It was a small cottage overgrown with shrubs and vines. Hidden it was in the shadow of the cliffs overlooking the floating isles.

‘Is this really the place?’

[THE DATABASE NEVER LIES. HERE SITS THE OUTPOST.]

‘How am I going to get to it, ALICE?’

In answer, ALICE began to play her waiting music. She had started doing so when 2851 was just a toddler, soothed by the calming melody that distracted her in between trips to the med bay.

[…TRADE SYSTEM LOADING…

WORLD #4519 REACHED

AVAILABLE RESOURCES: WOVEN ARTIFACTS, FOOD

REQUESTING: WATER, FIREWOOD, FOOD

HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO PROCEED?

-REQUEST TRADE

-OFFER RESOURCES FOR FUTURE CREDIT

-SEARCH FOR OTHER TRADE SYSTEM]

‘What kind of woven artifacts? A ladder or backpack?’

[…SEARCHING….

BOTH ARE AVAILABLE FOR TRADE.]

‘Request trade’.

2851 nodded her head with confidence before making her way into the forest surrounding the cliffs looking for fallen limbs or branches. As soon as she touched them they disappeared making their way to their new owners.

She was slightly out of breath after climbing the steep hill, her back sore from her constant activity before she heard a ding in her mind.

[SUFFICIENT RESOURCES HAVE BEEN RECEIVED, PREPARE FOR RECEIVING YOUR NEW ITEMS.]

The tips of her fingertips almost seemed to sparkle in the lower light before two items fell to the ground in front of her as if they’d fallen from her fingertips.

She would repeat the process a couple of times that late afternoon until she had gained enough sustenance to last her a couple of days. Then she made her way to the cliff’s edge, her gaze upon the crag before looking at the rope ladder in her hands.

‘Open database. Search, strong knots.’

She tied the knots with some spare rope she traded for with another system, tying several onto a nearby limb of a tree before jumping and hanging on them to test their strength. Satisfied that she most likely wouldn’t fall to her death. Subject 2851 tied the ladder to a nearby strong root and climbed down it until she reached a level piece of ground where the cabin sat.

She stepped closer to the place that might be her new home. Pulling the vines from the front door, she opened the door. It creaked and the insides were dark. She coughed as a wave of dust swam in her vision as she entered.

The cabin was dusty but the wooden surroundings were still nothing like the cold surroundings of the labs or incubation pods of her childhood. This was so..she wasn’t sure what word it was but it was new and exciting.

“First thing: light.” Her young voice nearly scared her, so unused to hearing her voice aloud.

A quick exchange with the trading system of a couple of days of her food got her a couple of oil lamps and a lighter. ALICE was quick to tell her just how they worked.

“Ouch.” Her fingers were too close to the flame the first time she tried to light the wick. She stuck the tips of her fingers in her mouth until the light sting faded. She furrowed her brow determined to not let the new device defeat her, she tried again this time lighting the wick and not burning her fingertips.

The cabin was bigger than anything she’d ever had before. A cot that was a bit larger than her previous pod was in the far corner of the house. A door led to what she assumed was the lavatory, and a small table sat closer to the door with a circle of three chairs around it. On the far right wall was a small kitchen including a wood-burning stove something she knew only early settlers would have used.

“This will do.” Pulling up her sleeves and looking around at the dust-covered surroundings she decided she would make the best of it, after all this was her new home.

At night ALICE told her a story about a young maiden who had healing ability, was adopted by a noble family, and then upon meeting the crown prince of the land fell in love. Many a foe came to try to tear them apart but none succeeded and eventually, they lived happily ever after.

“Happily ever after.” 2851 whispered. It was a lovely term, but she knew from her studies that history was never so kind. “If only such a story were true.”

[IT WILL BE.]

2851 hummed beneath her breath and tilted her head up looking at the ceiling, ‘How?’

[IT IS THE TALE OF THE FUTURE CROWN PRINCESS OF THIS EMPIRE.]

2851 rolled over onto her stomach and rested her head on her arms, she doubted the tale was quite as lovely as the story. It would probably be much more dangerous. It would be lovely to watch from afar, but… 2851 shook her head. She wished to live a successful life, and avoid such distractions. She resolved in her heart never to get caught up in such stories again.

Unbeknownst to her one day she would shake her head and laugh, life is never what it seems.