hailing frequency.
The shuttle pilot moved his hands in front of him, manipulating the holodisplay.
“Unknown spacecraft, this is Delta Two,” he said. “Requesting permission to approach.”
The answer came back scratchy, as calls from another ship always did.
“Delta Two, we have you.” Bumberpuff’s voice. “Approach slowly and dock.”
A part of the darkness that was the alien ship extruded, a black glob of wiggling pudding. Quentin saw it shift and flex, until the end of the extrusion transformed into something familiar: a standard docking port. No mistaking the size of that — the pilot was right about the Prawatt ship’s unexpected dimensions.
It was too small. All the prep, Messal’s plan to get everyone out here ... all wasted.
“Put me on,” Quentin said to the pilot. “I want to talk to him.”
“Channel is open, Mister Barnes.”
“Bumberpuff, this is Quentin. Please tell me that ship you’re on is taking us to another ship — one that’s much, much bigger.”
“I was not able to acquire the Grieve ,” Bumberpuff said. “Have faith, Quentin. This vessel will more than suit your needs.”
Sure, if my “needs” are funeral services for four Humans, two HeavyGs, a Harrah and a Prawatt .
Things had been bad; now they were even worse. But, it was too late to turn back now. If that ship was the only chance to save Jeanine, Quentin would take it.
6
The Ship
PINPRICK SPOTS OF LIGHT GLEAMED along the gnarled black surface, making the curved walls resemble the star-speckled void outside. The narrow corridor — originally meant for the tall, slim bodies of the Prawatt Walking X form — widened to allow Quentin and his teammates through. The shifting, moving walls showed this was a living ship, just as alive as the Grieve had been.
Kimberlin was on Quentin’s right, walking on all fours so the ceiling didn’t have to expand as far upward to accommodate his full eight-foot height.
“Quentin, this is not good,” the hulking lineman said. “This ship, it’s so tiny .”
“Really, Mike? I hadn’t noticed.”
It took only two minutes to reach the ship’s center, a small circular room. The walls bulged with curving bits of gnarled black material. Some areas glowed briefly, like a faint light shining behind a tight metal mesh, then faded out, returning the spot to darkness.
From a hole in the ceiling, Bumberpuff’s form unfurled: four tentacle-like limbs connected to a central, solid, X-shaped mass. The three-fingered ends of two arms held tools of some kind. The captain dropped down to the floor.
“Welcome aboard, my teammates!”
Quentin wasn’t in the mood for pleasantries.
“Bumberpuff, you want to tell me what’s going on?”
The Prawatt captain spread out his two long arms to indicate the ship in which they stood.
“This is Rosalind Franklin , our vessel for the journey into the Cloud. I gather it’s not what you expected?”
Quentin bit back an angry reply. He forced himself to remain calm.
“We’re going into the most dangerous place in the galaxy,” he said. “You promised the Grieve , and you brought me a tin can.”
The Prawatt’s body rattled, a sign that Quentin had said something offensive or embarrassing.
“I would be careful using insulting phrases like tin can , Quentin,” Bumberpuff said. “And I did not promise you the Grieve — I told you I would get you the biggest ship you’ve ever seen.”
Quentin lifted his hands, gesturing to the living walls around him. “And this is it?”
“Of course not,” Bumberpuff said. “Quentin, I went through a lot of trouble to arrange this. You need to trust me.”
Quentin took a breath, fought down his temper. Bumberpuff had no connection with Jeanine or Fred, no reason to risk himself other than to help a friend. Somehow, on just a few days’ notice, Bumberpuff had acquired the Rosalind — Quentin needed to show appreciation, not anger.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “Thank you, Bumberpuff.
The shuttle pilot moved his hands in front of him, manipulating the holodisplay.
“Unknown spacecraft, this is Delta Two,” he said. “Requesting permission to approach.”
The answer came back scratchy, as calls from another ship always did.
“Delta Two, we have you.” Bumberpuff’s voice. “Approach slowly and dock.”
A part of the darkness that was the alien ship extruded, a black glob of wiggling pudding. Quentin saw it shift and flex, until the end of the extrusion transformed into something familiar: a standard docking port. No mistaking the size of that — the pilot was right about the Prawatt ship’s unexpected dimensions.
It was too small. All the prep, Messal’s plan to get everyone out here ... all wasted.
“Put me on,” Quentin said to the pilot. “I want to talk to him.”
“Channel is open, Mister Barnes.”
“Bumberpuff, this is Quentin. Please tell me that ship you’re on is taking us to another ship — one that’s much, much bigger.”
“I was not able to acquire the Grieve ,” Bumberpuff said. “Have faith, Quentin. This vessel will more than suit your needs.”
Sure, if my “needs” are funeral services for four Humans, two HeavyGs, a Harrah and a Prawatt .
Things had been bad; now they were even worse. But, it was too late to turn back now. If that ship was the only chance to save Jeanine, Quentin would take it.
6
The Ship
PINPRICK SPOTS OF LIGHT GLEAMED along the gnarled black surface, making the curved walls resemble the star-speckled void outside. The narrow corridor — originally meant for the tall, slim bodies of the Prawatt Walking X form — widened to allow Quentin and his teammates through. The shifting, moving walls showed this was a living ship, just as alive as the Grieve had been.
Kimberlin was on Quentin’s right, walking on all fours so the ceiling didn’t have to expand as far upward to accommodate his full eight-foot height.
“Quentin, this is not good,” the hulking lineman said. “This ship, it’s so tiny .”
“Really, Mike? I hadn’t noticed.”
It took only two minutes to reach the ship’s center, a small circular room. The walls bulged with curving bits of gnarled black material. Some areas glowed briefly, like a faint light shining behind a tight metal mesh, then faded out, returning the spot to darkness.
From a hole in the ceiling, Bumberpuff’s form unfurled: four tentacle-like limbs connected to a central, solid, X-shaped mass. The three-fingered ends of two arms held tools of some kind. The captain dropped down to the floor.
“Welcome aboard, my teammates!”
Quentin wasn’t in the mood for pleasantries.
“Bumberpuff, you want to tell me what’s going on?”
The Prawatt captain spread out his two long arms to indicate the ship in which they stood.
“This is Rosalind Franklin , our vessel for the journey into the Cloud. I gather it’s not what you expected?”
Quentin bit back an angry reply. He forced himself to remain calm.
“We’re going into the most dangerous place in the galaxy,” he said. “You promised the Grieve , and you brought me a tin can.”
The Prawatt’s body rattled, a sign that Quentin had said something offensive or embarrassing.
“I would be careful using insulting phrases like tin can , Quentin,” Bumberpuff said. “And I did not promise you the Grieve — I told you I would get you the biggest ship you’ve ever seen.”
Quentin lifted his hands, gesturing to the living walls around him. “And this is it?”
“Of course not,” Bumberpuff said. “Quentin, I went through a lot of trouble to arrange this. You need to trust me.”
Quentin took a breath, fought down his temper. Bumberpuff had no connection with Jeanine or Fred, no reason to risk himself other than to help a friend. Somehow, on just a few days’ notice, Bumberpuff had acquired the Rosalind — Quentin needed to show appreciation, not anger.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “Thank you, Bumberpuff.
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