The Red Line

IX

"Amber's friends"

The Jibok crew

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"We have a problem?" This was the first thing Skyler awoke too. The sound of Kéle's frantic announcement on the intercoms. "The girl...she's...she's having some sort of seizure".

Feeling slightly possessed, Skyler threw his blankets off, and half tripped out of his bunker room. He made it halfway to the middecks when Kéle's voice came back on. "Oh. My bad. She's just throwing a tantrum".

"I am not throwing a tantrum!" The girl shouted in the background. Her pitch momentarily deafining Skyler.

Sucking in a breath, Skyler propped his weight against the wall and relaxed. "Jeez. Don't scare me like that dimwit".

He was still in that position when the grated floors rattled, and the ship's weaponist-Jorhay-jogged past with a smoke in his mouth. "Morning captain".

"Morning". He grumbled. Two more hours of sleep would've been ideal. Slumping his shoulders, he dragged himself to the cockpit.

"Morning captain". Kéle called out when he stepped into the room.

Skyler narrowed his gaze than turned his attention to the girl. Who was sitting in his pilot chair, knee's drawn to her chest.

"What happened?" He inquired.

The girl stuck her nose in the air than hit the power seat switch, turning the chair round to the observation windows.

"She's mad because I wouldn't let her disarm the ship's navigation system". Kéle spoke up.

"Because your boring". She murmered.

"Oh. I'm sorry." He dawned a apologetic font, than his eyebrows dipped and he shouted, "I'm sorry that I prevented you from destroying our ship's course. Do you want to be lost in space?!"

She snorted than slid off the chair. Her white hair whipped back and forth as she teetered across the deck, her bare feet making loud suction noises. "You guys are boring. I need something to occupy my brain".

"Jeez". Kéle mumbled under his breath. "She's like a kitten. Yknow. They're scared and brittle when you first get them. Than-" He snapped his fingers. "The moment they realize your wrapped around their little whiskers they turn into demon pesks. It's been what? Two days?" He gestured to the girl. "She's like a baby version of Heritage now!"

The frustration Skyler had been feeling moments ago dwindled away as he listened to his copilot slash best friend rant about Mrs. Three. With a loud chuckle, that startled both Kéle and the girl, Skyler said, "What would you like to do Mrs. Three?"

A puzzled expression crossed her face. "I-"

"I swear, if you say you don't know, I'll blow my cap". Kéle murmered.

"The scientists always let us do puzzles". She said.

"Like floor puzzles?"

"That's for babies". She scowled.

"Your what? Five?" Kéle anylized with a shrug.

"I'm ten".

He waved his hand. "Same thing".

"If so, your arguing with a five year old". Skyler pointed out with a smirk.

The copilot scowled. "Shut up".

"I'm just saying...."

"Just take the girl and leave me alone". He demanded. "I'm trying to put together our course for Cygre after we drop her off. And I can't think with her around".