Enjoyment was not an emotion that the ship had previously considered. It ran through several thousand simulations before it said, “I believe it is pleasurable to stretch to full capacity.” It added, after a few thousand more simulations, “Though one would not wish it to be constant.”

“Indeed,” Takraven said. The tone was at odds with his appearance, and Niko made herself remember he could be centuries old. He had vast resources at his control.

She’d spent a lot of time trying to research him on the way here. But money helped people scrub data, and the more money they had, the more efficiently they scrubbed it out of the public record. She wasn’t convinced that he was actually human; she was sure that he had been around at least five centuries. Overall, he seemed to lead a low-key existence. The purchase of the Thing, some forty years ago, was perhaps the most flamboyant gesture he had made in recent years.

“Do you think you’re wasted on me?” For a second, Niko thought Takraven was addressing her, but then she realized he was speaking to the ship.

“I do not understand how all of the words are used.” The Thing sounded small and sad and confused for the first time since Niko had first met it. “Whenever I think I understand emotions, then something happens and none of them makes sense anymore. Waste? Waste is careless expenditure. You could make money with me, but you do not need money. Other people could make money with me, and they need it, but they do not own me. Is that waste?”

“It would seem like it.” Takraven drummed on the table. He looked at Niko. “Make me an offer.”

“What?” she said, mind scrambling in several directions. “I don’t usually—I mean, I—maybe Skid—”

He laughed outright at her confusion. “No. For the Thing.”

“We couldn’t begin to afford what you paid for the ship.”

He shook his head. “That’s not what I’m asking. I’ve lived a long time, and I’ve never seen a bioship act like this. We could take it apart, see how this happened—” For a second his eyes were so cold they sent a chill down Niko’s spine, and then warmth refilled them and she wondered if she’d imagined the moment. “—but I’d rather let the experiment play out and see what happens if the ship stays under your influence.”

He considered the lot of them. “Not just Niko’s, but this group’s.”

At a loss, Niko looked around at the others. Dabry’s brow was furrowed in thought. Skidoo’s colors were bright with interest, and beside her Gio was nodding to himself, lips pursed.

Milly shrugged, but Atlanta was also nodding.

“As good as anywhere,” Talon said.

Niko didn’t like this uncertainty. She said, “What would you expect in return?”