Pilot's voice had a strange smallness she had never heard. His usual unflappability and snarkiness were gone. He seemed to crouch lower behind his console. His large liquid eyes stared at Aeryn, as if seeking reassurance.
"Pilot, what's the matter?", she asked.
"Moya is terrified," Pilot said, "She feels alone."
"That's nonsense. You're here. We're here," Aeryn said crossly, her bruskness hiding her growing unease.
"Nevertheless, she is frightened, Officer Sun. She is lost. Moya has never been lost in her life. She has never FELT lost," Pilot amended.
This situation was quickly spiraling out of hand. They needed to get a grip.
"D'argo!", she barked into her comm-link. "What are you shooting at?"
Static...ZZZchtu..."Chian..."...BZZT...
"Chianna!"
Silence.
"John?"
"Anyone?"
Aeryn pursed her lips and swore. Okay...
"I'm going to look for John, D'argo and the others. Give me reports every ten minutes on what's going on."
She started to leave the bridge...
"Don't go!", Pilot said in a small, childlike voice, his head so low behind his console, only his eyes could be seen, staring pleadingly at her, one of his claws extended beseechingly.
"Pilot, I'm going to see what's going on with the others. After that, I'm going out in my Prowler, to give Moya something to fix on."
She walked up to the gentle giant and touched him gently on top of his massive head.
"We'll get out of this, old friend. I promise. I won't leave you."
Pilot straightened up a bit and minded his console, but continued to stare at Aeryn. She smiled what she hoped was a reassuring smile, then left the bridge, to try to get to the bottom of things.
And as she strode down the corridors, the pools of shadow gathered here and there seemed more and more to mimic the darkness outside. Bottomless, black. Seeming to stare back...