The door shut behind her.
Nessa's hearts palpitated, and she fought for several shallow breaths as she made her way down the hall. Her thoughts raced. Did I make the right decision? What if the race starves, and it's my fault?
Her implant flashed blue. That was the color she had assigned her father.
"Accept," she whispered.
She held the implant up to her mouth and dictated the message.
"Dad, I didn't tell you. They didn't have the nourishment packets you asked for. There's…"
"Nessa," her dad interrupted.
His tone was sharp. She paused. Her hearts weren't racing anymore. They sank. Her gut almost forced up vomit.
"I guess…" She started again.
She forced herself to look at the video. Her mother and father stood, arms in the air. The color had drained from their faces. A swarm of soldiers stood shoulder to shoulder. Blasters and plasma swords were lowered toward them.
"We know you have food, Dreklan," a voice shouted from the crowd. "Hand it over. My young are going to starve."
"We'd be happy to share," Nessa's father replied. "I can't feed all of you. I'm sorry. I have my own family."
"Dreklan," Nessa's mother said, keeping her tone low and calm. "Just let them have it. We'll figure it out. Nessa is grown."
"Ryla, you sure?"
"We have no choice," Nessa's mother relented.
Dreklan stepped to one side, and Ryla to the other.
"Take what you need," he said.
And the swarm swallowed Nessa's parents from view as they stormed the residence dome.
"Please be alright," she whispered.
"Nessa," her father's voice made her implant shine blue again. "They've likely taken everything. I'm sorry. I wish I had a choice. Your mother and I - we're going into hiding. When there's not enough, our lives are at risk."
The transmission window went blank.
"Father. Mother." Nessa whispered, bowing her head.
There was a slight mechanical hiss behind her.
"Nessa," Kommer said. "Your mom sent me a transmission. I'm sorry."
Nessa waved her implant off, then turned to look at Kommer. She met his eyes and nodded.
"I'll go," she told him. "To Earth. Or wherever."
His hand grasped her shoulder.
"We shouldn't waste time. I'll escort you to the hangar."