“We kind of already have.” I looked down at my phone, where the fifth text from my father had just popped up. Patrick’s occasional jerk indicated he was probably getting something similar. We were now all several hours late for work, and people must be wondering where we were. Well, maybe not Nat. I imagined management at her job had already cut her final check and filled out her termination slip. Or whatever Loranna did.

There would be a search. They would find Patrick’s abandoned vehicle, and they would find Nat’s abandoned vehicle. Hers was parked properly, though.

I shrugged and continued. “And the Loranna or their hired goons will try to search our homes sooner or later. Maybe just surveillance or a B&E to start with. I doubt they’ll want to attract attention. We have to disappear, and we’re going to have to move the Halo. Sheldon, take us out of here. Random destination. We’ll figure out something later.”

“Acknowledged.”

“We can’t just abandon everyone!” Nat retorted angrily.

“We aren’t,” I said. “This is just a retreat and regroup. We have to figure out what to do next.”

Patrick muttered a curse. “I can’t believe it, but I’m actually regretting not handing this over to Phil or the government.”

Nat nodded. “And this puts a time limit on our efforts. Another one, I mean.” She looked up at me, her expression worried. “Jack, we just keep getting deeper and deeper into this, and our options keep getting more and more narrow.”

I put my hand on her back in a not-quite-brotherly semi-embrace. “Hey, Nat, I get it. But we can only do what we can do. And I may have some ideas on that front. But first, I think we need some sleep.”

“And food,” Patrick added. “Do you guys realize we literally haven’t eaten since breakfast?” He looked up. “Sheldon, can you replicate food?”

“Sorry, no. Star Trek replicators remain in the realm of science fiction, even for me. I can offer a refrigerator and a microwave, though.”

“Why would you have a microwave?”

“To heat food. Gen need to eat, too.”

“Gen use microwaves?” Nat said.

“And refrigerators. Yes. They picked these things up from observing Earth. Before that, they kept spare food in their armpits.”

“Real—” Nat’s eyes narrowed. “You’re pulling my leg.”

“Your perspicaciousness is truly an inspiration to sentient beings everywhere.”

“Asshole.”

“Still not installed. Sorry.”

Nat made a low growling sound. “I don’t think the Covenant outlawed conscious A.I.s for ethical reasons. I think they just got tired of listening to them.”

Sheldon withheld comment. But the mention of food had set my stomach to rumbling. “Well, we definitely need to do something. Sheldon, can you find a 7-Eleven at least twenty miles away, on a highway?”

“I shall invoke the Google. One moment. Found one.”

“What do you have in mind?” Nat asked me.