Something catches my eye and I send up a quick word of thanks that Paul is—while not exactly organized—thorough. There’s a whole box full of level one baku schematics. Mixed in with the butterflies, dragonflies, and the praying mantis, there’s the one I need: the scarab beetle.

“Anything in particular you’re trying to achieve with that, Lacey? Maybe I can be of help in other ways?” Paul asks from his place at his desk.

“You probably can…” I hesitate for a second, and then I tell him part of the story—about how without a level three baku, I’m no longer able to attend Profectus, and so I had hoped to change Slick to suit.

The lines that crisscross Paul’s face draw deeper into a frown. “Tricky. Hardest part’s going to be the size difference. Level threes are almost always bigger than level ones, to accommodate the extra functions. That would involve completely overhauling the design of the beetle. Might even be beyond your companioneering skills to keep it balanced.”

My shoulders slump as visions of an ugly, oversized scarab beetle dance through my head. “Is there any way that I can do it?”

Thankfully, Paul has a familiar twinkle in his eye that gives me a spark of hope. “Of course. Why don’t I come down to your locker with you and we can examine the little beetle together and see what we can come up with?”

I grin. “Thanks, Paul.”

He gathers up an armful of tools, and George nips around the locker, finding even more bits and bobs that we might need. He’s strong for a lemur baku; I think about the power that must be driving the pistons in the creature’s shoulders and elbows, the strength of the material that must be used. Since he’s a much older model, it’s not obvious what level he is. I’ve never asked Paul—it seems like a bit of a rude question.

Once we get back to the locker, Zora is waiting for me outside, her hands tucked inside the sleeves of her sweater. She’s not as comfortable down here as I am, and she looks visibly relieved as Paul and I approach.

“Hi Zora. Haven’t seen you down here in a while,” says Paul. George drops some of the gear at the entrance to the locker while I open it up.

Zora smiles at me. “It didn’t feel right to be here without Lacey. Now that she’s back, I’m here to help her out.”

“She’s going to need all the help she can get,” he says, gruffly. I swallow. I’ve only ever fixed; I’ve never created before. This is going to take every inch of my companioneering skill if I’m going to pull it off.