Nick asked Petra questions and liked the answers he got, so, grinning like a maniac, he hurried to the cockpit. There was a hatch there, which Petra opened, then closed and locked behind him. It was a good thing, too, because apparently the previous hatch was in the process of being disabled, and Petra didn't have a good way to stop that from happening.

Just my luck—I finally get to set foot on an alien spacecraft, and a demonic John McClane from planet Satan is going to try to ruin my late Christmas present. Well, first things first.

"Petra, does this ship have a stealth mode?" His idea would still work without it, but it would be a nice touch.

"Yes, Nick."

"Sweet."

"This ship does not have a kitchen."

"Engage stealth mode, Petra."

"I don't understand, Nick."

"Turn on stealth mode."

"Yes, Nick. Closing door...door closed. Turning on stealth mode...stealth mode turned on. Question, are 'engaging' and 'engaged' correct English?"

"Yes. But we need to hurry. Target the fighter walking around the hill coming this way."

"I don't understand, Nick."

"Point... the ship... at the bad guy... and... shoot him."

"Question," Petra began, making Nick clench his teeth. But then she continued, "Confirm 'bad guy' correctly chosen?"

Oh. Yeah, that one's important. Nick let out a breath and looked. "Yes. Thanks for double-checking that, Petra."

"You're welcome, Nick." A hum started up somewhere and began growing in pitch and volume.

I really can't pretend I'm in a science fiction show very well when Petra needs half the words explained to her every time I give an order. Ah, well, it's my own fault for not teaching Petra more of the classics. Nick might have been a little bit giddy at controlling a real-life spaceship. A little.

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"Hatch 3 has been disabled."

That damped down Nick's good humor. This isn't a movie, he chided himself. If I fuck up, I die for real. I need a plan for that guy, and fast. But first...

Nick's breath caught as he felt the drop shuttle start to move. I'm flying a spaceship. I'm actually flying a spaceship.

Okay, Petra is, but same diff.

The shuttle started turning and drifting in the direction of the invader. After a few moments, the enemy stopped walking and stood there, watching. Nick realized that he could see some dust getting stirred up. Okay, stealth mode is more like "enemy ships can't see me on radar a thousand miles away," and less like, "I can tiptoe up to a ninja and boop him on the nose."

The armored soldier took one step backwards. Then another. Then he was walking backwards, and then he turned and started running for his life, zig-zagging down the slope. I think we may have lost the element of surprise. "Petra, move faster. Shoot the bad guy. Do it soo—!"

Petra fired.

Nick blinked hard. OW that's fucking loud! He looked, and he couldn't see the enemy. "What happened?"

"I moved faster and shooted the bad guy," Petra reported.

"Where is he?"

"He is not."

"What?"

"He is not."

Nick leaned back in the pilot seat, his mouth hanging open until he realized and closed it. "Damn, Petra! That's badass. Are there remains?"

"I don't understand, Nick."

"It means very good work, and are there any parts of him still there?"

"Yes, Nick."

"Show me." Just to clear up any possible miscommunication...

The forward screen zoomed in on a smoldering boot. Something blackened may have been sticking out of the boot just a bit. "All other parts are much smaller," Petra reported.

Nick might have stared longer, but he thought he could hear noises on the other side of the hatch. "Right. Petra, move the ship right up to the dungeon entrance, with the hatch facing the entrance. Leave just enough room to lower the ramp, and put the ship on the ground."

"Understood, Nick."

Really? No confusion? Nick replayed his words in his head. I guess maybe Petra understands all of those words... Nick squinted. Then he realized that the ship was flying sideways. To the right, specifically. Nick closed his eyes a moment, then watched as Petra otherwise followed the intent of his orders perfectly.

"Very good job, Petra."

"Thank you, Nick."

"Put me through to Jenkins."

"Hello, Nik!eh. Thank you. I see the bad guy outside is dead. You have two bad guys. One does not go. One is very close to you."

"Yes. Very. Help, please?"

"Open the door now. Do not shoot fuak!a in suit."

"Petra, open the hatch."

"'Hatch' is 'door'?"

"Yes." Nick had a moment of panic. "The outside door! The big outside door!"

"Yes, Nick. Opening hatch." He could hear the whine clear up in the cockpit, and then the clunk as it stopped. He breathed a sigh of relief. "Hatch is open, Nick." Then he tensed again as he heard more noises coming from the hatch behind him.

All right, Geh!kin, your turn to save my ass.

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