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  “Just let Yipper speak to you about it,” Six said. “I am certain he could offer you something small and noninvasive that would free you of the need to wear your oculars and also meet the requirements of the Collective.”

  “I don’t know…” Mei-Li said slowly. “I’ll have to think about it but it does sound better than having an arm or leg cut off and replaced.” She frowned at him fiercely. “If you knew there was an easier way to go, why did you push me last night? I thought my only option was amputation—that’s why I freaked out.”

  Six bowed his head. “As to that, I am truly sorry for the distress I caused you. I never meant to imply that complete extremity replacement was the only enhancement you could have. I was simply thinking of your safety—I wanted you to have a way to defend yourself once I take you back…back to Earth.” He looked away as he said it and Mei-Li found herself unexpectedly touched.

  “So you wanted me to get a robot arm so I could punch guys like Dungston in the face if they bothered me?”

  Six nodded earnestly. “Exactly.”

  “God…” She sighed. “Okay, I forgive you I guess. For that, anyway.” She still wasn’t happy about finding out she was just an assignment for him from his boss. And yet, the gentle way he had carried her and comforted her after she had her meltdown, not to mention the tender way he held her against him all night long made her wonder if maybe he did care…at least a little.

  Don’t be stupid, she told herself sternly. He doesn’t care—not about anyone. He has no emotions, remember? She had to stop interpreting his sporadic gentleness as caring—it was only going to confuse her.

  Speaking of confusion, she was confused as to what came next. Did she have to go back and get an enhancement right away? Her stomach clenched in a knot at the thought.

  “Are you well?” Six was watching her intently. “Your heart rate suddenly increased. Is something distressing you?”

  “No, nothing,” Mei-Li said quickly. Then, seeing the skeptical look on his face she went on, “Nothing but the state I’m in, anyway. I mean look at me…” She gestured down at herself. “I’m filthy and my clothes are a mess. I don’t even want to know what my hair looks like.”

  “It’s lovely,” Six said unexpectedly. “It reminds me of a flurta’s wing.”

  Mei-Li was thrown by the sudden compliment. “A what?”

  “A flurta. It’s a small flying creature that lives in the dense forests of Gillex, our nearest moon. Its wings have long, silky black fringes that swirl around it when it flies.” He shrugged. “I suppose it’s foolish of me to think—”

  “No, it’s nice.” Mei-Li put a hand on his knee and he looked down at it, as if wondering why she was touching him. Feeling awkward, she drew it back. “Um, anyway as I was saying, is there someplace I could get a shower and a change before we do anything else? Oh, and maybe some breakfast? I’m really hungry.” It had been a long time since her French fry and milkshake lunch and she hadn’t really gotten to eat more than a few bites of that.

  Six nodded. “Certainly. The fresher is in the corner.” He nodded at a small door in the corner of the room. “And I will synthesize you some more clothing as well as something nourishing to eat while you refresh yourself.”

  “Thank you,” Mei-Li said gratefully, really meaning it. She started to get up but it was hard to get out of the vast beanbag bed they were sitting on. Then, as though reading her intentions, the pink bed gave her a nudge and she found herself standing beside it. “Whoa—did the bed just move on its own?” She looked down at it uncertainly.

  “It’s not really a bed—it’s a sousa,” Six explained. “A creature which has been bred to serve as a rest and relaxation area.”

  “What? I’ve been laying on an animal? I thought it was just some kind of weird bean bag chair thing!”

  “I do not know what a bean bag chair is but be calm—the sousa will not hurt you. It derives nourishment from supporting you.”

  “Nourishment? It’s not going to try to eat me, is it?” Mei-Li edged away from the bed.

  Six shook his head. “Not in the way you mean. It ingests dead skin cells which slough off in the normal course of slumber. That’s all.”

  “I still don’t like the idea of sleeping on a live animal.” Mei-Li shook her head. “I’m really glad I didn’t know that last night. I was already freaked out enough and—” Suddenly there was a low gurgling sound and she clutched her midsection. “Sorry! My stomach—I haven’t eaten in hours—”

  He frowned. “Clearly. I will synthesize you double portions.”

  “Thanks,” she said and fled to the fresher, which she really hoped was Kindred talk for the bathroom. Not only did she want a shower, she also had to pee really badly.

  Chapter Thirteen

  It was, indeed, a bathroom although the facilities were a little strange. They were much larger than she was used to for one thing—clearly built for Kindred sized people. Also, she looked for the shower controls for a good five minutes before realizing the flow of water was motion activated. She found out purely by accident, waving her hand under the nozzle in frustration, and was surprised by the sudden gush of hot water.

  The nozzle hung straight down from the ceiling with nothing around it which meant the water should have gone everywhere. Somehow it didn’t though. Looking closely, Mei-Li saw a shimmering, iridescent bubble surrounding the nozzle and the floor around it for a two foot radius on all sides. She didn’t get wet until she stepped past the shining, almost invisible barrier, to get into the flow of water.

  There didn’t seem to be any shampoo or conditioner but the first gush of water seemed to have soap mixed in with it—it lathered in her hair nicely. When she had her hair and body scrubbed, the water changed again to a clear flow which washed the foam away. Mei-Li wondered if the shower was reading her needs somehow or if it was simply preset to do a wash and rinse. Either way it was nice to feel squeaky clean again.

  The water turned off automatically as she stepped past the shower’s nearly invisible bubble barrier and she wrapped herself in an oversized white towel she found hanging on the hook outside the shower barrier. It dried her immediately, wicking the moisture away from her skin so completely it was as though she had never been wet. It didn’t work quite so well on her hair which was still a little damp but Mei-Li didn’t mind. She felt thoroughly refreshed and she simply finger combed her long, black hair straight back to get it out of her way.

  She was about to get dressed in her own clothes again but a look at the dirty, crumpled dove gray suit and white silk blouse changed her mind. She didn’t even want to put her bra and panties back on, though she supposed she would have to eventually. But she couldn’t go out in just a towel, could she?

  A knock on the fresher door interrupted her deliberations.

  “I synthesized a garment for you,” said Six’s deep voice.

  “You did?” Mei-Li opened the door a crack and peeked out. Six was standing there holding a small, neatly folded bundle in one hand.

  “I am still working on finding everyday wear that you can use on Z4,” he said, handing it to her. “But I synthesized this from the memory of the dreams we shared. Hopefully it will fit you until the other garments are ready.”

  “Oh, thank you.” Mei-Li smiled at him gratefully. “That was so thoughtful of you.”

  He shrugged his broad shoulders. “No, merely practical. I did not wish you to catch a chill and I thought you might prefer some clothing that looks like it came from your home world.”

  “That’s still thoughtful,” Mei-Li told him gently. “I’ll put it on right now—just give me a minute.” She shut the door and shimmied out of the towel before unfolding the clothing he’d given her.

  To her amazement and discomfort it was her white lace nightgown. Well, what did you expect? whispered a little voice in her head. That is what you were wearing last time you were dream sharing. That’s what he remembers you in so that’s what he made.

  Only the nightgo