Page 16 of As You Wake, Break the Shell

“Yeah,” Cora said.

“Take one of them with you as you leave,” Signy instructed. “If anybody asks, you came here to buy something that would brighten up your living space.”

Cora gave a reluctant grimace. “I . . . don’t know anything about plants. I’ll kill it.”

“This isn’t optional,” Signy said. “It’s not a gift. It’s insurance, for me.” Unceremoniously, she took a business card out of her pocket, handed it to Cora, and began to walk back toward the counter as she continued to speak. Their meeting was ending, it seemed. “Take one of the heartleafs—they’re foolproof. But you’re not going to water it. When it starts looking limp in a couple weeks, you will contact me about how to fix it, and if I’ve been successful in making what you need, I’ll arrange a time for you to bring the plant by so I can take a look. In the meantime, get in touch once you have an answer about me coming to the stables.” She returned to her perch on the cushioned stool. “Do not email me or talk to me over the phone about medicine or anything related to it, understand? We only discuss that here in the shop.”

Cora looked at the card in her hands. J Street Plant Shop. Midtown 5–2332. [email protected]. “Got it.” She stuck the card in a pocket, then did the same with her thumbs. Her chest felt so full, she almost wanted to cry. Out of relief, or being overwhelmed, or maybe because she’d just landed planetside four hours ago and was still coming down, who knew. Still, she couldn’t leave here all business business. She had to say something, but every phrase that came to mind was so inadequate. She gave it a shot anyway. “Hey, um . . . seriously.” She looked Signy in the eyes, trying to make her understand the enormity of what she was doing. “Thank you. Really, thank you. You’re saving my—”

Signy cut her off with a stern look and a shake of her head. “Don’t say that to me until I have.”

Chapter 766 Cora, Cypsela

Moderate humidity. Nectar and loam.

Cora followed the path through the test garden, carrying her breakfast tray portioned out for two. She hadn’t known known that this was the right garden to go into, but it had been her first guess, and as usual, it was the correct guess.

She found Signy sitting at the workbench, perched on a cushioned stool, wearing nothing but an apron and clogs. Her tablet was propped up to the right of her, its screen filled with copious notes. A bowl of strawberries rested at her left, a few discarded green tops tossed in a pile. She sat with her back facing Cora; she was busy with something and hadn’t heard her approach.

Cora stood there, her smile spreading in tandem with the warmth in her chest. For the hundred thousandth time, she fell in love, and it wasn’t brought on by any one particular thing. It wasn’t the complexity of her wife’s notes, or the knowledge that she’d been up picking berries before the lights came on. It wasn’t her choice of outfit, or the way her salt-and-pepper bedhead perfectly complemented the ensemble. It wasn’t her beautiful hips or her beautiful ass or the stripes and folds time had been generous enough to gift her with. It wasn’t her focus, her fervor, or the predictable fact that she hadn’t noticed she had company. What made Cora fall was the complete tableau, the whole portrait. The whole of her. That’s what Cora loved—every ingredient that comprised Signy, no one piece more defining than the rest.

Interstitial

The ideal counterpart to control is rhythm. Over time, you and your rorqual will develop a flow that is uniquely your own. They are domesticated animals, yes, and they are city property, but they are also your work partner. The rhythm that works best for the pair of you isn’t something that can be taught. It can only be discovered.

Once you find it, there’s nowhere to go but up.

T-Minus 6

Interstitial

C:\logins\twiiig\documents\research\octa\primerintrocopypaste.rd

At this point, you likely have questions.

Why, if OCTA has the incredible technologies described in previous chapters, have we tasked you with starting from scratch? Why can’t we drop cities exactly as we want them on any planet we choose? If we can build star-hopping spaceships, why can we not simply give you one? Why must you build your own? Why must you build a new colony and develop human spaceflight capabilities before gaining access to the Mothership in your system?

These are good questions, and our Colonial Committee debated them fiercely before this program was established. Let us assure you, we have wrestled with these things, too. But if there is one truth about humanity that has been proved over and over again throughout the history of civilization, it is this:

Necessity drives innovation.

A person who has all their material needs met from the start will never know the satisfaction of a hard day of work. They will never experience the triumph of overcoming obstacles. They will never know the thrill of competition or the synergy of collaboration. They will be lazy, incurious, and incapable of critical thought.

We do not wish this for you. We want you to truly understand the tools you are using and the heritage you are building upon. We want you to feel the monumental effort it takes to push away from a planet and reach for greater things. To be rewarded with this experience without having done the work yourself is no reward at all.

As with any investment in the future, every colony ship we send out is a risk to us—a risk we are willing to take. Our teams have worked tirelessly to give your colony the best possible start. Your planet was chosen through a rigorous selection process that utilizes some of the most powerful and sophisticated algorithmic models on the market today. Your lander is fully stocked with the high-quality supplies and genetic templates you will need to construct basic shelter and establish food production. The Primer itself, as you will see, is a treasure trove of expertly curated knowledge that spans the length of recorded human history. And of course, there is your Orion-Cygnus Financial savings account (Sojourner Level), which includes a standard starter balance we generously provide free of charge or any other obligations. We gift these to every first-generation member of an OCTA-Origin Colony, to assure you of our good intentions and to help your progeny one day seamlessly integrate into galactic society. (If you are of the first generation, your account can be registered and accessed by using the instructions provided in chapter 17, “Building Your Legacy.” If you are of a subsequent generation, please see chapter 18, “Heirloom Assets,” for more information.)

We are not asking you to begin in the dirt with only sticks to rub together. We have given you all the essentials you need to live healthily and work productively as you stride toward your achievements. And yet, we will not force you to join us. We are not monitoring your progress. We will not come check on you. We will not attempt contact until you reach the Mothership and contact us. We have adopted this hands-off approach because we respect your autonomy and your agency. We are not going to dictate what kind of settlement you create, any more than we can tell you which tools to favor or what structures to build. We are in the business of establishing colonies of free thinkers, not off-world slaves. If you choose to join us, as we hope you do, it must be of your own accord. If you choose to make your own way instead, we sincerely wish you the best of luck.

But first, consider what life with us might look like. At OCTA, we champion creativity, passion, and the individual spirit. We believe there is no end to our prosperity, so long as we remain determined to chase it. Our territories are defined by glistening cities, abundant resources, and vibrant culture, all constructed on the back of hard, honest work. If you value boldness, if you value brilliance, if you value pushing the boundaries of your own potential, if you desire more from life than the complacent status quo, then OCTA will welcome you with open arms. If your colony is new and our galactic gates are still far away, think instead of your descendants, who will build upon you. There are no members of our society more honored than those who dedicated their work to future generations. Our success is a legacy—the legacy we inherited, and the legacy we pass on to you now.

The stars are waiting for you. We hope you will come find us there.

Chapter 5 Signy, Fortune

The J Street Plant Shop was closed to customers on Fridays. Tending and restocking, the sign on the front door read. Open on Monday.

The first line wasn’t true. Signy cared for her standard sellable plants throughout the week, and she didn’t buy new ones from a nursery, either. She grew her own replacements as needed. In reality, Fridays were when Signy did her actual work. Fridays were for medicine. Fridays were for seeds.