Page 144 of Every Almost

"The zone is within tolerance," Cael said from behind her.

Charlie didn't turn around. "It's within tolerance now. In about four minutes it won't be." Her hands were already moving, redistributing the load across zones three through five, narrowing zone three's range while widening four and five to compensate. Tavi's software adapted in real-time, his fingers matching hers. Maren called out structural readings, confirming each modification as it landed.

The third Aetherfin drifted through zone three. The zone held. It passed into zone four. Zone five. And then into the sphere, where it joined the other two in a gentle drift of translucent light.

Charlie exhaled. Her hands were shaking.

"All three Aetherfin secured," Maren reported.

Behind her, Charlie heard the sound of Cael's boots leaving the Engineering Bay. She didn't watch him go.

The zero-G sphere had beenspace art for years. A gift from a grateful community, a beautiful curiosity spanning the central atrium, impressive yet purposeless.

But it wasn't purposeless anymore.

Charlie stood on the observation platform and watched the three Aetherfin drift around inside their new home. The sphere came alive with their bioluminescent light, the purples and silvers and blues shifting and rippling across the atrium. Their fins caught the light from the ship's systems and scattered it into something that looked like the inside of a sunset.

Selowen was beside her. The woman stood with her hands clasped in front of her, watching the creatures.

"They're safe," Selowen said, Charlie listening to the words as they settled within her, but also around her. "That's what we do, Charlie. We find the ones who've been left behind, and we give them somewhere safe to be. Whether to be cared for, go through rehabilitation, or to stay."

Charlie watched the light play across the atrium. She thought about a research station going dark, funding redirected, subjects abandoned. She thought about the Emberkind existing specifically to be the ship that goes back.

"It's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen."

When the endof the day was upon them all, Charlie was in Engineering. The mission was behind everyone and the Aetherfin were drifting about in their new home above. Charlie sat on the floor against the engine housing with her Walkman in her lap.

Maren was at a console nearby, running post-mission diagnostics while Tavi was cross-legged on the floor beside Charlie, his crimson locs catching the light from the diagnostic displays.

"So," Tavi said. "What else do you have on those tapes?"

Charlie laughed. "Eighteen more where that came from."

"Eighteen." His eyes went wide. "Eighteen entire collections of that?"

"Different kinds. Different sounds. Some loud, some quiet. Some happy, some sad." She turned the Walkman over in her hands, studying it. "My whole emotional life captured here in magnetic tape."

"I want to hear all of it," Tavi said, with the absolute certainty of someone who had found a new obsession and intended to pursue it without restraint.

"We'll get there," Charlie said.

Maren looked over from her console. "The gradient held beautifully, Charlie. Every junction point performed within the parameters you designed. I've never seen a first-implementation run that clean."

"She's right," Tavi added. "The real-time recalibration during the third transfer was..." He searched for the word. "Elegant."

Charlie felt a warmth spread through her chest. She'd completed something difficult alongside people who were goodat what they did. But having them see that she was good at what she did too gave her a feeling of belonging she hadn't felt in a long while.

She leaned her head back against the housing, closed her eyes, and pressed play on the Walkman. A bright, driving rhythm filled the Engineering Bay, and Daryl Hall's voice cut through the space with an energy that matched exactly how Charlie felt.

"You hooked it up in here?" Tavi asked, his eyes sparking to life.

"Mmhmm," Charlie said, nodding her head, her eyes still closed. Tavi gave off a soft chuckle, then she felt him lean his head back on the housing next to her.

"I think I might love you."

This time, it was Maren who let out a loud bark of laughter, her hand going up to her mouth to keep the rest of it in. Charlie's eyes snapped open before she looked over at Maren. Watching the usually calm and collected Noethan shake uncontrollably with intense laughter got Charlie giggling, and then she too was laughing out loud. When Charlie joined, Maren dropped her hand, and they laughed together as Tavi looked between both of them, his eyebrow raised.

"I will not defend myself," Tavi said. This only caused Charlie and Maren to laugh louder.