I’m so glad they like one another; it would be a problem if they didn’t. Because she intended to build a family with them both, once the danger passed. Right now, everything was uncertain, but Helix seemed confident that the plan Nita had proposed would work. That chafed a little—that he’d trusted the resistance AI more than her. Sometimes she wondered if he missed the uncluttered purity of that existence.

“I do,” Helix said gently, as he carried Aevi through the crowd.

Qalu rushed after them. He followed signs directing them to short-term habitats. Since she didn’t have funds accessible for intergalactic use, she fretted over how they’d resolve that issue. As it turned out, she needn’t have worried. Helix handled that as he had the travel documentation, which meant he either skimmed funds from elsewhere or illicitly marked their reservation as paid without proffering remuneration. On some level, that troubled her but she lacked the wherewithal to be more honest in their dealings.

Their allotted space was small with a sleep platform, storage niches and shelves built into the wall, nesting materials should they desire them. The room overlooked the gravity well at the center of Vaadla, crackling with the energy that kept the station in equilibrium. Hygiene facilities were shared and there was no dining option. Food would need to be procured and consumed outside their habitat. That shouldn’t be a problem, as she’d seen six different eateries advertised on the way here. And that was on this level alone.

“This is better than the ship,” Aevi declared. “Can we look for the garden now? I want to run. I need to run!”

Since the Pherzul had been incredibly patient and well-behaved the last few days, Qalu regarded Helix with a hopeful air. In answer, he gestured for them to exit first and then he locked the door behind him, keyed to his biometric signature. They didn’t have anything worth stealing, but Qalu didn’t want intruders either. Private spaces should remain that way, even those rented for a short time.

Helix led the way without faltering, and she realized he must’ve accessed the station schematics. Now that he was functioning at full capacity, he felt oddly unfamiliar, too handsome and too competent, someone who would soon realize that she could bring only one quality to their relationship. He’ll realize soon that he can do better–find someone more versatile and better matched.