"Which brings me to the partnership renewal." Mother pulls up a document. "Six-month review. Standard procedure. Option to continue or dissolve."
"Continue," I say, before the sentence finishes.
"Definitely continue," Krilly adds.
Mother's mouth twitches. "Sign here."
Krilly signs first, quick and confident. Then the stylus is in my hand, and I write my name beside hers. Our names together. Official, legal, chosen.
"Next assignment: Category Three to the Outer Rim. But take two days off first. You've earned it."
"We'll be ready."
At the door, Mother's voice stops me. "Ka'reen."
I turn.
"From escaped asset to certified OOPS courier. Well done." She pauses. "Call me Mother. Everyone else does."
Krilly's delight. My markings warm.
"Thank you, Mother."
The walk to Room 314 takes four minutes. I have been broadcasting what I intend to do when we arrive for approximately three of those minutes, and Krilly's heart rate has been climbing steadily in response, which I feel in my own chest, which increases my own arousal, which she feels, which increases hers.
Six months of the feedback loop, and we have learned to weaponise it.
"You're doing that on purpose," she says, her voice slightly breathless as we turn the last corridor.
"Doing what?"
"Broadcasting. Specific images."
"I am merely thinking about what I wish to do this evening. I cannot control the bond's transmission fidelity."
"You absolutely can. You've been controlling it since the third month when you figured out you could send me specific—" She stops, cheeks flushing, because a station maintenance crew is passing. Her mortification layered over arousal layered over the specific exasperation of a woman who is trying to walk normally while her bonded mate psychically broadcasts sexual intentions at her.
"Specific what?" I ask, innocent.
"You know what."
"I would like to hear you say it."
"In acorridor?"
"The corridor is nearly empty."
"The corridor hassurveillance."
"Bebo, are there active surveillance feeds in residential corridor C?"
"There are seven cameras between your current position and Room 314," Bebo responds from Krilly's belt. "However, I can confirm that the security monitoring team typically does not review residential footage unless flagged by an incident report. Your current behaviour, while biometrically suggestive, does not constitute an incident."
"Biometrically suggestive."
"Both of your heart rates are elevated. Horgox's skin temperature has increased two point four degrees. Krilly's pupils are dilated. These are indicators of—"
"Thank you, Bebo."
