Alice listened without interrupting.
Nish listened too.
Noah did not.
Noah was distracted by the hovercraft.
He kept circling it in silence, muttering about stabilizers and ancient Oheyo engineering.
Eventually—
He muttered,
"...I knew the desert had better technology than we gave it credit for."
Kai glanced at him.
"You say that like it makes sense."
Noah looked offended.
"It does to me."
---
Then—
Raj entered the room.
She stopped in the doorway.
Stared at Kai.
Stared at the hovercraft.
Then looked back at Kai.
"...You look terrible."
Kai sighed.
"Good to see you too."
Raj walked in fully.
Her eyes immediately narrowed.
"...Where is Andre?"
Alice and Nish both looked at Kai at the same time.
Noah finally tore himself away from the hovercraft just long enough to ask,
"Yes."
"Where is Andre?"
Kai blinked.
"...I dunno."
The room went quiet.
Kai shrugged.
"We got separated."
"I thought he’d find me."
Raj frowned.
"...And?"
Kai gave the most honest answer he had.
"...Since it’s Andre, he’s probably alive somewhere."
Silence.
Then Alice slowly leaned back in her chair.
"...That is the least comforting answer possible."
Kai nodded.
"Yeah, that sounds about right."
Nish rubbed his forehead.
"...You really don’t know where he is?"
Kai shook his head.
"No."
Raj folded her arms.
"And you’re just assuming he’s alive."