Thrym slid a plate in front of her. Romy gave a blissful moan at the sight of eggs. Fresh eggs. Not dehydrated, synthetic yuckiness.

“Hate to hear what you sound like on Christmas Day,” Nancy muttered.

Fred winked at her. “Don’t think I’d mind the sound.”

Thrym stiffened.

Romy shoved some eggs into her mouth. “Everyone, this is Thrym.”

She gathered from the snorts around the table that the group was aware of just who Thrym was. So when Elara and Phobos warily took their seats, Romy didn’t bother to introduce them.

The eight teens had smooshed together on the bench to accommodate their four alien guests.

Hushed whispers caught her attention from across the table.

“But they’re all at our table.”

“And they won’t stay if you don’t play it cool.”

Romy smiled behind her fork and peeked at Phobos when he kicked her. His green eyes were solemn, but she knew the look meant trouble. She narrowed her eyes as he cleared his throat.

“Thrym, did you happen to retrieve my Critamal tooth from the battler?”

Elara choked on her bacon.

Romy tuned him out as Phobos had his fun. Her mind turned to the storage room. She didn’t feel safe there anymore, but she didn’t want the soldier to win. Leaving meant he would know he’d scared her. If he knew she was scared, his suspicion that she had something to hide would be confirmed.

If he knew she had something to hide, then their alibi would come into question, which was dangerous for her knot.

Not happening.

But it wasn’t within Romy to be a complete fool.

Houston was sitting with Tina at the front of the room. She watched as he made to leave, no doubt to begin another long day. Mumbling a quick goodbye, she grabbed her plate and moved to intercept the doctor.

What was more powerful than Lucas? Only one thing that Romy could think of.

Damn, he moved quickly.

“Houston,” she called as he reached a cleaning station by the doors

The doctor whirled around on one foot, coat swirling behind him. He stamped his front foot, like it was a dance, and spread his arms wide.

Romy smiled at his oddness. She scraped her plate into the compost bins and slid the dish on top of the dirty pile beside it. “I have a question for you.”

“Which I’m happy to answer. But you’ll need to walk and talk. Got a dislocated knee to tend to. They always scream so much, half of the time I only snap it back in so they’ll shut up.” Houston grinned manically at her.

“I think the other half of you does it because you care.”

He swung open the door to the Hull. “Perhaps, little skyling, but don’t tell anyone. I’ll be laughed out of Jimboomba.”