ABANDONED: No Going Back

"So, who's using the machine?" Charlie asked the woman. "We don't know. We don't even know who did it *last* time, or the time before *that*." "How many times has it been used?" "Since Dr. Steinman went into hiding? At least eight times. Those are, of course, the only times we have proof of it. There's a good chance that there might have been two or three times as many." "And you have no idea of where the machine is?" "No. Not a clue. It could be anywhere on this planet. If we could, we'd search for it. But the Tarn ..." "The Tarn?" "Yes, the aliens that occupy this planet." "I thought they were called squids?" "That's a derogatory term, because they resemble squids." "Oh." "Listen," the woman said. "We're sorry. Even if we *could* find the machine, we can't send you back. From what we know, it's only a one-way trip. You're stuck here. Just like us." When Charlie learned that a machine brought him to this planet, that it wasn't just some freak accident, he started to become hopeful. Perhaps there was a chance that it could send him back. But now all of that optimism got flushed away. He'd never see his family and friends ever again. Why did this have to happen to *him*?