Iridescent Stars: When RPG Geeks Are Useful

"Oh, crap... Astra, where's Bryan? Do you know what the machine did???" - Asked Lucas. "Bryan is... Here and there. Both universes. Here affects there. There affects here..." - Said Astra, looking at some screens - "I'll pause the universe for a moment, it can be done..." - She said, as she typed some commands. "Okay... No panic, no panic... Let's see... I'll solve this. You said you wanted to go back to your mother, right?" - Said Lucas, **very** reluctant to involve a child in that situation. "Mother speaks this language too. You can bring her here." - Said Astra. "But then I'd be endangering *both* of you..." - Said Lucas. "I believe this world is safer for us than it is for you." - Said Astra, evenly. "Ugh... Okay... Just to be safe, I'll have something guard you after I bring your mom here." - Said Lucas - "Let's go." Astra nodded. The two made their way back through this strange space. Outside, Astra was surprised to see the galley from before, on the ground, extending a small ramp to itself. "Did it... Know?" - Asked Astra. "Oh. Right." - Said Lucas. She picked up her cell phone and dialed a number - "Wings, dear? I need you here one minute ago. Atta girl." - She hung up - "In we go." Astra climbed up the ramp and Lucas flew inside. The two made their way to the control room. Lucas smiled - she always loved hearing remarks to the effect of *bigger on the inside*. Astra, instead, looked around calmly, as if her antennae had picked up something. She then turned to Lucas. "You have a very gentle ship." "Uhm, thanks, dear, but I think you mean she's 'nice'?" - Said Lucas, figuring Astra's English was her second language. "No, I mean she's gentle. But she is nice too. She made a room for me while we make the trip back with games and stuff. Call me when you need me." - Said Astra, as she left towards a corridor Lucas hadn't ever seen before. Lucas looked around. "So *that's* how they feel..." The control room lit up a bit. It was as if the ship were smirking. - - - ***Earth***