Author: 🇨🇦 Helena Trooperman © 2026 all rights reserved
Destination Phobos, Tech Array [AOU,03,02]
Accompaniment to Age of Unity Series
(Included in © No AI scraping and no permission to copy)

DESTINATION PHOBOS

FIX-ION Blogged Chapter by Chapter

The story continues…

chapter 6

EIGHT MINUTES

Mirin detected no motion. When Zani unbuckled, she copied her. We can’t have gone far in eight minutes. One step behind her friend at all times, she carried Junie’s car seat, while Zani carried the large hold-all. Gravity’s normal, so we have to be local.

Zani opened the previous doorway again by placing her palm on the wall. Phasing? I’ve never heard of it. Outside, Mirin found she was in an identical tunnel. Where are we?

A quick scan of the surroundings revealed a railed shuttle. Fatigue, stress, and hunger gnawed at her. To make matters worse, Junie needed to be nursed soon. She counted the children. All present.

Mirin caught Zani’s arm and lowered her voice, “Phasing. Is the craft from the future?”

“No. I’m older than you can imagine.”

“I feel like that sometimes,” Mirin said. “I don’t care if you’re human or not. You’re a good friend.”

Zani’s infectious laughter echoed off the tunnel walls. The children giggled and Mirin smiled too. “I’m human. Just non-organic.”

Mirin pointed her thumb at the craft’s wall behind them. “These are the UAPs in the sightings. They’re American then?”

“All countries and no countries.”

What kind of answer’s that?

Ellen’s rapid footsteps echoed as she hustled to take Mirin’s outstretched hand. Only Zani’s friend carrying the sleeping Micky accompanied them. Isaac held his spare hand.

“Where are we going?” Mirin asked.

“You’ll see.” The look in Zani’s eyes reiterated the need to trust her.

The door opened to the shuttle as they approached. Zani entered and Mirin took a seat next to her. “This is your way out.”

Ellen, Burton, and Sara took a seat nearby. Micky was carefully placed in his seat and strapped into the five-point harness as Isaac watched over him. Mirin thanked the greying man. He retreated to the platform with a nod of agreement from Zani. So, Zani’s their leader, not a med-tech.

“While we’ve always lived here, we are few now.”

Mirin nodded. “Does my new boss know?”

Zani shook her head.

The door shut and the vibration of movement began. “Omigod, are you kids okay?” Like a roller coaster ride, they were stuck to their seats. “How many gees will this pull?”

Ellen and Sara giggled. Burton and Isaac hooted with joy.

“This is the worst of the speed. Rollercoaster speed. Almost three-gees. Sorry, I didn’t know,” Zani said. “I’ll be sure to tell him, that has to change in future. When we get there, I’ll introduce you and my part is done.”

“Get where?”

“There’s now an agreement in place with your new boss for us to provide this transport. Understand, I’m not permitted to answer any questions.”

“We are in the Allies of England, then?”

“Not exactly.”

“Okay, under the Allies of England, then?” Zani nodded. The shuttle slowed and came to a stop. They all exited onto the platform.

Her legs wobbled for the first few steps. The kids giggled, suggesting they experienced the same.

Micky had awoken and sobbed into his fists at his unknown surroundings.

Mirin squeezed the little fellow’s hand and smiled at him. Her confidence would be contagious. Ellen and Isaac, Burton and Sara. Good, everyone’s here.

Isaac and Burton stayed close to Ellen and Sara. Unnerving that they’re so quiet. Junie had fallen asleep with the motion, a bundle of warmth. She kissed the top of her head. The weight of carrying Junie took its toll on her lower back and her shoulders burned from the straps.

Mirin checked about her. Micky pulled at her hand as if he wanted to let go. “No, no. Stay with me. There’s a good boy.”

The tunnel was much bigger than the small off-shoot tunnel they had started in.

“What does it say, Mommy?” Micky indicated the large sign on the tunnel wall.

The other kids giggled. She read the station’s name aloud, “Platform ½ Way to the Stars.”

The children fell silent as lone footsteps approached.

“Wait here,” Zani said, striding forward to greet the man with a handshake. After a few words with the man, she returned to Mirin.

“This is where we say goodbye. I trust him, you can too.” She turned to the children. “Take care of your mother and each other.” The children crowded around Zani and hugged her. She lowered her hands and hugged them back in one big group. “I’m going to miss you all.”

“Thanks, for everything,” Mirin said. “I have so many questions.”

“I know. Rai will help you. I’ll see you get your cases. Stay in-touch.”

The older woman now walked as if she were in her twenties rather than nearing retirement. She disappeared through the door of the shuttle tube. Non-organic? Zani’s a robotic human? It seems impossible. The skin on her hands looks a bit older, sure, but it feels like mine.

Next

Now it’s your turn. What do you think will happen next? Drop your answer into the comments below. Chapter 7 will be available in seven days.