“Colonies,” she said, voice dripping with contempt. “Usually founded by exiles, outcasts, dissidents, or hopeful people dissatisfied with their lives and naively confident in their ability to make a better one for themselves on a dead rock. Maybe more than one of the above. They stuff themselves into a large transport crammed with supplies and terraforming equipment and head to the nearest unclaimed planet that might sustain life.
“Then, after doing the bare minimum to make the place livable, they begin frantically working to scrape out a living in a low or even no tech existence, racing starvation. And their kids repeat the process for a few centuries until they're able to claw themselves back to high technology. If they're lucky. Otherwise, the colony fails and they're forced to head home, tails between their legs, or just die out entirely.”
“I think it's brave of them,” Lana said. “Daring to take that risk when they don't know how it might turn out.”
“They should, since they have plenty of data to draw from.” The Ishivi snorted, waving at the hanging planet in dismissal. “Colonies are the same the universe over. The only thing that makes this one special is that the man-shaped stool in the pilot's chair has taken a liking to it, and he shoves enough chits at the desperate hayseeds that they have no choice but to welcome him with open arms when he visits with presents, like some conquering hero of old. Even though his generosity might get them all killed if the Deeks ever find out.”
“Do you ever get exhausted by the weight of your own crushing cynicism?” Lana asked, hoping she wasn't insulting the woman but genuinely curious.
Belix just snickered. “Sometimes. Although it's usually the crushing boredom that gets me.” She sniffed. “Which is why I'll join you all at the welcome feast the colony will inevitably throw in our honor, just for a change of scenery. Also, they usually slaughter their choicest livestock and grill us up steaks the size of dinner plates . . . best meal you'll have in months.”
She definitely liked the sound of that. But before she could ask about the feast, or the colonists they were about to meet, the elfin woman abruptly brightened and clapped her hands. “But enough about me and this boring planet. A little bird tells me you've had your first full immersion dive . . . what did you think?”
Lana smiled eagerly. “It was amazing!” She started to go into detail about the wondrous visit to Homeworld, but Barix interrupted her with a sarcastic laugh.
“Glad at least one person on this ship seems to think so,” he said sourly. “Except for the gunner, of course, but he's impressed by anything.”
Dax didn't react, busy at his station. When she'd first been getting to know the young man Lana would've assumed he didn't hear or care, but now she realized he was probably just ignoring the slight man.
She couldn't blame him. “How can you not think full immersion's incredible?” she demanded; even Belix didn't seem all that impressed, aside from enjoying how much Lana had seemed to enjoy the experience.
Barix shrugged. “Oh no, full immersion is incredible, especially now that permanent rift hubs connect most settled star systems to the allnet and allow for effectively instantaneous communication.” He sighed, looking almost dreamy. “Try to imagine it if you can, my dear. A network of near infinite size, filled with any form of entertainment, education, or employment opportunities you could want. Limitless possibilities. With full immersion hookups you're able to experience it as if it were reality, and people have been known to spend their entire lifetime in the simulated worlds available there.”
“A lifetime which for us would be a few hours to a few days if we hooked up to the allnet,” Belix said morosely. “Hence why none of us find it quite as exciting as you do, sweetie.” When Lana gave her a questioning look she grimaced. “Full immersion rigs map your mind, identifying you more accurately than any fingerprint or retinal scan, and giving the Deek overseers who control the allnet instant details on your whereabouts. And possibly a bunch of other private stuff you wouldn't want them knowing.”
Her brother nodded, expression almost petulant. “Which means that, sadly, none of us outlaws will ever be able to enjoy full immersion on the allnet unless we want to make it a death sentence.”
“None of us but you, that is,” Belix added, patting Lana on the back. “Unless, of course, you were up to anything nefarious before your mind was wiped. But don't worry . . . stick with us for long enough and it won't be an option for you anymore, either. Eventually, someone will get a brain scan of you and log it, and then you're an outlaw too.”
Lana felt a moment of disappointment. They made the allnet sound so amazing, an opportunity to travel to other worlds without needing to travel, to interact with people without the danger. She felt like she was losing it before she could ever even see it for herself.
Ali gave her a sympathetic look. “If it makes you feel better, thanks to our database of material outlawed by the Deconstructionist Movement, we have quite an extensive library of historical and informational full immersion dives. And it's possible to purchase and store most content that's available over the allnet on the ship's databanks, although that takes up a lot of space.”
Aiden chimed in. “Crew are allotted a certain amount of personal storage on the ship's computer, and you can rotate out full immersion dives when we stop at stations. It limits the variety available at any one time, unfortunately, but I'd be happy to share my library.”
“So would I,” Belix agreed. “Unfortunately mine tend to be a bit . . . racy. You might need to do some growing up before you're ready for them.”
“You're welcome to mine as
