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Talyn patted the wall as he walked slowly along the corridor. “I know. Things will be different after this. You can get to know me all over again. It’ll be like getting a new owner. I’ll have to do the same with you.”

“I like my old owner.”

“But he doesn’t like what’s going on in his head.”

Booby’s lights pulsed some more. “I’ve seen your torment. I know you struggle. I don’t want that for you.”

“You understand why I must do this.”

“There could be another way.”

Talyn rested his forehead against the wall. “You saw Sinead arrive yesterday?”

“I did. She wasn’t able to change your mind?”

Talyn snorted softly. “And shackle her to me? Force her to live in this chaotic way? How is that fair? I want Sinead to be blissfully happy. I want her to laugh and smile and feel amazing every single day. She can’t do that with me. I was selfish when I got her to sign that contract. I didn’t stop to think about the consequences. Even if she’d gone into this agreement willingly, I hadn’t told her the truth about the mess my mind is in. She knew nothing of my mother, nothing of how unstable my own ability is. I deceived her. She was right to turn me down.”

“She still came for you,” Booby said. “She knows about the struggle you’re going through and understands some of the problems you have with your mom, but she still came. I imagine she didn’t come to say goodbye. Did she ask you not to go through with the expunge?”

Talyn staggered into the cockpit and sank into his favorite seat. “She did.”

“And you still rejected her?”

“I had to.” Talyn slumped forward, his head in his hands. “I still feel her. It’s like she’s next to me. No, not next to me but in the next room.”

“She’s stronger than she appears. Sinead cares for you deeply. She didn’t drop everything and fly four hours through space for someone she’s not bothered about.”

Talyn shook his head. “It’s because she’s a kind person. She’s an amazing individual, and I want her to have the best.”

“She might consider you the best.”

“Then she needs to reassess her values.” Talyn rubbed his forehead to ease the ache throbbing in his skull.

“I sense how much you will miss her.”

“Of course. There’s something unique about Sinead. So unique that she can’t be saddled with me.” Talyn rested his hands on the console. “I’m not here to discuss her, and I’m not here for you to change my mind. Booby, you’re my best friend. We’ve had great adventures together. You can be a right pain in my butt at times, but that’s what real friends do.”

“I also consider you a friend, Talyn. I would like our friendship to remain. I want you to remain as you are.”

“Booby, you’re an awesome ship, but even you can’t get me to change my mind about this.”

“I can lock you in,” Booby said. “Close the docking ramp and fly us away.”

A part of Talyn was tempted by that offer. “By doing that, you’re basically killing me. At least this way, I get to survive. There won’t be any more pain.”

“And I won’t have my friend,” Booby said. “I hope there’s something left of you once you’ve gone through this.”

“I’m hoping to hold on to a few memories.”

“Are you hoping those memories will be of Sinead?”

Talyn drew in a deep breath. Surprise tingled through him as he continued to feel Sinead’s energy. “She’s not on the ship, is she?”

“I can confirm she is not on board.”

Talyn looked around the cockpit. “She’s astonishing. Sinead was only here for a short time, and I still feel her.”

“If you hadn’t rejected her offer to remain with you, you’d always feel that. Do you like how that feels?”