Fast Cars and Intergalactic Speed Dating

29: Make It So

"Here," said Kavita, snagging Richard's arm and pulling him into one of the wayfinding pods. "We need to get to the bridge."

"What are we going to do there?" Richard demanded. "Isn't it better—"

"I know we're freaking out right now," said Garth, shouldering his way into the pod, "and I'm right there with you, I'm freaking out, too, but if we're going to the bridge right now I'm going to nerd all over the place. We've been living here for ages, and I haven't seen the bridge yet!"

"I think it's this one," said Kavita as the doors snicked close behind them. She pressed a button.

Garth clapped his hands. "Make it so, Number One."

Kavita had chosen correctly. They emerged from the wayfinding pod into a large, curved space. The most prominent feature in the room was an enormous screen, which took up most of the walls. Banks of controls—lights, switches, gauges—were situated before the screen, along with a few seats. Lots of things were blinking, and from somewhere came a high-pitched whine Richard did not like at all.

The screen seemed to show everything outside of the ship, taking full advantage of the curves of the walls and employing a slight fish eye view of the world outside. At the present moment, the screen was displaying a green-and-blue vista: bright summer sky, lush fields of corn, horrifying crab soldiers pointing guns.

Aialo-El was bent over one of the consoles, their tentacles all extended toward a panel. They were speaking in rapid Karran, and whatever they were saying didn't sound good in the slightest. Near them was Nen-Alaya, who Richard knew by name only. He didn't have to know them to understand that their staccato response to Aialo-El was equally not good.

The conversation continued, with the three humans standing at a distance. None of them followed a single word, but it was clear that their situation was dire. After an interminable moment, Aialo-El gestured toward one of the screens, where a bright green light had begun to flash.

They spoke loudly and firmly. There was no doubt whatsoever in Richard's mind that they were issuing a series of urgent commands.

"What's happening?" Garth asked. "What're they telling them to do?"

Kavita looked at Richard, her face ashen. "We're moving. I just felt something move."

And, sure enough, there was a thrum under the floor. Richard felt it through the soles of his shoes. His heart did a backflip, demanding that whatever was about to happen not happen.

He jogged forward. "Hold on a minute, you've got humans on board," he said.

Aialo-El did not respond. They leaned over the controls, their focus on a small screen, their hand resting lightly on a panel of buttons. After a few beats, they depressed one of the buttons. A chime sounded.

"Aialo-El?" Richard asked. Panic had crept up and now stood tall behind him, grinning down at him with wild eyes. "Hey, can we talk—"

But they had issued one last order, something that sounded sharp and final.

Immediately, Nen-Alaya began to execute a series of tasks, moving steadily along the bank of controls, doing what looked to be the work of three or four people.

The thrum Richard had noticed deepened and spread, seeming to come from the ship around them, vibrating through the floor but also in the very air around them.

"Richard?" Garth asked.

"We're still here," said Richard weakly.

"Are we—"