“Understood. I appreciate your concern.” She scuffed her heel against the deck, thinking. “You don’t have to report this to anyone on the Darmstadt, do you?”

Vishal twisted a hand in the air. “They wish me to, but I would not betray the confidentiality of a patient.”

“Thank you.”

“Of course, Ms. Kira.… Would you like me to fix your nose for you now? Otherwise it will have to wait until tomorrow. I will be busy with Sparrow later.”

“She told me. Tomorrow.”

“As you wish.” He returned to the sickbay, leaving her alone in the corridor.

4.

Pregnant.

Kira’s stomach twisted, and not from the cramps. After what had happened in college, she’d sworn she would never have children. It had taken meeting Alan to make her reconsider, and only because she’d liked him so much. Now though, the thought filled her with revulsion. What sort of hybrid monstrosity would the xeno produce if she got pregnant?

She reached up to fiddle with a lock of hair; her fingers scraped scalp. Well. It wasn’t like she was going to get pregnant by accident. All she had to do was avoid sleeping with anyone. Not so difficult.

For a moment, her thoughts detoured into mechanical details. Would sex even be possible? If she had the Soft Blade retract from between her legs, then … It might work, but whomever she was with would have to be brave—very brave—and if she lost her hold on the suit and it closed shut … Ouch.

She glanced down at herself. At least she didn’t have to worry about bleeding. The Soft Blade was as efficient as always in recycling her body’s waste.

The door to the sickbay opened as Hwa-jung exited.

“Do you have a moment?” said Kira. “Could you help me?”

The machine boss stared at her. “What?” From anyone else the question would have sounded rude, but from Hwa-jung, Kira thought it was just a simple request.

Kira explained what she needed and what she wanted. They weren’t the same things.

“This way,” said Hwa-jung, and lumbered off toward the core of the ship.

As they started down the central ladder, Kira eyed the machine boss, curious. “How did you end up on the Wallfish, if you don’t mind me asking?”

“Captain Falconi needed a machine boss. I needed a job. Now I work here.”

“Do you have family back on Shin-Zar?”

The top of Hwa-jung’s head moved as she nodded. “Many brothers and sisters. Many cousins. I send them money when I can.”

“Why did you leave?”

“Because,” said Hwa-jung as she stepped off the ladder on the deck just above the cargo holds. She lifted her hands, fingers bunched, the tips pressed together. “Boom.” And she opened her hands, splaying her fingers.

“Ah.” Kira couldn’t decide if the machine boss was being literal or not, and she decided it was better not to ask. “Do you ever visit?”

“Once. No more.”

Leaving the shaft, they passed through a narrow passageway and entered a room close to the hull.