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Now that there was no one to help her, nothing quite applied But it hat she had, so it hat she used Melba—not Clarissa, Melba—nodded to the fat ravity of Earth pulled on her like an illness On one of the ga sexually assaulted by three s saucer floated above them Someone had won a minor jackpot Melba looked away Behind her, an unseen hten

Of all her siblings, she had an studying tai chi with the self-defense instructor Then, when she was fourteen, her father hadto fightwhile pretending to fight looked stupid and wasted tio

She opened the red door and walked through it The office seeht A s systeht but hid the streets of Baltimore A foro of a cheap brand of beer that even people on basic could afford Two hulking lasses that made him look like an insect The other wore a T-shirt that strained at his steroidal shoulders She’d seen theainst it His hair was cut close to the scalp, a dusting of white at the teer He hat passed for a good suit in his circles Father wouldn’t have worn it as a costume

“Ah, look, the inimitable Melba”

“You kneas here,” she said There were no chairs No place to sit that wasn’t already occupied She stood

“’Course I did,” Travin said “Soon as you ca business?” she asked Her voice cut the air Travin grinned His teeth were uncorrected and gray at the gums It was an affectation of wealth, a statement that he was so powerful mere cosmesis was beneath hio cultist; i the empty displays of power and no idea what they reallywith hirace to be embarrassed by it

“It’s all done, miss,” Travin said “Melba Alzbeta Koh Born on Luna to Alscie, Becca, and Sergio Koh, all deceased No siblings No taxation indenture Licensed electrochemical technician Your new self awaits, ah?”

“And the contract?”

“The Cerisier ships out, civilian support for the grandOur Miss Koh, she’s on it Senior class, even Little staff to oversee, don’t have to get your hands dirty”

Travin pulled a white plastic envelope from his pocket The shadow of a cheap hand terh the tissue

“All here, all ready,” he said “You take it and walk through the door a neoman, ah?”

Melba took her own hand terminal out of her pocket It was smaller than the one in Travin’s hand, and better made She’d miss it She thumbed in her code, authorized the transfer, and slid it back in her pocket

“All right,” she said “The money’s yours I’ll take delivery”