As Commander Aslög turned around to leave, she stooped down to Jenna and said, “Dear girl, don’t look so frightened. Everything will be fine. We’ll be sure your Daddy doesn’t forget you.” She stood up and looked over at me, and I detected an tinge of
sadness beneath her expressionless mask. The shuttle stopped in front of us as Aslög stood up.

The cyborg driver, dressed in a gray jumpsuit and a Corporation, Inc. hat, looked at us with flashing red eyes as we all stepped inside. We took our seats and did not speak during the entire twenty minute ride home; I think Amy and Jenna were both too frightened to say anything.

I stared out the window and thought of the world I knew before, picturing a foggy October sunrise in the bavarian alps on a trip we made to Salzburg. And then, all too quickly, the bus stopped and the doors opened wide.

We stepped out of the shuttle and walked through the gates of the compound. I turned and watched the shuttle disappear. It would be my last trip home for a long long time.