Imminent Danger: And How to Fly Straight Into It Read Online Free PDF

the spacecraft seemed to leap forward through the void. Matter stretched, and Eris thought she could actually feel the molecules of her body being pulled apart. It was disconcerting, it was mind-numbing, and it was very painful.
    Mere seconds later, thankfully, the ship slowed and the pain faded.
    “Are you all right?” Miguri asked.
    “Ow,” Eris said eloquently, feeling a deep ache in her joints.
    “Yes, it does take getting used to,” he agreed.
    The intercom blared to life again. “Pull complete. All crew return to their stations. We will enter orbit in three days. That is all.”
    Miguri scrambled to his feet. “Eris,” he said, “how did you know we were going to the Sirius system?”
    “Grashk told me.”
    “Did he say why?”
    “Apparently they’re going to sell me to a Vekrori agent, whatever that means.”
    Miguri’s hair spiked in alarm. Before Eris could react, he skittered off toward the control booth. “Excuse me,” Miguri twittered up at Grashk. “Is it wise to enter the Sirius system? I did not think the Ssrisk were welcome there.”
    Grashk hissed derisively. “The Ssrisk are feared throughout the galaxy, Claktill. They are welcome in no system but their own.”
    “But if we go too near Sirius A, the Psilosians will blow us out of the sky.”
    “That is why we go to Sirius B,” Grashk snapped. “The black market in the Sirius B asteroid belt still holds out against all Psilosian attempts to shut it down. Captain Hroshk plans to meet his agent there and sell the human for a hefty profit.”
    “Sirius B? Is that a planet?” Eris asked.
    Grashk phhh -ed. “Foolish terrestrial. Sirius B is a white dwarf star, part of the binary Sirius star system.”
    “And Sirius A?”
    “The larger star. Its second planet is Psilos, home to the Psilosians.”
    Eris tilted her head. “And you’re not worried about the Psilosians?”
    “Worried? Phhh! We have been at war with Psilos for over three thousand years! The arrogant, idealistic Psilosians degrade us at every opportunity and refuse to acknowledge our superiority. It is enough to rot one’s tail fins.”
    A species that doesn’t let the Ssrisk roll right over them? I think I’m going to like the Psilosians, Eris thought. “So they aren’t a warrior race like yours?”
    The blue alien scoffed. “Psilosians believe equality, peace, and kindness are the way to achieve a proper balance in the galaxy.”
    “And the Ssrisk, of course, know that the only way to achieve balance is by conquering everyone.”
    “Yes!” Grashk hissed. “Then all will grovel equally before us! You are more perceptive than I anticipated, human.”
    Just as Eris began to think he was starting to warm up to her, the Ssrisk said, “Enough of your high-pitched chattering. Return to your cells.”
    “I’m going to get some sleep,” Eris whispered to Miguri as they parted ways.
    He nodded. “Sleep well, my friend.”
     

5
    E ris awoke sometime later and went looking for Miguri. She spotted him emerging from the washroom cell looking clean and refreshed.
    “Is there a shower in there?” she asked hopefully.
    “Indeed,” he replied. “Come, I will show you.”
    They went into the washroom cell, and Miguri demonstrated how to use the shower controls. After Miguri left, Eris stepped into the shower unit, fully clothed as he had instructed. A pulsating sensation washed over her body, almost like being hit with waves of warm, scented water, except there was no water involved. Well, that’s one for the history books. A dry shower. Who ever heard of a dry shower?
    Eris emerged from the washroom and saw Miguri perched on the sill of his cell door picking bits of fluff from his furry tail. As she walked toward him, he looked up and said, “Excellent timing, my friend. Breakfast should arrive in a few minutes.”
    She snapped her fingers. “You just reminded me! Can you explain something to me?”
    “I will certainly try.”
    “It’s the way you talk about