“It’s only a matter of time,” Maglan muttered, and Carow shushed them.

Toth Krag. Ruthless. Relentless.

And we have to kill him. Somehow.

That seemed like an impossible goal. None of the resistance crew appeared to be warriors, unless one counted Aevi. She had a violent bent toward those she disliked, but a bounty hunter must have considerable skill and advanced ordinance.

Don’t be afraid.

Easy to say, not so easy to banish the fearful tones from her mind. Logic also insisted that even if they killed Toth Krag, whoever had posted the bounty would simply repeat the process. No question, Helix had a powerful enemy, but who…and why?

I wish he could remember.

Dealing with Krag was only the first step. At some point, they would have to neutralize the one posting the bounty. Perhaps that would mean more killing. Despair nearly overwhelmed her, warring with exhaustion.

I worked in a lab my whole life. How can I do this? I’ll be no help at all.

Helix stepped into her field of vision, popping the anxiety bubble. “Shall we retire? I would like to bathe and rest.”

She tried to hide her growing sense of inadequacy. “Certainly. We’re both exhausted. Things will doubtless seem brighter once we’ve eaten and slept.”

“There’s nothing I fear with you beside me,” he said. “Not cessation. Not captivity. The greatest harm I could face is being parted from you.”

Her head tendrils fluttered as her insides went liquid. Oh my.

[  12  ]

Though Helix was no expert in organic relationships, he thought it was strange when Qalu rushed away without responding to his statement. That avoidance filled him with disquiet, but he tried to dismiss the feeling. He’d likely chosen the wrong moment to express his feelings—an understandable error, given that all of this was new to him. There must be some protocol he was unaware of, outlining how such moments ought to unfold.

He made a mental note to do some research and then got distracted by fast, silent data exchanges with Nita, who seemed to enjoy the novelty of his unique interface capabilities. When he noticed how much time had elapsed, Qalu was asleep and he still needed to use the hygiene facilities. Sometimes having a physical form that required so much upkeep was inconvenient. Unlike a mechanical avatar that only needed period cleaning and maintenance, mobile meat platforms seemed to require some manner of service constantly—rest, nutrients, evacuation, stench removal and prevention—and there were probably other essentials he hadn’t discovered yet. The cycle could be tiring. But there were advantages too, experiences that were impossible in a more esoteric state.