Speaker 1: The waste of space records Native Sun by dagger Blacker,
Chapter two. The undergal had a new addition to the
dance floor, suffocating humans. Three green, gleaming cosmopods were lodged
in the walls of the great rotating pyramid, breaking the
oxygen vacuum and letting out all the precious air, The
wishing roar of it escaping just the background instrumental to
the song of suffering. Whooping gasps, heavy wet, heaving cries,
then silence, bodies collapsing, blue and purple in the face,
hands frozen where they clawed at the throats of the fallen, thick,
throbbing veins bulging in their arms and foreheads before going still.
My helmet sprang over my head before I'd had time
to inhale. In the underclub, pressure sensitive hair triggered collapsible
domes that the crew had nicked off a shipment to
the rust dust Mars Mall meant to react to the
lack of oxygen before we could even In type's colony,
grade equipment required manual activation. The constable, desperately slapping at
the buttons along her collar as her own gasping joined
in on the chorus bodies, My mind flashed a word
behind my eyes, white hot light blotting out the masked
graveyard bodies, and blood red oozing down the chins of
gurgling people, Scarlet webbing crawling over the dimming eyes of
the dead. At once, the rushing wind was riddled with dust.
The bodies before me were those of the oozers instead
of the humans. The cries, for fuck's sake, the cries
were the same, and Tyape's whooping hacks clapped on my
ear drums, her fingers growing blue or as they fumbled
at the unlabeled buttons at the top of her suit. Right.
I had to get it together, had to keep it
together for Aunt, for the crew. In a rush of resolve,
I forced everything else out of focus except her, stepping
over two class bodies to press the little black button
I'd seen her press before. Her own helmet closed over
her head, though this did nothing to stop her hands
from tribbling dead. She stammered, kneeling the cradle a gasping
blue rodent, one of the living scarves of the Terrance
that used as inaccessory. They're dying, Captain Cad howled, my title,
both hands already anchoring USh and pool in place amidst
the sea of limbs. The Kaylak's crew were some of
the only humans that remained standing. As Trillif emerged from
his loft with Wave, his collidis In partner, Waves shouted
down at the Colidizans leaping down from the smoking, crushed
ships in the wall. Something fast. The ruger words smushed together,
so I doubt it save, but a fluent speaker could
parse them. One of the Colidizans drew a hot shot
and blasted at Wave after taking aim. Missed, but only
because they meant to a warning that the wave didn't heed.
Starting down the metal steps to the floor, but Trillith
used those tentacles to stop them, urged their partner back
into their room and shut the door. I thought that
was the end of it, but Trillif emerged accents later
with a long silver hot shot and shot the shooter's
head clean off the sphere, exploding into a shower of
glittering scales, shards of obsidian bone, and oozing goldiker coalidis
In blood had been spilled. No Poul cried at the
same time that the remaining three Collidisans opened fire on
the octal Trillia's tentacles shielding the first brutal volley, but
there was no blocking them when his tentacles were reduced
to shreds of gray skin, green blood, splatting the stair
top as wave trembled in the doorway. Don't worry, Bochel,
you can do so much better than the some greasy bugmug.
One of the gentleids sneered, it's about time everyone started
to learn their place, who they belonged with. They gave
pull a real dirty look at this, scowling at them
as those orange eyes seared a rage filled path up
all eight feet of my translator. Kad still heaved from
the sudden loss of oxygen, taking great gulps in so
his helmet fogged. He drew his hammer as he urged
pool behind him, though the length of the purple metal
handle trembled furiously. Despite the clear sheen of panic on
his face, his voice was as easy going as ever
when he said, if you're here for the drinks, there's
less fatal ways to make an entrance. Save your precious breath, Grieva,
I won't speak with any human save the thief. Set
a blue hued kalidis in balm. Keep your head on straight.
We've got through focus. Their gills flexed, taking in that
invisible scent pools pheromones. The colide is an equivalent. Well,
we do have time. I suppose Kad swung the blunt
metal into the purple handled hammer through the closing distance
between him and the jinkolid To me, dude, they're not interested.
The jingld hissed, long slitted nostrils flaring, triple forked, blue
tongue bared and lashing like a whip, dripping that golden
icher that served as both blood and venom one touch
could put a person asleep for six irons. Pool stepped
along a throng of suffocating corpses to get between Cad
and the three circling jinkolids. What an eager's name is
going on here? All of this over a mate the
blue scaled colidis, and strode forward. If you don't know,
then you really are a bystander. This time freeze you
up for other things anyhow, Pond the blue Jinglid's comp
here gave a sharp whistle through their gills. Why don't
you get to know a gallad for ones pocagal, don't
call me that. All those elongated spikes along Pool's forearm, neck,
and brow bristled, trembling as if aching to spear an
enemy through. Pool Scales flexed, and their voice was so
thick with rage. The sound thundered around in my bones
for avins afterward, shaking loose something I'd never felt with Pool. Fear.
It's a compliment. The blue Jinkle had waved, as if
knocking away any doubt. Brood Bringer, You've never been so radiant,
and I've never been so mesmerized. Okay, lover Scales. I
rolled my neck, felt the pop, the release attention at
the base of my skull, ramming needed prep properly running
someone through. So what if Pool was getting bigger? They
weren't the only one who could get scary. This isn't
really my kind of music, But I'll still dance to
my back and TYPEE stammered, Gene, what what are you doing?
Follow Nelson aunt? Nelson rung his dreadlocks what he howled,
I can't pilot the ship. You don't have to fly
it yet, I soothed, just started all those years right
next to the wheel. I know you can do it. Nelson,
I addressed, Aunt, Cad can show you where the tank is.
It's empty, so it might eat all your ions. It
has a habit of doing that. Usha agreed, joining me
at Pool's side. Now both of you get to the Kaylaks,
I said, wait for me there. Keplarastianism held non violence
as a virtue for practitioners, of which the Kepler born
first mate was a devout practitioner. Every yush without harming
another's vessel marked with the incredible growth of his hip
length dreadlocks. However, despite Kad's pleading, Ushpool and I had
used our numbers and the fear factor of xenophobia to
get the upper hand on more than a few grain
transport pods. Still, this will be our first fight midst
an ocean of death. Whatever lay on the other end
of this conflict, I was the captain. If anyone got hurt,
that was on me. Well, I jerked my head back
toward the ship. I said, wait for me there. That
was in order. Nelson relents it first, be careful, captain.
I found the black key in my pocket. Everyone else
at Life their copy, and tossed it across the dance
floor to the first mate. He caught it bounding back
toward the ship, but Aunt remained standing for a few accents.
I nodded at her just once. Finally she joined him,
that's in order, I'm going to have to decline, Pool
growled through fangs, dripping with venom. A thick green drop
splashed onto their iron gauntland As they adjusted the flintlocks
switch in the control panel embedded in their forearm. The
ratchet clicked and their splayed metal fingers sprang into a
steel fist. I concur said Usher, smirking. She drew a
narrow brick of silver, one of Tendon's treats, from her
lab coat. What an unruly crew you have, good thing,
I'm not a real captain. The Jinkleids crashed on us
in a glittering wave, a bleat tour through me, reading
and way too loud in that sense. I'd always hate it,
but appreciated now Ush's metal brick bursting through one orange Ei,
the doctor taking a volley of spikes to the arm,
flesh coming away with fabric just as easily, her suit
mending in that way, all of ours was set to.
Since we'd stolen the nano nitter from a moon called
reeselease two yushes ago, My horn sank into Pond's abdomen,
but their scales mended around the wound as easily as
our suits did. Colidizans weren't like Zena jeans, and that
they were particularly strong, but their biology was persistent, long
natural life spans, quick mending wounds, limb regeneration, the gills
to breathe in open space. The same Colidizan's aries had
died over fifty five yushes ago were still young, not
to mention kicking around in Octo eight. Part of the
reason the embers of revenge It never simmered despite their
dwindling numbers, something I honestly respected. I mean, it's one
thing to vividly hurt over an exchange of harsh words
that occurred scepters Ago. I could only wonder about the
pain of half a century burning so hotly. Pull took
the brunt of the attacks, gliding between opponents, weaving elaborate
defense moves, block, block, bite, hiss block. The blue hue
Jinkolid was giving them a run for their drokens, matching
every move, every twirl. It's river, by the way, said
blue scales, panting as pool lunged at their jugular Not
that you asked, was it planning to? A handful of
blue hued scales came off and Pool's clad hand as
they slashed at the Jinkalid's face. Did you ever consider it?
Isn't my life's dream to be your breeding tool, River shouted.
It's not like I have a choice in the matter either.
We're in heat. It's our duty to our kind, to
all the forgotten species of the Andromeda galaxy. We have
a duty to ourselves. That's just as important. It will
be said River, when we've regained our numbers, tell me Pool,
who waited? We are espron via kalitism. All the fight
drained from Pool's body. They swayed at the mention of
their full title. How do you know my name ignored them?
How does hanging out with these bozobs contribute to the cause?
Boastore our numbers make any strides toward liberation reclamation? Who
are you? Pool's gills flexed, those big orange eyes widened
glinted with gold. River fhenerin graffenassin gin kaleitisan. River beamed
in the scales and spikes at once their hinge klids
pond in another one, they referred to his drip scuttle
to the blue Jenklid's back, orange eyes scanning us for
any sign of trickery. Pool stumbled backward for a moment,
their glittering bronze hand clasped over their mouth. What is
how could it? But what about? Pull through a glance
back up at the loft where Trilif was still splattered wave,
his partner crooning to the gray slime oozing into their palm. Right,
ever seen it in action, had never seen anyone attack
the peaceful octals whatsoever? But Octilavians had a healing factor too, restructuring.
Trilif would be back, though he might use a different name,
and he might not be a he this time around. Relax,
River soothed, were not out for any trouble. Just what
the humans stole. See no harm done, No harm done.
Pul swaying gave way to buckling again. USh caught them
slid an arm around their shoulder. Look around, River, you've
murdered dozens of innocent oxygeners, River sneered, sh you in
that perspective of yours, Well, isn't it about time we
told our side of the story. That's right, Drip chimed.
River went on. I returned to my legally rented garage
to find two of my closest friends riddled with holes.
Are lab ransacked, Trickle a mated vikelitisan, an accomplished scientist,
and Stream a laze about Sure, but they were loyal,
They were my friends. A strangled kind of anguish rippled
along the edges of rivers words. For a moment I
couldn't help but see someone mourning, a griever no different
from the rest of us, except that I was shacking
up with the killer in question. River's voice grew sturdier.
A valuable, volatile item has been stolen from me, and
not just by a representative of those colonies you studied under,
but the daughter of the secretary himself. This is a
matter of intense security. Whoever got hurt in the process
of pursuit is just collateral. If you are the River,
I know, then you have no business speaking like this.
Things change, said River, a simple, almost shakingly human expression,
and a cold one at that. Has it even occurred
to you that you're interrogating me in the colonizer's language,
huin hr Schremska. I've asked myself the same question and
continued to but so much you, Pool, have you no shame?
I'm not ashamed of my friends, Pool snapped, not them,
and not Kimmy either. Then you still refuse to apologize.
Just say it, Pool, that's all the other hatchmates want
to hear. We all make mistakes sometimes, Kimmykad sounded out slow,
his voice hollow and soft from where he uttered the
word in the shadow of the murmuring kylaks. A faint
blush curled up into his cheeks. It was no mistake,
River Pool corrected them. You know me, I've always been
curious about other cultures. Pool had always been close mouthed
about how they ended up on that drill ship with
USh mining for super ionic crystals, as USh monitored samples
of ion dust to document the effects on artificial lungs
before being cleared for usage is fuel. Cultural differences have
been their only answer for yushis now, I wondered if
I should plug my ears and sing time for a switch.
Holding tight to our drokens was the thing we valued
above all on the Cosmocraft Coylyx, but holding tight to
our secrets was the thing we valued above all in
space pool. I started. Their scales were on edge, all
throwing light, all spectacular shimmering skin. It's okay, I'm done
feeling like I did anything wrong. They looked over their
shoulder at the three of us. She is was a
spacefaring human, you know, from one of the colonies, Lutin.
We met at Uranus University, the college pool. The human
not so much. I just started studying translation, so I
thought i'd tried my hand at some Latin. Poul chuckled.
Not as common anymore as I was led to believe
in my studies. We kept talking. She was studying painting,
so we joked that both our degrees would be meaningless.
USh cackled at this, spit flying out of her mouth
as she slapped her knee. Ignore me, go on, sorry,
it's just that I was thinking that exactly. Paul scowled
at USh a moment, then continued. Kimmy and I became
close friends. I even visited her home planet over the
Adams daybreak back on Luton, that's where we first kissed.
And back at college that's where we first cad Berry
brightened at this, while River hawked and spat a green
glob of venom Onto a human's corpse, You and a human.
Nelson didn't mask his hopeful tone. A human indie you.
I didn't think it'd be a big deal, said Pool.
Everyone experiments in college, which is why only asexuals get
Adams Awards for their research. USh noted, Pool ignored her.
Someone must have reported us after one of our sleepovers.
Disgusting drip piped up. Weren't you ever worried about that
thing giving you geopox? All off earth humans are vaccinated
for geopox, USh said, it's just as deadly to us
as to octyls and kalids. Kimmy wasn't sick. Pool sniffed.
The eldenev were what they did to her, they could
have just as easily done to you. River cut in
if a Pool weren't on the council. Collidizans are supposed
to be above that bloodline. Nonsense, Pool protested Pool. Ernertian
Ragiostia has never given me anything, only taken. Pool thrust
their steel arm out toward the jinklid. Yeah, only one
half of your rotten union stands speaking. River replied, everyone
knows there was an exception made for you. Pool. Doesn't
mean it'll happen again. To run with humans is to
muddy one Sporassica. You may not have seen the dirt
they track all over the universe, but this is because
the eldern iv remember, so we don't have to make
the hard decisions, so we don't have to so we
don't have to think more. Like Paul cried, I was
only curious. River curiosity killed the calleidisin the Kaylyx's engine
turned over in a series of sputtering huffs, echoing down
the chamber leading up to the underclub dance floor, the
floor trembling, shaking up a blanket of dust and track.
Dirt drip peered down the corridor. Worry mutpups getting off
to so fast anyway? They nudged Pond. Pond nodded, Gill's flexing.
It's on that cosmocraft, isn't it? With the terin what
are you? Pool? Step toward them, but I took their hand.
USh was already ahead of us, sprinting out and away
from the undergaland down the docking corridor. We tore across
the floor are steps only little additions to the cacophony
of patter, slithering, shouting, urging, and weeping as others loaded
into their ships, left their friends behind on the floor.
When Trailiff reformed, there was no doubt he'd sweep them
into a shoot so their bodies could streak through space
as burning distant wish stars, the same fade as the
billions and grievers before them. It's I'll explain when a
volley of lasers ate until the straight twists at the
top of my head pull practically pushed the rest of
us insiet As we came to the idol rumbling ship
used their body as a shield, burning black holes rippling
along their torso. As the Jinkolids continued to fire, the
wounds closed as quickly as they opened. USh heave the
hatch closed, throwing that rusted damn lever. The Kylks didn't
have a lot going for it, but it was laser proof.
It was the heat from continuous fire that would eventually
be the death of us. Already, the exterior thermostat embedded
in the control panel was ebbing on three thousand degrees fahrenheit.
The limit was five before the interior thermostat began to
creep toward two hundred degrees. Well. I brushed past cat
to my seat. Despite the active temp readings, no other
indicator appeared alive. What the fuck, Nelson, I asked you
to start the ship. I didn't have to look at
him the nose expression. Slumping into his seat in my
peripheree at my right hand. I told you when I
moved in Jeane. Before this, I've only ever been in
charge of inventory an engine maintenance. He sunk into his
seat with a deep, low sigh. I'm not like you
or Pool or USh. I'm not a specialist. I don't
have any training or skills or powers. I'm just some guy. Yeah. Well,
I couldn't help but roll my eyes. I didn't exactly
stick around for my pilot's license, you know, take some initiative. Cad.
Nelson flinched at my tone, but I didn't have time
to feel bad about this, not yet. Aunt gripped the
back of my chair as my hand hovered over the
central pedestal, the raised platform between Cad and I, the
pilot and co pilot that included the controls for lighting, hatchlocks,
and most importantly, the engine gene. She drew an arm
across her sweating forehead. It's hot, what about you? I said,
why didn't you show them. I well, we were always given,
you know, aunt seemed to be choking on something other
than the heat Zeno's to pilot the ships. I only
know how to operate a Jeffington seventy. Seriously, for some reason,
this admission tasted bitter on my tongue. I shook the
sweat from my coaly mane, splashing it across the waterproof
control panel, land most importantly keeping it out of my eyes.
Anyone who cares to learn watch me now. I zeroed
in on the engine panel. The auto letters glowed red
at the top of the crank dial. Automated systems were down,
a symptom of the kaylages being low on fuel, meaning
manual startup would be the only means USh. The doctor
understood immediately. We were already at one hundred and twenty
five degrees. A human could would stand two hundred more
acts than she panted tops start a timer. I wrenched
the dial to the left label and the left end
of the uniaxialer engine cloth. At the same time, the
engine structure quaked as one of those green cosmopods tried
to wrestle free of the steel wall. I found the
reclining bar with my heels and shoved downward. Aunt gasped
as I jerked into a lying down position. Sorry, this
is the best way to my hands. Took control from there,
stealing all the concentration away from my brain my fingertips,
playing a series of switches along the throttle quadrant assembly
left burnout protection, left thrust. Now back to the engine panel.
Left engine. Now the ship gave a great groan forward,
a blast echoing through the corridor. Thush reported seventy accents.
Guided by memory, I repeated the series of clicks, flips
and cranks for the right engine, the right burnout protection,
right thrust. The reluctant hum of the engine was accompanied
by the soft yellow light of the cabin flickering to life.
Now we're cooking with ion octane. Captain Pull spoke with
their face smushed against the glass of the oval window
on the left side of the cockpit. They were coiled
away from the sight, squeezing their head, which seemed to
visibly throb the translation. The officer's eyes flashed gold stop. Noah,
it can't, they wouldn't. Kad's eyes snapped up from the
control panel. Pull, what's wrong? He tried to rise from
his chair sit down. I barked and buckle up. Nelson
didn't protest. No one did, Aunt finding the seat on
the other side of him and stretching the seat belt
across her lap. In time with the rest of the crew,
the Kaylaks rocked as one pod freed itself, creating a
total vacuum inside What remained of the undergal Limbs loosed
from their bodies as easily as clothing items, which all
leaped toward and out of the new openings, washing over
our windshield and a great gust of chaos and color.
I gripped the throttle lever and threw it forward to
the maximum thrust. When the lever clicked in the place,
I planted both hands on the black metal steering wheel
and jerked it upward. The cosmocraft leaped out of the
docking corridor clean, smashing a hole through the ceiling. Cherlif
will understand when I explained that we were being shot
at hell. He'd understand when he saw everyone who needed
oxygen was dead. Anyway, the jets caught us. I knew
from experience the sequence. First small yellow sparks, then orange flames,
then great blue walls of fire get us into the atmosphere.
After that, the antiox converter would eat at the ions
to take us wherever was next. River Pool groaned, holding
their head as we hurtled into space. I glanced at
the monitor between the menacinerator and intercom speaker, the staticky
image of those callit ships wrenching through the remainder of
the metal pyramid, which looked more like a cube that
was burst open. Now, Cad strained against his seat belt,
reached across my shoulders to plant one hand on the
translation officers, is that monster in your head now? Poole
gave a rattling growl. No, they thrashed, liar. They slammed
both fists, iron and scale into the right inboard module,
gold tendrils of iker Kalidisan's blood surging just below the
downy skin under their glittering coat. I won't let them
see our next move. I'm I'm cutting our cool leg off.
Nelson's mouth twitched into a deep frown. He withdrew his hand.
You were talking to that murderer. He wiped his sweating
palm across his suit, staining the bright rainbow tied eye.
We'll get all our murder. Talk out of the way
soon enough, guys, I said, The violet skies of the
undergal bleached a black, distant yellow, orange, red, and white
stars winking millions of miles away. Right now, I need
everyone to brace themselves. Falling leaf maneuver, falling what Kat cried?
I accelerated as all three pods raced in a line
to head me off fifty comitans in front of the coylycs.
They were looking for me to overshoot as if I
spat at the rear viewing monitor, any pilot worth their
weight and wheat new to keep the enemy in front
of you. And the pods didn't even have the good
sense to travel in a shortcutted arc instead of a
direct line giving way. There's soon to be positioned and
hovering fix to meet me on the same aerial plane
we glided on now. There weren't any enforceable speeding laws
in space, least of all on the fringes of the
four quadrants, and there weren't any other crafts for planetons.
Traffic only collected in inner space, crowded shipways established only
along high density areas clustered about the colonies open space
where the debris and outlaws were That was a free
for all, a pilot's playground. With a glee that frightened myself,
I took hold of the aileron lever within the central pedestal,
rockets roaring as I shifted the controls to the right.
The Coylyx bank left hard. The cabin jolted everyone at once,
thankful I'd want them to strap in as we caught
air before slamming back onto our seats. Now I eased
the boosters and we jerked downward by ten hole yards.
A successful diagonal move and one. I repeat it to
the right, the left, the right, again and again, everyone
crying out dully in the background as my heart pounded
in time with some rhythm. I'd forgotten whatever kind of
monster river was. They were a competent pilot. As we
zigzagged downward, thrusting forward at the formation of pods ahead
and above us, they refused to fall into the roll
of pursued maintained their pursuant title, the three pods moving
in sanchronized formation to fall behind the Coylyaks as the
top of the ship scraped shrilly at the lowest of
the three pods through the rear monitor. I watched as
lasers reigned out of a weapons opening in the whole
of the nearest pod, washed over the rear of the
Kaylyaks in a useless shower of sparks. However, if River
and company were catching on that their guns were no good,
they might turn to explosives. This the Kylyaks was immune
to on the exterior, but I didn't want to find
out how the blunder would react to the rocking cabin.
I threw the throttle forward as my crewmate's neck snapped backward.
USh Cad and Ant clutching the control panel, I checked
the right overhead module. Sure enough, the G force dial
had leaped into the orange half of the pressure estimator.
Humans weren't meant to be shaken around in a flying
metal can. Their spines could snap at the wrong bank angle,
and their hearts could burst at the long speed. I
eased the throttle backward, decelerating by just enough to let Cad,
Ant and USh recover their breaths. Sorry, is everyone okay?
That was? Cad clung to his dreadlogs as if to
stabilizes spinning head. Incredible entie ite vomited as she said it,
the pink brown chunks spilling past her lips and rolling
off her gold stained proof suit. The fruit fly stirred
from the bin of cans to feast on the latest
addition to the cabin floor. We were taught falling leaf,
but I never saw anything like that in flight class.
I swerved out of the way as the first of
the three trailing pods surged past us, landing squarely into
our vision and into the roll of prey to our predator,
the other two falling behind like the tucking tail of
some great, green, gleaming creature. Starshine, I said, fixing both
hands on the metal wheel, you've got no IDEA river
at the head had gotten the hang of arching backward
to meet ones pursuant, but it was far too late
for that. Now now I had had time to think
the worst thing you can hand a pilot or a
captain for that matter, Cad I asked, when was the
last time you took out the trash? The first mate
fidgeted with the light dimmer recently two washes ago, three
washes ago, three cat's side, three scepters ago. Captain I
bit back my criticism, for now this would work in
our favor. Out the airlock, aim for about five r rons.
Cadbury balked, how am I supposed to aim for our time?
The ovular ships followed suit as I let them in
a gentle weaving flight path. We need them close at
hand and behind us for our next move. The small
are on hand, Nelson, I strained as I aired up
on the wheel to watch the three ships collide before
changing the weaving path. Keep them guessing. But one can
only keep a proper ruse up for so long. The
element of surprise was expiring. I can't. I never figured
out how to tell time on an analog clock. Cat
admit it, I chanced to glance over at his seat.
You mean to tell me you never read those manuals
I gave you. Analog was considered glitch proof compared to digital.
Not true, but they were harder to tamper with without
serious commitment. The safest bent for a ship flying under
the radar, No, Captain, Nelson said. I didn't bother to
comment further. Usher the Doctor had taken advantage of the
lull and dangerous swerving to stumble to the grime grinder,
a garbage compacting device we'd lift it from a garage
sale in the Neo Levy quadrant five oh hour on
got it, Captain USh reported to be clear, Should I
use all the bacteria clean? Just a few? Should do?
I said, grinning so widely it hurt. One knew a
plan was already awry when they were the only one
thinking it. That stuff spreads like mintweed. Usher donned the
exposure gloves from the supply closet in the corridor, headed
back toward the airlock. Cad blushed, I'll hold her feet.
He followed. USh Pool avoided CAD's gaze as he left
the cabin, but crowded around the rear monitor to watch
the hatch open and Ush's gloves pop out, thick padded
silver and clutching the ground garbage that smelt so sour.
I thought I might give ants vomit on the floor.
Some company hold, I shouted, spinning the rudder switch to
shift the rear alerons diagonally and give the entire kylaks
a sideways tilt. Now where River would have slammed into
the underbelly of the kylyks, they instead slammed into a
wall of stinking trash sludge, A wet smack echoing throughout
the kylaks as the two other pods suit Just as
I thought they might. The pods spun wildly trying to
dislodge the thick blanket smeared across their windshields, each idling
to avoid collisions, drifting to five O wash, the designated
rest location for injured crafts one. Every pilot was taught
to keep an eye out for injured compers hovering within.
When I guided the Kailaks over the three pods, though
it wasn't to dispatch assistance, USh pushed a metti patch
blaster to shoot the small orange drops of bacteria clean
across the narrow distance between us and the pods. The
liquid bubbled on impact with the sludge and got to
work replicating thick, green, frothing carpets of hungry, swarming bacteria
blooming across the three cosmopods, encasing them as easily as
a closing mouth. You did amazing, Aunt cheered, closing her
arms around my neck from behind in a hug that
included the back of my chair. Now, what's the plan.
Pull's eyes were all orange now and all six blazing
as hotly as any fire. What do you mean they snapped,
we're not being chased. We should get as far away
from them as possible. Aunt didn't relent, standing straight with
her hands placed on my shoulders from behind. Even though
she didn't ask, I knew this gesture meant to back
her up. That's ridiculous, she said. Why should we put
off being pursued for later? Pool spoke curtly, so we
have more time to find out what they're pursuing exactly.
Ant's face flushed a deep and modeled purple. I may
need some more training behind the wheel, more than I thought.
But those Jinkolds aren't riding us as hard as the
pilots they report to Will. She had a point there.
What was the word Pool, it used Eldenev. These pilots
would be more skilled, battle hardened, even vengeful. Pool eyed,
and Tiapee, you speak so surely about ending the lives
of endangered, they sniffed, almost as if you've done it before.
I understood, then what exactly Pool and River had discussed
via the neural network. That part's true, I said, we
had to get this out of the way for good reason.
Then explain yourself. Pool blaired, stabbing a finger at the cosmopods.
Still half in case through the oval window and get
us far away from them. I took care of that
last part, taking advantage of a nearby pebble belt to
shift into a different starstream. The different colors and placements
of these would confuse anyone. A unique arrangement from the
glittering tapestry just hundreds of comitants to the third wash
and TYPEE sat on the smooth metal floor as we
jetted out of the belt. Set the suitcase down carefully.
It's not mine. I kind of confiscated it from a
crime scene something. Those Collidizins must be a part of
some kind of extremist group. She fumbled with the latches,
but undid them after a moment, opened the suitcase, the
foam inside cushioning the bottled black hole in the center.
Pool's expression soured. River was right. Their glare didn't dwell
on ant on the floor for long, turning their accusing
orange glare onto me. You knew about this for like
twenty avins more than you, Pool, I assured them. Trust me.
I'm not happy about it, but Aunt didn't have any
other place to go, and we can't let any humans
war collidisans get their hands on this. Kad swooned in
the mouth of the corridor coffee. He muttered, I haven't
had enough. I must be hallucinating withdrawal. Can do that?
USh only planted herself in her seat, swiveled to the
control panel, and said, what's your plan, Captain? I explained
as well as I could, not, like any of us,
were in denial about our situation. Food was scarcer by
the wash, the only things thriving in space being grains
and potatoes, But there was an infectious soil based bacteria
infecting vast swaths of harvesa crops, the blight turning the
potatoes to rotten black mash and the wheat to wilt neuture.
Soup concocted in the colonies with ingredients fresh from Earth
was expensive, and drokens were only getting harder to come
by given the dragoons tightening hold on transport. I'm as
devoted to Entipee as all of you, I emphasized Cad.
I've known you since I was so hungry I couldn't
lift a sheet of paper. USh. You fixed me up
more times than I could count. Pool. You've talked us
out of more jams than a computer can count. It's
my turn ours to end this game with aries and
make a home somewhere land for good. Pool was the
first to respond, all three of my friends gaping at
me and silent before the collide is and glided across
the cockpit and whipped the back of their scaled hand
across in ti Ape's face. Though they shimmered with rage
as Aunt cried out, a red print throbbing on her cheek,
their voice was collected as they said no this snapcad
to attention, shielding the translations officer from my sabers as
I lunged, snarling over Kad's muscled shoulder as he restrained me.
Gene deep breaths, Pool, you went too far. Violence is
never the answer. Venom ooz pass Pool's needle thin teeth.
If you think that was violent, just wait until you
hear what happened to the Andromeda. None of that is
Ant's fault. There was no way to mauw Pool without
getting past Cadbury, so I spat over the first mate's
shoulder at the translation officer. As your captain, I am
enforcing in Tiape's right to comfort as a member of
this crew. Pool sneered mimicking my earlier words. Then it's
a good thing you're not a real captain. It's okay,
Jane aunt soothed, stroking my ear. I understand there's a
lot of baggage around my name what I've done to
get the blunder. I don't approve of lethal force in
any way, Kad said, But Pool, you have to admit
this could be our big break. We might not ever
have anything so valuable. Again, it's not about value, Pool insisted,
pacing the length of the cockpit. It's about blood. That
black hole, to me, represents the near extinction of my
kind and the complete loss of hundreds of peoples, their lives,
their cultures, entire languages will never be spoken again. And
it's because of your father. Pool sniffed at entire pee,
Spike's trembling, seeming to grow even longer. I mean, Gene think,
I understand you humans have certain social needs, but isn't
it enough. I'm letting the colonizer's spawn move in with us,
despite myself. I stood putting an arm out in front
of ant, letting it's my ship just as well as yours.
Pool snapped, all of ours. I have a right to
veto this plan, and I choose to invoke it. Pool's
blazing orange eyes flicked a Cad Nelson. Cad hesitated, I, Pool,
I respect you so much. I know with everything you've
been through. Grievers have been through a lot too enough.
Paul said, are you with me or not? Caad threw
up his arms. I'm with both of you. I see
your side, Pool, but I'm also tired of being hungry
all the time, the land ridden. They always seem to
have food weighs to grow more. I could start a garden,
maybe forget about you. Then Pool turned to USh. What
do you think doc? USh stroked her chin, reached into
the wide pocket of that black lab coat and pulled
out a black droken clutched it, flipped it, turned it
over and over. I think everyone in this room is
thinking with their genitals. She shook her head, chuckled darkly. Cad,
I've been patient, but this madness has gone on long enough.
Everyone knows you're in love with Pool. A stone formed
in my throat. Holy shit, I mean yeah, we all knew,
including Pool, but no one, no one had ever come
out and just said it. USh pressed on despite CAD's
sputtering protests. Don't try to deny it. I seen your
visajector history. I was only curious. Cad insisted turning to Pool.
It's not like they teach you how it works with humans,
even in general colony courses. I didn't want to accidental
be disrespectful. I've never had the right instincts for that
kind of thing, So I did some research on the
colitis in body biologically, that is, scientifically. He was beginning
to stammer and sweat more than anything. Sweat. You don't
have to explain yourself, Nelson. Pool soothed their tone, half
annoyed and half sincere. I've done similar research. Their do
lap inflated partially, and they stroked it to get it
to go down. USh rolled her eyes into the next dimension.
Just give each other a physical demonstration. Already obviously you
two heur into each other, and we're all sick at
pretending you're not Nelson. Your pent up emotions are creating
a tense workplace that is difficult to communicate clearly in
either go forward or admit you're a coward. USh spun
on her heels to address Pool vikalidis in. I've worked
with you for five Yushes, and never in that time
have you ever mentioned what happened to the androma seeing
your old friends shook loose some guilt or trauma or
I don't know, attraction, because remember everyone, they're molting in
heat and not thinking clearly. That's one hell of a coincidence.
We have one run in with someone from your past,
and you're preaching to the choir about justice, law and
order when none of us has ever given us shit
about that, Hey, Poul interjected, But USh was on a roll,
spinning to face me. At last, we come to our
oh so and love captain whisking their girlfriend off for
a bomb riddled septin among the stars, which I'm sure
her father will take no notice of. Get real, Gene,
if your veins weren't so pumped full of hormones, you'd
have enough sense to reason that this entire plan is ridiculous, malformed,
and short sighted. Okay One, I said you have got
to stop snooping into the viisilogue search history. Two. I've
been the same old horny Zeno the whole time I've
piloted this crew. Nothing's changed just because just because say it, Gene,
USh was all out shouting. Now just because you're screwing
one of the crewmates. Say it so you can hear
how nonsensical you're being. Of course, the dynamic is changing.
You're favoring the goals and feelings of the person you're fucking,
and over your own friends. We haven't even had sex yet.
My voice had risen to meet hers on the ceiling.
I haven't had sex in three Yushes, because I didn't
want either of you to think I was prioritizing a
lover over our crew. USh took a few steps back
at this, physically backing into the wall to heave through
several long, deep breaths. I uh didn't know that. Yeah, well,
I thought to bring my own voice down. Something nakedly
wild was brewing in me. Now you don't know everything,
after all, Doctor USh may have backed off, but she
was far from cowering in a corner. I know that
none of you trust me as much as you do
each other. There was a melancholy bite to her tone
as she explained romance. That kind of closeness breeds loyalty
more than anything. Loyalty breeds trust, trust breeds belief. But
I'm loyal to the safety of this crew. USh crossed
the cabin to the pilot's seat, and I thought she
might sit in it. Didn't put it past her till
she draped her arm over the chair at the pilot's
right hand and sat in that instead. It's about time
someone started thinking logically around here. USh fiddled with the
right side inboard climate control panels, peering at a screen
embedded in the dashboard. According to the interior climate logs,
the Kylax has withstood below freezing temperature before the planet
on Gage lines up with a series of deliveries to
the reaches the anterior. What Cad said the reaches Pool repeated.
If inner space belonged to the colonies and open space
belonged to the grievers, then outer space belonged to no one.
The reaches were always that just out of reach. Don't
they call it that because you die before you reach it?
It seemed callidis and said similar stories about outer space.
It would take us forever to cross the Milky Way
and the Canisen with the local drive engine, Kad said.
Plus it would take us too far from potential customers
and too far from the typical food roots. It's suicide.
It's the only way. USh corrected him. We need to
safely dispose of the blunder in an abandoned galaxy. It'll
take a few yushes to find a perfect spot and
to sweep it for life. Make absolute sure no one
gets hurt. That would be a waste. Uhh, I said,
thank you. But I can love in Tiapee and do
what's best for everyone at the same time. Can you us?
Shot back, rising from Nelson's seed at the control panel.
You've let your emotions get in the way of every
decision you've made since you named Cad first mate, Woolf,
forget the love confession. The stony quiet that overtook the
cabin then was downright lethal. You weren't questioning my decision
making when I let a high rank medical professional, someone
trackable and useful to the colonies move aboard. Did you
ever think about what kind of risk I took taking
you in, gene USh began, but I cut her off
with an incisive bleat. I let you in with no judgment.
I continued at great personal risk to myself, Cad, Burry,
and Pool, even though I didn't know anything about you
except that, like me, you were running from something. USh
kept her eyes steely and hard. If Poole's burned with rage,
hers burned with bitter secrets. I'm not questioning your decision making, Captain,
she said, plainly, I'm questioning your self awareness enough, I snorted.
Whether you like it or not, I'm the captain. This
is our best bet at freedom. No arguments now, Poole
came to Ush's defense. Captain, you shouldn't. Your captain has spoken.
Another finite bleat burst out of me and radiated across
the room, leaving no room for discussion and nothing but
quiet in its wake.
Speaker 2: Stock then, instead of fish areasionation.