Page 59 of Alien Jeopardy
“Each of you are on a path I’ve created in the night. Each path will lead you through a set course of obstacles I tailored for each pair. If you go off the path, you will meet an untimely end. If you stay on the path, you have a chance at either meeting a more timely end or continuing on.”
A more timely end? Is Ken still talking about dying? Or just ending… the game?
I don’t know, but I’m going to assume the worst.
Normally, I wouldn’t call myself a cynic, but right now? Assuming the worst is probably the best way to survive.
“The paths will ultimately lead to the control room, though you will be forced to meet along the way, and when you do, only one pair will be allowed to move on.”
A pause.
I slide my hand into Rex’s, grateful we decided to have sex last night, beyond glad I’m no longer in heat, and grateful that I picked him as my partner. He makes me feel safe, and holding his hand reminds me that no matter how awful this is, I’m not alone.
We are in this together, for better or worse.
“No, Poppy, you can’t just decide to quit.”
Another pause, and my heart picks up at Poppy’s name. She’s trying to quit? She got us into this, and now she’s going to quit?
“Because you signed a contract; you all signed a contract.”
I inhale deeply. Poppy is a lawyer. “She knows the contract terms,” I tell Rex. This is important. I wish I could hear whatever she’s telling the AI to get it all in a huff.
“It does not specifically list fighting to the death as terms of the show—” Ken’s voice cuts off, and Rex squeezes my hand.
“Of course you have a problem with the contract being replaced by my authority.” Ken sounds sulky, if an AI could be sulky. “I want to produce a much more interesting show.”
Hope springs in me, and I desperately wish I could hear Poppy right now.
She got us into this mess, and even though that pisses me off, I know with all my heart that if anyone can get us out of it, it’s Poppy.
“Well, I didn’t know that,” the AI says, and there is definitely an annoyed, self-righteous tone now. “How could I have? I’m a more intelligent life form than any of you, but I’m not omniscient. We will discuss this without everyone listening.” The voice snaps off, and the noisy sounds of the forest all around us restart.
“What is Ken No Privates talking about?” Rex asks me in a hushed tone.
The uncontrollable urge to giggle hits me, and I slap a hand over my mouth, knowing full well I better not laugh at this. Pissing off Ken, who holds our lives in the palm of his non-existent hand, is probably a real, real bad idea.
“Ah, I think my friend, Poppy, is trying to negotiate with Ken. She’s a lawyer, and contract law is her specialty.”
“Fascinating.” Rex does, in fact, seem fascinated, and I shouldn’t be annoyed at that. It’s not like last night meant anything to me. Sure, it was the best sex of my entire life, but it was mostly a means of making sure I didn’t die because the heat drove me out of my mind. “She is very intelligent, then, yes?”
“She’s the reason we’re all here,” I snap at him. “This was her idea.”
He stops, tilting his head at me, and when understanding lights his eyes, I scowl.
A wing brushes against my arm, and then he’s holding me tight. “You’re angry with me?”
“No.” It comes out as glum and petulant as Ken just sounded. “We should probably keep moving.”
“We should, but I want to know why you are upset.”
“Poppy.” The name drags out of me.
“It sounds like she is doing her best to help all of us. Help me understand. You are still angry about being here?”
Frowning, I mutter the real reason under my breath, feeling stupid.
“Did you say you were jealous? Because I said her appeal to Ken No Privates based on the contract was intelligent?”
