chapter two

       LIANA SIGHED AND walked off. She followed Jake through the halls of the Eligius building until they finally reached a conference room. He gestured her inside, waiting to follow. Liana entered the room, Jake entering as well and closing the door behind him. A woman stood with her back to Liana, and Chris sat the table. Liana had so much she wanted to say to him, but now wasn't the time. 

       The woman turned around, smiling at the two. Liana recognized her. Becca Franco. Liana had only met the woman once, but she saw her everywhere. 

"Hi, Liana. It's nice to see you again," Becca said. 

"Yeah. This is quite the surprise," Liana said. 

"Ms. Franco is here to help with the Eligius III. You'll be working with her and Chris Peters," Jake said. 

"I'm not a scientist," Liana said. 

"That is true, but you've researched all about the five planets we're dropping people off. I need that information to know what I'm doing," Becca said. 

       Liana nodded slowly, glancing at the ground. 

"I'll leave you to work," Jake said. "Liana, play nice." 

       Liana rolled her eyes as Jake left the room. 

"I'll lead you to the ship," Liana said. 

       Chris and Becca both followed her through the halls of the building until they made it to the hangar bay. The Eligius III sat there, half finished. They were looking for oil, like every other ship, but also looking for a habitable planet. Eligius had found five. Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta and Epsilon. The company was as well looking for scientists to send. 

"This is three. Our colonizing ship," Liana said. "It'll be manned with a bunch of scientists, dropping off a few of them at every planet. There is five planets. The thing is, however, there are two suns, and we don't know if it's safe to send them. Two suns means, most likely, twice the radiation."

"I think if we alter the blood, maybe we can make it to where the body rejects radiation," Becca said. "And make mind drives to record and log all their memories for when they come back." 

"Sounds good," Liana said. 

"Um, is there someone who can bring me the supplies I need?" Becca asked, turning to Liana. 

       Liana looked off, seeing a short, blonde girl walking with a tablet in her hands. 

"Katie!" Liana called. 

       The young girl looked up and walked towards Liana. 

"Yes?" She asked. 

"You'll help her with anything she needs," Liana said. 

"Right, with my unlimited access," Katie spoke sarcastically. 

"You have your ways," Liana said, walking off. 

       She headed off, not really knowing where she was going exactly. Then a hand lightly tapped her shoulder. She turned around, jumping a little at the shock of it. Chris. 

"Hi," She said. 

"Can we talk somewhere private?" He asked. 

"Uh, sure," Liana said. 

       She opened a door to one of the many rooms, which was empty. She walked inside and Chris followed. She closed the door behind them. 

"I'm guessing you want to talk about this morning?" Liana asked, looking down in guilt. 

"Yeah. I'm sorry. I overreacted. I knew you weren't ready," Chris said. 

"Yeah but I should be. I should already be living with you. We're getting married in the summer and I can't even live in the same house as you," Liana said.  

"Liana, it's fine. And if you want, we can postpone the wedding, okay?" Chris said, rubbing her arm. 

       She nodded and leaned into Chris, taking in his scent. Chris wrapped his arms around her, laying his head on hers. Liana closed her eyes and sighed, opening them again and leaning back a little. 

"I still have work," Liana said. 

"Okay. I'll see you after, then," Chris said. 

       Liana nodded again, giving him a weak smile before she walked out, leaving Chris in the room.

       Liana sighed, and threw her things on the counter. She was so tired. Becca was working on a serum for the radiation, and Chris was working on the mind drives. It was a lot of coding to be done. They needed one for every colonist, and that was a hell of a lot. Chris had his work cut out for him. Becca also had to go through hundreds of applications for scientists. Preferably, they were all families. Liana didn't much care. She didn't really do much at her job. She did lots of training for more than just shooting and fighting. 

       She also had to learn multiple languages, basic piloting skills, engineering, a little science. So many things, and for reasons she didn't even know. 

"Hey," Chris said. 

       Liana turned and smiled at him. He took off his shoes by the door, closing it and throwing his keys in a tray. 

"You feeling okay?" He asked, rubbing her arm. 

"Yeah, just really tired," Liana answered.

"Feel up to watching a movie, eating popcorn and getting drunk?" Chris asked. 

"Always," Liana said. "I'll pick out a movie."

       Chris nodded and got out a bag of popcorn. Liana headed into the living room, which wasn't far. She didn't have many movies but she had a few. She could hear popcorn in the kitchen. She could practically see Chris standing there, waiting for it to finish while he took out two beers from the fridge. 

       Liana put in a movie and sat on the couch, pulling a blanket over her. Chris sat down next to her, two beers and a bucket of popcorn in his hand. 

"We are a weird couple," Chris said. 

       Liana took one of the beers and threw the blanket over Chris' lap. He covered himself better and Liana leaned into him. He put his arm around her shoulder, lightly rubbing her arm. Liana closed her eyes and breathed in deeply. She was so tired, and wanted to just keep her eyes closed and fall asleep right then and there; in Chris' warm embrace, cuddled so closely together. 

       She wished she wasn't as she was. If she just didn't have her nightmares and her pain, maybe she could just be a normal human being. She knew that was impossible. She'd have to live with her pain for the rest of her life. But so would Chris. She didn't want to subject him to that. It wasn't until then that she even thought about the therapy her therapist had recommended. Liana sighed again, telling herself she'd call in the morning.