“You’re welcome.”
Amelia continued: “She told me about the aliens. The nylarians. And the space station. I told her she was fucking crazy if she thought I was going to fly into the Kialoa Nebula, but she has a flight path for it.”
“Why is Vaesa worth the risk? If you are planning to steal from that space station, Dutch’s draic lover will not take kindly to the theft.”
Amelia registered asindignantnow. “I don’t steal. Much. Certainlynot from alien heritage sites.” She hesitated. “It sounds… like my old home. I want to see it. Okay?”
“Okay,” I replied easily. “You are getting distracted. This visit is not about Vaesa. I am here on my own accord, to… get to know you. Torian’s not-romantic partner.”
“I’m not her partner,” Amelia snapped.
“That’s what I said.” Curious, that I’d had this exact conversation with both Amelia and Torian now. Lyric would never. I sorted my list of questions and said, “Torian is my best friend. If she invited you to Vaesa, we will be in close enough proximity to… share… her time.” I paused, pointedly. “I do not like sharing. But, you introduced Lyric to me, and Lyric is now my second-best friend. For that, I will offer you the opportunity to answer fifty-two simple questions.”
“How about I answer none of those questions?”
I had anticipated that. I freely retrieved my fail-safe. “Then I will access the video logs on your starship and answer them myself.”
Amelia was silent for twenty-two seconds. “For a computer of moss, you’re pretty manipulative.”
“Thank you,” I said, feeling proud. “First question. What are your intentions with Torian?”
[I had, admittedly, retrieved this list of questions from a human database on Colony 13, titled,Questions to Ask Your Kid’s First Date. It appeared very thorough.]
[I had not, however, factored in Amelia’s personality.]
“I think I should be asking you that. An alien starship with a sentient personality whisked one of my crewmembers away—and then broke into my starship to talk to me about it. Why the hell should I trust you to take care of her?”
I was aware it was a diversion. It did not matter—my system flashed indignantly nonetheless. “I amlife support. My very function is to keep Torian alive. It is proving… difficult.”
“No shit.” Amelia snorted. “She hears a fight and runs toward it.”
“That is an accurate assessment of today’s proceedings. I am trying not to be frustrated.”
The sound of mattress springs squeaked, and Amelia said, “That’s just who Torian is. But if you’re truly dedicated to keeping her safe, maybe we can cut a deal.”
I didn’t come for a deal. I came to ask questions.
However, I couldn’t deny I was intrigued. “What kind of deal?”
“I promise not to try anything romantic with Torian and steal her away—if you promise to keep her safe from whatever alien bullshit she finds next.”
That would be difficult. “I am moss. I have spores. Rhizoids. Leaves. How would you like me to intervene?”
“Verbally. Close her off in the ship if you need.”
“Torian does not like that. I tried today.”
Amelia’s tone registered astensenow. “Look. You want Torian to stay your friend, right? You said you don’t like to share—which implies to me that you need her around.”
“Need” was strong.[But not inaccurate.]“Torian is my best friend.”
“Right. I felt that way six months ago, and then a jelly bullet fractured two ribs and punctured one of her lungs. It took hours in the med bay to get her stable. Have you heard of pneumothorax? Go ahead. Look it up.”
I did. It did not seem pleasant, from what I knew of human physiology.
“I do not like that.”
Amelia sighed. “Me, either. Worst day of my life—and I’ve had some pretty bad ones.”
