Now Where's That God-Ship

Many things in life are invisible: air, gravity, love, a cop when someone else speeds by, and a ship behind a chameleon shield. But even though they can’t be seen, they sure can be felt.

“No! Not that way!” I shouted.

“But we haven’t searched there yet,” Drock said.

He wasn’t wrong. We haven’t searched there because if we did, we’d walk straight through my ship’s chameleon shield, and then we’d have a real problem on our hands.

“I know, but let’s just leave that alone for now, and camp here.” Drock had many qualities I found annoying, but obeying was not one of them. He made camp without asking questions. In fact, everyone made camp. Somehow, I’ve been designated the leader of our little band of misfits. I don’t know when it happened. There wasn’t a vote, because if there were, I would have voted against myself.

Alora prepared a spot near me, giving us a chance to talk without being overheard.

“Does our illustrious potentate have a plan?” Alora asked.

“We’re ahead of the Elite Guard. That’s something.”

“Yeah, but do you know how we’re going to do this without revealing the ship to them?” Alora pointed to Grinfo, Drock, and the Knock-Woks.

“No idea. I was hoping you’d have something.”

“I might, but we really don’t want to get on Cleeber’s bad side. He doesn’t have to give us any dylanium.”

“True, but let’s hear it anyway.”

“They think we’re gods, so we use that to our advantage.” Alora moved closer. “I could plant the idea that we’re looking for our ship that sails without water. A god-ship, if you will. Then we pretend to conjure it, and then I turn off the chameleon shield. Presto. Our god-ship appears.”

“Cleeber will flip out.”

“Yeah, you’re probably right, but technically this won’t break his law. They still won’t know we’re aliens. They already believe gods can do miraculous things.”

“So, you’re saying this is a gray area?”

Alora rolled her eyes, “Hopefully Cleeber will see it that way.”

We put the plan into action while sitting around the campfire, and began to explain our god-ship to Drock, Grinfo, and the Knock-Woks, who, under the circumstances, took the revelation well. Grinfo took the news so well that he excitedly asked us to show it now. I’m a showman at heart; I should have flown with the Solar Circus, and just couldn’t resist his request. I spoke in gibberish, then nodded to Alora, and just like that, our ship appeared from nowhere.

The gang oohed and aahed, then broke out in applause.

I involuntarily bowed and thanked them.

Later, Cleeber, who still wore a chameleon suit, chidded me for revealing our technology to primitives. I assured him we did no such thing, and he seemed convinced that this could be a gray area. Although I could tell he hated gray areas. But for now, Alora’s plan worked perfectly.

“Thanks for the plan,” I said to Alora when we were alone.

“No problem.”

“You’re not like any android I've ever met. I’ve never seen one take charge as you do. They’re all programmed to obey, and frankly, most of them are stupid. No offence.”

She laughed. “None taken.” She hesitated, like she wanted to tell me something, but still hadn’t made up her mind. “I told you I wasn’t made on Earth.”

“Yeah, but that doesn’t explain why you are the way you are.”

“You’re right, but I’m just not sure I’m ready. It’s very personal.”

I didn’t understand why she would still be so reserved after everything we’ve been through, and I told her so.

“You have a valid point,” Alora agreed. “Okay, I’ll tell you.” She breathed deeply and then blurted it out. “I’m a cybernetic being. Not like you’re thinking: half flesh and half machine. I literally was born this way. My race comes from millennia of experiments to merge the mechanical with the biological. My generation is the seventh to incorporate the mechanical and meld it with the biological. I’m no more a machine than you are. I’m a biomechanical humanoid.”

She stopped and stared at me with fear. Her vulnerability scared her.

I carefully answered, “Thank you for sharing. I can see it wasn’t easy.”

“Most races detest half-breeds like me.”

“Not me. I promise. I’ve never been that way. If anything, I’m guilty of going too far in the opposite direction.”

I didn’t mean to say that. What did I just do? She’s going to laugh, or worse, ridicule me.

“I know Drew. I’ve seen the way you look at me, and I confess, I don’t mind. But we can’t allow ourselves to think of us right now. We need to focus on our present dilemma: the Elite Guard and the traitors, not to mention dylanium for our ship.”

She didn’t laugh or ridicule. My heart began pounding a thousand miles an hour. She hadn’t rejected me. I mean, she also said we can’t think about it right now, but I’m going to focus on the positive.

“You’re right, and I do have a plan, but before I share it, promise me that we will think about us after this is all over.”

She smiled and nodded.

I could literally fly off this planet myself. I felt so light and giddy, but I forced myself to calm down and focus.

“Okay,” I said. “Since we already dropped the chameleon shield, I think we can use it to our advantage. The Elite Guard isn’t far behind us. We hide here and wait for them to find our ship. Once they do, you can lower the ladder. If they climb into the ship, you can activate the ship’s anti-boarding defense and release the sleeping gas.”

“That’s actually a good plan.”

“Do me a favor and try not to look so surprised.”

She dropped her smile, “I mean, that’s a really good plan, and I’m not surprised in the least bit that you came up with it.”

After we all got a good night’s sleep, we remained hidden in the woods. We didn’t wait long before the Elite Guard discovered our ship. Alora lowered the ladder, and the idiots climbed in.

Now that we have a ship full of napping Elite Guards. I think it’s safe to say we’re getting close to ending this whole thing. We only have Targon and the traitors to deal with now, and I bet one of those guards will be more than willing to tell us their whereabouts after seeing Alora break a few logs in half.