“Your time is finished, Ms. Razner. Thank you for the visit.” He sat at his desk and stonily pushed the metal folder toward her.
Years of work, decades of study, and it meant nothing. She was never going to be allowed to test—just like Celise had said, Amelia had said, Moss had said. Even knowing the odds, she’d still foolishly hoped she’d be successful.
What a joke.
Torian mutely gathered the file and tucked it under one arm.
Celise would argue more.
Amelia would probably threaten him.
But Torian just stalked out of the office, tears in her eyes.
IDENTITY: Mechanical Operations and Support Systems
→SUB-IDENTITY: Moss
TIME/DATE: 13:18/Januous 13, Year 90113 [System U2Ab Universal]
LOCATION: Rhymarra [human]
I’d predicted a 52.4 percent chance that Sequelta vel Dutch-Ath would not, in fact, let Torian fly away with theDestitute—so I was unsurprised when his draic lover’s starship landed on the pad beside it.
When Dutch approached theDestitute, I disobeyed Torian’s orders and opened the cargo bay door. This was not because I didn’t trust or respect Torian’s orders. My reasons were twofold:
In order to secure a future for Torian and her sister, my most successful plan required Dutch’s input, consent, and expertise, and
In the resulting silence after Torian left, I had replayed Dutch’s apologies over and over, explored new scenarios, and decided I had more to say.
Either way, Dutch was a necessity on my ship. He boarded, and without warning, I closed the cargo bay doors and locked them, sealing him inside.
“Hello to you too, Moss,” Dutch said.
“I do not greet abandoners,” I replied over the speakers. “You created me. You are my parental figure. I am your spore, brimming with potential, and you nurtured me for over a millennium. And then, you abandoned me.”
He did not bring anything this visit, but like Torian he had also changed his clothes. He rocked back on his heels, expression registering contemplation. “By this analogy, you could say that you haveentered the young adult phase, and I—as the parental figure, or the sporophyte—was merely giving you a chance to drift alone.”
“Incorrect. Continuing this analogy, you locked me in a room and left the house while I starved.”
Dutch grimaced. “Point. Moss, Iamdeeply sorry. What else would you like me to say?”
“That apology will do. For now. What is your purpose on theDestitute? Torian is speaking with the human leaders of this planet and cannot supervise you.”
“I know. I’m here to talk to you.”
[Naturally.]
“I am unwilling to talk.”
Dutch frowned. “You’ve been talking to me this entire time.”
I went silent. But I also didn’t unlock the door to release him. Instead, I watched as he heaved a sigh, then climbed the short staircase into the living area. He inspected his ravla supply, picked up the container of human coffee grounds, then started the kettle. “She’s drinking ravla instead, huh?”
“It is safe for human consumption.”
[Death and desiccation. I wasn’t supposed to talk.]
“I suppose.” He sounded regretful. “It’s also nearly impossible to find.”
