11th February 2013 Monday

Day 42

The characters slowly age up, it could be one year in one day and then stay like that for the rest of the year, just don't tell me that I'm getting their ages wrong because I'm aging them on purpose, just try and keep up with the changes.

Don't forget to send in your entries to TrueLoveIsReal for the cover images…you know, if you want…I don't…don't care…

Disclaimer: I own nothing but…no, I own nothing.


Dex was roused from his sleep as sunlight broke in to his room. Although it was already day light, Dex felt surprisingly tired which was unusual for him, because he's always refreshed for a day's work at the habitat. He begrudgingly flipped open his communicator before a look of confusion crossed his face. It was four in the morning.

What is going on?

Dex usually set the habitat's wake up system at six for bug washing day, but it wasn't the right day of the week. Carefully getting out of bed without waking up Jane, Dex left to find the source of the problem.

He rubbed his eyes as he entered the illuminated room, surprised to find Jenny standing near the wall, dressed in a dressing gown and crossing her arms. Her face was contorted in anger and annoyance as she stared blankly ahead of her. Dex was about to question her presence, when he followed her gaze, and ultimately found the cause of her annoyance.

Standing in front of all the computer controls at one of the habitats, Dex and Jenny watched as Winston pressed various buttons and pulled various levers, huge bags hanging from below his eyes.

"He's been up to this since two this morning," Jenny whispered to Dex, her eyes not leaving the sleep deprived older entomologist. "I tried to stop him, but he wouldn't listen. You need to talk to him."

The engineer unfolded her arms and began walking out of the room. Dex moved his head as he followed her.

"Where are you going?" he questioned. She turned back to him with an exhausted expression.

"Back to bed. By the way, the lights down in my section of the habitat are going to be switched off for a while," Dex was about to object when Jenny turned around and held up a hand to silence him. "Yeah, I'm not asking. I'm telling you."

With that, the clone left the room immediately. Dex turned his attention back to his father, Winston still frantically working on the computer. He stepped forward, cautious but curious.

"Hey dad," he spoke in a slightly weary voice.

"You're late, Dexter," Winston said, never leaving the gaze of the insects before him. The son looked around before shrugging.

"Late for what?"

"To care for the insects," he complained as he turned to face his son. "These bugs need constant care, and I find it remarkable that you've kept the habitat running with your schedule."

Dex decided to let that one slide.

"Where is that friend of yours?" Winston snapped Dex out of his thoughts as he moved to another habitat control pad. "The sound effect guy, I need him to deliver the food barrel to the Arthur beetle."

"He's asleep, dad," Dex tried to explain as he moved closer to his father. "Everyone is, just like we should be too," his words appeared to go unheard.

"I'm not sure what half these buttons do," he ignored Dex's comments as his eyes skimmed over all the blinking lights. "Could you wake up the engineer so we can go through an explanation on these? You might want to get everyone else to watch too, it will be handy when all of your employees know how to do their jobs."

"Dad, I really think it's time to-"

"Dexter, you've got no idea how to keep a colony in track. This is an area that I have had experience in-"

"Excuse me," the leader said incredulously, feeling his hands ball in to fists. "But I have been running this habitat for a good nine years after you left."

"There's no need to be snarky about it," Winston tried to explain, albeit with his own attitude. "So could you please wake up Zap and we can continue our work."

Dex rolled his head around to avoid saying something he would regret, tired with trying to stop this man.

"No dad. I'm going back to bed, and you should too," his words fell on deaf ears as Winston continued to monitor the pavilion. Fed up, Dex left his father to his job and walked back to his bed. The section of the habitat was still alight from Winston playing with the appliances, causing Dex to groan in frustration. He walked back to his room and collapsed on his bed, accidentally forgetting about Jane.

"Why is the sun up?" Jane groaned when she woke up. Dex turned to face her. "Something wrong with the habitat control system?"

"No, it's my father," he muffled in to the mattress of the bed when he turned his head. "He's working the habitat systems."

He propped himself up on his elbow, facing Jane as he did. "Do you think he's overstaying his welcome?"

"This used to be his home, Dex," Jane debated as she mimicked his actions. "Unless you send him back to the other universe, where else is he going to go?"

Dex furrowed his brow as he processed her words, nodding in agreement at her train of thought.

"Yeah I guess," the leader agreed thoughtfully. They both rested on their backs and stared up at the ceiling, watching as the lights flickered off once before they brightly lit the room again. Dex sighed deeply before pushing himself up again.

"But if he makes one more comment about how I'm running this place, he is gone."


Another one done, tell me what you think. Also, I need some ideas, badly! Don't forget the cover image competition, drawings, text, photos, photos and text, anything (as long as you have permission to use the photos)!