I nearly spurted potatoes on the table. By the time I stopped laughing, my sides ached, and tears were running down my face. It wasn’t even that funny, but everything had been so horrible that my mind needed the cathartic release. “Oh God. I needed that. You don’t know how much. Thanks.”

“My pleasure,” Ahiga said. “You need to eat up. Your duty starts in twenty, and you’re going to need a little extra time to get into your suit.”

“Suit?” Santiago asked.

Ahiga explained, keeping his cover. “Looked her up while you were spilling all her personal information. Got more information for myself. Must’ve pissed off someone up top, because she’s got ice-down duty.”

Santiago’s smile melted. “No. She can’t. That’s total bullshit. We have bots for that shit.”

“Not anymore. They’re in repairs.”

“That’s bullshit.” The joking, smiling John Santiago was gone. His face paled. “Can’t you change it?”

Ahiga gripped his fork so hard, it bent. He threw it on the table. “Not up to me, kid. I’m only here for training. Just like last time.”

“But it’s bullshit. No one should have to do that. It’s not even a job here. If the bots are broken, I could fix them. Fucking SpaceTech. They’re the worst. They think that—” Santiago continued ranting at Ahiga, and I took that as my cue.

“Don’t get upset on my account. I feel you on the SpaceTech front. They’re pure evil, and I hate we’re both here working for them. But you haven’t heard why I got sent here yet, and you can be damned sure I’ll spill about my tattoo before I tell you why I was arrested. Not going to happen. Ever. So don’t ask.” I stabbed the last bite of potato and choked it down with water.

“They’re using this as punishment, and until someone stops SpaceTech, until someone isn’t afraid to stand against them, they won’t care about honor or what’s right or anything except their bottom line. The only problem they’d have if we all died here is that their productivity would go down while they shipped more convicts up to replace us.”

My wrist unit started vibrating, and I tapped the screen. “Looks like it’s time for me to take off,” I said. “Good to see you, Santiago.” I took the sausage and bread in one hand and my tray in the other.

“Sure thing, chica. You’re always welcome with me. I’ll look out for you. Survivors Together.”

“Survivors Together,” I said back to him as I blushed, feeling a bit touched to have a friend so far from home. “Thanks. I appreciate that.”