Samuel paced the length of his tiny study, wondering how long it would take to get used to the space. His servants had finally left, believing him settled in enough to survive the night.
Paul had taken his trip to the cold chamber well, after a quick briefing on what to do if someone revived him early. No other family took the same precaution despite the jockeying that had already begun, a fact that only proved Menthak to be the one capable of leading.
Samuel pulled open a drawer he’d unpacked himself. Trina’s mother smiled back at him as if happy at his efforts to save her daughters. Someday he would meet her for real, but he could leave that unpleasant duty for once his plans had come to fruition. No matter how beautiful she might be, he worried that she’d hamper her daughters’ transition from shafter to polit even on a remote colony. A picture would have been easier to pass off than the reality, but he’d had no choice. If only she’d been one of the tickets that went unused, but those most likely went to polits or laborers who’d changed their minds and delayed until it was too late rather than admitting it. He hoped they hadn’t lost anyone critical.
He laughed at that. Both granddaughters were on board. Aaron would have said otherwise. They would not have left their mother behind. He hoped the very loyalty that trapped him with their mother would serve him well once they accepted him as family.
Samuel sat down and reached into his desk for a piece of paper, unsure what to work on but unable to sleep. His invitation must have arrived hours ago and yet Trina had not requested an escort. He’d been so sure she would serve his needs both with her thieving skills and as an alternate heir. Had he misjudged the strength of her ties? Or had his feelings for his lost son blinded him to the fact that she’d never accept Samuel as family? Had she used him to get aboard?
A vision of Jared as a young boy appeared before him, so real it brought tears to his eyes. Samuel blinked, wondering if Paul had been right after all. As old as he was and with all he’d done for the family, he’d fail this time if his ghosts started haunting him.
“You sent a message.”
Samuel jerked upright as the apparition spoke, only then realizing his tired mind had missed the clues. “How’d you get in here?”
“I followed your map.”
“You can’t just enter a cabin. And you need a tool for the panels.” While part of him admired her abilities, the rest of him struggled with the shock of seeing her before him unannounced. Still, it proved she had skills beyond even his hopes. With her on his side, he could accomplish so much. He felt almost sorry for those other families who came to the battle less prepared.
She tilted her head to one side and looked at him, saying nothing.
“How did you get in here?” he repeated.
Trina smiled. “You asked me to come, and here I am. Why do my ways matter?”
He laughed. “I suppose they matter only to you.” Samuel hesitated, wanting to ask her about her transition into a new life. He’d meant to include the twins in the basic training given those going on board, but they had not come to him since agreeing to go, and he didn’t want to chance angering her now with his probing.
Instead, he rose and walked to one of the bookshelves his servants had erected. He had no right to those answers just yet. “That map isn’t the sole tool I have for you. Only the first.”
He felt her gaze on him as he moved a book out of the way to reveal a small box, about the size of Trina’s palm. His larger hand engulfed it before he spread his fingers in front of her. “This will open the hatches to the ducts.”
She reached out to touch the device, a small sound passing her lips.
He smiled. So, the markings hadn’t escaped her notice. Her continued freedom despite wide reports of theft seemed more plausible now with this second demonstration of her skill. Though he’d known when she came to his house, it was only because he set traps. Other polits were not so cautious.
Before she could close her fingers around the box, he pulled his hand back. “It’s not so easy. This tool gets you in and out, but you need to know a bit about the ducts before you enter them.”
He waved her to a seat and leaned on the edge of his desk, facing her. “Robots, moving machines, patrol the ducts. Some make repairs. Those should ignore you as long as you don’t block their way. The cleaning robots are more of a concern. They’ll clean anything in the ducts without an authorization code. If you’re caught, they’ll push you out into space without a thought, because they can’t.”
“Soulless.” The exclamation slipped out.
Samuel winced at the reminder of her shafter background, knowing the curse had been leveled against polits more than any other. But the thought had never been truer.
“Soulless as nothing else can be. These labor without any human hand from the time they’re built to when they need repair. They may move, some even talk, but they’re just metal fastened together well enough to serve a purpose. They lack the ability to think or react to any situation differently than they’ve been designed.”
“And these robots roam the tunnels behind the walls? Why?” Her nose crinkled up as she tried to picture it, reminding him again of his son.
For just a moment, he wanted to put the tool away and send her back to her sister. Why risk the last bit of Jared on this?
He shook his head, and the moment passed. What he could give to her now measured as nothing against what he’d have with her help. “These systems are maintained through the tunnels. When we’re in space, anything could happen and the robots have to have the way clear to fix it.”
Trina nodded. “Anything more? What must I do?”
“Take the time to learn the ship. It’s larger than First City because no space is wasted. I’ll need you familiar with the ways to get around, as familiar as any of the crew would be. When you’ve found many paths to every location, come back for your next task.” He rose, handed her the tool, and moved behind the desk, pretending to fiddle with a book. He waited for her to ask to be let out, forgetting for a moment just who he spoke to.
As the silence grew, he turned. Trina had left, the only sign of her visit a slight indent in the chair.
Sighing, Samuel lowered himself into his seat. One day, he’d stop underestimating the girl. No matter how much she resembled his son, her life had been much different.