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Sol wasn't surprised to see Marz walk into the bar. It was probably one of the more lively places in the colony and Marz thrived among commotion. What was surprising was to see Marz looking so thoughtful. In Sol's experience, the Governor wasn't really prone to introspection. At least, not where anyone was likely to see her.
As Marz pulled up to the bar, she put on her friendliest smile. "What'll it be? Blep tea?"
"Soymilk, thank you," said Marz.
Sol blinked. For a brief flash of a moment she wondered if Governor Marz had secretly been replaced by a Gardener imitation. She immediately dismissed the possibility. She definitely would've remembered something like that happening.
"Well, um, OK. Sure," Sol said. "If that's what you want."
Sol drew a glass of soymilk and handed it to Marz. Marz took it, looked at it for a moment, then sipped it carefully, seemingly paying no attention to anyone else around her.
"The taste of home, hmm?" Marz remarked.
"Sorry?" said Sol.
"Soymilk. Soy anything, really," said Marz. "Our parents tend to mention that soy's the taste of home. By which they mean Earth. And what's home to us?"
"That would be here, I think," said Sol. "Vertumna."
"Even though we basically spent all of our childhood on a spaceship?" said Marz.
Sol shrugged. "Yeah, I guess. My parents were always very clear that the spaceship was just temporary transportation to... well, to here."
"Yes, but what does that mean when you're six and have been born and raised on that spaceship?" Marz asked.
"Well, OK, not a lot," said Sol. "And I won't say that living on a planet wasn't an adjustment at first, but... well, you know. It's what we were meant for. I prefer horizons over steel walls everywhere, you know?"
Marz sipped her soymilk again. They were rather small sips, Sol couldn't help but noticing. And no surprise.
"I suppose... for me home was Earth," she said at length. "Well, my childish image of Earth anyway. The glitz, the glamour, the fashion. Not so much the wage slavery and environmental devastation. I thought we should at least try to turn Vertumna IV into Earth II. Give the colony a bit of Old World class."
"And now?"
"That's the question, isn't it?" said Marz. "Take Nougat. She was so young when we landed, she probably doesn't even really remember the Stratospheric any more. And Echinacea? She was born here. What's Earth to them? Nothing. Old pictures showing up on screen in school."
"Actually, Congruence has been phasing most of them out," said Sol. "Except for History lessons."
"Well, there you have it," said Marz. "And yet..."
Marz raised an arm. Countless bracelets gleamed on her dark skin. Then she ran a hand through her long, carefully braided hair. Numerous hair accessories gleamed strangely as Marz' hand moved past them.
"And yet, we're all clinging to Earth anyway. I more than most, I admit."
"I think you lost me there," said Sol.
"Our clothes, our jewellery, our accessories, they're all adapted from Earth styles, aren't they?"
"I mean, sure?" said Sol. "Maybe."
"And that's because we still rely heavily on the nanoprinters for so many of our day-to-day needs," said Marz. "They were built and programmed on Earth so that's all they can do."
"I don't really see the issue there," said Sol.
Marz stared at her. "Really? You? The person who managed to broker peace between us and the planet? You don't see the issue?"
Sol rolled her eyes. "OK, fine. If I were Dys, I'd probably say that so long as we rely on Earth technology we can never truly integrate into Vertumna's ecosystem the way we're supposed to. But I'm not Dys. And you're certainly not Dys."
"But I am the Governor," Marz said sharply. "And as such, I have to think about the future of the colony. And the future is Vertumna, not Earth. The sooner we embrace that, the better off we'll be."
"You're going to turn off the nanoprinters?" said Sol. "Just like that?"
"I'm going to wind use of them down," said Marz. "I'm not suddenly going to cut everyone off with no warning. I'd be deposed in a heartbeat. And of course, I'll keep them running for essentials. Spare parts, specialised equipment, that kind of thing."
"And for all the rest, we'll have to rely on what we can cultivate here?" said Sol.
"Exactly," said Marz. "What do you think?"
Sol wasn't really sure what to think. True, she wasn't Dys, but she had spent a lot of time outside the walls. Had communicated with the planet and its Gardeners in ways nobody else had. She'd probably have the least trouble adjusting to a life without a whole lot of Earth tech.
"I think..." said Sol. "that my opinion doesn't really matter on this one. Still, it's got to happen one day. Might as well be sooner rather than later."
Marz slipped a bracelet from her arm and looked at it pensively. "Gold. Supposedly. The nanoprinted kind, anyway. I've no idea if it's anywhere close to real gold. And I probably never will. Still, I like its elegance."
"And also how shiny it is?" said Sol.
Marz ignored her and slipped the bracelet back on. "I suppose I'll have to get used to jewellery made of mushtree wood set with crystals," she said.
"I think those would suit you just as well," said Sol. "But hey, cheer up. No matter what happens, you'll never really lose that connection to Earth's Old World class completely."
"How so?" said Marz.
Sol grinned. "Well, we can grow soy here, can't we? So at least you'll always have soymilk."
Marz didn't say anything. Just glared at her. Sol returned her glare with an innocent smile.
"Right, thank you for listening," Marz declared, as she pushed herself away from the bar.
"Anytime," said Sol.
But Marz was already walking away, leaving a half full glass of soymilk behind.