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G etting to visit the secret command decks was initially exciting, but we saw very little of them since we didn’t venture beyond the access panel by the elevator. Kind of a letdown, but at least I could say I’d been on them.

It had been an interesting evening, but a long one.

I was worn out by the time Frank and I made it back to my quarters, but not so exhausted that I wasn’t still worried about Harry and Gracie.

I chewed my lip as we went inside. “You’re sure they’ll come back on?

What if the charge on this floor did something to them? ”

“There’s very little chance that happened,” Frank assured me. “But if it did, I can fix them. I promise.” He went right to the couch where they were.

I didn’t even know how to power them on. “Hurry up. Please,” I said, giving Frank a quick poke in the side.

He laughed. “Yes, ma’am.” He started with Harry, reaching for his back foot. He pressed the first toe on that foot, which made a small click. Just like that, Harry came back to life. Frank gave me a smile. “He’s all set.”

I held my breath, needing to see for myself. “Harry?”

He yawned and opened his eyes. “Hiya, Mum.”

“My baby.” I exhaled as I scooped him up and kissed his head, then one of his fat cheeks. My relief knew no bounds. “How do you feel, pumpkin?”

“I feel brilliant. Had a good nap, I did.”

Gracie squawked. I twisted to see her on Frank’s shoulder, nuzzling her head against his neck. I felt so much better. I grinned at them before turning to Frank. “Thank you. We’re all good, right? They’re in perfect working order?”

“Right,” Frank said. He took my hand, the one that wasn’t holding Harry up.

“Now that I know what we’re dealing with, I’m going to work on creating a scanner that will detect nanoids.

I want to make sure they’re all gone. But tomorrow morning, first thing, we need to get back to work on finding Zanya, Sten, and the other missing. ”

I nodded. “Agreed. We have to find them.” I held on to his hand, giving it a squeeze. “What you said to Hazel tonight, about not going without me…”

“I love you, Els. I knew you’d want to see those decks. And I knew your daughter would back down. She needed us more than we needed her. In fact, I’m not sure it wasn’t some kind of test for me, to see how loyal to you I’d be.”

I could have answered that question. “You’re pretty amazing. I love you, too.”

He kissed me. “Try to get some sleep. I have a feeling tomorrow’s going to be a long day.”

When we broke apart, I patted his chest. “Don’t stay up too late working on your new gadget. You need your sleep as much as I do.”

“Yes, ma’am.” He left smiling.

I stayed that way as I got ready for bed, only losing my good mood when I thought about Zanya again. This had to be over. We had to find her and get her away from the Ohuli. Had to erase whatever nonsense they’d filled her head with.

Although maybe that had already happened with the extermination of the nanoids.

Which meant she might no longer want to be with them and they were keeping her against her will.

I climbed into bed, frustrated with the whole situation.

Harry was sitting near the end, cleaning his toes.

I thought about sending her a message, but what was the point if she wasn’t going to answer?

Or one of the Ohuli was going to answer for her.

She was a sweet, kind, caring woman who was great with children and a dear friend. This wasn’t fair.

I lay down, then patted the spot next to me. “Harry, come up here.”

He turned to look at me, then righted himself and walked up.

I patted the spot again. He lay down, his back to me.

“Computer, lights off.” I pulled him closer, wrapping my arms around him, grateful for his company. Grateful he was all right.

But really needing to know that Zanya was, too.

Starliner Athos Nexus Main Chat

Chattykaffi : Good morning, cruisers! After last night’s testing of the electrical systems, I’m charged up and ready to go.

I hope you know I’m smiling as I send this.

Seriously, now, if you’re ready for some fun, there are all kinds of fantastic things on the schedule today.

Everything from a dance class to watercolor painting.

Get out of your quarters and enjoy the offerings!

There are still spaces available at the library for meditation with our guests, but deep sight readings have been put on hiatus so that the Ohuli may rest their minds along with you in meditation.

Ms.Cruiser : Is anyone else having issues with their tablet? It keeps telling me to restart, but when I do, nothing changes.

Nexus_Mod1 : Ms.Cruiser, there is a help desk on Deck 36. They may be able to help you, as they are also versed in technical issues. If they can’t help, they will attempt to connect you to someone who can.

Fresh from a shower and wrapped in my robe, I sat at the dining table and sipped my coffee while I watched the Morning News Report . They were reporting the same thing Kaffi had shared on the Nexus.

The Ohuli were taking a day off from sharing their deep sight today.

I felt a bit smug over the fact that there would be no fortune-telling in my library. I’d had a hand in that, and I was proud of it. Granted, it was primarily Frank’s doing. He’d figured out how to kill those eavesdropping nanoids, and I was thrilled.

Harry strolled out of the bedroom, pausing to do a big stretch. I checked my wristband, wondering if Frank was awake yet. I really hoped he hadn’t stayed up too late, but I knew how determined he could be when he wanted to accomplish something.

I decided to text him anyway. If he was sleeping, he’d hopefully stay that way. Morning. When you get a chance, can you check if Sten and Zanya’s wristbands are still in the suite?

If nothing else, that would give us a place to start.

Morning to you too , came his reply. I smiled at that. I read his words in his voice, and for whatever reason, that made me happy. I’ll check that right now. Give me a few. Just getting my coffee.

Take your time , I said back. Coffee is important.

You got that right.

I ordered a second cup of coffee and went in to get dressed while I waited for him to get back to me.

I went simple and comfortable but still cute.

High-waisted, straight-leg stretch jeans with a red-and-white striped bateau neck top and white tennis shoes.

I tied a red bandana in my hair and put on some makeup. I was already wearing my diamond studs.

The wristband chimed as I was touching up my eyebrows. They really needed to be tinted again. Maybe I’d do that tonight, if all went well. I checked the screen. Frank had responded.

Both wristbands are still pinging at the suite. I have some thoughts. Have you eaten yet?

Nope.

My dining hall in twenty minutes?

See you there. I was glad I’d gotten ready. I brushed my teeth, swiped on some berry lip tint, then put my coffee in the fridge. Depending on when I got back, I could drink it cold. I liked an iced coffee now and then.

Harry, who was on the couch in his charging bed, was watching the screen.

“What would you like to watch today, sweetness?”

“Something interesting, please, Mum.”

“Like what?”

“I don’t know. Need a change, I guess.”

“Okay.” He and Gracie had liked the insect documentary, so I did a search for something like that and came up with one about the relationship between plants and insects. I put it on and sat next to him since I had a few minutes. “How’s this?”

He watched the screen as the narration began. Straight away, the program showed Venus flytraps catching and devouring bugs. I wrinkled my nose, but Harry started purring, clearly captivated. I laughed softly. “This good?”

“I like this, Mum.”

“Well, you enjoy.” I gave his head a quick scratch, then headed to Frank’s dining hall.

It was identical to mine but had a slightly different crowd. More blue-collar since it catered to a lot of the mechs. I noticed the offerings seemed a bit heartier than what was on the menu at mine.

There was also no salad bar. Instead, there was a soup and sandwich bar. I had to admit, I liked that better. You couldn’t go wrong with soup and a sandwich.

I was curious to see what breakfast would be like. I met Frank at the door. He gave me a quick kiss, and we went in.

“How late were you up?” I asked.

“Another hour after you left.”

I gave him a quick once-over, but he didn’t seem tired. We got in line. There was an omelet station as well as trays of premade omelets with a choice of ham and mushroom or bacon, onion, and tomato.

After that came potatoes—crispy hashbrowns, home fries with onions and peppers, or English-style chips.

Next, there were pancakes, waffles, and biscuits, which could be topped with sausage gravy. Beside that was a tray of sausage links and another of bacon strips. At the very end was a large bowl of bananas and oranges, but that was all the fruit I saw.

I got a ham and mushroom omelet and, because I could, chips. Wasn’t every day there were french fries for breakfast, so why not?

Frank got a bacon omelet, home fries, and three sausage links. We added cups of coffee and glasses of water to our trays and found a small table we wouldn’t have to share.

It wasn’t lost on me how many people gave Frank a nod or a wave. Some of them even included a glance at me with a slight raise of their eyebrows.

Us being a couple wasn’t anything new, which made me wonder if my presence at breakfast was making them think I’d spent the night. Whatever. I really didn’t care.

I unrolled my utensils from the napkin they were wrapped in and spread the napkin over my lap. “All right. Tell me everything. I’m dying to hear your thoughts. Has to be something interesting if you didn’t want to send it as a message.”

He was in the middle of drinking his coffee. He set the cup down and nodded. “My thoughts are we wait until we know all four Ohuli are in the library leading meditation, and then we let ourselves into the suite and get our friends, and anyone else we can find, out.”

I smiled, crazy about him in ways that I couldn’t adequately express. “I like that plan. I’m in. My only concern is that because there’s no fortune-telling today, one of them will stay back at the suite.”

“Don’t worry about that. Meditation is going to be very popular today.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Why’s that?”

He picked up his fork and stabbed a home fry. “Let’s just say I called in some favors starting in about…” He glanced at his wristband. “Twenty-eight minutes.”