suit of hers. Clarabelle proved handy in other ways. She could weld and run electrical. Fix plumbing and mechanical stuff, but when it came to the actual instructions and numbers, she let the experts handle it.
“Hmm.” Ish clicked her beak a few times.
“What is it?” she asked, leaning in to glance at a screen filled with symbols and lines that meant nothing to her.
“You’re sure of those coordinates?”
“As sure as I can be of third-hand info. Why? What does the computer say?” Because Clarabelle couldn’t understand any of it.
Ish inclined her beak toward the screen. “Nothing because the system it leads to is closed.”
“Meaning what?”
“Meaning that information about its existence is restricted to inhabitants.”
“People can do that?”
“Some races are more private than others and don’t wish to advertise any weakness.”
“Do you think they’re human?”
“I know nothing.” Ishtara shrugged.
“Meaning they might be.” She smiled. “It would make sense. Why else keep it a secret?”
“There are many reasons to hide. You mustn’t assume.”
“Fine, I won’t assume shit until we see it for ourselves.” But Clarabelle couldn’t help the excitement as they travelled, and she wondered, had they finally found a home?
Her optimism fizzled when faced with reality. The moment they entered the protected star system, they encountered many planets, all of them appearing barren of intelligent life. Not a single projecting satellite or guard ship. Their communication system remained silent. Proof that only the most rustic of outposts existed in this galaxy or the silence before the spring of a trap?
What if it were simply because there wasn’t anything to find?
“I think you were sold some bad information,” Ishtara claimed.
Hard to disagree. Clarabelle watched the screen that provided a live video feed of the world they orbited. The planet indicated on her map.
It appeared barren of civilization. Definitely no visible buildings or even a basic spaceport. The coordinates led to a cleared section on the surface, really nothing more than a thin scar of short, scrubby grass amidst a blanketing green forest. From above, the giant blue lakes—massive enough to be called seas—were bordered by green and brown, trees and dirt, with a single sun in the sky. She couldn’t help but swallow.
“What’s wrong?” Ishtara immediately asked.
“This planet. It reminds me of Earth.”
Her friend cocked her head and squinted. “Not really, unless you mean before the humans razed the forests and paved it over to build their cities. Given the pristine state of this planet, I predict there are no humans in the vicinity.”
“That’s mean.”
“But true. Civilization tends to leave its mark.”
“Unless they’ve learned to live in harmony with their environment.” Not many species ever evolved to that extent. Even the Zonians had a tendency of razing areas to the ground for their villages.
“I think we made the voyage for nothing.” Ishtara pored over her screens, looking for signs of anything.
“Maybe what we seek is hidden for safety.”
“More likely it’s a trap.”
“Do you really think that?” She took her gaze from the planet to scan the space around them, keeping special watch on the orbiting moons that might hide enemies.
“Wouldn’t that be lovely?” Ishtara enthused at the prospect.
Zonians craved battle and confrontation. Thrived on chaos. Clarabelle didn’t mind, and yet it would be nice to not always have to hunt down her dinner or fight to keep her place. To return to a normal way of living like she used to enjoy.
“No smoke signs. No communications chatter.” Ish kept monitoring for any evidence of civilization.
“Could be they are underground?”
“Why would they live below the ground given the air is a perfect blend suitable for human lungs?”
Ish had already studied air quality and would probably test the foliage and local wildlife next. Clarabelle had a feeling it would be compatible as well.
“I didn’t say they did live underground, just mentioned it as a possibility.”
“I still don’t understand why. It doesn’t sound pleasant.”
Clarabelle’s nose wrinkled. “No, it doesn’t. I kind of hoped I’d live somewhere sunny.”
Looking upon the verdant world, she almost stated, “I’ve come home.” This planet was the closest she’d come to feeling as if she were back on Earth.
They landed in the strip of grass without fanfare. No one came to greet them, guns didn’t rise from the ground via hidden turrets to target, and sirens didn’t scream to noisy life.
Stepping out of the ship, she couldn’t help but notice the silence was broken only by the ticking of their cooling engine parts. There was a slight rustle of grass as a light breeze sluiced through it and the trill of