I was still trying to decide how to approach the impossibly tall girl when she approached me first. Well, it wasn’t exactly approaching– all she had to do was glance down at me and it felt like she was holding me at knifepoint.
She didn’t move a muscle, just kept watching me with those imperious eyes. To this day, I’m not entirely convinced she wasn’t an alien.
Riko
I see. Any other insightful observations?
Timaeus
Um… Wh-what do you mean–
Riko
Then perhaps you should focus on finding your bearings, instead of forming flimsy acquaintances.
Timaeus
Well maybe, but we don’t know how long we’ll be here! Might as well start on good terms, y’know? So, um, my name’s Timaeus…
Riko
… If you insist. My name is Riko Shirai. Tell me, Timaeus, do you feel lighter than normal?
Lighter than… what? Sure enough, thought, I bounced up and down a few times, and it took considerably less effort than usual.
Timaeus
O-oh… I guess I do! That’s… How? How is that possible? Even being at the top of a mountain wouldn’t make this much of a difference–
Riko interrupted my stammering with three little words that I never thought I’d hear, not in a million years…
Riko
We’re in space.
Timaeus
We’re in
what???
Riko
There’s simply no other possible explanation. The reduced gravity, the reinforced structure of the facility, the purity of the air mixture, and many more factors you would likely not grasp… We’re on some sort of spacecraft.
Timaeus
Wh-what?? You can’t be serious!
Riko
I believe, as the Ultimate Aerospace Engineer, I am infinitely more qualified than you to make such claims. I am completely serious.
Timaeus
I-I…
I mean if that was her talent, then I sure couldn’t argue, but…
Space?
The only possible explanation? The thought that someone could’ve lobbed me onto a rocket ship and blasted me into the stratosphere was literally the furthest thing from my mind. There had to be something more plausible, anything…
Riko
Mm. I suppose I shouldn’t have expected you to listen to reason.
The flash of anger in her eyes had died, and she turned from me with a disinterested sigh that really ground my gears for some reason.
Timaeus
Okay, okay, let’s say you’re right. Then how the hell did we get up here??
Riko
Why do you expect me to know that? None of us know. I’m simply telling you the truth, Timaeus. Deny it if you wish.
Why did she keep making me sound like the bad guy here? Sorry for not taking a total stranger’s word at face value when I’ve just been, you know, kidnapped. Before I could come up with a rebuttal, though…
Riko
Now, if you’ll excuse me.
I didn’t try to stop her– just watched her waltz off to re-examine the door with her portrait on it. I felt someone bump into me, and… wait, Ishi had been standing there this entire time?
Timaeus
You’re awfully quiet! Could’ve used a little backup, you know.
Ishi
You kiddin' me, dude? She’s fuckin' terrifying! How did you talk to her??
