'Follow me' said the voice, the centuries fell away as the memories flooded back, Lief replaced the receiver. This was how it was supposed to end, years of study, his mission was over. Another phone rang across the barren park.
Lief strode reluctantly to the now antiquated booth rusted crimson by the toxic rains.
'Data collection complete, exit protocols have been activated' the line went dead. His time with this curious race seemed to have passed in a flare of their star, the planet was dying now there would be little more to record. The next phone rang close by, it was deep in a shadowy alleyway. The shimmer of a cloaked extraction vehicle betrayed its position. It felt wrong, it was very sudden but he remembered his training this is how it had to be. Lief moved into the alleyway, wracked with regret he should have done something, helped them, but it was forbidden.
'Lief?' A voice spoke behind him 'where are you going?'
The little girl stood silhouetted by the opening to the alley. Lief bowed his head he could not look back, he'd told her not to follow, a lump formed in his throat.
'I will be back soon' he lied, still the phone rang, if he did not answer he would be abandoned to this doomed planet.
'But we need you?' the girl continued, 'the raiders will be back soon'.
Lief thought of their camp, hundreds huddled into the abandoned hospital fighting for survival. He could help them, his conscience screamed at him.
Still the phone rang.
He stepped closer to the phone, it was programmed to open the ship. He looked up at the purple skies, it used to be so beautiful. He stole a glance at the little girl as she stood staring at him, she needed him. He sighed and walked back up the alleyway as the phone continued to ring, the little girl beamed a smile at him. She chuckled as she clambered onto his shoulders 'lets get back' he said.
The ringing stopped and Lief turned to look back down the alley. The shimmer had gone.
