“Nothing yet. Only that this requires a more thorough investigation. If that were something you were interested in.” Paki’s voice raised, turning the statement into a question to gauge her interest. She nodded. “I’d need … leeway in my investigation.”

“What kind of ‘leeway’?”

“Just enough to go wherever the truth leads me.”

“You sound like you have a suspect in mind already.”

“Actually, I have a few.” Paki turned to face her. “But even if I’m right, and I probably am, I still don’t have a why.”

Stacia feared that his suspect list might include every non-Ugenini, non-Maroon, and non-Asili on board. “I want a full and thorough investigation. No hunches. Proof. Can you put together a team?”

“I have one in mind,” Paki said. “Hondo and Dina.”

Hondo Jones and Nadina Campbell. Stacia stifled her sigh. “I’d like to read them in. Personally.”

Stacia hid her immediate huff of frustration. The pair were recent arrivals to the Cypher, to Muungano period, actually. They were graduates of LISC Corps, their version of Muungano’s Thmei Academy. All of the rigorous study but none of the practice. Or the messiness of communal living. The result was intellectual preening by folks who were often challenged by the work. She had little patience with them, but in the end, it didn’t matter how frustrated she was with their work, attitude, or habits; her role as a leader and teacher was to bring them along. Paki’s, too. As well as every other member on board, but the responsibility stopped with her.

Though accepted as cultural attachés, Hondo’s and Dina’s insecurities left them wanting counsel for their every move. Stacia once received a meeting request to discuss when they could meet. About a meeting. Hondo’s last request hinted that he wanted to explore his music side for possible promotion to the executive performance engineering team. Feeding two birds with one hand, Stacia suggested that the duo add a third member to their decision-making team. She assigned Paki. She hoped they would stretch his patience, help him develop better people-leading skills.

This request was Paki’s way of saying “Asante sana.”

Neither of them were above the occasional bit of pettiness.

Stacia studied Paki’s prospective team from an observation bay as they performed a routine space walk on the surface of the Cypher. More than any other member on board, these two usually found ways to get out of maintenance duty as often as possible. Using her command override, she tapped into commlink to listen in on them.

“It’s beautiful out here.” Bald with a red beard, Hondo dangled from his tether to better appreciate his perspective of Titan.

“Yeah. The view’s got my thug tears threatening to drop.” Dina tended to apply her idea of an Ugenini affect in an attempt to fit in better, still uncomfortable with the idea to just be herself.

“No part of you is thug.”