Rate of Return by Cassandra Chandler

Author:Cassandra Chandler
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Cassandra Chandler

Chapter Ten

“I should monitor our drop into blue space.”

Serac’s tone chilled, along with the air in the small cockpit. Kimmy shivered, wishing she had left her jacket on.

He wasn’t looking at her—and worse, he’d stopped touching her. What had she said that had offended him so badly?

It wasn’t the first time she’d totally killed the mood with her chattering, but with Serac, she had thought things were different. That he accepted her—even liked her talking. Heck, he had just said that he liked her talking. So what had changed?

She slid from his lap, but hovered in the opening between the cockpit and cabin. The silence started to freak her out, especially as she thought about the emptiness surrounding them.

Unable to stand the quiet any longer, she said, “What’s blue space?”

He paused for long enough that she wasn’t sure he would answer. As it was, he kept working on the controls and didn’t turn to face her.

“It’s the fabric that holds our universe together. It underlies everything,” he said. “Blue space runs just beneath or above or to the side of our reality—however you wish to view it. When we enter it, we can travel enormous distances in relatively short periods of time.”

“Cool.” She wished she had something more erudite to say, but she was still stung by his sudden rejection.

“We won’t reach our destination for several hours. Perhaps you should rest.”

Wow, a rejection and a dismissal.

She didn’t bother responding. It was getting so cold in the cabin, she just wanted to wrap up in all her blankets and take a pity nap.

She hurried back to the bedroom and pulled her jacket on, then sat on the bunk as far from the door—and Serac—as she could. It was still freezing. She lifted the top blanket. Payback came with it, chittering angrily.

“Not you, too,” she said.

Payback’s pink fur—and glow—darkened to purple and then a somber blue. He ran over to her and rested three of his legs on her thigh, his antennae pointing at her as he squeaked.

“I’m sorry I disturbed you.” She sniffed, telling herself it was from the cold, and not the cold shoulder she’d just received.

She grabbed more blankets and pulled them around her, curling up on the bunk and hugging her knees. Payback climbed up to stand on them, putting him at eye level. He let out a squeak that sounded uncannily like a question.

“I’m okay,” she said.

Now she was lying to the parcel as well as herself. Payback tilted his head.

She raised her voice enough that she was sure Serac could hear her. “I know you guys are from ice planets, but could you maybe make it a little warmer in here?”

Payback turned toward the door and started chittering angrily. His fur turned bright red and let off a stronger glow.

“I can insulate the bunk room and maintain the temperature at a more comfortable level for you.” Yet again, Serac spoke from the cockpit. He didn’t even lean back so she could see him.

The door slid shut.

For a moment, her heart seemed to stop.

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