Aip brought them back to the top of the building with what appeared to be a small, round stone. With one press, three small, round spacecrafts appeared.

“Wait,” Zoe said, stopping in her tracks. “There’s three.”

Sorci rolled his eyes.

She couldn't stop shaking, and it wasn’t from the cold. The cloak had a way of adjusting it’s temperature. It was incredible, really, but not enough to distract her from the fear of flight. Sure, she had flown a lot, but mostly when she was a clueless kid, and even then she didn’t like flying and swore she would never get on another plane in her life.

“They aren’t like human planes,” Aip said. “They are much harder to crash.”

“So you tell me. I can barely drive my mom’s car to the store without getting in a ditch.”

“How often do you drive?” Aip inquired.

“Not much. It’s not like I have my license. I’m only 14.”

“There aren’t many requirements to fly this craft. Even the blind can fly them with enough practice. It is because of its anti-gravity properties. You could fly all around this city and not crash into one building.”

“What does it run on?” Sorci asked.

"A type of kinetic energy, antigravity, and special elements from my home planet. It runs entirely on its own.”

“Huh. I’ll be sure not to tell the gas companies.”

They approached the small saucers, a sleek metallic black all of the same size, the interior about as roomy as a small camper rv. There wasn't much in there but some windows and their own terips. Aip told them to situate it as they liked, it would be better they did for the flights the spacecraft was capable of were of light-year distances. He tapped the saucers twice, opening the doors.

“I will be instructing you both with a mirror mind device inside. All you have to do is sit in the cockpit and wait for your orders.”

Zoe felt as if she were going to be sick. “Wait,” she said. “Maybe I don’t want to do this whole alien thing anymore. I...I’m terrified of heights, and to be honest, I never really liked traveling either.”

“It will do you no good to walk away from something so simple out of fear.”

“Simple? Flying around a giant city? The universe? That’s simple? I have every right to be afraid.”

Sorci was already in his saucer. It lifted without sound from the roof top and hovered there for a while before going invisible and taking off into the air.

Zoe couldn’t believe her eyes. It did look easy, and the invisibility thing brought some relief. No way would they get away with flying around without causing a scene if the color option or lack thereof, wasn’t available.

Pumpkin nudged against her left and curiously walked into the ship.

“We’re not going, Pump,” Zoe said, turning away from Aip and the craft. “Come on, let’s go.” But like most cats, he didn’t listen.

Her racing heart made it hard to breathe. There was no walking away from this. I have to go, don't I? An alien isn’t an alien without it’s flying saucer.

“Fine,” she said, turning back to the ship. “I’ll fly.”

“I thought you would,” said Aip.

She crawled inside the dark spacecraft. Pumpkin was already at the controls.

"You can travel anywhere, go anywhere. But you must not go near stars, fast moving asteroids, strong blasts or black holes. The craft will know when that it and automatically keep you from it, unless you turn autoflight off."

"I'll make sure to duct tape that on."

The control panel was all etched inside what looked like a crystal screen. There were no letters or different colors, only feelings attached to each symbolic key. If only it was that easy to learn everything. She imagined this is what it might feel like to have a sky high IQ.

"This is amazing," she said, glancing at the ascend button once. The panel dimmed as the saucer slowly lifted. She could feel the weightless air beneath her as the saucer moved farther and farther from the rooftop.

Pumpkin tapped his nose against the glass window. "Mrewow!"

"Where should we go, Pump?"

The panel brightened again as her eyes moved to the tour button. Next thing she knew, the craft picked up speed, swerving around buildings at a terrifying pace, but never once did the saucer get close to hitting one.

She had gotten used to it, learning to trust Aip's word until it spun out over the ocean. Her stomach dropped as she stared down at the miles of black water.

The panel brightened again, and just as her eyes moved to the return button, the glow of the statue of liberty appeared.

"Wow." She could see every detail, every chip and shade of green. A line of giant yachts surfed the seas to the nearby docks. It was hard to imagine no one could see her.

She looked to the return button and in a matter of minutes was brought back to the rooftop. Sorci had already landed and was waiting for her with Aip.

"There she is," said Sorci. "About damn time."

"Now," Aip said. "You both must test yourselves. You both must travel the same path to another planet in this solar system and return back here safely. Use your time in flight to think about battling the ruler and return with a decision."

Sorci glanced at Zoe. "Race me to the red planet," he said, halfway back in his saucer. "I want to see the rulers grave."

Zoe nodded and got back into her saucer. She went to the control panel and took a deep breath.

"Mew."

The doors closed.

"Hold on Pumpkin."

There was no way Aip would let her do this if he knew something would go wrong, at least she hoped. He wanted warriors of their kind, he wouldn't let them down.

She didn't want the paranoia to set in. The what ifs. The sinking feeling of being used. She wasn't used, she was needed, a big difference.

She pressed the ascend button as they shot straight up, further and further, past clouds, past the atmosphere.

Pumpkin sat in her lap curled up on her cloak, warm from the sudden cool temperature and safe from heavy radiation.

Further they went until the lights of the earth clustered around entire coast lines. Until the Northern lights blew across the arctic. Until the size of earth could fit in the palm of her hand.