Afterward, he settled so close to her on the sleep platform that she could feel his heart. Their situation was still uncertain, but currently she didn’t care. Helix hadn’t said he loved her or that he wanted to build a future with her on Tiralan, but he’d said he needed her affection, and she no longer feared that he cared for her because he knew no one else.

“If you had told me about reproductive urges instead of defecation earlier, I suspect I wouldn’t have been so appalled by having a body initially,” Helix said.

Qalu let out an amused noise. “I can only imagine how you would’ve responded to that, had I been so bold.”

“True, I wasn’t ready to learn such things. Everything was new and heavy and slow.”

“And now?”

Snuggling even closer, their head tendrils entwining in languid, loving contact, he said, “It’s another way to live. I miss certain things about my existence as an AI, a particular efficiency that I’ve lost, but I’ve gained so many things. Truths I couldn’t have grasped in my former life. Like being part of a love group or mating or the joy of roast nornroot. Or cuddling Aevi because she trusts me enough to sleep when I’m holding her.”

“She doesn’t do that with anyone but me,” Qalu said. “Not until you.”

“I’m cognizant of the high honor.” He nestled deeper against her, practically using her as bedding instead of the sleep platform.

She didn’t mind. “Do you think… Would it be safe for me to bounce a message to my mothers? They must be so angry.”

“Concerned, more likely, though it may manifest in sharp words. As I have cause to know, organic beings don’t always follow the course that makes the most sense.”

“Emotions can be so unruly. But they have their merits.”

“Indisputable. I can send—” Helix broke off, his gaze going strange and distant.

Usually that meant he’d connected to the network or was hacking something, occasionally it was both. Qalu waited, worry creeping up on her until it was difficult not to interrupt, but when he could speak, he would.

Finally, his eyes focused on her again, but his expression had changed, losing all the joy and brightness gained in their coupling. For a few seconds, he regarded her with obvious fear and misgiving, as if he wished to force her to get on that wretched ship. She firmed her stare and told him silently it would never happen.

“Don’t leave me guessing. What happened?” Qalu prompted.

“The syndicate responded.”

“Helix!”