Stardate 2077.04: Awake on Earth

Today was shocking. When I finally emerged from the holding cell and stepped into the light, I found myself on a different planet. Earth. I should have realized from the accents that this team hadn't come to Mars, rather, I had been transported sometime during the haze to their planet. I didn't have time to look around, but it's so much brighter here than home. I didn't think it was possible, but there's also more destruction...at least where we are. No blue sky and white fluffy clouds; I never thought I would see it, but I was hoping to. I shouldn't be surprised. I have no idea what day it is anymore or even the year, but I'll keep to my dating method.  It turns also turns out that they installed an eye-cam. It's supposed to send photos from when we time travel. Maybe they hope they can track us through photo changes? I hacked into it already and have a separate folder for my personal photos. I caught one before they ushered us underground to the facility. It's not blue skies, but it'll have to do.

Stardate 2077.03: Clean but Marked

I got my wish. The cuffs are off. I've had a hot shower, clean clothes, a hair cut. I even got a ration that didn't taste like chalk. A hot drink. My head has been in a fog the last few weeks as we've been poked and prodded. I am sporting a nice bump on my neck where my tracking ID went in. How do I know? I stole a copy of the x-ray when they thought I was still out.

I'd like to think the other two have trackers for "safety" but I'm pretty sure it's just me...I've been labeled the risk. I got my last shot today and feel like myself, so I'm pretty sure they negated the drugged effect. We are going to start our training tomorrow morning.                                                                                                                                                                                     

Stardate 2077.02: Secret Journal

I'm supposed to be keeping a journal for record-keeping that I have to hand in to the lab every day to prove I'm doing my end of the bargain. They won't get their hands on this one though. This one is mine.

Every day, I've had to record my nutrition intake, which vitamins I've had, get my booklet stamped by the lab. Get this. They opened some secret vault and we had to be immunized against all of these diseases that were around 60 years ago. Then, we got another round of shots making sure we don't bring back whatever new viruses are apparently lurking and waiting to hitch a ride back and wreak havoc on civilization. Whatever. I'm so tired of needles.

I don't really have a positive outlook on this mission. I'm not even sure if they are convinced this time machine is going to work. They actually put the inventor of it on the mission. She's got me on edge with all her nail biting and fidgeting and jumping like a startled cat whenever they ask her a question. I hope she knows what she's doing. But at least we've got a lectie in our group. 

The other one. Where to begin. Is she even legal? I mean, she looks 12. She creeps me out too. Creeper. HA! Lectie and Creeper. At least I've got something to make me smirk. But seriously. I thought I was stealthy. She's always where I least expect. She avoids everyone. I hope she's not a liability on this mission. I'm not here to hold anybody's hand.

Anyway. I wish they'd take off the shackles and let me take a hot shower. It's getting old.

Stardate 2077.01: I'm Jade Overkill

It's the year 2077, and I've really made a mess of my life. Actually, the universe is a mess. Someone thought it was a good idea to take volunteers to Mars on a one-way trip to colonize in 2034 (it got delayed 10 years) and my crazy father applied. Jason. He was 28-single at the time and foolhardy.  He always wanted to be one of those to do things "first." Well, he got a lot more firsts than what he had bargained for. He was the first to marry (my mom, how'd you guess?). Her name was Lottie. She wasn't what you would call strikingly beautiful, but she was 26, a brunette with jade green eyes, and had an insatiable thirst for adventure. He was the first to become a dad on Mars... Me? Not yet. They had my older two brothers before they had me and my youngest brother. I'm the only girl, and the only one who survived the initial blast from our family. But you know all about the blast and the war and the dystopia...Enough. You want to know about my mess and why I chose this assignment.

I wish I could say I had their adventurous spirit, but I don't. I'm in this so I don't go to jail. After the initial blast, I did what I could to survive. I got caught raiding the museums around Mars and hocking precious artifacts for cash, food, and toilet paper. Told you it wasn’t pretty. So my 32 year old self got the choice of 20 years in jail or “community service” which turns out to be this time travel mission. I don’t have anyone else and I guess this is kind of an appropriate sentence. I’ll be following in my dad’s footsteps of firsts. I guess if things go wrong, the government isn’t really out of an exemplary citizen. So yeah, that’s my story. I’m Jade Overkill, but my friends call me Jo.