It’s an elevator.
“Personnel Quarters. Storage. Engineering,” a mechanical voice called out as lights pinged on the control panel.
The elevator stopped, and the three of them exited. Riley gawked at the engineering level. Gigantic cylinders, emanating blue light, spanned both sides of the vast room. Off to one side was a windowed room filled with computers manned by a mix of amphibians and Verrater.
I bet June would love to see this place.
Her friend went gaga over all this futuristic technology. Meanwhile Riley barely knew enough about science to get by. She was lucky she could mix the chemicals to process her photographs without blowing her apartment up.
“Did you bring me some entertainment?” the amphibian at the first console asked as they passed the windowed room.
“Hardly, Zi. Just taking a shortcut. Maybe next time I’ll bring you something from that new shipment of soba larva. I hear they’re fresh,” Hoda replied with an unusually perky tone.
Riley noted the way Hoda’s wide mouth gaped. She was starting to learn it was the amphibian’s version of a smile.
So disturbing.
“You better. You know I don’t get out much,” the frogman replied.
Jyk coughed impatiently.
“Sorry sir,” Hoda quickly stated and continued.
They passed the giant cylinders, headed down another hall, till they came to a blue door. Riley wasn’t surprised to see the public corridor beyond.
“Just a bit further,” Hoda murmured to Jyk.
The windows lining the concourse revealed spaceship after odd spaceship docked outside. The vessels blanketed this side of the asteroid.
“We’ve got a larger crowd than usual,” Hoda commented when she noticed Riley staring at all the ships. “Jyk, I’m sure the Overseer has expressed his gratitude for your patronage. The chattel you brought has attracted considerable attention.”
The Jurou Biljana shrugged in response to the ass kissing comment.
Riley halted before a snide comment came out her mouth. The need to be snarky was so strong, she had to pinch herself to keep it in. The flesh merchants were obviously Distraho’s best customers, and suppliers. That was probably why Cuttles worried about pissing them off.
The sudden appearance of a recognizable ship, distracted Riley from her agitated musing.
The M’s spaceship. Riley’s steps slowed. She repressed the urge to reach for her necklace. I can’t let the Jurou Biljana place my thumb drive on the bridge console. She had no idea if Cuttles told Jyk about the hidden drive or not.
Hoda gripped Riley’s arm tighter, and tugged her through the airlock. Riley nearly broke down in tears as she looked around the very same room she and June snuck into when the Miran Sona ship took off from the colony. Her hand ran reverently along the frosted glass wall as they passed through the small bay. Riley smiled, recalling the silly banter she shared with her friend. It seemed so long ago.
Her thoughts drifted to Spawn when they passed through the domed loading bay. If she had known then that he was a slave buying bastard, she would’ve jumped out of hiding and clawed his eyes out. But now, pathetic as it was, she was pinning her hopes on a man she didn’t trust, praying that somehow she could find a way back to her friends. It was a possibility that looked unlikely, since Spawn didn’t even bat an eye at her.
What am I going to do?
“Human,” Jyk said, snapping her to attention.
Riley looked up to find she was standing on the bridge.
Oh god.
Riley wanted to stay as far away from the console as possible, but Hoda held her firm.
“Tell the vessel engines to start,” the reptile demanded.
“Uh, how do you expect me to do that?” Riley asked.
“Say it,” Jyk hissed angrily.
“Fine. Engines start,” Riley snapped back.
The reptile looked expectantly at the ship’s console, but nothing happened.
“Do it again, but say it in a different way.”
“Engines engage. On your mark, get set, go. Gentleman start your engines,” she rattled off.
Riley jumped when Jyk hissed something incoherent and slammed one clawed hand down on the console.
“I promise you, Exo didn’t tell me how to start the ship or make it respond to my voice. Exo didn’t even know I was aboard till you attacked. I got scared and came out of hiding,” Riley explained.
“I should’ve known the female was useless,” Jyk hissed. “Take her back.”
“Come, let’s get you back to the viewing gallery,” Hoda said as she led Riley off the ship, leaving the fuming reptile behind.
Riley was shaking so bad she had a hard time walking. The harrowing incident forced bile up, making her throat burn. She was doing everything in her power to not bend over and vomit on her boots. From the moment she got her necklace back, she feared it being taken again, and her secret being discovered. Riley never had so many people depending on her.