The sun blew in the wind, the dunes moved like waves in the heat, and standing with the setting sun in front of him was U’it. The torn canvas poncho covering U’it’s menial body flew freely with the gusts of air surrounding him. His hat, hanging on for its life, perched atop his prolonged head. U’it pulled out a metal device and pressed its top. A blinking light flashed, and U’it began to speak in his native tongue.

  “????n?? ??? s????m?? ??m?, ??????n?? ??n? ????????? ??????? ??’????. ??n?s ?????n?? ??? ???ss???? ?????????? ????’?????. S??s??f ????s?m? ?????? ??n ??n??’?, ????? ????n?? ?????????. ?????s ?s ???????????? f???? w??n ??n ???n??f ????? S??s? ???? ????? ?s????? ?????’?? ??n??’?. ????n????? ??? S????m????m? ??.” U’it pressed the top again, and folded it back into his satchel. He stood watching as the sun’s top lowered deep into the horizon before he returned to his ship. U’it kicked his feet on the metal flooring of the Dabarsa.

  “How were the dunes? Manageable?” Soisi dropped down from atop the starboard.

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  “Fine, I think it’d be smarter to land farther north from here.” Sois’s face harbored confusion and discomfort.

  “We’re not going farther down! It was almost impossible to land this ship in these dunes. Do you know how long it took to get visibility here? I was almost touching the sand U’it: the landing gear was moving sand over!” U’it turned his back to Soisi. His foot tapped the floor, creating slight thumps with every tap. “Are you going to respond?” U’it raised his hand, halting Soisi from talking.

  “We must find them before they fall into the hands of Darkii.”

  “I understand that! I don’t even know these two! U’it we met, we talked, we stole this ship, and now we’re looking for two random outlaws; tell me more!” U’it’s breathing slowed down.

  “Fine. Ujah and Tlok are outlaws. I knew Ujah for years before this, but not this Tlok character. Darkii has a bounty on their heads for lord knows what, and now I’m here pulling them out of this mess. Do you know how stressed I am? I’m not an outlaw; I’m a writer! I don’t have any business doing this. I only stole a ship because you suggested it, and now I have a bounty on my head, so don’t act like I’m the one being unreasonable.” Soisi and U’it stood in silence.

  “I’m sorry, I just don’t know what I’m getting myself into.”

  “Neither do I, Soisi, but now we’re both stuck in this, so suck it up and fly this thing closer to Grodd.” Soisi stared at U’it.

  “If I die, know I’ll blame you for the rest of eternity.”

  “Soisi, I’ve got this under control.” U’it dropped his derelict hat onto the starboard and lay down on a chair. “Wake me up when we get there.”

  “Aye, Aye, captain.”