We climbed down from the Nayara and over the mound of dirt the ship had excavated during its crash landing. The wreckage and debris from the battle were still smoking.
“Where are the fire trucks?” I asked. “The police?”
“Rendlesham has quarantined this area, I’m sure,” Cy said.
I strained to see the top of the hill we came over. “I wonder if those roadblocks are manned.”
“Definitely,” Dr. Z said. “I’ve been thinking about Apolonia’s need to contact her father. The old KIXR building is ten miles from here. It’s been for sale for years, and it is old enough that the signal won’t be as efficient.”
“So, we cannot use it?” Tsavi asked.
“No,” I said. “Efficient broadcast signals make the signals weaker for someone to pick up in space.”
“That’s right,” Dr. Z said. “Old radio programs were broadcast from massive ground stations that transmitted signals at thousands of watts. In theory, those signals could be picked up relatively easily across the depths of space. This is exactly what we need—an inefficient old station. Kempton’s communication head went out to take a look five weeks or so ago—you know, for spare parts for the radio science department. They weren’t willing to sell it without the buyer taking the entire building, but he said all the equipment and the towers were still there and intact. I can’t be certain that the equipment and towers are still functional, but I’m sure three KIT students, a KIT professor, and three beings of assumed superior intelligence could get it up and running.”
“That’s assuming a lot,” Benji said.
Tsavi, Cy, and Apolonia turned to look at Benji.
“What?” he said. “I’m sure they’ve built on past inventions and ideas just as we have. They’re a much older race. But that doesn’t necessarily equal higher intelligence.”
Cy narrowed his eyes. “I learned to speak nearly every language on your planet, including how to write them, colloquialisms, and your ridiculous contractions in the two months it took me to travel to Earth after I tracked the meteor here.”
“Can you compose a symphony?” Benji asked.
“Can I…what?” Cy said, clearly perturbed.
“My point is, we’re all good at something. Languages appear to be your strength.”
I elbowed Benji. “They already don’t trust you. You’re not helping yourself.”
He pulled out keys. “I have the only car, and it’s fast. Does that help?”
Chapter Seventeen
WE ALL STOOD, hidden by the woods, staring at Benji’s orange Mustang. The paint was obnoxiously conspicuous, the engine was offensively loud, and the backseats were two captain’s chairs instead of a bench.
“What?” Benji asked.
“We should just put a sign on it that says, CAPTURE US,” Cy said. “And there are six of us.”
“I can make two trips,” Benji replied.
Cy shook his head. “We need to stay together.”
Benji frowned. “Why?”
“You’re right,” Cy said, holding out his hand. “Your car is necessary, but you’re not. Hand over the keys.”
Dr. Z sighed. “Whatever we do, we must do it now. I’m sure there will be more soldiers coming at any moment.”
“Cy—” I began, but Benji took a step in front of me.
“I realize we haven’t much time, but you’re not taking my car and leaving me in the woods to walk home. I want to help, but I’m not an idiot.”
“Okay,” Dr. Z said, holding up his hands. “I’ll stay behind.”
“No one is staying behind. We can all fit,” I said. I took Benji’s keys from his hands and pushed a button on the keyless entry remote. The trunk popped open, and everyone stared at the empty space. I climbed in, lay on my side, bent my knees, and propped my head with my elbow.
“This is ridiculous,” Cy said.
Benji smiled at me. He broke something off his keychain and then tossed his keys to Cy. “You wanted to drive, right?” He climbed in, too, and made a show of getting comfortable next to me.
“What are you doing?” Cy growled. His patience with Benji was waning.
“It’s cold, and there are two too many bodies versus seats in the Mustang. I’m volunteering to keep Rory warm.” With that, he reached up and pulled down the trunk lid.
It was pitch-black, and for a moment, I wasn’t sure if this was a great idea. I could hear Dr. Z and Cy discussing the directions to the radio station and then Cy and Apolonia speaking quickly in their language. It didn’t sound like a pleasant conversation.
The trunk lit up, and Benji’s face was just a few inches from mine. A tiny flashlight was in one hand, and he was propping his head with the other. “My dad said to always keep one of these on my keychain. He said I would thank him one day. Thanks, Dad.”
I laughed. I couldn’t help myself. It was slightly enjoyable watching jealousy on Cy’s face, and I sort of liked the badass side of Benji.
The motor snarled, and we began moving. As Cy went over bumps, Benji and I giggled. I wasn’t sure where the radio station was, but I assumed Cy would have to take back roads to get there. I didn’t realize until the ride began to get really bumpy that Cy would have to stay off-road until we cleared the roadblocks.
“I hope your car isn’t too damaged after this.”
“I hope we don’t get stuck or that Cy doesn’t drive us off a bridge. I don’t think we thought this through.”
“He wouldn’t. He doesn’t like you, but he has a weird compassion for humans.”
“Is that—ow!” he yelled. Cy had taken a bump too fast, and Benji banged his head on the trunk lid. He rubbed his head and then pounded the side of his fist against the interior wall of the trunk. “Take it easy! He probably wants to make sure we’re too rattled to cuddle.”
I smiled. “He’s got his hands full with the warrior princess.”
“Oh. I wondered if they were…if so, he’s doing a poor job of hiding it.”
“Hiding what?”
“How he feels about you.”
“I think you just get under his skin.”
“Very likely. I’m the competition.”
“He’s in love with her, Benji.”
Benji grinned. “Thanks.”
“For what?”
“Not denying that I’m competition.”