't, gotta work," said Simone, tucking in her legs and rolling away backwards, "Thanks for the footage! I.M. me the name!"

"Well, they ain't helpful," said Mike, "But we have taken too long on this, Tom. Consider Charlie. No wondering about tie or necklace if you name them Charlie."

"I... what? Mike!"

Mike got up and walked away too. This lead Thomas just getting licked clean by the creature. Thomas sighed, looking at the creature's smiling face.

"I... hate you," said Thomas, "But I guess you aren't going to eat me..."

The creature gave out a chitter, before getting off of him and sitting, like a dog would, on the grass next to him.

Thomas sat up, wiping at his Ficsit Pioneer suit. He groaned at the side of some sort of slobbery substance mixed with berry juices. He turned to see the creature still looking at him.

"Fine," said Thomas, "Unbelievable. Are you going to stay here all night?"

The creature leaned forward, and the long, blue tongue slurped up his helmet once more. Thomas only flinched a little, and let out an annoying sigh.

"Fine, if you are going to stick around, I'm at least giving you a fitting name," said Thomas, "I am feeling... 'Hari'."

"New identity, registered," said ADA, "Pioneer: Patel, Thomas has registered a new Pet entity: Hari."

"Well... there's that," said Thomas.

The creature chirped again, its eyes closing.

"You have been charged the Pet registration fee of: 900 credits," continued ADA, "Ficsit Inc facilitates pets, but do not allow yourself to fall behind on your work."

"Aww... are you kidding me!" said Thomas, "I discovered the damn thing!"

"Error," said ADA, "Pet: Hari, is registered as lifeform: Lizard Doggo. This species was registered by discoverer: Pioneer: Tadungo, Simone."

"Unbelievable," mumbled Thomas.

He stood to his feet and began the trek back to the hub. When he peered over his shoulder, an excited critter was trotting along beside him, eagerly looking around the field and lapping at the air with its large tongue.

Thomas shivered with unease, but sighed and continued toward his new training.

Chapter Text

Day 39.

The sound sent chills down the spines of the Pioneers. It was hated and despised. As sparks were heard, the furnace and conveyors whined down, slowly. Their hums going deeper in pitch until they went quiet. The lights dimmed. Both of the bioreactors on the hub ground to a halt, and the work site went silent.

"Oh, for the love of Space Christ!" spat Clint, "Alright, emergency meeting! Emergency site meeting, let's go!"

Thomas was the first to answer his cries. He stepped out of the hub and crossed his arms.

"I don't get it, we just got everything back up!" he said, "At this rate, I'll never finish orientation!"

"Belay that! We're undermanned as is and you've assaigned yourself orientation!" said Clint, "I can't have everyone collecting nature trash!"

"I'm too tired!" said Simone, joining the group, "Can't we just die already! This is hard!"

Hari appeared from their sleeping position next to the freighter. The creature gave a loving chirp and rubbed against Thomas, almost knocking him down.

"I'm sorry, but leaves and twigs just will nae do it," said Clint, "I've been... where is Gunn?"

"Mike?" asked Thomas, looking around.

"He's still on wood and leaves duty from the last power outage," griped Simone, "We haven't even taken our breaks yet!"

"And there'll be no further breaks until we can get all this under control!" said Clint, "We're due a third Biomass burner for the additional machines we need built and we can nae keep the ones we got a burning!"

"Aberewaa is mad at us," said Simone, grabbing at her helmet, "She wants revenge for the death of her nature trash!"

"I.... think we just don't have enough," said Clint, "But I've been doing some digging through ADA while on fuel runs and I think I've worked out two distinct things we need to do in order to never worry about power here again."

Clint reached behind him and pulled out a brown cylinder. It looked squishy, and as if it was made out of mud. Thomas and Simone shared a look.

"What is it?" asked Thomas.

"Solid Biofuel," said Clint, "Ficsit approved. It's perfect for our needs. It'll burn longer and brighter, being better fuel for our needs as well as lasting much longer than twigs and sticks."

"Alright, so where do we get it?" asked Simone.

"We make it," said Clint, "We're going to convert the constructor from making screws to making solid biofuel out of biomass."

"I'm going to regret this but, what is biomass?" asked Thomas.

"Biomass is a substance made up of mashed leaves, wood, and other forms of biological matter," started Cline, "Arranged in a Ficsit approved way to maximize burn time and allow us to fit more fuel in less space. This would also be a better fuel source then straight up leaves, but we will need them to make this solid biofuel."

"Oh no..." said Simone.

"Oh yes," said Clint, "I need the best handcrafter there is onboard, lassie. Can't waste a single leaf if we're to overcome these blackouts."

"Ugh! Fine. "I'll look up the recipes."

At this moment, Mike stumbled up. He dropped a bunch of wood and some twigs with leaves on the ground, and huffed a little.

"Well, ain't that something," gasped Mike, "I found a downed tree a while yonder and there were branches scattered everywhere. I just need a second to breath, but there's plenty of wood now."

"Ah, good. This brings me to my second thing," said Clint, "I have a recipe I need you to get to work on, Mike. Make some reinforced iron plates, grab some screws, rods, and cable, and come with me. We're making a chainsaw!"

"Oh, all right! Now that's what I'm talking about!" said Mike.

"Alright, so we're making a bunch of chainsaws?" asked Thomas.

"Ah-ah," said Clint, "Gunn and I are securing new equipment. However, you are on fuel duty until we can catch up."

"What?" said Thomas, "Alone?"

"Of course not," said Clint, "Don't be crazy. I don't want your beastie underfoot and Mike will be too busy to babysit it. You'll be taking Hari with you."

"Oh..." Thomas looked down a the Lizzard Doggo, who was smiling with its long tongue hanging out. It blinked at everyone around it.

"Just grab what you can," said Clint, "Put it in the HUB crate for Simone. Simone will load up a crate I made near the constructor full of the biomass. We'll use the constructor to make Solid Biofuel. Easy as can be."

"But what if I run into something out there?" asked Thomas, "I also need to complete my Orientation! And my arms are really small and wobbly."

"Ah, fortify Patel!" said Clint, "We're a long ways off from achieving our milestones and we need every pair of hands to make it happen!"

Clint put a hand on Mike's shoulder, and the two of them starting chatting about chainsaw schematics as they walked away. Thomas balled his hands into fists. He turned and headed out towards the treeline.

-----

"Oh, you're heart is ready to burst," said Simone, "You are truly not doing well."

"I'm fine," said Thomas through some gasps.

He put down the collection of branches and leaves from his latest trip. Behind him, Hari was bouncing and making a humming noise.

"More twigs," said Thomas.

Hari approached the assortment of twigs and leaves and opened his mouth. The mouth kept opening, and with a slight cough a large wad of wet leaves and a few small twigs slopped out from his mouth. The pile landed with a splat on the pile of leaves and twigs.

"Ewww," said Thomas, "Come on, don't make it all wet."

"Awww.... who is helping out?" said Simone, who turned to Thomas again, "I did not mean you are out of breath. You hate it here. On the planet. You are losing your light."

"Well, I am not supposed to be here," said Thomas, "So it's hard to even have a light. I mean, are you 'shining bright' hammering leaves into a mass of crap all day?"

"No, they didn't prepare us for this much hands-on creation," said Simone, rubbing her arms, "But... isn't this what we're doing out here? Taming the galaxy? Turning random evolutionary masterpiece into profit? Becoming the dominate species of the galaxy? Isn't it beautiful? We're so far away from where we bagan, our neices and nephews have had grandchildren who have died of old age now! It's amazing!"

"I guess," said Thomas, "Terrifying, for me."

"Well, you're going to need to get back out there," said Simone, "Even with the wet bits, I'll blow through this crap in no time. I've even taken to hand crafting the biomass into solid biofuel in between your visits. Why are you bringing so little back?"

"Look, it's not that easy," said Thomas, "And you could help me out there. Instead of me being alone. There's only so much... perimeter."

"Why aren't you going deeper in the woods?" asked Simone, "Find that spot Mike was discussing. The tree grave."

"I'm not going in there!" hissed Thomas, "Do you see what happened the last time we were even close to the forest?"

Simone knelt down to pet Hari, "We found the most amazingness little lizzard doggo in the whole widest world!"

"We found an alien!" corrected Thomas, "An alligator sized, dinosaur esque creature! With an appetite!"

"Technically we landed on his planet," said Simone, "We're the aliens."

"Technically where there is smoke there is fire!" said Thomas, "There's one, there has to be more of them out there."

"YOU THINK!" exclaimed Simone.

"And if there's these things, what about the things they eat?"

"Berries?"

"Other things," said Thomas, "Or worse. What eats them? What's the food chain up here? What's out there that wants a lizzard doggo roll?"

"I assume that's Mike," said Simone, "But there could be a big thing out there."

"Exactly!" Thomas clapped his hands.

"But, there might not be," said Simone, "You see, Hari is pretty friendly for a prey animal. Like cats and dogs and bearded dragons, they could be the top, or at least mid-top, of their food chains and thus have nothing to fear from human interaction and only things to gain. In Hari's case, berries!"

"Or it's the salamander of pets," said Thomas, "And there's a big Alasaurous out there with my name on the menu!"

"Alasaurus? Really? You had a chance at a scary dinosaur and didn't say-"

"I don't mention that one since the Disney Empire won the copywright wars and won the rights to copywright the fossils."

"Hah, that was forever ago," said Simone, "The past was weird..."

"Look, I can't go in there," said Thomas, "What if I can't find my way back? What if I get lost? This planet is big."

"Lost?" said Simone, "Just ping the HUB."

"Just... ping the HUB?" asked Thomas.

"Yeah, they covered it in orientation," said Simone, "But I don't remember how to do it."

"You-what? How could you forget something like that?"

"Wasn't listening," said Simone, "I was drawing somersloops on my paperwork."

"You were... what the hell is a.... no... I just," Thomas balled his hands into fists again, "I am honestly... Just... ADA."

Thomas turned and away and crossed his arms, "ADA, can you ping the HUB please?"

"In order to ping the HUB on your Heads Up Display as well as your map-"

"My... what? Map?"

"You should use the Ficsit Inc. Resource Scanner built into the Build Gun. With each scan, structures of note such as the Pioneer's HUB will also be displayed. Use this feature to avoid being lost while off the work site."

"I... don't know how to do that," said Thomas, "Do I just say 'Ping' or something? Is there a voice command? What is a Resource Scanner?"

"Would you like me to run the tutorial program?"

Thomas and Simone looked to each other and in sync said, "Tutorial Program?"

---

Thomas and Simone stood at the edge of the forest. Hari had just burst out of the bushes once again, earning a yehlp and a slew of profanities from Thomas. With another gag, Hari dropped a collection of leaves and twigs on the ground next to their feet. Simone took the oppurtunity to drop to the ground and start petting Hari, a form of interaction he was quickly getting accustomed to.

Thomas lifted up the Build Gun once more. Looking it over in his hands, he now had a new understanding of the various controls and screens presented on the devise. Although not all covered in the tutorial, he now understood the resource scanner much better than he had previously.

"Alright," he said, finding an unlabeled, perfectly hidden little toggle switch on the underneath, "Let's turn you on."

With a flip of the switch, the tool came to life. Light blinked on, and the screens flashed grey, before returning to a black. The main viewer showed the Ficsit Inc logo.

"So... just hit... this one," said Thomas.

"Find and press the button labeled 'V'," repeated ADA, "You can easily remember this for, 'Verify Resource Locations'."

"Really?" asked Thomas, "Couldn't think of a single easier letter or symbol?"

"After opening the Resource Manager," continued ADA, "You may select a Resource of interest our of those you have available to you, or you may try a general resource search. After making your selection, pull the handle-trigger to activate the resource scan."

Thomas pressed the button and turned a dial, selecting the general scan.

"General Scan..." mumbled Thomas.

At this, Simone shot up to her feet again, standing at attention and saluting Thomas. At this motion, Hari ran back into the brush with a chirp.

"General Scan," said Simone in a lower voice.

Thomas shook his head and rolled his eyes, "Alright, here goes nothing."

Thomas lifted up the device, and carefully compressed the trigger. With a distinct 'DING' sound, the device vibrated. A teal holographic circle shot out from around Thomas, causing him to start. The circle rappidly expanded, shooting out from Thomas and expanded out into the field and into the forest.

"Woah," said Thomas.

"You've given birth," whispered Simone, "And it's ugly..."

'PING'.

And as quickly as it began, the Iron ore vein near their HUB lit up in Thomas' helmet. Thomas also marveled at a little item that appeared over the hub. Soon, there were several more little ping sounds, and looking around, Thomas could see the Limestone quarrey they had found as well as a small Copper Ore vein Simone had found as well.

"Woah," said Thomas.

"Amazing," said Simone.

After a few moment, more things began to make little pinging sounds, alla round them. More Iron, More Copper. A few things Thomas didn't recognize.

"This is amazing," said Thomas, "There's so much all around us."

An instant message alert popped up on Thomas' visor. It was marked urgent, from Foreman Clint.

-Hey, what the hell was that?-

Just then Hari burst out of the bushes again, giving Thomas another start.

"Stop doing that!" said Thomas.

With a cough and gag, Hari opened his mouth and unrolled his tongue. With a heavy thunk, a single motor landed on the ground in front of Thomas. Hari smiled, wagging its tail.

Thomas leaned down and observed the slimey motor on the ground.

"Is that..." asked Thomas.

"A motor?" answered Simone, "Oh... my god! Hari is a robot!"

Thomas sighed, "No! But.... where did you get this?"

Hari chirped, but just stared back at Thomas with the blank stare of its several eyes.

Chapter Text

Day 40.

The freighter was in several pieces. Actually, that was probably a kind way to say there were two or three big pieces left that made it identifiably as a freighter and man tiny pieces shattered all over the crash zone.

Surprisingly, Mike was able to easily identify entire spools of wire, a semi-busted mound of cement stacks, and a few components that would be a huge help to them right now, like rotors and a few stators.

"Ficsit crash site, detected," came ADA's metallic voice over the communication system, "As Ficsit Pioneers, it is your duty to asses the crash site and retrieve elements of note."

"Someone could be hurt down there," said Thomas.

"We need the additional worker power," said Mike, "They might be hurt for a bit, but we can fix them up real quick."

"Hold it," said Clint, his voice low and flat, "That is nae a drop pod."

"It isn't?" asked Thomas.

"Oh... hey, he's right," said Mike, leaning forward to get a better view, "Dang thing is one of them freighters. That explains all the goods scattered around."

"So does that mean nobody was on it?" asked Thomas, "We have more than half the team M.I.A."

"You worry about the treasure," said Simone, poking at a brightly covered leave push next to her, "But you fail to consider the guardians."

"I'm beginning to worry she's a few beers short of a six-pack," said Mike.

"She's right," said Clint, "Look closer. ADA, ping my visual location for workforce."

On their HUD, a small blue circle appeared with a Ping noise in the distance close to the crash site. Mike seemed to focus in on that point, but Thomas felt around on his helmet.

"ADA, how do I zoom?" asked Thomas.

"Seriously?" asked Clint.

"It was in orientation," said Mike.

"I... never had this orientation!" hissed Thomas, "I am a Human-"

"ADA, share my viewer with Pioneer Patel, please."

All at once, a large window opened on Thomas' visor. He could see Clint's HUD, and the zoomed in picture he was viewing. Around the crash site, figures moved around aimlessly. It was tough make them out completely, but they appeared to have dark skin and they looked like lions roaming about.

"A-Aliens," whispered Thomas.

"Technically," said Simone, "We're the-"

A squeal was carried over the air in the distance. The group's full attention was drawn to the crash site.

"What in the world-" said Mike, "That damn near sounded like a hog!"

"A what?" asked Thomas.

"A hog," said Clint, "A pig. A Warthog. A Boar. Have yer pick."

"Well it's not a pig," said Thomas, "Look at that thing."

"Dibs," said Clint.

"Dibs?" Thomas crossed his arms.

"I called 'dibs', Flower child over there got to name the lizard," said Mike, "I want the big one. Dibs."

"You don't honestly believe that-"

"Dibs is recognized by Ficsit Inc," said Clint.

"Unbelievable," said Thomas.

"Where is Hari?"

Simone was looking around the group.

Thomas shrugged.

"ADA," said Clint, "Ping Pet: Hari."

A ping noise sounded, and the group's attention was dragged back to the crash site. A small blue circle expanded away from a tiny dot running towards the crash site. Clint and Mike zoomed in on it.

"Well, there he goes," said Clint.

"Well look at that," said Mike, "Dang critters don't seem to give a fluffy tail about that there lizard."

"So... everything on this planet is friendly?" said Thomas.

"I doubt it, but it at least means we can approach the site," said Clint, "Alright, ADA said we need to recover what we can from the crash site. I need Mike, myself, and-"

"Not it," yelled Simone, poking her visor with her finger.

"Excuse me?"

"I said not it," said Simone, "I have a lot of work to do back at the HUB. Also, I don't want to."

"Well... I can't," said Thomas, "I still got orientation and the twigs and stuff."

"Oh yeah?" said Simone, "Well I got lady reasons for not wanting to go. Also, you cannot make me."

"Lady, what?" asked Clint, "What a load of tripe!"

"Actually," said Thomas, "Ficsit regulations do state that as management, you cannot question a protected reason, specified or otherwise, and... she doesn't owe us an explanation as male coworkers."

"Muhhahahaha," went Simone, who slowly backed up back into the forest, disappearing into a large bush.

"For the record," said Thomas, "We cannot act on this, but I feel she was lying."

"I'm surprised you can even say that?" said Clint.

"Oh, I can't," said Thomas, "However I thought the malicious laugh was over the top."

"Well than, that leaves you," said Clint, "Now I think-"

"What? Oh, no," said Thomas, "I don't know what in the last month we've spent together makes you believe I am cut out for any of this, but I-"

"No time," said Clint, "Fortify, Patel. I'll need you to act like a man for this."

"I... I don't think you can say that to a subordinate," said Thomas.

"Write me a report when we're back," said Clint, "Let's go, lads. Let's complete a single goal on time!"

---

The creatures were much bigger in person. Even meters away hiding behind a rock, Thomas was terrified. They were roughly the size of a bear. Maybe bigger. In fact, listening to the growls and snarls the beasts made walking around, Thomas wasn't entirely sure they were not bears.

Their skin looked practically like armor. A dark purple or blue, with a thick carapace over the head and back, similar to Hari's carapace. The hooves it walked on were tough and a little stubby. It had a long tale that ended in a small burst of hairs.

"Bigger than a hog," said Clint, in a whisper.

"Awww, shucks, look at him," said Mike, "He ain't hurting nobody."

"They are big," said Thomas, "Too big."

"They have flat teeth," said Clint, "They seem to be plant eaters. They'll be no threat to us."

"More scared of us as you are of them," said Mike, "And look, they don't seem to give a fluffy tail about Harry."

"Hari," hissed Thomas, "And keep your voice down. You'll attract them. There's like three of these guys all over the place."

"Naw, they ain't gonna hurt nobody, look."

Thomas risked a glance. Not far off, the wreckage smoked and Hari sat on one of the biggest parts of the hull. It looked lazily around, their blue tongue hanging out of their mouth.

"Now if these things were dangerous, they'd just have already eaten him up," said Mike, "It's like non of yall ever worked with animals before."

"Have you?" asked Thomas.

"Does working with you two count?" asked Clint.

"Aw, hell. I'll show you."

Before Clint's hand could grab his shoulder, Mike stood up and walked out from behind the rock and began his slow walk toward the big creature.

Clint cursed under his breath, pulling his rifle up in case he needed to use it. Thomas felt his blood run cold, and was left cowering behind the rock.

"Hello, little guy," said Mike, "Hey there!"

The creature went stiff, its eyes looking around. It slowly turned to face Mike, and it let out a growl that sounded like a motorcycle revving up.

All around them similar growls went up, and Thomas cowered further down behind the rock.

"Oh, hey," said Mike, "There ain't nothing to fear, big guy. It's just me. Lil' ol' me. Look at him."

The creature lowered its head, and one of its front hooves began to paw at the ground. Mike stopped short, holding up his hands.

"Aw, now look at that. Yall ain't too scary," said Mike, "And lookit here, I ain't so scary myself."

Mike pulled out one of the large, pink berries from his pocket. He held it up to show. The creatures didn't seem to react to it. However, Hari's ears perked up from his perch on the wreckage.

"Now, you ain't nothing but... but a Fluffy-Tailed Hog, aintchu," said Mike, "Come here. Sooie!"

Me tossed the berry, which arced perfectly and landed at a slight roll towards the creature. The creature quit growling, and began to audibly sniff at the berry.

"There, now," said Mike, "Tamed. Another new critter under our belts."

"New designation: 'Fluffy-Tailed Hog'," said ADA over the headset, "Discovery made by: Pioneer Gunn, Mike."

"What? Aw, come on," said Mike, "I wanted to name it the 'Mikenoceros'!"

The creature quit sniffing the berry, and returned its attention to Mike. It snarled again, a terrifying growl erupting from it.

"Aww, it's purring," said Mike.

"Mike," whisper-yelled Thomas.

"Gunn," demanded Clint, "Step back, slowly."

"Now, what for?" said Mike, "I keep telling you, these hogs are no more-"

"SCREEEEEEE"

The creature let out a squeal like an injured pig. It suddenly shot forward on its legs, getting up to a full speed sprint in only a couple of lunges. It was a moment and it had crossed the distance between them incredibly fast.

Mike barely had time to throw up his hands before the creature slammed into him. Mike was bucked into the air by the creature, which continued its sprint right past him. Mike went end over end in the air.

"I," yelled Mike at the top of his lungs, "Was wrong!"

"WE'RE ALL GOING TO DIE!" yelled Thomas.

"SCREEEE!"

To Thomas' left, another creature let out a squeal, and charged the two hiding behind the rock. Thomas pressed his back to the rock and screamed.

Before the hog could close the distance, Clint stepped between Thomas and the charging creature. He lifted his rifle, and pulled the trigger.

BAP went the rifle. BAP BAP.

Each bullet dug into the creature's armored hide, but the creature still charged at the two. Finally, the creature's head slunked further forward, and the legs went stiff.

Clint barely had time to sidestep has the body dug into the dirt by his feet and slid right past him. Thomas yelped and fell backwards over the rock. The body slammed into the rock, and was motionless.

"Ah-ha! Feast yer eyes!" cried out Clint, "I am the mighty hunter, and this wee beast the prey! Nothing can stand against me! Or my name isn't Clint Mac-"

A creature slammed into him so fast, Thomas thought he had heard a crunch. Clint was tossed aside and slammed into the dirt.

"CLINT!" screamed Thomas.

"CLINT! NOOOO!" yelled Mike, standing from where he fell, "I'll avenge you! It's the Io Chainsaw Massacre!"

The sound of a revving chainsaw filled the air. Holding the chainsaw above his head, Mike charged the first creature, yelling a battle cry at the top of his voice. The creature charged him, and let out another pig-esque squeal.

Thomas closed his eyes on impact. By the time he chanced a peak, Mike was already in the air again, chainsaw in hand.

"Chainsaw did NOTHING," he screamed as he landed somewhere behind the wreckage.

"ADA!" gasped Thomas, "Red alert! Emergency! Danger! Send help!"

"Imminent damage to Ficsit equipment detected," said ADA, "Please avoid at all costs."

"What?" asked Thomas.

"SQUEEEEEEE"

Thomas turned around to spot a charging creature, picking up speed. Thomas screamed and threw his hands in the air. Turning, he sprinted in the opposite direction towards the wreckage of the freighter. He locked eyes with a smiling Hari, who was still sitting on the wreckage and observing all the action.

"Save me, Hari!" yelled Thomas.

However he felt himself get hit in the back as if by a baseball bat. Before he could scream all the air was forced out of him. He felt a similar force on his butt, and before he could react he was airborne.

Thomas gasped as he quickly picked up height and speed, rising up and over the crash site. Hari watched from below, opened its mouth in a smile and chirped.

"Yaaahoohooweeeee" was all Thomas could muster as he flailed around through the air and slammed into the muddy dirt on the other side of the wreckage. He slid to a painful stop, and groaned in pain.

"Warning. Damage to Ficsit property detected," said ADA, a red flashing warning sign over his visor, "Please protect Ficsit Inc equipment, uniforms, and property at all cost. Damages may be taken out of your salary."

"SQUEEEEE!"

Thomas gasped, "I'm gonna die..."

Quickly and wobblily getting himself up, he could still hear the rumbling footsteps of the creatures. Sure enough one of them quickly sprinted around the crash site, but at the speed it was going it went too wide, running right past the crash site out into the forest.

Thomas peered around the wreckage. The first hog was still squealing, and it ran past where his sight could see. He spotted Mike, wobbly getting up, and quickly running into the bushes. Just as quickly as he disappeared, the hog came back into view, charging into the bushes after Mike.

Thomas could also spy Clint's body. It was unmoving on the ground where he had landed. However, not far off from him, his rifle sat on the ground. The rifle!

Another squeal was heard behind him. Thomas couldn't waste any time. He took off at a wobbly sprint, almost falling down several times. He was gasping for air, each breath a painful burning inside his throat.

Thomas began to feel the rumbling of a charge underneath his feet. He feared he wouldn't make it!

Thomas slid on the ground, scooping up the rifle into his hands. As he did so, he twisted his body. By the time he had came to a stop, he rose to one knee and aimed the rifle at the charging beast quickly approaching.

Thomas pulled the trigger as hard as he could as quickly as he could. BAP. BAP. BAP. CLICK.

The bullets dug into the creature, earning a pained squeal. However, the rifle went click. It was out of bullets.

"Bullets!" said Thomas, "Clint! I need a-"

All the air was slammed from Thomas' lungs. He was picked right off his knee and found himself soaring back through the air. However he didn't have time to gasp for air, as he smashed into a rock formation and found himself going limp onto the ground.

His mouth gaped open as he tried to remind his body how to take a breath. He fought to keep his eyes opened.

The beast stood not far off. It growled it's horrific, bear-like growl. Slowly it dug at the ground beneath it with its one front hoof.

"ADA..." groaned Thomas, "I'm going to die."

"SQUEEEEE!"

The creature started its charge.

Mike was ontop of its back all at once. He jabbed his taser into the side of the creature's neck. The creature squealed in pain and stopped its charge, trying to twirl and buck Mike off.

However, as fast as the creature was, it was not fast enough or could jump hard enough to buck off Mike, who cheered as he jabbed his taser into the side over and over.

"Yeeeeehawwww," he screamed, "Get on-get!"

The creature continued to squeal in pain. Mike continued to jab his taser onto the creature and hold it there as it sparked.

With one final buck, the creature squealed a pained squeal and collapsed onto its own face into the ground. Mike sat atop it, gasping for air and holding the taser at the ready. Thomas gasped for air not far off.

With a final jab of the taser, to which the beast did not stir, Mike exclaimed something indistinguishable in victory before falling off the beast and collapsing to the ground.

They were silent for some time. Thomas never let his eyes leave the creature. Mike turned over, staring into the sky.

"Tom," came the voice of Mike.

"Mike." was all Thomas could wheeze.

"Is... Clint dead?" asked Mike.

ADA's voice came over their helmets, "Pioneer: Mackinlay, Clint... life signs are normal. Minor injuries sustained. Shock possible. Minor damages to Ficsit property."

"Oh good," said Thomas, "ADA... instant message... Simone... Hey, we need you. Please bring medical supplies."

"And some berries!" wheezed Mike, "She knows where my stash is."

"No!" said Thomas, "Stop eating that!"

The two lay in quiet for some time. Thomas even wished to fall asleep, if his entire body wasn't throbbing. Up ahead, a small winged creature soared. Thomas wondered if it was some sort of vulture, or if it was just minding its own business.

"Discovery bonus of 25,000 credits added to your account," said ADA, "Pending verification for full amount of 75,000 credits."

Mike raised, slowly, a single hand with a thumbs up.

"Worth... it," he groaned.

Thomas rolled his eyes, "I hate this planet."

Chapter Text

Day 43.

"Have you tried 'Password1234'?" asked Mike.

"Fer the last time, ya edjit," said Clint, "It's not a password! The door will nae open. It needs repairs."

Clint stood in front of the crash freighter's hull with a cup of coffee in his hand. He looked over the cargo container with annoyance.

"So what does it need?" asked Thomas.

"Well, it appears it needs some wire and modular frames," said Clint, "And I believe we can use those to fix the door mechanism and keep the hull from collapsing when we open it."

"Can we do that?" asked Thomas.

"Simone and I can," said Mike, "But, boy, would that be quite a haul out here just fer whatever is in this ol' gal."

"Well we'll need to bring back those hides on these beasts," said Clint, "So I suppose this will be a whole thing."

"I don't find it that bad," said Simone, poking her head up from behind the wreckage, "Maybe I can carry all the parts."

"Nice of you to offer, but I think we should concentrate on one thing at a time," said Clint, "Let's start by gathering up all these components and see what we need to... Hey, where are the components?"

The group looked around. The wire and screws and other such components that had been scattered around appeared to be missing. Simone leapt down from the wreckage.

"Well, I picked them up," said Simone, "Put them in my pocket."

"Yeah, right," said Thomas, "But seriously."

"I am being literal," said Simone, "I put them in my pocket. Look."

With swift, quick draw speed she delved her arm up to her elbow and quick retracted it. The pocket hole seemed to expand massively to accommodate the removal of a large rotor. Flower pedals also exploded from the pocket, looking like colorful confetti as it fluttered to the ground around the rotor.

Clint, Thomas, and Mike all leaned in.

"Woah," said Mike.

"How?" asked Thomas, "How does it fit?"

"How long have you been aware of this?" asked Clint.

"Well..." Simone shrugged, "I don't know exactly. I knew generally of our personal pocket dimensions but I didn't realize how big it was until today. I've been keeping my flower pedals in here."

"Flower pedals?" asked Clint.

"Pocket... Dimension?" asked Thomas, "Wait... what?"

"It was in orientation!" said Simone.

Thomas slapped his helmet, "Of which I can't get two seconds to finish. Unbelievable. ADA, define 'Pocket Dimension' please."

"Ficsit Incorporated has provided Pioneers with a limited Pocket Dimension using the advanced technology found in Ficsit Incorporated's Pioneer Suit Technology. This dimension allows for the transport of materials, tools, and artifacts at a greater amount and weight than can normally be available for the standard human frame."

"Woah," said Thomas.

"So... what?" asked Mike, "So it's, like, bigger on the inside?"

"I suppose it is," said Clint, "So we can shove our pockets full of all this crap?"

"It's like the TARDIS!" exclaimed Mike.

"You... know about the Tardis?" questioned Thomas.

Mike shrugged, "I got TV back home. Lots of re-runs. I am familiar."

"You can fit so much," said Simone, standing in a pile of flower pedals as she continued to empty her pocket, "Look at all my flower pedals! So metal!"

"So... we can just put anything in there?" asked Thomas, "I mean... I could've known that weeks ago! I had to... heh... I had to carry so many things! We made so many trips to the drop pods for those supplies!"

"I could carry around Hari in my big ol' pocket!" said Mike.

"Ooo!" exclaimed Simone, the pile of flower pedals rising up to her waste level, "Like a kangaroo? DIbs on being the Kangaroo BABY!"

"If she gets into your pocket dimension... does her own pocket dimension get even smaller?" asked Thomas, "Or would the technology even allow that to happen? What are our suits powered on?"

"Enough! We're far enough behind as we are!" said Clint, "I am sick and tired of learning new things. Thomas, we are getting this drop pod opened and getting what's inside. After that, I need everyone to pull their own weight and that will start with finishing orientation!"

Thomas pumped his fist in a victory motion.

"Simone, get out of those pedals, we have work to do!" said Clint.

Simone had managed to empty so much flower pedals, her head was the tip of a pedal pile.

Her helmet sank into the pile, "They are mine. I need them for a thing..."

"Than keep them from my sight," said Clint, "I need the parts I requested. If anyone has them in your pockets, get them out now. Otherwise, Mike and Thomas hurry back to the HUB and get to work on the parts I requested. I'm uploading a shopping list to your HUDs."

"Yes sir," said Mike, "We'll hurry on back!"

"And shove a few piles of Biomass or biofuel into the burners," said Clint, "I don't want everything to be idle and waiting on power when we return!"

---

Day 44.

Clint's entire upper half of his body was deep in the guts of the freighter. Mike was bored out of his mind, but he stayed close by with the parts Clint had requested for the repairs.

Mike was eyeing one of the corpses of the fluffy-tailed hogs.

"Hey, Clint," Mike started, "You, uh, you ever wonder why we're here?"

"Do nae need to, Mr. Gunn," came the muffled voice of Clint from the freighter, "I have our mission statement and marching orders from Ficsit Inc themselves."

"But that's just the thing," said Mike, "Do you remember... signing up for this? I mean, I know why I signed aboard. I knew the risks. But... it's me. In a way, it was all a joke. I expected to be caught and fired or sent to some desolate asteroid where I'd never hear the voice of another human ever again."

"Asteroid mining? Do you mean the comet sitters?" said Clint, "Those are honorable positions, lad."

"My point still stands," said Mike, "I ended up here. Now, fer a normal plan this would be a win and a half. Even with no ladies around-"

"There's Simone."

"Eh..." said Mike, "Even with... some ladies around, I find it odd that my plan just so happens to land me with another male. Not just that, but several others. Let's take Tommy boy."

"Oh, that one," said Clint, "He's got too much of a head on his shoulders. I feel if this was an office environment, he'd think himself superior. In fact, he still might. However he gets one too many reminders daily that he's not meant for this line of work."

"Exactly," said Mike, "Even assuming Simone went through training and the like... she's got a few screws loose herself. So, why are we all here? If we assume we landed with everyone intact, how many more were males? What would there stories be?"

"Does it matter?" asked Clint, "I'm a wee bit busy under here for-"

A hiss and click sounded from the freighter. Mike took a step back, but nothing seemed to have changed. However, Clint gave a small cheer and pulled himself out.

"Let's give her a tug!" he said, his suit covered in dust and grime.

Climbing onto the freighter's body, Clint gave a solid tug of the handle, and the handle finally turned over. Mike helped him push aside the large door, and peered inside.

Inside were a few bags of concrete, some more damage iron plates, and a few usable steel beams. However, Clint's eyes were directed to an orange and black hard drive attached to the side. A small blinking light ensured it caught the attention of anyone peering in.

"Please collect the black-box hard drive," said ADA.

"Easy job well done," said Clint, leaning in and grabbing at the hard drive.

It look several tugs, but eventually the hard drive came free. Clint showed it to Mike. It was roughly the size of a small motor. Carefully, Clint opened up his pocket dimension and slipped it inside.

"Alright, let's grab what we can and leg it back to the HUB," said Clint, "Something tells me either this drive will need to go up in our own freighter or be analyzed after the alien hide is done."

"Clint," said Mike, his hand running over the side of the freighter, "What do you think did this?"

"Hmm?"

Looking over what was left of the hull, Clint's attention was pulled to scorch marks around the freighter. Mike ran over them with his fingers, and even looked to the parts of the hull where larger pieces had come apart.

"I don't know," said Clint, "Isn't that what the black-box hard drives are for? It was probably the crash."

"Looks like..." Mike paused a moment, "I mean, I could be wrong. But it looks like blaster fire. As in plasma projectiles."

"How do you mean?" asked Clint.

"Well, see here," said Mike, "This was all caused by the crash. And these bits and the ones around back are darkened from the fire, yeah? However, this bit here, and these bit here... they don't add up. It's burned... into the hull. And in cases like this-un over here, it actually dented in. It's as if something incredibly hot slammed into the side, here."

"Well, you think those hog beasties did it?"

"Do I think the hogs burned it afterwards? No," Mike tapped the freighter again, "I'm convinced it could've been the cause of the crash."

"And what do you suggest happened?" said Clint, "Aliens shot down a Ficsit freighter?"

"Look, I'm simply connecting string to some dots yall don't seem too worried by," said Mike, "By itself, sure. Could have many explanations. But A group with a high concentration of male Pioneers finds a crashed up Ficsit freighter? Whose freighter is this? Why did it get shot down? Who has the technology to do this? More importantly... where is the team who sent this freighter?"

Mike draped his arm over Clint, "Come on, now. You have to admit, it's a puzzle. Are we alone on this planet? Is there more Ficsit Pioneers out there? Is there aliens? Or did a hog do this? Or worse... some other critter out there capable of... shooting down a freighter?"

"Hmmm," said Clint, eyeing the wreckage, "Perhaps we should move up a few time tables. I'm feeling self defense may need to be a priority with this line of thinking. I'll make note of it, Mike. However we best be getting back."

Mike and Clint walked away from the wreckage. Clint kept looking back over his shoulder.

"Mike, I need you to do me a wee favor," said Clint, "Perhaps keep this under the table for a short time. Hmm? If Simone or Thomas haven't reached this conclusion on their own, perhaps we don't point them into the direction of panic."

"Oh? You think we should?" asked Mike.

"I think I'm going to look further into it," said Clint, "Perhaps ADA has something useful. Perhaps the M.A.M. can tell us more? Either way, best not worry them."

Mike only nodded to this, and the two returned back to the HUB in silence.

---

The hammer came down, smashing the limestone further into dust. Another few whacks, and Thomas had pulverized the collection of rocks into cement dust.

Holding the bag steady, Thomas carefully brushed the dust in. The bag felt heavy, so he decided it was full enough and he folded it and sealed it.

Opening his pocket dimension, he put the bag carefully in. With a sigh, he decided to get the scoop and go after more limestone chunks. He opened a new concrete bag and went to grab his scoop.

"What do we need all this concrete for anyway?" asked Thomas under his breath.

"Concrete is used in a variety of structures and building materials," came the voice of ADA, "Also ideal for foundational structures to help construct a more permanent Ficsit factory at the work site and extend Ficsit planet side operations."

"Not at the rate we're going," said Thomas, "How am I supposed to build something like that?"

"Most Pioneers use Ficsit Inc's patented blueprints and Ficsit Inc's patented Build Gun."

"The resource scanner?" asked Thomas, his hand going to his hip.

"The resource scanner is a tool that is a part of the Build Gun," said ADA, "However the Build Gun uses the work site ADA to access blueprints to Ficsit approved structures, machines, and vehicles to facilitate rapid expansion of a worksite by minimal Pioneers or Pioneer."

Thomas retrieved the Build Gun from its holster. He looked at it in awe.

"Could it be that simple?" asked Thomas.

"Would you like me to run the tutorial program?" asked ADA.

Thomas looked out beyond the HUB. He could see their single furnace, shoddy conveyor belt system, and the single constructor, partially constructed. He gripped the gun harder.

"Yes, ADA," said Thomas.

Chapter Text

Day 47.

Mike sat down across from Thomas. In the HUB, Thomas had produced a folding table and two chairs, and he was holding a data pad. Mike tapped at the table absent-mindedly.

"So, Mr. Gunn," said Thomas, "Do you know why we are here?"

"I... uhh... Project: Assembly?"

"Here in this room," said Thomas, "In an HR meeting."

"Oh, of course," said Mike, "Because you are the HR rep around here."

"I... that is why I am here," struggled Thomas, "Look, Mike... you can't keep trying to... guess Foreman Mackinlay's accent. It's against Ficsit regulations and protections and can create a hostile work environment."

"Oh!" said Mike, "But I'm so close... Simone says she knows."

"I'm sorry but Ficsit just does not care."

"It's got to be Earth Australian," said Mike.

"Look, I don't care if you guess it on the nose, you can't- Wait, seriously? An Australian accent? That's your best guess?"

"Well I grew up on the moon of Earth," said Mike, "I don't actually know fer sure. He could be Saturneese."

"Oh, my god," said Thomas, placing down the data pad, "Look, this right here. What is Saturneese? That's not even a language."

"Could be one of 'em. Speaking common."

"No, this whole conversation," started Thomas, "Is bad, Mike. This can create a toxic work environment. Imagine how Clint feels, everyone whispering around him about how he talks."

"Oh, boy. Never quite thought about that, I suppose."

"How would you like it if we were all trying to guess your accent?" asked Thomas.

"Well, you'd have a hard time with that," said Mike, "Cuz I ain't got no accent."

"You... wait, what?"

"Indeed," said Clint, "In all fairness, it's tough to develop an accent when yer from a small town on the Earth's moon where nobody's got no accent."

"Unbelievable..."

"It's true."

"Look, you can't. You have to stop," said Thomas, "Or this is going to result in disciplinary action."

"I... uhm... what would that be?" said Mike, "Am I going to get fired?"

"I... uhhhhh."

"Also, who fired me? You or Clint?"

"I... I do not know for certain," said Thomas, "Look, firing is really harsh for a worker of your... skills. I just really need you to work with me here."

"Love to."

"Also, I have a report here in your personnel file that shows when you first arrived planet side you confessed to falsifying your entrance paperwork in order to-"

"Wait, personnel file?" asked Mike, "How do you have that?"

"ADA has a file on all of us," said Thomas, "It's HR eyes only, though. I have access to-"

"Is there one on Clint?" asked Mike.

"There is. There's even one on me," said Thomas, "But that doesn't help very much."

"GREAT!" said Mike, slapping the table, "Than you can tell me! Where's Clint from?"

"Where's Clint from?" repeated Thomas, "Mike... come on. I cannot use my position to divulge personally identifiable information like that. Ficsit protects that stuff."

"Aw, come on," said Mike, "We could put this whole mess of stuff behind us."

"Mike... you have to drop this," said Thomas, "We honestly cannot keep traversing the same things. Promise me you'll stop trying to guess his ethnicity."

"I don't see the harm," said Mike, "But I'll stop."

"No, I need to hear you say it," said Thomas, "I need the full thing. You'll stop what?"

"You straight shooting?" said Mike, "My goodness. Fine, I will stop-"

"Alarm Sounding," came the voice of ADA, "Alarm for: Tutorial... time."

"Dismiss Alarm," said Thomas, standing up, "Look, we're honestly not getting anywhere. I have recommended to Clint that you do some exploratory work, alone. Perhaps some time away from the rest of us will be punishment enough for you to think about how those kinds of questions make others feel."

"Exploratory?" asked Mike, "Kind of like a Lunar Ranger. Sweet."

"Yeah, maybe," said Thomas, "Anyways, I have something to do. Meeting adjourned. Good luck with that!"

Thomas was out of the HUB and off into the field before Mike had a shot to ask another question.

---

Thomas squared his feet. He turned a switch on the Build Gun, and the guns displays altered. No longer did it show resources and distances. Following the tutorial, Thomas switched on the Build Mode, and a blue light shot out from him. His visor was painted over with a grid, which tried to map the ground in the area in front of him. On his HUD, a selection of blueprints showed themselves.

"Let's start simple," said Thomas.

"Ficsit Tutorial's often suggest starting with a solid foundation," said ADA, "May I suggest a foundation? You have substantial materials."

In Thomas' HUD, the blueprints shifted and altered until he saw a selection of blocks labeled "Foundations". Thomas saw a pointer on his HUD that reacted to the motion of his right hand, with the Build gun.

Making a selection, Thomas jumped as the graphics went away, and he was greeted with a sudden blue brick standing in front of him. It was large, being roughly 8 meters by 2 meters.

When Thomas moved his hand, the blue square moved with the Build Gun. He smiled. He quickly jerked the square back and forth as it moved along. Hitting a track pad with his thumb, he was able to slowly rotate the square, shifting it slightly to fit his needs.

"Once you have decided to place the structure of your choosing," reminded ADA, "Be sure to confirm your decision with the trigger."

Placing it a little distance away, Thomas pulled the trigger on the build gun. The gun sent a beam of light out, highlighting the hologram where it stood. Out from the build gun, a mixture of materials flew to the hologram, slowly turning a bright orange with heat.

When the process was done, however, the light shut off and Thomas was left looking at a solid grey cube of foundation.

"Amazing," he murmured under his breath.

"The build gun uses resources from your personal pocket dimension to construct Ficsit approved designs in real time, exponentially increasing productivity."

"Magically, you mean," said Thomas.

He stepped forward. Reaching out his hand, Thomas felt the foundation's wall. He knocked on it, and it felt solid. He marveled at the cube now in front of him.

"If you misplaced and need to deconstruct a ficsit approved structure, just enter the deconstruct mode and the build gun will break it down into Ficsit approved materials and components for easier transport inside your pocket dimension. Remember: Ficsit doesn't waste."

"Deconstruct mode..." Thomas repeated, looking for the controls on his gun.

Finding it, he aimed it at the foundational cube. It once again lit up in a hologram, this time in orange. Holding the trigger, the build gun very slowly deconstructed the cube. However in the matter of a few seconds, the cube was gone, leaving only an imprint of grass in its shape.

Thomas checked the inventory of his pocket dimension and sure enough, the Build Gun had returned all the materials to him.

"This is amazing," said Thomas, "This is... this is magic!"

"This is Ficsit Inc patented property," corrected ADA, "Please use this tool to complete a working factory to service Project: Assembly at the direction of your work site's foreman. This ends the tutorial program."

"This is amazing!" said Thomas, "I have to show everyone!"

"Well, what a coincidence!"

Thomas yehlped and jumped back. Out of the bushes, Mike came walking through.

"WHY?" shouted Thomas.

"I also have something neat to show you," said Mike, "It's real weird and ADA told me you were the closest to my position. Come on, quick. It's not far."

"No, I meant why are you out here sneaking up on me?" asked Thomas.

"I just told you, partner," said Mike, "Do you not remember reassigning me to off-site duties? I'm on cartographer duties mapping up a larger perimeter and taking note of any potentially dangerous lifeforms! I found something that I think you should see and you were the closest."

"Fine," said Thomas, "But it better be quick. After this we're running back to the HUB. I need to call an emergency meeting."

"Not much of an emergency if it can wait," said Mike, "But come on, it's somethin' to see."

---

Mike didn't even pause. He just strolled on ahead as if there wasn't a single thing wrong. Right into the mouth of a gigantic cave. It was giant and looming, and it did not take very long for the ground to dip downward into it, deeper and deeper into the darkness.

Thomas was frozen in his place, his knees starting to shake. What was worse is there would probably never be a good time to explore the cave, as above it on a cliff some giant mushroom cap reached out like an umbrella and clocked the raise of the starlight above.

Mike returned, motioning for Thomas.

"'Mere," waved over Mike, "The cave isn't it. It's this weird thing!"

"Uhh... maybe we need Clint," said Thomas, "And his gun."

"Naw, I've been rooting around in here all day," said Mike, "It's not scary. But it is interesting. Trust me, you won't regret it."

"I feel very strongly that I already do," said Thomas, shaking his head, "ADA, ping our position to Clint and Simone. Just in case something happens."

"Ficsit Inc would like to take this time to recognize your behavior as potentially leading to a high risk activity that may result in damage to Ficsit property," said ADA, "If this is the case, please refrain from said activity, unless it is necessary for Ficsit production goals."

"Thanks..." said Thomas.

"Come on, get along!" shouted Mike.

Thomas sighed and looked around again. The orange head of one of the 'Lizard Doggos' was poking out of the bushes nearby. Thomas looked quizzically at it.

"Hari?" he asked.

The creature chirped and whined, before turning and disappearing into the brush.

"That's not a good omen," said Thomas, carefully beginning to take steps into the cave.

The cave was terrifying to him, but strangely it felt... perfect? Thomas walked along the surprising smooth ground and into the cave and was shocked at how wide and smooth it was. Even the stalactites appeared randomized and jutting out of an equally smooth ceiling.

Mushrooms lined the cave floor where the walls met. Some of the mushroom species jutted up, providing a strange bioluminescent light. Thomas was amazed, and decided he would need to pick some of the mushrooms when he had a chance so he could analyze it back at the HUB.

When he caught up with Mike, he was standing over a strange third species of mushroom. The specimen was large and stood alone on the cave floor. Mike turned and waved Thomas over. Thomas' eyes never stopped scanning all around him, but he approached.

"This," said Mike, pointing at the mushroom, "Is it. It's so weird."

"Is it?" said Thomas, "It's a mushroom. What did it do?"

"Tom, I need you to do something for me," said Mike, looking up at Thomas, "I need you... to tell me what this smells like to you."

"What?" said Thomas, "You brought me all the way down here to sniff a mushroom?"

"Look, just... trust me, will you?" said Mike, "Just... sniff it. What does it smell like to you?"

"I'm wearing a helmet," answered Thomas.

"Just... wouldja just humor me," said Mike, "I wouldn't've brought yall all the way down here if I wanted to be seen as crazy."

Thomas sighed, but knelt to one knee and did a large, comical sniff of the mushroom. Despite the sarcasm involved, he was stopped when he did notice a smell wafting through his helmet protectors. Thomas gasped, however that only brought in more of the smell.

He was brought back to the space station training center he did his master's degree on. He was waking up the morning after finals, groggily sitting in the cafeteria. He was laughing and joking with his school mates. They were both going over their terrible performances the day before. On his plate were the remnants of breakfast.

"Bacon," is what he said.

"Bacon," confirmed Mike, "Unmistakable. This right here... is some sort of Bacon Mushroom."

"It can't be," said Thomas, "Impossible."

"I'm telling you," said Mike, "There's no question to it. Bacon. I'm going to take a bite out of it."

"NO!" exclaimed Thomas, "We have to analyze it. See if it's dangerous or something. You can't just assume it's bacon and take a bite out of. It's obviously some form of fungus."

"Well, I found it first," said Mike, "So I'll get it analyzed. If it's edible, I want first bite."

"Gross," said Thomas, "Absolutely disgusting."

Mike picked the strange fungus and put it into his pocket. Thomas continued to look around the cave nervously. Mike began saying something about the other mushrooms growing around, and went to try and retrieve them.

Thomas stopped, however, looking deeper into the cave. His eyes could make out a faint glow, and as he tried to listen he could hear a distant hum.

"What's that?" asked Thomas.

Mike froze before following Thomas' gaze. He rose.

"Glowing?" he said, "Let's check it out."

"Oh, I don't really-"

However, Mike was already walking down the path deeper into the cave. Thomas followed along very cautiously.

The path didn't go much further before opening into a big chamber. The chamber was filled with rock formations making archways and bridges. Stalactites stretched down from the ceilings and some even burried themselves into the floor. Luminous mushrooms were scattered about, providing minimal light in the chamber. The ceiling appeared to be covered in more fungus, as the tendrils of black material stretched outward from dense clusters.

However, in the center of the room, a small gap of space between it and any other object, was a singular plant holding a large, luminous orb. This orb glowed a faint violet light and was surrounded by some form of wispy pink sparkles circling it.

Mike was silent, and approached the orb cautiously. Thomas, right behind him, was mesmerized by the thing.

"What is it?" whispered Mike.

"I've never seen anything like this my entire life," whispered back Thomas, "How would I have any reference in order to begin to speculate?"

"A no would have been fine..."

The two men approached it, and examined the strange plant. That is when Thomas noted that it was not all a single plant, the plant appeared to be housing and holding up the orb, which appeared to be some sort of metallic object.

"Woah," whispered Mike, "Like... a clam's pearl?"

"I... suppose," said Thomas, "Or an egg. Or some part of the plant. It's impossible to tell."

"Unless we analyze it," said Mike, "Back at the HUB."

Mike reached out his hands, and Thomas slapped them down again.

"What are you doing?" hissed Thomas, "Stop touching things. There are things on this planet you don't have to eat, you know."

"I ain't gonna eat it, I'm not thick," said Mike, "I'm gonna see if it detaches."

A rock fell from above, clattering noisily not far off. Thomas started and turned towards the noise, and Mike reached into his own holster and pulled out his taser.

Both of them watched the unmoving rock in silence. As the silence stretched on, they began to be increasingly aware of a rustling above them. Slowly, Mike and Thomas raised their heads, looking above them at the roof.

Horrifyingly it was buzzing with motion. The tendrils and the masses moved and clicked, becoming legs and bodies. The bigger masses opened eight, bulbous, black eyes. Smaller shapes were weaving in and around the ceiling. Scuttling around on exoskeleton legs.

Thomas felt his blood run cold.

"Sp-Sp-Spiders." he let out in a hoarse, panicked whine.

"Naw, spiders aren't that big," said Mike.

The creatures were dispersing, running down the cave walls and the stone stalactites, appearing across the bridges and archways. The larger ones leapt from the roof, twisted in the air, and landed on the many stone formations in the cavern.

"RUN!" shouted Thomas, "Oh god, RUN!"

And Thomas turned and sprinted for the cave mouth, as if his life depended on it. The walk down, deep into the cave had felt like a lifetime of inching deeper in and looking all around them. The sprint towards the exit proved it was both way shorter than Thomas remembered, but also hopelessly far away. Thomas gasped for air as he sprinted with all his might. Behind him, the noise of seemingly hundreds of tiny insect legs scraping against rock filled him with a dread he had never felt.

Next to him, Mike caught up quickly. He ran slightly behind him, and held a glowing sphere in his hands. Thomas caught it out of the corner of his eye.

"Are you kidding me?" screamed Thomas, "We're gonna die because of that! Lose the egg!"

"It's not an egg!" shouted Mike.

"Whatever it is, it's slowing us down!" shouted Thomas, "Or its speeding them up! It's theirs! Give it back!"

"Too late for that now!" shouted Mike, "Giddy-Up, Son! Make tracks!"

The mouth of the cave was in sight. Thomas felt his energy waning. He was gasping for air. They were never going to make it back to the hub against these things. And what if they did? Could Clint take them all?

Build Gun!

Thomas brought up the build gun.

"ADA, I need a GUN!" he yelled, "I need a trap! Something!"

"Insufficient data. No blueprints for such a-"

A spider landed just next to Thomas, its legs slamming the rock at his feet by centimeters.

"GAH!" shouted Thomas, speeding up, "We need something! A door! WALLS!"

"Wall with reinforced door," said ADA, picking out a blueprint he could afford.

Thomas aimed it at the mouth of the cave and pressed the trigger. A rectangle section appeared in front of him, a small, normal sized door section right in front of him.

"Get through the door," yelled Thomas, "shut the door!"

"How-" started Mike.

"DO IT!" shouted Thomas.

Thomas scrolled over two spaces, to an image of a metal wall. It looked iron and reinforced with concrete. He chose it and aimed ahead. Instead of being free form, however, when the blue hologram rectangle met the edges of the door wall piece, it snapped to it, creating a sealed wall. Thomas had an idea.

He quickly began jamming the trigger. Pieces of wall began to fill. Beside themselves. On top of themselves. Soon the cave opening was almost closed up entirely, and only the light streaming in from the rapidly approaching door lead their way.

However, the spiders were catching up. Thomas could see them on the walls beside them, racing ahead to cut them off. He could hear them clicking and screeching behind him. They sounded so close.

Thomas leapt through the doorway, doing a baseball slide on the other side and turning around, trying to close up the gaps that were left. Mike was right behind him, tossing the sphere as he went through. He quickly grabbed the iron door and went to slam it shut. Instantly a large spider-beast got stuck in the doorway, its legs slashing and clawing at anything it could.

A few creatures slammed against the newly made walls, and began to scuttle up the sides. Legs and small bodies attempted to crawl out of the far edges.

Thomas wielded his build gun, finding where the blue hologram patched up holes and quickly pulling the trigger each time. Legs were severed and screeches were muffled as the walls took form.

Mike was struggling with the door, screaming as he struggled with it.

Bap. Bap. Bap.

The spider creature's eye exploded with the force of a bullet, and it was beat back with several more shots. The creature slipped back, but more were attempting to take its place.

Clint ran up to the group, rifle at the ready. He slammed into the door next to Mike, and the door slowly shut. With a crunch, Spider legs were severed and dropped to the ground. The door shut, and Mike slid a large lock bar into place.

The two men stepped back, listening as creatures banged against the door, and legs scrapped and tapped up and down the wall in general.

A massive wall now stood in front of them. Clint held the rifle, ready to fire. Mike gasped for air, clutching his taser in front of him. Thomas lay on the ground, his arm struggling to keep the Build Gun pointed at the wall.

"What... did you two do?" asked Clint, coldly.

"What did Tom do?" said Mike, reeling on Thomas, "That was amazing! Where did all that come from? what the hell did you do?"

"Woah," said Simone, stepping out from the forest, "You weren't kidding, Hari. This is spooky."

"I need answers, now," said Clint, "What the hell is this place? An installation?"

"It's a cave!" said Mike, "And we went inside, but all of this? This is all new. Tom did something."

"I..." Thomas was gasping for breath, "What the hell were those things?"

"Trouble," said Clint, who stepped forward and lifted one of the large, segmented legs that had been severed, "Woah, look at the size of these stingers."

"They looked very big up close," said Mike, "They just appeared."

"If you get hit with one of these, you'll be hurt badly," said Clint, "Those stingers mean business."

"New designation: 'Stinger'," said ADA, "Discovery made by: Pioneer Mackinlay, Clint."

"Unbelievable," said Thomas from the ground, "ADA: I dispute! If anyone discovered them it was me and Mike."

"Shut up," said Clint, "None of this matters! Why is there an entire wall here? What were you all doing in there? What were those things? And what the hell is going on?"

"Build Gun," said Thomas, holding it up, "I can show you when I can breath."

"And that thing," pointed Mike, "It was in there. The creatures were... protecting it? Drawn to it?"

Clint turned to where Mike pointed. The sphere was lying not far away. Clint approached it slowly. It was still luminous, and the small things flying around it were still doing so.

"Is it... an egg?" asked Clint.

"Is it an artifact?" asked Simone, "Are those fireflies?"

Clint stood over it. He stared intently, lowering his rifle. Mike helped Thomas to his wobbly feet, and they both walked over to the sphere too. Simone was on the ground, staring at the orb.

"We should probably analyze it," said Mike, "Before it hatches."

"Yes..." said Clint, his voice a drone, "We should Harvest it. We are... legally compelled to harvest it... for Ficsit."

"Yeah," said Thomas, "Maybe it'll have some insight into what made those- What? Harvest?"

"We are lucky," said Clint, leaning down to pick up the orb and hold it, "To have found such a valuable artifact... It's for Ficsit. We must comply."

"Uhm... Clint?" said Thomas.

"So we're all in agreement," said Mike, "That's good. Tom! Your magic wall! Let's talk about that, partner!"

Clint opened his pocket, and slowly and deliberately put the orb inside. Soon after his pocket closed, he seemed to snap out of his trance, and look around.

"Magic wall," he said, shaking his head, "Yes! You have a lot of explaining to do, lad. It takes us a month to get any sort of progress, and then you throw up a wall in a moment of sheer panic?"

"What the hell just happened?" asked Thomas.

"According to you? Build Gun," said Mike, "Come on, we need more than what you are giving."

Mike and Clint helped the wobbly Thomas back to the HUB as he tried to explain the steps to his day and the tutorials he had been doing.

Simone was left behind. With a paint brush and bucket, she began to paint on the massive wall. Hari stayed close, but cowered at the scratching and tapping behind the wall.

"It speaks to him," said Simone, to no one in particular, "It speaks to all those without souls. Ficsit crushes our souls... but a few find it harder than most. I wonder, in time, If I will hear the luring call."

She stepped back, admiring her handiwork. Across the door and bleeding onto the wall she had painted the words "SCARY DOOR. KEEP SHUT."

She nodded at her handy work, and returned the paintbrush and paint to her pocket Dimension. Hari chirped worriedly.

"It'll be alright," said Simone, "I can hear them. However we lack the means to help. The darkest is always darkest before the dawn."

With that, she made her way back in the direction of the HUB, picking flowers for their pedals as she went. Hari whined at the door once again, before slinking off into the woods, following the team.

Chapter Text

Day 53.

The beat was bumping. The trumpets were blaring. The synthesizers were harmonizing. The machines were humming and moving to the music.

Thomas stood on a platform he had constructed, and danced to his disco track blaring in his helmet. Every so often, he pointed downward, pulled the trigger of the build gun, and dragged it to another point.

Furnace. Furnace. Furnace. Belt. Belt. Constructor. Constructor.

The trees had been cleared away, and now concrete foundations stretched out a distance from the HUB. A new storage container outside acted as Mike's new drop-off point from his miners, and conveyors brought the raw ore to furnaces. Multiple. Built in moments. Those furnaces now brought their finished bars straight to a row of constructors. Hooked up to power, which took another few clicks to set up power poles and cable, those constructors were now working in unison, spitting out Iron Plates, Rods, Screws, and Wire.

Walls went up around the side facing the spider cave, and belts weaved on through. A section was cordoned off for limestone, and Thomas was happy to kiss the days of smashing up rocks good-bye as they began to pour out bags of concrete.

And he danced. Looking out at what could now be considered a factory, Thomas felt alive. He felt useful. He felt in control.

Until a tap on his shoulder jolted him back into reality. His brain felt the cold, hairy touch of one of the spider legs, and he jumped back, startled. Only as he began to fall from his perch could he see the confused helmet visor of Clint disappear as he fell to the factory floor below.

He shut his music off, and by the time he had recovered his breath and made sure he was uninjured, Clint had made his way back down.

"Alright, Alright," said Clint, "Keep your ancient shit off, Patel. We have work to do! I need to talk to you about this thing."

"Alright," groaned Patel.

"First off, this is incredible," said Clint, "Second, we need to actually be making a plan on how we are going to design this factory. It felt as if it was years away a moment earlier, but now we are a hammer-throw away from making a real difference."

"I'm up for anything," said Thomas, "Perhaps ADA has a program where we can design a layout and figure out how we-"

"No such luck, lad," said Clint, "We'll have to use our old fashioned imagination and communication. However, all of this can wait if we don't solve the power problem."

"Power problem?" asked Thomas.

Just then a switch blew, and all the machine grinded to a halt. The hum of the factory lowered in pitch, and slowly everything stalled out.

"Energy problem," said Clint.

"It's not a problem, I'll just make another few biomass burners," said Thomas.

"Actually, that isn't the problem," said Clint, helping Thomas to his feet, "We keep coming up short because we don't have enough fuel. Mike and Simone have been running ragged while you've been playing 'Teleston Nights' up there. I'm afraid we need to discuss something."

Clint brought him back to the HUB terminal, and scrolled through the terminal to find what he was looking for.

"Here we are," he said, "Coal Power. When you pinged it last, I saw some Coal veins were picked up on the resource scanner. It isn't too far off, but it won't be easy. We need to make a plan, a good one, and we need to get this factory up and working soon."

"Alright, so why don't you and Mike head down to the spot you saw and I can stay with Simone back here and-"

"Look, lad, we have a problem with that too," said Clint.

He turned around to the craft bench, and he placed his rifle down on the bench. Taking out the cartridge, he showed Thomas. There was only a handful of rounds left inside.

"Ok," said Thomas.

"We're out," said Clint, "There are ways to make weapons like this one, but we need more supplies. Which means the trip could be dangerous."

"I don't like that," said Thomas.

"It's why I need to come up with a plan. You go help the others with gathering biofuel," said Clint, "I'll come up with a plan on keeping the power on for good. And I'll oversee the next few milestones being sent up while we're at it."

---

Clint stood in front of the team out next to the hub. Thomas looked nervously around. Simone pet Hari carefully on his head. Hari's multiple eyes lazily scanned around the group.

"Alright, I need solid ideas," said Clint, "If they don't start flowing, I'll have to call on somebody."

"Look, I don't see why Ficsit can't resupply us," said Thomas, "There's a big satellite up there. Can't we tell it we're out of bullets and need it for the hostile environment?"

"Unfortunately, no. Ficsit tried to supply the Pioneers with some materials and gear to ensure they can survive," said Clint, "The whole reason we were even provided a rifle is most likely because of the hostile environment. We'll be expected to progress far enough in our operations to build and defend ourselves if needed."

"Why not a vehicle?" asked Simone, "We could make an airship and float to the coal! Than we could become the first Pirates on Massage-2!"

"I... ok. Let's circle back around to aircraft," said Thomas.

"Ficsit does not approve of Pioneer piloted aircraft," said Clint.

"The logistics of providing Pioneers a pilots license is too labor intensive and training intensive for Ficsit Incorporated," said ADA, "For the liability it would cause. Ficsit Incorporated has provided some options for wheeled-transport more in line with Pioneer training standards."

"Too hard to fly," said Clint, "But they'll give any idiot a driver's license."

"Alright, this is a path," said Thomas, "What about a wheeled vehicle? We can make one of those and be safe from harm."

"Perhaps, that isn't a terrible plan," said Clint, "But we an barely keep out generators fueled. Am I supposed to trust we can fuel some type of truck?"

"Never fear, lady and germs," came the triumphant voice of Mike exiting the equipment workshop, "For I have a solution to our many woes."

"Mike, we've talked about this," said Thomas, "You cannot address the team like-"

"What is our biggest reason we can't just go across the planet to that coal spot?" asked Mike.

"Distance," said Clint.

"Spiders!" said Thomas.

"Destiny," whispered Simone.

"I'll have to give it to Thomas, I think," said Mike, "But Critters! In just a little bit of walking we've come up against mean hogs and quick and creepy spiders. Who knows what else is out there in the great unknown?"

"Don't remind me," Thomas put his hand on his churning stomach.

"But, Alas," said Mike, "I have solved our problem. Self defense! No longer need we rely on Foreman Clint."

"Is it a gun?" said Clint, "I'm unsure how impressed I can be if it is nae a gun."

"It's these!" said Mike, producing a series of tasers for everyone, "I found the recipe for my Ficsit Inc Xeno-Zapper and made everyone one! Now we each have something to ward off the creatures!"

Everyone accepted one from Mike. Clint and Thomas looked unimpressed, but Simone was wielding it like a laser sword.

"Thanks, Mike," said Clint, "This is really helpful, but I'm afraid we're going to need more than a sparkler to protect us."

"I agree," said Mike, "Which is why I am stepping up as role of protector here. I also found something that took me a while to figure out, but thanks to Aida, I was able to assemble it."

Mike lifted up from behind his back, a long object that looked almost like a baton. It was made up of a handle Thomas recognized as that of the 'Xeno Zapper' he was just handed, however it had an extension of three rods. At the other end, it had the dual pincers of the taser. At a flick of Mike's wrist, the object came to life, shining a dull blue color while electricity streaked up its length similar to a Jacob's ladder. The object now gave off a dull hum.

"And, presto!" said Mike, "Ficsit brand Xeno-Basher. The best way to solve your problems with violence!"

"You made a laser sword?" asked Simone.

"No, that would be made of light and would be copy righted," said Mike, "This is more like a taser-sword."

"I hate it," said Clint.

"Does it work?" asked Thomas.

"I just turned it on, for the demonstration," said Mike, "I have not a clue if it'll be effective, but it's durable and bigger than those tasers."

"Mike," said Clint, "Why did ye not think to make one for each of us?"

Mike held his hand to his chest as if offended, "Foreman! This took a lot of time and effort to make. Besides, I did make you all self defense weapons! Is that not enough?"

"No," said Thomas and Clint together.

"He who wields the sword," mumbled Simone, "Rules the land..."

"Simone!" barked Clint.

"Look, this will help us keep safe from the baddies of the world," said Mike, "With this thing, Tom and I can easily-"

"Hell no! I'm not going!" said Thomas, "There's more of those things out there! There's no way!"

"Thomas Patel," said Clint, "We all have to make sacrifices. Besides, you're the one who knows how to use the fae gun."

"If that's what it takes someone else have it," said Thomas, "I'll stay here and finally finish orientation."

"Out of the question," said Clint, "Look, I'd love to spare someone to go with you, I really would. However, while you are gone, we need more Build Guns to keep up our fast paced recovery. Simone believes there might be one tucked away inside her drop pod, and I want to have a go at the other two we found before meeting you two."

"Sounds like a job for me," said Thomas, "We shouldn't split up! We should do both these tasks, together."

"I'm afraid I must overrule you," said Clint, "Fortify, Patel."

"Think of it like this, partner," said Mike, "You'll be with the guy with a sword! You'll be much safer."

"What in our history on this planet makes you believe that?"

"It'll be fun! Now let's go find something to hit with this stick!" and Mike walked away from the group.

"Well, well, site meeting adjourned," said Clint, "Thomas, make sure Gunn doesn't needlessly die."

Clint walked away, leaving Thomas with a humming Simone.

"Surely you think this is madness, too?"

Simone looked to Thomas before singing,

"Cover your eyes, oh!

The Oloro is coming, oh!

Go and hide, oh!

Should I open them?

Whoever he finds will be killed, oh!"

"Oh, space jesus!" said Thomas, stepping back from her, "What the hell, Simone!"

"You need to stop worrying, Thomas," said Simone, "If you cannot stop relying on everyone else to protect you, than how will you be strong enough to protect them when they need you?"

"Hey, I'm not supposed to be here!"

"But you are here," said Simone, "And not a single person around you has the power to change that. So, puff out your chest and get to it. Turn the power on so we can work toward getting you home."

Simone added as she walked away, "He may wield the sword, but the only substitute for power, is power."

Thomas rolled his eyes, "As usual, an abundance of help, that one."

---

Thomas felt the heavy weight of the taser in his hand. He carefully made his way through the brush right behind Mike, and it still didn't feel real. The thought of them heading so far away from camp worried him, deeply.

Mike, on the other hand, was ecstatic. If was as if he thrived off of the exploration. He charged ahead. He climbed rocks for a better vantage point. He chopped away bushes and shrubs to make a better path. He gathered these strange nuts he believed to also be edible.

"This is exciting," said Mike, "The whole reason we set out to the stars."

"To work at a tier one planet as an HR drone?"

"Adventure!"

"Nope."

"Danger!"

"Oh, absolutely not me."

"The thrill of discovery and the unknown!"

Thomas sighed, "There's no way you actually believe that."

"And why not?" said Mike, "We're living like our ancestors! Living off the land. Just two manly men, and their dog."

Hari, who had begun to recognize 'dog' as a word directed at or for them, came barreling out of the brush to walk closer to the two men. The looked around with their tongue hanging out, trying to guess if a treat was in their future.

Thomas gave them a light pet before returning his attention to the path ahead.

"You aren't worried about anything? How about everything that has gone wrong since we touched down on this planet?"

Mike shrugged, "We've been doing pretty well. You have a magic Bob-The-Builder Gun. I have this sweet laser sword. Clint is happy at the idea we could actually catch up if not somehow get ahead on out projections. Simone... is Simone."

"We crashed on the planet," said Thomas, "It feels like we're not supposed to be here. Why am I going through all this again?"

"I don't know, feel like you have some real issues," said Mike, "But don't worry little buddy. We won't let you fall into the abyss."

"Thaaaayaaaaaaaaa!"

On the other side of the bushes, Thomas dropped off the edge of a large cliff. Mike was barely able to reach out and grab him. Thomas dangled, grasping desperately at Mike's forearm.

"Heh, see?" said Mike, "Won't letcha... fall."

"Pull me up!" shouted Thomas, "Pull me up!"

With great effort, Thomas was yanked up from the cliffside. He sat down, and gasped for air. Mike patted his back, and taking out his chainsaw to clear a variety of trees and debris so they could get a better look at the cliff.

"That was close," said Mike.

"Why didn't you tell me?" said Thomas.

"How was I supposed to know?" asked Mike.

Mike gasped, looking out beyond the cliff. Thomas followed his gaze, and held a breath of his own.

The view was magnificent. From their spot on the cliff, they could see the forest dip into a valley below. In the distance, other valleys and hills could be spotted, their trees providing a splash of green and blue. In the far distance, a group of trees peaked up into the air, showing their red leaves. Massive stone archways stretched great distances, looking like a natural masterpiece. Thomas could even spot a massive waterfall pouring off a cliffside, some of the water turning into a fine mist at the bottom. In the distance, a large mountain stretched up into the horizon.

A shadow ran across the tree canopy, and Thomas' eyes were cast upward. Soaring through the air, a massive mantis-bird was spotted. Surrounded by smaller flying creatures, the creature, almost silently, glided over all they saw and cast a dark shadow over the land.

With the slightest tilt, it banked around, and headed off to Thomas' left. The large creature headed off into the distance, surrounded by its flying creatures.

"Wow," said Thomas, "What an amazing planet."

"I could not agree more," said Mike, "Wonderful and untamed."

"Almost," said Thomas, petting Hari who was sitting not far off.

Thomas raised up the Build Gun, and squeezed the trigger. The resource Scanner 'bong'ed into action, and a wave of blue spread out, into the valley ahead. Both men sat in silence for a few seconds, as the circle spread out into the distance. "Ping. Ping". Went the holograms on their hud. Tiny circles were triggered in the area ahead.

"There," mumbled Thomas.

"So close," said Mike, "And yet so far. We have to find a way down that doesn't involve falling."

"We'll just go around," said Thomas, "That way. We'll figure out a way."

---

Day 55.

Thomas was lying on the pipework. He stared into the skyline ahead. He listened to the steady banging of mike at the crafting bench he had built.

Next to him, the massive steam generator stretched into the sky. He tried to imagine what would have happened if Clint insisted they built it by hand if he hadn't learned about the build gun. It was much too big.

Down past his feet, he knew a water extractor sat in the stream running not far from them. It awaited the finishing of copper plates so they could finish connecting the pipeline.

Somewhere, Hari whined. He was trying to reach a specifically high berry plant, but he was unable to finish off the last pale berry.

Thomas rose, and fell from his position on the pipework. He walked down the length of the foundation to see where the crafting setup was being kept. To his annoyance, he saw several portable miners sitting next to the crafting area.

"Mike," said Thomas, "We talked about this. I thought you were making the copper sheets so we could finish this up!"

"Alright, I hear you, partner," said Mike, "However, let me offer you up something. Go to your Aida blueprints. Look up a 'Marki Miner'."

With a sigh, Thomas brought up his build menu on his HUD, and began to scroll through the choices. He eventually found a group called 'Miners', and saw one option, for the Mark I. Looking over the schematics, Thomas gave off a whistle.

"With a fancy conveyor port," said Thomas, "These things could make you obsolete, Mike. This could completely automate a great many of our things back at the HUB!"

"My thoughts are it could automate the bringing of coal to our generators!" said Mike, "We won't need to trade off staying the night here to make sure the machines are running all the time."

"Hey, that's," Thomas paused, checking his thoughts on the matter, "That's really clever. I didn't think of that."

"The more of us there is to run around and make things, the closer we'll get to getting you out of here. Or finishing the job we were sent here for."

Thomas picked up the heavy, portable miners and put them in his pocket dimension. He was beginning to feel the weight pulling on his suit, and he feared it was somehow filling up.

Thomas walked over to the two separate ore veins they had found. Carefully, he arranged the Miners pulled the trigger on the build gun. In a matter of moments, the large miners rose into view and stretched high above Thomas. The conveyor ports were pointed towards their generator.

Thomas was flicking through his options when he came across a vehicle section. His heart jumped at the image of a tractor.

"A Tractor!" he exclaimed, "Hey, Mike, we can get a vehicle!"

"Great!" said Mike back, "But I got those copper sheets. Let's worry about getting the power back up before we worry about some slick wheels."

Thomas quickly hooked up a couple of conveyor belt mergers and attached the two miners. With a single line, he attached conveyor poles down to the foundations, and into the steam generator. Taking the copper sheets from Mike, he also quickly finished their pipeline and hooked up to the first generator.

"Alright, let's get the Biomass burners going, and get this party started," said Thomas.

"Hook it up and I'll flip the switches," said Mike, "Otherwise, they are all set to go!"

It took Thomas moments to hook up their new generators to power poles and those poles to the small "power grid" they had created. Mike was given a thumbs up, so he flipped the switches on the Biomass Burners, and filled the small system with power.

As those burned, slowly the machines were thrown into motion. It took a few moments, but the water extractor began to spin, and it began to absorb water from the river and force it up through the pipes. The drills on the fixed miners also began to spin, and the miners slowly lowered them into the planet's soil.

They waited for some time, watching as the pipes began to fill, and eventually the first of the water began to pour into the steam generator. They had pre-filled it with coal earlier, so it would be ready to turn on as soon as it could. As the water extractor came up to full speed, water came pouring in, and the steam generator began to hum, and come to life.

It hiccupped a little at first, but in no time the smoke stack began to belch smoke, and the generator was in full swing. Mike clapped and hollered, much to the excitement of Hari who did not understand what was happening. Thomas smiled as he viewed their power readout from a power pole. This single generator was producing a monstrous amount of power from what they had been getting. He smiled, delighted they had succeeded.

"Well, let's get back, I suppose," said Mike, "Looks like everything is going well. Look."

Down the conveyor belt, small amounts of coal were already beginning to appear. They were brought down to the generator, and the conveyors automatically began filling the generator. The pipes were beginning to get full and backed up as well, the water extractor doing its job well.

"Hey," said Thomas, "How many more of these do you think we could get?"

"How many more?" asked Mike, he scratched his helmet to mime thinking, "I don't know for sure. Maybe one or two more without risking what we have?"

Thomas nodded, "Alright, maybe we should get a few more going before we leave. I don't want to camp out here again, but I also think we can avoid coming back here to expand if we just have all the extra power now and we won't have to deal with it later."

Mike nodded in agreement, "Can't argue with that thinking, Amigo. Yall bring up a solid point. Let me check the output of the miners and see what we can expect. You verify the output of the water extractor. If the math adds up, let's get a few more generators, set 'em up, and forget them!"

Thomas twirled the build tool in his hand, "Sounds like a plan, Amigo."

Chapter Text

Day 59.

Clint was not to be bothered. He shut himself inside the HUB and asked everyone to do whatever they needed elsewhere. Mike was discussing something about more exploration, but all of that was lost on Thomas.

Thomas had found his stride.

The factory had come together nicely. All they local essentials now had automated miners feeding Iron, Copper, and limestone into the walls of their main building. Furnaces and constructors turned the raw material into components they could actually use. Bits were syphoned off into the brand new warehouse, a Simone idea, which was storing building materials they would need for the Build Guns.

The rest were being distributed into the brand new second and third floors that were partially completed. More advanced components were being automated up top, and soon they would be ready to start "Smart Plating". Although he didn't understand the technicality of it all, he understood that it was a part with specific instructions for the mysterious "Project: Assembly".

On the top floor, Thomas was assisting Simone with learning how to use the new Build Gun. Clint and Simone's adventure several days earlier was fruitful, and they were able to secure a working build gun from one of the drop pods while finding a broken one in the wreckage of another crash site.

Clint was analyzing the build gun to try and discern if a fix could be made or if a new one could be constructed. For whatever reason, ADA was anable to share any schematics for how the build gun worked or how to construct new models for the whole team. The AI kept insisting every Pioneer is issued one before deployment.

In his frustration, Clint decided the only fair way was to chose a recipient who could be "issued" the Build Gun and join Thomas as the "Master Builders" of the site. However he decided, he ended up issuing it to Simone stating it made the most sense for the group.

So, after she completed a recap orientation and a small tutorial, Mike was overseeing her on the job training. They were working on a new platform to move the HUB to after Thomas learned they could easily move it with the Build Gun. Clint wanted more protection against the elements, and though moving the HUB to a better more perminant location could help keep them protected as well as allow them to congregate closer to the main factory now that the facility was begining to take shape.

Simone had just finished laying down the last foundation according to Clint's crudely drawn plan. She sighed, and began her scroll through the blueprints again.

"Alright, Now he wants at least a small wall surrounding it, but we can't put a roof over it because we need the Freighter to be able to lift off if needed." said Thomas.

"Why can't we make any of the fun things," asked Simone, "There's a whole break room set in here. Pinball. Tables. VR Machines!"

"We don't have time for that stuff," said Thomas, "I need you to focus. Clint gave us a very specific game plan."

"But there are bunks in here!" said Simone, "We could finally make our own rooms! There's blueprints for locker rooms! We could take a warm shower."

"Oh, how nice would that be," said Thomas, "But we can't get out of these Pioneer suits, remember?"

"Still. Might be more motivated if our time off felt a little more like home."

"Look, we have to focus," said Thomas, "We need to keep going. We might be able to complete the space elevator part and get a message out about the mix-up here. I need to go."

"You don't like it here," said Simone, "After all this time."

Thomas crossed his arms, "And who would? Most of our food are nutrition cubes. There are so many creatures out there that want to kill us. We're working One hundred and ten hour work weeks. I've almost died countless times. Did I mention the spider nightmares?"

"And us?" asked Simone.

"Oh, where to begin?" said Thomas, "I could go for hours on Mike alone! But that would be against Ficsit's regulations on coworker relations and could create a hostile work enviornment."

"So... you wouldn't... miss us? At all?"

Thomas looked at Simone, who was knelt down, drawing aimlessly on the foundations with her finger.

"Well... I mean..." Thomas was caught off guard.

"We're all here, in this together," said Simone, "Surely it isn't all a nightmare? Would you really be better off without us?"

"Well... I mean, it's not all bad," said Thomas, "I mean... We;ve gotten really close out here. The only ones on the planet."

"That's all?" asked Simone, looking up from her fake drawing.

"Well, no!" said Thomas, "For instance... Mike is... always there. And... and he tries to crack jokes to lighten the mood... no matter how many times I tell him they are not appropriate for the workplace enviornment!"

Thomas walked over and knelt down next to Simone, "And there's you, and your... perspective on the world around you."

"I see what you do not," said Simone, "It's so tiring sometimes!"

"And then there's your... little gifts," said Thomas.

"They are wards," said Simone, "You never feel safe. They will ask the planet to look after you."

"Oh..." said Thomas, playing with his thumbs, "I... I didn't know. Have you seriously been doing that for me?"

"For everyone," said Simone, "Mike worries too much of what everyone thinks of him. He knows he doesn't belong and he has a hard time feeling his accomplishments mean anything to the team. His wards try to grow his fragile heart weeds so he can find his self worth."

"He... what?" Thomas blinked, "I... I never knew. I... I spend so much time with him in meetings..."

"Clint feels the weight of this whole operation is on his shoulders," said Simone, "He feels the weight of our failures as his own. He feels he is out of his depth with being foreman."

"How did you..." Thomas pulled up a notepad, and began typing frantically on a keyboard on his arm, "Simone... you are very intuitive."

"It's why all his wards are plants," said Simone, "He needs to feel he can succeed in keeping things alive."

"And what about you, Simone?" asked Thomas, "What wards do you need for yourself?"

Simone looked back to the foundation, "I do not need wards. I am the only one who belongs here. I should be fine. I should be brave. I have the training. That's why the metal eye bird in the sky isn't interested in me as much."

"I... the satelite?" said Thomas, "Wait, so you... you feel since you are the only one actually meant for the Pioneer program, you are... out of place in the group? Is it a... a gender thing? Do you feel we haven't made the enviornment more open to you?"

"You listen, but you don't see," said Simone.

"Come on, give me a break, Simone," said Thomas, "You're always so... cryptic. I never know what to listen to and where to look."

"You act as if I like being alone," said Simone, "But you aren't the only one who is scared. Maybe the reason dogs and cats bond is because there's no where else to go to!"

Thomas thought for a minute, trying to dissect her words.

"Wait... do you not want me to leave?" he asked, finally.

"We're all in this together," she said, "One must either believe all of it, or none of it. If the ship comes to take you away... who is to say the others will choose to leave me too?"

"Oh... my goodness, Simone."

Thomas plopped down on his behind and crossed his legs. He had no idea how to tackle this.

"It's fine," said Simone, quickly, "This is not work appropriate discussion."

"Actually... it's pretty important," said Thomas, "Simone, I don't hate you guys. I'm not choosing... to leave anyone. I just... I just don't belong here is all. I just need help understanding why I'm here."

"By leaving," said Simone, "It's fine. You can leave. You are always so scared. You'd leave in a moment."

"I am unsure if that's true," said Thomas.

"It is. It is why Clint will not tell you we can build the space elevator now."

Thomas' heart felt like it went ice cold.

"What?"

"Look up the blueprint. We have the materials. Sooner or later he'll need to admit it," said Simone, "But he fears the truth. Why are we all here? Who is meant to be, and who isn't? What is 'Project: Assembly'? He fears what will happen should Ficsit respond to your message detailing the situation."

Thomas sighed. He shook his head, looking over his shoulder to see the HUB. in the center of the field.

"Wow, what a mess we all are, huh?" asked Thomas.

"Yeah," said Simone.

"You think we're somehow the worst of the worst?" asked Thomas, "Sent into space to be... the rejects of Ficsit?"

"Mice," said Simone, "We are data of a calliber unseen."

"Sure," said Thomas, "So... how do you fix a bunch of broken mice?"

"Mice like playing tag," said Simone, "I don't think they like cheese as much as 'the man' says they do."

Thomas found himself stroking the chin of his helmet.

"Mice like tag..." he said, under his breath.

---

Day 60.

Mike barely had time to duck behind the barrier as rounds slammed into the front face. He could here the 'BLAT. BLAT.' of the opponents firing at him.

"Move up!" came a cry from their team lead.

"We can't take them! We're surrounded!" shouted Mike.

"We can flank them," pointed Simone from her cover, "Look, if we head up alongside-"

A round slammed into her arm. Red plume of liquid sprayed out, and she pulled back her arm screaming. She stepped out from her cover backwards, and thats when they got her.

Three more rounds slammed into her back. She threw up her arms in defeat. She slowly fell to her knees, before falling onto her face.

"SIMONE!" yelled Mike, "NOOOO!"

"They got me," said Simone, her voice quivering.

"You sons of Hogs!" shouted Mike.

He rose from behind his barrier, and he brandished his weapon. The gun popped out round after round as quickly as he could pull the trigger.

Blat. Blat. Blat.

He saw the first target, rushing the barrier. He was caught out in the open, and Mike got three shots right into his chest. Mike dived over the barrier, the shots from the second opponent missing as he was in the air.

He pulled the trigger on his weapon, but only a single round was fired. Blat.

The round soared through the air, and went directly into the path the other opponent was stumbling backwards to cover. The round slammed into his helmet, and a blue splash painted his faceplate.

Mike crawled back over to Simone, who was coughing.

"We got 'em, partner," said Mike, "You are avenged."

"Tell Hari," quivered Simone, "That he owes me 20 credits."

"You'll tell 'em yourself!" said Mike, "MEDIC! MEDIC!"

"Guys..." sighed Clint.

"I'm... so cold... sergeant," said Simone, "I can't... feel my legs."

"Oh... Simone," said Mike, "You ain't got any legs! They blew them off with that tank!"

"It's getting real uncomfortable, you two," said Clint, "Do we have to go through this every time?"

"YES!" said Mike, standing, "It provides atmosphere."

Clint was standing not far off. He was covered in blue paint, and he tossed his used paint canister aside. He eyed the paint gun in his hand.

"Is 'atmosphere' a part of the excersize, Patel?"

"I suppose so," said Thomas.

Thomas stumbled over, desperately trying to remove paint from his helmet.

"It's more fun this way," said Mike, "It really helps getting us trained in how to deal with the loss of a hero."

"Is that you, BaBa?" came Simone's exagerated whisper.

"I still feel this was wasting time," said Clint.

"You're only grumpy because apparently Mike and Simone should have had the rifle when we landed," said Thomas, "Besides, this is efficient. We're training on the new Ficsit paint guns. We're doing corporate mandated team work training, and this also works as a sort of... recharge, and reward."

"Reward?" said Clint.

"Because we have all the materials we need for the space elevator."

Clint pocketed his paint gun, and looked around him.

"Do we, now?" said Clint, "Says who?"

"Your own goal sheets," said Thomas, "We've been checking off milestones and stockpiling supplies. We have power and a solid production center now. There isn't much more we can do without taking the next major step, foreman."

"Well... of course," said Clint, "It's just... this would be a big-"

"Not really," said Thomas, "Now that we have the magic Build Guns? We basically can do it in the snap of a finger."

"Oh! I have been waiting for this!" said Mike, "We have GOT to build an elevator to SPACE!"

"Don't let... let the metal eye bird... take my body..." groaned Simone.

"Impossible," continued Clint, "We need to find... a place to build it. It would need to be large. Close to the base, but not too close. It would involve clearing out a whole section and building up foundations-"

"You are standing on it, Clint," said Thomas, "We just need to remove the barriers and stuff, of course... but this paintball course is on the future platform for our space elevator. Already done."

Clint looked around with new understanding. He rubbed his helmet as if scratching his head.

"Looked at my map, did you?" he mumbled.

"I thought this through, Clint," said Thomas, patting him on the shoulder, "It's time to salvage what numbers we can. We're still behind schedule, but we at least are an understandable amount. We've done a lot in the last few weeks. Now? Now let's get caught up. Get ahead."

"Of course," said Clint, who nodded before repeating, "Of course. I hope you are rested and feeling very teamworked."

"I'm dying," continued Simone.

"It's time to clean this place up," said Clint, "Thomas, I hope you'll do the honors. Let's build a space elevator!"

---

The hologram was massive. Despite standing back, Thomas was shocked at how huge the base actually was. However, he also felt that for a space elevator, it looked real short. Still, he had trouble lining it up on the platform they had built earlier.

Clint gave his ok, and Mike and Simone were too excitedly looking into the sky to notice Thomas' questioning glance. In the end, Thomas had to carefully hold the Build Gun with two hands, and slowly pull the trigger.

The order was placed. Almost instantly Thomas felt the massive amounts of building material leave his pocket dimension. The Build Game shined a beam, and slowly the outline of the base glowed as a massive hologram. Slowly it began to materialize from the bottom up.

In the end, it took the longest of anything Thomas had attempted to construct. Even as it began to form, it was glowing a hot orange for several minutes. When the glow began to die down, what was left was a base with three, crab-like legs reaching out into the sky.

The group stood around in silence. Thomas sighed, looking through the blueprint to see if there was something they had missed.

Suddenly a siren rang out. Lights began flashing on the base. Thomas looked to Clint, who shrugged.

"AH!" shouted Mike, pointing to the sky, "Lookit! Here she comes!"

From the sky, an object could be seen steadily getting larger. As it got closer, its speed could be seen as going extreamely fast. It looked like a massive metal rod falling from the sky, with a chandelier towards one end. It came down, almost exactly over the base they just created.

It slowed at the last moment, and then steadily lowered into the base. The arms sprung into motion, and lifted up. Suddenly the object from space was raised up, again, and the hooked arms scraped against the base of the object.

Thomas could now spot the massive metal rod was actually some type of hose, with a hollow center. The very base of it had slits perfect for the legs of the base. Sure enough, reaching the right height the legs locked in, and held the tube in place. tugging it down a little more, a connector rose up from the base, and plugged into the object stretching down from the sky.

The siren stopped blaring, and all at once, the structure seemed to settle.

"The space elevator is the primary way Pioneers will transfer pivotal components in bulk for Project: Assembly," said ADA over everyone's comms, "You can now access the elevator terminal to see the parts you should be working towards."

"Alright," said Clint, "Pioneer Gunn, would you do the honors?"

"That I can, sir," smiled Mike.

Mike sprinted up to the base of the Space Elevator. Removing stack after stack from his pocket dimension, he filled a large container full of smart plating they had been making. As Clint had predicted, they had stockpiled enough before the creating of the Space Elevator in order to complete their first shipment.

The container was closed and pushed into the port on the base. Through the terminal, Mike sealed the container, before pushing down the lever to send it up.

The lights began to pulse all the way up the space elevator. The chandalier part of the design seemed to lower and sway as the space elevator moved. Suddenly, the base shot up a birt of energy, and the chandelier part was thrown up the tube and disappeared way up above.

"Our first shipment!" said Clint.

"Wow," said Thomas, "Amazing."

"Ficsit Inc is glad you are making progress," said ADA, "You have earned a series of new milestones into phase three and four of Ficsit's plans at your work site. Please continue to progress to further Project: Assembly."

"Ooo," said Simone, "More toys?"

"More blueprints?" asked Mike as he arrived back.

"More work..." sighed Thomas.

"Well... there's only one thing left to do," said Clint, "I think you should come with me, lad."

---

In the HUB, the team stood around Clint typing away on the computer. He finished up the complaint form, and added it to the folder of his entire report. He turned to Thomas.

"Anything left to add on, Mr. Patel?"

"No, I think you covered it," said Thomas.

"When I send this, there's no going back," said Clint, "And there's no telling what Ficsit Corporate will tell us when we get information back."

Thomas nodded, "Maybe you guys can get some better replacements?"

"Aw, shucks little man," said Mike, "I doubt there is a replacement for you. As far as I'm concerned, you're our only HR Guy."

Thomas rolled his eyes, "I am your only HR guy."

"Alright, compressing," said Clint, who hit a few keys.

"So, what happens while we wait?" asked Thomas.

"I bargain that... today was a big day," said Clint, "We have a space elevator, sent up our first shipment. I can nae help but feel that's about enough for one day. How about I send everyone to personal time after this. Allow us to rest after such a large milestone."

"Oh, ain't that something!" said Mike, "We'll just let everything run and maybe we can get back to some paint ball!"

"I think I'll... wait for a response," said Thomas.

"To this message? Well... you'll be in here a long, long time," said Clint.

"What do you mean?"

Clint typed out a few more keys, and hit enter, "And, sending. It'll take a few minutes to send the compressed file, but the message will be out in the stars soon. We should hear back anywhere from... a week... two week to.... a year?"

"A YEAR?" Thomas went stiff, "But... but..."

"Well, yeah, lad," said Clint, "It's a space elevator that connects us to the satellite. It's not a miracle worker. We're sending a message countless lightyears through space to the closest Ficsit relay and then that will send it to someone in corporate. Plus how long it take corporate to get to it and decide on a course of action."

"But... but..." Thomas plopped down on the floor, holding his helmet in his hands.

"Of course... I suppose we could always build a relay of radio towers," said Clint, "I believe they include something similar in our Ficsit blueprints. But they are nae easy to make. They would make it a lot easier to communicate around here."

"That sounds great!" said Mike, "We'll expand the factory and we'll get better components."

"We'll explore, and find the secrets," said Simone.

"Alright, alright," said Clint, "Let me go see what the new milestones are. Perhaps we can get a few done right away. We'll see if there's anything interesting we should work towards."

"Oh god..." said Thomas, "A whole year? Here?"

"It'll be fun," said Mike.

"We'll design ourselves a room!" said Simone.

The team continued making future plans. Even as the elevator lowered once more, they barely noticed it. They would party into the night, celebrating their accomplishments, and Thomas would come around, joining in the festivities.

All the while, no one noticed the faint humming sound of a flying thing just outside of camp. It's yellow body and spinning turbines brought it closer to the camp. It had a single camera lens, that adjusted focus and zoom as it took in the surrounding area. It noted the space elevator, as well as the small factory.

The camera zoomed in on a lizard dog creature, curled up outside of a Ficsit Inc HUB. Switching to thermal, the object could spot the figures, standing around inside, apparently talking.

Miles away, in a dark room surrounded by monitors, two figures glared at the screen.

"Four of them," said one of the figures.

"Ficsit?"

"It appears so... they at least have Ficsit tech."

"Hmm... we'll access their databases and see what we can find out," said the second figure, "But I'm not ready to reveal ourselves yet."

"ADA," commanded the first figure, "Ghost command, all information concerning the worksite near scout 33-22B."

"Accessing... Work Site recognized," said ADA, "Ficsit Inc Worksite Nine-Two-Two-Seven-Six-Five-Three-Three."

"Three... three? Interesting..." said the second figure.

"Would you like to be connected to their foreman? Pioneer Nine-Two-Two-Seven-Six-Five-Three-Three-A?"

"Negative, ADA," said the second figure, "I want all their personel files and reports, immediately. Ghost command. I don't want them to know."

"What about the scout?" asked the first figure, "Should I continue to keep an eye on them?"

The other figure turned away from the screen, saying nothing for a few moments.

"Lower our passes until after their files can be reviewed," said the second figure, "But we'll keep a steady eye on them. Don't, be seen."

"Yes, Foreman," said the first figure, "As you wish."

"For tonight, recall the scout," said the second figure, "Return to worksite Nine-Two-Two-Seven-Six-Five-Three-One. Join me in the meeting room when you are done. We have much to go over..."

Chapter Text

Day 69.

The wind very gently blew through the reeds along the shore of the small lake. Small fly-like aliens buzzed to and from the flowers.

Thomas sat not far away. His legs crossed. He just looked out into the distance. In his hands, he fidgeted with a nut that had been found the other day. He debated eating it. Mike already had three.

An instant message from mike popped up on Thomas' HUD.

-Aida, what day is it?-

Thomas groaned, "No... Mike..."

An automatic notification popped up.

-Ficsit Pioneer request. Pioneer Gunn, Mike wishes the team to know it is Day 69 for your worksite.-

A few moments later a follow up IM from Mike.

-Nice.-

"Send instant message to Pioneer Mike Gunn," said Thomas, "Mike. Stop it. Last warning. I don't want to read another 'Nice'."

Moments passed, and Thomas nodded at the lack of response. He gave a sigh, and returned his gaze back on the wonders of the land.

A little flying creature slightly bigger than a dragon fly was darting around. It looked so elegant as it flew over the water. It stopped at lily-pad like water plants and hovered around. Thomas wondered how far it had flown from. He wondered if-

"Pioneer Audio Announcement," came ADA over his speakers, causing Thomas to jump, "Pioneer Gunn, Mike wishes all Pioneers a nice Day 69."

In the distance, Thomas heard the distant cheers of someone he assumed was Mike. He groaned again. His brows furrowing.

Suddenly a notification bleeped up. It was a message from Clint.

-ADA. Mute Pioneer Gunn, Mike for the remainder of the work day from Text, Radio, and ADA voice Announcements. Prevent the sending of emails as well. Deduct 69 Demerit points from Pioneer Gunn, Mike.-

Instantly a small red notification flashed on the screen for a moment.

"Pioneer Gunn, Mike has been muted by Worksite Foreman."

There was a pause, and silence resumed. Thomas found himself smirking.

"ADA, send instant message to worksite chat," said Thomas, "Nice."

He waited to see the notification bloop up. He sat there, in the new silence, and allowed himself to smile.

It was another few moments of silence when he finally allowed himself a chuckle, which turned into a laugh. It felt like years since Thomas last laughed.

Chapter Text

Day 100

The system's star shined quite brightly overhead. Hari gave out a long, drawn out yawn from their place in the shade. It was a calm day, compared to other days. They had found a nice collection of berry bushes and had finished up engorging themself with them.

A sudden sound rang out from off towards the aliens. A sound of whining and slowly whirring down. Hari's ears perked up. They got to their many feet and began a soft trot through the underbrush. It wasn't long until they passed their previous favorite sunning spot, and then where their old den used to be. Before all the trees were cleared out, of course.

Soon they were in the new clearing, and ahead of them were the aliens, in all their glory.

Hari made their way towards the budding new structure rising up into the sky. The walls were an interesting yellow-orange that stretched into the sky. There were bare-patches in some spaces, like little windows allowing light in. Smoke drifted out of these openings and out into the world around them. The smell was abrasive to Harri's nose, but with that smell was warmth at night, and plenty of berries from the aliens.

A large silver gate sat closed in front of them, and Hari approached and sat down. A small light turned on, and made a beeping noise through the air. A metallic voice of the aliens rang out from unseen speakers in the gate's frame.

"Pet: Hari, registered lifeform confirmed. Welcome Home, Hari," said the voice of ADA, the sitewide artificial intelligence.

Hari gave out a small chittering in glee. They recognized their name. On que, the lock was thrown, and the gate split in the middle. One side folded up to the left, and the other folded into the right. Hari wasted no time scuttling into the compound.

The first floor was a mess. Lines of belching furnaces and intense heat. Rows and rows of conveyor belts bringing in rocks of all shapes and colors. A layer of dust and soot rested on everything.

This is where Hari saw their first alien of the day. The heavy footfalls and arms full of various crap marked them as Mike, a happy sort Hari enjoyed greatly and played fetch with them often.

Mike entered through an automatic door from the next room and was hurrying towards the gate. He held a variety of tools in his hands with a modular frame or two tucked through his arm. He barely noticed Hari as he scuttled through, mumbling to ADA to himself in an excited manner. Hari didn't have time to watch the gates open for Mike as he dashed through the automated door into the next room before they could close.

Certain doors were programmed to not let Hari through, much to their dismay, and as they found themselves in the next room, they saw the source of it.

Another alien, this one Clint, stood in the center of the mighty store room. The warehouse was a large line of industrial storage crates stretching off down the hall. Conveyor belts brought a sampling of every product being produced here for inspection and storage for personal use of the builders.

And Clint Mackinlay stood with a PDA staring at an opened container.

"Only 7 a minute? Are you sure that's right?" said Clint.

"Optimizations in the production line of site Nine-Two-Two-Seven-Six-Five-Three-Three could lead to a substantial output of 9.63 a minute. Calculations show that these power outages are preventing consistent data to confirm or deny this conclusion."

"Damn coal generators," said Clint.

As if in cue, the lights above began to flicker once more, and machines all around the worksite roared to life. Clint took a second looking around before the lights flared off once more, and the descending wine of machines echoed all around him.

"SIMONE!" shouted Clint, resisting the urge to throw the PDA, "Tadungo! Can ye hear me, lass!"

Clint stomped off to the spiraling staircase in the far corner "ADA, voice message to Simone Tadungo: 'Shut down the Modular Frame wing. Let the others back up and shut down again'. Send."

As Clint disappeared up the stairs, Hari hurried off to the next room, a processing room with several lines of constructors turning Iron and Copper bars into a variety of basic components and parts. here, another staircase lead upward to the next floor, and it is up these staircases Hari scampered up to the floor above.

Above were more of the same. Conveyor belts, constructors, Machines, and parts whizzing around to and fro. However from this second floor Hari could see the walls were a little less frequent and everything looked a little more bare. The breeze blew through here a lot easier.

And Hari could hear the delighted hoots of Simone as she leapt from the floor above and caught a power line with her zipline zapper. With a crack and sizzling sound that unnerved Hari, Simone was thrust forward on a powerline and off down the length of the factory, hooting and calling as she went.

Hari took off after her, but their little legs had difficulty keeping up as Simone leapt from line to line and ziplined her way away.

Further down, she jumped back "in" to the factory, and ran the few strides further down to a massive power switch built into the wall. She easily flipped it down, bringing an entire line of machines to a grinding halt.

Turning around, she started at Hari, before kneeling down and beckoning them over.

"Hello, you," said Simone, "I was unsure there were two sunrises this day, but here you are!"

Hari did not understand, but they always enjoyed Simone's tone of voice.

"Simone?"

Simone sighed, and turned to the final member of the aliens, walking down the steps toward them.

"Try it again," she said, "I flipped it."

Thomas Patel walked past the two on the floor and walked up to the surge box next to this wing's power switch. With some effort, he flipped the breaker once more, and checked his PDA the graphs of the power management system.

He watched as everything attempted to rise to power once more. The graphs were all over the place, lines jumping around like crazy. He was trying not to sweat as the little orange line rose high, almost slapping the line representing the amount of available power, before jumping down once more.

"Hmm... it helped," Thomas said, "But... we're still spiking too high."

An instant message popped up on Thomas' HUD inside his helmet.

-Anyone up here? Status Report!-

Clint was starting to lose his cool.

"ADA, send instant message to worksite chat," said Thomas, "We're ok for now, but we need a site meeting."

He waited for his message to go out to everyone. He turned to find Simone on the ground with Hari, who was licking berry juice from her visor as she laughed.

"Come on," mumbled Thomas, but he truly didn't mind.

Finally a response came through from ADA.

"A Site Meeting has been called for Ficsit Inc Worksite Nine-Two-Two-Seven-Six-Five-Three-Three in three minutes by your foreman," came the AI generator female voice, "It shall be held in meeting room 'UNRECOGNIZED'."

Thomas nodded. They only had three meeting locations registered with ADA; The HUB, the "Floor" meaning somewhere in the factory, or "UNRECOGNIZED", a failed location Thomas had tried to set up for an outside meeting where the old HUB used to be located before the reorganization.

"Alright, team, let's get going," said Thomas, "Meeting time."

Hari leapt up from his space and took off for the stairs. "Meeting Time" was a phrase the strange shrimp-lizard was beginning to recognize. "Meeting Time" meant standing around... and berries!

---

"So it looks as if we need another expansion to the coal generators," said Clint.

"I'm sorry, I just don't think that's the answer," countered Thomas, "I'm sorry, I don't think it's the Coal. It's the water. We pump any more out of that puddle and we won't be able to call it a water source."

"Why are all the generators taking so much resources, now?" said Clint, "It's impossible to have a reliable set up when it feels the very gods themselves are changing everything daily!"

"Well, now," said Mike, "I don't want to point out the obvious, but it appears our current power set up ain't cutting it."

"Aye," Clint crossed his arms, "We've done great the past few weeks, but we're nae gonna make much more progress with half our process closed down every other day. It's time for... It's time for me to admit it is time."

"I don't understand," said Thomas, "Do we need to set up an even bigger coal plant?"

"Nae, coal is the way of the past, Patel," said Clint, "It's time we begin preparations for... oil processing and-"

"Yeeeee-haaawwww!" shouted Mike, jumping into the air, "Hallelluyerrr! I've been dying for you to say them words!"

"Mike, please..." said Thomas.

"Can't help it, drillin's in my bones," said Mike, running over to a pile of scrap, parts, and trash and opening a personal storage box, "See, this is what I'm here fer! Expert driller!"

"Now, lad, we do'nae really have time for a whole lot of drilling," said Clint, "The satellite has actually found a few areas where crude oil may have bubbled to the surface, maybe due to our landing or our activity in the region."

"Oh, we'll find it," said Mike, pulling a miner from the box, "As I said, drillin' is in my bones."

"Look, shouldn't we discuss this," said Thomas, scrolling through his PDA through crude oil setups, "A lot of this is pretty... complex. We need to have refineries processing plastics and rubber before we can even-"

"Look, we can'nae sit around arguing about it," said Clint, "We've gone as far as we can with what we have. It's time to prep for the the next leap."

"If this planet has oil, it means it has survived a massive mass-extinction event," said Simone, "There are probably fossils down there."

"Ficsit has no interest in fossils, lass," said Clint.

Thomas found a listing for crude oil in his resource scanner. He quickly sent out a ping, and the watched the virtual holographic circle shoot out from around him. There was silence as the ring expanded into the distance.

"So far, nothing," said Thomas, "How are we going to get all the way out there? Walking? Do we bring the oil back here? Or..."

"Oil pipelines are historically an amazingly awful idea," said Simone, "Unless we are trying to exploit labor in the refinement of the crude oil or want to navigate environmental laws."

"Neither are a problem here," said Mike.

"Well... alright," said Thomas, who squinted in the distance, "Did I miss it? I think I missed it."

"Missed what?" asked Clint.

"I'm trying to ping some oil," said Thomas.

"Hah! Sweet," said Mike.

"Inappropriate," said Thomas, who put his hands on his hips, "Oh no... how far away is this st-"

Thomas froze.

Just off to the North, hovering just above the treeline... something was flying there. Something metal.... and orange.

Thomas took a step back.

"Do... do you guys see that. Over there?"

"Over where?" said Clint, he instantly clenched and spun around. His rifle came to bear in his hands.

"That, there," said Thomas, "It's... some kind of."

"OH!" said Simone, crouching down and grabbing Hari, "The metal eye bird! She lives!"

"Woah, it's some kind of... drone," said Mike.

"Drone?" said Clint, "That's... Ficsit colors."

"It's a drone? Where did it come from?" said Thomas.

"If it's a drone..." started Mike.

"Who is flying the wee thing!" said Clint, his voice going deep and gruff.

The drone rose into the sky, and in a moment, shot forward to the edge of their little clearing. From the other side, the sound of turbines filled their ears, and a second drone flew in, hovering just above the group.

Clint's rifle shot up, but he stayed calm, waiting for them to move. Mike dropped the drill, drawing his "Xeno-Basher" and switching it on. Hari bolted away, his little feet rushing for the factory. Simone reached down and grabbed a handful of grass clods and dirt. Thomas swiveled his head.

"The forest," whispered Simone.

"Not very interested in that right now," said Thomas.

That's when they heard it. The surge of an engine. A sound Thomas hadn't heard in ages. Along with it, the crashing of leaves, twigs, and wood splintering. All heads turned to the treeline as a massive, black truck burst from the treeline. The headlights flared on, not really useful in the day. The six wheels were spinning and throwing dirt and mud everywhere. It had a massive, black metal clodded back.

The wheels locked as the truck screeched to a stop, turning sideways. Before a door opened or anyone could react, their attention moved to the figures charging from the treeline, rifles raised and their voices screaming at the group.

"GET DOWN" screamed one.

"Drop your weapons!" "On the ground, now!" "Hands where we can see them!"

They were surrounded by five individuals in no time. Orange clad individuals. Ficsit uniforms.

"Woah, WOAH!" screamed Thomas.

"Aye, you coming for some!" shouted Clint, "Identify yourselves!"

"Remember New Alamo!" shouted Mike, as he tossed down his basher and raised his hands high, "It didn't go well."

The door to the truck opened, and another figure got out. They approached the group, now more surrounded, and gestured to Clint. Clint looked from side to side, but eventually relented and tossed his rifle to the ground.

"Foreman Pioneer Nine-Two-Two-Seven-Six-Five-Three-Three-A, Clint Mackinlay?" came the commanding female voice of the truck driver.

"Aye, that is me," said Clint, stepping forward, "We were under the im-"

"You are to come with me," interrupted the driver, "All of you. Now. Round them up!"

The command was instant. In a moment, two of the Pioneer's stepped forward and pushed Clint and Mike forward towards the truck before stepping back and doing the same with Thomas and Simone, who both followed a lot quicker. A third Pioneer quickly stepped forward and scooped up the rifle and Xeno-Basher.

"Two and five" commanded the truck driver, "I want a full inspection. You'll be reinforced later. You know the drill."

One of the guards broke off and jogged to where the final Pioneer was already marching towards their factory in the distance.

"Are you going to demand access?" asked Clint, his voice betraying his annoyance.

"I outrank you, Three-A," said the driver, "It's best you keep your mouth shut until further notice. It'll all become clear soon."

With that, she took a few quicker steps ahead before a light jump into the air. A large pack on her back came alight, and she was thrusted into the air, up to the door of the truck once more. She effortlessly slid inside and the engines roared back to live once more.

"Oh... awesome," said Mike.

With a shove, Mike was pushed into Clint and was directed to the back of the large truck.

"Run, Hari!" shouted Simone, "RUN!"

"Who's that?" asked one of the guards, another female voice.

"A registered Pet!" said Thomas, "Don't hurt them!"

"If it's not dangerous, there won't be a problem," said the other Pioneer.

They quickly rounded the back of the truck and pulled down a little staircase for stepping up. She opened a large double door, revealing a set of benches inside.

"Alright, pile in," she said, "Any weapons? Hand them over, now."

"Nope," said Mike, whose pocket was already being rifled through by the other Pioneer, "You won't find anything on me."

The Pioneer retrieved two Xeno-Zappers from his pocket before sighing and pulling out the paint gun.

"Legally those are not mine," said Mike, "You can't prove it since you never read me my Miranda Rights."

"Get in, idiot." said the Pioneer.

It was only a moment or so later when everyone was piled in and the back door slammed shut. Only one of the Pioneers had followed them in, and she sat by the door with the rifle pointed at the group. The interior was dark, with only a short line of running lights.

Thomas could hear, above them, as the boots of the other pioneer walked along the roof towards the cabin. It was only a few minutes later the engine of the truck roared and they were already turning and peeling off.

"Where are you taking us?" asked Thomas.

"You are being summoned to a meeting," said the Pioneer, "You are being taken to the main base. Worksite Nine-Two-Two-Seven-Six-Five-Three-One."

Clint, Simone, Mike, and Thomas all shared a look with each other and said, at the same time, "Nine-Two-Two-Seven-Six-Five-Three... One?"

Without another word being exchanged, the engines surged forward, and the group was in for a bumpy ride in the dark.

Chapter Text

Day 100

The truck drove for a solid 34 minutes before Mike started.

"Hey," he nodded toward the Pioneer, or guard more like, at the back of the truck interior, "So... are you all girls?"

"MIKE!" exclaimed Thomas.

"What? They are wearing the same uniform," said Mike, "They sounded like ladies."

"We have been through this!" hissed Thomas in a loud whisper, "Mike... honestly, this has got to be a write-up, man. How can I overlook this."

"What?" said Mike.

"Come on... we've been through this."

"Alright, team meeting," said Clint.

"No team meetings," said the Pioneer in the back.

"You going to shoot me, lassie?" challenged Clint, "ADA, mute my team from listening ears."

"ADA, don't you dare!" shouted the Pioneer.

Whatever else she might have said clicked off as ADA's voice came over Thomas' headset in his helmet.

"Private voice chat started with members of Mackinlay, Clint's worksite team. You can now hear and be heard by your coworkers."

"Alright, what the hell is going on?" demanded Clint.

"I don't know," whispered Thomas, "Are we being arrested?"

"Arrested?" said Mike.

"Space Police," murmured Simone.

"Do nae be silly! They're Ficsit alright," said Clint, "My question is: the-hell these wee shites come from?"

"Language, Foreman," said Thomas.

"I thought we were alone on this rock," said Mike.

"Me too," said Thomas.

"That makes all of us," said Clint, "ADA would've notified us if there were other teams on the planet. We got the Space-Lift up and workin' an all that."

"Maybe they are here about your message," said Mike.

"They answer no prayers of ours," said Simone, "Shadows are at work, mark my words."

"Marked, Simone," said Thomas, "Look, if we're all on the same side here, why are we being arrested?"

"You are the Human resources shlub," said Clint, "What have ye been reading in those files?"

"Look, from an HR standpoint? This is way out of line."

"Honestly? They seem to think we're a threat," said Mike, "Which... we are."

"We are not!"

"I am."

"Shut-it," said Clint, "Where are they even taking us? What is a ‘one’ worksite? Are we the third worksite here?"

"Maybe it's an 'Apocalypse Now' situation," said Mike, "A small collection of rogue agents down river rebelling against the man!"

"Mike... I can't right now," said Thomas, leaning back, "I need some air."

"Hey, can we get a window opened?" asked Simmone.

The Pioneer in the back took a moment to recognize everyone had turned their attention to her. She raised her rifle ever so slightly and tilted her head as if saying something.

"I don't know what she's saying," said Mike.

"ADA, does this thing have windows?" asked Thomas, "A... Ficsit... truck?"

"Revealing windows on personnel transport" came ADA's voice.

The body language of the Pioneer changed to obvious anger, but soon the cabin was flooded with light, causing everyone inside to wince. Thomas used the moment to turn in his seat and peer out of the small window.

The world beyond was magnificent. They were still in some sort of forest, but it was a vastly different type of forest, with dark purples and vibrant flowers. They were currently driving besides some sort of cliff, a sight that made Thomas' stomach lurch, but the world beyond was magnificent.

It looked like a massive canyon had been carved out of the planet's crust, but over millions of years it had filled with a lush jungle of trees and mushroom-like plants. A waterfall fell not far off. Standing in a small pack, some alien creature Thomas had never seen before stood and looked over the landscape as if a pride of lions. Flying creatures swarmed in a small burst before resettling in the plants of the cliff.

It was magnificent.

In the distance, Thomas could spot a drone flying over the cliff, and zooming forward in jagged bursts of speed. The large eye on it appeared to be swiveling and taking in the landscape below.

Suddenly the truck jumped a little, and instantly the rumbling and bumpy ride turned oddly smooth. Shortly after, the truck tilted forward, and Thomas and the team desperately attempted to hold on as the truck began to accelerate downward suddenly.

Stifling a scream, Thomas managed to tilt his head up more to look before them. They were now driving on some sort of concrete ramp, man made, and they were using it as a road heading off a cliff they almost drove off and instead descending down into an area far beyond. As they dipped below the elevation of the drone, the drone shot forward, drawing Thomas' eyes.

"A Ficsit Pioneer is attempting to join this private meeting," came the voice of ADA, "Do you accept?"

"No, ADA," said Clint, "End the meeting, I have questions."

And all at once the sound of the environment around them came back.

"What do you want?" asked Clint.

"I really wish you wouldn't do that!" said the Pioneer, "You are supposed to be cooperating! These windows were closed for a reason! No peeking at the base location."

"We're already hopelessly lost," said Thomas.

"Besides, aren't we on the same side?" asked Mike.

"We don't know what you are," said the Pioneer, "Don't be offended, but an abundance of caution keeps everybody safe."

"With that in mind, it's a good thing to remind that we do nae know who you are, either," said Clint, "We have received nothing to suggest that we were not completely alone on this planet."

"It will be all discussed," said the Pioneer, "You'll have to speak with our foreman."

"Your foreman," repeated Clint.

The truck reached the bottom of the ramp and gave a slight bump as it tore ahead. The vehicle expertly navigated strange natural roads in the landscape as it climbed a short hill and bypassed large flora of the area.

Thomas spied the drone raise in the air, and begin circling a spot in the distance they were rapidly approaching. Then he spotted one, two more drones circling.

And as the truck rounded a small bend in the forest, a complex came into view.

And it was something to behold.

First, an electronic sign with an arrow pointed the truck to an intake road. Up a short ramp, the truck was soon on a massive slate of Ficsit concrete foundations, and the concrete spread as far as Thomas could see. Up ahead was a wall and gates, but Thomas' eyes climbed higher with a gasp.

The building was massive. Like a sky scraper, it reached into the sky, dwarfing the area. How they had not spotted it on their way in, Thomas did not know. In fact, he saw the unmistakable shaft of a Space Elevator reaching into the sky.

The truck eventually found the lines of a multi-lane road, and worked its way to the proper place and slowed its speed. It approached a wall about as tall as the entirety of their factory back home, and several watch towers endcapped a great gate made out of several retractable gates combined. They were already beginning to open by the time they were close enough to slow down, and the truck driver did not bother to slow down.

On the other side of the gate, another Pioneer directed the truck off to the right, but the driver was already aware of the command and expertly directed the truck that direction.

The gate had lead into a massive courtyard. The courtyard consisted of lines and lanes, and a few truck stops with conveyors of fuel being waiting for refueling. A few trucks, two in Ficsit orange and two more in a dark black, sat off to the side in designated parking lots. Above, drones landed on drone docking ports, and were blocked from view. Large outdoor floodlights were currently off, but were positioned around to clearly reveal the interior courtyard, with a few on the edge pointing outside the wall.

A large sign welcomed Pioneers Home "to Worksite 92276531". Another, smaller, sign ran through several messages, the current being an image of a truck with the words "Do not leave idealing if you are leaving the courtyard".

As the truck came to a stop, Thomas spotted a row of opened tubes by what was obviously a massive front door. From those tubes, three separate Pioneers appeared, brandished rifles, and approached the truck. Thomas felt the engine of the truck go silent as the tires screeched to a halt on the concrete.

In a practiced motion of precision, the Pioneer in the back unlatched the back of the truck, threw open the double-doors, and expertly stepped out the back without moving the rifle from the four of them.

Mike whistled, "We ain't in Mars anymore, are we?"

"Have nae been for some time," grumbled Clint, "Stay close to me. We'll get to the bottom of this."

"OUT!" shouted the driver, who was walking around to the back, "Come on, out."

Thomas felt a slight shove from Simone, and nervously made his way to the back of the truck and slowly stepped down into the sunlight.

Above them, a drone hovered, watching intently, and, peculiarly, another Pioneer hovered overhead, wearing some sort of pack outfitted with gyro-copters.

"Nice crib ya got here," said Mike, "Big enough fer all yall?"

"No more questions," said the driver, "Walk. We're going to the lobby."

"You guys have a lobby?" asked Mike, "We don't have a lobby."

"We're a worksite, not the bloody Ritz Cartlon, Gunn," said Clint, "Now shush. I'll do the talking."

They were lead up a short ramp toward the massive double gates that worked as the "front door" of the colossal building. Thomas almost fell craning his neck to see that high. He noticed the hovering Pioneer rushed ahead, and popped into the building via an automatic door that opened to no where.

The gates opened and they were ushered inside. Inside, the concrete turned to polished marble-like floors. Their footsteps echoed and suddenly Thomas felt intimidated. They were in an interior space, but the lobby was large, like a massive, empty spaceport. Electronic billboards and readouts displayed on the walls in certain areas. A power output displayed on one sice, showing graphs that eb and flowed, but a massive, flat (or close enough) power output. Thomas' heart fluttered. They must be making LOADS of power here.

A ding-dong rung out, and ADA's voice rang out in the lobby "Inbound Train B-32-2 will arrive in 33 seconds on platform T-11. Stand clear." A moment later, the voice returned "Adding five minutes of physical activity to your 15 minute downtime will increase workplace performance and personal health."

In the lobby was a large, looked like copper, statue of a Pioneer jogging. Around this, the hovering Pioneer kept a steady on eye the group as they made their way through the lobby.

The group was lead to an area with a variety of those tube openings by them. However, the team was pushed passed them to an automatic door that the driver had to open with a card. Once opened they were ushered inside.

"Up," said the driver.

Thomas and the gang found themselves in a strange room that appeared to be a janitor's closet. Mops and mop buckets were leaning against walls. A small frame shelving unit had some containers with a variety of doodads and screws.

What the woman was directing them to, however, was a red ladder that stretched upwards... and up... and up. Thomas's eyes went wide, although the expression was hidden by his visor.

"Wait, we're climbing a ladder up there?" asked Thomas, "You don't have any stairs?"

"Stairs?" said the driver, almost laughing, "Who needs stairs anymore? They are cumbersome to make and never seem to align with floors."

As if to prove her point, her pack opened again and the jets ignited. With a small jump, she was rocketed into the air and soared up the ladder quite a ways before stopping, grabbing hold of it, and looking down. As if to add insult to injury, Thomas could see the hovering Pioneer has also made it into here and was hovering quite a ways up the shaft.

"I'll go first, lad," said Clint, "Do nae look down if you're weak in the legs."

"There's very little to worry about," said Simone to Thomas, "Ladder injuries are usually caused by rough housing or carelessness."

"Always comforting, Simone," said Thomas.

Clint was first, quickly scaling the ladder. Thomas was close behind, however he paced himself a little better, making sure to go much more carefully.

"Ladies first," said Mike, with an over-the-top bow.

However, before Simone could get on the ladder, one of their other Pioneer guards pushed her back.

"For that comment? Why don't you hop on up there."

Mike gave a half hearted salute before beginning his climb up the ladder, "Anything for my gracious hosts, Ma'am."

"Coworkers," shouted down Thomas.

"Superiors!" corrected the driver, "Keep moving. First door to your left. Come on, rise!"

With that she pushed off the ladder and flew a little higher with her jetpack.

"ADA," said Thomas, he hoped under his breath, "Why haven't we gotten any blueprints for ladders? Are they really that hard to build?"

ADA's voice responded immediately, "There are many architectural blueprints and building options available to Ficsit Pioneers. However, some deemed 'elective' are available for purchase through Ficsit's own Anti-Waste Effort for Stress-Testing of Materials on Exoplanets Shop."

"That's... shop?" stammered Thomas.

"The milestone for access to this elective shop has yet to be unlocked by your work site," continued ADA, "For more information regarding the milestone progress of your work site, please querry the work site foreman."

"Site foreman," grumbled Thomas.

Thomas would have guessed it took roughly 30 years for them to reach the floor indicated by the driver. Without much effort, she opened a door and waited there for the group to arrive. The hovering Pioneer continued up the ladder a ways before stopping.

Clint was first, and he went a little past the door before turning and leaping for the opening. He landed quite easily, being ushered past. Thomas was next and he was shaking when he realized what was being asked of him.

"There's no platform?" he asked, "Where's the railings? How is this safe?"

"Safe?" said the driver, a hint of laughter in her voice, "It's Ficsit."

"Do nae be a babe about it, Patel," said Clint, "Just give me yer hand an' jump."

"For the record," said Thomas, "Microaggressions and trivializing the trials of others are frowned upon by-"

"Holy Space Jesus," said the Driver, "JUMP!"

Thomas gave a half-hearted leap, and realized immediately he was doomed to gravity's grasp. However, just as quickly as he realized he was falling, two arms shot out, grabbed the front of his suit, and yanked him up. Both Clint and the driver had quickly launched Thomas into the room.

Thomas' ears were ringing, and he didn't register the arguing between the two behind him. He felt the solid ground in front of him and rested on the shiny surface, gasping for air.

It wasn't until Simone helped him to his feet did he realize they were in a short hallway lined with screens. The screens held Ficsit advertising and information dumps. Everything was a deep maroon, and even the lights above seemed to be tinted a slight red.

Lights! There were interior lights buzzing above them. Thomas didn't have much time to oogle them as Simone helped usher him down the hallway, where Clint and the driver still argued to each other. In front, hands in their pocket dimension, appeared to be Mike.

Actually, Thomas suddenly realized he had trouble telling everyone apart. Everyone was wearing identical Ficsit Pioneer uniforms. The driver and two of their "guards" were armed with rifles, keeping a distance. One of them appeared to be the hovering Pioneer, whose pack had folded up behind her. However, he couldn't tell much more than that.

At the end of the hallway, a pair of executive doors waited for the group. They appeared to be made out of wood. The driver was the first through, knocking firmly before pushing the doors open and walking inside.

Inside was a massive office. On one side was floor to ceiling glass. Massive windows that looked out onto a section of the compound beyond, a few conveyor fancy conveyor belts quickly bringing materials into the building, and an area with a train track. In fact, Thomas recognized it as a train track as an electric train left the buildings somewhere he couldn't see and was turning around with its multiple empty carts behind it.

On the other side, an area filled with monitors and reports were updating and beeping at all times. At a quick glance, Thomas recognized power graphs, production reports, and a few personal trackers.

And further into this office area, the point in question. A wrecked drop pod had been cleaned and hung on the wall, as if it were a decoration. On the pod itself, a massive screen was mounted facing outward. Below these two things was a large, wooden (again, real wood) desk, with a massive chair. The desk had several brackets of monitors folded away at the moment, and a great deal of stuff on the desk. However, it all was to show off the person sitting behind it.

The figure rose from the chair. Thomas wished there was more to describe... but she as well was simply wearing Ficsit Pioneer standard survival suit. The figure crossed their arms.

After the group had filed in, several of their guards left the office and closed the doors behind them. This left only the driver and the hovering Pioneer. The driver relaxed a little, and slung her rifle over her shoulder as she approached the desk.

Clint followed her over, but all the others took their time approaching the desk.

"Here they are," said the driver, "If you care, I doubt they are a threat. Compliant? That's a different story."

"Tends to happen when a team of armed figures burst from the jungle and kidnap yer entire work site," said Clint.

"Please, we have much to discuss," said the figure in a smooth alto voice.

"Could nae send an email?" asked Clint.

"Or a cup of sugar," said Mike, "Not very neighborly."

"I could say the same for you," replied the figure, "Usually there's a bit of communication before an entire work site drops in."

"Well, color us upset as well," said Clint, "We lost most of the crew in landing. Worked our asses off setting up and starting on our task, and then even when we got the elevator raised, nae a word from Ficsit concerning others on the planet."

"I have your files," said the figure.

With a push of a button on her desk, the massive screen behind her suddenly showed the employee profiles of all the team. Four profiles.

"The fuck..." hissed Clint.

"They are in our minds." whispered Simone.

"Hey, whose that handsome fella?" chuckled Mike, pointing to the employee portrait of him riding a log wielding his Xeno-Basher, "Just kiddin'. That's me."

"Indeed, Michael Gunn," said the woman, "On paper, a model expert in terrestrial resource extraction. I cannot help to notice that in... everything but paperwork you do seem to be male facing. Even your build is scraping the allowed measurements for-"

"Excuse me, who the hell are you?"

The entire room turned to Thomas. At first, he could feel the heat on his cheeks and heart rate increasing. It took him a solid minute to realize it was him who has spoken up. However, all of that passed in a moment as he stepped forward, lightly pushing Clint aside.

"These are employee records and site-specific files," continued Thomas, "This is highly privileged information containing Personally Identifiable Information and records. I don't recall getting a request for access to these files. For any reason, for anyone, such a request would come through me."

The woman leaned forward on her desk, her expressionless mask still conveying authority and intimidation as she bore into Thomas' very soul.

"And who the hell are you," she asked.

"Thomas Patel," said Thomas, trying to steady himself against the situation he had found himself in, "I'm the HR Officer for work site Nine-Two-Two-Seven-Six-Five-Three-Three. ADA, confirm."

"No, don-"

"Position confirmed," came ADA's voice over the headset, "Pioneer: Patel, Thomas, is the registered Human Resource Officer for work site-"

"Thank you!" said the woman, slamming her hands on the table, "I would ask you not to command my ADA in my own office."

"Actually, her name's Aida," said Mike.

"Silence, ya edjit," said Clint before turning his attention back to the woman, "The HR Rep has asked ye a question, madam. We are demanding you identify yourself and why you dragged us through the jungle?"

The woman sighed, before straightening up and crossing her arms to match Clint's.

"I am the foreman of this work site," she began, "I am Pioneer: Nine-Two-Two-Seven-Six-Five-Three-One-A. I, am Irina Orgill. I am supposed to be here. I am very interested in why you are on my rock, and I am very interested in why, if you are Ficsit, I was not made aware of your arrival, presence, or purpose in my Six-Five-Three, Gentlemen."

---

The group stood around, waiting on Irina Orgill to continue, but she didn't. It was Clint who pushed for more.

"So what's with the gillies, hey?" he asked, gesturing to the driver, "Once you did find out about us you decided to Special Ops our first meeting?"

"Actually, we've been watching you for some time," said Irina, "Drones, mostly. Some satellite imagery. We accessed your systems with special commands. Broke down your files and records."

"Highly unethical," said Thomas.

"They read our diaries!" gasped Simone.

"We had to," Irina continued, "Again, we had no clue who you were, what you were here fore, and bigger still... what you were doing with Ficsit technology."

"Never keyed you in we were Ficsit?" asked Mike.

"Corporate espionage is a looming threat in our utopic present we find ourselves in," said Irina, "What did I have to go off of? A small group of strangers arrive unannounced. Males... at that. Quite a rarity for Pioneers, don't you agree? Then this collection just so happens to-"

"Actually, she ain't," interrupted Mike, "Simone is certified lady. She told me."

"It's true," said Simone, "Although I think it's more accurate to say I'm a mesh of trash in a Pioneer suit forced to clock in each morning."

Clint groaned to himself as Irina paused for a moment before ignoring the two.

"And, oh... what we discovered," she continued, "Look at this junk."

She gestured onto her desk, which for the first time Thomas could see past the clutter and monitors to see just what was on her desk. It appeared she had a collection of items confiscated from the group, including Mike's Xeno-Basher, Simone's Zipline tool, and one of the team's paint guns.

In fact, it is the paint gun she picked up first, looking it over.

"A... paint gun? Why?" she asked, "Do you not have a Ficsit construction tool? It has a whole Customizer setting. No one has needed paint guns in.... pffff.... ages."

"Customizer?" asked Thomas, drawing his construction tool.

The act caused a flinch from the Pioneer in the back of the room, even the driver stiffened. However, he pulled out his tool and looked it over.

"My god," said the driver, sighing, "Look at that dinosaur. See what we mean? This isn't Ficsit tech. Not... stuff they would've sent you down with, anyway. It's weird."

The driver stepped forward and pulled out another construction tool. With some quick thumb movements, she pointed the tool at the walls and before Irina could protest, she quickly changed the wall color of a large section of the far wall.

"Funanya! What have I said about that," barked Irina, "Put it back and never touch anything in my office!"

With a few flicks of her thumbs, the driver quickly and easily changed the color of the wall back to its previous maroon.

"Coooool," said Mike.

"Well, thanks for letting us know," said Thomas.

Thomas reached for his constructor tool, but the driver, previously called Funanya, pulled the tool away from him.

"Enough talk," said Funanya with venom in her voice, "Are you corporate spies or not? What the hell are you doing here?"

Irina sighed, resting her helmet in her hand, "Nany, please."

"Don't 'Nany' me," spat Funanya, "You fall from the sky without warning. You're the only survivors of a load of dead Ficsit personnel. You are a bunch of men... and this one. You have weird old tech. You are terrible Pioneers."

"Hey..." said Mike.

"Listen here ya Bampot," said Clint, "We'd ask you the same thing! We landed with minimal directions or information besides Project Assembly and when we sent messages-"

"Project Assembly?" interrupted Irina, almost laughing, "What in the galactic system could you possibly know about Project Assembly? You?"

"Why didn't you... wait, we have a space elevator," said Thomas, "It means we have a satellite. That means we're legit and noticeable. So riddle me this: How come they didn't know about each other?"

"Ah, the right questions," said Irina, "You won't have to worry."

With a press of a button on her desk, the screen behind Irina flashed to a white screen with the logo of Ficsit Inc. on it. A small icon of a camera was present just below it.

Thomas' heart jumped.

"A video call!" he shouted, excited.

"Yes," said Irina, "It's why we pulled you in, and so suddenly too. We read up on your files, got your reports you sent to corporate, and have been in touch with management in corporate."

"Management?" asked Clint.

"So we have a meeting, any minute now," said Irina, "With the CEO."

"CEO!" exclaimed Clint and Thomas together.

Clint took a small step backward.

"Yeah, let's face it," said Irina, "You are... 'unprecedented' doesn't really cut it, does it?"

"It sure does not," said Funanya.

Suddenly the screen gave a few beeps, and an electronic ringtone rang out. Irina stood, pressed a button on her desk, and moved her large office chair aside.

The screen size seemed to grow with the shifting to show the camera of another person. It showed a minimalist office, and a figure placed down a coffee cup as she adjusted her clothes and sat a little straighter.

The first human face Thomas had seen in what felt like ages. A middle aged woman with sharp features, wearing a tailored blue suit, sat in an ornate leather executive chair. Her mouth seemed to be pressed into a line as her eyes surveyed the room as if she actually sat in front of them.

"Miss Parks," said Irina, "Are we coming in clear enough for you? Any problems on our end?"

"Everything is just fine," said the woman, a clear and authoritative tone to her words, "Let's get on with it, Ira."

Before them sat Caterina Parks, Ficsit Inc. CEO. A whirlwind of a woman and merchant of the stars. This woman not only ran all of Ficsit Inc., but she was credited with discovery, mapping, and monetizing many systems humanity has managed to reach. In her lifetime, space travel went from laborious and necessary to profitable and exploratory. Quite possibly the richest human being in known space.

And she was sitting right in front of them.

"This is them," said Irina, "We were just going over their story."

"Which one is him?" asked Caterina Parks, "Where are you, Mackinlay? Step forward."

Thomas' head snapped to Clint. Clint had somehow made his way back even further than before, but at the sound of his name he rose from his hunched position and took a few steps forward.

"You are doing well for yourself," said Clint.

The woman smiled and let a small chuckle slip out, "Look at yourself, Clint. You look ridiculous in that uniform."

"And you look like you are almost free of yer human skin," said Clint.

"I take it you know each other?" asked Iriina.

"Aye, it would appear," said Caterina, "Forgive me my sins, but I do believe you are privileged to have the misfortune of the company of my ex-husband."

"EX-HUSBAND!" came the exclamation from Irina, Funanya, Thomas, and Mike all at the same time.

"Woah... reveal," whispered Simone.

"I know," said Clint, putting his hands on his hips, "She does have a heart somewhere in there."

"Flattery will get you nowhere you withered old sheep herder," said Caterina, "Now I am convinced you aren't a threat, I still want to know what you are doing on my planet."

"You're planet?" said Clint, "I'm afraid you're a little far away from such a declaration and the board of directors would have some-"

"The board is nothing without me," smiled Caterina, "And I am much closer than you think, Clint. In fact, I am in system."

"In system?" asked Funanya, "You?"

"Enough talk," said Caterina, "If we are to go any further, I need to make one thing perfectly, crystal-clear. Project. Assembly. Cannot. Fall. Behind. Schedule. Is this understood?"

"Yes," came the unison answers from Irina and Clint.

"Ira, the circumstances of this lot are being investigated," said Caterina, "However, they are apart of an initiative to get more bodies onto Project Assembly quicker. This initiative was green lit by myself, personally. Obviously there were... costs to our cut-corners."

"Are you kidding me?" said Irina, "More than half their damn team is splattered on impact."

"Yes, lucky Three-J, Duvalle was it? Reassigned at the last moment," came Caterina, "However, it does appear everything is in as much order as a fuck-up on this scale can be. Mr. Mackinlay was indeed hired on as a foreman and I can confirm he had acceptable experience to warrant the mistake to get through. Mr. Gunn did, in fact, lie his way onboard but did excel in training and testing. After fines and a pay cut, I think there's no reason to deem them a threat to anyone but themselves."

"Hey..." said Mike, "Rude."

"What about me?" asked Thomas, "I am not supposed to be here, actually."

"Yes, an interesting case, you," said Caterina, looking off screen slightly, her eyes darting back and forth as she read something, "Actually, you are the saving grace for those other two. You see, I was willing to write them off as lying on their resumes and have their oxygen cut off and their suits shut down."

"Uhh..." came Mike, "What?"

"However," continued Caterina, "You are an anomaly that proves clerical errors did happen on a scale I cannot fathom"

"Yeah, I am due in Abraxis-7," said Thomas, "I'm just an HR guy. I'm not supposed to be here. I never signed up for Pioneer stuff. I didn't dress myself in this."

"Abraxis-7? Oh... poor baby," said Caterina, her tone slicing with a frigid coldness only condescension can complete, "You have been missing from your position there for several decades at this point. I'm afraid the position has been filled several years ago."

Thomas considered that. His ears began to ring. His fingers went cold. Years... He had only been here... days? Months? How long? He fell to his knees.

"I trained forever for that position," he whispered, "I was... picked."

Conversation had continued around him, but he couldn't cut it together. He barely remembered Mike picking him up on his shoulder and helping to drag Thomas to a bench located not too far away. Sitting down, Thomas' panic refocused.

"So what do you suggest?"

"You are in no position to start raising your voice at me, Clint."

"An then what? Aye? Should I be so grateful ya have nae suffocated me yet?"

"Oh please," said Caterina, "If I wanted to suffocate you I would've unplugged your CPAP machine years ago."

"Would've choked on yer fag-ends before apnea took-"

"Absolutely not, you will take back that slander," came the harsh voice of Caterina, "I will have that comment struck from the record."

"Alright, ENOUGH!" shouted Irina, hands smacking the desk, "So this is apart of a little plan? So they are truly Ficsit and not some sort of trick? So what now?"

Caterina's eyes narrowed, "From what I can see, everything appears to be in order besides what is clearly stated in their files. We will be investigating further but for all purposes to Ficsit they are Pioneers and are not behind enough with their end of Project: Assembly to require action."

"That's it?" said irina.

"You... expect more?"

"Yeah, how about what the hell am I supposed to do with this lot?" asked Irina, "They crash into my back yard and much up everything and I'm just supposed to... what? Find a spot for them?"

"Shove that," said Clint, "We land with information hidden from us? Faulty equipment? Apparently outdated?"

"I told you, it was a special initiative," said Caterina, "Obviously there were missing portions. Industrial accidents happens all the time, foreman. Project Assembly is still in acceptable metrics."

"Acceptable Metrics!" exclaimed Clint, "People are dead! Missing. Lives were ruined. Old Tommy over there is having a breakdown!"

"Not. My. Concern," said Caterina, "Project Assembly is all that matters, now. You are here. Time to make the best of it."

"Yeah, I need to make the best of it," said Irina, "No chance there's an assembler recipe for that?"

"Look, foreman Orgill, there isn't much more to discuss," said Caterina, "You are in a similar lifepod to the rough Clint over there. You have been provided the information necessary for you to meet Ficsit milestones within acceptable margins. Everything else is just clutter or distractions."

"More like 'smoke and mirrors', the bollocks," said Clint.

"Ah, with literary nuance as that it truly is a mystery how our marriage ran out of stories to tell," sighed Caterina.

"Ah, you want poems? here's one for ya," said Clint, extending one of their fingers, "Can you see that from your high tower ya flimsy fan-"

"Bullshit," interrupted Irina, "We worked too hard for too long. We've met every impossible metric. There's no need for another team on the surface of Massage-2!"

"Look, as far as I'm concerned, you are in charge and your work site is still the primary focus," said Caterina, "But I will not be accepting notes on the redundancies I have calculated to be worthy of Ficsit resources. Play nice or not at all."

"Not at all!" came the in-unison exclamation of Irina and Clint.

"Deal is done, Ira," said Caterina, "Put the ducklings back into their pond and let them keep trudging on ahead. I'm not asking you to babysit these testosterone fueled oafs. I'm not telling you to bump them off the side of a balcony. I am directing you to play nice and get back to work."

"Unbelievable!" Irina yelled.

"Believe it." came Caterina, "Return who you wish back to worksite three and incorporate the rest. Clint, I trust your worksite can continue catching up?"

"I suppose with the proper equipment and a new outlook on our situation," said Clint, "We can achieve anything."

"Doubtful," said Caterina, "Ira. Can you play nice with the other children?"

"Is that an order?" grumbled Irina.

"Consider it an expectation," said Caterina, "Looks like this meeting was plenty productive. Much to do. Many heads to roll."

"I'm sure there's plenty of munchkins to terrorize," said Clint, "Off to Oz with ya. Thank you for the endorsement."

"Don't be catty, Clint," said Caterina, "Like that uniform, it doesn't suit you. Next we speak I expect different circumstances."

"Will we have access to the Ficsit network in the same way these lasses have?" asked Clint.

Caterina made a show of two, specific blinks before shaking her head, "Whatever do you mean?"

"They were bloody spying on us!" shouted Clint.

"Observing." said Irina.

"I have the report, I've wasted enough time treading familiar ground," said Caterina, "Look, none of this would've been a problem if you didn't waste days of Ficsit's time hand crafting a Pioneer HUB. Look, you have your milestone goals. You know the quota. We've wasted a whole day on this little tit-for-tat. You are probing the boundaries of my patience."

"Fine," said Irina, "But there's nothing in those milestones about ensuring they live to see the end."

"Oh, do nae do us any favors."

"Well," said Caterina in a controlled, quiet burst of words, "Within. Acceptable. Metrics."

With a controlled and purposeful motion, Caterina pressed something off-screen, and the screen went dark.

The room was quiet for several seconds. Heavy, pregnant silence as Pioneers looked from one to another, and back to Clint and Irina, who both stared blankly at the screen.

Until Irina gave out a yell of rage, building in her throat before coming out of her mouth. She grabbed the paint gun from the table and with a fluid motion, chucked it at one of the large windows. Funanya and Thomas ducked aside as the small gun shattered against the glass, the glass entirely unphased by the object.

"Great!" came the first word out of her mouth, before her breathes began to steady, and she regained her composure, "Brilliant."

Clint said nothing, his posture slowly sank once more, and he leaned on both hands against the large desk in front of him.

A crunch rang out through the office. All heads turned to Simone. With a Berryl Nut to her helmet, a small bite taken out of it, she slowly crunched, before stopping at all the gazes.

"What?" came the muffled words of Simone, "My lunch was an hour ago. It seemed like as good a time as ever."

A collective sigh went out through the room.