Coran stood at attention “I can with 78% certainty that it did, Princess.”
Pidge’s computer beeped, and she adjusted her glasses. “I think they’re asking to dock. They just sent a message.”
“What does the message?” Alurra asked.
Pidge tapped her keyboard, and the message took a bit to decode. It wasn’t a language it had seen before, but then before the computer could translate the message a second was sent, in English.
“They’re asking for help,” Pidge answered. “Apparently they speak our language.”
Alurra nodded. “Coran, make the necessary arrangements for our guests. Pidge and I will go meet them.”
“Right away, princess!” Coran bowed and turned back to his control panel, muttering to himself. Pidge got to her feet, but she staggered as she walked. New people were exciting, but a bed sounded much more exciting.
Alurra touched Pidge’s shoulder. “Perhaps I should greet our guests alone?”
Pidge shook her head. “I’m good. And besides, I wanna hear what happened to them.”
The two made their way to the Red Lion hanger. Keith had been working with the Blade of Marmora to destroy what was left of Zarkon’s forces. It had been two weeks since he had last checked in, but that wasn’t unusual for Keith. Before that he didn’t check in for three months.
As for Lance and Hunk, they were looking for Matt, Pidge’s missing older brother, and so far weren’t having any luck with that. Whatever refugee or rebel group had taken him, Matt was very well hidden. Same with Shiro, although whatever had happened to him was still a mystery.
The Castle of Lions for the past year had served as a temporary government for the many species who weren’t quite ready to govern themselves. Which was a surprisingly small number, considering that most of these species had been under a dictatorship for 10,000 years. Freedom was infectious, and most people after being liberated were more than happy to rule themselves.
The hangar doors opened, and both of them gawked at what laid before them.
It looked like a bunch of space garbage tied with cords and melted together by someone who was drunk and half awake. The shapeless device was smoking, and occasionally an exposed wire sparked. Pidge couldn’t tell if it had a front end or a back door or anything. There were skid marks across the hanger floor, like it had spun when it docked.
A piece of the ship came flying off it, skidding across the floor. A woman stepped out, cradling a bag like her life depended on it. She staggered out, her eyes wide, and she fell to her knees. Scared and confused didn’t begin to cover it.
They both ran forward. Pidge’s first thought was that she was a refugee, but a refugee travelling with only two companions was unusual. Refugees usually were crowded into large ships, and traveled in groups. Three refugees was suspicious.
Alurra helped the woman to her feet. “What’s your name?”
The woman’s eyes widened, and she muttered in some foreign language. Alurra shook her head. “I’m afraid I don’t understand.”
“You speak his language?” The woman said. “I should’ve expected as much.”
“Who’s language?” Alurra asked. “Please, do you have a name? I’m Princess Alurra, this is Pidge.”
The woman stared at them both, as if she half-recognized them. “I’m... I’m Aliin.”
“Aliin,” Alurra repeated. “What did you mean by ‘his language’?”
“You people speak the same language Shiro did.”
They both glanced at each other, both of them having the same thoughts in their heads. Pidge cried “You know Shiro?” at the same time Alurra asked, “Is he alright? How do you know him?”
Aliin smiled, looking a little relieved and confused. Tears sprang to her eyes, but she managed to choke out, “I’m... I’m his wife.”
