Summers on Moon Four

“Dear Diary,” KatLynd wrote, “today while we were riding our patrol along the ridge of the Valley, JelDarian spoke of home for the first time. JelDarian was remembering summertime with their father, when their father had a lighter schedule at University.”

KatLynd pondered this deviation from the classic, professorial JelDarian monologue thoughtfully, tapping their lips with the writing stylus.

“It got me thinking about summers at home on Moon Four with Mom.”

KatLynd’s stomach growled while they wrote. IntraSustenance Injects did not fill one’s belly, and KatLynd had not yet taken the time to eat after the unsatisfactory AirShower on station.

“The AgriDomes dotting the inhabited half of Moon Four were beautiful in the summer months—transparent, translucent, and darkly tinted ovals constantly changing as they danced with the movement of Moon Four around Neila One, and Neila One around its star; like huge living gems, as seen on approach from SpaceDock.”

KatLynd reread that last line with some satisfaction. JelDarian’s description of summer picnics on Neila One had brought KatLynd’s favorite summer dish to mind. KatLynd could remember preparing the dish with their Mom.

“The root vegetables were small and starchy—red, gold, blue, and purple—boiled, chilled, and cut up in a large bowl,” KatLynd remembered fondly as they wrote.

“A mix of oils from flowers and plants was whipped in with the tasty chunks of root vegetables, and tossed with herbs and spices.”

KatLynd could remember pressing and crushing certain aromatic plant bulbs to mix into the RootSalad. Another purple and white plant bulb was so pungent it made KatLynd’s eyes tear when they sliced, chopped, and added it raw to the dish.

KatLynd paused and mulled over the thought of getting up to see about dinner in the small station mess.

“We would pick unripened flower buds to dry and shred before adding it to the dish, a pink salt from the seas of Neila One, and black flecks of a very spicy, dried fruit were always added for a bit more seasoning.”

“Long, stringy beans—green, yellow, and purple—were cooked and cut and traditionally added to a proper RootSalad,” KatLynd could hear Mom saying as they prepared it together.

“The RootSalad was always prepared the night before, so it could be chilled overnight along with a bottle of DandyLix, a slightly fermented drink made from clear water infused with seeding flowers. Both would be garnished with bright petals and small green leaves—the stem left on in the glasses of light wine.”

KatLynd thought of a long summer evening’s respite on Moon Four—while they wrote— when KatLynd was younger, after a full day of tending the flowers, plants, and vegetables growing in the AgriDomes their Mom managed; just a few of so many across the visible face of Moon Four. Their favorite dish might be served alongside some thick, roasted fungi steaks on some cooler nights, especially if they had company.

“Mom was working with other biologists on Moon Four at that time, with materials available from the nearest SeedVault.”

KatLynd knew that SeedVaults were maintained at every FedLab throughout the Known Universe, storing the genetic addresses of every organic life-form known. Harvested from every place anyone had ever been. KatLynd had read that some of the genetic information and samples had apparently been found floating in primitive capsules, thought to have been launched from an ancient world beyond the Outer Reaches. KatLynd suspected that Mom had been working with just such genetic information on Moon Four as they worked to achieve greater yields and more variety in the flowers, plants, and vegetables grown there. Maybe their favorite dish was from a world far across the galaxy, KatLynd wondered.

“Good times,” KatLynd finished quickly while thinking this would be a good time to head for the station mess and see if JelDarian had prepared something to eat that did not include MegaBeetle as an ingredient. Katlynd would rather eat more SpaceRations, KatLynd thought out loud.

KatLynd saved the MagFile to a private folder and headed for the kitchen, humming softly and thinking of home and Mom’s RootSalad.