Chapter 6

Nessa's implant flashed purple, and she waited until the flashing had faded into a message: Upload complete.

"Well, I have the app," she announced, tapping her implant.

"Good for you," Kommer said.

His tone was dry, and his voice was monotone. An idea hit Nessa.

"So, is there a reason we're not producing our own supplies?" She asked with a rush of excitement at getting in on exclusive, confidential information.

A few blinks verified that Kommer was still awake.

"The elder race shut our factories down eons ago," Kommer said.

He gave her a sad smile and added, "At least that's what I'm told."

Nessa's mind drifted to the Capital Basin. Screams pierced the air. A hexagonal flight contraption descended. Creatures of different colors and sizes clutched hatchlings, and leaned into the wind. Gusts of Basin wind swirled around them, and forced itself against them.

The hexagon met the ground. Hatches opened. The creatures stopped, standing shoulder to shoulder, and gazed at the ship and the domes and cubes beyond it. White vapor puffed from tiny towers on the cubes.

A snapping of fingers startled Nessa back to the present.

"What's your plan?" She muttered, her words slurring slightly.

She rubbed her eyes and blinked. She was still there. In the Great Dome. Kommer had his arms crossed and his eyes rolled toward the ceiling.

"I need you to go to a neutral home-world," he said. "Preferably to establish trade, but I'd be happy with nourishment packets to buy us time."

"How did coming here to get answers become me running an errand for you?"

"You have the answers," Kommer replied. "This is the solution. If you don't want to, I'll find someone else."

"But there might not be time to find someone else," Nessa put the pieces together. "This is a big ask, Kommer. It really is."

"I know," he agreed.

Nessa moved over to the convex glass. She gazed into the night sky, dotted with tiny white lights.

"Which one?" She asked.

She spun around to look at Kommer.

"Which home-world?"