Supernova

Chapter 4- The Inventor (Keller)

"Tearing this thing apart" as Kay so tactfully put it, turns out to be harder than anticipated. My tools are, well, completely wrecked. Alyana turns out to be quite patient with my efforts, and Kay lightens the mood with occasional jokes and smartass remarks.

"So..." Kay starts, drawing out the word way beyond what is necessary. "Why isn't there any weird swirly energy thingy anymore?"

"Weird swirly energy thingy? Very eloquent, Kayton." I tease her.

"Bite me, Micah." She replies. She glares at me for a full three seconds before cracking a smile. "Okay, just tell me please?"

"I'm guessing that meant it was armed." I say. "It's probably not anywhere visible anymore because it has already gone off."

"Still, I can't help but wonder what it was." Kay murmurs thoughtfully.

"Something dangerous." Aly informs us.

"Care to elaborate?" Kayton asks without missing a beat.

"I don't know for certain what it was, but I know my father worked on these things." Aly says.

"Great! Just dial up the old man and ask!" Kayton replies.

"He's dead, Kayton."

"...Oh. That makes this harder."

"Aly, do you know anything about it? Did he tell you anything?" I ask hopefully.

"He was under strict orders by the queen to remain silent on all matters related to it. All I know is that it was meant to be an attack on the humans." She answers.

"Really? I thought it was a lovely little care package sent by our friends the Karborans meant as a gift to foster good will and allow them eventually integrate into our society so we can all sing kumbaya and hold hands like lovely interplanetary best fu-!"

"Kayton, that's enough!" I snap. Will I always be the one who has to reign her in?

She glares at me but shuts her mouth. "Fighting isn't going to get us anywhere, and neither is pissing off the only person that might have some method of figuring out what happened." I say, gesturing to Aly.

She doesn't seem to have a response to that. She knows I have a point. "I hate it when you're right." She finally grinds out. "Fine. Aly, have you got anything in mind to figure it out?"

"Experimentation?" Aly offers.

"Anything that doesn't involve us being guinea pigs?" I ask.

"Do you want to know what happened or not?" Aly questions, placing her hands on her hips.

"I volunteer Kell." Kayton adds in.

"That's your go-to, isn't it?" I say, turning my gaze to meet her pale grey eyes.

"Yeah. It's a nice one to have back." She chuckles.

"I thought you were friends before he stole from you." Ally's expression is one of confusion.

"Our friendship was always a little complicated." Kayton shrugs. "We had a thing when I was in the U.S. on exchange, then we were awkward friends for a while after it ended and eventually ended up seeing each other as the friend we could taunt relentlessly and not worry about offending each other, because we just gave it right back. Truly a magical kind of friendship. Well, until he screwed it up for whatever reason."

"Humans are strange creatures." Aly mutters.

"Anyways, back on topic." Kayton announces, tucking a rose gold curl behind her ear. Her hair is an absolute wreck by now but I don't have the heart to tell her. She'd have a heart attack.