Free Blighted Star by Tom Parkinson

strands, forming a durable surface like
a thick mat of black spider web. The whole process would take days, but would
go on quietly in the background without any further need for supervision by the
townsfolk.
    In
a way that was part of the problem of human life, even here in a brand new
colony, right on the edge of human expansion. There wasn’t really anything for
a man to do anymore. All his needs could be supplied by robots either big or
small. Vats could grow his meat, his clothing never wore out and cleaned itself
as it soiled due to nano-tech. Even in the home tiny robots scurried about
clearing up after him. You signed up for a colony thinking you were going on a
great adventure of self-discovery and all you got was the same experience of
being spoon-fed by machines. And now look at them, these so called pioneers;
they were helpless because the chain had broken down. There was no way they
could survive on this planet, benign though it was, without the constant
attention of the robots. The whole thing was frankly depressing.
    By
the time he reached the crowd on the green, Gerard’s self-confidence had eroded
completely. What could he or anyone else do? The administration was a pathetic
joke, but getting it replaced would be impossible with these sheep. He stood on
the fringes, looking back along the street resentfully at the four robots
glinting in the sunlight.
    <><><> 
    Grad
straightened up and looked at the bioscan the probe had brought. The rows of
little green numbers meant little or nothing to him. He held up the screen to
the eyes of the probe and back at Cassini Dr Clarke examined the readouts.
    “Right,
well. There is extensive internal bruising but nothing immediately
life-threatening. You’ll be fine, Jim, but don’t exert yourself in any way until
you get back. I take it that the blood you were passing hasn’t been present the
last few times you peed?”
    The
probe wasn’t really designed for transmitting the human voice, and the doctor,
like everyone else came out sounding slightly flat and tinny. Jim shook his
head in reply, very gently because the muscles in his neck felt as if they had
been torn by a giant hand, and his headache threatened to return with renewed
force at the littlest movement. At least the nanos were masking most of the
pain from his broken arm, and now that he was in the presence of a medic the
age old magic was working and he was beginning to feel better just for being
told by a doctor that he wasn’t on the point of death.
    “Well,
keep an eye open for any recurrence. Grad, keep an eye on him. Make sure he
rests. See you soon fellows.”
    The
Doctor’s image projected by the probe was replaced by that of Lana, and Chan
busied himself as best he could with nothing in particular while she and Grad
had a rather forced conversation. It was hard not to steal glances at Lana. She
was, he was sure, considered by all the males of the colony and a few of the
females too to be the best looking person on the planet, her dark golden curls
of hair falling across fine shoulders of the colour of honey. In fact, she and
Grad made a startlingly handsome couple. Sickening, he thought wryly.
    After
the probe had gone, Grad settled himself back down on the sand. He was unused
to such a prolonged period of inactivity and found it really galling. Looking
at the lake he wished he had some fishing gear…and some fish. Or better still,
some diving gear. That would be something to look into for the future, diving
tours of a planet covered in the most beautiful lakes, and not just diving; all
kinds of water sports would do well here once things were properly established.
Right now though, the weather was hot, the water was inviting…would Chan feel
strong enough for a swim, or at least a paddle?
    <><><> 
    Jackson
snapped back into the present moment.
    “What
did you say?”
    “Hmm,
What? Why have you stopped?” Christel’s eyes opened slightly.
    “Just
then, you called me Grad.” he rolled