Gotcha, Ty thought. K-L would be proud. Ty Yorrick, making a connection with another living being, even if it was for ulterior motives. But hey, a guard needed to know what she was guarding.

Not that she was much the wiser when Klerin led her to the Dynamo’s storage bay.

“This is it?” Ty asked, frankly a little disappointed.

“It’s my mother’s pride and joy,” Klerin admitted, sounding a little sad.

Ty couldn’t see why. The big blue crate was pretty nondescript, polished to a shine obviously, but standard all the same, like countless other crates in countless other storage bays. It was tall, coming up to her chest, but had no markings whatsoever to indicate what lay inside.

“Can I have a peek?” Ty asked, pushing her luck.

“We probably shouldn’t,” Klerin said. “In fact, we should probably go.”

Ty cocked her head. “You’re not going to offer me another drink, are you?”

The bangle went around the girl’s wrist again. “It’s just my mother doesn’t like anyone getting close to it.”

Something about the way she said it made Ty’s phantom tendril prickle.

“Why?” The warmth dropped from her voice. “It’s not dangerous, is it?”

“Most definitely not.”

Klerin spun around at the sound of Mantessa’s voice. The inventor was standing in the door of the storage bay, her ever-present sanitizer ball hovering beside her even on the ship.

“Mother, I was just—”

Mantessa didn’t let her daughter finish, barely giving her another glance as she strode in, her focus target-locked on Ty.

“I have just forwarded an advance to your admin droid,” she said, her tone clipped. “Half the fee as agreed, so she can start repairs to your … vehicle.”

“I’m much obliged,” Ty said, standing with her back to the crate.

“I can, of course, cancel the transfer.”

“That won’t be necessary.”

“I hope not. I thought I’d made myself clear when I employed you. I need a bodyguard, not a confidante, someone who will do their job, no questions asked.”

“I only asked if our cargo was hazardous.”

“Which is a question.”

“But one that is surely acceptable, considering the situation.”

“And what situation is that?”

“That we’re heading to a location where there are going to be an awful lot of people.”

“And that worries you?”

“I would rather know what I am getting into.”

Mantessa considered this, and for a second Ty wondered if she was about to find herself dropped off at the next spaceport.

Instead, Mantessa laughed humorlessly. “I like you, Ty.”

Ty wasn’t sure she could repay the compliment.

“You’ll have to forgive me,” Mantessa continued, pointing a perfectly trimmed fingernail at the crate. “I’ve put everything we have into that box. I have become a little guarded about it.”

Ty raised her eyebrows. “Well, now you have me to guard it.”