They were sharing much less space on the ship, yet somehow, he was isolated as he hadn’t been on Tiralan. Some part of him sensed and understood that the pleasing course they had been on had changed trajectory, but this new direction evaded logic. He could not pinpoint the moment things had changed or reduce the number of variables. It could be so many things—leaving her mothers and her home, her work, she might be frightened or regretting her choices. She might be weary from the long hike and dreading the hardships yet to come.

“Is the dispenser malfunctioning?” Nita asked.

“It appears to be working correctly.” Then he realized he was only staring at his meal; therefore, it was a reasonable conjecture that there might be something wrong with it. Helix ate without the enjoyment he’d felt the first time he tasted this. It occurred to him that sensory inputs could be influenced by the company one kept. Intrigued, he put the inquiry to Nita.

“Yes, I believe that’s accurate. Here, I have accounts of biological lifeforms waxing nostalgic about some nutrient packet that evoked some precious memory. The subsequent emotional response enriches the experience.” The AI elaborated at length, quoting essays and journal entries, apparently willing and able to pursue the matter well past what seemed necessary since the question had been answered.

Pedantic. That’s the word. Is that how I was before? Obsessed with data and details. He recalled Zylar stopping him when he was providing information and his own vexation at being interrupted. For hadn’t Zylar wanted a full picture? But it seemed there was some difference in attention span and desire for precision. Looking at it from both sides, he couldn’t say that either was wrong, per se. An interesting disparity, one he might wish to investigate.

First, though, he must speak with Qalu. There was no gain in wondering without being brave enough to inquire. She would surely understand his lack of finesse in these matters. Before, she’d said she would teach him to be Tiralan. But before he could search for her, the ship shuddered and rolled, a sudden deceleration that knocked him into the far wall, his half-finished food spattering everywhere.

Praxys spoke with an urgency that filled Helix with an emotion he easily recognized as fear. I’ve felt this before, on Gravas Station. When I helped the child flee. This emotion was awful, choking and tenacious, threatening to cut off his air.

“Got a tail! Looks like Krag is as good as they say. Strap in or hold on, because this will get worse before it gets better.”

Qalu had no opportunity to examine her wounded feelings.