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We can do right by our daughter.

And we will.

* * *

MAREK

As we dance, a frown falls on Azalea’s face.

“Does something trouble you?” I ask, pulling her closer.

She shakes her head, eyes bright. “I was just wondering. We’re so happy together. Ivan and Robert are so happy. So what went wrong with the algorithm?”

I have, of course, considered the question, but never felt inclined to pursue it.

But if Azalea desires more answers, I will not disappoint her. “We can inquire,” I say, leading us to a nearby table and picking up a tablet in one hand as my other stays wrapped around Azalea. We stand at the outskirts of the party, the sky above us dark and glittering with stars, the sounds of nature mixing with the distant chatter of people. “The algorithm itself was never stored on the ship. To make room for more critical data and functions. But Metis may have some remaining knowledge of how the original choices were made.”

“Metis,” Azalea says, both of us still swaying to the music. “How did you decide to pair us off initially? For The Lottery?”

The AI’s voice is as clear as ever, though I have had to run diagnostics a few times recently to clean up small errors in her code. “I was given a list of commands to follow, along with profiles on the billionaires, the crew, and the limited selection of Lottery entries. The algorithm was designed to match the most compatible mates together.”

There is a pause, and I feel intrigued as I spin Azalea around to the beat.

“But so many of us weren’t compatible,” she says, clutching my hand in hers.

“I had to allow for a margin of error,” Metis responds. “In order to fulfill contradictory orders.”

I raise an eyebrow. “What were the contradictory orders?” This is the first I have heard of such things.

“To make a perfect match was only possible when all available parties were included in the algorithm.”

Azalea gasps. “You included everyone, even the crew?” she asks.

“Yes.”

“But not everyone was paired,” I say, still trying to analyze the situation.

Azalea rubs her chin, gazing down. “So… some of the single billionaires should have been paired together. Some should have been paired with crew. And some of The Lottery winners should have been paired with… well, Lottery winners or crew.”

“This would have been the ideal result,” says Metis. “But it did not meet all required parameters.”

This… this is not making sense.

The crazy computer did not play matchmaker with all of us.

“So, does every single person here have an ideal mate?” Azalea asks, her bright voice pulling me from my thoughts “If we mix and match?” She seems excited by the prospect, and I know her heart. She wants everyone to have what we have. If they did, if we all could love this deeply, our new little colony would truly thrive.

“One hundred percent compatibility was not possible. The program achieved 88.3% optimal compatibility, within the correct environment.”

Azalea smiles, pulling my hands to her swaying hips. “So most people have someone here for them. Even if they don’t know it yet.” Then she frowns. “Metis, do you know who is most compatible with whom?”

“That information was removed along with the algorithm,.”

Indeed it was. Thus Metis could not have known about my compatibility with Azalea. Unless…

My brilliant botanist sighs. “Worth a try. Guess they’re going to have to figure it out the old fashioned way.” She smiles, wrapping her arms around my neck. “Now, I’m not sure I can keep my hands off you any longer, Mr Volkav.”

Her words light a fire in me, and I whisper in her ear. “Then… how do you feel about a shower?”

She smiles, her eyes mischievous, as she takes me by the hand and leads me away.

As we walk, I cannot help but think about the coincidences that brought us together. Our adjacent suites. The cargo bay. The observation room. I remember the lights going out just as we were about to part ways, as if some greater force was pushing us together.

Oh Metis…

Could it be?

I let the thought die quickly. In the end, does it really matter? Whether by fate or an algorithm, I have found my heart, and I intend to hold onto her for the rest of my life, on this planet or the next.

THE END