Torian squeezed her sister’s shoulder and took one look around their family apartment, and smiled slightly. Leaving this place, Colony 13, was bittersweet—but walls and floors didn’t make a home.
Family did.
When Celise arrived on theDestitute, everything would be perfect.
CHAPTER 22
In retrospect, Torian should have just kept her mouth shut.
“What does ‘behave yourself’ mean in human context?” Moss sounded both confusedandsarcastic, which was an impressive combination. “My systems do not have those words registered.”
Torian paused in her cleanup of the ship, preparing the space for Celise. She’d decided to sleep on the couch, which meant her sister could take the more private sleeping room. At her behest, Moss had guided Torian to a hydrosonic cleaning container, which had done an excellent job freshening the dirty bedding.
Torian fluffed the clean comforter. “It just means that my sister is already suspicious, and I may need you to… ah, ease into your normal self.”
She winced. It sounded bad when she explained it like that.
Moss must agree, because it seemed to have settled on utter disdain. “I am always my normal self. Multiple people have confirmed I am a delightful conversationalist.”
“I’m aware.”
“Then your fear is unfounded.”
Probably true. Torian was just nervous. She bounced on her toes as she folded the blankets, trying to make them as aesthetic as possible. It might actually be cold enough tonight to need the comforter. The air was still humid, although Moss had made subtle adjustments to accommodate Celise’s breathing difficulties. Hot, heavy humidity might trigger Celise more than the recycled station air, so Moss had lessened that and infused more oxygen into a smaller space.
Really, it was already on its best behavior.
Torian chuckled. “Yeah. You’re right.”
“I am right ninety-seven point four percent of the time. Since there is a small margin of error, I understand your hesitation.” It pivoted immediately. “Your body language is registering asnervous. Are you afraid of your sister?”
“Ofher? No, never.” Torian laughed at the idea. She stepped back to admire her handiwork. The sleeping room was perfectly prepped. After a moment’s contemplation, she admitted, “Forher… maybe. If I can’t convince her to stay on Vaesa, we both know what will happen.”
“That seems like an elementary decision on Celise’s part.”
“Try telling her that.” Torian groaned, shuffling back into the living area with bedding she’d been using this whole time. She dumped it on the couch, attempting to make it into an equally neat presentation. “She’s always considered Colony 13 her home. And she does have people relying on her here.”
“She was prepared to join you on Rhymarra.”
Torian swallowed, tucking the sheets around the cushions. “Yeah. But Rhymarra has better doctors and medical advancements. At least there, she could research her condition and try to find a cure. She’s not the only one who has this breathing issue—so in her mind, doing research is still helping.”
“She cannot pursue research on Vaesa?” Moss asked.
“I mean,Ithink she can, but—”
Moss interrupted, “A human is outside the cargo bay, calling for you. If it matters, this human’s facial features register as eighty-four percent similar to your own.”
Celise. Torian checked her watch, and sure enough, several hours had passed without Torian realizing. TheDestitutewas sparkling—or as close as a ship covered in moss could get. She’d even grabbed more groceries and made a pot of vegetable soup, letting it simmer as she cleaned. The table was set, and everything looked welcoming.
Hopefully this first impression was just the start.
Torian skipped down the staircase and opened the cargo door to reveal Celise. Her long blond hair was pulled into a prim ponytail, and a backpack was slung over one shoulder. She raised one eyebrow, peering past Torian into the ship.
“You weren’t kidding about the moss.”
“We never joke about Moss,” the computer said overhead.
Torian reveled at the confusion on Celise’s face.Believe me now?she wanted to say, but somehow she managed to clamp that arrogance down. Instead, she gestured broadly inside. “Come in. That’s Moss, the life support system.”
