[Now, I could not find enough data about it.]
“There must be a way we can bridge your central system to Vaesa. Connect you to a new tower and give you control of both this ship and the space station.” Torian seemed distant now, perhaps the human equivalent of running scenarios. “We can probably build headsets that link to your central system, too, so you can talk with us whenever you want. Or maybe a drone that you can control?”
There was something… warm… about the fact that Torian was contemplating multiple options for me. Even if they were unfeasible, even if my central system couldn’t be moved, I decided it was nice to know she was trying.
“Perhaps,” I said noncommittally. I had already explored those ideas. I couldn’t be certain how a second tower, an entirely new central system, would affect my processing power. Would I morph into two consciousnesses?[What if Torian liked the other Moss more than me?]Headsets only mattered if the humans wore them. A bot was an idea, but sounded as limiting as a starship.
What did I actually want?
Freedom to move
Ability to communicate
[Assurance that I would never be alone again.]
I stored that list in my archives, alongside the better memories of Dutch when it was just the two of us.
All of this was useless now. I said, “Apologies. I should not have mentioned it.”
“Moss,” Torian said.
My name held weight. Any subsystems slowed, and I redirected most of my processing power to this conversation. “Yes, Captain?”
“You matter as much as any of us.Youare the only reason I havegood news to deliver to Celise.” Torian drew a slow breath. “If I’d found any other starship, I’d have already lost. If this is something you want, I swear, I’ll spend the rest of my life hunting for a solution.”
“Your life is short.”
Torian shrugged. “Long enough to find a specialty. ‘Moss-comfort human.’ How’s that sound?”
I logged it into her profile. “That… is appropriate. Thank you.”
Torian smiled. “Let me know when we reach Colony 13. I’ll brainstorm in the meantime. I’m sure Dutch will help later, too.”
Dutch did not register ashelpfulin my systems anymore, despite his recent intervention.
But maybe that could change.
CHAPTER 21
They docked with no issue, and Moss assured Torian as she disembarked, “I will not allow anyone else access. Do not die.”
Torian balked, halfway out of the starship. “What? Why would I die?”
“Colony 13 is both boring and dangerous. Boring for myself. Dangerous for you.” Moss was solemn. “I repeat: Do not die.”
“I will do my very best not to die,” Torian drawled, and left. The starship cargo doors closed behind her, which was good, because theDestitutewas drawing another crowd in this public hangar. The sooner she collected Celise and left, the better.
Until then, she’d have to trust Moss to protect the ship.
After Colony 4, this place felt downright welcoming. (No obsessive holidays, for one, although Torian did feel like she should put in a request to honor Starship Day.) The dock she’d secured was on a different level than Celise’s clinic, so she had to take the tram to the center column, and then ride the lift up a few floors. As she floated in the central lift, more people boarded, then began disembarking on the residential rings.
Torian followed a mother and two children out when they reached her level. The mother coaxed her children onto the tram, and Torian made space for them as they all secured into harnessed seats.
One of the kids squinted at her, and she waggled a few fingers. The kid giggled, and Torian smiled in response. The mother whispered intensely to the child, and she averted her gaze.
Learning young to be closed off, careful of strangers. Torian hatedthat it was necessary, but she couldn’t argue the safety measures. She offered an apologetic smile to the mother and averted her gaze.
It was a short ride to proper gravity on the outer ring, and Torian stretched as she disembarked the tram. Colony 13’s residential rings had a high ceiling with apartments stacked almost shanty-like on a main strip, and an attempt at greenery in the center. Her family hadn’t been able to afford that view, so Celise’s clinic was built in their old apartment—which was down several narrow hallways.
