Rachael's lips curled in disdain. "I'm not dumb, it's obvious. Who would call you at this time of day and get snubbed? Your boyfriend? I doubt you have one. I doubt you're even the type to receive calls from friends," she scoffed, her tone dripping with sarcasm.
Christina's brow furrowed. "I don't understand, care to elaborate?"
Rachael's expression turned sly. "You prefer texts over calls, especially at this hour. It's after six already. And, considering your father's personality, I'm sure he's found out about our... mischievous activities at his workplace."
Christina shook her head. "No way he could've found out. Our faces were concealed under nose masks during the mission. And with Djuma's intervention, he must have tampered with all the CCTV cameras."
Rachael's grin grew wider. "Did you forget we went back there?" she reminded, her voice tinged with amusement. "Wearing those cleaning team uniforms, without our masks? Everyone at the NASA facility must be staring at our faces on their computer screens by now."
Rachael chuckled, settling back onto the bed beside Christina. "Fortunately, I'm a minor, so I won't face jail time. Unlike you and..." She turned to Stefan, expecting his input, but was met with his soft snores.
The sound filled the room, a gentle accompaniment to the girls' hushed conversation. Rachael's gaze lingered on Stefan's peaceful face before returning to Christina.
"Looks like someone's escaped the drama, let him enjoy his sleep while it lasts," she whispered, her eyes sparkling with mirth.
Rachael turned to Christina and continued, her voice laced with amusement. "Considering your father's circumstances, he may opt not to press charges, given your unique position as his only child. After all, you masterfully led us into his office, our capable captain."
Christina's gaze lingered on Rachael, her expression a complex blend of emotions. "If I hadn't known you for so long, I would have assumed you're a witch," she said finally.
Rachael's eyes sparkled with mischief. "Do you mean I'm exceptionally intelligent?" she asked, rephrasing Christina's words.
"Don't worry; you don't have to vocalize it. I'm already blushing," she added, her tone playful.
Christina's expression turned solemn, her voice taking on a warning tone. "Don't twist my words to suit your purposes. I meant you're far more treacherous," she stated nonchalantly, her voice dripping with caution.
"You're more of a bitch than I am, Rachael. I should tread carefully around you from now on; I wouldn't want to be implicated in a crime I didn't commit."
Rachael's eyebrow arched, seeking clarification. "What do you mean by that?" she asked.
Christina stood up from the bed, her hand reaching for the door. "You possess an uncanny ability to entrap people with your words; it's scary. I should leave now."
Rachael's voice halted Christina in her tracks. "You can't go home until I learn my brother is safe," she stated, her tone low but firm.
Christina spun around, her eyes shooting darts of displeasure. She glared at Rachael, but the latter seemed unfazed.
"You're going to pay for this," Christina muttered, her voice venomous.
Rachael lay down on the bed, ignoring Christina, her head buried in her pillow.
"I'm fucking going to kill you, bitch!" Christina whispered under her breath.
"I can hear you, captain," Rachael's voice echoed toward Christina, muffled by her pillow.
Christina's frustration boiled over. She stomped toward the bed and threw herself onto it, disturbing Rachael's peaceful pose.
Rachael's eyes locked onto Christina's, a hint of amusement dancing in their depths.
*****
"Have you ensured that our scent can no longer be tracked?" Mike asked, his voice carrying through the dense fog as they continued their flight deeper into the unknown.
Miram abruptly halted mid-air, turning to face him. "Watch that!" she instructed, pointing toward the cave they had recently vacated.
As Mike spun around, the mountain erupted in a cataclysmic explosion, shaking the entire range. The deafening roar accompanied the destruction of the cave, tearing the Anthropter warriors apart and sending them tumbling through the air.
Mike's eyes widened in astonishment. "Oh my God! You guys have bombs here?" he inquired, bewilderment etched on his face.
Miram's expression turned puzzled, her eyes narrowing. "What do you mean by 'bomb'?" she asked.
"Bombs are objects that detonate, releasing immense energy," Mike explained.
But Miram's gaze lingered on him, unsure what he meant. "I'm unfamiliar with that term," she admitted. "However, what you just witnessed is the result of gastra."
Mike's admiration was evident. "Wow, you're incredibly skilled," he complimented.
Miram's cheeks flushed, a gentle smile playing on her lips. "Thanks, my Jyuran," she replied, her eyes sparkling.
Mike's brow furrowed, struggling to recall Djuma's explanation of gastra. "What exactly is gastra, anyway?" he asked.
Miram's response was brief, her eyes narrowing as she wondered if Mike genuinely didn't understand. "The power of the witch."
Mike's eyes widened in recollection. "Oh! It's magic! Djuma told me about it!" he exclaimed.
Miram's curiosity was piqued, her eyebrow rising in inquiry. "What do you mean by 'magic'?" she asked.
Mike clarified, "We're essentially saying the same thing. Magic, as we call it on my planet, is equivalent to gastra here. The terminology differs, but the concept remains the same."
"Intriguing," Mike continued. "I guess what Djuma said was true after all, although we share a common language, certain words and phrases vary. This is a perfect example."
Miram nodded in agreement, her expression thoughtful. "May I ask, what is the name of your planet?" she inquired.
"Earth," Mike replied. "It's the third planet in our solar system, orbiting the sun."
Miram's eyes sparkled with interest. "We have a different nomenclature. We refer to the planets in your system as 'Star Planets,' and specifically, your planet is known as 'Fog Planet'."
Mike's amusement was evident. "And why is that?" he asked, his tone laced with curiosity.
Miram explained, "It's because the planets in your system thrive on the energy emitted by the star, your sun. Additionally, your planet's atmospheric conditions resemble our fog here, hence the designation 'Fog Planet'."
Mike's laughter erupted, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "That's both astonishing and amusing. Our similarities are striking, aside from the obvious difference in our energy sources."
As Mike glanced around, his gaze zoomed through the fog. He noticed the warriors gathering again. "You even have creatures similar to our dogs here."
Miram's confusion deepened, her eyebrows furrowing. "What are dogs?" she asked.
Mike smiled. "They're a type of domesticated pet, known for their distinctive barking sound."
Miram's curiosity persisted. "What do you mean by 'barking sound'?"
Mike let out a resigned sigh, but Miram's unwavering gaze persisted, her eyes locked onto his, anticipating a response.
"Bark is - Gboo! Gboo!! Gboo!!!" Mike mimicked the sound of a dog, attempting to clarify.
Miram's eyes expanded in comprehension, her face illuminated by the sudden understanding. "They're Bingos, that's precisely what we refer to them as," she explained. "Dahra's army employs them for hunting purposes, leveraging their extraordinary olfactory capabilities, which far surpass those of the Anthropters."
Mike's astonishment was palpable. "Whoa! We coincidentally call them Bingos too. This is utterly fascinating!" His tone conveyed genuine wonder.
His expression suddenly turned solemn as realization dawned on him. "Dahra's army had at least six of these creatures with them," he said.
Miram stared deep into the fog and her expression transformed into one of concern. "Ahh! The explosion won't deter them from tracking us. They're relentless and troublesome. They will inevitably locate us, regardless of our efforts. We must depart immediately; they still possess our scents," she said, her voice trembling.
She swiftly spun around and fluttered away, with Mike following closely, mirroring her movements.
"How will they possibly catch up with us?" Mike inquired, genuine curiosity etched on his face. "They don't have wings, after all."
Miram abruptly turned around, flying backwards, as if emphasizing her next statement. "What!?" she squealed, her eyes wide with confusion.
"They run on air!" she declared, her voice filled with conviction.
Mike scoffed, incredulity dominating his expression. "Are you kidding me?" He turned to verify, his gaze piercing through the fog.
As the Bingos emerged from the mist, Mike's expression turned incredulous. Witnessing the impossible, his eyes widened: creatures running on air, as if pounding on an unseen surface.
"Holy shit!" Mike whispered, his voice trembling with shock.
"Perebia's dogs can run in midair!?"
"OMG! This defies all logic!"