By Jenna Calloway

“That’s the fourth time this week you’ve talked about cannibalizing me,” Jon said, adjusting the shuttlecraft’s coordinates. “Is there something you want to share?”

Lucas grinned, placing another vegetarian pizza in the cockpit’s microwave. “Nah, just wishing I was in stasis with the rest of the terraforming crew. It’s taking for…” Another seismic groundswell rocked the transport vehicle, “…ever to reach the Conservatory. Also, I’m tired of plants. I crave MEAT!”

“And I crave less…”

Lucas only registered the tearing of metal a split second before the world went dark.

Caught inside feverish dreams, he drifted until fleeting shadows and rustling voices touched his consciousness. Groaning, Lucas opened his eyes. Prismatic light from the twin suns penetrated the thick canopy of vegetation overhead, warming his face. Faint stirring drew his attention. Several plants swayed and moved to form hedge barriers on each side. Panicked, he tried to sit up, but Pothos vines entwined his limbs. Lucas thrashed against the restraints.

“Relax,” a soft voice hissed. “You’re safe. The doctor is coming.”

A symphony of hums arose from the vegetation, and a large palm tree shifted aside, bowing in an oddly human-like manner.

“Thank you, Gilboa,” a diminutive silver-haired woman said, stepping through and running her fingers along the tree’s bark, “always a gentleman.” She placed a hand over Lucas’s bandaged knee. “And you gave us quite the scare. Now, if you promise to move slowly, Vinessa will release you. None of us wish to see you injure yourself further.”

Dumbstruck, Lucas could only nod. The vines untangled themselves, pausing briefly to caress his skin before dislodging. “Um, thanks…Vinessa.” He sat up slowly. “Nice to meet you…Dr.?”

“Oh, dear,” She extended her weathered hand. “Dr. Alma Cutler, director of the Conservatory, where you’ve worked since—nevermind. That seismic explosion must have scrambled your memory. But no worries. With a rest in the gardens and some proper nourishment, you’ll be right as rain again.”

Pressing his temples, Lucas tried catching the wispy images floating through his mind. “There were others, right?”

“Of course, silly. You’ll find—Jon, is it?—in Greenhouse 27, and…” Screams pierced the air. Dr. Cutler rolled her eyes. “I must tend to the new crew you were kind enough to recruit. I don’t imagine they’ve seen our sentient hybrids before. Be well, darling.” She gave a matronly pat on Lucas’s hand.

Lucas stared as the doctor moved away, his heart beating rapidly. The wall of plants followed, moving past the assorted greenhouses and twisted pathways which filled the enormous geodesic dome. Shakily, Lucas rose to his feet, hoping that a small flash of familiarity would return. Maybe Jon could help. He hobbled his way through the expanse until he found the pathway to Greenhouse 27. The rich, earthy scent from the interior made his stomach growl.

“Hey, Jon! Are you there?”

Only silence greeted him, and Lucas stepped inside the long structure. The agitation in his stomach intensified as he walked past the various flora, searching for his friend. Overwhelmed by hunger, Lucas bent down, scooped a handful of freshly turned loam, and pressed it into his mouth. His body shuddered with relief, and he moved to scoop up more when movement caught his eye. He turned just as Vinessa slithered around the far corner.

Lucas lifted his hand in greeting, then quickly dropped it. The Pothos sidled up beside him, lightly touching a vine to his calf.

“Good?” they hummed.

Lucas jumped away from their touch.

“T-Th-The voice. Yours?”

The vine moved again, tentatively touching his foot. Lucas froze, mesmerized. “Yes,” came the breeze-like whisper, “but only with contact. We’re all part of each other’s sequencing. I know you don’t remember.” He shook his head, stomach protesting. “Keep eating. Jon will make you feel better.”

“Wha…!?” Lucas kicked them off, fracturing their leaves in the process. He stared at the soil; small pieces of flesh intermingled with the dark earth.

And screamed.

Vinessa lunged, encircling him entirely with their undamaged vines. Lucas struggled, but they held tight, whispering words of comfort until he passed out.

“He didn’t remember he’s a hybrid. Can you inject him again?” Vinessa’s breezy voice penetrated his consciousness.

“Give it a second, love.” Dr. Cutler said. “See? He’s stirring.”

Lucas sighed, his ecstatic enjoyment of the plant pheromones coursing through his brain cut short by an onslaught of humiliating memories. He opened his eyes, frowning at the concerned droop of leaves from the family protectively bent over him.

Embarrassed, he touched Vinessa, caressing the leaves entwining his wrist. He turned to Dr. Cutler. “Wha…what happened, mother?”

“An explosion, dear heart. But…” She placed a hand on his chest to stop him from sitting up. “Your recruits are fine, hard at work expanding the greenhouses after a tiny adjustment period to our creations. Mostly, your neurons were rattled. The scream…” Dr. Cutler rolled her eyes.

“The fight,” Vinessa showed their damaged vines.

“And,” Dr. Cutler interjected, “Jon was killed on impact. As per his wishes, his body is ready to nourish you. Do you think you can feed now?”

Lucas shut his eyes, feeling the velvety soil underneath his body and inhaled. His stomach roared, and he nodded. Vinessa curled beside him and brought a tiny fragment of dirty flesh to his lips.

“I’m so sorry,” Lucas mouthed.

“Forgiven,” Vinessa whispered, dropping the earth into his mouth.