Looking around his house, Adlai wondered what he should even bring to a colonization barracks. They’d probably be given clothes, and he didn’t see much use bringing food for the same reason. He grabbed the photo of him and his parents and put it into his jean pocket. Pushing open the door for the last time, Adlai turned around to look at his house. Some houses look like faces, and this one was no different. Whenever he looked at it, he always imagined an elderly mother, caring for her residents. Shrugging that thought away, he turned and sat on the steps. Soon, the pitter patter of footsteps caught his ear, and Averi appeared, running.

She sat down next to him, panting.

“You ready to go?”

Adlai nodded, and the two got up. Walking past the same street that he had grown up on, Adlai felt a strange sense of nostalgia. He rubbed the photo in his pocket. It was hard not to think about them. He had promised himself when he was a lot younger to never do what they did, but here he was. He remembered his dad and mom taking him down this street, back when the days seemed brighter, and the nights warmer. His memories felt like they were coated with the same patina the photo was, glossed and worn. He suddenly felt very ancient.

Sighing, he looked at Averi who was strangely silent. Her face was clouded over, and that meant she was mulling over something in her mind. They walked together in unbroken silence, the only sound the slight crunch of gravel under their shoes.

“What happens when we go to the other planet?” Averi looked up at Adlai.

Adlai pondered the question for a bit. “I’m not sure. I guess we just build a settlement?”

“What kind of people do you think we’ll meet?”

“Hopefully, good people.”

Averi giggled. “I bet you’ll find a girlfriend! She’ll be tall, and blonde-”

“Hah. As if. I am not looking for someone else to babysit.”

“What do you mean babysit? I can take care of myself!” Their banter continued, with Adlai’s supposed “perfect girlfriend” being someone who could talk for him because he talked less than a rock in Averi’s words. A rumbling in the ground interrupted their talk. A massive, sleek train rolled up into a nearby station. Another considerably shorter line had formed. Adlai and Averi flashed their certifications and boarded the train. Shortly after, the rumbling began again, and the train began to emit a high-pitched whine.

The complaints of the engine were soon masked by the grinding noise of metal on metal as the train sped up on the rails. It dipped downwards into a dark gaping hole, only lit by dim yellow lights. Averi leaned against Adlai, her head resting on his shoulder. She soon dozed off, leaving Adlai alone to his thoughts. He wondered what it would be like in the barracks.

He never really went to school, there was no need. His parents had taught him all they knew, and there were only a few jobs he could realistically get. He was also uncomfortable with the idea of lots of people closed up in an area. That usually meant trouble, and Adlai just didn’t enjoy being in a large group of people. He suddenly was hit with a wave of exhaustion. He hadn’t slept much last night, his nerves had kept him up. His eyes slowly started to close, and the rumbling of the train lulled him to sleep.