Maggie dared a quick glance at the To’uuk as the Azha-Xaak herded them towards their ship. They were just as monstrous as she remembered...armored, beetle-like creatures, with the abdomen of a wasp complete with stinger, scurrying about on four legs while their arms held weapons at the ready, their carapace covered with razor sharp ridges and spikes. They were a walking nightmare to humans, and they were being handed over like lambs to the slaughter.

Time to think of something. Fast.

She took Diggs hand and pressed it to Blye’s. “I need you to stay with the nice lady, kid...while I talk to our...hosts.” She looked up at the medic, even as the boy stared at her in confusion. “Just let me do all the talkin’,” she explained. “I figure it’s our best shot.”

The Chevalier gave her a curt nod. “I understand,” she agreed, before smiling down at Diggs. “She’ll be just fine,” she promised...knowing full well she was making a promise she might not be able to keep.

Slipping around to the front, Maggie returned her gaze to the ground, letting the Azha guide them to their destination. Behind them she could hear the trucks being unloaded...say whatever else you wanted about the symbiotic race, at least they were honest.

The forward detachment came to a halt, as they communicated with the To’uuk guards. It was a screeching whine of buzzes and clicks, something never designed for human ears. They didn’t bother translating for their “guests”, not that they needed to. The part involving them was simple enough: “Here...they’re your problem now.” All she could do now was wait until the Azha departed, before making her play.

She didn’t have to sit tight for long. The transaction concluded, they turned back as one and left the way they came. Maggie could feel the insectile scrutiny of the sentries, and with a calm she did not feel she stepped forward, and knelt before the To’uuk, pressing her forehead onto the tarmac.

“This lowly creature greets the mighty To’uuk, and gives thanks and praise to the Kraterocracy, may it always be strong,” she groveled, laying it on as thick as she dared. If they hadn’t bothered getting a Terran language peripheral for their voders, she was wasting her time...and risking her life, begging before them.

The clicks came back with a vengeance while they spoke amongst themselves, Maggie’s heart pounding in her chest as she waited for a response. If they didn’t say something she understood soon…

“You command these vermin?” one asked, the voice sounding harsh, and metallic.

“I am merely their voice, mighty warrior,” she answered, sighing in relief. “None but the To’uuk Kraterocracy lead us, while we are in your service.” That they’d bothered speaking to her at all was a good sign, and if she could just keep them talking…

More clicking, as they conferred with one another. Finally, one bleated something to the others. “Get up,” it barked at her.

Maggie did as they ordered her, still averting her gaze. “We will take you to the ship’s hold, as befits your station. You will remain there until we arrive at our terminus. You will obey all commands at once...or you will suffer the consequences.”

“It shall be as you ordain,” she agreed, her nerves still on edge. It wasn't over yet...not even close...but they’d gotten a foot in the hatch. She’d take it.

Scampering backwards to rejoin the others, Maggie reached for Diggs’ hand once more. “You heard ‘em,” she hissed, “heads down, do what you’re told...and we might just live through this.” The boy was shaking like a leaf, though whether from fear or rage she was uncertain. Either way, they needed to get this over with in a hurry.

The To’uuk flanked them on both sides as they marched the group to the ship. Lord knew she’d been in worse situations, over the years, but this time Maggie was frightened down to her core, and it didn’t take a genius to guess why. She was a survivor, and she trusted her skills and instincts...but with Diggs at her side the equation had been drastically altered. She couldn’t just drop everything and run...and knowing his lack of experience upped the odds against them terrified her in ways she was only now beginning to grasp.

The entryway loomed before them like a gaping maw, and as they stepped inside the alien craft it was all Maggie could do not to wrinkle her nose in disgust. The air hung heavy, thick and cloying, with a stench that made you gasp. She struggled to peer into the darkness as they were led deeper into the vessel...she guessed the To’uuk used a different part of the electromagnetic spectrum to see by. Perhaps the infrared. That might explain why it felt so warm and humid, but despite the heat and moisture, she shivered anyway. With a death-grip on Digg’s hand she plunged ahead, watching for any surprises.

They wound their way through a maze of passages, curving in on themselves in ways no human vessel would. It seemed like they were crawling inside an insect nest, which made sense, but for a human it just felt wrong...wrong at a level so deep she couldn’t quantify it. All about them they could hear the aliens clicking and scuttling about, setting their nerves jangling, until they came to a halt before a hatch. One guard spoke into a communications device, and a few seconds later it slid open, a new set of smells assaulting their noses as they were shoved inside, the hatch slamming shut behind them.

Kneeling down she looked into Diggs’ eyes. “You okay?” she asked...only to have him leap into her arms and hold on for dear life, refusing to let go. Maggie could feel his hot tears against her neck as she held him tight, reassuring him as best she could, while she looked up at the Knights.

“So far, so good,” she shrugged. “Remote access control though, and a guard on the door. Can’t say I’m in favor of that.” She sighed, taking stock of their new temporary quarters. “Course, that was the easy part.”

“Easy?” There was a hint of shrillness in Joona’s voice. “You call that easy?”

“You ever sailed on an alien boat?” she asked. “If it’s a long trip, sometimes the crew gets bored...and they start lookin’ for ways to entertain themselves.” She gave the younger man a pointed look. “So yeah…easy.” The orderly blinked at that, and then clamped his jaw shut.

“I think they use this hold for waste disposal,” Blye said in disgust.

“Thought I recognized that stench,” Maggie agreed. “Not surprised they stuck us here.” Diggs shuddered in her arms, as she stroked his hair. “Hush now...we’re gonna be just fine,” she promised.

“Where’s our gear?” Prash asked.

“Bein’ inspected, most likely,” she told him. “Lookin’ for contraband.”

“And what do the To’uuk consider ‘contraband’?” Blye inquired.

“Depends,” she answered, as she sat down, pulling Diggs into her lap and rocking him. He made whimpering sounds in her ear...the To’uuk had terrified him more than the Azha ever had. “If you got any weapons more advanced than those sticks, you can kiss ‘em goodbye,” Maggie informed her. “As for the medical stuff...wouldn’t surprise me a bit if some of your pharma turned up missing.”

“Personal use?” she sneered.

“Or to sell,” Maggie countered. “Don’t matter...either way, it’s gone. Oh, and any baubles that catch their eye. Them bugs like souvenirs as much as anybody else.”

“Wonderful,” the medic sighed, sitting down. “I guess all we can do is wait, and inventory what they allow us to keep.” She grimaced at the potential loss, before setting her displeasure aside. “Thank you, for what you did back there,” she said quietly. “You may have saved our lives, My Lady.” Her eyes widened as she realized what she’d just said, while Prash and Joona both stared at her with newfound curiosity. “My apologies,” she stammered, “...it just...slipped out.”

Maggie could feel the familiar anger rising in her chest...before it broke apart like a quantum wave. “Forget it,” she sighed, as Diggs pulled back, looking at her with concern. “It’s okay, kiddo,” she smiled, ruffling his hair as she often did. “Just a silly old title, is all. Don’t mean nothin’.”

“I’d hardly call it ‘silly’,” Blye said in reproach.

“Well I do,” she fired back. “Don’t change who I am.”

“But...you’ve been to Earth!” Blye blurted out, as the orderlies gaped. “There’s only a handful of humans still alive who can say that!”

“...you’re Maggie Al-Hajjah,” Prash whispered. “I've heard of you.”

“Maggie Rademacher, thank you very much,” she sniffed, correcting him. “They hung that pilgrimage moniker ‘round my neck nigh on forty years ago...and the damn thing gets heavier every fucking year.”

Joona appeared at her side, kneeling before her. “What’s it like?” he asked in wonder. “Earth?”

The Tinker just shook her head. “See, this is why I don’t tell folks who I am,” she grimaced. “Everybody treats me like I’m some damn saint. Well...I ain’t!”

“You’re certainly no saint,” Blye agreed, her tone bone dry, “but Earth…” Her eyes glittered with heartfelt conviction. “To see our homeworld, firsthand...oh, how I envy you,” she said softly.

“Trust me...you don’t,” Maggie spat out. “Y'all treat Terra like it’s the Garden of fucking Eden...some holy land they’ve banished us from ‘cause we didn’t take our vitamins. You’ve seen the pictures, but it’s still not real to you. You know what it is, but you danged fools refuse to accept it.” She turned away, as a distant look came over her eyes.

“It’s not the Promised Land, it ain’t Mecca,” she said darkly, “it’s a graveyard. An ugly, lifeless world; grey and brown and black...filled with the bones of the unburied dead.” She closed her eyes and shuddered. “I was like you, once. I used to picture Earth in my dreams,” she mumbled, holding Diggs close, “the way it used to be...all blue and white, filled with life. I knew it wasn’t really like that...but I could imagine it was.” With a bone-weary sigh, she opened her eyes, shaking her head. “Not anymore.” She looked back at the others, who now appeared to be decidedly uncomfortable. “That sojourn stole from me in ways you’ll never understand.”

“I’m...sorry, Maggie,” Blye said quietly. “I guess...I never grasped what it must be like for you.”

“...most folks don’t,” she sighed, before giving her a half-shrug. “It’s all right. Forget it.”

“Why did you go to Earth?” Prash asked her. “I mean...I’ve heard stories, but none of them agree on the details.”

“It was...just a routine mission,” she sighed, resigned to questions she knew were coming. “At least it was supposed to be...but things went sideways. It got hairy, and...some folks didn’t come back.” Gently, she pried Diggs off her, setting him down, but he still snuggled close against her, refusing to give up the personal contact. “I got picked ‘cause I was a real up-and-comer in those days. It was an ‘honor’,” she snorted, making finger quotes. “If I’d known then what I know now...I’d have told them to shove it.” Maggie held the boy’s hand, and grimaced. “Look, I don’t want to talk about this anymore. Let an old woman have some peace.”

“Of course,” Blye nodded, giving the other two a look as she jerked her head. They nodded as well, retreating a bit and obeying her silent command as they began exploring the compartment.

“Well...I’m glad I listened to you,” she continued, changing the subject. “Somehow I doubt the To’uuk would care all that much if we didn’t get fed.”

“Don’t be thankin’ me just yet,” she cautioned. “Damn bugs might steal that too.”