“I don’t think we have much time,” said Jillian, as she gazed at the throngs of working Mechanics.

Fredrick and Jillian lay prone atop the grassy hill that overlooked the Slipshot Silo to Var 8, Earth. Below, upon the metal tiled surface of the platform, Mechanics meandered among the rows of Vérkatrae, who waited silently until the moment they would be awakened from stasis and sent through the Slipshot.

Fredrick shook his head. “Unless the Slipshot opens up, then we’ll have no escape, even if we can get the plasma torus started.”

He sighed. “These people, they’re so different from us. There’s no telling what could happen next. For all we know, a giant volcano could open up and swallow us whole. Then it’s good night for all of us.”

Fredrick pushed himself onto his hands and knees and then sat. He heard a slight rustle behind him. He glanced over his shoulder. “What the…?” he shouted, as he jumped up and turned towards the sound.

“Whoa!” shouted Jillian, who also sat up and looked in the same direction as Fredrick.

A small child stood on the grass behind them. She looked at Jillian with large, dark eyes. Her hands were folded behind her back, and she stood straight and even. Her dark hair was clipped to a bowl cut. She wore dark gray overalls that fit her small body snugly, and upon her feet, sneaker-like shoes whose laces were neatly tied into small loops. An inquisitive, perhaps suspicious expression crossed her face.
‍

“Um, hi?” said Jillian, as she turned and leaned forward. She glanced sidelong at Fredrick and then at the child.

The child glanced quickly at Fredrick and then returned her gaze to Jillian. She blinked her eyes once.

“You are not a Node I recognize,” she said.

Jillian looked at Fredrick. “What?” she mouthed silently. Fredrick shrugged his shoulders. She turned towards the child. “Maybe it’s just that you haven’t seen us before,” she said. Frederick tensed up, his brow raised.

“Every Node must be recognized,” said the child. “It is the way of Griddish.”

“Well, maybe we’re not Nodes,” said Jillian. Frederick hissed quietly through clenched teeth.

“Everyone is a Node. It is the way of Griddish.”

Jillian took a deep, quiet breath. “Well, if everyone is a Node, then why don’t you recognize us?” She grimaced slightly.

The child paused. “Perhaps you are lost.”

“Um, well, maybe we are lost,” said Jillian, stumbling over her words. She glanced at Fredrick as if she immediately regretted what she said.

The child smiled gently. “Then I will help you to be found.”

Fredrick looked at Jillian. He shook his head slightly. Jillian caught his gaze and then returned her attention to the child. “How will you help us to be found?” said Jillian.

The child smiled widely. “I will announce your location on the Tenddrome.”