In Search of Home

Chapter 87

"-And for you, my favorite little human, a flavorful dish of meat - Chorsl and Xrshak, y'know - some vegetables - I snuck some of the taproots from our lord's garden before we got onto The Conquest, don't tell him that, though - and topped with some little herb a human told me that tasted like... sill-ant-roh? I am not sure what they meant, if I am completely honest, little beast, but there were like, five humans nodding along, so I had to agree. You are scary enough, Kohgrash, but five humans? No, I did not want to try my luck. Earlier, when I was working the dinner rush, this human came out of nowhere, completely blended in with the surroundings, let me tell you, and I almost stomped on them! Thankfully, I am used to you being underfoot, not that you really go anywhere near my feet, of course, but you are just so small that I've gotten used to watching where I step. Anyway, I managed to get out of there without crushing any humans - oh, you're finished already?" 

Viktor, who had actually been taking his time with the soup, nodded. Thruul talked a lot. It was odd that he was on the receiving end of it, though. Usually, it was all directed at Vok'Rul. 

Speaking of which, the alien was making some headway with the calculations needed to make the trip. The entire crew in the cockpit looked stressed, but less so than before, and much more hopeful. 

After Thruul collected everyone's dishes, beaming with the praises and compliments they showered him with, Ghhvresh collected everyone's attention in the cockpit. 

"Everyone," she said loudly, spreading her arms out. "We have successfully figured out the calculation needed to make a safe trip to Planet Earth without harming our guests. We will do a small, short hop through the Drive to test our solution. Should it fail, the humans should feel slight discomfort. If it succeeds, no harmful effects shall befall them."

Vok'Rul looked put out, probably not happy with the fact that there was even the possibility of pain for the humans, but he didn't protest. The countdown started again, loudly announced by the intercom alien. Viktor sat up in his chair, bracing himself.

"3... 2... 1... Drive initiated."

There was an odd pressure around his ribs and neck. Viktor held himself so tensely that he was certain that any sort of touch would snap him in half. Instead of hot agony streaking up and down his body, Viktor felt the pressure ebb away. 

"Test Drive completed," the alien announced, a slight waver in their voice that showed their nervousness. 

"Are you alright, Kohgrash?" Vok'Rul immediately descended on him. Viktor gave him a thumbs-up, and they both ignored how his hand trembled. 

"Yeah, all good," he reported. 

"Much better trip than last time," Ezekiel chimed in. Pedro agreed with a nod, though he definitely looked a little queasy. 

"Excellent," Vok'Rul breathed a sigh of relief. He patted Viktor's head before turning back to Captain Ghhvresh. 

Viktor looked out the window. The black void of space greeted him. They were in the middle of nowhere; not a star, planet, or asteroid to keep them company. He was glad that he was inside the ship. One turn and he'd be lost out there with no way to come back. It was terrifying, but it filled him with awe. He was in space. 

He. Was. In. Space! 

"Wow, there's really nothing out there," Pedro hummed. Viktor heard the others shifting to look out the large arching windows, too. 

"I cannot wait to see Earth," Nikolas said quietly. Viktor wasn't too sure about how he felt. He wanted to see Earth, sure, but this was cool, too! It didn't help that he felt nervous about seeing his home planet again.