Page 19 of Dragon Me Through Space

“Compliment,” Preston replied.

Wayne had watched Scout with rapt attention. “Do you give it an internal command or is it preprogrammed to know based on the setting what you want it to do?”

Clearly, he was big into tech.

“Scout has a pretty advanced AI system that allows it to learn quickly. I presented several situations and explained the steps I wanted it to perform and how to alert me in my HUD and then I never had to explain it again.”

“Fascinating,” he whispered. “Wait … where’s your HUD?” He leaned across the table, leaning back and forth as he examined my face.

I tapped my temple. “Ocular HUD.”

That caused all of them to tense.

“Didn’t that hurt?” Gage asked.

Laughing bitterly, I explained, “The pain was worth having a permanent display for ensuring I stay safe, though I don’t think Charles realized how much this one upgrade would increase my chances of escape, or he probably wouldn’t have installed it.”

Their concerned faces weren’t making me feel better, so I decided to change the topic.

“So, what’s our next destination?” I asked as I cut up the waffle.

“We’ll continue on the path we set, stop at one or two ports along the way, but the next planet we’ll be stopping at is Exostalon,” Gage answered.

My fork clattered to the plate and fear seized up my entire body.

Scout beeped, flew out, and burst into a six inch in diameter drone with guns on each side of its body and a large, red light for an eye. It searched the room, trying to locate the source of my fear.

The Dragonkin all jumped to their feet, scales along their necks and arms, and claws from their fingertips.

“Scout, return,” I choked out, my voice barely above a whisper.

Scout made an angry beep.

“It’s okay, Scout,” I said after clearing my throat a few times to finally speak. “We’re safe. You can return.”

“How the fuck did your disc just turn into that?” Zeke demanded.

“Scout!” I snapped.

Scout buzzed, shrank, and slid back behind my ear.

“What was that?” Gage asked.

“I cannot get off the ship when you land on Exostalon,” I whispered and picked my fork back up, trying to act like nothing had happened. “And you cannot tell anyone I’m with you.”

“What happened on Exostalon?” Preston asked.

They all returned to their seats, but Zeke’s eyes were focused on Scout’s resting location.

I shook my head, chewing on a piece of waffle. Once I swallowed, I answered, “Nothing happened on Exostalon, I’ve never been there, thank the stars. However, they are the ones who destroyed my planet. They cannot know that I am alive.”

“You think they would try to kill you?” Preston asked, his head tilted sideways.

“Yes.” I nodded. “King Almarst will most certainly kill me if he knows I’m alive.” He’d probably make a spectacle about it and invite the entire planet to watch.

“Why did they destroy your planet?” Wayne asked.

“Because my mother backed out of a deal with them and caused them to lose face,” I explained. “They had a civil war not too long after destroying my planet and another planet. They squashed it, but lost a great deal. So much that they put a bounty out for anyone of my race.”