“Apologies. It’s a lifelong habit, but we shouldn’t do it when we’re with you.”
“Sorry,” Mace added.
Tix waved them off. “It’s okay. I wanted to be sure that’s what was happening. It must be nice to be connected to someone that way.”
The note of loneliness in her voice reminded him that she was on her own out here, or she had been.
“He talks too much,” Mace stated and jerked a thumb in his direction.
“And occasionally he talks in his sleep, straight into my head,” Xaber said.
“So, not always great. Good to know.” Tix smiled.
“I’d much rather listen to you,” Xaber said.
“Same here,” Mace agreed. He took her free hand in his and pointed toward the promenade. “You talk. We’ll navigate. We’re headed for the mag-lifts at the center of the station. Our destination is a few decks down.”
They set out together. Both he and Mace had to adjust their stride so that Tix didn’t have to jog to keep up. It was one of many things they would change if Tix became part of their lives. It was too soon to be sure, but maybe things were finally going their way.
Aboutfraxxingtime.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Movingthrough the crowd was so much easier when she was flanked by her two cyborgs. The thought that they werehersslipped into her mind so easily she almost didn’t notice.
Almost.
She decided that labels didn’t matter right now. Tonight, they were just three beings hoping to enjoy some time together. She had no other expectations. At least, none that she was willing to admit, even to herself.
When they arrived at Mace’s chosen destination, she gave an inward squeal of delight while managing to limit her physical reaction to bouncing on her toes a few times.
“This is real? It’s not a hologram?” she asked as she stared at the vista in front of them.
“It’s real,” Mace led her over to a sign that explained what this was and why it was here.
Most of this level of the station was a bio-dome that visitors could walk through. The paths led through several biomes, each with a different climate. The flora were from a multitude of worlds, and each of them was classified as exceptionally good at carbon capture, oxygen purification, or both. It was both a park and part of the station’s air recycling system.
“And we can just walk through it?”
“I spent a few hours walking around it last night. There are no animals at all, but they’ve added holographic wildlife, and all the pollinators are drones made to resemble insects.”
Xaber was as fascinated as she was. “We can just wander wherever we like? How do they keep visitors from trampling the plants?”
“Energy barriers. They keep everyone on the pathways.” Mace was positively beaming as he explained what he’d learned.
“This is incredible. How much does it cost to go inside?” She’d forgo a sleeping pod tonight and just take a stim, but no way was she letting them pay for her again. She knew full well what it would cost them to repair theLive True. They all needed to be careful with their funds.
“That’s the best part. The female who commissioned this station gifted the entire thing to the denizens of the station. She also set aside enough scrip to maintain this biome for the next century. Entry is free.”
“Who has that kind of money?” she asked, stunned.
“Tianna Watson-Astor. Apparently she’s got more money than some planetary governments,” Xaber said with a shrug. “According to the gossip, she married into the family that owns the Nova Club. I’m sure her familylovedthat.”
Mace chuckled. “I’m surprised they didn’t disown her.”
Now she’d heard more details, something about the story sounded familiar. “Isn’t she the one who inherited everything after her father was killed in a corporate power struggle?”
“I think so,” Xaber said. “And she lives here on the station with her husbands.”
