Starhoppers

07 - Ceythodian Custodians

I awoke with a start, a light pressure against my chest stirring me from my slumber.

"Wake up, sleepyhead," Ellie laughed, shaking me gently with her foot on my chest. The Tourist was descending slowly overhead, the downdraft of its engines ruffling her black hair. "You'll miss the bus."

I groaned softly, rubbing sleep from my eyes as I pushed the girl's leg aside. Ralph shot me an annoyed glance as I pushed myself up onto my elbows, a rolled-up tent resting precariously beneath his arm. "Right, now we wake him up. Only after I unpack the entire camp all by myself."

"Sorry, Ralph," I yawned.

"Oh, stop complaining," Ellie laughed, waving the man away as I brushed off my pant legs. "We didn't even use the tents, remember? Besides, you got all of your work done yesterday. You're going to head right back to bed when we get on board."

Ralph's mouth snapped shut nearly as quickly as it had opened, the man holding back a smile as he peered up at the Tourist. Ezra stepped up beside me, patting my shoulder. "Wasn't it cold outside?" he asked, grunting quietly as he lifted the portable scanner. "Or did you two keep each other warm?"

My cheeks burned as Ellie scoffed. "There was a fire, you idiot," she laughed.

Ezra sighed. "You can never just let me get a joke in every once in a while, can you?"

"Come on, people. Move outta the way," Ralph said. "My belly may be rumbling, but I'm not in the mood for Starhopper pancakes."

The three of us stepped away from the Tourist as it settled on top of the charred remains of the previous night's campfire.

"I'm ready to see more of this planet," Ellie said, cracking her knuckles as she stepped up beside me. "I had some pretty crazy dreams about this place last night."

"Oh yeah? Anything worth sharing?" I asked.

She shrugged as the ramp lowered before us. "Not anything I want to be caught saying in public."

Ralph grunted as he stepped onto the ramp. "Sounds like most of my dreams, too."

"Gross," Ellie said, unable to hide her smile as she followed the man towards the hatch.

"You all set?" Ezra asked me.

"Ready as I'll ever be."

"Good," he said as the others unlocked the hatch. "It's about time we put you to some real work."

I scoffed softly, following the man closely. "That definitely isn't scary to hear."

Ralph frowned as he slid the hatch open, stepping quickly inside. "What the hell is Isaac screaming about?"

"What?" Ezra asked, jogging to catch up to the man.

"Dad?" Ellie called out, disappearing quickly into the hallway as I approached the hatch, anxiety creeping back into my gut.

"I betcha Toby finally made him snap," Ralph murmured as I stepped into the Tourist, the man closing the hatch behind me. "I love the guy, but God, is he great at getting on people's nerves."

Ezra started to speak as I followed Ellie quickly down the hallway, the commotion in the bridge growing louder with each step.

"Calm down, Toby!" Captain Walker called out from up ahead, his assertive voice echoing down the walls of the hallway.

"What's wrong, Dad?" Ellie asked, peering over her shoulder at me as I approached.

"I couldn't tell you," Captain Walker sighed, glancing over at us. Tobias stood shaking by the Captain's chair, his face pale as he stared out the viewport. "He says he saw some kind of wildlife as we descended, and now-"