The Seven Revels

Three's a crowd

Indigo let Charlie down, he meowed in protest, then slunk off. She then followed Milo to the cockpit, where Milo sat in the pilot's chair and put the key in the ignition. Indigo set her things down, then stood behind him, hands on his shoulders.

"We should go find food," she encouraged.

"I know. I just want to get it working first."

"Okay. I'm going to look around."

"Okay." Indigo left him fiddling with the keys and controls and started down the hall. She had just opened a door when the airship roared to life. She stopped for a second, then continued into the new room. Inside were stacked crates. Indigo moved to the side of one and pried the top off, thrilled to find that inside were packages of food. She quickly and excitedly moved to another crate and opened it. More food. Another crate contained bottles upon bottles of water. She threw her fist into the air with a triumphant shout, then raced back to the cockpit.

"I found food! Tons of it! More than enough to feed us for five times the trip to Addiphate!"

"Fantastic. We're all set."

"No you're not," someone behind them said. Indigo whirled to see a boy standing in the doorway. His black hair was falling in front of his eyes, his arms were folded across his chest. He was wearing jeans and a black hoodie. Indigo glanced back at Milo, who sat rigid in his seat, still facing the front of the ship.

"Who are you?" Indigo asked, trying not to sound as terrified as she was.

"I think I should be asking you," the boy said.

"Um... my name's Indigo Verdine, and this is Milo."

"Indigo and Milo, huh? What are you doing on this airship?"

"Trying to get off the planet, just like everybody else."

"Hate to break it to you, Indigo, but you can't take this ship."

"Why? Is it yours?"

"Unfortunately, no. But you aren't the only ones who need a ride. This airship can hold seven people, it's stocked with enough food and fuel to get us where we need to go."

"So you have six other people outside with you?"

"Again, no. Do I look like the kind of guy who would be dragging six other kids around with me?"

"Then I don't understand your argument," Milo said.

"Zip it, will you?" Indigo said. "Why don't you come with us? We weren't planning on taking the airship all to ourselves."

The boy regarded her with cold blue eyes, a frown on his face. Finally, he shrugged and stepped forward, hand outstretched.

"Name's Quill. I appreciate the offer. Hope I didn't freak you out or anything." Indigo took his hand, which was warm and strong and shook it. Quill looked over her shoulder to Milo. "You didn't understand my argument because it made no sense. I wanted to make sure you were smart enough to catch that."

"We aren't stupid," Milo snapped, still refusing to look away from the controls.

"Fantastic. You aren't very nice, either, are you?"

"Why should I be?"

"Apart from being a decent human being? No particular reason. But since I'm going to be traveling with you for the next few months, you should probably get used to me."

"Maybe we'll get lucky and you'll get sucked into space."

"Milo!" Indigo chastised. "Don't say things like that! You're the one was all for bringing other people with us!"