Settlers

Spending time with Lily on the Hawk feels like a daydream. Her presence feels as warm as Earth’s sunlight. She leaves a sense of fiery touch after it leaves the area it surrounds.

“How far out until we land?”

“We should land in the next five hours,”

Blake double-checks his screen of the Hawk to find the location to land. His father will be in the coordinates left for Blake. The Hawk keeps the coordinates in its memory. Entering Planet Lyra's atmosphere, the spacecraft drops lower. The inside of the Hawk remains stable. Blake relaxes his shoulders.

Landing with a minor thud, they open the door into a new environment. Mountains of lush green extend around them. Trees stand tall and full of foliage.

“It’s beautiful,” says Lily, scanning the surrounding area.

“Yes, the Vexes have a lovely home,” says Blake, leading them into the valley below.

In the valley lies a spaceship of grand proportions. Meant to be a scientific exploration ship, it becomes a living quarter. One scientist aboard the mission is Blake’s father, Jonah Sharp. Blake misses his father.

Their landing awakens the scientists as it is early morning on Planet Lyra. People go outside to see the cause of the noise. Cheerful crew members welcome them aboard once they reach the bottom of the valley.

“Blake, I see you brought a different friend,” says Pilot Plate. The leader of the scientist ship Esperanza wears a warm, affirmative smile as she offers Lily a hand to shake.

“This is Lily, my girlfriend. She helps Alex and me as a friend. I don't know what I would do without her,” says Blake.

“How is Alex?” says Pilot Plate.

“Good, he is serving at Mars Reburst Station,” says Blake.

The three walk inside the ship's metal interior as Pilot Plate leads Blake and Lily into a study room. Next to a lamp sits a man with gray streaks in his curly brown hair. His delicate features remain still until they turn up to see Blake. Jonah’s similar thin, wide smile looks at Blake.

“Blake, you come back. I’m glad you did,” says Jonah, putting down his notes.

“Father, I want to catch up with you,” says Blake as he walks toward his father, taking Lily by the hand.

“Who do we have the pleasure of meeting?” says Jonah, looking with curiosity at Lily

“Hello, Mr. Sharp, I’ve heard so much about you. I’m Lily, your son’s girlfriend. I hope we can get to know each other,” says Lily as she extends her hand.

“Of course! I already like you,” says Jonah Sharp, winking at Lily.

Blake, Lily, and Jonah spend the afternoon talking about the events in Blake’s travels inside the study area. Lily talks about herself as Jonah listens with interest. They open a wine bottle- a concoction of Lyra grape-like plants. Violet fluid swirls inside the glass bottle. Jonah pours three large cups of sweet liquid inside.

“Wow, so fizzy!” says Lily.

“Natural gasses,” says Jonah

Upon nightfall, Blake and Lily stay in separate rooms inside the spaceship Esperanza. Blake shares a room with his father. His father is a silent sleeper, and Blake remembers from a childhood memory. Sleep comes easily that night.

Blake awakens to the sound of his father moving around in the room. They walk together to the dining area to eat breakfast. Spotting Lily, Blake sits between Lily and his father. People from Esperanza engage in conversation with them. Task teams divide for the day; everyone contributes to the living onboard the ship. Now, tasks have become hectic because of the settlers. Pilot Plate told Blake they also received messages from the IIF. The IIF orders immediate construction of temporary housing for the new arrivals. Blake volunteers in the construction of the housing units.

Large pieces of trees fall. They built the foundation of the house from Lyra Ferna trees. Ferna trees provide sturdy yet pliable material. Because of deforestation, new Ferna trees will soon rise to the soil. Blake watches Lily help carry saplings into the ground area for the new forest area. As Lily turns back, they catch each other's eyes and smile together.

Walls take the form of wooden cottages. Blake runs his fingers along the wood grains. Working with his tools, he creates cervixes for the electrical box. Adding hinges to the doors, Blake finishes his task. Soon, the three housing units will stand firm in the valley. Each house can hold up to thirty people. Three buildings nestle in the valley in a semicircle formation. Preparations for the project continue.

Blake walks beside Lily in one of the housing units. Lily carries a basket of soft blankets made of an all-natural material. Balek spreads the fabric on the bed as Lily starts on the other side of the room. Only their footsteps on the wood floor resound. Meeting at the center, they pull a blanket taunt on the bed. As they flatten the sheet, their fingers interlock for a split second.

“I heard there is a river with fresh streams nearby,” says Lily.

“The one in the forest. Yes, I’ve walked near it,” says Blake, picking up the basket as they head back to Esperanza.

“We should take a dip in the water. The weather is nice,” says Lily.

“Let’s get a towel and head out there,” says Blake.

They follow the river in the valley and choose a stream into the forest. Inside the tree line, the sounds of nature crescendo throughout. Dark green leaves cast deep shades intertwined with the occasional rays of light. An opening to a clearing appears ahead of them. Flowers line the clearing in bright colors. Wasting no time, Blake takes off his top layer of clothes. Lily blushes and follows suit.

Testing the water with their toes, Blake and Lily walk into the stream. Their bodies submerge inside the blue water up to their upper thigh. Choosing a rock to sit on, they dangle their feet into the water. Pressing their bodies together, Blake enjoys the touch of Lily’s skin on his back. Splashing water on each other, Blake and Lily begin a water fight. Finally, it's time to return as the sun sets.

Blake picks a flower from the field and hands it to Lily. “Your beauty exceeds any flower in this galaxy or any other,” says Blake as he steps in to kiss her.

Lily tries to escape his grasp and laughs.

At dinner, Pilot Plate stands from her place at the head of the table. She clears her throat. All eyes turn to Pilot Plate as forks and spoons lay on the plates.

“This afternoon, the IIF sent a message stating the settlers will arrive in three days.” Before people talk, Pilot Plate starts up her announcement.

“The last details of our preparations will continue. Thank you all for your hard work and dedication,” Pilot Plate says as she bows her head toward everyone.

A round of applause surrounds the room, and people eat dinner. Speculating who will arrive as settlers, young or old. Perhaps they come from Earth or other planets. Blake wants the arrivals to understand the Vexes. Blake has yet to bring Lily into the Vexes’ presence. It will be when the settlers arrive. He is sure her kind nature will make the Vexes feel at ease.

Making a well is a project the crew members work on for the settlers. Usually, water comes from streams. With an increase in demand, a new solution arises. A freshwater source for the settlers' needs making. Men work all day to dig three wells, one outside each housing unit.

On a red morning, the sound of space carriers surrounds the valley. The walls of Esperanza tremble lightly. The settlers, including men, women, and children, walk into their new homes. Bringing out their belongings, the men on board work. Children run to explore the nearby forestry as women call them back. Pilot Plate welcomes the arrivals to Planet Lyra. Crew members from Esperanza show them to their housing units in the valley.

By the end of the day, the travelers settle in. They talk to Pilot Plate about appointing a leader from within to lead them. Pilot Plate agrees that as long as they learn from the Esperanza crew members about the natural inhabitants of this planet. They must respect nature at all times.

As Blake notes in his mind, he takes Lily on an excursion, which includes meeting the Vexes. The reason for his mission to Earth. Lily and Blake walk alongside Jonah outside, past woods and various plants. After an hour and a half, they reach a cave system. Blake follows his father into the cave. Lily is at the rear. Careful not to illuminate too bright, Jonah lights one lamp. They traverse slowly inside the cave. After twenty minutes, they reach a Vex sitting down by a pool of water.

Its blue skin is pale by the light. Blake hears Lily’s breath coming in fast. The Vexes stand up; their tall thin frame blocks their exit. Jonah signs hello to the Vexes. A groan passes through its mouth. The creature relaxes back down and concentrates on its task. Jonah shows the Vexes some pictures of fish and signs the language.

“They were nothing like I imagined,” says Lily.

“It’s not like in the Earth movies,” says Blake.

Strolling back to Esperanza, Lily asks tons of questions about the Vexes. Blake is happy she seems so interested. Jonah smiled to see someone interested in his work. Jonah brings back notes from his room to show Lily. Blake listens to his father explain the percentage rate of response to Lily until bedtime.

Blake knocks on the door of his father’s office the next day.

“Come in,” says Jonah.

“Dad, I want to get your advice,” says Blake, rubbing his hands.

“Sure, what do you need to know?” says Jonah, looking up from his work.

“Well, I am going to ask Lily to marry me. I want your blessing,” says Blake.

Jonah raises his eyebrows at Blake. Blake feels his father is about to diminish his idea.

“How has the time passed? My blessing is all yours,” says Jonah.

Blake feels at ease in his heart.

“I know I was never there for you, Blake, but I hope you can forgive me one day,” says Jonah.

“I hold anything against you, father,” says Blake.

Moving the engagement ring inside his pocket, Blake waits for Lily to arrive at dinner. Blake has borrowed a suit from his father for the occasion. Rose-colored wildflower petals sprawl on the table. A candle burns in the center of the table, casting fire shadows on the flower petals. Lily wears a blue dress. They eat a spaghetti meatball meal with cookies for dessert.

Blake gets Lily up from the table, looks Lily in the eyes, and asks, “Will you be my wife for eternity?”

“Forever and ever, yes,” says Lily. They kiss with affection.

Blake places the engagement ring on Lily's finger. His heart quickens in his chest. The ring’s moonstone shines blue and white in the light. They will be together in unity. Blake loves Lily more than the moon and back.

Lily and Blake walk hand in hand out in the valley. It is time to decide their plans for the future.

“Where would you like to live?” says Blake, staring into Lily’s eyes.

“I’d live anywhere if that meant I am with you,” says Lily.

Lily thinks and says, “I would like to live on Earth. They say it has the best hospitals. I can work my practice there.”

Blake pulls Lily in close; the family Blake desires is in front of him. Life unexpectedly gives a family one would dream of having. They stare at a navy sky with bright stars. Blake eagerly awaits Earth.