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“ B ut,” Frank continued, “I think I have a way to do this without short-circuiting everything.”

“How?” Hazel asked.

I had to admit, I was pretty interested, too.

“The solution is an electrostatic generator, also known as a Van de Graaff generator. It produces static electricity, and that should be more than enough to wipe out these nanoids. We might not even have to build this generator because there’s a good chance there’s already one on the Athos . Maybe in the physics department?”

Hazel looked at Stuedecker, who shrugged. “Sorry, ma’am, I have no idea.”

She brought her wristband to her mouth. “Call Ensign Gibson.”

He popped up on her holoscreen, already out of uniform and obviously in his quarters. “Yes, ma’am.”

“Ensign, I need you to find out if there’s an electrostatic generator or a Van de Graaff generator on board, possibly in the physics department. Same thing, different names. Immediately.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Hazel disconnected and went back to speaking to Frank. “Tell me the rest of this plan. How does it work?”

“We use the generator to create static electricity and send the voltage through the ship. It’ll have to be done deck by deck, and there is the chance that some devices will be rendered unusable, but based on what I’ve seen, it will kill the nanoids.

Even the ones that might be in people. It would help if anything not in use could be turned off or unplugged.

That would lessen any potential collateral damage, but I don’t think there will be much, if any. ”

“You’re sure,” Hazel said. “I mean about killing the nanoids?”

Frank nodded. “Even with the minimal voltage of the stun stick, which was set as low as it would go, they didn’t survive. Because of their size, these mechanisms are highly susceptible to being overloaded.”

Hazel’s eyes widened. “This is good news. And it won’t adversely affect any life on board? Human, animal, or plant?”

“No more than when you get a shock from shuffling across the carpet in your socks and you touch something metal. It might startle a few people who feel it, but it’s very safe. And it will definitely take care of all of the nanoids. Even those that might have infiltrated people.”

“All right,” Hazel said. “I trust you. What if we don’t have one of these generators on board?”

“It’s easy enough to build one,” Frank said. “It’ll just take a little longer to make this happen.”

“Whatever you need, I’ll make sure—” Her wristband pinged. She tapped it, and the holoscreen popped up.

Ensign Gibson’s face appeared. “Ma’am, there is indeed a Van de Graaff generator in the main physics lab of that department. Dr. Schumacher is the lead scientist there. Should I ask him to deliver it to you?”

“No, don’t say a word about this to anyone. You haven’t, have you?”

“No, ma’am. I found the generator by searching the onboarding inventory list.”

“Very good. Thank you. That is all.” She hung up and looked at Frank. “How soon can we start?”

“As soon as we get that generator and some cables so it can be hooked into the power source on every floor. And like I said, if we could get people to power things down, that would help. Not only would it prevent devices from being damaged, but it would focus the current more intensely at the nanoids.”

A sudden thought occurred to me. “Hey,” I said, my gaze on Frank. “Will this affect compdroids? They are technically devices.”

He thought a moment. “It shouldn’t, but I can’t say for certain. It would be better if they were powered down, too.”

I didn’t love the idea that they might be hurt by this plan. “Okay. We’ll need to do that, then.”

Stuedecker took a step forward. “Ma’am, if I could suggest something?”

Hazel gave him a nod. “What is it?”

“If we do this without warning, we’re liable to scare some people.

Possibly cause a small panic. And like Frank said, some devices could be ruined.

I suggest we come up with a cover story.

A ship-wide test of some sort. And when we announce it, we ask that everyone turn off any nonessential electronics for the duration of the test. That should make this go a bit smoother. ”

Hazel’s eyes narrowed, then she nodded. “Good idea. You have until we find the generator to write something up.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

She looked at me and Frank. “Are you two ready? Let’s get to the physics department and find this thing.”

I glanced toward the office. “How about I take Harry and Gracie back to my place and meet you there?” I didn’t like the idea of leaving them here.

“I’d prefer you weren’t alone,” Hazel said. “No one should be right now. Stuedecker, you go with Frank to the physics department. I’ll go with my mother to her quarters, and then we’ll both meet you there.”

“Even better,” Frank said. “Els, take my laptop. I’ll get it from you when I pick up Gracie. Just let me power it down. When you get in, just give Gracie and Harry the command, ‘Power down,’ and they will.”

“Okay.”

While he went to deal with his laptop, I went into the office and turned off the insect documentary. “You two are coming back to my quarters with me.”

They gave me a look but said nothing.

Frank came in and handed me his laptop. I still needed to grab mine along with my knitting.

He stroked Gracie’s gray and pink feathers with the back of his finger. “Gracie, do what Ellis tells you.”

She gave a short nod, but I could tell she and Harry were uncertain about what was going on.

Frank kissed my cheek. “We’ll see you there.”

“We won’t be long.” He left, and I spoke to Gracie and Harry again, my voice softer. “It’s going to be all right. Nothing to worry about, okay? Just a little something we have to do.” I patted my shoulder. “Come on, Gracie.”

She flew to me and settled in, her little feet gripping my cardigan. I walked back into the lab with Harry following me. Hazel was looking at her wristband. I shut down my laptop and grabbed my knitting bag. “Okay, let’s go.”

After we were out, I made sure the lab door had locked behind us. It had, and there was no reason to think otherwise, but I needed to check it just because. We stayed silent as we waited for the elevator to come, and even after we got on, we said nothing.

Both of us had a lot on our minds. Probably similar topics, too. Mostly that this had to work, or the Athos , and all of us on it, might very well be lost.

Once we were at my door, I pressed my hand to the printlock, and we went inside. I set everything down on the dining table. Harry immediately went to his charging bed. I shook my head. “Harry, not in the bed. Stay on the couch until I tell you otherwise.”

He moved, causing Hazel to give me a look. Her brows lifted. “I know he’s a compdroid, but he really listens to you.”

“Well,” I said, making light of it, “he’s programmed to do that.” I touched Gracie’s side. “Go on, Gracie. You can perch on the back of the couch near him.”

She flew over and landed as I’d asked.

“Let me unplug and turn off whatever I can.” There wasn’t much. My hair dryer. The charging station in the bedroom. Harry’s bed on the couch. A lamp in the living area. When that was done, I faced Gracie and Harry again. “All right, you two. Power down.”

Harry gave me a look like he didn’t quite understand. I nodded at him, not quite sure what else to say. The best I could come up with was, “I promise it’ll be okay.”

Then there were two soft clicks. His and Gracie’s eyes lost their spark of energy, and their lids slowly closed. The little movements that mimicked life disappeared. They were absolutely still.

I knew it was temporary, but a wave of genuine grief went through me, almost as though something far more permanent had just happened.

I swallowed. “We should get to the physics department.”

“Yes,” Hazel said.

I followed her out, giving the two inanimate compdroids one last look as the door slid shut behind us.

The Ohuli were so done.