The Circadia Chronicles: Omnibus: The Complete Colonization Sci-Fi Series by Heather Heckadon (books to read to get smarter .txt) 📗

for the camera stand to sit far enough away to capture everything it needed. A tripod attached to an iPad sat in front of a chair. Behind the seat was a backdrop made up of different maps and photos of Circadia, the nuclear war, and recent riots. A yellow legal notepad sat on the chair. “We will edit your videos for you. Record all videos on the tablet, and we will handle it from there. Posting once a week has the optimal potential for reach, so we’ll check the tablet every Wednesday at 8:00 p.m. for new videos, then edit and upload. Being on a schedule is also optimal so your followers know when to expect new content from you. Have fun.” The last line struck me as odd. “Have fun.” What a weird thing to say.

I tried to relax in the environment before I got started. Talking to people was hard enough for me, but talking to an inanimate object in a room alone was a whole other thing. It was an awkward idea, but I had to. I wanted to. I breathed in and out slowly and gave myself a pep talk. It doesn't matter if someone doesn't like you. It doesn't matter if someone says something rude. If you're yourself, you'll have mostly positive reactions. People relate to authenticity. Be real.

After letting out one last sigh, I pressed “Record” on the tablet and turned to have a seat. When I gazed into the camera, all my fear disappeared. This was bigger than me. My mouth opened and spoke without me feeling present. It was as if I were outside my body and watched someone else from afar.

"Hi. My name is Aella Toms. I'm originally from Chicago, but most of you will recognize me from Circadia. I was one of the original hundred people sent there to participate in the television show Grow.

“When the network sent us there, it was supposed to be for reality TV and to satisfy a curiosity shared across nations. After the nuclear war, they told us that we would become a refugee center for Earth. That's not what happened. The government took huge payouts from the rich for a ticket to Circadia and left the rest of you here to starve.

“If that wasn't enough, they sent Leslie Marshal to take over Circadia. He claimed later that it was to feed Earth, but while we were on strict rations, your government had feasts. We fought against Leslie and the mercenaries that enforced our back-breaking working conditions. I lost a dear friend, Garrett Wells, and countless others in the merciless battle. We were losing when the Herrold brothers showed up to help. I'm back on Earth now, thanks to them.

“Turns out, things are worse here. They've taken your guns, they've taken your freedoms, and they've bribed your neighbors and family with food. Who could turn down food when they're starving?

“I don't blame those who seek to survive, but nothing will ever change like this. The government will keep you starved and oppressed so they can line their pockets and maintain control. Even if you agree to cooperate with them, it will never change. On Circadia, they quickly established levels of citizenship. Guess which ones were better fed and armed? I can tell you from personal experience that it wasn’t those of us working the hardest. It's not fair, and it's not right.

“It doesn't have to be a fact of life. We can fight. I've seen a better life. One where everyone pulls their weight. One without greed or jealousy. One of peace. But you have to be willing to make a sacrifice, or it will never happen.

“I can't offer you food or shelter, but I can offer you a fighting chance. We have to try. It's going to take all of us. Do it for yourself, your family, and for future generations.

“Join together and fight back. I have your back if you have mine."

I reached up and stopped the recording. The silence washed over me as I came back to my body. Maybe I was meant for this. I glanced around the room. It started to feel weird, so I left.

I guessed the editing team would look at the recording and chuckle to themselves. Oh well.

Upon leaving the room, I ran into one of the editors. "Hello," he said. He was good-looking and evoked a reaction I hadn't felt in a while. My face went hot, and I'm sure it turned red. I wanted to say excuse me or hello in return, but instead, an inaudible murmur came out of my mouth, and I quickly left him standing there in the doorway as I walked away.

I lamented over my idiocy, then realized he was about to watch my recording. Oh God, why me? The hallway to Jane's room seemed never-ending as I hurriedly walked to her quarters to tell her what a loser I was. I rapped on the door until she answered and I busted in. "I'm so stupid!" I was exasperated with myself.

"What?" she sounded incredulous. "Why?"

"First of all, I didn't think about what I was saying. I just said it. Like, whatever I thought about before, gone. So I rambled. Then! It gets better. I only did one take, and I guess I was like, 'good enough,' so I left. Then as I'm leaving, I run into one of the editors going in and he's freaking cute as hell, and he says hello!" I sighed. I was shaking in my retelling.

"So?" Jane asked.

"So? You know what I said?" I was sure I sounded like a lunatic at this point. Jane shook her head. I tried to imitate the noise I'd made in front of the editor. "Helmookaybyehi. That's what I said."

"What?" Jane exploded with laughter. "It couldn't have been that bad."

Her laughter eased me a little. "It wasn't better. I can tell you that."

She continued laughing until she caught her breath. My demeanor calmed, as did hers so that we could have