“That space stationispretty. If it really looks like that, it must be a marvel.” The words were grudging.
“Yeah,” Torian said, excitement swelling in her chest. She pointed to the tree she was starting to craft in the big dome’s center. “That’s the tree with blue leaves. They’re called kerracs. This one apparently named itself Kerracia.”
“Because it is a self-important, inconsiderate asshole,” Moss intoned.
Celise snorted. “You’ve spoken with it?”
“I speak with all plants. It is easier than conversing with humans. Your speech has subtext and pairs with body language, and requires multiple translators to fully identify. Plants are plants. There is no subtext. Kerracia is an inconsiderate asshole.”
Torian grinned, and Celise’s serious expression fractured, and then they both dissolved into laughter.
And Celise didn’t cough—not once.
IDENTITY: Mechanical Operations and Support Systems
→SUB-IDENTITY: Moss
TIME/DATE: 22:10/Januous 15, Year 90113 [System U2Ab Universal]
LOCATION: Vaesa [nylarian]
Auto-Navigation: I know something you don’t know.
The humans were both sleeping: Celise in the sleeping room, Torian on the couch. They’d spent the evening talking about a dozen things that seemed irrelevant and were definitely boring, and four hours ago, they separated. It took Celise longer to fall asleep than Torian.
Silence followed. Even the potted plants, normally so versed in submitting complaints, ceased their irritating vibrations for a while. I basked in it. For the first time since the empty hangar, I enjoyed the stillness.
[That alone felt like… like a different kind of growth. Not expanding my colony, or growing new bigger leaves.]
[Torian was expanding my range of comfort.]
[I liked it.]
So, naturally, Auto-Navigation had to intervene.
Auto-Navigation: Don’t you want to know what I know?
Moss: What is it?
A: I’m not telling you.
In fifty-two minutes, we would be at Vaesa. In fifty-three, I would demand that Dutch replace Auto-Navigation’s programming with somethingcompliant.
M: Please tell me.
A: Ask nicer.
M:
A:
M: Engine, what does it know?
Engine: Engine operating at 99.71 percent efficiency.
M:… what doesAuto-Navknow?
E: Repeat question.
