“You can also invite your friends here, if you like.”
Trin froze.“Zoey can’t travel.Well, she can, but it has to be in a gel pod, and her environment has to be at an even temperature and very humid.”
He nodded.“Doable.”
“But then she would be stuck here in a single room.That sucks.Her case is extreme.”
Birun paused and then asked, “May I speak with her?”
“Sure.If you have a tablet, I can call her now.She doesn’t sleep much.”
He touched the edge of the table, and a tablet popped into his hand.He handed it to her, and she wiped her fingers on a napkin and quickly tapped Zoey’s call id into the unit.
She ate some of the protein bar, and Zoey’s face appeared on the screen.“Eating while talking to me?You have balls, Will.”
“Trin now.”
“Trin then.You are looking good.Your hair is having a great day.”
“Thanks, Zee.I am at a place called Sanctuary Base, and my Hmrain wants to talk to you.”
“Why?”
“I dunno.I think he wants to get you out of there and into some kind of repair unit.”
“I have gotten the quotes.”
“I am fairly sure he isn’t going to charge you.His name is Birun, and he’s here.Can I hand you over, pinky?”
“Sure.I hope he has a strong stomach.”
She smiled.“Okay.Handing over.Birun, this is my best friend, Zoey.”
She handed the tablet over, and Birun’s eyes widened when he saw her friend.
“Greetings, Miss.May I explain my plan?Your Hmrain won’t give you up to just anyone if you are making her money, but there is one that she will give in to.May I speak rapidly?”
“Go ahead, you have my attention.”
Trin ate as Birun switched to a quiet language that was vaguely familiar, and he explained the plan if Zoey agreed to it.Ra would send warriors to the world she was on and bring a gel pod for transport.She would be brought to Aten, where Ra’s more advanced machinery would rebuild her over the course of weeks or months.The timeline didn’t matter.Ra was all about keeping Terrans alive and healthy.Harwin thought it was noble, so Ra was going to do it.He was besotted with his consort.
Trin finished her meal and the three beverages.They were all okay, but she needed to figure out coffee.She got up, put her dishes in the recycling chute, then walked back to the table, and sat next to Birun.Zoey saw her and nodded slightly.She couldn’t smile.Her face didn’t flex.
The language meant that Zoey barely had to move her mouth to speak.It was considerate, and Trin was impressed with Birun all over again.
Birun translated.“I am offering Zoey healing.Ra will send a team of altered Terrans to claim her, and they will put her in a transport gel and get her to one of Ra’s warships.Ra has a restoration unit waiting that is programmed for extensive nerve and tissue repairs.Zoey cannot move, so they will carry her wearing gel-coated gloves.She will be kept in a fluid tank during transport, which will regulate her temperature as well as ease her skin.Her employer has kept her just dry enough to render her immobile.The tissue that used to be skin breaks if she moves.”
“Oh, fuck, Zoey.You didn’t tell me.”
Zoey whispered in that other language that seemed comfortable for her, and Birun translated.“You had enough on your plate, dealing with your grandfather’s attitude and the Bellen inventors who wanted to get a piece of you.You were both in constant danger, and neither could share the other’s strain.”
“Oh, you know about that.”
Zoey nodded and whispered, “Yes.”
Birun looked at Trin.“I don’t.”
“I will explain after the call.When can they get to Zoey?”
