While Aspen began having a mental breakdown Xochitl assessed their situation. She looked around while patting Aspen's sobbing cries into her shoulder. Bartel-B moved closer to the trio
"My name is Bartel-B" said a woman's voice from the robot like machine "I am here for any needs or questions you have. I will be assigned to your group please choose a room." The girls looked around and chose rooms at the far end of the large auditorium that it seemed they were in. The rooms were not especially close to any other individuals. The girls walked together into a room and Bill chose the one next to them.
"One individual per room please." the robot requested.
"But we want to room together...." started Xochitl
"One individual per room please." The robots black magnetic looking parts began to glow red.
"Okay, okay, one individual per room, I get it. Aspen take this room, I'll be on the other side of you." Aspen nodded her head in agreement with Xochitl. The robot followed Xochitl out and scanned Aspens and Bill room with a wide green light.
"Your rooms have been assigned. Your assigned restrooms will link the females of this group together. The facilities include individual wash rooms with the necessary equipment from your home planet including your preferences based on your DNA and memories. A simple analysis states that the three of you are under nourished and require H2O replenishment. I can produce most things found on your planet at your request."
"I personally require a beer." joked Bill to his dismay Bartel-B produced a beer promptly.
"I think Aspen needs a cup of water so two cups of water please." Replied Xochitl once again Bartel-B promptly produced both drinks.
"So, where are we robot?"asked Bill
"Please address me as Bartel- B. We are in the 7th pilot realm of the balance. There are a total of 10 realms currently open to those who can navigate between Pilots. Your realm refers to these as 'parallel universes'. The man who runs this ship is the captain of this ship N927480 he refers to the ship as 'The Caliber'. Captain Rory belongs to the first Pilot formally known as the ruling 'The consuming Pilot'. The Consuming Pilot takes humans from other pilots to serve the Queen of the Consuming Pilot. She is building an army to take over all other pilots."
"Oh fuck." Xochitl whispered
"Please refrain from using foul language aboard the Caliber. This ship is specially designed to navigate through the portals that link the pilots together. However, finding the correct portal can take time and adjustment for the ship before the jump can navigate to the next Pilot. It will take several weeks before we reach the final pilot."
"Are we still in the 7th pilot?" blurted out Bill
"We will remain on the 7th pilot for approximately three more days. Escape is impossible." Bartel B remained quiet waiting for another command, request or question.
"What if there was a massive eruption within the ship?" Bill thought idly out loud with a hand rubbing the base of his chin.
"There are of course escape pods with beacons that allow other ships find the ships at the next livable planet." But Bill remained deep in thought "Escape is impossible." repeated the Bartel-B. The girls continued to drink their water also deep in reflection in their own thoughts. The impending truth was devastating. They would never see their loved ones again. Xochitl clutched her chess. Never seeing her family again was a blow to her heart. Wasn't is her who insisted that they embark on another adventure? It was at her behest that they left the safety of the cabin. Now they were so far away from home. Could she ever return? She must return to home there were so many faces she could not live without.
Aspen walked to Xochitl's room Xochi followed suit. The invisible string that linked them always pulled one to the other. She wasn't even sure her father would know that she was missing. They never did communicate. He often gave her the impression that she was better off dead rather than alive. He often treated her like a pebble within his shoe that he couldn't get rid of. Was this her new existence, did she even miss her home? Sure she missed Xochitl's home and the warmth, but somewhere in her heart it felt like she didn't belong there among the happy. She felt somehow displaced as if her existence was better off as a question rather than a statement. Aspen sank onto Xochi's bed in her room deep in thought.. Xochi in mean time took off her bag and unloaded some of the items by tipping the bag upside down and letting the contents fall onto the bed beside Aspen.
This was somewhat a bad idea as Xochi's bag often had odds and ends stuck in the bottom of the bag. Xochi was a firm believer that trash should be thrown in trash cans and so when they were on a hike together Xochi would stuff her bag with wrappers and other things they found in the woods that did not belong there. The problem with this was the fact that Xochi often forgot to empty the bottom of the bag. Out spilled an array of wrappers and odds and ends. This included an eraser from a local tourist site, a pen, a couple of fresh bubblegum, finally she noticed a bright red paperclip. This was potentially linked to her constant last minute work while playing. She held it up to inspect its brightness. Even though the walls constantly shifted from color to color it did not take away from the beauty of a brightly lit object.
"Looks to me like you found a way out of here." stated Bill
"Huh" she questioned turning her head back to the paper lip.
"That little thing might be our ticket out of here." he said hurriedly. She only lifted her eyebrows and cocked her head to the side unable to understand what he was talking about.