Trial 750

It was the 25th trial that was apparently the magic number. That’s when the magic began to happen. In each trial she had discovered something, usually something she didn’t know was necessary, even in all the resources about cloning she had read, there wasn’t an intricate step by step process for her to follow. I guess because they expected the people who were responsible for cloning to be doing it. Sadly, all the experts having died it was down to her to make this happen. Without this process the chance of surviving 50 years until she reached the new planet was infinitesimally small. But here it was, after only 25 attempts finally an embryo was viable and was growing exactly as it should. Now she merely had to monitor it to make sure it had enough nutrients, that the waste was being cleared from the amniotic membrane, that it was getting enough oxygen and that she was talking to it regularly, as well as playing music. It had long been established that talking to a baby “In vitro” wasn’t just a fad, it actually helped the baby’s brain develop and that they recognised people. She didn’t want the clone coming out a scared angry stranger after all!

But in the meantime she needed to replicate the process because she was going to need more than one clone. Being stranded on a spaceship alone, ,50 years from the nearest habitable planet was about to become that little bit easier. And a little bit more complex! She’d have to utilise all her people skills to manage relationships so that everyone could survive and thrive, like their lives depended on it, because they did.

There were plenty of clothes available, food, recreational facilities but managing other people wasn’t exactly her key strength, writing about people was a different matter. Perhaps she could write a story for the clones that she could read to them before they were “born”. Yes, what a great idea, “thanks brain” she said out loud.

She’d begun to speak to herself out loud more frequently the last few months, hearing her own voice was soothing. She’d also begun to add things that she’d done to the 2 hourly call using the Base2 system to broadcast, marking the progress of the journey. This was something she’d begun from early days of waking on a ship alone. The marking of progress was helpful in that it reminded her she wasn’t in exactly the same position she’d been in 2 hours before, she was making progress, no matter how slow it seemed. And the goal had always been progress, to progress and increase the quality of her life whilst stranded. To find ways to thrive, not just survive.

Having crew mates was going to be essential, there was no way she could survive mentally being alone for 50 years, she doubted any human could. Now she didn’t have to, she’d have company, people to talk to, people to share the burden of responsibility with. The responsibility to survive in these circumstances, where they might just be the only humans left alive, unless they managed to save Mars that was. Doubtful, considering how the destruction of Earth had been unavoidable once it got to a certain stage. But she’d left before that stage had been reached, so there was hope. Hope that maybe someday her ancestors and clones of the original crew might make the return journey home. Although it wouldn’t feel like home, as it was likely going to be centuries before colony was established enough to contemplate returning.

She began singing, twinkle twinkle little star, and when she got bored of that she began singing the song her Mother had sung to her all of her life. Savage Daughter, a song written by Wyndreth Berginsdottir. “My mother's child dances in darkness. She sings heathen songs.

By the light of the moon, And watches the stars and renames the planets, And dreams she can reach them With a song and a broom”

That one she found uplifting, full of hope and dreams of the future. But sometimes she simply played music, classical that had remained unchanged in millenia, and popular music from her youth. This was her way of connecting to the people who would hopefully become her friends, her allies, her crew mates. So many things could go wrong, but she reminded herself to focus once more on the progress towards survival, rather than the negativity of perfection and possible failure.