This post started off as a one-off response to a writing prompt in the Freewriters Community. Then I wrote a part 2 (with the outcome literally determined by a coin toss).
But that naturally leads to a part 3, which is where this short series comes in. I felt that doing it in just one post really wouldn't give enough time to build up a bit of suspense 😀 Enjoy !
Image created by AI in NightCafe Studio
"We found life. Intelligent life. Our recommendation was that Meranda IV should be totally quarantined."
Dafang was shocked by Doctor Thwaites' revelation. He'd expected her to say something along the lines of finding some species-jumping pathogen, or a chemical imbalance in the atmosphere. But intelligent life that warranted quarantine ?
"So why have I never heard of this before, and why have I never heard of you before ?"
She shrugged. "You know how it is; Colony Central are under immense pressure to open up new planets. To find somewhere for our ever-expanding population, but more importantly for the resources, agricultural products and manufacturing potential."
When she continued, a bitter tone entered her voice.
"When Franzel and I got back to Valdan's World we naively tried to lodge a protest. Instead of listening to it, we were both cashiered and all mention of our presence in the scouting mission removed from the records."
Her words had the ring of truth to Dafang; he knew how twisted and complex the politics and pressures at Colony Central were.
"So tell me, Doctor Thwaites, about this lifeform you discovered ? How serious a threat is it ?"
But before she could answer, the door crashed open, revealing the figure of Chief Administrator Garnes. At his side were two troopers of the Colonial Gendarmerie.
Garnes pointed at Helen. "Arrest that woman !"
As the gendarmes stepped forward, each with a quietly fizzing neuro-whip in hand, Garnes turned to his superior.
"I'm sorry governor, she should never have been allowed to reach you. We received a high priority message that this woman had stowed away on the colony ship. Delusional-psychopathic and highly dangerous."
Garnes' face and body language exuded triumph.
"We were advised she's a murderess and fantasist who escaped just hours before her sentence was to be carried out, killing two guards in the process. She's to be lobotomised and given cortical control implants before reassignment to the nearest fleet R&R planet."
Dafang caught Helen's look of confusion and terror. If she was a psychopath, she was also an incredibly good actress, and it didn't look like she was acting.
"Mr Garnes, I appreciate your care for my wellbeing, but everything was under control. A discreet message to my private communicator would have sufficed."
The Governor thought for a second, then spoke more firmly.
"Doctor Thwaites and I were having a perfectly civilised conversation before you barged in. A private conversation. If it makes you feel better you can leave your two gendarmes here to take care of my safety. But no-one is being lobotomised today. You can go. Close the door behind you, if you please."
Garnes left with a face that clearly told Dafang this wasn't over.
The governor tapped his wrist communicator. He needed to speak with Wardek. The man was one of the few people whose loyalty he could count on. Maybe he was just another gendarme, but age and experience meant that the others acted as if he was their commander, or perhaps their shop steward might be more accurate.
Previous posts in this series;
- https://peakd.com/hive-161155/@alonicus/24-january-2025-mariannewests-freewrite-writing-prompt-day-2626-mother-love - the post that started it all, and introduced the spine-spiders
- https://peakd.com/hive-199275/@alonicus/escape-from-the-caves-of-meranda-iv - the sequel, where the science team escapes back to base and recommends the planet not be colonised. They were too late.
- https://peakd.com/hive-199275/@alonicus/the-colony-on-meranda-iv-part-1 - we meet the Governor Dafang and get the first hints that the colony isn't going to plan
- https://peakd.com/hive-199275/@alonicus/the-colony-on-meranda-iv-part-2 - Governor Dafang takes a trip to the Greenfields settlement, only to find it is not there any more
- https://peakd.com/hive-199275/@alonicus/the-colony-on-meranda-iv-part-3 - a fractious meeting of the co0lony's government, and a worrying foreshadow
- https://peakd.com/hive-199275/@alonicus/the-colony-on-meranda-iv-part-4 - this is where things start to really go sideways for the colony
- https://peakd.com/hive-199275/@alonicus/the-colony-on-meranda-iv-part-5 - Doctor Helen Thwaites returns to Meranda to reveal the cover-up
