To keep from displaying an unseemly reaction, he silently connected with Nita, accepting the rush of information she’d gleaned from crawling the holos and various bots on the Vault. Already, she knew more about Ugaru than anyone else, and Helix analyzed the data swiftly. The conclusion horrified him.

“Can we outrun it?” he asked softly.

“Various simulations offer unpromising results.” Her reply was quiet, private even, as if she didn’t wish to alarm the organic crew. “Unknown variables will impact the result because of contributing factors where my data is lacking.”

He gathered that she meant currents or drag, and that would be difficult to quantify without more precise records, but nobody was studying the water anymore. It was inarguable that Ugaru was native to this environment, and so would move through it with more speed and proficiency. The situation if the giant creature caught them—a new feeling hit him, a drowning wave of it. For a few moments, it became difficult to breathe.

“You’re afraid,” Nita observed.

“I suppose I am.”

“A deficiency inherent to biological lifeforms.”

“Rather, I’d call a tradeoff,” Helix said. “When I was an AI, I could transfer my code at will, and there was no loss to fear. Yet there was less to treasure as well. I had access to the universe, but I was also locked out of so many experiences.”

“Fascinating,” said Nita. “I had never considered that perspective. You consider that there are losses and gains to be made in such transitions?”

Before he could reply, Qalu finished her conversation with Praxys and stepped to his side, Aevi still clinging to her chest. He could smell the Pherzul’s fright in the acrid pheromones she was producing—the first time he’d ever experienced it. Yet his senses identified the cause without guidance. How extraordinary.

“I hope you don’t mind that I’ve put us in danger with my idea. It just…”

“Didn’t seem right to flee when we could attempt to assist?” he finished.

“Yes, exactly. The Vault sheltered us, assisted us. I know this isn’t our fault, but helping is the right choice, if we can.”

“If the Cril have anything to do with waking Ugaru, we are involved,” he said with a faint thread of amusement. “Because we participated in the momentous release, and according to the logs, they’ve reproduced at an incredible rate.”

“That would change the radiation levels. If Ugaru is sensitive to that…” Breaking off, Qalu made a dismissive gesture. “The answers don’t matter right now. Shall we see if Maglan and Bojak need help?”

For the first time since the alarms went off, Aevi spoke, her normally bright voice soft and tremulous. “I don’t like this adventure anymore. When can we go home?”

Qalu wished she could give the answer the little one wanted to hear.

She hesitated, choosing her words with care. “It’s not safe for us to do that yet.”