“Do you think we’ll ever go back to Germany?”
Niklas had not slept well the night before, the silence of The Solarium particularly crushing on his ears for some reason. Embra’s question jarred him out of a particularly long-winded book about quantum physics and how it could pertain to food production. He blinked, dropping the book onto his lap, having curled up in his favorite chair—a big, cushy red one that was becoming threadbare.
“Of course we will, mein Freund,” Niklas said, after a moment of silence. He placed the book on the end table next to the chair and stood up. “We’ve talked about this. I’ll get us home, one way or another.” He paused. “Why is it bothering you?”
Embra’s small, white shell glanced up from the puzzle he’d been working on. Suddenly Niklas realized he’d gotten the Berlin puzzle from the storeroom that held toys. I must be running on reserve power, not to have noticed, he thought dryly, shaking his head.
“Embra,” he said quietly, sitting down next to his best friend, “we’ll get out. I promise you. Look, I’ve been working on this.” He pulled the Gotthold Mark IV out of his pocket, a chrome-plated remote-like object—named after Niklas’ father. “I have high hopes for it.”
The small camera lens, which made up Embra’s singular eye to the outside world, seemed to dim slightly. “I’ve heard that before.”
Niklas swallowed a sigh, patting the white shell’s back. “Come along—let’s go to the lab. I’ll let you press any button there you’d like. Even the red ones.”
“I’m not a child, Niklas,” Embra replied. His voice, projected by the speaker under the lens, had grown quieter.
Yes, you are. Ten years old until your spirit dissipates, Niklas thought, but carefully did not say. He knew what Embra’s thoughts on the matter were. Growing up with your best friend and not being able to grow up with him. Ten years old for—what, twelve years now? Perhaps he wasn’t really a child anymore.
“Come along,” he repeated. “I know it always cheers you up a little.”
Embra heaved a sigh tinged with electronic static. “Oh, fine.”
“Danke, mein Freund.” Niklas carefully lifted him to his feet. “I could use your advice on a few things. And looking at this puzzle always confuses me.”
They departed, out into the endless white corridors, Embra teetering along uncertainly.
(Source: velvetdemon.net)
