On a cold day in Caber, Salina sits in her beige kitchen, preparing a warm meal. On the counter lie vegetables, different from those she once enjoyed as a child on Earth. It's been 76 Caber years since she and her family fled Earth in haste. Not all made it.
She peers into the pot simmering on the stove top, inspecting the medley of vegetables and inhaling the aroma. "It needs more spices," she remarks. Salina looks at Khater her grandson, and then at the pot. She reflects on the traumatic experience she endured during her transition from Earth to Caber. It was a traumatic time for her, full of struggle. This however hasn't stopped her from sharing the story with her grandson, who eagerly listens. Why wouldn't he? The tale brims with action and drama, worthy of an Oscar-winning movie. "Oh, the Oscars, those were the days," she reminisces, glancing at her grandson with a mix of warmth and sorrow. She begins her narrative, as she always does, but Khater, her grandson, hangs on every word as if hearing it for the first time. With hands on his face, he gazes at her with a wide smile
"When I was younger than you, Khater, I lived on a different planet called Earth," Salina begins, her gaze distant yet intent. "It was beautiful, our home. Our house was bigger than this one, and my father, a busy man with a prestigious government job, was rarely around." She pauses to attend to the stove, then returns to Khater, who listens intently. With another warm smile, she continues, "We had a large family, many cousins, uncles, but only one aunt” she giggles. “We gathered almost daily, either at our place or my uncle's, enjoying each other's company. It was a joyful time, filled with laughter and play. The weather was delightful, with the sun shining seemingly without end. We played outside every day, and despite the occasional tumble, I relished being an active child, much like a tomboy."
“One day, my dad came early from work. He had a frown on his face, and seemed quite distracted. I remember him rubbing his forehead a lot. He went and grabbed my mom’s arm who was cooking in the kitchen, then looked back at me to see if I was watching, and took my mom into a room. I went to the door to listen, but it was challenging to make out what they were saying in that room. They remained inside for a considerable time, and when they finally emerged, I noticed that Mom's eyes were red from crying. I felt a surge of curiosity, eager to understand what had transpired. But just as I was about to inquire, my dad handed me one of my favorite candy bars and asked that I share it with my sister. At my age, a candy bar was a pretty darn good distraction.
The following day, my family began packing and informed my sister and me that we would be moving to a new home. Being young, we placed our trust in our parents; after all, they were our parents, and we believed they wanted what was best for us. Although we felt sadness at the thought of leaving, deep down, we understood that we needed to follow the path they had chosen for us. I remember looking at my sister who is three years younger than me assuring her that everything will be alright. I still recall the bittersweet moment of saying goodbye to our extended family, knowing it might be the last time we'd see them for a while. I was struck by the sight of one of my uncles, typically a stoic man, shedding tears. I couldn't help but wonder why he cried. I was confident that we would return to visit, but a part of me couldn't shake the feeling that the situation might be more serious than I had initially perceived. As events unfolded, this realization didn't come as a surprise.
After leaving behind our beautiful home, our family, the familiar gatherings, and all the goodness in the world, we boarded a spaceship and journeyed to this planet—a cold, isolated, and somewhat foreboding place. Not until I reached my teenage years did I discover the reason behind our departure from the beautiful Earth. It wasn't by choice, but rather due to the prediction of a catastrophic event: a large asteroid was forecasted to collide with the moon, shattering it into a million pieces. The subsequent impact on Earth would shift its gravitational force, drawing it closer to the sun and endangering all life on the planet, subjecting it to scorching temperatures. Not all humans could escape, only those who were rich, filthy rich and could afford a space on the spaceship, and those who worked in the government, and not in any position, a position really high up. Without sparing you the rest of the details, but we escaped all of this and survived, and here we are now”, by now Salina has finished plating the dishes, and is ready to serve Khater.
“But what happened to your family grandmother”. Salina looks back surprised. This is the first time Khater asks this question. He usually is satisfied with the story as is. She really wanted to let him know where he came from, but without much of the details that are sad and frightening.
“Other than my mom, dad and my sister, the rest of my family stayed on Earth” Salina looks down, trying to hide the sad look on her face, and the tears that are about to come. But Khater gets off his chair, and touches her knee, and says: “did they get burnt by the sun?” she breaks into tears, and says: “yes they did”. She gives Khater a big hug, “but we should be grateful that we survived, and we must continue to survive in order to spread their genes further and further. "Let this serve as a lesson, Khater," she said firmly, drawing closer and fixing him with a steady gaze. "In this world, the strong survive, and the weak perish. So be strong." She repeated the words, her intensity piercing through him. "Be strong."
This new planet to which humans migrated is called Caber. It is the 11th celestial body orbiting the star Solaris, located in the right distance to allow for the right conditions for human survival. This planet was known for a long time, allowing humans to study it extensively. When the asteroid was predicted to hit, plans were made quickly to travel there. Khater’s grandfather was one of the government officials responsible for this mission.
They learned that Caber was habitable for humans, but only in specific regions. Unlike Earth's continents, which are two-dimensional landmasses bounded by mountain ranges and water, Caber consists of "frelams," three-dimensional landmasses encompassing land, water, and sky. Among these frelams, Shinata, located on the surface of Caber, was the most suitable for human habitation.
Despite their efforts to prepare by bringing life support systems, food and water, medical supplies, protective gear, communication and power systems, as well as tools and equipment, the humans quickly discovered that their preparations were inadequate upon arrival. Facing the harsh realities of their new environment, they found themselves ill-equipped and vulnerable. Faced with the threat of extinction, desperation drove some to resort to violence in a primal struggle for survival.
They were far from peaceful; instead, they resorted to brutality, slaughtering natives and seizing their homes. However, this aggression did not go unchallenged by the natives of Caber, a diverse population composed of several intelligent species, each endowed with unique abilities that humans lacked. With the passage of time and the escalation of violence, the natives' hostility towards humans grew more pronounced. Humans were seen as selfish, opportunistic invaders, akin to a virus that needed to be eradicated.
Through sheer determination, humans managed to endure and procreate, leading to the present day where many of Caber's human inhabitants are second or even third-generation descendants of the original settlers. These individuals undergo rigorous military training and are instilled with resilience from a young age. Armed with weapons, they exist in a perpetual state of apprehension, cognizant of the natives' hostility towards them. Despite their ability to adapt to the environment and cultivate the land, they remain oblivious to the existence of formidable creatures sharing the planet—beings possessing intelligence and resolve equal to their own, with intentions of driving them to extinction. Among these inhabitants, Shinata has emerged as the most densely populated area for humans, serving as the home for young Khater and his grandmother.
