Alpha Centauri

Seven - Nizami

It's clear the twins don't have any inclination to speak. The three of us walk down the street. I suggested taking their pickup truck, but neither of them have their licenses, and we can't risk getting caught.

As much as I hate it, I've actually started to feel what Julian and Jaden are feeling. I triy to take my mind off of it as they walk. Instead I take in the environment around me. The small town of Amsterdam looks beautiful in the 7 p.m. sun. I decide that despite the Everetts' rough financial situation, they chose a nice place to live.

A few blocks later, Julian says, "I can't believe I didn't ask sooner, but where are we going?"

"My ship."

"Where is that?"

"Approximately eight kilometers from here."

"And we're going to walk that whole way?" Jaden asks.

"Unless you provide some other mode of transportation, yes."

We're just passing the sign that reads: AMSTERDAM: POP 5,566. Dark is creeping up on us, and Amsterdam lacks lodging facilities.

"We're gonna have to hitchhike," Julian announces.

I gives him a questioning look, though I don't know if he can see in the fading light.

"Here," Jaden says. "You stand on the side of the road and stick your thumb out. Some bastard's bound to pick us up."

"Humans do this despite the dangers of having a stranger chauffeur them?"

"Yeah. Humans can be pretty reckless sometimes." Julian takes position on the edge of the road and extends his thumb. Jaden joins him.

I just stare at them, having trouble believing the future rulers of Crenala could be doing this.

I sigh and stand next to Julian, awkwardly sticking out my thumb.

"Yeah, we'll more likely be picked with a pretty girl with us," Julian says.

"What?"

"Nothing," he says too quickly, flustered.

I did hear what he said, and I choose not to say anything. But if human criteria is based on appearances, I would definitely be picking up Julian.

After a few minutes of awkward thumb extension, a red Toyota Highlander finally pulls over. A portly woman is driving. A lanky, tan-skinned, light-haired boy who looks about the twins' age is sitting in the passenger seat. I guess the woman and boy are mother and son, though they in no way resemble each other. The boy examines us with his large brown eyes.

I say nothing, deciding to leave that to Julian and Jaden, who are obviously experts on catching rides with strangers.

Before Julian can thank them or explain himself, the boy in the passenger side says, "Julian? Jaden? What were you guys doing on the side of road? Who's this?"

"Nathan—!" Julian says. He wasn't expected to be picked up by someone he knows. "This is, um, Veronica. She's starting school here next year. We were walking, and it got dark on us."

"Dude, you don't take a pretty girl out just to walk."

"Nathan," the woman driving scolds.

"Yeah, well, in case you didn't notice, his sister is here, too," Jaden says, living up to her lovely reputation.

What is it humans do when they're annoyed? Oh, yes: I almost roll my eyes.

I've never ridden in a car before, so the experience is a little unsettling. I tell myself I'm being stupid because I traveled four light-years at warp speed in a tiny, cramped space pod. I lean back in the seat next to Julian.

"So, Veronica, where are you from?" Nathan asks as the vehicle begins to accelerate down the highway. It suddenly hits me that this is boy whose life Julian saved with his telekinesis.

"Over yonder...?" I reply, praying it's a normal response for humans.

"Funny," Nathan says, though it wasn't a joke.

"She's from Hudson Valley," Julian chimes in.

"Oh. How do you like Amsterdam so far?"

"It's very nice, actually. It's a lot different from my old town." I slump my shoulders. I'm still adapting to Earth's stronger gravitational pull.

"So where are we taking you kids?" Mrs. Kolyma asks.

They all turn to me for an answer.

"Oh, um, my house," I say.

"Yeah, and how far is it?"

"Two kilometers, two-hundred-thirty-six meters, and eight centimeters," I say before she can stop myself. Stupid contact, carefully scanning my surroundings.

Everyone stares at me.

I let slip a tremulous laugh. "I'm guessing."

"Alright, hon," Nathan's mother says, still eying me strangely.

I lean over and stare out the window. I'm exhausted; I haven't slept in over a day. But I can't rest until the twins and I make it safely to my ship.

My eyelids are starting to droop when I see something that wakes me back up and makes me alert again. It's a dark shape that flashes across the tree line by the road. It moves unnaturally quick.

I tell myself I'm just seeing things and I needs sleep, when I see it again. I sit up and involuntarily reach for Julian's hand.

"Did you see that?" I ask in a voice softer than a whisper.

Julian looks at me, but before he can say anything, I hear what sounds like an explosion, and my sense of time and place warps.

The vehicle is slammed off the side of the road, but not by any other car. It tumbles over twice and lands on the passenger side. Glass rains down on me. I hear screaming, and I pray it's not mine.

My fingers fumble for the release button on my seat belt. I jam her thumb into it. I'm free, but I go tumbling to the lower end of the car and land on Julian and Jaden.

I'm almost too dazed to hear Julian say, "Jaden, Nizami, get out of the car. They've found us."