“We’re going to empty out most of the supplies and use the crates to move the things we don’t want to leave behind,” Sandar explained.
“What about this place?” Tumoro asked, waving an ear to indicate the compound around them.
Rensom answered him. “We’ve already sent out several inquiries to Leemron research groups to see if they want to buy us out. It’s dangerous and difficult to set up compounds here, so many groups would be highly interested in acquiring an already established facility, even if it’s a little small.”
“I’m slightly disappointed to leave. This place is fascinating,” Sandar murmured. “But I’m worried about my child. I want access to medical professionals more than I want to finish our research.”
Han squeaked with excitement. “You guys could study the grasslands!”
Rensom and Sandar sounded questioning rumbles at the same time.
For the first time, Han didn’t have her pack on her shoulder, so she couldn’t pull out her information square to show them.
“I can show you images later, but Inneeko has this area no one can live in. It circumnavigates the planet along the equator.”
Sandar let out a negative rumble. “I’m sorry to inform you, but that’s not special. Dead zones are common.”
“I misspoke. None of us can live there. It’s green and thriving, full of this grass that won’t die, no matter what you do. The plant is so tough it’ll punch through just about any material and will grow several feet in a single night. The Ugarians that first settled the planet tried everything but finally decided not to build in that zone.”
“The grasslands haven’t been studied before?” Rensom asked.
“A little, but mostly to see if the grasses could be either killed or used for something. After they realized the plants were unstoppable, inedible, and useless for fuel or building, they basically ignored the grasslands. There’re bugs and animals living there that haven’t even been named. We just call them the grassies.”
She had both Sandar and Rensom’s full attention.
“How many species of bugs and animals do you think live in the grasslands?” Sandar asked.
Han frowned. She might’ve grown up only a few miles from the grasslands, but they’d always been a place in the background. Somewhere kids went to have adventures but nothing you really thought about outside of that. It was just there.
“Um, I don’t know,” she said with a little shrug. “Maybe a couple dozen types of beetles? I mean, there’s a lot of different colors, and we used to collect them during flying season, but I don’t know if the colors mean anything. Then there are the pancakes. They are these flat creatures. I don’t know what they are, but they sort of move by wiggling their edges. They’re kind of slimy and get stinky when you touch them, so no one messes with them. Anyway, I think I’ve got some of Inneeko’s UniBase on my information square if you want to look at it.”
Sandar and Rensom sounded loud rumbles of agreement.
“After you finish breakfast,” Zeph said and urged her to eat another bite.
“Of course,” Rensom agreed. “We’ll have plenty of time to study on the journey to Inneeko.”
Han grimaced as she chewed. She was quick to do the hand in front of her mouth thing again. If he wanted to keep feeding her, they were going to need to work on allowing her to talk.
“It’s going to be a crowded trip. Zeph’s ship is pretty small,” she warned them.
“How small?” Sandar asked.
Zeph told them the size using some measurement her INT couldn’t translate.
“That is going to be uncomfortable!” Sandar responded with an amused rumble.
Rensom bumped her shoulder with his. “It reminds me of when we first got here and had to sleep in the trundle.”
“Don’t remind me,” Sandar said. “Remember when the temporary powercell for the fence failed and we had to wait in the trundle for two rotations before someone from the port could bring us a new cell?”
They continued to chat about the early days on Misorm while Zeph fed her. Tumoro had finished shoveling food into his maw. He put an elbow on the table and rested his head in his hand, his ears half folded with contentment.
“Are there any formal schools on Inneeko?” Tumoro asked. “I’m really good with children. I was in charge of my younger siblings before I went to work for Nelsha.”
“Inneeko has an Ugarian Base education system,” Han said. “Last time I visited, one of the schools needed extra minders. Maybe they still do.”
“Did you go to an Ugarian school?” Sandar asked.
