The computer chirps as it connects to Berkley’s phone on the other side of the atmosphere. After a minute of chirping, the video call connects. Berkley’s face appears on the screen.

"Aye what up, Basil?" He greets.

"Hey, Berk."

Berkley’s face fills the video call window. He extends his arm, giving his face more space from his phone’s camera. The video on Sebastian’s side is pixelated.

"Can you hear me alright? I’m on the train." Berkeley explains.

"The connection’s a little weak, but you’re coming through." Sebastian keeps his breaths steady.

The lighting suddenly changes from a dreadful fluorescent to bright, filtered UV light. The train that Berkley is aboard has just come out from one of the many underground tunnels that weave throughout the Moon. The resolution sharpens as the connection improves.

"Oh, there we go. Much better." Sebastian says.

"So, how is everything down there? They mentioned that attack on the news for a couple minutes. If they’re talking about it up here, you know it must’ve been bad." Berkley laughs at his own comment.

Sebastian briefly joins him before responding: "Yeah… It’s hectic down here. I just got home. Sheesh, I’m glad to be out of it…"

"Dang man. Yeah, I’d stay in, too. Crowded streets in that heat? I don’t know how you do it."

"The heat’s a little rough, but it cools off a lot at night."

"Oh, wait, is it night where you’re at? I thought I timed it right..."

Berk looks away from his phone and up through the train’s sunroof.

"Huh, it's hard to tell from in here. I’m almost at the globe though—" Berk says. His face is displayed at an awkward angle on Sebastian’s screen.

Sebastian smiles and shakes his head. "When it’s daytime for me, in the Iridescence, you’ll see a purple aura around the Earth."

"Yeah, you’re right. The Shimmer. It’s not too late over there, is it? I don’t mean to keep you up."

"You’re fine, Berk. It’s still early. The dunes are still glowing from the moonlight. I wish you could see it. It’s beautiful." Sebastian says as he stares beyond the open balcony doors, towards the blue glow that fills the sky.

"Yeah yeah, you keep saying it’s beautiful. But I just don’t see it. You’re crazy for living down there, man. Who knew you’d wake up one day and decide to become a colonist?" Berkley laughs at his own comment again.

Sebastian laughs briefly. The comment strikes much harder than intended. He changes the subject: "So, how’s the family doing?"

"Everyone’s good, man. Just the usual routine around here," Berkley pauses for a moment. "Was I the first one to reach out?"

"Yeah."

"Oh. Dang, man." Berkley says as he stares off.

"It’s been less than a couple hours. I’m sure everyone’s busy right now." Sebastian justifies.

Berkley looks back. "Look, everyone’s concerned for you. I’m really surprised Mom and Dad didn’t call immediately."

"I’m not. They’re more concerned about how I affected their reputation." Sebastian says.

There is an awkward pause. Sebastian regrets his jaded remark. He hurriedly skims his mind for other topics to pivot to.

Berkley speaks up first: "Hey, man. You’re living your life down there. You’re making it happen!"

"Barely." Sebastian responds.

It takes him a moment to realize that he had spoken the thought out loud.

"Huh?"

Cornered into this tough subject, Sebastian has no choice but to be honest to his little brother: "I… to be honest, Berk, things have been a bit rough on my end. Financially."

"Yeah." Berkeley responds as if Sebastian’s situation is just a matter of fact.

Sebastian has suspected that his financial struggles have been a consistent topic of conversation amongst his family. Whether these conversations are judgmental or formed from a place of pity, he does not know.

"Unless you’ve got corporate connections, I’ve heard that the colonist's life is a rough life to live." Berkley continues.

"…Yeah. I've heard the same."

"But hey man, the Vanguard's always looking for culinary specialists! Apparently, the current sign-on bonuses are insane. They’re even saying they’ll cover college tuition for you and your kids!"

"I already went to school. And I doubt I’ll ever have kids."

"Eh. Cooking school, Basil. Not the most lucrative trade. Anyway, they also cover housing costs! I’ve seen the apartments they provide. Pretty solid stuff!"

"Yeah, I’ve heard about that. But I don’t know, man. I’m not cut out for the military."

"Hm. Well… if attacks like these are a common occurrence down there, then that’s fair. I mean, I’m so curious how they pulled it off. Regulation mine shafts are built to withstand aerial attacks. They must’ve had a serious supplier to get all that ordinance—I heard that the Martians are directly involved. I mean, you’ve been down there a while, how do you think they did it?" Berkeley seems very excited to talk about the attack.

"I’m not—I honestly have no idea, Berk." Sebastian leans his head into his hand.

Like most Crater Kids, Berkeley is a member of the Lunar Federation Royal Guard; a generously supplied military police force stationed exclusively on the Moon. They are primarily tasked with protecting politicians and maintaining peace throughout the golden colonies. Of the three branches that make up the Lunar military—the Vanguard, the Eclipse, and the Royal Guard—it’s easily the safest. Berkeley and Sebastian’s parents were never comfortable with Berk’s decision to enlist, so they used their connections to find an appeasing middle ground.

"Well hey man, if you ever change your mind, hit me up! I know some really good people who’ve been deployed planetside. Little Berk’s got connections, man!" Berkeley says with a smile.

His seemingly random inclination to recruit has always annoyed Sebastian, but he understands that Berkeley does it with good intentions—even if it disrupts the pace of any casual conversation.

"…Um. Yeah. I’ll think about it. Thanks man." Sebastian says.

"Of course! I’m always here for you, bro. You know that."

Sebastian feels his eyes begin to water. Hearing those words strikes something buried deep. He looks away to hide himself.

"We’re all happy to know you’re doing okay. Even if what you’re doing is a little crazy." Berkley says with a sarcastic tone, though his sincerity is palpable.

Sebastian looks back at his terminal. He nods to acknowledge the statement but avoids responding to it directly.

"I gotta run. Thanks for reaching out, Berk." He mumbles.

"Yeah man! I got you, Basil. Feel free to call anytime—but not in the morning! I’m stuck in meetings every morning now!"

This would be a perfect opportunity to peer into Berkley’s life and to spend more time with his younger brother. But Sebastian is too distracted in the moment to realize this, and the opportunity slips by. It’s a haunting habit that he regrets constantly.

"Talk to you soon, Berkeley."

"Bye, Basil!"

Sebastian ends the call first. He stares at his recorded reflection in the video chat window for a moment before putting the computer to sleep. He microwaves a frozen box of mac and cheese for dinner and finishes off the last third of the over-aerated Merlot for dessert. He leaves the bottle at the edge of his kitchen counter and approaches his wine rack to select his next victim. At the left side of the rack, made visible by a recently vacant space next to it, a twenty-seven seventy-one Crimson Crescent Pinot Noir rests, cork pointed downward, its label in clear view.

It was once his favorite.

The wine’s flavor would instantly bring him back to the Moon.

Back to the golden colonies.

Back to the good old days.

Back to Anisa’s warm apartment.

But Sebastian has thought about her too much tonight.

Those old wounds are beginning to reopen.

The alcohol isn’t helping and drinking more won’t change that.

Sebastian has had enough for the night.

He spends the rest of the evening entrenched in electronic escapism. By midnight he begins to fall asleep. Despite the painful memories recent news, Sebastian feels an odd sense of peace. He eagerly anticipates tomorrow, a day he can have all to himself.