“Leave us alone,” Janet said, trying to get a handle of the situation. She was still reeling from her nightmare. “Go back to your villain.”
“I am known as Bin-one, standard model number. I do not have a name,” the android said, ignoring her request.
Janet hefted her sister up further and turned toward the lavatory on the other side of the room, vaguely aware that all the destruction she’d wrought the day before had vanished. Even the glass shelves had been replaced—with plastic. A tiny part of her was thankful, another larger part of her was annoyed. Her cabin had been childproofed and she knew it wasn’t because of Lily.
I can’t even leave a mark. I can’t even find comfort in that.She fumed as she carried her sister to the bathroom to get cleaned up.
“Why don’t you have a face!?” Lily shouted over her shoulder, making her wince.
Janet checked to make sure the robot wasn’t following them and was quickly relieved to find that it remained between the bed and the door. She closed the bathroom door behind them and let out a heavy breath. Her heart pounded in her chest, and yet, all she wanted to do was crawl back into the bed and go back to sleep. She let her sister down and touch her neck.Did he drug me?
“I wanna play with the robot,” her sister whined.
“Not until we get ready for the day.”
“Da said there’s no days in space so I wanna playnow.”
“Da also said you could be a Cyborg when you grow up. You don’t really believe him, do you?”
Lily pouted but then nodded.
Janet nodded stoically back. “It’s settled then. Time to get cleaned up. No sense in getting yourself sick with dirty hands right before you get a chance to see the stars.” And by stars, Janet meant the ones outside the ship’s portholes, the ones they’d be passing by on the wayhome.
She looked around and was stunned by what she found in the bathroom. It had changed since she tried to flood it. Replaced completely from a standard system to luxury. It was state-of-the-art perfection and roomy enough to accommodate her and Lily both.How?
She raised her eyes to the ceiling.Cyborgs.
Lily explored while she took stock of the changes. Instead of only a shower stall, there was now a shower and a separate tub, double sinks, and everything she touched was warm to her skin.
“Presents!”
She turned to see what Lily was excited about. There, sitting upon a vanity, was a plastic box. Inside was a stack of clothes that were soft and besides that were every toiletry that she or Lily may need. Including toys and diapers.
Lily’s too old for diapers.Janet cracked a smile at Zeph’s obvious confusion.
Thirty minutes later, she and Lily were both dressed in simple space attire; black slacks, form-fitting grey shirts with an EPED logo on the back, and fleece-lined jackets to match. The clothing fit her comfortably, kept her warm from the chill of space, and yet breathed to keep it from being too stifling. The only difference between her and Lily was that Lily’s jacket was a soft pink.
The android was gone when they re-emerged a little while later. She scanned the area thoroughly anyway, half-convinced it would pop out from one of the walls. When she was sure it was gone, Janet folded up their nightclothes and placed them on the bed.
She had barely finished when apingsounded at the door.
“I’ll get it,” Lily said, jumping up from where she sat on the couch trying to figure out some of the toys.
“No!” Janet intercepted. “We’re in a strange place. Never open the door for strangers.”
“Zeph isn’t a stranger. Robots aren’t strange.”
Janet shooed Lily back toward her toys without responding, and manually pulled open the door an inch to peer out. Bin-one stood outside with a tray of food.
Her nostrils filled with the scents of herbs and roasted meat and her mouth watered.
“I have brought sustenance for you and Mistress Lily. Master assured me you would be hungry.”
Her belly chose that moment to growl in answer. She flinched but eyed the offering. “What is it?”
“Braised fowl from the planet Kepler, grain and rice seasoned in its fat, and mashed potatoes from the replicator. Master Zeph decided on the menu.”
It sounded delicious and smelled even better. She pushed the door farther open and reached for the tray.
