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“So,” Miral said, his voice fighting and failing for casual “You ship sui James Holden, yeah? What’s that like?”

“Steady work No roohed After a moment, Miral joined in ruefully Only Karal kept quiet, and thaton the hot plate

Naoes froertip was a centimeter from the button to accept theht pulled at her like ahi a long shower in clean water She pushed the es into her hold queue Soon, and then all of them But if she started now, she wouldn’t stop, and she wasn’t done yet Instead, she put in a connection request to the address the Outer Fringe Exports representative had given her A few seconds later, the connection hiccupped to life, a red borderthat the channel was secure

“Ms Nagata,” the young man said “How can I help you today?”

“Waiting on the ship,” she said “Need to knohere we stand”

The man’s eyes unfocused for afor the title transfer to update in the base registry, ma’am”

“So the payh?”

“Yes If you’d like, you can take possession now, but please be aware you can’t be cleared to leave port until the registry updates”

“That’s fine,” she said, getting to her feet “Where’s she berthed?”

“Dock six, berth nineteen, ma’am Would you like a representative present for the handover?”

“No,” she said “Just leave the keys in the ignition, and we can take it from here”

“Of course It’s been a pleasure”

“Likewise,” Naomi said “Have a better one”

She dropped the connection Cyn and Miral were already gathering their few things Karal scooped up the last cousa froed it with the other She didn’t need to tell theing, the air in the room felt suddenly too thick, the heat from the hot plate and their bodies too oppressive Naoh the doorway

“It’s tientle She re her child up for school This was the closest thing she would ever have to that, and against her best judgo now”