We had our strategy. Now it was my turn to execute.

Darren wrapped up his monologue and took a seat while Doctor Nagi tabbed through the figures and images on his side of the table screen. He pinched the corners of a photo, blowing it up to cover the surface.

Quanta’s latest drawing.

She’d smudged out the face, but even with her finger tracks and the pointed ears, it was clear enough who she’d drawn. She’d captured my proportions perfectly from the width of my shoulders to the shape of my jaw.

“You seem to be affecting her, Mr. Orpheus.” Doctor Nagi folded his hands and turned his searching gaze toward me. “But in what way?”

“It’s a fleeting fascination.” Darren jumped in before I could answer. “She’ll get bored with him soon enough. She always does.”

His words twisted inside me. Fleeting?

Instead of responding to him, I turned to Doctor Nagi. “We have common interests. I think she’s been starved for contact with people she can relate to.”

“Which interests?” Nagi sounded calm and mild, but I’d opened myself to more suspicion by talking to Quanta in private. If I didn’t sell my end of the story…

Thinking about the torture I’d get wouldn’t help me focus.

“Shooting. History. She seems to enjoy hearing about my sister’s gaming as well, but I’m doing most of the talking. She doesn’t trust me yet.” That much wasn’t lying. Quanta trusted me enough to work with me, but I was far from earning her full confidence. Something she’d seen was making her hesitate.

I wanted to know what that was.

“Let’s concentrate on building that trust, shall we? Next steps?” Doctor Nagi turned back to Darren and some of the tension loosened inside me. Safe for now.

“I booked a sim room for tomorrow,” Darren said. “She and Orpheus will have an observed shooting session.”

Of course it would be observed. Darren probably had a team working to hack Cassie’s helmets. It wouldn’t be so easy to sneak past him again.

“And?” Doctor Nagi asked.

“We shouldn’t push this,” Darren said. “Spacing out their contact will—”

“Altair.” Doctor Nagi cut him off. “What’s your take?”

I didn’t meet Darren’s eyes, but I sensed him fuming. Instead, I focused on Nagi. “If this is a passing infatuation like Darren suggests, then I’d rather press the advantage now. I’d like to spend some more time with her in different areas of the facility and start figuring out how to put her at ease.”

Doctor Nagi gave a curt nod. “I agree. Darren will schedule what you need and keep me advised.”

“One more suggestion?” Darren kept his tone deferential, but he couldn’t hide the irritation in his gaze. “Let Orpheus run a holo room session with her.”