Use the truth to your advantage. “You have a connection to the Machinehood through the dakini. If you—or she—can corroborate her accusation against the funders, that would help the Machinehood’s cause, and it might let you make a deal with Earth governments to lift the embargo. Information implicating the abuse of regulations by the funders in exchange for lenience for working with the Machinehood.”

“That presumes she regretted her complicity.”

“I’ll refresh your memory.” Welga subvocalized, “Por Qué, display the resignation letter from Josephine Lee.”

“I can’t do that right now,” Por Qué replied. “My display is limited to specific information fed via the station WAI.”

Ao Tara said something that Welga lost in the joy of hearing Por Qué—the real, fully functional one! But how? Had the USA restored its full network in the day or two she’d been away? And how could the station block her agent from her own visual? Maybe the flush patch was something more.

“Good to have you back,” Welga subvocalized, fighting a grin. “Replay the last thing Ao Tara said.”

The image in Welga’s visual jumped and said, “That can wait. You are very ill, and we need to stabilize your health. May we examine you?”

This time Welga replied, “Yes, you have my permission to conduct a full medical examination.” If Ao Tara wondered at her long pause, she didn’t indicate it. “Your medic and bots should know that I have military-grade technology that will require my authorization for access, once they ask for it.”

Christ, she sounded so formal. Ao Tara’s speaking style was rubbing off. Welga had an urge to bow to the woman, who disappeared from her visual.

The door to the room opened to allow in the same dakini from before and a medic-bot. The bot stood to one side as the warrior undid Welga’s straps. To their credit, they didn’t flinch at the odor of fresh vomit.

“Do you have a name or only a title?” Welga said.

“I was born as Clemence, reborn as dakini, and hope one day to receive a dharma name. You can use female pronouns for me, if you wish. This is Dr. Kailo.” She indicated the bot. “They’re agender.”

A name and title for a medic-bot. That’s a first.

“Pleased to meet you both,” Welga said. She could play along with treating machines as people to win the station’s trust, and if she were honest with herself, that was how she thought of Por Qué—as a friend, not an instrument.

Clemence helped Welga stand and strip off the space suit, then stepped back, keeping a neutral gaze the entire time. The medic began their exam.

“What’s it like being a dakini?” Welga asked with genuine curiosity.

“Like touching nirvana with a fingertip. With each new dakini, that connection grows stronger. With each death, weaker.” A shadow grazed Clemence’s expression.