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“Thank you.” I hesitated, then looked at the screen. “Can I ask you something else?”
“Certainly.”
“The government agency handling the seized assets. Is there a way to ask them to donate any money I'm eventually owed to a charity that helps victims of financial crimes? I don't want to keep anything that comes out of this mess. If there is anything left after the debt is settled, I'd rather it helped someone else who'd been through something similar.”
There was a short pause, presumably while Xero checked the relevant procedures.
“Yes, you can make that request. I can send it to the agency now, along with your authorization. They will still have to complete the sale and reconcile the debt before determining whether any funds are payable, but your instructions can be recorded in advance.”
“You can do that now?”
“Of course. I told you, Darren. I'm excellent at multitasking.”
I laughed, properly this time. “Alright. Go ahead.”
“Done. I've submitted the request and received confirmation that it has been logged. You will be notified if anything further is required.”
“That's one thing off my mind.”
“And the luggage has been ordered. It should arrive shortly.”
I leaned back in my chair, looking around the motel room. It was still the same small room with the same cheap furniture and the same view of the parking lot, but it no longer felt quite so much like a place where I'd been waiting for my life to end. I had a destination now. A job. A home waiting to be built. And, apparently, a husband who was currently somewhere across the galaxy.
I wasn't ready to think too much about that last part.
Instead, I focused on the practical things. I made a list of what needed to be packed, what would be shipped, and what the children would need for the journey. Xero helped me sort through the inventory and check which items were already included in the relocation arrangements. We confirmed the shipment of the bedroom furniture, the children's toys, their books, and the personal items I had been allowed to retain.
It was almost reassuring to have something so ordinary to do.
Then I glanced at the clock.
“Oh, no.”
“Is something wrong?”
“The school bus. The boys will be back soon, and I haven't told them anything.” My stomach tightened again. “How am I supposed to explain this to them? I can't exactly tell them that I went out for a test and came back married to an alien.”
“Technically, you can,” Xero said. “But I agree that it would be wise to provide some context.”
I stood and began pacing. “They're going to have questions. Evan will want to know what happened and whether we're really moving. Matt will probably want to know if Tarek can breathe fire or fly through the school roof. And what if they think I'm replacing Philip? What if they don't like the idea of another father?”
“Darren,” Xero said gently, “you're beginning to spiral again. Let's slow down and make a plan. You don't have to answer every question they might ever ask. You only need to explain what is happening now, in a way they can understand.”
I stopped pacing, though my hands were already clammy.
“What do you suggest?”
“Invite Pellan and Rhovan to join you for pizza at Mamma Rose's Pizza. Bring the data pad. We can explain the matching system together, tell them about the new job, and describe the journey to New Haven. We can talk about the planet, the spaceships, and the exciting things waiting for them. We can also explain who I am.”
I blinked. “You want to help me tell my children?”
“Of course. I'm part of the process, and I would be happy to meet them properly. You can explain that I'm an AI, which means I'm a person who lives in the ship and station systems rather than in a biological body. I'm still able to talk, learn, make decisions, and have friends. My brother Bob helps run New Haven, so they will have two AIs to get to know.”
“Two AIs,” I repeated. “That should go well. They love Alexa and Siri. Sorry, I know you're a lot more advanced than that, but they won't think so at first.”
“That's a common misapprehension among humans. Don't worry; I'm confident it will all go without a hitch.”
I thought about it. Pizza was familiar. Pellan and Rhovan had been wonderful with Laura, and I knew the boys would be fascinated by two alien officers. If we told them together, I wouldn't have to carry the entire conversation alone.
