Astronomical Odds

+ Lie still +

> What are you doing? They will kill us <

+ I need to talk to you. We have a few minutes before they discover that I'm missing +

> How? What did you do? <

+ They taught me about concealment in my training, and I'm a woman with cosmetic supplies. Your people have them, yes? +

> Yes, but- never mind, What's so important that you had to do this? Why couldn't it wait until the morning? <

+ I don't know what's going to happen in the morning, but we need to be ready. They sent a machine to try to fix the drone and take my device away. I only barely stopped it +

> What does the device do? <

+ It can - it's supposed to - transport me out of danger if I'm captured. The power source was drained when they brought me here, or I would have done it immediately +

> What do you need to do to fix it? <

+ I just need the power hooked up to set the destination and start it up +

> How long will that take? <

+ Only a few moments, unless you damaged the connector +

> I'm sorry, I did what I had to, they were about to kill you <

+ I know. I appreciate what you did. I thought I had more time but I didn't +

> The drone was only superficially damaged. If you can crawl inside it- <

+ Yes! That might work. They will not let me near it, though! The repair drone that came to fix it called one of the weapon drones when I got close, I had to chase it away to keep it from taking anything, but can't get too close myself +

> It wants to keep you away from the device and the battery. What if I take it? <

+ That could work. But you do not know how to operate it, and if you connect it yourself they will probably still kill you +

> Then I will take it without the battery. We will need an excuse to bring them back together- <

+ An argument! You can chase me back to the drone. If we both climb in together- +

> Will you have room to work? <

+ It will be tight, but it must be done. If you are there they may hesitate to destroy the drone. They have some kind of plan for you- +

> I think it's like military training <

+ How so? There are no weapons +

> They might give me weapons later. First they would need to psychologically condition me, make me ready and willing to kill an enemy. Once I do it, maybe they will give me more and more strange creatures to kill until I just do whatever they say. They might give me a weapon then <

+ That's why they want you to kill me? To make sure you're able to do it +

> And overcome my resistance to doing it again <

+ I think you're right. How terrible! They told me you would try to kill me, and suggested I do it to you first. +

> I can only speak for myself, but I can't do it. Some of my people can do it, but I couldn't. Not you <

+ But why not? I'm not even one of your people. If we ever met, our people might go to war. Some of us are greedy and violent- +

> It is the same among my people. But there are good people also, and I believe among yours as well <

+ How can you be sure? +

> I can see your mind right now. You are a good person. I do not think you could hide it from me <

+ I can see yours as well. Barry- +

Hearing her "speak" his name between their minds brought him a rush. He struggled to stay focused.

> You should go. They will notice soon, you said <

+ There is something I must know +

> Are you sure now is the time? Can't it wait until we escape? <

+ No. If we are successful, we will both be on my homeworld. For the security of my people I need to know about you. I need to know the kind of MAN you are +

There was something terrible in the many deep implications of the way that idea stood out in her thoughts. For the first time, he was afraid of her.

> Ask, then. What is it you need to know? <

+ I am sorry to be so blunt, to alarm you. If I didn't think it was necessary- +

> The sooner you ask, the sooner I will stop being 'alarmed' <

+ Very well. Earlier you had a thought, just before you pulled away from me. You didn't want me to know. What was it? +

Shit. Not that. Anything but that. Steer away!

> I still don't want you to know. Why don't we talk about- <

+ But I must +

> Please, not that. Ask me anything but that <

+ You only make it more important that I know. What are you hiding from me? What is it that makes you so desperate to conceal? +

> It could jeopardize the relationship between our peoples! I want no part of that <

+ If you do not tell me, I will have to believe you are a danger to my world if you came to it with me. I will die before I let you endanger my people. Do you understand? +

> I still think it's a bad idea. Can I not have thoughts to myself? Is that not a critical part of individuality, of being a free person, to have thoughts that one does not have to share? <

+ The drones are searching for me right now. Do you see them? +

> I see the light through the trees <

+ We do not have time. You must tell me, or I will let them find me. I will go to the drone and let them shoot me for going after my device +

> Please, don't do that. We're so close! <

+ Then open yourself to me. Surely it is not so shameful that our shared experience cannot overcome it. I want so badly to bring you with me - to discover what our people have in common. What WE have in common! But you must do this +

> I want to come, too - to meet your people, to see your world - <

+ Here they come. Hurry! We will not have another chance to have this conversation +

> But- damnation! Very well. My people have two main genders. Male and female <

+ Mine as well. Continue +

> We have a certain... attraction. It goes beyond the desire to reproduce. We desire each other, in a physical way, male and female <

+ As do we +

> You look - I haven't seen you out of your clothes. But you very much resemble a female of my species. A very beautiful one, now that you're not hurt so badly <

+ Why does this frighten you? What else do I need to know? +

> It is a very personal thing, a coupling among us. Some of us, anyway. For me, certainly. It is a different kind of relationship than what we have. Very intimate <

+ It is inappropriate for us to test our species' compatibility in that way then? +

> Very much so, I think. I mean, eventually some among us would, but- <

+ But for the sake of establishing trust between us, we should not make that a part of what we do +

> Correct. I'm glad you understand <

+ But you thought of that because- +

> Please, no more. I've told you what my concern is <

+ They're coming +

> I know <

+ I'm sorry. I have to know everything. You thought of all that because...? +

> Because I'm strongly attracted to you. As a male is to a female among my people <

+ Then it's only fair that I tell you something +

> You should go. It can wait <

+ No. It's not fair of you to tell me and then not tell you myself. If we die tomorrow- +

> Make your peace then. Just hurry! They're almost here! <

+ I'm attracted to you, too. I knew as soon as you started leaving me the good food you were trying to help me, at your own expense. I hoped I knew what kind of man you would be if we were bonded. And now I know that, even if we had first met under the great trees as tradition dictates instead of here, that I would accept your courtship request +

A thrill shot through him, and her thoughts and body both pounded with mirrored arousal. The images of giant trees forming a massive canopy over our heads floated into their consciousnesses; vaguely he got the impression of embracing in a shower of falling leaves carried by the wind.

> Do your people... kiss? <

Images flashed through his head, movies he had seen, even real people and the abstracted impressions of his own encounters. He tried, but could not keep the powerful memories to himself. They were images he knew she could see, and felt her absorb them with interest, though she did not send any back.

+ If we succeed, I will tell you +

> I will take your device from the drone. That will let you approach it and get inside. I will leave the battery <

+ That is a good idea. You must join me, remember. They will destroy the drone and me without you there once the parts come together +

> We can stage a skit for the benefit of our captors. You can try to steal some of the food from the box when it arrives <

+ Or I can actually steal it. The dried fruit is good. I have a lot of reason to succeed! +

She grinned mischeivously.

> So if you take it, and return to the drone where you can pretend to fight me off while you eat- <

+ Forget that I am still hurt. You must make it look real as long as you can. Just leave my hands free +

> I will do my best. I mean worst. I mean- <

+ I know what you mean +

> They can see us <

The light of a drone fell over them. Instinctively, he reached for her throat to force her off where she had him pushed up against the tree. She let go of his mouth and grasped at his wrist; he was not being gentle, and she did not have to pretend to struggle for air. They doubted their captors would be fooled by anything less than a real fight, and so did not hold back. She scrabbled at his arm with sudden ferocity, and he turned his head to avoid her fingers digging into his eyes. He managed to turn her around as she attempted to rise to escape, and pin her against the tree. Light filled the glass orb, bright as the day cycle, showing the other drones closing in on them.

IT IS AS WE WARNED YOU. HER TREACHERY KNOWS NO BOUNDS. WE HAVE DETERMINED THE MEANS BY WHICH SHE HAS HIDDEN HERSELF. WE WILL PREVENT HER FROM SUCH METHODS IN THE FUTURE. RELEASE HER AND WE WILL IMPLANT A TRACKING DEVICE. WE WILL WARN YOU BEFORE SHE CAN THREATEN YOU AGAIN. ONCE MORE YOU ARE ORDERED TO BE QUICK IN DISPOSING OF HER. STAND BACK NOW, UNLESS YOU WILL END HER LIFE IMMEDIATELY.

The voice spoke out in her language. His head was pressed to the back of hers, and he heard the echo of the meaning of the words from her before he broke contact:

YOU ARE IN VIOLATION OF RULES AGAINST CONTACT AT NIGHT. YOUR METHODS HAVE BEEN COMPROMISED. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO HIDE YOURSELF AGAIN. WE WILL BE IMPLANTING A TRACKING DEVICE SHORTLY; ANY FURTHER ATTEMPT TO VIOLATE CONTACT RULES WILL BE MET WITH LETHAL FORCE-

He pulled away from her, stunned. She had to know now that they were serious about him killing her. He hoped she didn't do anything foolish. What he felt from her just before he'd broken contact was that she was preparing to take a risk of some kind - a big one. But there wasn't time to ask her about it, and as one of the drones clamped onto her arm and lifted her by the wrist as it prepared a syringe. Until their plan went into effect tomorrow, they had to be separated. And if it failed, they were both dead. Riöna shrieked in pain as the syringe injected something into her arm. The drone drifted slowly, carrying her away as she kicked; hanging from her arm was not doing her injury any favors. The glass orb of the prison began to fade into darkness of night cycle once more. With the last of the light, Barry ran to the wrecked drone and pulled her device out and put it in his pocket. Drones had spotlights which illuminated more dimly as they rose and then finally disappeared through the exit hatch. The final drone dropped Riöna on the far side of the glass cage, and then vanished overhead. Night, and silence, returned. He rested, though unable to sleep.

When morning came, he sat and waited by the usual food box delivery spot, turning Riöna's device over and over for inspection. He couldn't make out any of the symbols on the buttons; it wasn't clear if they were letters or pictograms. Riöna watched, pale and sullen, sitting in the shade of a nearby tree. Food finally arrived, with the usual explosion of noise. Immediately he attacked the box, pulling free wafers and sausage sticks and tearing into them greedily. Riöna took this moment of inattention to knock him off balance, snatch both bags of the fruit chips, and take off running.

"That's it! When I'm done eating, I'm coming for you!" he called in an angry voice.

He ate carefully, deliberately. The remains of the tree branch that had been shredded was exactly where he'd left it, in the tree he'd slept under last night. Scraping the end against the sharp corners of the downed drone had given it an imposing yet crude stake shape.

Riöna's device was in his pocket. He resisted the urge to pat it, wanting not to draw any attention to it, no matter how tempting it was to do. His only solace was the knowledge that it was useless until the battery was connected.

"Alright, come out of there and face your destiny!" he called.

Riöna had upended the food box full of dirt and wafers and water; the resulting half-dried sludge lay in a pile which further obscured the drone's cargo compartment where she was hiding. The box itself was also tipped over, leaning against the drone as if to make a door.

There was no answer.

"Last warning before I'm coming in to get you!"

She said something from inside, muffled by the food box. Not that he could have understood her anyway.

With a battle cry, Barry dove towards the drone and crawled sideways under the food box, using the stake as a stilt for his hand to crawl over the muddy dirt pile without having to sink too far into it. Riöna's legs slipped out of the muck to wrap around his waist and pull him in close to her before he could pull the stake free. He kicked, struggling with her grip, but tried not to put weight on her injury. Her hand went behind his head and pulled his forehead to her cheek.

+ I need the transporter device +

> It's in my pocket, if you'll quit blocking it with your leg, you're wrapped around me right where it is <

+ You'll have to free yourself, I'm fighting for my life here +

> I understand <

Barry grabbed onto the arm behind his head with his left hand for leverage, and then with his right he disentangled Riöna's leg and forced it up over his shoulder. They fell to his left, and he pulled her gadget from his pocket and held it up right where her hand was behind his head. Both of his hands now gripped her hand and pushed it back up over her head. Her leg over his right shoulder shifted to trap his right arm against his side, and she took that opportunity to seize her device with both hands and started fiddling with it in the dark corner of the cargo compartment. It was barely big enough for either of them to squat in under normal circumstances, but with two of them in there and the wet pile of dirt at the entrance, it was nearly impossible to see what we were doing. They had to trust it was for the captors as well; they had no idea how much could be seen through the drone's walls.

He felt a shift in her thoughts. She was concentrating on the device. A surge of elation flowed; the battery was connected. He also sensed her discomfort; she was lying on her injury, and the bandage was pushing into her side painfully. I thrashed, giving my best impression of trying to free my right hand, which shifted her off of it. The pain subsided somewhat.

+ Are you good with machines? +

> Yes, I design them as my main occupation at home. Or I did, I should say <

+ I wish you knew our symbols, you might be better at this than I am +

> Let me see it. Maybe... <

The buttons glowed dimly in the darkness, enough that my eyes were able to make them out as they adjusted to the lower light.

He focused on a button, letting her see through his eyes.

+ That one opens the menu +

> What about this one? <

+ Exit current screen, or go back a step +

> And the next? <

+ Changes the buttons to a different mode where you enter text +

> Good to know. What am I looking for? Where is the transport mode? <

+ First screen. Second row, first button takes you there +

> Got it <

+ Look for the - it looks like this +

He saw a picture of the screen from her memory.

> I see it <

+ Be careful. Once the device powers the module, they will detect it in that screen. Entering the numbers takes too long. I was only halfway done when you stopped me last time +

> What can we do? <

+ I don't know. I need to enter the numbers from memory +

> Maybe there is another way <

+ I don't know of one. How would that work? +

> Is there another way to type in numbers than manually by hand? <

+ There might be, I don't know +

> How does the device itself work? <

+ I don't know, I am a realtor and neighborhood orientation consultant, I work with people, not machines +

> Show me what you do with it <

I caught a fast flash of various uses for the device; fortunately meanings were attached to all the text flowing across the screen, and I saw words instead of indecipherable symbols. Their language started to make sense to me, but more than that, I saw how the programs interacted. There could be a way, if the transport program was designed to work with the drag-and-drop feature.

> I need the regular text input screen <

+ Regular? You mean for writing letters? +

> Yes <

+ Root screen. Top row, last button. It looks like this +

I saw an image of the pictograph, highlighted in her mind.

> Got it <

+ It doesn't do anything by itself, you have to drop it into the missive screen to send a message +

> It's fine, we can use it. Now I need to know exactly what you enter when you use the transport program <

+ I will show you the first screen. I don't know how it all works, they just made us memorize the way to enter the numbers and start the jump +

> That's all I need <

+ First there is a box, you have to type this letter to go to the transport mode +

> Good. I've put it into the text program. How do I move to the next line? <

+ Down symbol. Looks like this +

> I see it <

+ Then you turn off the training mode, these two letters together +

> I don't know if I can - wait, it made a new symbol when I did that, look <

+ That's a compound letter that we use for different tenses. If you're referring to the past tense- +

> I'd love to hear about it, but we need to keep going <

+ -You're right, sorry. What else do you need? +

> OK, down a line. Now what is the next step? <

+ Now you select 'immediate transport' because we aren't waiting for something to happen, we want to go now +

> Show me the screen <

+ Here. I guess you want the first letter to activate it +

> Yes. Next line. What then? <

+ Then you need to enter the numbers. It's ten sets of five numbers +

> Here, you enter them, you know them well, correct? <

+ Yes, I had to enter them perfectly every day in training. Down to the next line for every set? +

> Yes, let's try that <

+ I hope this works. We only get to try once +

> I'm not so sure about that. Let me try something when you're done <

+ You're making me nervous. Why don't we just try it? +

> You said you got to halfway through the numbers. Maybe we can keep it in training mode and see how this works. If it puts the numbers in for you, then it might be able to run the whole screen sequence before they kill us <

+ Oh. I think you can exit training mode part way through. If the numbers work, we can do that afterwards! Why didn't I think of that? +

> You were under stress, it happens all the time <