Nathaniel waited for the box to be set down on solid ground before rearranging himself to be sitting on top of the fruit. He didn't know how long he would have to hide, but there was enough fruit to keep him going for a couple of days. He would only come out once they were far away from his planet, that way Garrison would have to let him stay. He thought about his family, knowing the ceremony had finished by now. Would his parents worry about him? He doubted it. They knew he was a wonderer, but they wouldn't have guessed he had sneaked on board an alien spacecraft. He wished he could have watched his planet shrink away as they flew into space, as they flew past the moons he had always wanted to touch.

He had initially kept track of the time, but after a day he lost count. He had eaten a few of the fruits already, but not too much else he'd be sick or need to use the toilet. He was woken from a small nap by the sounds of people moving around outside his box. They were whispering, obviously sneaking a snack while no one was around. He could still understand them as he hadn't taken the translator out of his ear. They were complaining about the rations they had to eat, talking about the food they used to have all the time when they were back home.

The lid of his box was suddenly lifted and Nathaniel blinked up at the two men, who looked just as shocked to find him inside the box. One of them lifted him out, dragging him from the cargo room and to another, closed door. He knocked on the door. "Captain, we have a stow away," he grunted, glaring down at Nathaniel. His heart pounded hard in his chest. Everyone was a lot bigger than he was. What were they going to do to him?