The Red Locket

My name is Joseph and I was a part of the second generation of colonists on Orion, we were called the Tatski Hara. I’m writing this from the heart of the Tyran Forest, in one of the Tatski Hara’s tree-bases. One of the medics suggested I write about what happened in order to handle my PTSD, so why not start at the beginning?

I first met her on Earth.

We were shipped off together when orders came that the Tatski Hara needed more soldiers on Orion. I remember getting to the capitol and seeing my good friend Kai waiting for us to land. Kai had been awarded several accolades for his ability to save soldiers in the last war and was part of the W.A.Y.S. program - A scientific collaboration oriented towards improving human strength, speed, endurance, and intelligence.

He waved and said 'Good news, I got you assigned to my unit for our journey into the Tyran forest. There’s a woman who is looking for you by the way, her name is Emma. She’s part of the team; Caleb wanted us matched with others who balance out our flaws.' I responded 'Alright.'

We went together to a laboratory in the facility, seven flights below ground level. He said that I needed to get a vaccine of sorts to help my immune system deal with the atmospheric changes and residual effects of intergalactic travel.

I was told by the scientist to get in the capsule so I did. The glass pane on the front of the capsule turned on and I watched a video of the new planet. 'Joseph, you are assigned to the southern reconnaissance mission in the Tyran forest. It is a region filled with diverse wildlife and dangerous terrain. It is home to the deity Tyrannus and various other species of dinosaurs as well as mutated insects. Your mission is to travel into the heart of the Tyran forest with Battalion AB in order to retrieve a classified object. If you-'

I tried to stay awake but as the vapor solution filled the pod It knocked me out cold and I didn’t catch the rest of the video. I woke up a few hours later in a hospital bed to a woman sitting at the edge of my bed looking at me. She said 'He’s awake.' The doctor promptly asked me how I was feeling. I told him the truth: I felt fine, just a little tired. I was more focused on the young woman sitting at the edge of my bed. 'What’s your name?' She said it was Emma.

Knowing full well I probably looked a mess, I raised my eyebrows and asked 'Well Emma, what are you doing here?' She smiled 'I’m here for you silly! We’re going to Orion together.' Emma was short in stature - 5’5', had long brown hair. She was easy on the eyes and she looked really thin. She was wearing a heart-shaped locket around her neck. I smiled back and said’:

Alright, well tell me something about yourself then, let’s get to know each other.' Just making small talk. She looked up and said 'Uhh… I like to play violin! It’s one of the only things I’m good at.' I thought that was a unique answer. The doctor came back and said 'Rilling, you’re clear. If you feel nauseous or anything just take one of these pills. No more than one every four hours. Good luck to the two of you when you get to Orion, stay safe.'

I left the room and went to put on my gear. The Tatski Hara wore black armor that was made out of a reinforced carbon-fiber alloy. I went with Emma to rendezvous with the rest of my team at the top floor of the facility and attend General Novak’s speech. It reminded us of the brave sacrifices that the first gen had made to carve out space for us on Orion, our mission objectives, and what to watch out for.

He said something about giant mosquitos and raptors but I couldn’t take my eyes off of her. I knew I needed to focus so I snapped out of my enamor. After a few more minutes Novak’s speech was over and everyone broke into applause. One by one the soldiers went through the open portal, courtesy of Caleb himself. What a technology. After I walked through the portal I emerged in a large hangar and the air felt harder to breathe, yet at the same time more fulfilling. At that time we were sent to Rou’dan, the capitol. We stayed at the Tatski Hara headquarters located on the eastern perimeter of the city.

We were only given a day before we were shipped off to the Tyran forest. I had planned to get some rest but Emma asked me if I wanted to go to a restaurant. We decided on the Last Breath. It was a blend of all the cultures from earth and they incorporated species from Orion which was very interesting to see. Emma and I talked about our upbringings and other things. I learned she was an only child and that she wanted to be a violinist but it didn’t really work out. The more I talked to her the more she seemed very logical and reasonable and I liked that.

When we left the restaurant we chose to walk over to this railing that overlooked the ocean. It was getting to be late, the darkness was setting in as the rays of bright sunlight pulled back on the horizon. We looked at the ocean and the other continent across the ocean to the north. I asked her ‘Do you think that we’ll see that place someday?’ She looked at me and replied ‘I hope so. I read about some species that are over there.’ She said the scientists had observed the species using drones and satellites. I took her left hand. ‘You look gorgeous when you talk about science.’

She smiled and said ‘Thanks, I try.’ We talked about a few more things: the acidic water, the blitzers, the moon. We settled on a kiss that night, overlooking the ocean. It didn’t feel too much like rushing things. We soon left each other as we both had to wake up bright and early for the drive to the forest. I had a looming feeling that my higher ups weren’t telling me everything about the situation in the forest.

Emma and I spent a lot of time together when we arrived; she was one of our medics and she was a joy to be around. She told me she thought the choruses that the birds and fairies sang over our heads were lovely. She said they reminded her of the violin music she played.

Everything seemed relatively normal for the first few days. The Tatski Hara were making progress on the new road into the forest and we did our part, though I felt the construction and deforestation wouldn’t go unnoticed. One night all of us were by a small campfire in the center of the northwestern base sharing our experiences. One of the rank twelves named Engles told us: ‘They’re killing machines built of obsidian. They span across the entire forest, be prepared to fight for your life.’

On our way back to the bunkers Emma said to me ‘I don’t think the blitzers are evil.’ To which I responded ‘Why do you believe that?’ She looked down and said ‘According to our records, they’re very skilled hunters and very intelligent but they’ve shown mercy to soldiers before.’ That sounded odd to me: ‘They have? Aren’t those very rare cases though?’ I put my arm around her. She replied ‘In about 15% of documented attacks the victim survives with moderate injuries.’ That was more than I expected.

A week went by with little conflict. Everything seemed normal the night of June 7th until we were right outside the entrance to the bunkers. I felt as if I was kicked in the back by a horse. I was forced to the ground and heard the sounds of soldiers' yells accompanied by gunfire. When I got up I saw Emma was taken by the blitzer that pushed me. As fearful as I was by the blitzers strength and appearance I wasn’t going to let them take her. I got up and chased after them, but I wasn’t fast enough, they were probably 20 yards ahead of me.

I ventured into the forest and tried to track her down. Kai found me and told me to ‘get a grip’ but after I told him that she was taken he helped me search for her. I couldn’t see anything in the dark, let alone any minor details that could serve as clues. We stayed out until dawn but unfortunately didn’t find her that night.

I looked for her everyday with the Tatski Hara over the next two weeks. My conscience was heavy, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I fucked up. It was hard to focus on my daily tasks but everyone else understood. At the start of my third week there I went into the forest alone to have a moment of peace and that’s when I saw her. I ran over to her; she was wandering hunched over. I needed to look her in the eyes; I gently lifted her chin up and saw three lacerations on her face.

I picked her up and got her back to the central base as fast as I could. I told her she would be okay. She needed medical attention fast; I shouted for a medic, for anyone. They got her on a stretcher and the next thing I was told was that she was sent back to the northwestern base so that’s where I went. I waited there for her to wake up and on the second day she had recovered enough to open her eyes. She was discharged the day after that and I spent more time with her, helping her adjust and consolidate what happened.

As the days relentlessly went on I started to notice a gradual change in her; she wasn’t smiling as often. I asked her one night ‘What’s wrong?’ and she released what felt like all of her emotions right at me. Tearfully exposing what truly pained her. The most saddening thing she said was: ‘I don’t recognize myself.’

She said ‘I just want to be alone.’ If only I really knew what that meant, I wouldn’t have left. As I went to take a walk something didn’t sit right with me. I decided that I would go back to her after things settled down a bit, in an hour.

I went back, determined to cheer her up, but she didn’t answer when I knocked on the door. After trying to contact her, I broke down the door and saw her. I immediately saw she was dying but still alive. It felt like a lightning bolt to the heart. I held her and was there for her in those final moments. She passed on and I closed her eyes.

I have tried to move on, but I can’t. I’ve thought about her everyday for a year and I just can’t forget about her. I heard later from the medics that it wasn’t suicide, but a virus that caused the hemorraghing and sent her into shock. I helped bury her that night with Kai and fellow members of the Tatski Hara by my side. I said my goodbyes and put the heart-shaped locket in her left hand.

I spent an afternoon with Kai and he said to me that the fairies have the ability to bring people back to life. I can’t let myself be consumed by the idea, just... maybe one day we will be reunited. I’m sure if the fairies could look inside her soul and see who she really was, then they would give her another chance to live.