Page 14 of No Strings Attached

A pulse.

“Will you fight by our sides to get off this asteroid?”

A pulse.

Vi thought for a moment, then asked, “Were you able to move before we started singing?”

Two pulses.

“So, we need to sing in order to keep you alive?”

A pulse.

“Are you at full strength now?”

Two pulses.

“OK, so we need to sing more to get you up to snuff. Since I can’t understand your communication to learn your name, I’m going to give you one so that I can refer to you. Is that OK?”

A pulse.

She thought about it, then said, “’Emerald’ seems too obvious. How about ‘Malachite.’”

A pulse.

She lifted her voice so that everyone could hear, “Hey guys, we’re going to call this…um, gentleman, ‘Malachite.’ Got it?” She got a susurration of assents and suddenly hoped the Mineralite wasn’t female.

She looked at it again, then asked, “Do you get any energy from only one of us singing?”

A pulse and a pause, followed by two pulses.

“You get some, but not enough?”

A pulse.

“OK, then until we get out of here, I want you to hit the bars of the cage twice when you need us to sing for you. Can you do that?”

The Mineralite swung its arm forward and hit the cage twice. The sound reverberated throughout the room.

“Excellent. Do that before you get too weak for action. We need you ready at a moment’s notice. We’ll sing something for you again as soon as I get through the other cages.”

A pulse.

Violet turned and walked toward the last cage on the opposite wall, holding the giant snail that was currently suckered to the bars topping the cage.

Then she turned back to the Mineralite, a realization occurring to her. “What’s happening to his food if he doesn’t eat?”

Friend spoke up, “Caussus pulls it into his cage and gives it me! Ilovehim.”

She eyed Caussus who was looking a little diffident, then walked back over to the snail’s cage and spoke to the room in general. “Anyone know anything about this snail?”

“Madam, I do not believe it is sentient,” Caussus said.

Acken bellowed, “They’re delicious!” Then laughed heartily.

She narrowed her eyes and responded without turning, “Remember, oh legendary warrior, your promise not to eat any of us? This snail’s one of us.”

“Surely you do not believe it will fight alongside us?” Acken asked, disbelievingly.

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