The initial reports about planet Kepler 452b came back filled with promise. The atmosphere was breathable for humans. There was life, but only the most rudimentary as far as the scientists could tell and, best of all, the blue on the planet's surface was water. A month had passed since their arrival and Captain Asaro was getting ready to approve the second stage of exploration, sending the shuttle down to land on the planet's surface.

"I want to send two pilots down with every shuttle," Asaro told Norton. "Accidents can happen to anyone and the last thing we want is to have the shuttle stranded on the surface. Is Mercedes still able to take a turn?"

Duty bound, Norton had informed her of Elka's condition, but as far as she was aware, they were the only two who knew.

"She should be fine, Captain, as long as she keeps the deceleration slow and steady." Norton frowned for a moment. "It's more her mental state I'm concerned about. I've done my best to persuade her to make a decision within the next few days. The foetus is not going to survive whatever happens and the delay is only making things worse for her. It won't be long before she'll be able to feel it moving...."

"Worse if she births a vegetable though, I would have thought!" Asaro said drily.

"The whole situation is heart breaking," agreed Norton.

By the time Elka took her turn to bring the shuttle down to the surface on Kepler 452b, the scientists and technicians had already established a base camp. Domes with stringently filtered air provided sleeping quarters, laboratories and even a kitchen. Other machines filtered water so that it was safe to drink, though so far nothing toxic to humans had been found, but it was very early days yet, warned the scientists. Naturally everyone wore their spacesuits when outside in the open. It would take months to determine whether the environment was safe for humans or not and to develop the necessary vaccines.

Elka squared her shoulders. Today was absolutely the last day she'd given herself to become resigned to the inevitable. Norton was right, she was only making things harder for herself by delaying. She'd go in search of the medic and make an appointment. Right now.

Elka stepped out of the shuttle and looked around with wide eyes. Used to living inside a space station, the sheer openness of everything made her heart pound. She made herself stand still for a moment, taking in the bare rocky ground, the green smudge on the horizon which must be vegetation, and the huge blue-green vault of the sky above.

Then she ducked into the nearest dome, and immediately felt at home.

Home?

Hastily, she went in search of Medic Norton who was working in one of the laboratories.

"Could I stay here?" Elka blurted. "I mean here on Kepler 452b?"

"What?" asked Norton, confused.

"It just occurred to me. This planet is going to become a colony, isn't it? If you left me enough supplies, I could stay here, by myself, until the colony ship comes. It would only be a few months, wouldn't it?" Elka's face was alight with the brilliance of her solution.

Norton looked at her in disbelief. "How would you manage? All alone and giving birth? And even if you both survived, you haven't thought this through. Your son could never leave and you can't be in two places at once. What about your family back on Aurora? Your husband? You have a child there. You'd be leaving her in favour of another, that hasn't even been born yet."

Elka felt the colour drain from her cheeks. It was true. How could she have been so stupid? She hadn't thought clearly at all. She felt as if she was being torn in half. Whatever she decided, she would be leaving one of her children on another world.

Then she felt her son move inside her belly.