“The incarcerated aren’t nearly as animated anymore. There’s been a lot less singing, and they’re starting to shuffle around the way they did before the storm, when the chips worked. I’d think they rebooted and were functioning properly if it weren’t for the fact that I’ve caught them asking each other where they are. Some have even asked me who I am. It’s like they’re losing their memories, like the chips, so deeply embedded in their brains, are atrophying.” The man rubs his chin in thought. “It’s not a far stretch. Pacemakers can fail with magnetic interference, the heart failing with it. The cerebral chip is similar—an electrical device implanted in the body. Maybe the magnetic interference from the storm was too much, and now that the chip is dead, it’s taking certain memories with it.”

Another flash in the image.

This time, the man’s beard has been shaved. He still looks tired, but also younger without the facial hair.

“One hundred sixty hours post uprising, and no word from the Federation. I doubt they’re coming back. We’ve got plenty of supplies here, but Eden’s generator and battery stores will last us only another few days. Staying put is a death wish. Out there, however . . .” His eyes flick toward the ceiling. “This rock has always been desolate, and we stripped it pretty well before things went south, but there’s life. It will be a hard one, but I think we can make it. We have to try.

“The bombing did some damage to the outer door and caused a cave-in. All the rovers parked there are buried. Could be some out and about, of course. Our unit was stretched between Eden and the coast. We could find them, see if they’re operable or if the geostorm fried them altogether. There’s plenty of gear we can take with us from Eden, too—tools and apparel. Med kits. The storeroom has thousands of jars of canned food. The mag-rifles aren’t reliable on this rock, but the semi-autos the Federation brought will serve us fine. At least until ammo runs out. Still, I’d rather die out there, trying to live, then die in here, praying to be rescued.”