“There is no nest,” I say, stepping inside. There are surfaces for sitting, but I do not see any place for sleeping.
“There are three bedrooms,” Corrina says, stepping inside and opening another door to reveal a smaller room with a sleeping platform.
“Why would we need three sleeping platforms?” Zann asks curiously. Corrina’s eye fur shifts slightly, but it doesn’t respond to Zann’s question.
“Make yourselves comfortable. Someone will be back shortly to escort you to dinner in the mess hall.”
“Not others,” Davix signs. “Too many others. Why can’t it escort us?” He points at Corrina.
“I thought you did not trust Corrina,” Zann signs.
“I don’t. But at least Corrina is familiar,” Davix replies.
Zann nods and turns to face Corrina. “There are too many new creatures. Can you come back for escorting us to dinner?”
The creature looks surprised at the request. “I will try,” it says. It shows us how to operate the information port. As the door opens for it to leave, I see four creatures standing on the other side of the door. They glance in at us nervously. But I am too intrigued by the information port to worry about them. Davix stalks off to gather up blankets and other soft things to make a communal nest, and I settle in to learn everything I can.
Chapter Ten: Corrina
“I thought you were done babysitting,” Curran says as we jog down the hallway together.
“I thought I was too,” I reply irritably.
“So, what changed?” he asks.
“Get this – the big grumpy one who doesn’t talk? Apparently now it wants me around.”
“Aw, you made a friend, Commander,” Curran jokes.
I roll my eyes. “They were signing, so I couldn’t really follow. But I think in a world where everyone is the enemy, it’s choosing the enemy it knows.”
“Lucky you.”
“Lucky me,” I say sarcastically. “Because the sudden and violent death of Captain Lianov isn’t enough of a disaster on top of trying to process this whole mission.”
Curran shrugs. “Play dangerous games, win dangerous prizes.”
“No shit,” I reply. “But Lianov’s financial partners don’t see it that way.”
“Who cares? Once the Fixers are done with his systems, Lianov’s financial partners are either going to find themselves in a cell or distancing themselves as much as possible.”
“I sure as hell hope so.” We pause outside the doorway where I stashed our new arrivals and nod to the guards stationed there. “Any movement?” I ask.
“No, Commander,” one of them replies.
“Okay. Let’s get these three and get some grub.” I press my hand to the buzzer and wait for the door to open. I manage to hide my surprise at the sight that greets me. All three of the mattresses have been hauled into the common room and stacked together. All the other furniture has been unceremoniously stacked along the edges of the room or shoved into the bedrooms. A giant heap of blankets and pillows covers the mattresses.
“Looks like someone’s prepping for a sleepover,” Curran mutters.
“Corrina,” the one known as Krish calls. “I have learned many, many things from the education port.” It stalks closer and stares down at me. “You are the sex called woman, yes?”
“I am. Does that matter?”
Krish’s lips curl up, exposing its sharp teeth in what I assume is a smile. It’s an expression I don’t think I’ve seen any of them make before this moment.
“And second leader is the sex called man,” Krish announces.
“Curran,” my sergeant barks.
