July 10, 2034 Baffin Island, In the far North of Canada

For the chosen few who excelled in the physical aptitude challenges, the next stage was acclimation to the harsh conditions the group would face in their new home.The coordinators of the program built four individual habitation pods. Each would be separated from the others by a kilometre. 

The group of 20 from each assigned pod would simulate a landing, then proceed to construct the habitat. Time was of the essence, even in summer the temperature on Baffin Island was -7c during low sun. Being the engineer of his pod Julius planned, and oversaw the execution of the project. If anybody had any delusions that going to Mars would be easy. 

They were quickly brought back to reality in those brutal eight hours without shelter. Julius never considered himself leadership material. But with a loud voice and an intimidating presence his pod completed the task with only a few hiccups. 

Of all the pods only number three failed to achieve the objective. Due to infighting they needed to scrub the mission and be evacuated, a tremendous blow to the program.

For the next few weeks the work was furious each pod needed to be self-reliant for the duration of one year. Vertical gardens, water recycling, communications, power generation all needed to be up and working without issue. 

Everybody was dead tired, and not in a jovial mood. Days passed into weeks, life became routines and mundane. Video calls from family were always awkward due to the simulated time delay. Which would range anywhere between 4 minutes and 26, depending on where the positions of Earth and Mars were in their orbits. Everybody on the farm was doing well, Mae was soon to graduate from high school. 

Julius could not fight back the tears when she showed off her prom dress. He felt agony that he wouldn't be able to attend her special event. She scolded him for being a baby, then announced she got accepted into the biology program at McMaster University!

For their sixth month anniversary at La Chateau D' Iceberg. The project team put together a special surprise, a crate was airlifted to the arctic. Inside the crate was a collection of instruments, the directors believed it would be beneficial to our mental heath to play music. Julius' elation at seeing his cello could not be contained and he attacked playing it with a vigour that even shocked himself.

The pods assembled bands and gave weekly performances the competition between was fierce. Julius awoke early on this day because he wanted extra practice on the piece of music he was attempting to learn.

 The "music studio" was situated on the opposite side of the structure as the sleeping quarters so the racket wouldn't interfere with the other's rest. Oddly the light was on, someone was there earlier than him! The door was slightly ajar, he heard humming coming from within. 

He silently opened the door a sliver to peek inside, it was Sunni, which was odd, she never appeared to take any interest in their music. Ever since their basketball match she has been aloof. Julius just assumed that her behaviour at the time was on account of the circumstances. The rush of adrenaline and competition made her act out of character. 

Afterwards she must have been embarrassed with herself so their interactions were terse and businesslike. But at the mess hall during meals, she often caught her glancing at him. When he smiled in response she would look away awkwardly. But here she was, out of the blue, he pondered what it could mean.

She was walking around the room humming to herself, she stopped with her back facing Julius standing in front of his cello. She took her fingers and ran them down the strings, plucking one playfully. Julius thought, my god she is a beautiful woman! Admiring her shapely body as her hand caressed the wood on the neck of the cello.

"Are you coming in cowboy, or are you stand out there and lurk like a pervert"

It jolted Julius when she suddenly spoke, he thought she was unaware of his presence. "Hey, Sunni, just surprised to see you here, didn't know you were a music fan." he chuckled nervously.

"You are full of surprises Cowboy, I heard the song you were playing the other day. It was such a pretty melody, I couldn't sleep so I decided to come by to hear you play", she spoke it playfully enjoying his discomfort.

"Yes, Kodaly's Cello solo Sonata 1. Movement, is a beautiful piece of music."

"How long have you played?"

"It started in high school, I needed an art credit to graduate and I can't draw worth a damn. So I began playing the cello and fell in love with sound. I felt a connection in my soul, it resonates deeply almost spiritual"

" you play beautifully, it is very... moving. I wish I could learn how to play"

Julius sensing a moment of intimacy, he acted without hesitating, "I could teach you, come sit with me, I'll show you the basics"

"Okay, if you don't mind, I wouldn't want to interfere with your practice"

"Not a problem, I would love to teach you", his heart was beating rapidly.

Sunni positioned herself in front of Julius on the chair, it was the first physical contact since the basketball game. Julius became overwhelmed quickly, finding it difficult to breathe. Awkwardly he blurted out, "wow you smell nice!" cursing himself after it poured out from his stupid mouth.

"When you're a botanist, and spend the majority of your day working with manure. It gets to the point where that is all you can smell, and you worry that is whatever one else smells when they are around you. A girl needs to pamper herself, so I've been rationing my lavender shampoo for special occasions"

"I consider myself honoured", he replied laughing.

"You should, how on Earth do you play this thing? It is huge, a can barely get my hand around the shaft, and my arms are too short"

Julius sputtered at the comment, the heat of her body making him sweat. "You need to sit closer, spread your legs and rest it against your thighs"

Sunni laughed coquettishly at Julius' advice ran her fingers through her hair, "Is it getting hot in here?" She removed her sweater, underneath she was just wearing a simple white t-shirt. "Are we going to do this or what?"

Julius wrapped his arms over Sunni's and positioned one on the neck. The other he held onto with the bow. "Okay you need to hold the neck firm, but loose enough that you can manipulate your hand up and down"

"Gotcha"

"Keep your other arm cocked, so you can glide the bow into the sweet spot on the strings"

"Firm, cocked and ready!" She wiggled her hips seductively, and it was beginning to have its desired effect on him.

"Playing the cello is serious, stop fooling around", she giggled in response. He moved her hand with the bow over the strings slowly, playing a deep note.

"Wow! This thing really vibrates, I knew I should have taking up music instead of biology."

"Now you try it yourself", when she attempted the same motion the instrument almost cried out in agony.

"I'm not very good at this, is this how you seduced the girls back home? Maybe I should leave it to the professional. You play something instead"

"Okay, this is one of my favourite songs" Julius began the opening cello sequence of {desire- by Meg Myers}

"Wait! I know this song! It's one of my favourites too!" You play, I sing."

He opened with a flourish, the bow danced in his hand, he could feel the resonance of the notes passing through Sunni's body into his own. She began to sing quietly,

Baby, I wanna touch you

I wanna breath into you will

See, I gotta hunt you

I gotta bring you to my hell

Julius felt his body was no longer under his control, he gave himself over completely to the moment. Whatever was going to happen he was powerless to stop it now. As he continued to play he whispered the next lines into her ear

Baby, I wanna fuck you

I wanna feel you in my bones

 girl, I'm gonna love you 

I'm gonna tear into your soul

He felt her body shiver as he breathed the hot words into her. Together they sang the chorus

Desire, I'm hungry

And I hope you feed me

How do you want me?

How do you want me?

Sunni's neck was slick with sweat, Julius hovered his lips over the short hairs on her nape. She let out a playful squeal before continuing

Honey, I wanna break you

I wanna throw you to the hounds

Yeah, I gotta hurt you

I gotta hear it from your mouth

Sunni's body was like a raging inferno, her breasts were heaving, and she wrapped her thighs tightly around the wooden instrument. Julius finished the stanza with a quivering breath

Girl, I wanna taste you

I wanna skin you with my tongue

 I'm gonna kill you

I'm gonna lay you in the ground

Desire, I'm hungry

And I hope you feed me!

Julius was moments away from crossing the line that will get them both kicked out of the program. But the urgency of his want for her was like a runaway train hurtling into a mountainside tunnel. She moaned and her whole body convulsed, she reached back to grab his head and pulled his hair. If they kissed, it would be over. With a grunt of frustration she leapt to her feet, knocking over the cello in the process.

"I gotta go now! I need to cool off!" she kissed her fingers and traced them over his lips and ran out of the room.

Leaving Julius in a very broken state