The Galaxy, and the Ground Within

Like all of xyr kind, the Akarak was housed within a bulky, bipedal-bodied mech suit, sealed away in a windowed cockpit that occupied the space where an ordinary-sized head might be. Speaker had used the shuttle for its intended purpose many times – quick hops between ground and orbit, or ship to station, or ship to ship, typically ferrying supplies one way or the other, sometimes with her sister in the seat beside her. A group of people all keeping to themselves within a shared space. Finally, the kid quieted, licked the edges of xyr mouth, and with effort, craned xyr head up. ‘Mom?’ xe called in a trembling voice.