Probably, there was nothing hostile here.
But after her years in security, Torian wouldn’t take that chance.
Moss followed over the speakers. “As I said, the nylarians are gone.”
“I know that. But—did they have friends? Is it possible something… else… moved in after they left?”
“The nylarians would not allow another species into their sanctuary. They are the reason the dust of this nebula is so thick.”
“Thick? We can see through it perfectly, for the most part.” Torian stepped into the cargo bay, riffling through her duffel. It was full of things both useful and sentimental—the pot from her first plant, a rotating supply of shirts and pants, her green hemp jacket, a few pictures of her parents and Celise, documents for Rhymarra.
She paused at Celise’s photo, grimacing.This won’t take long, Lise. I’ll get us back in space, back on task. Promise.
“The fact that we can see dust at all implies it is very thick. Nebulas only appear dense when compressed into a two-dimensional image. In reality, their particles are very fine, or they would have amassed together to form a new planet already.” Moss paused. “I thought you were a solar-engineer pilot human, versed in space.”
That part was accusatory.
“I am! I just didn’t research nebulas that much, because I never expected to be here.” Torian’s cheeks warmed. She absently siftedthrough the rest of her duffel bag for anything useful—but all that remained was a coffee mug, a bag of scrap metal and her pocket welder for starship modeling, a couple of her favorite books, and a smaller leather backpack that held important documents. She left it all on the mossy floor, just in case she’d need it later.
Moss sounded suspicious. “My subsystem has flagged your statement asexaggeration. I request more information on your pilot education.”
“I don’t want to give that information,” Torian muttered.
“You piloted the starship admirably, at least until Auto-Navigation took control.” Moss paused. “My databanks indicate that it is a human sign of trust to avoid keeping secrets.”
Ugh. Torian grudgingly replied, “It was called the School of Pilot Licenses. I earned their Certificate of Really Authentic Piloting.” She felt stupid just admitting it. Denial was easy when Celise had been staring at her, because they were sisters and Torian would die onseveralof their conversational hills.
Amelia, meanwhile, had been given only minimal information:I’m hoping to become a pilot someday. Can I watch?Her old captain had rolled her eyes, but never ordered Torian out of the flight deck—even as Opula, the quartermaster, scowled at the exchange.
But Moss was different.Mosswas intelligent enough to seriously judge her, and new enough for that judgment to cut through Torian’s soul.
Its silence was very, very loud.
Her defenses rose. “Okay, look. Obviously, it was a sham. But I didn’t do it for that certification. They had a holographic simulator, and it’s hard to access those at a reasonable price otherwise.”
“Books and a simulator.” Moss paused. “My records state that you need a human baccalaureate degree to fly a starship. The impound lot would not have let you purchase the ship without it.”
“It…” Torian coughed. “It may be forged.” One nice thing about working on a Fleet vessel was the never-ending supply ofless-than-honorable people with highly unique skills… such as forgery.
“So, you arenota pilot human.”
“Degrees are overrated. I could pass that exam if I wanted.”
Of that, Torian was certain. She loved learning and studying and puzzles. With enough study time and access to a college’s program and textbooks, she could absolutely pass that exam.
Trouble was, herfirstdegree nearly put her parents into bankruptcy. Celise was halfway through hers at the time, and there was serious discussion about whether they could afford to send Torian, too.
She chose solar engineering to try and make herself as appealing as possible to Rhymarra—and later learned it meant absolutely nothing unless she could physicallyreachthe planet. Explaining all that to Moss would take time they didn’t have.
But Moss clearly wasn’t willing to let this go, even as Torian strapped her pistol to her thigh. It asked, “If you could pass, why haven’t you taken the exam?”
Torian puffed a sigh. “I think you’re underestimating how muchcostfactors into human lives. Those degrees aren’t cheap. And after you get it, you have to pay yearly fees to maintain a pilot’s license in the human colonies. I bypassed all that because the most important thing was buying the ship.” As an afterthought, she added slyly, “I wanted to meetyou, Moss.”
“Oh.” The computer considered that. “I am aware you are flattering to divert my suspicion. I am still suspicious. I am also flattered.”
“Perfect,” Torian replied, and carried the extra stuff in her duffel bag up the stairs, tossing it onto the sofa. She shrugged into her green jacket, clawing her hair into a high ponytail. “Can I breathe on this space station?”
The lights flickered. “You’re leaving the ship?”
