Earth 2050:

Andrew’s boots slid over rocky asphalt as he reached for his wife’s elbow, pulling her closer amidst the chaos. Fear twisted in his stomach, a live and writhing thing that fought to freeze him in place, but he had to get them through. Kate kept pace beside him; her footsteps sure as they always were, their son, Finn tucked safely in the crook of her arm and their daughter, Nora holding her hand as tight as she could as her wide eyes scanned the masses of people surrounding them.

This was it. The hulking spacecraft ahead of them would be the last of their kind to deliver a new population to The Colonies. Andrew’s knowledge and credentials had afforded them some of the last spots on the ship. Cryo wasn’t a luxury everyone could afford, and for those staying behind…it meant death if they didn’t understand the science.

He touched the locked valve on his gas mask, fingers slipping over the sweat that had dripped down the sides of his face as he glanced back at his family, reassuring himself that their own masks were still firmly in place. Finn was the only one without one, too small for it to fit his face, but Kate kept him close, trying to bury his nose in her chest as if she could protect him from the air that surrounded them. He fought his instinct to coil back as people around him crowded too close, it was easy to spot those who had been exposed for too long, their skin fragile and thin showed the deep blue veins beneath that still pumped tainted blood through their body. Their eyes sunken in surrounded by dark rings, lips split with the effort to cry for mercy. All of them pleading for help that no one could give.

Clouds blocked out the moon, casting a bleak pale light over the sick swarming the ships as soldiers fought them off to make safe passage for those with tickets. Kate searched the crowd for that familiar shock of strawberry blonde hair, her head on a constant swivel. Bea should’ve been here already. She was supposed to meet them before they made it to the loading docks, but it was too late. She’d have to meet them at the bay doors, assuming she made it that far. Riots had broken out and if they didn’t make it through those bay doors soon there likely wouldn’t be a ship for them to board. Nora’s high-pitched whine pulled her from her search, and she stopped short, Andrew turning his frantic gaze in her direction. Kate pulled Finn tighter against her body, bending to her daughter’s level and ignoring Nora’s small hands that reached out to lock around her. To feel the safety in her mother’s arms. Kate held a hand up to Nora’s face, brushing dark curls back behind her ears before firmly gripping the back of her head and pinning her with the soft brown eyes they shared.

“We do not have time, Nora. I can’t carry you both. Dad needs to be able to get us through. I know you’re tired and I know your legs hurt, but we cannot stop moving again. Do you understand?” Nora’s lip quivered, eyes glassy with unshed tears as she nodded in agreement and Kate stood again, inclining her head in her husband’s direction, “Go!” Andrew didn’t need her tell him again as he began shoving his way through the crowd once more. People here were angry, violent, and understandably so, but there was only so much room and The Colonies had practically been created overnight. They couldn’t accommodate everyone. Government officials had narrowed it down easily enough. The leaders for the terraforming project were the number one priority, followed by important world leaders, military heads, doctors, academics, and their children and wives. Anyone else who made it to Mars was one thing, and one thing only: lucky.

The sick wedged their way through those still unaffected by the bio-toxin, all desperately trying to make it to the doors, but there was no saving them. For those that had been exposed it was too late. Andrew pushed through the sea of people, his hand still tight around his wife, praying he didn’t lose her in the chaos. A thick black smoke permeated the air as abandoned cars went up in flames, the smell of burning rubber thick in his nose even through the filtration system of the mask. Shattered glass crunched under the soles of their shoes as they continued to make their way through.

The ground changed from ragged asphalt to the smooth metal of the loading ramp, the sound of a hundred footsteps echoing off the surface as Kate twisted again to search the crowd for her friend. Andrew tugged at her arm, desperate to get to the check point just a few feet ahead of them.

“Kate, we have to go now!” his voice urgent, giving way to his rising panic.

“No! We have to wait for Bea. We promised!” She was rooted to the spot, unyielding as her eyes danced across the writhing mass of people, the wreckage of the city before her. This was not the Pacific Northwest she had grown to love; the calm replaced by chaos and the kindness of the people replaced by the cruel actions of self-preservation. A strangled cry of relief escaped her as Bea came into view, elbowing her way through the crowd with her son in tow. She was breathless when she reached them, and her hands shook as she threw her arms around her friend in a crushing hug. “It’s okay-you made it. You’re okay.” Kate’s words came out in a rush as she pulled back, taking in the worry on her friend’s face. “It’s alright, we just have to get on the ship.” Bea pressed her lips into a thin line, shaking her head and squeezing her friend’s shoulder.

“Kate, I’m not going.” She had somehow pulled all the air from Kate’s lungs and sent her reeling with just four words.

“What the hell do you mean you’re not going?” Kate yelled over the growing noise around them. Soldiers had begun backing closer to the bay doors, readying themselves to close them off. Andrew shifted on his feet, eyeing their last shot at safety.

“I can’t leave this planet like this Kate, or everything we’ve ever worked for will be all for nothing. The last 5 years will mean nothing. I have to see it through. I have to leave a better planet behind for my son. Please…take him with you.” Bea’s eyes softened on those last words, green eyes searching her friend’s face for understanding as she pulled Tide forward and then kneeled before him, cupping his face in her hands.

“Your dad would be so proud of you. You’ve been so strong through all of this, Tide. I need you to promise that you’ll keep being strong.” Solemn grey eyes stared back at her as he nodded without saying a word; ten years old and he had already lived through more than any child should have to endure. In that moment he looked so much like his father. Bea’s heart squeezed in her chest at the thought of Nate and not for the first time over the last 2 years she wished he was here. She stood then, turning him to face Kate and the others.

Andrew watched his wife with growing concern, studied the hard set of her jaw, the way she looked to Nora and then to Finn, somehow still sleeping in her arms. He braced himself for what he already knew was coming as his wife slowly turned to meet his eyes. Kate stepped towards him, guiding Nora to hold his hand instead of hers. Their daughter frantically looked between the two of them, so unprepared for what could happen next. Kate nodded slowly as if trying to convince herself that this really was the right thing to do.

“I have to stay with Bea. Someone’s got to write it all down.” Her hoarse voice was barely audible over the crowd, but to Andrew it might as well have been a siren. Nora’s choked scream had him adjusting his grip on her hand as she tried to yank free, to go to her mother and wrap herself around her leg as if she could tether her to the spot.

“There’s no story here, Kate. There’s no one to hear it!” Andrew’s chest heaved with the effort not to cry in front of his daughter. He knew his wife; knew her mind was already made up and that he would have to be strong for his children. Still, he held hope that she might see reason. Might change her mind and tell Bea that she was crazy and board the ship like she was supposed to. “Kate…please. How am I supposed to do this without you? This is insane! If you want to keep reporting on the toxin then do it from the safety of our new home, not here!” Tears fell freely from her eyes as she shook her head and pulled him tight against her. This wouldn’t work if he didn’t agree to it, she had to know that they would be okay.

“Someone has to stay behind to tell the story…to document it. I think that someone is me.” He wanted so badly to wipe the tears from her face, to kiss her with everything he had. Nora’s panic had grown, and her cries rang out around them, no longer drowned out by the people that moved around them.

“Give me the baby.” It was a quiet command. One that held all the understanding she would ever get from him. This was the one chance he would grant her and if she didn’t take it now, he’d throw her over his shoulder and force her onto the ship if he had to.

“No…you’ll need both hands for Nora.” Kate turned then, taking in the 10-year-old boy behind her. “Will you carry him for me?” Tide nodded, quiet as ever and held out his arms. He was still so small, just a little boy trying his best to be brave. She placed Finn in his small arms and for the first time that night the baby began to stir as if he knew he was leaving his mother. Kate lifted her mask and kissed the soft peach fuzz at the top of his head before pulling it back in place.

Kate turned to look at her husband one last time, he had scooped Nora up into his arms holding her as tight as possible as she thrashed against him, screaming, clawing, begging to be with her mom. “Don’t let them hate me.” Kate bit down on her lip to the stop the tremble that escaped when she spoke. “Please don’t let them hate me.”

“NO!” Nora kicked her legs at the air desperately trying to break free, “Mama where are you going?!” Her shrill voice cracked with the force of her scream, drawing attention from those around them as she choked on her tears, coughing, and sputtering unable to catch her breath. Andrew felt the hot wet tears staining his face before he could stop them from falling and he clenched his jaw as he turned, carrying his daughter onto the ship with Tide and Finn following close behind him.

Kate watched in horror as her daughter was dragged onto the ship, still crying out for her. She jumped when Bea touched her shoulder, urging her to move on. Turning then to look at her friend, Kate felt the weight of her decision settle around her shoulders, threatening to pull her under.

“You don’t have to do this, you know.” Bea said, motioning between them. Kate looked back as the ship’s doors groaned in protest at the people still trying to rush through them even as they were closing. She shut her eyes, trying to block out the screams from those not lucky enough to make it through before they shut, but she couldn’t ignore the cries of her children still echoing in her head.

“Yes, I do.”

2090 Mars:

Tide paced the length of his office, the dull thud of his black boots reverberating off the white tile of the compound. Forty-eight hours and seven minutes had passed since his conversation with the advisory board. He’d fought as hard as he could, scrounged up every scrap of data from the past forty years. He just prayed it'd been enough to convince them. The fluorescent lights above hummed a familiar rhythm as he ran a hand over the trimmed salt and pepper scruff of his beard. Forty years had passed since his last glimpse of his mother; forty years since he touched Earth and swore to return home.

Suddenly the white walls around him felt stifling and he pulled at the collar of his suit, the black synthetic fabric stretching just to snap back into place. Tide clenched his fists and took a deep breath, focusing his thoughts back on the present. The wall-to-wall screen before him blinked back to life, a flashing call signal bathing the room in a bright green. He sucked a steady stream of air into his lungs, feeling the tension knit around his body like chains. He eased the chair out before him, taking a seat at his desk. Rolling his shoulders back he shifted his hand towards the keypad, clicking once to answer the call.

The seven members of the board sat around the head of a long table; their eyes fixed on Tide as he lifted his chin. He cleared his throat, the sound echoing in the silent room.

“Good morning. I trust that you’ve reached a decision," his voice was low and steady. Every bit of him the Commander he'd worked so hard to become. The members of the board exchanged glances.

“We have.” Marshall Evans, a bald mountain of a man flipped open the folder in front of him piling spreadsheets and documents on the table. “We've deliberated extensively over your proposal, and while we see no issue with funding the mission for Earthbound 1, we worry you may be too close to this project to carry it to term.” He steepled his fingers and raised his head once more as the rest of the board watched in silence. “Your journey to Mars was particularly…unfortunate from what we’ve discovered.” Tide winced internally; he shouldn't be surprised they'd looked into his file. The hoops he'd had to jump through just to secure his position as Commander had been daunting. This was just another hoop.

"I assure you; my personal history has no bearing on my ability to lead this mission," he said, his voice cool and level. " I plan on assembling a team of the best and brightest to make sure this journey to Earth is a success. I would only be fulfilling my duty as Commander to coordinate their efforts, nothing more.” The members of the board leaned across the table whispering amongst themselves. He leaned forward, his knuckles turning white as he gripped the edge of the desk. What would he do if they said no? Or rather, what wouldn’t he do? Marshall ran a hand over his bald head, smoothing down his non-existent hair before leaning back in his seat, nodding.

“Very well, Commander. Your proposal has been approved. But we will be monitoring your progress closely.” Tide tried to keep the relief from showing on his face, the stress of the past two days lifting from his shoulders as they ran through the logistics again and set the deadline for team approval. As the call ended and the screen before him flickered into darkness, Tide leaned back in his chair with a deep sigh. It had been a close call, but he had made it. A small smile tugged at the corners of his lips as he ran a hand through his hair. He had done it. They were going back. Memories of his mother flooded his mind, stealing the air from his lungs and he fought back the image of her smiling face, wondering not for the first time how different she would look now if she'd survived.

Just outside the office, Nim and Emerick stood with their ears pressed to the circular metal door. Nim blew the short strawberry blonde strands of hair from her face as she pushed against Emerick's side, both struggling to keep their place against the door.

"Do you mind? I'm trying to listen, and you're breathing really loudly." She elbowed him in the ribs, and he rolled his eyes, shoving her off the door for the second time in the last hour. Emerick smirked, his victory short lived as his sister wormed her way back into her spot.

"You know we shared a womb for nine months. I think you can manage to share your personal space for an hour." He turned his head towards her, the smirk never leaving his face. Nim huffed, ignoring him and turning her focus back to the voices behind the door. "Bet you wouldn't mind sharing your personal space with Oren." Emerick waggled his brows and Nim's cheeks turned a bright shade of red.

"Oh my God. Shut. Up." she spoke through gritted teeth, her green eyes wide as she shoved him harder, knocking him off balance. Emerick stumbled sideways, his arms flailing as he tried to catch his fall. The door they'd been leaning against suddenly slid open with a whispered thunk, sending them sprawling onto the floor of Tide's office. "Way to go genius." Nim grumbled as she picked herself up.

"You pushed me." Emerick scowled up at her as Tide cleared his throat, arms crossed over his broad chest as he surveyed his children from his chair.

"Don’t you two think twenty-five is a bit too old to be eavesdropping on confidential meetings?" Nim and Emerick exchanged a sheepish look.

"We weren't eavesdropping, we were just..." Nim trailed off, searching for the right words.

"Curious," Emerick finished with a shrug, earning a look from his sister.

"Really? You're sure you weren't just standing outside the door, listening in like you did when you were ten?" Tide's eyes twinkled with amusement, his lips quirking up in a wry grin. "I suppose some things never change." He tilted his head, his gaze landing on the both of them. "I assume you heard everything?" Nim and Emerick exchanged another guilty look before nodding, knowing they couldn't deny it now that they were caught red-handed.

Tide sighed, running a hand through his dark hair, disrupting the silver streaks by his ears. "I understand that you two are excited about this mission, but it's not going to be a walk in the park," he said, his tone serious. "Earth is...volatile, and I can't have you two getting in the way or jeopardizing your safety."

"We're not kids anymore," Emerick protested. "We've been through the same training as everyone else on the flight squad. We're just as capable as they are. We're ready and we want to go." Tide's eyes narrowed as he regarded his son.

"I'm not going to risk your lives just because you think you're capable," he said firmly. "I need to know that you can follow orders and work as part of a team." Nim spoke up, her voice quiet but determined.

"We can do that, Dad," she said. "We just want to put together our own team, one that we know we can trust. Please just give us this one chance." Tide considered his children for a moment, seeing the same determination in their eyes that he had when he was their age. He couldn't deny that he was proud of them, but he also knew the risks involved in the mission.

"Alright," he said finally, holding up a hand, silencing their cheers. "But I'm not the only one you need to convince. The board--"

"We know," Nim nodded vigorously, " We've got it handled."

"If they say no, my hands are tied. Understood?"

"Understood," Emerick grinned, his smile splitting his face, "we already have a team in mind." Tide groaned, scrubbing a hand down his face.

"Of course, you do. Why do I have a feeling I'm going to regret this?"

Nim hummed, pursing her lips, " because you're highly skeptical and set in your ways?" Tide's eyes narrowed as she shot him a dazzling smile. He shook his head, suppressing the laugh that bubbled in his chest.

"Get out of my office before I change my mind." The twins saluted before departing the office, talking excitedly about their plans for the mission. As the door closed, Tide was left alone in his office once again. He hadn't intended on letting them go - it was too dangerous for two untested recruits, let alone a whole team if he knew their plans as well as he thought he did. He powered up the screen once more, looking through the most recent pictures of Earth's surface. The planet looked rotted and gray, a husk of what it used to be. What he could barely remember as he turned his head to look out the window at the expanse of red dust he'd grown accustomed to. The barren landscape that they'd somehow carved a life out of. He couldn't help but think about what his mother might've witnessed as the planet died around her.