16
Janine chewed on the inside of her cheek, bothered by something she couldn't quite name. She watched Honeydew draw out the attaché Steve like the finest of interrogators, making a painful process seem like a relief.
But there are huge gaping holes you could fly a starliner through! she thought. “We've been through that facility a dozen times, and we still don't really know what we're dealing with down there!”
The other woman nodded. “You're terrified.”
“Of course I'm terrified!” Janine realized she was yelling, and put a hand over her mouth. “Sorry. Look, this isn't just some alien species that's decided it doesn't like its human cohabitants anymore. It's an intelligent entity with a far greater understanding of this planet than we'll ever have.”
Janine turned to the Aquafoods CEO.
