Page 20 of Trove’s Purpose

“Chee,” she said. “I’m registered.”

“Who is your sponsor?”

“His name is Hyde.”

“What is his full name, and your full name?”

Chee shook her head. “He only told me Hyde.”

“Your full and complete name then.”

Chee hesitated, catching Trove’s attention. He couldn’t help but cock his head curiously. Why was she so reticent about giving her full name? Her face was turning red as she mumbled something.

“Speak up, female,” Ikvar barked, and Trove couldn’t stop himself from growling. He did not appreciate another snapping at her that way.

But it was a soft sound, almost unheard. Especially when, face burning, Chee shouted-

“Chastity Miracle Whittaker!”

Trove didn’t understand the reaction. Until Garnet, unable to help herself, smothered a laugh. And earned a glare from Chee in turn.

“Yeah, yeah,” she grumbled, crossing her arms. “Yuk it up.”

“Is there a problem?” Trove asked, looking at Grace who was beside Sway, both of them near him. And though Grace wasn’t laughing, there was a clear glint of humor in her eyes.

And he realized why when Grace helpfully translated the human words into Standard. Chee’s names were words, and not at all subtle ones either. She was embarrassed about her name. And her face was darker red than her hair as Ikvar looked for her registration.

“Chastity Miracle?” Garnet finally asked, looking at her funny.

“Shut it,” Chee grumbled.

“How did you get Chee from Chastity?”

Chee let out a short breath. “Chee isn’t short for Chastity, it’s short for… Cheese.”

Garnet couldn’t stop herself anymore – she and Haven broke at the same time, both of them howling with laughter. Having a great laugh at Chee’s name. And after another translation from Grace, he understood that joke too.

“I couldn’t say Chastity when I was a toddler,” Chee mumbled. “It came out sounding more like Cheet-y. Which turned into Cheesy. Which turned into Cheese. And now I go by Chee. Okay? Go ahead. Laugh all you want.”

“Were you a miracle baby or something?” Goldie asked, doing the best of the females to keep her face under control.

“I was, in fact,” she declared, holding her head up proudly. Trove didn’t think he’d ever seen anyone so stubbornly beautiful. “And I was named after my grandmother. It’s an honorable name, thank you.”

“If you say so, Cheesy,” Garnet snickered.

Trove was so busy looking between the females, listening to their conversation, that he almost missed the way Ikvar suddenly froze in place. So completely still that, for a moment, Trove thought that maybe he had actually frozen, their connection broken or stuttered. But for his eyes going wide, the metallic one twitching and flickering as it tried to focus on what he was reading. Whatever he saw when he searched up Chee’s registration caused a big reaction in him.

The others were focused on the females as well, and Ikvar was quick to gather himself, so it went largely unnoticed. By everyone except the captain whose gaze narrowed as he also caught Ikvar’s strange movements.

The peacekeeper cleared his throat, claiming everyone’s attention again, and when he spoke, he was acting completely like his normal, annoyed self.

“Very well,” he said. “It looks like all your datawork is in order, Chastity Miracle Whittaker.”

Chee made a face. “You can just call me Chee, please.”

“Your sponsor has hired the Humble Delivery service and you’re riding along with them while you complete a job for Hyde. All of that is properly documented and registered.”

She nodded along, but Trove couldn’t help but be confused. Nothing Captain Ikvar was saying was wrong, but it was so oddly… specific. Like he was stating something for her approval or agreement with whatever he had found.