Page 79 of Alien Jeopardy

My stomach rumbles again, and Rex tugs me deeper into the little hut. The floor is sheathed in what seems to be stainless steel, as is all the furniture sitting beneath the strange lights.

While the shapes are vaguely familiar, it’s like someone who’d never seen a chair or table before tried to build one based on a toddler’s description.

I hold the tablet with one hand and cling to Rex with the other, hardly processing what I’m seeing.

Where did this come from? How is the AI just conjuring things from thin air, or the ground?

My brain understands that this so-called moon was once a giant, thriving space station. The weird furniture and floor must have once been in someone’s home, or some building. Seeing it here, though, after surviving a flood with damned sea serpents in what looks like Baba Yaga’s hut?

It’s freaking weird.

“What do you want to eat?”

The question brings me back to the moment, and I take a minute to think on it. “Is it like… a set menu? How does it work?”

“You can scan through the options. There are thousands… but there are a few things it always makes better than others.”

“What if you pick for me?” I ask, biting my lip. “Would you mind?”

The thought of having to make one more choice after today is too much. We are both alive. I’m exhausted.

And I’m hungry enough to eat just about whatever comes out of the box Rex is fiddling with. It reminds me of a microwave, though the door is on top and appears to screw into place.

Drooping, I plop onto one of the shiny metal chairs and wait.

“This has been a very weird experience,” I finally say.

“I agree,” Rex says, and though he’s turned towards the insta-pantry where I can’t see his face, he sounds like he’s smiling.

“Not all bad, though,” I amend hastily.

“I’m glad to hear that.”

A second later, the insta-pantry dings, and Rex lifts the lid, pulling out a covered bowl. The aroma of cheese and herbs fills the small space, and my mouth waters automatically.

“This smells incredible,” I say honestly, and he sets it in front of me with a grin.

“I’d rather hand-make it for you than use an insta-pantry, but I hope you like what I selected.”

“What is it?” I ask, staring at the covered bowl with slight trepidation. I have no idea how to open it.

Noticing my confusion, Rex gently takes the bowl back, showing me a latch on the side. He presses it, and instead of the lid popping open, it simply folds into itself and vanishes.

I certainly wasn’t expecting that.

From the top, he pulls off what can only be described as an alien spork and hands it to me.

“It is a protein and a carbohydrate, made with a vegetable sauce and cheese.”

“Sounds appetizing,” I manage, taking the hot bowl back from him.

A quick glance reveals something very familiar, though. It looks vaguely like lasagna.

While Rex selects something for himself from the insta-pantry, I poke at the meal with the spork. It smells good, sure, and I am hungry, but it is a little unsettling to eat a meal that just… magically appeared.

I eat it anyway.

And it’s good.