First things first. He flipped his wristband to the standard room controls and tried the door. It was disabled, as he had half expected.

Whoever had locked him in here had done it with the permission of the governor’s forces, which meant the emergency services on Archer Link Station were probably not his friends. On the other hand, he might as well start as he meant to go on.

He pressed the emergency button.

The screen flashed red. For an instant it showed a harassed-looking emergency operative, then the picture flickered out. It was replaced with a smooth man in a captain’s uniform.

“Good morning,” the captain said. “Is there an emergency?”

“I’m out of coffee,” Tennal said.

The captain gave him a polite smile. “Apologies, sir,” he said, which Tennal certainly wasn’t expecting. “I’ll send someone to refill the machine. Breakfast is on the way. Anything else I can get you?”

“Well, since you asked, I’ll have two fried eggs, some fresh sliced fruit—nectarine, maybe, but make sure it’s not preserved—some way to get a message to my sister, and, oh yes, a pack of soothers,” Tennal said, and watched with incredulity as the captain nodded and made a list. Since Tennal had never let a stroke of luck go by without pushing it further, he said, “Oh, and unlock the door, will you?”

“Is the door locked?” the captain said. “I’m so sorry.” Tennal couldn’t read him over the screen, but he didn’t look sorry. “Your appointment with the governor is coming up anyway. I’ll be with you in a minute.”

“Is it,” Tennal said. “An appointment just for me? What an honor.”

To Tennal’s surprise, the eggs did arrive, sizzling hot, with orange juice that might have been fresh, and a neat pack of soothers on the side of the tray. Tennal stared at the soothers for several seconds before he crumpled up the cardboard and dropped them into the recycling unit in the corner, trying not to even look at his hand. He couldn’t. He didn’t have time to take the edge off. Then he ate the rest of his breakfast quietly, sitting at the room’s wide table.

Part of his brain was trying to be grateful. Grateful for luxury and clean clothes, hot food, and for not being treated as a subordinate. For fuck’s sake. He stopped eating and pressed his fingers over his closed eyelids until he saw stars.

He’d shaken off most of it by the time the door opened.