Khalzin had the big hologram display projected, and he was working on something in it. It looked fairly scientific, formulas and hexagons and shapes she didn't understand but had seen enough to know it probably had to do with the genome issues they were having on Kantenan.
She wondered if he had an office somewhere where he worked or did his work in his home. She hadn't noticed a work area here, but if he did it all on those holographic displays, then he wouldn't need anything else in their home, would he?
It felt strange to think of this as their home, her home, even, but it was. Nicer than any place she'd ever lived, but it did not yet feel like her home. Hopefully, that will change soon enough. He was determined to find a more suitable residence for them when the situation was better. Whatever that meant. She would live wherever he took her.
It's not like she had anything to go back to.
She brushed her bangs. "Adryel is bored. Watching too much outside."
"Why do you say that? I assumed all of you would love to see the nature of our world."
"Normally, I think yes, any of us would love to be able to observe the world safely. In this case, she has windows facing the landing platform, and she can see the work. So, we kept watching and wondering if they would find those who fell."
He nodded.
"Have you heard anything about the lost?"
He shook his head. "The odds of survival are low. Even lower as time goes on. There are predators deeper in the forests that do not have mercy for any creature, humanoid or not, that tumbles into their domain."
She sighed. "You know, you could have lied and told me that there was."
"Why?"
"For hope."
"Do you want honesty or patronizing?" he asked.
"Yes?"
"You cannot have both."
"I wish I could," she muttered and sat down in a chair she sort of claimed as her own--it was where she always sat when she wanted to look out the windows. Oversized and plush, she sank into it. Well, as much as possible with the armored dress. That was the only thing that bugged her about the apparel. There was no slouching in the designs. Maybe when things settled, she could order some pajamas or something for home time.
"What do you like to do, Janae?" Khalzin asked.
She blinked. "What do you mean?"
"Surely you have something you enjoy doing. A passion or pursuit."
"Not particularly. Survival was my main task. Then finding food. And from there? Not getting raped."
He paused and stared at her. "Truly?"
"I told you, I was, in essence, homeless."
He stepped away from the holograms and came over to her. "What happened to you?"
"A lot of bad choices." Nothing she wanted to talk about, either.
He didn't say anything for a moment. "When you are ready to speak of them, I am willing to hear about it."
"Most kind," she said.
He didn't say anything else and started to walk back to the display. "Tomorrow, I wanted to take you on a cruise over the light side of the planet. Your friend is welcome to join us if she chooses."
"I would like that," she said. Seeing more of the world appealed to her. And Adryel would love to get out of her apartment as well. "But would it be safe?"
"I will make sure we have plenty of protection. I will not let anything happen to you. Or your friend."
