“Yes, I am, because protecting Earth is the right thing to do. Remember, no one left behind. But I’m not going to let humanity override the Alliance simply because I’m human,” Jace assured him. “We’re going to have to look at things from as objective a view as possible. I want to hear what everyone has to say.”
“Everyone is quite a large number,” Khoth replied dryly, but he was pleased with Jace’s answer.
It is because it is something that Daesah wanted to do.
“Okay, not everybody, but a lot more people than us making decisions now,” Jace answered. “Now, we should get back to base and I really don’t want to walk.”
Let’s take the car! Can I drive? Two of Gehenna’s pincers came up in front of her even as she spun the others around her.
Jace gave Khoth a crooked smile as he asked, “Should we chance it?”
“Our lives are in your hands, Gehenna,” Khoth told the AI.
Wee! I’ll be a good and safe driver! The best driver! You’ll see! Gehenna cried as she shot off like a rocket towards the sedan that was parked on the driveway.
“Gehenna, don’t you need the keys?” Jace was pointing towards the house.
No! Keys are for sissies! She yelled. The car’s lights flashed and then the engine roared to life just as Gehenna was opening the driver’s door.
Jace bumped his shoulder against Khoth’s. “You might have been joking about our lives being in Gehenna’s hands–or pincers–but that might actually be true.”
Seeing the many tentacles flying around in evident delight inside of the small vehicle had Khoth remarking dryly, “I do not joke.”
Jace let out a gurgling laugh and then shook his head before saying, “Well, I gotta grab some of our snacks. I’m still hungry and I want to see if the Osiris can replicate this stuff. We could do a taste test!”
“I believe that Thammah might be a better candidate for that than me,” Khoth admitted.
“Hey, you liked some of the stuff!”
Khoth inclined his head. He had.
“I promise that we’ll have some real food, too. I mean…” Jace’s smile faded somewhat as he looked at the faint light signature of the craft by the base. “If we have time for that. We have to make time for that.”
“Yes, if there is time.”
“C’mon. I need your hands for snacks, too.” Jace gestured for Khoth to come with him.
The two of them went back inside. Jace grabbed snacks and put them into bags that he had Khoth hold open. With rather admirable precision, he had most of the unopened snacks packed up into four bags.
“The cleanup will have to wait,” Jace said as he surveyed the dirty dishes and finished soda cans. He quickly tossed a few of the things into a trash can, but it still looked a bit of a mess.
“I think your parents will be happier to see you sooner than have us stay here longer to make things completely presentable,” Khoth stated.
His comm was already vibrating. He knew his mother was contacting him again and again and again even though he would not look to check.
Plausible deniability.
He knew that was ridiculous, but he needed time to marshal his forces to face what was to come.
“Yeah, you’re right. Let’s go before Gehenna loses it out there,” Jace laughed as there was a merry series of honks from the vehicle.
The drive to the base started out remarkably safely. Gehenna stopped at every signal even though there were no other cars, let alone pedestrians in Sunrise.
“I think you can go a little faster, Gehenna,” Jace said from the back seat.
He had insisted that Khoth take the front passenger seat because of his taller stature. Still, the inside of the vehicle was very tight, especially with Gehenna’s tentacles that kept flying up to point at things.
I am following all the rules of the road! Gehenna told Jace rather archly. I have reviewed and studied them! I am a master driver–whoops!
