“What is that horrible smell?” Arya demanded from the doorway.
Nick looked up from his notes. “What smell?”
“You can’t smell that? It’s horrendous. Honestly, is there anything your species does well? You can’t see well at all, your muscular structure is ridiculously weak, and you can’t smell. How your people ever survived so long is beyond me. You must have large litters of young.”
“Children. We have children and—”
“Here,” Arya interrupted. “Come out here where the smell is stronger.” She motioned for him to come into the corridor.
Annoyed with yet another interruption, Nick tossed his notebook onto the table as he eased out of his chair and followed her into the hall. One step into the hall and Nick recoiled, quickly burying his face in his raised arm to block the foul stench assaulting his nostrils. “Oh my God, what is that stink? That’s awful!” Nick turned to head back into the room.
“Oh no, we’re not done here. Follow me.” Arya moved down the corridor, apparently taking it for granted that he would do as she asked.
“No thanks. I’m fine right here,” Nick replied into his sleeve.
Arya paused and threw a glance over her shoulder, one fine brow arching upward when she saw that he hadn’t moved. “Move your arsk. We have to find the cause of this smell. And quickly.”
“I think I’m going to be sick.” Nick fought the gag wiggling its way up his throat.
“Come on!” she insisted. “It’s coming from this way.”
Nick reluctantly followed her as she tracked the horrible smell down the hall.
“Arya?” the Captain’s voice broke in. “Is there a problem with the waste disposal system? We’re getting an…odd…smell up here.”
“Not sure, Sir. I’m tracking down the cause of it now. Whatever it is, it’s spreading through the ship’s atmospheric ducts.”
“Keep me posted. And hurry up, it’s getting worse.”
“Yes, Sir.”
As Arya neared Karg’s quarters, a loud trumpeting sound echoed through the hall.
“What the hell…was that?” Nick looked around cautiously. “It sounded like a tuba.”
Arya glanced briefly at Nick and then peered at the bulkhead, listening. “What kind of creature is a tuba? It sounded kind of like a Halozian Wonk Shrell to me.”
“Is that…moaning?” Nick turned in a circle, attempting to determine where the sound originated.
Arya’s superior ears twisted independently, quickly narrowing in on the source. “Yes, it’s definitely moaning, and it’s coming from Karg’s quarters!”
They both moved forward with cautious, stealthy steps, and eventually paused just outside the door to Karg’s quarters. Another deep bellowing sound vibrated through the bulkhead, followed by a moan. Nick was curious but afraid to know what was on the other side of the door. He’d had enough drama already. He didn’t need more.
Arya drew her weapon. “Karg? You okay in there?”
Karg’s voice held obvious distress. “No.”
Arya locked eyes with Nick. He gave her a silent nod of agreement then drew his weapon. She flicked her hand over the door sensor. Nick readied himself as the door panel slid open. His eyes immediately began to burn and water from the horrid smelling air that whooshed out of the room and enveloped him in a stink so powerful that his stomach lurched.