Page 68 - Demo

now and again he would look at me, smiling, frowning. He used his unnatural wingspan to do the work of two people as he pulled the dual safety latches on some sort of override before sitting himself next to me. He sighed contentedly as he buckled himself in.
“We’re all set partner.” he concluded, apparently relocating his shoulder.
“I’m not sure those are the parameters of our relationship, but I’m open to renegotiation if you are.” I said as the ship began to rumble. Three long sonorous tones sounded out, before a loud fwumph.
“And we’re off!” he smiled as I heard a hiss, the window suddenly changing from darkened durasteel to the open, regnant star spangled black fabric of space. I watched as my new life hurtled by, accelerating as if carried by some unseen hand before simply winking out.
“We’re not on the transport ship?” I asked, confused.
“No. It was heading to the wrong place, unfortunately. We’ll have to get up to speed the old fashioned way, once we’re in something more than a durasteel bathtub. Speaking of, I know just the thing.” he returned to the console and pressed a button.
“This is highly illegal, you know. Kidnapping a citizen of the Cooperative.” I interrupted.
“I mean, it was just a suggestion. And you did open the door. And authorise the launch of this escape pod.” he replied.
“You threatened me with force.”
“That’s true. But it was for the greater good.” he looked at me solemnly.
“The ends justify the means? You haven’t even told me what you want from me.
What could be so important to hold a life against it?”
“Let’s say you looked into the heavens, as you did when we left. Can you ascribe
to me, then, any other planes of existence beyond our own?” (Plato 380 BCE, 529a1) he deflected, close lipped.
“No, I have no evidence of such.” I responded, I could feel my frustration rising.
“Let’s say you were to then see another plane. A lower one, two-dimensional and flat.