Chapter 6 #2
“Oh… yeah…” Part of me knew that Floyd must have told him that I was only planning to be working on the base for a couple of months, but part of me didn’t like being reminded of that.
I considered for a second, then relaxed in my seat.
“You are not going to go outside?” Eashai asked.
“I can visit Chile any time. I may go out when we get to Russia, as I’m less likely to vacation there since international tension is high.”
A small smile returned to his face, and I saw what looked like gratitude in his eyes.
My thoughts raced. How could I help ease his discomfort?
For a moment, I considered road trip games from my childhood, but didn’t know what would work well once we left Earth.
I Spy would be the simplest choice, but it required a shared vernacular, and there were bound to be things that I didn’t recognize.
Likewise, the various word and alphabet games probably wouldn’t work well with his translator.
He squeezed my hand again, pulling me from my thoughts.
“Your face tells me you are thinking about what to do,” he said softly. “I will be fine.”
I blinked. “You can already read my expressions?”
He tilted his head slightly. “Yes? We have spent many hours together. Is it not normal?”
I considered for several seconds, then chuckled. “I guess I can read you sometimes, too.”
He gave me a soft smile. “That is good.” Then he patted my hand before retrieving his. “I will be alright for travel. You do not need to concern yourself with my well-being.”
I frowned. “I’d be a bad friend if I ignored it. But…” I paused. “I’ll do my best not to add to it by being pushy.”
He nodded. “That is acceptable.”
There was a bit of chatter behind us, then the sound of the back hatch closing.
“You weren’t kidding that it wasn’t going to take long,” I chuckled.
The pilot turned from his controls and grinned. “They are efficient.”
A moment later we were moving again, the land quickly turning to water as we crossed over the Pacific.
Islands came and went in the blink of an eye—a testament to how fast we were moving.
I tried to guess our path as we reached land again, and my closest approximation was that we’d crossed over Southeast Asia.
It was only a few minutes later that the craft slowed again and descended into another dense forest—which I was beginning to assume was a natural shielding decision when it needed to land.
We touched down, but the door did not immediately open. The pilot seemed intent on something, then turned to face us.
“My apologies,” he said to me. “Unfortunately, you will not be permitted outside the craft while our other passenger is boarding.” He frowned. “The government here is being… difficult.”
One of my eyebrows went up. “Ok.”
He gave me a slim smile. “Thank you for understanding.”
I exchanged a glance with Eashai, who seemed slightly concerned.
“Keep out of sight of the door if you can,” he whispered.
I nodded as I heard the slight hiss that accompanied the hatch opening.
Annoyed voices immediately sounded from outside. One was definitely Russian, while the other was speaking Russian, but had the same lilting accent I’d learned all the Lalyllte had.
There was a final exchange, then heavy footfalls as somebody stormed in and plopped into a seat on the other side of the aisle.
The pilot turned to the newcomer, there was a brief exchange in their language, then the sound of the hatch closing again.
The hatch had no sooner sealed, when there was a burst of what I could only assume were expletives. I dared to glance around Eashai to see a green man with an angry expression, his color muddied by a flush of anger.
“Um… hi?” I offered.
He turned, and the blood drained from his face. He stammered something until I realized he was still speaking Russian.
“American English?” I asked.
He took a moment to collect himself, then nodded. “I apologize for my outburst,” he stated.
I shook my head. “It’s ok. But… if I may ask… what happened?”
He let out a long sigh and slouched in his chair. “Something we have found is common with what you would call authoritarian governments. The people in power are not accustomed to having their… requests… refused. It causes tension when we do not acquiesce to their demands.”
“I’m sorry.”
He tilted his head to one side. “You have done nothing to require an apology.”
I chuckled. “It’s… more a statement of commiseration and understanding in this context.” I considered for a moment. “I think an apt equivalent would be, ‘It does me sorrow that you’re having to deal with that.’”
He blinked, then nodded. “There is much nuance that our translators have yet to process.”
I shrugged. “English is weird.” I paused. “Eashai has used that phrase, though. Are your translators not linked?”
He laughed. “All languages have their own particularities. As to the translators, words and grammar are shared, and, eventually, common phrases. But they are made to tailor to the needs of the user. Since I am primarily based in Russia, I do not have a need for English vernacular.”
“That’s true,” I agreed.
“I am called Aisho,” he stated.
“Eugene,” I replied. “But everybody calls me Gene. Nice to meet you.”
“A pleasure. I take it you and Eashai have taken each other as mates?”
I choked on air, and Eashai let out a strained noise.
“I… what?” I gasped.
“It is my understanding that only humans who have taken Lalyllte mates are allowed on Lyll,” he stated. “Has that changed?”
“He has received special permission,” Eashai explained quickly. “I requested he be allowed to speak to our humanologists.”
“Is that wise?” Aisho asked.
Eashai swallowed; his Adam’s apple bobbing. “We have reason to believe the risk is minimized.”
One of Aisho’s eyebrows went up. “Then I shall believe your assurances.” He turned back to me. “Enjoy your time on Lyll.”
The pressure in the cabin changed, more than before, and I realized that we were ascending.
Vibrant blue as we emerged above the clouds, it lightened as the atmosphere thinned, then endless black.
“Wow…” I breathed as my eyes adjusted and a sea of stars came into focus. Off to one side, the moon grew larger.
Aisho chuckled. “I forgot that it must be your first time off your world.”
“It is,” I confirmed.
We continued away from Earth for another couple minutes, then the vessel banked slightly.
“A special treat,” the pilot announced as the planet came back into view.
My breath caught in my throat. I’d seen the iconic Blue Marble photo many times over the years, but now the view was mine.
Earth—green and blue with white clouds—hung against the black of space.
“I…” I breathed. “I never… I never thought I’d get to see the Earth like this.”
“As I understand, very few humans have been off your planet. Is that correct?” Aisho asked.
“There are more in recent years,” I replied. “Now that companies have started to launch spaceships, it’s not just governments anymore. But most people never have and never will have a chance to leave Earth, even for a few minutes.”
“Heading to the ship now,” the pilot stated.
“I wonder if human strife would end if more were able to venture beyond your world,” Aisho mused.
I considered the idea, then shook my head. “We’re not ready. Our governments are still too concerned about besting each other, rather than working toward a unified cause.”
He sighed. “You are correct, though I wish it were otherwise.”
I turned to Eashai for his opinion and noticed he was pale. A glance down revealed his knuckles had turned almost white from how hard he was gripping the armrests.
“Eashai?” I asked. “Are you…”
My stomach lurched, and I understood on an instinctual level that we were traveling far faster than any human had.
Within a few seconds my stomach had settled, but Eashai had a grimace on his face.
“Hey,” I said softly, resting a hand on one of his. “I’m here. What can I do to help?”
He shook his head rather than responding.
“We will reach the main ship shortly,” Aisho stated. “His symptoms will ease somewhat then.”
“Really?” I asked Eashai.
He nodded. “Better stabilizers.”
I turned back to Aisho for an explanation, rather than make Eashai speak more than necessary.
The green man understood my intent before I had a chance to open my mouth. “I believe you call it motion sickness,” he explained. “Stabilizers on the ships minimize the effect for most, but there are some with heightened sensitivity who are affected.”
“And nothing helps?”
He shook his head. “Better stabilizers, but they require quite a bit of energy. There is a limit to what small vessels can do.”
I squeezed Eashai’s hand where mine was still on his. “I’m sorry.”
He gave me a forced smile, turned his hand over, and returned the squeeze.
I couldn’t help but notice the tremble in his grip.
“Eashai,” Aisho asked, “would you like for me to entertain Gene so that you may sleep during the journey?”
“I will manage,” he forced out.
“Absolutely not,” I protested. “If sleeping is how you cope, then you should sleep.”
Defiance and relief were at war in his gaze, but he slumped after several seconds. “Thank you.”
“Never make yourself uncomfortable for me.”
Gratitude filled his eyes, alongside another emotion I couldn’t place.
“Do not worry,” Aisho said. “I will ensure that Gene has a comfortable trip.”
“Thank you,” Eashai repeated.
“We have arrived,” the pilot stated.
I turned to look out the front window. Nestled among what I could only assume were rocks of the asteroid belt was a gleaming silver ship.
I was about to visit another planet.