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“Sit,” Phantom says, and chairs form directly behind us.

I don’t let go of Lochdon’s hand, even as I obey the command.

“Please tell me we haven’t wound up in some archaic ‘you have to buy her if you want to keep her’ thing because I thought you were better than that.”

Phantom laughs and the sound crackles across the room to me. “Nothing of the sort. But Lochdon knows the rules as they apply to him. He made an offer to you without completing all of the required steps.”

“They are almost done,” he says, “Can you blame me for getting a little ahead of myself?”

“Yes. Almost done is not actually done.” Phantom leans forward on their desk. “There are legalities that must be accounted for, hoops that need to be jumped through both on this station, with your clan, and on your homeworld.”

“Half of which cannot be started until she accepts my offer of claiming.” He takes a deep breath. “I’ve registered my decision. I’ve sent you the proof that I can maintain her if she chooses to leave your employment—which is not something I would ask her to do, as you well know.”

“This is ridiculous,” I say, but Phantom ignores me.

“And your domicile?”

Lochdon grits his teeth. “I wanted to surprise her with that.”

“Then you should have told me before rushing into the booth.”

“Level six, number two forty-nine.”

“This is not your home.”

“I purchased it last week.”

Phantom pulls something up on a screen that is turned away from me. “This says it’s under construction.”

“It was not made for human habitation. They are adding some of the necessary features.”

“Fine.” The screen closes, and another door opens. Not to my locker room. “You will wait in there.”

Glancing at me and giving my hand one last squeeze, Lochdon goes, but it’s clear, he doesn’t want to be going alone.

When the door closes, Phantom asks, “Do you plan to say yes?”

“I already have.”

“I thought you might.” An arc of lightning flashes across their face, like a smile. “If you decide to officially accept his claiming, no one will stop you from doing so. I’ve checked what he’s said and all of his plans are working through the proper channels. Everything is approved and the few things that aren’t, only require your official acceptance and approval.”

“Is there a reason I might not want to accept it?”

Phantom is quiet for a moment. “I do not pretend to know what motivates each and every one of the people who work for me. I could guess, but… I think that you know the answer to that question. You, of all of the people I employ, are the one I trust to have read all of the information pertaining to that particular choice.”

“And you have access to my data download history.”

Again, the flash of a smile crosses their face. “I’ve told Lochdon to wait for you. He’ll be outside when you’re ready.”

I don’t get up. “There are a few questions I’d like answers to.”

“Ask them,” they say. “If I can answer them, I will.”

“If I was to leave your employment—which I have no plans to do right now—would you still allow me to use your shuttle services to travel to and from Earth?”

“Yes.” They dip their head. “If you would like more assurance than my word, I will draft a new contract for you. I believe that your kind would call that a… retirement benefit.”

“I would appreciate the contract change, thank you.”

“What else?” they ask.

“You’ve told us,” I wave my hand in a vague circle so they know I’m talking about the people who work here, not Lochdon and I. “That we can’t get pregnant. Is that a compatibility issue? Biologically, I mean? Or is it something you do to them or us?”

There is a hesitation before they say, “That is proprietary information. But, if you decide that you would like to procreate, my medical team can make that happen for you. However, it could be dangerous, and it would require a different discussion about returning to Earth after the child was born.”

“I see.”

“Anything else?”

“Yes.” There are a million more questions floating in my head. “But they can wait.”

I don’t want to leave Lochdon waiting for me any longer than I have to.