“I would have spent more time on you,” Callie said later, tangled up in a cocoon of blankets with Elena that more or less kept them in bed instead of floating around the room. “But we’re getting close to the end of Ashok’s countdown.”

“I would have enjoyed spending several more hours under your command, captain, but you’ve definitely given me new motivation to survive. Assuming you want to do this again?”

Callie pulled Elena close to her, thrilled by the warm smooth flesh against her body. It had been a long time since she’d touched anyone for other than practical or violent reasons, and over a year since she’d been naked with someone in her arms. “I did not even get started on the list of ways I want you. If we don’t die horribly, we’ll take a little time off and work our way down the list. So you enjoyed it?”

“I did. It seemed like you did, too. I was a little worried I’d be too old-fashioned for you.”

Callie stroked her back. “Mmm. The accessories may change a little, and we can definitely do some shopping next time we’re in civilized space if you want, but I’m pretty sure the fundamentals were fully established millennia ago.” She sighed. “At least we got in a little love before the war. I have to go be captain of the whole ship again.”

“See you on the other side of the bridge, Callie.” Elena kissed her deeply and then slid out of the way.

Callie rose and dressed, always a tricky process when weightless, and did what she could to un-muss herself before the tiny mirror in Elena’s bathroom. Oh well. When you were weightless, you always had right-after-sex messy hair, but Elena had enjoyed plunging her hands into Callie’s curly masses, so it was worse than usual. She gathered her frizzy cloud up into a messy ponytail, stopped by the bed to kiss Elena again, then left the crew deck and went down to the machine shop.

Lantern and Ashok were both looking at a screen. The Liar had one of her tentacles looped around a table leg so she wouldn’t float away.

“Well?” Callie said.

“Ten minutes until the countdown is done counting down,” Ashok said.

“Then we open a bridge to the Axiom station?”

“That’s the idea, but I was talking it over with Lantern. Back in the day, the only ships were Axiom ships. She says stations like that notice ships that pass within a few kilometers and send a ping to check their status. If the ships don’t respond, the station assumes they’re damaged, and grabs them. That must be what happened to the Anjou. So I’m thinking, we should probably try to appear a few kilometers out of range, scope things out, and then send the canoe over, to keep the Raven from being snatched up.”