The second hold was intended for small luxury items that the owner might need over the course of the journey. Its cramped space was equipped with a refrigeration unit and a number of racks. Petalia stood near one of these, still contained by ropy tendrils.

“Ship, release them,” Niko said.

“They have not promised not to do you harm,” the ship said.

“They do not need to make such a promise,” Niko said patiently. “Thing, please release them.”

The ship did so.

Petalia did not move as the ship’s restraints fell away, other than to open their eyes.

“What are you doing here?” Niko said.

“Saving my life. Where is Turo?”

“How did you know we were leaving?”

“Turo told me. He seemed to feel that Last had been abusing me. Where is he?”

“Dead,” Niko said shortly. The other flinched, but Niko pressed further. “Why come away now, Pet? You could have escaped through him before.”

“What is different from then and now?” Petalia said, and indicated Niko with their chin. “Before I was waiting for you to remember me.”

“And now you have gotten the chance to remind me, and then rescued yourself,” Niko said.

“That is correct.”

“And what is the next part of your plan?”

“You know as well as I that there is one coin more valuable right now than any other to you.”

“Where Last’s backups are stored.”

“The same. Are you bound for Montmurray?”

Niko’s chin dipped in a nod.

“If Last is dead and there is enough chaos—and if the measures Arturo put into place work—you will have a little time—perhaps as much as a solar day, but that is a generous estimate—before anyone dispatches the activation code. It has to get to Montmurray, then Ixumi. Once there, you can intercept the drone with the code, and ensure the backup is not activated.”

“And then?” Niko’s narrowed eyes watched Petalia’s face as though hypnotized.

“Then? This ship will surely be headed for one hub or another. When it stops at a destination that I like, I will depart.”

“Oh,” Niko said. “Is that how it will work?”

“It is.”

Niko took a step closer. “I thought perhaps you had come to tell me once again how much you hated me.”

“I have hated you very much. I believe I have made that clear.”

“But you continue to use the past tense,” Niko said.

Petalia studied her in silence. “Let me make something clear, Niko,” they said at length. “I hate you now, have hated you in the past, and will continue to hate you going forward. That is how things are. They will not change. I know how you are. I’ve seen you flirt your way out of things, sweet talk and wheedle. We have gone long past the point where anything you could say would wipe away the memories of all the things that Tubal Last said and did to me.”