Paradox by A. J. Paquette Page B

the plug on the discussion. Todd’s antagonistic stance melts away. The two strangers, a guy and a girl, look up in Ana’s direction.
    The guy lifts his hands in the air, palms up. “We come in peace,” he says, giving her a cocky grin. He’s got short, spiky hair and a wiry build and enough attitude to power a rocket. “No wicked thoughts here whatsoever. I’m Chen.”
    “Ysa,” says the girl standing next to him. She’s small-boned and pale, with white-blond hair and an easy, graceful manner. Her smile looks strong enough to hold.
    Ana realizes two things immediately. One, the newcomers are both around the same age as she and Todd. And two, they are both wearing the same jumpsuit and backpack. She thinks back to the rocket and the two sealed doors she’d assumed were for fuel or storage or whatever she thought when she saw them hours ago.
    “You’re from the ship, too?” Ana exclaims. “I’m starting to wonder how many of us there are. Every time I turn around it seems like there’s another rat running this maze.”
    Chen smirks. “We’re it, baby. Just the four of us, jetting across space on some half-assed mission. Doesn’t that just rock your world?”
    Ysa nudges him with a grimace, then reaches out her hand. “Ignore him, really. It’s good to meet up with you.”
    “I’m Ana. And the more the better out here, I figure.” Ana reaches out her hand to clasp the girl’s, though as she does, the gesture feels weird for some reason she can’t define. Ysa’shands are milk white, but it’s not the contrast between her skin and Ana’s own rich tan that gives her pause. It’s something more to do with feel.
But … what?
Is it a memory trying to break through?
    It’s not landing, so Ana brushes the thought aside and releases Ysa’s hand. Chen nods and extends his for a fist bump.
    Ana grins. “You’ve got to be kidding.”
    Chen just shifts his pack on his shoulders with a loud laugh. “Come on, fellow stargazers. We have plenty of ground to cover and a tightly budgeted time purse.”
    Todd nods. “Next destination, the summit at Mount Fahr.”
    “I’m Chen Wai,” Chen says, “and I will be your guide on this planetary expedition. If you turn fully to your left, you will see the awe-inspiring, skyscraping Timor range, home of the only known active volcano in the Cyclid system.”
    In spite of herself, Ana laughs. Chen takes off at a zesty pace, with Todd following right on his heels. Ana falls into step behind them next to Ysa. The other girl moves confidently across the uneven terrain, but between that and the pack on her shoulders, she seems to be operating at full capacity. Her breath is already coming in quick bursts. Despite this, she looks over at Ana with a friendly smile and a nod. “Doing okay with all of this?” she asks.
    Ana smiles back. “I could ask you the same.”
    “I’m not as puny as I look,” Ysa says with a laugh. But she puffs a little to smooth out her breathing. They walk in silence for a few minutes; then Ysa clears her throat. “I wonder, uh … well, Todd told us that both of you guys don’t have any personal memories?”
    Ana goes suddenly still.
You guys?
    Ysa’s got her eyes on the ground in front of her, fully caught up in her own thoughts. “I just can’t even imagine it. Can I ask … well, what does it feel like? You really don’t remember
anything
?”
    “Wait,” Ana says, grabbing Ysa’s arm. “You mean your memory
wasn’t
wiped?”
    Ysa’s eyes widen, like maybe she’s worried she said the wrong thing. “No,” she says slowly. “Not me or Chen.”
    Everything around Ana comes into sharp focus. “Then you know what we’re doing here! Right? You know what the mission is, why our memories are gone, everything!” She wants to laugh out loud.
    Ysa opens her mouth, but at just that moment Ana hears a sound she had hoped to never hear again. It’s far away, but she’d know that grinding anywhere.
    “Oh, no,” Ana says,