The Edge

Matteo: Part Ten

The next few minutes were downright painful. All Matteo could do was watch as Arian moved among the cars, making a big show out of sulking but probably checking for something important. Matteo was sure Arian knew what he was doing, but the inability to help was frustrating. Matteo tried to distract himself by keeping an eye on his transcriber, but that didn't do him much good, either. It seemed like most of the conversation inside was in a language his transcriber wasn't programmed to pick up—so probably not Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, Punjabi, or Russian. I've really got to get more language programs into this thing, Matteo thought.

Eventually, Arian decided he'd been outside long enough to have convincingly taken a walk and went back inside. This, Matteo's translator did pick up. Arian: Okay, I've taken a walk and she doesn't look busy. Can I talk to her now? Privately? She'll be more receptive if you guys aren't being eavesdropping weirdos. Matteo could only guess the kind of disapproving look Arian was getting. Look, that empathy thing of hers is pretty strong. She might be keeping it together now, but you're going to have a full room of dudes breaking out in tears if you don't let me calm her down.

He wasn't completely exaggerating. Tola had a pretty good grasp on her abilities, and tried not to use them to influence people unless it was an emergency. (Normally this would count, but since they'd formulated a plan, he couldn't picture her using them on purpose). But sometimes her control slipped. If it was ever going to slip, now was definitely the time.

Unknown 2: Fine. But if you try anything...

Arian: I'm not that dumb. Just let me talk to my sister, please? Thank you.

Matteo didn't hear anything else from Arian after that. Hopefully, he was talking to Tola in an isolated corner somewhere so no one overheard their plans. HIs transcriber did pick up more speech; just like last time, though, his transcriber started picking gibberish, then quickly switched to [Language unknown.]

Shame his hearing aids had gone out on him so early in the trip. Matteo might've been able to take a stab at guessing what language they were speaking if he could hear it. Maybe it's something Nordic? He'd been too focused on getting Roland help to pay attention to anyone's accents, but that would fit the architecture. And a lot of the aesthetics, now that he thought about it.

Weirdass planet you brought us to, Cass.

His transcriber finally picked up a familiar voice. Arian: We're cool now. She gets it and she's not going to cause problems. I still think you should let me call the others...

Unknown 2: So theycan come over here and cause problems? Fuck no. We'll talk about letting her go once our guys are okay and not a second before that.

Arian: Fine, geez, okay. Is there a bathroom in here somewhere?

Unknown: There's one in the house. Don't touch anything.

Arian: You can empty my pockets when I get back if that makes you feel better. But also, I'm insulted.

Arian didn't head for the house, though. Instead, he sneaked around to Matteo's position, holding up a set of keys with a triumphant grin. "New plan. I'll distract them. You'll know when to run. It's that green car with the snake. Tola knows."

"I don't like this plan," Matteo replied.

Arian rolled his eyes. "You have a better one?" He didn't bother to wait for Matteo's answer, likely knowing that Matteo didn't. "I've got this. Be ready."