I stand up and look at the top of this console. It is the largest one, and it also has more lights than the others. The lights are dim and mostly steady, shining up through some kind of smooth surface. There are weird, alien levers too, but I see no reason to bother with those while the saucer is this inactive.
“Have to start the car before you need the steering wheel,” I mutter while I prod the various parts of the top panel with my fingertips. I focus on the lights and press on them, but nothing changes.
Nothing. Nothing. Nothing…
A dim red light responds. A hum rises from the walls.
I freeze, heart hammering.
“Please… please…”
Nothing.
“Okay…”
I try again. Nothing.
“Long press.”
I hold it down.
A yellow light starts flashing.
I press that one.
The blue ambient glow dies.
The hum stops, and every light goes out.
Instant, suffocating black.
I swear I can feel that tentacle around my ankle again.
Despair overwhelms me. “No!”
17
- Kenz’ox-
There’s suddenly some banging and other strange noises coming from inside the ship.
“That’s not right,” I say to Aker’iz and put her down in her playpen. “Stay here.”
The light in the ship has gone out. From the inner part of it, I hear bangs and the sounds of desperation.
I make my way inside, having to duck my head to avoid touching the ceiling.
“Dorie?”
The only light comes from the open hatch.
She’s standing by a part of the Plood ship, caressing it, hitting it, and shaking it, seeming to plead with it between sore, desperate sobs and furious screams. She appears to be losing her mind. “Stahp bing ajerk yafukin pisov sheee!”
For a moment, I just stand there while she slaps and kicks the strange table, clearly cursing it in her own language. It makes my heart ache. But it can’t continue.
“This has gone on for long enough,” I state. “This Plood thing is ruining you.”
I walk up to her and embrace her from behind, pulling her away from the Plood table she’s pounding on.
