Human Ingenuity

The Sisalik commander stared at me for a moment, his double eyelids blinking at me slowly. If I wasn't on a spaceship under the control of an AI, I would have thought that my video feed had frozen.

"Well, Commander?" I said after a moment had passed. "Do you have an explanation?"

"We sent out the distress call. I have no control over who receives it or who answers it," came the answer that was not an answer.

I cracked my neck, trying to figure out how I could reach through the screen and strangle someone.

"We are on our way," I said with a dismissive wave of my hand. It was more than clear that he would not respond to my questions, and I was well aware of what I was getting into.

"We?" hissed the Sisalik commander.

"Yes, me and my ship. Who else were you expecting?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

"That being behind you," answered the alien quickly, his eyes going to Midnight and then back to me.