“Sometimes you just have to make waves of your own,” she muttered. The air was so cold that the insides of her nostrils felt raw. Though the decision had been hard, a long time ago Ross had made the choice that was necessary for him. And so must she.

No use talking about it any further. Tasia moved quickly, not because she was afraid of changing her mind, but because once she made a decision, she never backed down. No point in delaying.

Her small insulated hut was cool and dark. EA moved about straightening Tasia’s things, cleaning every exposed surface for the fourth time. When the young woman was not there to keep the compy company, EA fell back on her limited programming of finding simple chores to occupy herself.

“Turn up the heat, EA. Shizz!” Tasia never bothered to hide her moods from the oblivious little compy.

“I am sorry, Tasia. I set the temperature at your standard preferred level.”

“Never mind that, I’m cold.” She pulled off her gloves and removed her jacket, sitting at the edge of her chair. She would have to pack quickly, make her plans, slip away. Tasia leaned forward conspiratorially. “EA, you and I have a job to do. I’ll need your help.”

“Simply give me instructions, and I will be happy to assist you in any way.”

Tasia was glad compies wasted minimal circuitry space on morality programming that might confuse ethical issues. “You’ve been my companion for a long time, EA, but now I need to ask you for something difficult.” The slender metal figure stopped her chores and came over to stand motionless and attentive in front of the young girl. “You and I have to escape from here.”

EA hesitated just a moment, a short enough pause that it might have been Tasia’s imagination. “Whatever you wish. We will have fun together.”

“We’re doing this to avenge my brother Ross.” “Ross was my first master. A fine young man.” “He’s dead,” Tasia said. “Aliens killed him.” “How sad. Is there anything I can do to help?” The robotic compy had been purchased as a gift for Ross when he’d been a child, when their mother was still alive. Standing just over a meter tall, EA was a cooperative Listener model, a good friend for any child. Then, after Ross outgrew the faithful companion, EA had been given to Jess as a boyhood friend, and finally to Tasia.

She felt a renewed flood of sadness and loss as she remembered that EA had been promised to whichever member of the Tamblyn clan had the first child. Until now, it had always been expected that Ross, with his betrothal to Cesca, would be the first Tamblyn to have children. Now that had changed forever.

“You can help me escape, and you’ll come with me when we join the Earth Defense Forces.”