You Don't Belong Here

Chapter Eighteen

T'ahrou stood at the control panel of the ship with Dhadtoudi at the rear with Ghost and Brielle stood a few feet behind the large male as she watched him swipe and select various holographic controls. "So this controls the ship?" No response. "Your species seems to be extremely technologically advanced compared to mine." Again the male said nothing as he focused on his task. His amber eyes darted one way and then another as he altered and selected several strange symbols on the controls. "Are you pissed off or something?" This time the male stopped what he was doing, slowly looked down at the human female, and turned to click at Ghost who in turn erupted into a rumbling fit of laughter. "What did he say?" She asked her former science project.

"T'ahrou says he understands that phrase. Dhadtoudi uses it often." T'ahrou returned to his task until a steady, high-pitched, familiar beeping sound echoed off of the walls of the ship.

"Tell me he didn't just set another wrist bomb..."

"No." Ghost turned and pressed a holographic button on the wall which lowered the ramp from the cargo hull to the ground and Dhadtoudi stepped outside as T'ahrou turned to follow. "This one is stronger."

"You know I can't outrun that, right?!"

"Why would you?"

"Oh I don't know, maybe survival. You know, the thing that you seem to be so focused on!"

"That is the purpose of the other ship." Brielle stood there, frozen with fear and confusion while Ghost tilted his head to the side as he watched her. "You...broke me out. This is the deal."

"Wait, you mean...holy shit...you're really taking me back to your planet?!"

"If you wish to survive. Otherwise you should start running." Brielle jogged toward Ghost as the beeping continued and they stepped off of the ship before walking the thirty-something yards to the second ship. This one was slightly smaller on the outside but just as roomy on the inside. The controls seemed more high-tech than the one that Ghost had crashed in, and the woman felt the need to pinch herself in order to wake up from this dream that she was sure she was in.

Moments later the spacecraft roared to life and vibrates heavily as it began to rise from the ground. Brielle looked around desperately before dropping prone on her back and watched the ceiling with clear intent. Dhadtoudi was shuffling around some more controls when she caught sight of the human lying in the middle of the floor. She did a double take and watched the female for several seconds. "O'kaor, your Ooman is broken. Fix it or move it." The smaller of the two males also looked at the sweaty female and stepped over to stare down at her, his head tilting to the side as it often did.

"What are you doing?"

"Obviously I'm preparing for launch. It's what the astronauts do." Her tone suggested it was an obvious answer to a dumb question, and Ghost trilled a line of clicks before turning away from her.

"Not broken. Simply impaired. She will learn."

"Not likely." Brielle cast an annoyed glance sideways at the alien female which was blatantly ignored. "We have a running bet. It will be stricken with fear and grief and end its own life, or it will be killed soon after arrival."