“Yeah,” Eva replied, shining her Omnipod light around the room. “I just wonder if we will find any other humans here at all.”

Muthr’s gaze followed the cluster of mushrooms growing rampant over most of the gymnasium walls and corroded equipment. She whispered, “Only time will tell. Though, I must say, I find it hard to believe that we are truly on another planet. Even if the Omnipod classifies everything here as unidentifiable.”

“I know. I can’t even believe it either,” Eva said, watching water drip down from the ceiling into the pond that had once been the wading pool. The pond’s surface reflected the soft glow of the Omnipod in green rippled rings. Tall sphere-topped reeds towered in clumps at the pond’s edge.

“Believe it.” Rovender joined them. “Good work, Eva Nine. You’ve found our camp for the night.”

“Really?” she said, looking at the fungi growing over the tiled floor.

“Yes.” Rovender slid off his rucksack and set it down next to the pool. He leaned over the edge and slurped up the water.

“You’re drinking that?” Eva watched as Rovender splashed his face.

“Sure,” he replied, pulling an empty bottle out from his sack. He skimmed it along the surface of the pool. “As long as I drink the freshly fallen water here, just below the surface. See?” He held up the bottle, now full of mostly clear liquid.

“But what’s that?” Eva pointed to dark particles swirling around in the bottle.

Rovender chuckled. “It will settle to the bottom, Eva Nine. Do not fret. This water is good.”

“Perhaps he can drink that, Eva, but not you,” Muthr said, her red laser penetrating the bottle.

“Muthr says I can’t drink it.” Eva’s tone was apologetic.

“Bluh.” Rovender shook his head and sat down next to the pool. Eva flopped down next to him, watching as he submerged his bandaged foot in the water.

“Eva, I would like to further study the details of the organisms you recorded on Identicapture, if you do not mind,” Muthr said.

“Sure, no prob.” Eva unstrapped the Omnipod from her wrist and handed it to Muthr.

“If you need to rehydrate, have more Pow-R-drink, dear,” Muthr said as she took the device.

“Okay.” Eva pulled the plastic bottle out from her satchel.

“Eva Nine, can you bring me the fruit that grows on top there?” Rovender asked as he pointed to the spindly reeds growing on the far side of the pool.

“Over here?” Eva said, hopping up and walking over to the slender reeds.

“Yes, yes,” Rovender said as he unstrapped a bedroll from his pack. “Those are the ones.”

Eva gathered an armful of the translucent spherical fruit that grew on the tips of the sturdy stalks, only dropping one on her return trip back to the makeshift camp.