“Wonkyis accurate, yes!” Auto-Nav agreed.
“Maybe we should try and talk to them,” Torian said.
Moss seemed tense. “There is no indication that is possible.”
“You’ve proven there’s lots of ways to communicate, Moss. They haven’t attacked our hull, or disconnected Amelia’s ship. Their biggest defense is how they interact with our electrical systems.” Torian racked her brain. “What do they want? They’ve been watching us since we entered the nebula last week.”
“Logic would stand that this is their territory. Organics like to claim territory.”
“So, either they moved into this space when the nylarians left… or, they’re protecting what was left behind.” The minute Torian voiced it, it felt like the correct answer. Her mind spun through possibilities. “The ship graveyard is at the edge of thenebula. Vaesa and Verdaan are in the center. I think these creaturesarethe nylarian defense system.”
Moss replied, “We are not intending to harm Vaesa.”
“They might not know that. Auto-Nav. Give Moss every communication they’ve transmitted to you. I bet we can decipher the language—”
“We do not need to,” Moss intoned. “Incoming message from Zenthielutos’s starship. Dutch’s signature.”
Torian flicked the radio to the incoming transmission. Zen’s ship was apparently called theQuralt-aletz, and its message was markedhigh priority. She picked up the radio. “Dutch? Hello?”
“Torian!” Dutch’s voice was staticky, which was odd for how close the two ships were, physically. “Good news and bad news. Good news is, I think I know what these things are! Bad news: They’re definitely swarming the ship you’re tugging.”
Torian tensed. “Moss?”
“Confirming,” Moss replied.
TheQuralt-aletzloomed over Vaesa like a vengeful moon. Unlike theDestituteor Amelia’s ship, Zen’s had weaponry—guns that were locked on to the strange creatures, following them through space. Curiously, Zen’s ship still didn’t seem affected by whatever radio interference these creatures were using.
Zen didn’t fire at the creatures, and they’d backed away from Vaesa. Which meant instead, they were focused on Torian’s vessel—although they remained out of sight of theDestitute’s front camera and flight deck.
Torian briefly left the pilot’s chair, hopping down the short staircase to squint through the windows in the living area. Sure enough, several of the creatures were swarming the strong magnet, attempting to break its connection and leave theCharlatanstranded yet again.
Amelia still hadn’t resurfaced on theCharlatan’s flight deck.
Wherewasshe?
Torian grabbed the radio again. “Can you shoot them off?”
“Shoot them—” Dutch spluttered. “No, no, we won’t be doingthat. Torian, this species is called the keels, and they originated on Verdaan.”
“In the oceans, I know. Moss told me.”
“Right! But I scanned them, and their genetic makeup is different now. The nylarian leadership must have altered them to exist in space.”
Some defense mechanism.
“How does that help us?” Torian demanded. “They cut power to my friend’s ship, Dutch. They’re freezing, and we have no idea how much oxygen they have. I have to get them to Vaesa.”
“I know, I know. Listen! On Verdaan, this species used to attack our ships on the ocean. Like—like your humansirens. Their communication interferes with basic technology, so over eons we had to adapt. I made those same adaptations to theDestituteand its auto-navigation without even thinking about it. When Zen’s ship flew into the nebula, we noticed the same interference, so I was able to adjust it here, too.”
Zen said in the background, “He thought it was strange, but clearly not strange enough to examine further.” There was an implication in his voice that Dutchprobably should have.
Dutch huffed. “I was distracted worrying about Moss—”
“Dutch! Focus, please. Can you enact that fix remotely and reactivate Amelia’s ship in case they break the tug?”
“Hardly,” Dutch sniffed. “But if my species altered them and left them to defend this quadrant—IthinkI can talk to them. I just need Moss’s help.”
It seemed so easy.
