-The following memories are those Lin refuses to ever let go of. Long after her time there on the colony ship, she holds onto her simple journey entries as if her past was all she had left anymore.-

Year 3, Day 89: Branx-Lian has many great ideas for when we land, I fear he will be underwhelmed by the amount of time it will take us to reach his new home. I greatly appreciate his friendship and intellect in conversation; he keeps everything from being dull. I realize I do not return the favor in the same way, but it does seem he just likes to talk, and is happy someone is actively listening. He has kept this place from feeling like a prison.

Year 7, Day 241: Today was the first unexpected day I have had since my arrival, as I finally left my small corner of the ship. Branx-Lian and Widow coaxed me out of the room, with the three of us being from the lowest level of the ship, we of course were all listed as single. Ship’s management normally strongly urges us to leave our rooms for whatever god awful reason…

Year 7, Day 242: On second thought, yesterday was not that bad. My social graces are drained for the time being, but I do admit I had fun. Went to the big gym on F1 of the ship, that is a whole four floors above mine. The elevators are very odd on this ship and gave me a sense of unease. It was nice to be able to run, even if it was a treadmill. I am tired of just running paces through the narrow hallway when I get restless enough. I think I will be going back- got to think of something nice for my friends for making me do this.

Year 11, Day 13: Well, Widow has declared a mate today. They seem good for our friend and they clearly have the same objective being on this ship. Branx-Lian and I are in full support of their counseling, and we hope they are cut out for marriage.

Year 11, Day 190: Well, Widow is back in our little group, his mate did not work out and even the ship’s therapist advised them to quit seeing each other. We welcome him back, but he seems different, a little less confident. Branx and I signed us all up for a mixer that is happening in a few days. We agreed to try and make Widow feel as comfortable there as possible. This means I am wearing a dress…

Year 11, Day 201: The mixer was a lot of fun, I missed meeting new people, and it turned out that is what the mixer was for, not just to meet a potential mate. Branx and I ended the night up at each other’s table because no one on this ship holds better conversations than him. His point of view is ever-evolving as he learns more and more every day, which encourages me to keep learning. Most of my knowledge is obsolete anyways.

Year 14, Day 43: Widow has declared a partner! This is a happy day indeed. This time they were much slower in their approach, and have now entered the therapist level for evaluation. I wish them the best of luck in their union.  

Year 15, Day 50: Our dear friend Widow is getting married, this is fantastic news! I cannot wait to help with babies and be a part of a bigger family here.

Year 21, Day 167: Widow’s babies are born, apparently Samander’s have litters? Who knew? Everyone but me that is who! I cursed loudly when the third baby was announced. I mean, that is a lot of little ones, and I was told three was a small litter. I am glad Widow is highly intelligent, because his race is who is going to be doing the colonization. Some humans have gotten together since the mission began, and have had maybe three babies in total, but my friend said they are just getting started. I guess no more Widow for group sessions. Plus side is BABIES though! That is a big plus.

Year 42, Day 346: I spoke to my parents again today; still no word from my brother. Branx and I like to make up wild scenarios that my brother is trapped in: a long espionage type situation, or maybe caught up in a girl. I do worry though, and with no adventures of my own outside the super cool simulator here, it is more entertaining to think about what fun he might be having.

Year 53, Day 63: Widow is hilarious, talking about more kids as I am changing Audry’s diaper, baby number 31. Their family suite is amazing and huge, but they make it look small. They are happy though; if I could ever be a parent, I hope I am even a fraction as good as they are. I love these kids. Branx is always being swarmed by the older children, so I still get the adorable babies.

Year 68, Day 282: Today, I watched as Widow’s eldest got married. Widow joins back in with Branx and me more often now, and it feels right. His wife, my good friend Lanie now, joins us as well many nights

Year 87, Day 67: Lanie passed away today. We are told female Samander’s have shorter lifespans due to the quantity of births. Widow remains; he is blissfully unaware of the irony of his name. I will not be the one to point it out either.

Year 99, Day 2: Widow passed in his sleep last night. I cannot really process it. This is why it’s so hard to make friends. Branx has been here for me, as I have tried to be there for him.

Year 114, Day 309: I just got called to the main office, I honestly figured it would take a lot less time to be confronted about my time here. I walked in, and the captain just stared at me. He looked at his board a few times and back at me. Eventually he confronted me, and asked how it was I am still alive. I went with explanation B on the spot, even though I had planned to use explanation F. He seemed too intelligent though. I had carefully stayed off the radar until a routine check caught me, lucky me! So, now I am reclassified as augmented life form, a subclass of human reserved for androids. He was mad, so I had to leave. Branx is coming over to discuss possibilities with me for my return visit to the captain.

Year 114, Day 314: I have worked it all out with Branx, tomorrow will be a piece of cake.

Year 114, Day 316: The meeting with the captain went well, as to be expected, he accepted Branx and my agreement to move in with each other to limit the housing as mating would, and to work in service of the ship in exchange for forgiving my mistake. This ultimately gives Branx what he wants, and that is the mating push from his race.

Year 114, Day 325: Turns out my enchantment business idea will be easier than I expected. Seems like the Ankton’s are magically affiliated. Branx’s race can shape many fine metals, typically in small amounts such as jewelry. He will be making our blueprints for my enchantment carriers out of his own possessions; when I asked him about it, the brilliant man said he could just shape them back into his mementos when we were done. That’s in hundreds of years!  So, now we are working on a reward system for the returning of any carriers.  

Year 115, Day 79: Our business launched today, and we sold out within an hour. We grossly underestimated the amount people would be interested in our product. People are bored here; I would love to be able to branch out into entertainment once everyone has the more essential products for improvement of everyday life. First things first: a real cooking flame in every room, a must. As promised, 80% of our funds are funneled through the captain and back into the hands of employees.

Year 198, Day 117: My favorite part of the workday is when someone returns a silver piece, and Branx slowly creates another intricate lining in the delicate surface. Living together has really worked out so well. The separate store front to the front of the room really helps us feel less like drug dealers working from home, and more like the roomies we are.

Year 326, Day 46: We finally found my brother; I cried for a while, and Branx comforted me and reminded me to stay focused on the fact he is still alive. It breaks my heart to know he is locked up unjustly, but Branx helped me understand that part, too. No communication is allowed with him and I am stuck here. I cannot help no matter my circumstances.

Year 467, Day 23: Branx has convinced his cousin, who is rising into politics of his home world, of my brother’s innocence, and passed the torch of mercy unto him as he investigated my brothers’ case personally. I finally learned the name of the girl my parents said traveled with my brother for many years, the name of the girl he killed and the reason for his imprisonment.

Year 490, Day 182: Today was… I never knew you could program the ship’s simulation yourself… Well Branx can and has. He showed me his work today; I have never felt such a way before in my life, and that is impressive to say the least. I never thought I would see my home planet again, as my home star died long ago. Somehow, Branx recreated it to an extent and gifted me the hardware. He said he wants me to work with him to perfect the program as a truer reflection of Telluri. How was I supposed to act?! I love this man.

Year 501, Day 252: Branx and I confessed to each other today, we have known for a long time that we were highly compatible, we even sleep in the same bed. I cried, again, something I’ve done often this past few hundred years. We don’t think this changes anything ultimately, but he requested we…snuggle. Ankton’s are anti-physical contact because they are so sensitive. I have already screwed up my rules for engagement so much that… I will snuggle with him.

Year 517, Day 16: We received word that his cousin has gained audience with my brother and will be speaking to him in a few short days. My parents are just as anxious for the results. I am grateful I can count on them being there for him when he is released, and traveling billions of light years just to retrieve my ship. Not that traveling was hard for them, since our grumpy resident enchantment genius was hibernating with them somewhere.

Year 522, Day 231: I spoke to my brother today!!!! They released him over three hundred years early, and he was immediately given his effects back. He called us all on a three-way call. He wanted to know what my life had been like; despite how much better I feel like my life has been the past few hundred years than my brother’s, he still laughed at my situation and called this a prison. I cannot agree. I am happy he is recovering with my parents, that will be good for him, the company. Hell, I am sure Ev would even wake up for that one.

Year 587, Day 42: Well, I had to tell my parents; this is completely unknown territory for literally everyone involved. The pregnancy is confirmed though, and somewhere within the next 9 months to 3 years I will be having an intergalactic baby, the first of her kind. I am terrified, my captain is thrilled though, and said his ship is now legendary. My life is ruined, not because of the baby, well, maybe because of the baby. I am destroying my life! So much loss in my future.

Year 589, Day 294: I was wrong, this baby is the cutest thing I have ever seen in my life. Pregnancy for that long? 0/10 do not recommend. I also cannot… describe how it even happened. This child is amazing though, I was wrong 1000x over and I am thankful for any time I get with her before I must inevitably move on.

Year 786, Day 76: We reached the new planet today, it was more beautiful than I imagined, so many bright colors. You would never guess we could survive on it. I asked Branx if he was going to reshape the silver back to its original shape. He said that it had more sentimental power in its current form, and I could not agree more. Kani will ensure this will be a smooth transition, as she has worked her way up the chain of command on this ship by simply planning our departure so thoroughly. Our captain is tired, and she is obsessed with her new home, always has been. I am immensely proud of my daughter.

LIN IV