“I mean it. It’s been a while, but if the Orbitos or the Mandate find out we’re still alive, they’ll kill us to protect their secret. You have to leave at the first hint of danger.”

Elara’s voice cracked. “We almost lost you once. We can’t lose you again.”

Deimos studied their faces and shrugged. “No one likes ripping a catheter out.”

It lightened the mood marginally, though not for Phobos, who slid open the door and stormed out, slamming the door behind him.

Deimos turned to the rest of the knot, eyebrows raised.

Thrym clasped the recovering man’s shoulder. “Don’t worry. It’s just puberty.” His face went red as he glanced behind him at the girls. “It’s knocking us all around.”

Consternation lit Deimos’s face. “What’s puberty?”

Romy and Elara shared a panicked look and scrambled for the door. That was their cue to leave. Thrym sighed as they rushed out.

Elara pulled on Romy’s hand to make her stop when they were just out of the door. Muffling a laugh, Romy crouched down, listening at the crack left in the sliding door.

“Man, where do I start,” groaned Thrym. “It sucks. The girls don’t really seem affected.”

Elara scoffed under her breath.

“But Phobos and I have had it bad.”

Romy and Elara both tensed at Thrym’s words. Suddenly, Romy didn’t want to be listening at the door.

“Any reason you two are blocking the hallway?” A whisper sounded in Romy’s ear.

She stifled a scream as she fell backwards.

“Houston,” she hissed.

He crouched next to Elara, who looked like she’d suffered a heart attack.

“You know,” he said, “you shouldn’t listen in on people’s conversations about puberty. It’s a very trying time.”

Romy blushed. “You’re right, we—”

Houston waved a hand at her. “Shh. I can’t hear.”

Elara fisted her hand in front of her mouth, her giggle still making it around the sides.

Against her better judgement, Romy crouched down again, thinking Houston was the most unethical doctor she’d ever met.

Thrym was still explaining. “Phobos said he had some luck thinking of Critamal females. He said it seemed to help it go down.”

Houston pushed his glasses up, shaking his head. “I prefer dead puppies, myself.”

Romy caught Elara’s alarmed look.

“Houston!” a voice screeched.

The crouched trio jumped at the piercing sound.

Heavy shoes stomped down the hallway towards them. Romy rose as she saw Tina strutting their way in combat boots. Houston placed a palm on her and Elara’s backs to press them forwards. Romy swore he muttered “Tina the Terrifying” under his breath.

But his smile was blinding. “Tina, what can I do you for?”