I recalled the image of Torian in a hospital, liquid leaking from her eyes much like this, addressing the ceiling as if it were her deceased parents. I suddenly wished I’d done more research into Celise Razner and her current condition.
I needed more information. “Your sister is dying on that space station.” It was not a question.
“Yeah.” Torian spoke quietly. “She can’t breathe the recycled air very well. It happens sometimes.”
“That is understandable. Humans are terrible at recycling air.” I would know. I’d tested the hangar’s air many, many times, and it was always a poor result.
But this was a good indicator that I was correct: Torian Razner was loyal to her family and friends. She would go to extensive lengths to ensure their health and happiness. And as her new best friend, I would be included in that.
My records indicated that friendship was reciprocal. I added, “Wewill ensure your sister has clean air.” I did not want her sister aboard my ship—two humans meantIwould be excluded—but saving her sister would mean Torian was indebted to me.
That was how humans worked. I was 84 percent certain.
Torian glanced up at the camera, then stared at my moss colony. She didn’t touch me, which was appreciated. “Thank you. Maybe we can brainstorm if Rhymarra doesn’t work out.”
I had little information on Rhymarra, other than that it was the humans’ singular terraformed planet. [They had other, unsuccessful attempts, which just meant humans were also bad at life support in every capacity.]
I pulled the useful information from her statement. “Then Rhymarra is our destination?”
Torian inhaled and finally nudged the yoke, turning theDestituteonce again. I could feel Auto-Navigation waiting expectantly, like a tiny creature in my peripherals. When I turned my focus toward it, it offered a blank stare, as always.
[I really should just overtake the entire ship, at this point.]
Luckily, Torian had recovered from the leaking liquid, and now her words flagged asdetermined. “Yes. We’re going to land, just to prove Amelia wrong. And I’m going to test for citizenship, just to prove Celise wrong.”
Torian pressed her lips together, tapping coordinates into the auto-nav. The tiny creature illuminated, brightening with new orders.
I asked, “Once we reach Rhymarra, what is our objective?”
Torian didn’t seem fazed by the question. “We’re going to the University. If I can convince the headmaster to let me test for citizenship, I can relocate Celise somewhere withrealair, not recycled shit.”
“Amelia and Celise do not think you’ll accomplish this?”
“Amelia thinks that Rhymarrans are ‘inconsiderate assholes,’ according to past conversations.” Torian flagged her fingers in a new gesture I hadn’t seen before, specifically around the words “inconsiderate assholes.”
I said, “I like the terminology: ‘inconsiderate asshole.’ I will store that insult.”
Torian laughed. “Please don’t.” She pressed Enter, and Auto-Nav dinged approval. The ship turned smoothly, angling to some unknown vector of space. A timer appeared: nine hours, eighteen minutes until arrival. Maximum speed engaged, and Torian was pushed gently back into her seat.
She stared at the timer. Her mouth opened, and my systems registered it asshock.
“Nine hours?” Torian asked. “That can’t be right. It’s a five-day flight, at least.”
“Humans always bypass wormholes. This auto-navigation subsystem is programmed to utilize them whenever possible.”
Torian stared at the ceiling. I presumed she was staring at me, but it was a comically bad attempt. Just to be safe, I updated my humor module, then asked, “You seem perturbed. Do you need me to explain the pace benefits of a wormhole?”
“Wormholes arereal?!”
[System Update]
From now on, all potential pilots are assessed based on competency.
CHAPTER 5
Torian stayed awake long enough to see theDestituteenter a wormhole.
(Apparently, they were everywhere, but the trick was determining which wormholes propelled a ship to its proper destination, and which ones spit a ship so far from home, the crew would die trying to return. Which, to be fair, sounded pretty fucking dangerous for humans, given past history.)
