Holly could feel Alyce watching her. “There are a few more rooms, which Charles blocked off years ago. Luv and I didn’t open them up. Figured you can decide what to do with them.”
Holly was again about to ask who Luv was when a stout robot rolled into the room from the bedroom, moving on a single, squeaky rollerball. Holly recognized it immediately: an old Homeboti unit. They were designed for housekeeping, and this one, with its squat, cylindrical body, two articulated arms and a domed head that housed two, glowing blue optical sensors, was basically an antique.
“Holly, this is Luv,” Alyce said, narrowing her eyes on the Homeboti. “Housekeeper of the hotel and your personal assistant.”
The robot turned its attention to Holly. “So this is the new owner,” Luv said in a clipped, female British accent. “Took your time getting here, didn’t you?”
“Luv,” Alyce said in a warning tone.
“And I see the hound is back. Lovely.”
Bean lifted his head and sniffed toward Luv, then dropped it back down with a grunt.
Holly blinked. She’d never encountered anopinionatedHomeboti before. The ones in operation now were quiet, accommodating and practically invisible. Luv was about as pleasant as an angry porcupine.
“Hello, Luv.” Holly glanced nervously at Alyce. “Is it?—”
“She,” Luv cut in, forcefully. Her optical lights flipped from blue to yellow. “I am not an ‘it,’ despite what youlunar citypeople may think. I will thank you to remember that.”
Alyce sighed. “Luv here is a gen-one Homeboti model. Made before they removed the personality and self-awareness modules.” She wagged a finger, fixing Luv with a stern look. “Don’t get too comfortable with that attitude. Holly can install a software patch that will render you as interesting as a waste processor. Sheisthe new owner of this place, so you’d better not give her a hard time.”
Luv appeared to draw back in horror. “I donothave an attitude.”
“Luv, you can be an insufferable crab, and you know it,” Alyce shot back. “There’s a reason why they discontinued personality features in subsequent models.”
“Charles said he liked having someone around who talked back to him,” Luv said, then rotated to face Holly. “Install that patch and I shallneverclean this hotel again.”
Holly blinked at her, unsure whether to be amused or terrified by the empty threat. Still, Holly had opinions, too, and those included respecting the autonomy of sentient beings, even the manufactured ones. “Understood, Luv,” Holly said. “I’ve no plans to alter your software.”Unless living with you becomes utterly insufferable.
Luv made a digitized sound like a grunt, but her optical lights blinked back to blue. “Very good, then. I confirm that ownership of this Homeboti unit, number 330-P1228, has transferred from Charles Moone, deceased, to Holly Greene-Moone, new owner of Moone’s Landing and Lars-Vector-2.” She tilted her head and added in a grudging tone, “I’m here to assist you.”
“Acknowledged,” Holly said, as was expected when an assistant bot gave a speech like that. “But I require very little. I take care of myself,” she added.
“Understood.” Luv swung an arm to a corner with a charging port built into the wall. “I require two to six hours of charging daily, during which time I’ll be inactive. But I try to time that with your schedule. You don’t keep odd hours, do you? I like to watch the morning birds from the window.”
Alyce shook her head and crossed over to where the little beagle lay. She scratched his chest and the dog’s white-tipped tail gave a lazy wag. “Luv will help you with Bean until you learn how to take care of him.”
“I’d rather not,” Luv grumbled. “But I will.”
“And Sam, who runs the space port terminal, will be by soon with your luggage crates,” Alyce added, then tapped her lower lip, thinking. “Things you should know. Try to stay indoors between one and one thirty, as thecic-ractree is blooming and its pollen can be a nasal irritant. Avoid the blue fruits that look like bananas in the gardens. They’renotfor humans. If you visit the mushroom shop, make sure your schedule is wide open. Harry can talk.” She raised one brow and looked toward the ceiling. “What else? When I leave here, I’ll sync the station communications channel to your comm. That lawyer already sent over the frequency passcode to it, so check that for updates and messages. Also, there are two guests staying at the hotel. I don’t expect you’ll like either of them. One of them says he’s your cousin, by the way.”
Because, apparently, she needed more surprises. “What? Mycousin?”
“Thirdcousin, I believe.” Alyce’s derisive sniff told Holly exactly what the woman thought of this cousin. “He showed up a few weeks before Charles passed. Says he’s Oliver Moone’s brother’s descendant. I looked into it and confirmed the ancestry, but could find little to nothing about his past. Cody Barkois is his name. He’s in room four, on the first floor. Charles put him to work in the hotel lounge, making drinks and food.” Alyce grimaced. “Terrible at both, and that’s not an opinion.”
“I’ve never met him,” Holly said, scouring her memory for a mention of a cousin named Cody. It didn’t ring a bell.
She tapped the side of her head. “A bit spacey, if you ask me. Spends his time wandering barefoot, seeking ‘enlightenment.’ You can decide what to do with him.”
“Great.” Holly ran a hand down her face. “Who is the other guest?”
“A consultant. Represents one of the companies who would like to buy Moone’s Landing.” Alyce’s lips pursed. “Rasker Vipp’s his name. Room seventeen. Slick. Fancy, but not unpleasant. I also verified his identity. Upstanding. No red flags there.” She gave Holly an appraising look. “You’re from that lunar city, Nova. You should know how to handle someone like him. Unless you’re planning on selling, that is.”
Holly’s overwhelm was so vast, she barely registered the headache that had sprung up behind her eyes. But she knew her answer to this question was vitally important to the woman standing in front of her. “I’m notplanningto sell. I’m hoping to save the station, but I don’t know what we’re up against here.”
Alyce nodded firmly, appearing satisfied enough by the answer. Holly wondered if Alyce, or anyone here, knew of the unique terms of Charles’ will. This woman didn’t want to move, obviously cared about the outpost, and would undoubtedly besharing Holly’s answer with the other residents the instant she left the hotel.
“Very good,” Alyce said briskly and moved toward the door. “You can ask me, or Luv, any questions you have.”
