Mela slowly sat up and threw her legs out of the pod. Across from her, still clinging to the padding that cushioned her pod was her closest friend, Kee.
"Kee, are you alright?" whispered Mela. She could have easily ‘thought’ to Kee, but she wanted to use her voice for a while. So long had they been in stasis that Mela needed to experience the simple pleasure of speaking.
"Kee, did you hear me? Wait and I will come over to you."
Each chamber contained at least two Brights. There were over five hundred said chambers on the ship, so there was no need for two to occupy one chamber. But being young, most of the Brights on this mission chose to have at least one other in proximity. It made them calmer to know another was close at hand.
"Yes, I'm stable," said Kee as she struggled to stand up, and out of her pod. "Oh Mela, I don't, I mean, I'm just so scared. I heard the message Evers sent. This place, I don't know. Already it sounds terrible." Kee tried to hold back her tears, but she was overwhelmed after being brought out of her cryogenic sleep.
The Brights on the long journey had been rotated on a hundred year basis from sleep to wakefulness. The elders felt prolonged sleep would hamper the young Brights development. As they were brought out of sleep, they were able to form attachments to their pod-mates and adjust to their surroundings quicker. Even though their wakefulness lasted the equivalent of a handful of weeks, they were glad for the small reprieve.
Mela and Kee were as sisters. If such a thing had been possible among the Brights; as there had been no family units on Brightdome. But they had the familiarity of siblings. Even more so if it were possible they loved each other as only true sisters could.
Mela hugged Kee to her small chest. "Everything will come about to be as it should. The elders knew what they were about. We will thrive on this new world and bring about new progeny. Just wait you'll see."
Mela wanted to desperately believe what she said to Kee, but even she knew this was a risky and dangerous journey they were on. May all the Gods protect us, she prayed.
Chapter 2 - Let the Sun Shine In
EVERS WAS TIRED OF the constant heat and sunshine beating down upon his dry flesh. He wiped at his hot face and neck with a special coolant they developed. He pushed his shoulder length reddish hair from his bluish face. He looked on at the progress they achieved in such a short time.
The Brights had manipulated a great deal of matter since they emerged from below ground. But even they, with all their seemingly magical abilities could not make an alien sun answer to their bidding.
The sun constantly dried out their delicate skin to the point Jamil had to create a shower of sorts that moisturized their skin. It was not for cleanliness but for lubrications. For without it the Brights’ skin would be so brittle that it literally shed off.
They were now in their thirtieth turn of this planets day to night; and of harvesting the natural materials abundant in this planet, to their purposes. Some Brights were adjusting remarkably well to the environment, while others like Jamil found change to be a long and difficult process.
"Jamil, how does the fabrication of more substantial lubricant showers progress?" Evers waited patiently for Jamil to answer.
Jamil was the most advanced of the Synthesizers. He could literally bring matter together in such a way that boggled even Evers mind. But Jamil was not the friendliest or chattiest of Brights.
Jamil still pined away in vain for Brightdome; even though their universe had imploded until not a speck had been left of their home planet. Evers also believed someone close to Jamil had not been allowed on this quest, which affected Jamil more and more with each turn of the God's blasted day of this planet.
"It goes," was Jamil’s brittle answer. "I believe we will be able to moisten our skin and still retain the original inherent properties we were created with. A more progressive measure will be to harness the skin of these monstrous trees that shelter us from most of the harsh rays of this Earth's sun."
Evers was astonished. He had never heard more than a few words from Jamil. Now his second in command had given more detail than in a hundred year of wakening through the universes.
"That is great news. How many Synthesizers will you need to create this shield? These monstrous trees as you say are turning out to be a welcome boon for us Brights." Evers smiled brightly at Jamil as he watched him tinker with his instruments.
Jamil in turn answered sullenly as he threw a distracted look towards Evers. "How So? I see them as an impediment to our progress. And to answer your earlier question, we will need no less than two of our best Synthesizers. Along with myself of course."
Evers was still amazed at Jamil. Apparently he did not know him as well as he thought and longed to question him about this rare explosion of words. Instead, he expressed none of these curious observations and only responded to Jamil’s question and answer.
"We are using these huge trees as buffers against the hostile environment. Our shelters mimic the trees exterior and the native species do not notice our presence at all. Have you not seen how the animals of this planet are violent in nature. I have seen them turn upon their own kind and rip them apart. What do you imagine would happen to us if we were noticed?"
"Yes, I have seen this as well. I have also noticed the young of the natives hover around the trees as if they can sense our presence. I think these trees draw
