THE LAST BORN

S I X

ANA

"It's more of a tradition,"

Jackie walks beside me at a fast pace, as my legs are longer than hers. I have grown to enjoy her company. I'm not used to people talking this much because we Ter-Zenirian doesn't use sounds to speak, we use our minds.

Besides, Lev has never been a talker, he was always busy with a new invention, Nat was always busy with Lor, Father doesn't talk much, the only person who always started and filled the conversation was Dom. But again he wasn't always around.

I miss them terribly.

Why?

Jackie gave me a bunch of cards with words on them, it has been the only way I communicate with them.

"Well, I'm not sure, I guess it's supposed to be a new year? So every three hundred and something day we have this celebration where people gather together," Jackie looks up and smiles, her smile gets more and more genuine every time we are together. "There will be games too, there will be wresting battle, drinking game, axe throwing game, shooting game, a lot."

I push a double metal door open and Jackie mumbles a short thanks before she slips in.

"Anyway, this is the garden, this is where we grow our food,"

My mouth parted slightly as I see the greenery. Leaves in every shape and every shade of green are laid before my eyes. Rows of plants beds, and vines, and hanging pots are filling the massive room. The air feels different, the scent is different, and my heart picks up its beat excitedly as I'm the closest as I can with nature. I've missed this. I take a few steps forward and gently touch the nearest green leaf. I rub the soft, thin sheet between my fingers and feel my chest tug painfully as my mind flooded with the time I used to spend in the open.

Although the plant has a different color, they still feel the same.

"This is basil, we grow the spices here, we have rosemary, ginger, and on the back is the vegetables, and on the other side is all the fruits," Jackie walks slowly smelling the fragrant leaves as we pass rows and rows of hanging plants.

"Do you like plants?" Jackie looks back as I am busy brushing my fingers to the plants. I nod at her as a response.

"Would you like me to ask Helen if she needs help with the plants?" Jackie's voice is low and sounds a bit unsure, but I saw an opportunity I can't turn down. So I nod excitedly.

"I hope you've got a green thumb because Helen will turn you into fertilizer if you killed one of the plants," Jackie's smile gets wider, I smile back to respond to her. "Come, let's find her,"

As we walk through the garden I cannot help the blossom of happiness from the greenery. I always love being in the open, be it rainy or sunny. Although I can't feel the grass on my feet or the warmth of the sun on my skin, this is the closest thing that can replace my longing.

Jackie keeps talking, telling me the name of every plant and I try my best to remember all. Some of them are thriving under the artificial lights, and some of them are climbing high on the wall under the shade.

"Hey, Helen!" Jackie greets a skinny, old-looking woman. The woman turns around instantly and squints her eyes as she spots Jackie. Her hair is dark and braided neatly, reaching the middle of her back. She has a sharp face with a pointy nose and thin lips. She looks at Jackie and immediately looks at me walking next to her.

"This is Noir, she is new—"

"I know who the alien is, girl. What do you want?" She says sharply cutting Jackie's words.

"Still a cheerful person I see!" Jackie smiles brightly at her. "Well, Noir and I are just wondering if you need an extra hel—"

"Yes." She replies and turns her back towards us, doing whatever she was doing before we came to bother her.

"Oh well, that was easy," Jackie says a bit surprised. "Uh, maybe she needs—"

"Come early tomorrow, and start harvesting the carrots,"

Jackie sighs, clearly annoyed by the attitude of the older woman. She rolled her eyes and put her hands on her hips. "Well, congratulations, you are hired."

***

ANA

The rest of the day is not that much exciting, getting hired to work in the garden has been the highlight of my living since I got out of the cell. Jackie showed me around the medic bay and there I saw Dania, she was so happy to see me and even told me to sit down so she could check me one last time.

I'm healed, that I know, and with the cards I have, I tried to tell her that there is no need for her to waste her time on me because I'm completely fine. I thank her for her medical attention, her medicines, and her kindness while I was healing. Dania smiles at me with a sad smile and Jackie turns her back away from me.

So far I found that Jackie is a very social person. She knows each and everyone's name on the ship, what they do, who their families are, and she is always checking on the people. She is constantly asking them if everything is alright with them if they need anything if an improvement is needed somewhere. And I can see that people are very relaxed around her, they tend to open up and be completely honest and forward.

From all of their replies, I noticed a lot of them are complaining that he hasn't replied to their complaint letters. And whenever Jackie heard this, she always shift her weight from one foot to another. Her answers are always diplomatic, saying that by the end of the day she will come directly to him and ask him to read and address complaints that had been sent his way.

I have no idea what are they complaining about, but I have a feeling it's all the same thing.

When the time is getting late, I get more nervous. I know that there will be a celebration today and people are getting together, it's just that I don't want to be part of any of it.

I'm thankful that now I'm no longer a prisoner, but I would like to have a break from people staring at me, and if I can get any chance to get away from him, I will always try my best.

It's just that I don't know how to say no to Jackie.

I don't want to upset her, I don't want to upset anybody here. It's only been my first week and I'm still testing the water around me. People are still looking at me but the whispers have become shorter. I feel somewhat safe around Jackie but in a crowd?

I don't think I can survive.

None of the humans ever move in a way that looks or feels threatening to me, but still...

"Oh wow, it's dinner time already, come, let's go to the big hall," Jackie squeals in excitement.

Back to room.

Jackie frowns as she reads the cards I hold up. "You want to go to your room?"

I nod slowly, hoping that she won't feel offended that I turn down her offer.

"Well, if that's what you want, are you sure?" She asks me again.

I nod again.

"Do you want me to walk you back?"

Honestly, I do. But I know how excited she is for today's celebration, so with a heavy heart, I shake my head.

"Okay then, see you tomorrow I guess! Don't forget your job starts tomorrow!" She says smiling, walking away from me.

I give her a little smile and turn around to the other direction of people are heading.