“So, that’s that, isn’t it?” she asked Gavin. “As they say on TV, case solved. We can return to Earth now, right?”
“But you must attend a debriefing at the Transgalactic Council. They will be most interested to hear what the placktoids have been doing. It is alarming and disturbing, and we must address their actions at once.”
Carrie and Dave shared a glance of mutual agreement.
“Gavin,” said Carrie. “It’s been fun, kind of, but, you know, I need to see my pets. They’ll be wondering where I am. We just want to go home.”
Dave nodded.
“I see,” said Gavin. He worked his inner jaws in and out.
Carrie waited in the pregnant pause. She had never wanted to see her quirky cat or handsome dog so much. But the only way she would get to see them was if Gavin started up the green mist that opened
