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Avasarala didn’t see it

“I hate spin gravity,” Avasarala said, sipping at a cup of stea tea They’d be on the station for only three hours, while cargo was transferred froned a suite of four full-sized bedrooe screen pretended to be a , the crescent Earth with her continent-veiling clouds hung on the black They had a private kitchen staffed by three people, whose biggest task so far had beenthe assistant undersecretary’s tea Bobbie considered ordering a largeto do

“I can’t believe we’re about to climb on a ship owned by this o to jail? Or even be prosecuted? This guy could probably walk in here and shoot you in the face on a live newsfeed and get aith it”

Avasarala laughed at her Bobbie suppressed a surge of anger It was just fear looking for an outlet

“That’s not the gainalized It’s worse”

“No, it’s not I’ve seen people shot I’ve seen ame,’ you mean for people like you Not like me”

Avasarala’s expression cooled

“Yes, that’s what Iat has different rules It’s like playing go It’s all about exerting influence Controlling the board without occupying it”

“Poker is a gah that one player decides it’s easier to kill the other guy and walk aith the money It happens all the time”

Avasarala nodded at her, not replying right away, visibly thinking over what Bobbie had said Bobbie felt her anger replaced with a sudden rush of affection for the gru her teacup down and placing her hands in her lap “I hear what you’re saying, Sergeant I think it’s unlikely, but I’ it seriously, Bobbie wanted to shout at her Instead, she asked the servant who hovered nearby for a mushroom and onion sandwich While she ate it, Avasarala sipped tea, nibbled on a cookie, and randchildren Bobbie tried to be sure tothe war parts and a, cute noises when the kids were the topic But all she could think about was the tactical night Avasarala on an enemy-controlled spacecraft would be

Her recon suit was in a large crateloaded onto the Mao yacht even as they waited Bobbie wanted to sneak off and put it on She didn’t notice when Avasarala stopped speaking for several minutes

“Bobbie,” Avasarala said, her face not quite a frown “Areyou?”

“Yeah,” Bobbie replied “They really are”

Bobbie had thought that Mao Station was the most ludicrous display of conspicuous wealth she’d ever seen right up until they boarded the yacht

While the station was extravagant, it at least served a function It was Jules Mao’s personal orbital garage, where he could store and service his fleet of private spacecraft Underneath the glitz there was a working station, withactual jobs